Recoil reducer

Abstract

A recoil reducing device that reduces the recoil felt by users of rifles and shotguns. The recoil reducing device includes of a force-distribution member that increases the area over which the recoil force is distributed, thereby reducing the force per unit area, and a compressible element that cushions the user from the force of recoil. The force-distribution member can include tabs along its edges. Any number of the tabs may be bent outward, relative to the shoulder of the user to better form the recoil reducing device to the user. Also alternatively, the force-distribution member can include a plurality of grooves along a portion of its edge, and can also include interior cuts within.

1 . A recoil reducing device comprising: 
 a force-distribution member having a force surface area that is substantially greater than the given surface area of a recoil imparting end of a longarm's butt stock, and wherein the force-distribution member is configured to approximately conform to a shooting shoulder of a user; and    a compressible member having a compressible surface area that is substantially greater than the given surface area of the recoil imparting end of a longarm's butt stock.    
   
   
       2 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force surface area of the force-distribution member ranges in size of approximately 1.5 times to 12.5 times greater than the given surface area of the recoil imparting end of the butt stock.  
   
   
       3 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-distribution member includes a polycarbonate thermoplastic.  
   
   
       4 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible member includes a urethane foam.  
   
   
       5 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the force-distribution member includes an edge, the edge formed to protrude away from the shooting shoulder of the user; and    the force-distribution member includes a plurality of tabs along a portion of the edge.    
   
   
       6 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein; 
 the force-distribution member includes an edge the edge formed to protrude away from the shooting shoulder of the user; and    the force-distribution member includes a plurality of grooves along a portion of the edge.    
   
   
       7 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-distribution member includes an interior cut.  
   
   
       8 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the tabs is bent at an angle approximately in the range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees relative to a front surface of the force distribution member.  
   
   
       9 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the force-distribution member includes a second edge; and    the second edge includes a second plurality of tabs.    
   
   
       10 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 9 , wherein with the recoil reducing device in an operable position, at least a tab of the second plurality of tabs extends in a direction generally towards the shooting shoulder of the user.  
   
   
       11 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 9 , wherein with the recoil reducing device in operable position, at least a tab of the second plurality of tabs extends generally outward from the front of the user.  
   
   
       12 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-distribution member has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.015 inch to 1 inch.  
   
   
       13 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible member has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.1 inch to 3 inches.  
   
   
       14 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-distribution member has a D790 flexural modulus in the range of approximately 15,000 psi. to 700,000 psi.  
   
   
       15 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-distribution member and the compressible member are coupled together to form a coupled force-distribution member and compressible member.  
   
   
       16 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 15 , wherein the force-distribution member is coupled to the compressible member by an adhesive.  
   
   
       17 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 15 , further including: 
 an outer member that substantially covers the coupled force-distribution member and compressible member.    
   
   
       18 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 17 , wherein the outer member comprises a pouch, the pouch defines a generally hollow interior, and at least a portion of the coupled force-distribution member and compressible member is receivable into the generally hollow interior of the pouch.  
   
   
       19 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 1 , further including an outer member that covers a substantial portion of the force-distribution member and the compressible member.  
   
   
       20 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the outer member comprises a pouch, the pouch defines a generally hollow interior; and    at least a portion of the force-distribution member and at least a portion of the compressible member are receivable into the hollow interior of the pouch.    
   
   
       21 . A recoil reducing device for reducing the recoil felt by a user of a longarm, the longarm including a butt stock, the butt stock including a recoil imparting end having a given surface area, the recoil reducing device comprising: 
 a force-distribution member having a surface area that is substantially greater than the given surface area of the recoil imparting end of the butt stock, the force-distribution member configured to approximately conform to a shoulder of the user, and the force-distribution member including an edge that protrudes away from the user;    a compressible member coupled to and abutted to the force-distribution member, the compressible member having a surface area that is substantially greater than the given surface area of the recoil imparting end of the butt stock; and    an outer member that covers a substantial portion of the force-distribution member and the compressible member.    
   
   
       22 . The recoil reducing device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the force-distribution member includes a first portion, a second portion, and a central portion, the first portion having a first plurality of tabs, the second portion having a second plurality of tabs, and the central portion extending between the first portion and the second portion; and    at least one tab of the first plurality of tabs is bent outward, relative to the shoulder of the user, from the central portion.