Pistol Compensator

Abstract

A compensator for a pistol is described. In one example, a compensator includes an outer surface, a coupling, and an aperture. The outer surface is configured to mimic an outer surface of a slide of a pistol, to which, the compensator is to be attached. The coupling is configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol. The aperture is configured to support movement of a bullet through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/278,833, filed Jan. 14, 2016 to Adrian Chavez, and titled "Pistol Compensator," the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Compensators are typically used to compensate against barrel rise (i.e., muzzle rise) when firing a firearm. Conventional compensators, however, may permit entry of contaminates, require expensive additional parts, and so forth and thus even if available are generally avoided by consumers.

SUMMARY

[0003] A compensator for a pistol is described. In one example, a compensator includes an outer surface, a coupling, and an aperture. The outer surface is configured to mimic an outer surface of a slide of a pistol, to which, the compensator is to be attached. The coupling is configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol. The aperture is configured to support movement of a bullet through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

[0004] In another example, a compensator is formed from a single integral portion of metal having an outer surface, a coupling, and an aperture. The outer surface has a sight portion configured to support attachment of at least one optical sight that is viewable by a user to aim a pistol. The coupling is configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol. The aperture is configured to support movement of a bullet through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

[0005] In a further example, a system includes a pistol having a slide configured to support movement to eject a shell when fired and a compensator. The compensator is configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol. The compensator includes an outer surface having a sight portion having at least one optical sight that is viewable by a user to aim a pistol in which movement of the slide is isolated from movement of the at least one optical sight and an aperture configured to support movement of a bullet there-through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

[0006] This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. As such, this Summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. Entities represented in the figures may be indicative of one or more entities and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single or plural forms of the entities in the discussion.

[0008] FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a compensator as removably attached to a firearm.

[0009] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict respective side views of the compensator of FIG. 1 as attached to a barrel of the firearm.

[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict respective isometric views of the compensator of FIG. 1 as attached to a barrel of a firearm and having an outer surface that mimics an outer surface of a slide of the firearm.

[0011] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict solid and wire side views, respectively, of a compensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide of a firearm.

[0012] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict solid and wire isometric views, respectively, of a compensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide of a firearm.

[0013] FIGS. 6A and 6B depict solid and wire top views, respectively, of a compensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide of a firearm.

[0014] FIGS. 7A and 7B depict solid and wire bottom views, respectively, of a compensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide of a firearm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a compensator 102 as removably attached to a firearm 104. The compensator 102 in this example is formed as a single piece of metal that is attached to a barrel of the firearm 102 as further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Outer dimensions of the compensator 102 are configured to match those of a slide 104 of the pistol. This provides a uniform surface and reduces a potential of encountering a snag when the firearm 104 with compensator is drawn from a holster or other holder.

[0016] An aperture 108 is included on an end along an axis that follows a barrel of the pistol 106 to permit passage of a bullet when fired. The compensator 102 also includes first and second vents 110, 112 (e.g., box flutes) positioned at a top surface of the compensator 102 that are operable to compensate for muzzle rise due to firing of a bullet by venting expanding gases. Additionally, first and second side vents 114, 116 (e.g., box flutes) are also included that are also configured to compensate against movement when the pistol 106 is fired. Other implementations are also contemplated in which vents are not included, e.g., the compensator relies on the weight of the compensator itself to reduce movement when fired.

[0017] The compensator 102 further includes a securing portion 118, which in this instance is a set screw that is configured to engage a flattened (e.g., milled) portion of a barrel of the firearm. This allows an outer surface of the compensator 102 to be efficiently aligned with an outer surface of a slide of the firearm 104 as further described in relation to FIGS. 3A-3B.

[0018] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict respective side views 200, 250 of the compensator 102 as attached to a barrel 202 of the firearm 104. The following discussion refers interchangeably to FIGS. 2A and 2B. In this example, an attachment portion 204 is configured through the use of threads to attach the compensator to a barrel of the firearm 104. Other examples are also contemplated, such as to employ a pin-and-grove arrangement.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2B, the compensator 102 is configured to remain stationary independent of motion of a slide 206 of the firearm that is used to eject a cartridge of a bullet after firing. The optical sight 208 in this example, however, is not. Thus, movement of the optical sight 208 in this example may make it difficult for an operator to make a follow-up shot. However, in the example implementations described in relation to FIGS. 4A-7B, the compensator 102 is configured to mount the optical sight thereto, which may then be removed from the slide 206 of the firearm 104. By doing this, a front sight will actually sit on the compensator 102, and thus be attached to a barrel of the firearm 104. In this way, the front sight remains more-or-less stationary when the firearm 104 is fired, allowing for increased efficiency in a follow-up shot. This also allows the slide 206 to be lightened without cutting holes in it. This and other examples are further described in the following in relation to and shown in corresponding FIGS. 4A-7B.

[0020] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict respective isometric views 300, 350 of the compensator 102 as attached to a barrel 202 of the firearm 104 and having an outer surface that mimics an outer surface of a slide of the firearm 104. The following discussion refers interchangeably to FIGS. 3A and 3B. In this example, an interior of the barrel and aperture 108 define a longitudinal axis. The compensator 102 is configured such that an outer surface of the compensator 102 as defined by a plane taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis mimics an outer surface of the slide 206. For example, the outer surface of the compensator in this example does not extend along this plane, generally, outside the outer surface defined by the slide 104, absent the optical sight in some examples as described in relation to FIGS. 4A-7B.

[0021] As depicted, for instance, the slide 206 of the firearm 104 includes a top outer surface 302 and first and second side surfaces 304, 306 that oppose each other. Likewise, the compensator 102 includes a top outer surface 308 and first and second side surfaces 310, 312 that oppose each other. The compensator 102 is configured such that the top outer surface 302 and first and second side surfaces 304, 306 of the slide 206 are continuous with the top outer surface 308 and first and second side surfaces 310, 312 of the compensator 102. This also includes corners 314, 316 of the slide 206 that are formed to provide a generally continuous surface with corners 318, 320 of the compensator 102. This provides a uniform surface and reduces a potential of encountering a snag when the firearm 104 with compensator 102 is drawn from a holster or other holder. In additional implementations, this surface remains continuous even with the addition of textures or other features used to improve grip.

[0022] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict solid 400 and wire 450 side views, respectively, of a compensator 102 configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide 206 of a firearm. FIGS. 5A and 5B depict solid 500 and wire 550 isometric views, respectively, of a compensator 102 configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide 206 of a firearm. FIGS. 6A and 6B depict solid 600 and wire 650 top views, respectively, of a compensator 102 configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide 206 of a firearm. FIGS. 7A and 7B depict solid 700 and wire 750 bottom views, respectively, of a compensator 102 configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide 206 of a firearm.

[0023] The compensator 102 in this example includes sight portions 502, 504 configured as channels (e.g., "cut outs") formed within the metal of the compensator 102 that is configured to accept an optical sight as a key that attaches to the channels. Therefore, through attachment of the compensator 102 to the barrel 202 of the firearm 104, the compensator 102 stays stationary and independent of movement of the slide 206, e.g., when firing the firearm 104. This permits an operator of the firearm 104 to maintain and/or reacquire sighting of the firearm 104 between shots in an efficient and intuitive manner, which is not possible in conventional compensators.

CONCLUSION

[0024] Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A compensator comprising: an outer surface that mimics an outer surface of a slide of a pistol, to which, the compensator is to be attached; a coupling configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol; and an aperture configured to support movement of a bullet through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

2. A compensator as described in claim 1, further comprising one or more vents configured to vent gases when a bullet is fired by the pistol.

3. A compensator as described in claim 2, wherein the one or more vents are configured to reduce movement of the pistol when the bullet is fired through venting of the gases.

4. A compensator as described in claim 1, wherein the coupling that supports removable attachment is achieved through a threaded arrangement with the barrel of the pistol.

5. A compensator as described in claim 1, wherein the coupling that supports removable attachment is achieved through pin-and-grove arrangement with the barrel of the pistol.

6. A compensator as described in claim 1, further comprising a sight portion configured to support attachment of at least one optical sight that is viewable by a user to aim the pistol.

7. A compensator as described in claim 6, wherein the at least one optical sight is isolated from movement of a slide of the pistol when the pistol is fired.

8. A compensator as described in claim 6, wherein the at least one optical sight is a holographic sight.

9. A compensator as described in claim 6, wherein the at least one optical sight is an iron sight.

10. A compensator comprising: a single integral portion of metal having; an outer surface having a sight portion configured to support attachment of at least one optical sight that is viewable by a user to aim a pistol; a coupling configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol; and an aperture configured to support movement of a bullet when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

11. A compensator as described in claim 10, further comprising one or more vents configured to vent gases when a bullet is fired by the pistol.

12. A compensator as described in claim 11, wherein the one or more vents are configured to reduce movement of the pistol when the bullet is fired through venting of the gases.

13. A compensator as described in claim 10, wherein the coupling that supports removable attachment is achieved through a threaded arrangement with the barrel of the pistol.

14. A compensator as described in claim 10, wherein the coupling that supports removable attachment is achieved through pin-and-grove arrangement with the barrel of the pistol.

15. A compensator as described in claim 10, wherein the at least one optical sight is isolated from movement of a slide of the pistol when the pistol is fired.

16. A system comprising: a pistol having a slide configured to support movement to eject a shell when fired; and a compensator supporting removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol, the compensator including: an outer surface having a sight portion having at least one optical sight that is viewable by a user to aim a pistol in which movement of the slide is isolated from movement of the at least one optical sight; and an aperture configured to support movement of a bullet there-through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

17. A system as described in claim 16, wherein the compensator further comprises one or more vents configured to vent gases when a bullet is fired by the pistol.

18. A system as described in claim 16, wherein the one or more vents are configured to reduce movement of the pistol when the bullet is fired through venting of the gases.

19. A system as described in claim 16, wherein the at least one optical sight is a holographic sight.

20. A system as described in claim 16, wherein the at least one optical sight is an iron sight.