MXPA06002854A - Process for imprinting a composite ventilated rib - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of forming a composite rib for the barrel of a firearm is provided. The method generally includes aligning composite material and a release layer and directing the combination of materials through a die. The release layer is removed from the intermediate rib leaving a three-dimensional finish formed in the surface of the rib.

Description

PROCEDURE FOR PRINTING A COMPOSITE VENTILATED RIB CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUEST The current application claims priority for the filing date of United States Provisional Application Serial No. 60/501, 685, filed on September 10, 2003 and incorporated by reference as if it will be mentioned here in its entirety .

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to composite pultrusions and in particular, to printing a ventilated composite rib for firearms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Firearms, such as pistols and rifles, typically include a ventilated rib mounted on the barrel. The term of the outer surface of the conventionally ventilated rib is carried out by matching the rib. The rib surface agreement is generally acceptable for ventilated ribs made of metals, such as steel or aluminum. However, when the ventilated rib is formed of a composite material containing reinforcing fibers, the match of the outer surface of the kerf can move resins and expose fibers on the rib surface. Regardless of that, the term of particularly the upper surface of the rib is necessary to prevent reflection light through the upper surface, which could impair the viewer's sight and aim. Accordingly, there is a need for a method for finishing or printing the surface of a composite ventilated rib.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention is generally directed to a method for forming a composite rib for a firearm such as a gun, rifle or other long weapon and imparting a three dimensional finish to the surface of such a composite firearm rib. In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a composite rib for a firearm in which a release layer is aligned with a composite material, after which the release layer of a composite material is removed and they eject through a die to form a composite intermediate rib. The method also includes removing the release layer from the surface of the intermediate rib for which it has been applied, leaving a three-dimensional finish formed on the surface of the intermediate rib, after which the intermediate rib will be cut or trimmed to a predetermined length to form the rib to be mounted to a barrel of a firearm. In another aspect of the present invention, the method of forming a component of a firearm may comprise ejecting or removing a combination of the release layer and the composite material through a die to form an intermediate part, and thereafter. separating the release layer from a surface of the intermediate part that leaves a finish formed on the surface. The method also includes reducing the intermediate part to a predetermined size to fit a firearm. As another alternative, the rib could be formed with the formation of a composite barrel or barrel section as an integral part thereof. These and other aspects of the description are mentioned in more detail in the following description and drawings, and are briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of a ventilated rib for a firearm made in accordance with a method that includes aspects of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the ventilated rib of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a front end view of the ventilated rib of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rib of Figure 1 taken at along the AA line Figure 5 is a top view of a portion of a release layer usable in a method that includes aspects of the present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view of an intermediate rib and the release layer of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a combination of an unstable rib and release layer in a method that includes aspects of the present invention. .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in which similar reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the different views, Figures 1-7 illustrate features that are used in or produced by the methods of the present invention, which generally comprise methods of terminating one or more surfaces of a composite rib 10 for the barrel of a firearm, such as a pistol, rifle, shotgun or other long weapons.

The composite rib 10, which is shown as a ventilated rib in Figures 1 and 2, but which may also be unventilated or solid, includes a finish 50 formed or printed along one or more exterior surfaces, illustrated as the surface Top 12 for illustration purposes. The finish 50 can be a weave pattern to create a matte finish or any other desirable pattern, such as letters, designs, shapes or other indicia. The design is generally created through a release layer, which may be in the form of a strip or a ribbon and having the desired finished pattern printed or formed therein. The release layer 70 imparts the finish 50 to the composite rib 10 when the release layer 70 and the composite material used to form the composite rib 10 are routed through a die to form an intermediate rib 20. After pultrusion a Through the die, the release layer 70 can be removed from the intermediate rib 20 leaving the determined design formed on the upper surface 12 thereof. The intermediate rib 20 can be matched, reduced and further processed or finished to form the composite rib 10 having the finish 50 formed therein. The strength of the compound is generally not affected by the release layer and / or its removal from the rib, nor are there changes to the design, size and placement of the reinforcement fibers within the rib composed of the removal of the release layer, which leaves a surface finish 50 printed on the rib.

The ventilated rib 10 is generally made using a continuous pultrusion process and can be formed as a separate individual component as illustrated in the drawings and discussed below.

It should also be understood that the rib may be formed as an integral part or component of a composite barrel, as described in Patent Application of E. U. A. in Series No., filed on August 18, 2004 which is incorporated herein by reference. The rib 10 is generally formed of a composite material that includes one or more reinforcing fibers and a resin. The reinforcing fibers can be selected from glass, carbon, or polymeric fibers that can impart rib strength. For example, reinforcing fibers can include glass fibers having 250 rivets and 32 ends produced by Owens / Corning, and carbon fibers having 250 rivets of generation and one end. The reinforcing fibers are generally distributed in a resin matrix. The resin can include any conventional resin typically used in making composite materials. For example, the resin can be a vinyl ester, such as Interplastic 8182 or Hetron LB6875 from Ashland Chemical. The composite material has a glass content of about 60% to about 65% by weight and a resin content of about 35% to about 40% by weight. The density of the compound may be in the range of about 0.003 to about 0.075 kilograms per cubic centimeter.

Generally, one or more surface covers 32 and 33 to the composite material to form a boundary layer 35 that provides and aesthetically resorts to the surface for the composite component. The layer and boundary may be approximately 11 mils thick and is typically black although other colors and thicknesses are contemplated. The release layer 70 may have a black grosgrain finish and be approximately 0.787 cm in width with fit. For example, the release layer 70 can be a Special Tape No. 674 of American Ribbon. The method generally includes providing a composite material, such as the material shown in Figure 7 which includes glass rivets 74 with carbon rivets 36 oriented so that the carbon rivet is fixed in the glass rivet 34 and is generally aligned in a parallel direction. The glass and carbon rivets 34 and 36 are "moistened" in a thermosetted resin bath, such as polyester or vinylester. The surface covers 33 and 32 are aligned around the rivets 34 and 36 to form a boundary layer 35, while the release layer 70 is generally aligned adjacent to the boundary layer 35. The combination of the release layer 70, Limit layer 35, resin and rivets 34 and 36 are then fed through the die of a pultrusion system or mechanism and heated to about 225-230 ° F, for example 280 ° F. The cured resin is then brought to 15.24 to 71.12 cm per minute (although other lower or higher speeds may also be used as desired and depending on the materials used) through the die with hydraulic or caterpillar style impellers to form an intermediate rib or component 20. The intermediate rib 20 is then typically cut to a length at which the release layer 70 is removed. Once the release layer 70 is removed, the hue pattern remains permanently formed on the rib . The intermediate rib 20 is matched to form the vents 14 and the barrel seat radius 16 to form the composite rib for barrel use of a firearm. The method may also include forming the release layer 70 to impart the finish or pattern therein. For example, wherein the release layer 70 is a form of tissue fiber ribbon. The method may include the step of weaving the release layer. In one example, the release layer 70 is woven in a grosgrain pattern that provides the desired cosmetic effect to the top surface 12 of the composite rib 10. After imparting the pattern to the release layer 70, the layer can be adjusted to impregnate it with adjusting agents, such as starch. The adjustment is necessary to prevent the composite resin from "wetting" the release layer 70. The release layer 70 is adjusted when the components of the layer are of the type that the resin could absorb, such as, for example, materials cellulose, such as cotton, wool, and rayon. The adjustment prevents the resin from being absorbed in the release layer 70, thereby allowing the layer to be easily removed from the top 12 of the intermediate rib 20. The texture, thickness and pattern of the ribbon are used to determine the pattern of nuanced that will remain. Other materials besides the cellulosic materials can be used to form the release layer 70. For example, mylar, polyester, nylon and aramid material and fibers can be included in the release layer. The pattern, texture, thickness and / or text can also be altered to leave several patterns or corresponding designs in the resulting pultrusion. The patterns formed using the present invention are generally limited only by the ability of the tape interweave process applied to the thin sheet when placed on the bonded surface. The depth and width of the ribbons in the cross grain fabric are almost infinitely variable, as much as the weaver is concerned. This flexibility can allow a salient surface to be altered cosmetically with a pattern or text. In addition to the thin sheets, other materials can be introduced that can be modeled or produced in a variety of shapes, patterns or text and then insert a protruding component and then remove to leave the shape of the insert in the protruding part. The present procedure eliminates the need to perform secondary matching operations that may be required to place badges or designs on the barrel of the weapon. The procedure provides the ability to add text to the overhang that would otherwise have to be added to the surface of the secondary procedure.

It should be understood that the foregoing examples are provided for illustration and will not be construed to limit the scope of the description. The description covers modifications and alterations made by those skilled in the art to the described examples.

Claims (17)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A method of finishing a rib for a firearm comprising: aligning a release layer in a desired orientation with a composite material; put the pultrusion release layer and composite material through a die to form a firearm rib; and removing the release layer from a surface of the rib, where the rib includes a three-dimensional finish formed on the surface.

2. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it further comprises cutting the rib to a predetermined length to form a finished rib for mounting to a barrel of the firearm.

3. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a composite material comprising a reinforcing fiber.

4. The method according to claim 3, further characterized in that the composite material comprises a resin.

5. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that aligning the release layer and the composite comprises aligning a boundary layer material between the release layer and the composite.

6. - The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a release layer comprising a material selected from mylar, aramid, cotton, rayon and combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a release layer comprising a cellulosic material and adjustment material.

8. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a release layer having a pattern or indicia formed therein.

9. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that it further comprises matching the rib.

10. A method of forming a component of a firearm comprising: directing a combination of a release layer and a composite material through a die to form an intermediate part; separating the release layer from a surface of the intermediate part, wherein the surface of the intermediate part has a finish formed therein; and, finishing the intermediate part to form the component of a predetermined size for the firearm.

11. The method according to claim 10, further characterized in that directing a combination of a release layer and a composite material through a die comprises pultruding the combination.

12. - The method according to claim 10, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a composite material comprising a reinforcing fiber.

13. The method according to claim 12, further characterized in that the composite material comprises a resin.

14. The method according to claim 10, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a boundary layer between the release layer and the composite material.

15. The method according to claim 10, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a release layer comprising a material selected from mylar, aramid, cotton, rayon and combinations thereof.

16. The method according to claim 10, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a release layer comprising a cellulosic material and setting material.

17. The method according to claim 10, further characterized in that it further comprises providing a release layer having a pattern or indicia formed therein.