PROJECTILE LAUNCHER CONVERTIBLE FOR LEFT OR RIGHT HAND OPERATION

LANCE-PROJECTILES CONVERTIBLE UTILISABLE DE LA MAIN GAUCHE OU DE LA MAIN DROITE

English Abstract

A launcher which can be readily converted for use by either a right-handed or left-handed shot. The launcher has a receiver with upper and lower extensions extending forwardly from the receiver body. A barrel is pivotally mounted near forward portions of the extensions, in one of two positions, such that in one position it is pivotable from a home position aligned with the receiver and the extensions between the two extensions, to a load position with the breech of the barrel to the left, and such that in the other position it is pivotable from the home position, to a load position with the breech to the right. One way of accomplishing this is with a barrel support bracket to which the barrel is pivotally mounted, with the barrel support bracket being secured at or near the front of the receiver extensions, and being rotatable between two positions, each corresponding to a different swing direction for the barrel.

French Abstract

Lance-projectiles pouvant être facilement converti pour être utilisable de la main gauche ou de la main droite. Le lance-projectiles comporte une carcasse avec des prolongements supérieur et inférieur s'étendant vers l'avant à partir de la carcasse. Un tube est monté sur pivot près des parties avant des prolongements, à l'une de deux positions, de telle sorte qu'à une position, le tube peut pivoter d'une position de repos alignée avec la carcasse, et les prolongements entre les deux saillies, à une position de chargement, la culasse du tube sur la gauche, de telle sorte qu'à l'autre position le tube peut pivoter à partir de la position de repos à une position de chargement, la culasse se trouvant sur la droite. Une manière d'atteindre ce but est d'avoir recours à un support de culasse sur lequel le canon est monté avec un pivot, le support de montage du tube étant fixé à l'avant des prolongements de la carcasse, ou à proximité de cette dernière, le tube pouvant pivoter entre deux positions, chacune correspondant à une direction de giration du tube.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A projectile launcher comprising:
a receiver assembly having a receiver body and upper and lower extensions
extending forwardly from the receiver body;
a barrel pivotally mounted near forward portions of the extensions, in one of
two positions, such that in one position said barrel is pivotable from a home
position
aligned with the receiver and the extensions between the two extensions, to a
load
position with the breech of the barrel to the left, and such that in the other
position it
is pivotable from the home position, to a load position with the breech to the
right.
2. A projectile launcher as in claim 1, wherein said pivotal mounting of said
barrel is via a generally U-shaped barrel support bracket removably secured
generally at the front of said receiver assembly, said barrel support bracket
being
removable from said receiver assembly and rotatable through 180 degrees about
a
longitudinal axis of the receiver, and reinstallable so that the barrel can
instead be
swung in the opposite lateral direction.
3. A projectile launcher as in claim 2, wherein said barrel support bracket
has
lateral upper and lower flanges which engage upper and lower lateral channels
of
said upper and lower extensions respectively.
4. A projectile launcher as in claim 3, wherein said upper and lower flanges
have
mounting holes therethrough, and screws extending therethrough into said
extensions to secure said barrel support bracket once installed with said
flanges in
said channels.
5. A projectile launcher as in claim 1, further comprising means for locking
said
barrel in said home position, and for unlocking it to allow pivoting,
comprising a latch
assembly spring-biased to urge a catch into a recess in said barrel.
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6. A projectile launcher as in claim 5, further comprising spring biasing
means
positioned to urge said barrel to pivot away from said home position when said
latch
assembly is actuated to disengage said catch.
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Description

CA 02521935 2005-09-30
PROJECTILE LAUNCHER
CONVERTIBLE FOR LEFT OR RIGHT HAND OPERATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to launchers for grenades, tear gas
canisters, etc.,
hereinafter generally referred to as "projectiles".
More particularly, the invention provides a launcher which is easily
convertible for
use by either a left-handed or right-handed shot, i.e. for firing from the
left shoulder
or the right shoulder.
The projectiles are typically 40 mm with an overall length of not greater than
145
mm, and may also include such items as sound and flash ("stun") grenades,
parachute flares, smoke grenades, practice grenades, etc.. However, the
principle of
the invention clearly could be readily adapted to other calibers and
projectiles than
the preceding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Projectile launchers are well known, and can be mounted on a rifle (typically
beneath), or operated independently. In either case, it is known to have a
barrel
which pivots to one side about a generally vertical axis, from a forward pivot
point, to
expose the breech end of the barrel for manual loading of the projectile. For
a person
who shoots right-handed, it is typical for the breech end to swing open to the
left, for
loading of a projectile with the left hand. For a person who shoots left-
handed, of
course it is preferable for the breech to swing open to the right.
An obvious difficulty with this arrangement is that a launcher configured for
use by a
right-handed shot is not well-configured for use by someone who is a left-
handed
shot. Thus it is known to manufacture two versions of any particular launcher,
namely a right-handed version and a left-handed version. For obvious reasons,
this
is an undesirable situation. For one thing, it forces police or military units
to stock a
larger inventory of launchers than might otherwise be the case. Furthermore,
in the
field it does not provide a desirable degree of flexibility in terms of who
can
effectively use any given launcher.
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CA 02521935 2005-09-30
Accordingly, a launcher which could readily be used by either a right or left
handed
user would offer significant advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the preceding, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved
launcher, which can be readily converted for use by either a right-handed or
left-
handed shot. In the invention, it is not intended that the conversion would
necessarily
take place in the field, though possible. It is however intended that at least
the
conversion can be done readily, though not necessarily from moment to moment
in
the field.
Thus according to one aspect of the invention, the launcher has a receiver
with
upper and lower extensions extending forwardly from the receiver body. A
barrel is
pivotally mounted near forward portions of the extensions, in one of two
positions,
such that in one position it is pivotable from a home position aligned with
the receiver
and the extensions between the two extensions, to a load position with the
breech of
the barrel to the left, and such that in the other position it is pivotable
from the home
position, to a load position with the breech to the right. (All references to
directions
herein assume that the launcher is aligned with a vertical plane, pistol grip
down,
with the barrel horizontal. "Left" and "right" are as viewed from behind the
launcher.)
In one aspect of the invention, this is accomplished by providing a generally
U-
shaped barrel support bracket which is removably secured to the extensions of
the
receiver. The barrel is pivotally mounted between arms of the U-shape, for
pivoting
about a generally vertical pivot axis. The open portion of the U-shape is
directed
laterally to allow the barrel to swing about the pivot axis to expose the
breech for
loading. The barrel support bracket may be removed, rotated 180 degrees about
the
longitudinal axis of the receiver, and reinstalled so that the barrel can
instead be
swung in the opposite direction.
Further aspects and features of the invention will be described or will become
apparent in the following detailed description.
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CA 02521935 2005-09-30
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in greater detail, with reference to the
accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment as a example of the
invention.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the receiver assembly from
the front right, and the barrel assembly slidable into position on the end of
the
receiver, with the U-shaped opening to the left of the launcher;
Fig. 2 is a corresponding exploded perspective view, showing the barrel
assembly and barrel support bracket rotated 180 degrees, so that the U
shape opens to the right of the launcher;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled launcher, from the left front of
the launcher, with the launcher configured so that the U-shaped opening
faces to the left, for the breech to open to the left, as desirable for a
right-
handed shot;
Fig. 4 is a corresponding perspective view from the right front;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled launcher, from the right front
of
the launcher, with the launcher configured so that the U-shaped opening
faces to the right, for the breech to open to the right, as desirable for a
left-
handed shot;
Fig. 6 is a corresponding perspective view from the left front;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the launcher with the barrel in firing
position;
Fig. 8 is a cross-section at A-A of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a side view of the launcher, showing it mounted beneath a typical
rifle;
Fig. 10 is a cross-section corresponding to Fig. 8, focusing on the barrel
latch;
Fig. 11 is a view showing a spring assembly which biases the barrel open
when released by the barrel latch; and
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CA 02521935 2005-09-30
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of an alternative location
for
the channels which receive the barrel support bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the preferred embodiment of the launcher 1, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2,
a
generally U-shaped barrel support bracket 2 is removably secured generally at
the
front of the receiver assembly 3 of the launcher. The receiver assembly
includes,
among other components, a receiver body 4, a pistol grip 5, a trigger assembly
6,
and upper and lower extensions 7 and 8 respectively. The barrel 10 is
pivotally
mounted between arms 11 of the barrel support bracket 2, for pivoting about a
generally vertical pivot axis.
The barrel support bracket 2 has a laterally protruding flange 12 having a
vertical
pivot hole. Secured to or preferably integral with the bracket is a rail
assembly,
including a rail 16 (preferably according to MIL-STD-1913, for example). The
rail
assembly includes a flange 17 having a vertical pivot hole. A pivot pin 19 is
installed
in the pivot holes in the flanges 12 and 17, defining a vertical pivot axis
for the barrel.
The open portion of the U-shape is directed laterally to allow the barrel to
swing
about the pivot axis to expose the breech 21 for loading. The barrel support
bracket
may be removed, rotated 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the
receiver,
and reinstalled so that the barrel can instead be swung in the opposite
direction, as
can be seen most clearly in Fig. 2.
As can be seen best from Figs. 1 and 2, the barrel support bracket arms 11 are
shaped to mate with upper and lower channels 25 and 26 in the upper and lower
extensions 7 and 8, by sliding in from either side. This configuration
provides a good
deal of structural strength to the front of the launcher, despite the length
of the
extensions. Upper and lower screws 27 and 28 secure the bracket in position.
Of course the launcher is provided with suitable means for locking the barrel
in place
for firing, and for unlocking it to allow it to be swung laterally to eject
the cartridge of
a fired projectile and to allow reloading. The locking and unlocking mechanism
in the
preferred embodiment can be best seen in Fig. 10. A latch assembly 30 rotates
about a pivot pin 31, and is biased by a spring 32 to urge a catch 33 into a
recess 34
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CA 02521935 2005-09-30
on the underside of the barrel 10. However, any suitable locking mechanism,
conventional or otherwise, may be employed as an alternative.
Pressing the latch forward disengages the catch 33, allowing the barrel to
rotate.
Preferably, there is spring loading which then springs the barrel open. In the
preferred embodiment, that spring loading is provided by a spring 35 located
in a
pocket 36 in the barrel support bracket 2, as illustrated in Fig. 11. The
spring has a
bullet-nosed sleeve 37, which bears against the barrel to push it outwardly
when the
catch 33 releases.
Similarly, of course the launcher is provided with a suitable trigger
mechanism and
safety, again conventional or otherwise. Again, that is not part of the
invention as
such; the invention relates strictly to the reversible barrel and the
structure which
facilitates that.
Among other advantages, it is a specific advantage of the invention that the
barrel
assembly (i.e. barrel 10, barrel support bracket 2, pivot pin 19, spring 35,
etc.) is all
one unit, with no field disassembly required. To change the orientation of the
launcher, just the two screws 27 and 28 need to be removed, and then the
barrel
assembly can be removed, rotated and reinstalled very easily.
Within the principle of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims,
those
knowledgeable in the field of the invention will appreciate that many
variations in
structure and detail will be feasible without departing from the spirit and
scope of the
invention. Such variations are considered to be within the scope of the
invention as
defined by the claims, whether or not expressly recited herein.
As a specific non-limiting example, Fig. 12 shows an alternative arrangement
for the
channels 25' and 26', with the barrel support bracket arms (not shown in this
view)
having correspondingly shaped flanges to fit within these alternatively-
configured
channels. Of course many similar variations could be contemplated.
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Representative Drawing