Components made of polymers with high luminous transmittance for compressed-gas-powered guns

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system of components for a compressed-gas-powered gun. The components are made of a transparent polymer, such as polycarbonate. The components are durable, highly attractive, and, because they are clear, permit a user to see through them to determine any gun failure. A method of installing a major component, a breech block, is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a compressed-gas-powered gun comprising 
 a main body, a barrel, a grip frame, and a gas-inlet regulator body,    the improvement comprising a component selected from the group consisting of a main body, a barrel, a grip-frame, a gas-inlet regulator body, a breech block, a bolt, a sight, a volumizer, a back plate and any sub-components of the foregoing components,    wherein the component consists essentially of a transparent polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the component is the main body.  
     
     
         3 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the component is the barrel.  
     
     
         4 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the component is the grip frame.  
     
     
         5 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the component is the gas-inlet regulator body.  
     
     
         6 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the component is the breech block.  
     
     
         7 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the component is the bolt.  
     
     
         8 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a subcomponent of the main body, a subcomponent of the barrel, a subcomponent of the grip frame, a subcomponent of the gas-inlet regulator body, a subcomponent of the breech block, and a subcomponent of the bolt.  
     
     
         9 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent polymer is a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         10 . The compressed-gas-powered gun of  claim 9 , wherein the thermoplastic is polycarbonate.  
     
     
         11 . A system of components for a compressed-gas-powered gun having a bolt-carrier assembly defining a bore of substantially uniform diameter, the system comprising: 
 a breech block consisting essentially of a transparent polymer;    a plurality of fasteners for securing the breech block to the bolt-carrier assembly;    a cylindrical rod comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a first part beginning at the proximal end and a second part terminating at the distal end, wherein the diameter of the first part is less than the diameter of the bore and the diameter of the second part is greater than the diameter of the bore, and wherein the first part has a length such that when the rod is inserted into the bore of the bolt-carrier assembly, the proximal end extends to a point that demarcates a length of a first channel in the bolt-carrier assembly that receives a fastener by which the breech block is secured to the bolt-carrier assembly.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first part of the cylindrical rod is of uniform diameter for a first portion of the first part and increases in diameter for a second part of the first portion of the rod.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first part of the cylindrical rod is of constant diameter over more than 75% of its length.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first part of the cylindrical rod is of constant diameter for a first potion of the first part and increases in diameter for a second part of the first portion, and the second part is of constant diameter.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the translucent polymer is polycarbonate.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical rod comprises a translucent polymer.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the translucent polymer is polycarbonate.  
     
     
         18 . The system of any one of claims  12 - 14 , wherein the cylindrical rod comprises a translucent polymer.  
     
     
         19 . The system of any one of claims  12 - 15 , wherein the cylindrical rod comprises polycarbonate.  
     
     
         20 . The system of any one of claims  12 - 17 , wherein the cylindrical rod further comprises a groove 0.01-1 mm wide along the circumference of the rod at a point that demarcates a length of a second channel in the bolt-carrier assembly that receives a fastener by which the breech block is secured to the bolt-carrier assembly.  
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a breech block within a bolt-carrier assembly of a compressed-gas-powered gun, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a bolt-carrier assembly defining a bore of uniform diameter;    providing a breech block comprising a transparent polymer;    providing a cylindrical rod comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a first part beginning at the proximal end and a second part terminating at the distal end, wherein the diameter of the first part is less than the diameter of the bore of the bolt-carrier assembly and the diameter of the second part is greater than the diameter of the bore;    placing the breech block within the bolt-carrier assembly;    inserting the cylindrical rod into the bore of the bolt-carrier assembly as far as the diameter of the second part of the rod will permit;    drilling a channel into the breech block having a length demarcated by the proximal end of the rod.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first part of the cylindrical rod is of constant diameter for a first portion of the first part and increases in diameter for a second portion of the first part.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first part of the cylindrical rod is of constant diameter.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first part of the cylindrical rod is of constant diameter for a first portion of the first part and increases in diameter for a second portion of the first part, and the second part is of constant diameter.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the translucent polymer is polycarbonate.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical rod comprises a translucent polymer.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the translucent polymer is polycarbonate.  
     
     
         28 . The method of any one of claims  22 - 24 , wherein the cylindrical rod comprises a translucent polymer.  
     
     
         29 . The method of any one of claims  22 - 25 , wherein the cylindrical rod comprises polycarbonate.  
     
     
         30 . The system of any one of claims  22 - 27 , wherein the cylindrical rod further comprises a groove 0.01-1 mm wide along the circumference of the rod at a point that demarcates a length of a second channel in the bolt-carrier assembly that receives a fastener by which the breech block is secured to the bolt-carrier assembly.