The present invention refers to a stock for a firearm made from polymeric material.
A stock for a firearm generally has a complex geometry, designed based upon ergonomic, structural and even aesthetic requirements.
Moreover, a stock, realised both in solid configuration, from wood, and in skeleton configuration, from metal, represents a useless and disadvantageous weighing down of the firearm.
Wood, moreover, does not allow complete workability and, under certain thicknesses, does not have good structural resistance.
By using polymeric materials for the moulding of the stock of a firearm it is, on the other hand, possible to reconcile complexity of the shape with lightness of the structure.
A stock for a firearm must, however, also ensure good structural resistance, since the firearm can be used to knock down obstacles, or at least be subjected to substantial stresses during use, or in the case of the firearm itself being dropped.
A stock for a firearm made from polymeric material can be realised in the form of two moulded half-shells, each of which equipped with suitable rigidifying ribs, connected together through gluing, welding or mechanical attachment.
Nevertheless, in welded products the welding burrs between the two half-shells, which represent an unacceptable eyesore in firearms of high quality, also in terms of aesthetics, and which must thus be taken away during a subsequent finishing step.
This represents one of the main drawbacks of the construction of a stock for a firearm in two half-shells, then integral with each other, above all in the case of high aesthetic quality firearms.
The purpose of the present invention is that of realising a stock for a firearm with complex geometry, minimum weight and good structural resistance.
Another purpose of the present invention is that of realising a stock for a firearm which achieves an excellent aesthetic result.
Another purpose of the present invention is that of realising a particularly simple and function stock, with low costs.
These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by realising a stock as outlined in claim 1.
Further characteristics of a stock are the object of the dependent claims.
The characteristics and advantages of a stock for a firearm according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:
With reference to the figures, a stock for a firearm is shown, wholly indicated with 10, comprising two half-shells 12, a left half-shell 12A and a right half-shell 12B, suitable for being connected together in a middle joining plane 13 to form the final outer geometry of the stock 10.
The two half-shells 12, shown in figures 2 and 3, are moulded in polymeric material, for example through an injection procedure, according to techniques known to men skilled in the art.
Each half-shell 12 is shaped externally according to the desired final geometry and is equipped on the inner side with ribs 14, or local strengtheners, suitable for ensuring the required resistance without substantially influencing the weight or external geometry.
The two half-shells 12A and 12B are also equipped, along their perimeter, with joining edges 15, which can extend along the entire perimeter of the stock 10 or can only involve some portions of it, as represented as an example in figures 2 and 4.
Each joining edge 15, seen in section, has a flat portion 16, suitable for being welded to the flat portion 16 of the joining edge 15 of the interfacing and mirroring shell 12.
On the outside of the flat portion 16, each joining edge 15 is equipped with a groove 17, which extends parallel and adjacent to the flat portion 16, and identifies a thin outer lip 18, the vertex of which is not arranged in the joining plane 13, but rather goes inwards with respect to it (figure 5).
To assemble the stock 10, object of the present invention, the two half-shells 12 are initially brought together and then joined and made integral with each other, for example through a welding operation carried out on the flat portions 16 of the joining edges 15, or for example through gluing.
In a preferred embodiment, the half-shells 12 are joined through a welding operation carried out according to known methods.
When the half-shells 12 of the stock 10, object of the present invention, are connected together, the interfacing lips 18 do not touch, but define a slit 19 for access to a dovetailing perimetric throat 20, which extends along all of the joining edge 15 and is formed from the interfacing grooves 17 (figure 6).
In the throat 20 polymeric material, for example rubber material, can be applied, deposited or injected, forming a cord 21, which hides the joining edges 15 and the welding burrs and gives softness to the touch, as well as an excellent aesthetic result (figure 7).
In particular, the rubber material can be applied after the welding of the half-shells 12A and 12B or else the cord 21 can be positioned in the groove 17 of one of the half-shells 12A or 12B before carrying out the welding.
The stock for a firearm, object of the present invention, has the advantage of consisting of two shells of polymeric material which are light and shaped according to whatever geometry.
The interfacing lips which are separated only by a thin slit advantageously hide the welding burrs from view, even without the application of the cord of rubber.
Moreover, the joining edges are advantageously hidden by a cord of material, a detail which, as well as giving a pleasant aesthetic result, also realises a shock-absorbing edge which reduces the risk of scratches and scorings.