Collapsible gun cleaning rod

Abstract

A collapsible gun cleaning rod including a plurality of elongated, tubular sections which fit together to form a rod having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the tubular section defining the proximal end portion being in screw engagement with the adjacent elongated tubular section, a biasing spring disposed within the proximal end portion, an inextensible strand fixed in the proximal end portion and extending through the plurality of elongated, tubular sections and fixed to the distal end portion, whereby, when either the proximal end portion or the tubular section adjacent thereto is rotated relative to each other, the gun cleaning rod is lengthened against the bias of the spring, causing the plurality of tubular elongated sections to fit together in the rigid manner relative to each other.

1 . A collapsible gun cleaning rod which comprises: 
 a plurality of elongated, tubular sections which fit together to form a rod having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,    the tubular section defining the proximal end portion being coupled by screw threads with the adjacent elongated tubular section and constrained for movement relative to the adjacent elongated tubular section by the screw threads,    a spring seated within the proximal end portion,    an inextensible strand having an end abutment disposed in the proximal end portion and confronting the spring, the inextensible strand extending through the spring and the plurality of elongated, tubular sections and fixed to the distal end portion, whereby, when either the proximal end portion or the tubular section adjacent thereto is rotated relative to each other, the gun cleaning rod is lengthened against the bias of the spring, causing the plurality of tubular elongated sections to fit together in a rigid manner relative to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The collapsible gun cleaning rod of  claim 1 , wherein a handle is pivotally attached to the proximal end portion of the gun cleaning rod forming a “T” configuration with respect thereto, said handle containing a slot which is adapted to substantially accommodate a portion of the elongated tubular section defining the proximal end portion, whereby the handle can be rotated to align with and accommodate said portion of the proximal end portion.  
   
   
       3 . The collapsible gun cleaning rod of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of elongated tubular sections contain male and female end portions which fit together to define the gun cleaning rod.  
   
   
       4 . The collapsible gun cleaning rod of  claim 1  wherein the distal end portion is provided with a configuration for attaching a cleaning patch thereto.  
   
   
       5 . The collapsible gun cleaning rod of  claim 1  wherein the proximal end portion has internal threads and the adjacent elongated tubular section has external threads.  
   
   
       6 . The collapsible gun cleaning rod of  claim 5 , wherein the end portion of said adjacent elongated tubular section is gradually enlarged to establish a tight engagement with the proximal end portion.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . The collapsible gun cleaning rod of  claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the tubular sections defining the proximal end portion, simultaneously increases the tension and locks the tension in the inextensible strand.