Device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle

Abstract

A device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle comprises a gun fore-end of the automatic rifle integral to a barrel of the automatic rifle and having externally a first portion of mutual shape-coupling means between a frame of the grenade launcher and the gun fore-end. A second portion of the mutual coupling means is externally associated to a frame of the grenade launcher. The first and second portions mutually slide one inside the other along a direction which is parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle in order to fasten the grenade launcher to the automatic rifle in a direction which is transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle. The first portion comprises a track directly associated to the gun fore-end and the second portion comprises a sliding seat being defined in a frame of the grenade launcher. The sliding seat is capable of being slidingly engaged on the track from the front end to the rear end of the track.

1 . A device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle, said coupling device comprising a gun fore-end of said automatic rifle integral to a barrel of the same automatic rifle and having a first portion of mutual shape coupling means externally between a frame of the grenade launcher and said gun fore-end, said coupling device further comprising a second portion of said mutual coupling means being externally associated to a frame of grenade launcher, said first and second portions mutually sliding one inside the other along a direction which is parallel to barrel of automatic rifle in order to fasten grenade launcher to automatic rifle in a direction which is transversal to barrel of automatic rifle.  
   
   
       2 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion comprises a track being directly associated to said gun fore-end and extending on the lower side of and parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle between a front end and a rear end, and wherein said second portion comprises a sliding seat being defined in a frame of the grenade launcher and extending in the upper side of the grenade launcher and parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle between a front end and a rear end, said sliding seat being capable of being slidingly engaged on track from the front end to the rear end of the track in order to fasten grenade launcher to the automatic rifle in a direction which is transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       3 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 2 , wherein said rear end of said sliding seat defines an abutment surface adapted to abut against a striking surface being associated to said gun fore-end and located at a portion directly associated to a frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       4 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 3 , wherein said striking surface is located, in an assembled position of the grenade launcher and automatic rifle, on the front side of interference means adapted to make a constraint for the relative sliding motion between the automatic rifle and the grenade launcher, parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       5 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 4 , wherein said interference means comprise an interference pivot being transversally inserted between the frame of the grenade launcher and said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       6 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 5 , wherein said interference pivot is located on the rear side of the mutual abutment and striking surfaces of said sliding seat and said track.  
   
   
       7 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 5 , wherein said interference means comprise at least one elastic element adapted to transversally lock said interference pivot between the frame of the grenade launcher and said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       8 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 7 , wherein said elastic element is housed inside said interference pivot and comprises a coupling portion being adapted to pass through an aperture of said interference pivot.  
   
   
       9 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according  claim 5 , comprising at least one fastening wing extending from the frame of the grenade launcher on the rear side of its respective sliding seat and comprising a housing for said interference pivot.  
   
   
       10 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 9 , wherein said frame of the grenade launcher comprises two fastening wings rear side and on the opposite sides of their respective sliding seat, and wherein said fastening wings comprise their respective housings for said interference pivot and are adapted to be arranged on their respective opposite sides of said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       11 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 5 , wherein said gun fore-end comprises a tooth extending in the lower and rear sides of the gun fore-end in order to be inserted into a slot of a frame of the automatic rifle located at the lower side of barrel of the same automatic rifle, said tooth comprising a housing slot for said interference pivot.  
   
   
       12 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 11 , wherein said tooth is arranged as a rear and lower extension of said track.  
   
   
       13 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein said tooth is directly fastened onto the frame of the automatic rifle in order to define a rear fastening point for said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       14 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 13 , wherein said rear fastening point of said gun fore-end directly on the frame of automatic rifle allows the gun fore-end to be free to rotate around an axis transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       15 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 14 , wherein said rear fastening point comprises a coupling pivot being transversally inserted between the gun fore-end and frame of the automatic rifle, at the tooth of the gun fore-end.  
   
   
       16 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 15 , wherein said tooth has a cross hole in order to accommodate the coupling pivot.  
   
   
       17 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 16 , wherein the cross hole of said tooth is located at the rear side of the housing slot of the interference pivot of the interference means.  
   
   
       18 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 11 , wherein said gun fore-end comprises a wrapping portion embracing the barrel of the automatic rifle at the lower side and sideways thereof, by overhanging the same barrel at least in one front portion of said gun fore-end in which there are provided inserting seats of a cross fastener being adapted to be rested on the barrel of the automatic rifle in order to fasten said front portion of said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       19 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 2 , wherein the track has a “T-shaped” cross section.  
   
   
       20 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 19 , wherein said track comprises sloping surfaces adapted to define a bilateral fastening which locks the grenade launcher in a plane which is transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       21 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 2 , wherein said track has a plurality of notches being located transversal to the barrel of the rifle at one outer and lower surface of the track.  
   
   
       22 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 1 , wherein said second portion of the mutual coupling means comprises an abutment surface adapted to abut against a striking surface being associated to said gun fore-end and located at a portion directly associated to a frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       23 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 22 , wherein said striking surface is located, in an assembled position of the grenade launcher and automatic rifle, at the front side of interference means being adapted to provide a constraint for the relative sliding motion between the automatic rifle and grenade launcher, parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       24 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 1 , comprising a rear and lower portion of said gun fore-end being integral directly to a frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       25 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 24 , wherein said rear and lower portion of said gun fore-end is adapted to be directly fastened onto a frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       26 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 25 , further comprising means for locking a front portion of said gun fore-end on the barrel of the automatic rifle, said barrel holding the front portion of said gun fore-end at the lower side thereof by means of said locking means, thereby said gun fore-end is fastened to the front and upper sides of the barrel and directly to the rear and lower sides of the frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       27 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 24 , wherein said rear and lower portion of gun fore-end directly integral to a frame of automatic rifle is arranged as a rear and lower extension of the first portion of the mutual shape-coupling means.  
   
   
       28 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 27 , wherein said rear and lower portion of said gun fore-end comprises a tooth extending in the lower and rear sides of gun fore-end in order to be inserted into a slot of a frame of the automatic rifle located on the lower side of barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       29 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 28 , wherein said tooth is arranged as a rear and lower extension of said first portion of the mutual shape-coupling means.  
   
   
       30 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 29 , wherein said tooth is directly fastened onto the frame of the automatic rifle in order to define a rear fastening point of said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       31 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 30 , wherein said rear fastening point of said gun fore-end provided directly on frame of automatic rifle allows the gun fore-end to be free to rotate around an axis transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       32 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 31 , wherein said rear fastening point comprises a coupling pivot being transversally inserted between the gun fore-end and the frame of the automatic rifle, at the tooth of the gun fore-end.  
   
   
       33 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 32 , wherein said tooth has a cross hole in order to accommodate the coupling pivot.  
   
   
       34 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 33 , wherein cross hole of said tooth is located on the rear side of interference means adapted to provide a constraint for the relative sliding motion between the automatic rifle and the grenade launcher, parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       35 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 34 , wherein said interference means comprise an interference pivot being transversally inserted between the frame of the grenade launcher and said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       36 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 35 , wherein said interference means comprise at least one elastic element adapted to transversally lock said interference pivot between the frame of the grenade launcher and said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       37 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according  claim 36 , wherein said elastic element is housed inside said interference pivot and comprises a coupling portion adapted to pass through an aperture of said interference pivot.  
   
   
       38 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 35 , wherein said interference pivot is located at the rear side of mutual abutment and striking surfaces of said first and second portions of the mutual shape coupling means.  
   
   
       39 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 35 , comprising at least one fastening wing extending on the rear side from the frame of the grenade launcher and comprising a housing for said interference pivot.  
   
   
       40 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 39 , comprising two fastening wings extending from frame of the grenade launcher on the rear side and opposite sides, and wherein said fastening wings comprise their respective housings for said interference pivot and are adapted to be arranged on their respective opposite sides of said tooth.  
   
   
       41 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 24 , wherein said gun fore-end comprises a wrapping portion embracing the barrel of the automatic rifle at the lower side and sideways thereof, by overhanging the barrel at least at one front portion of said gun fore-end in which there are provided inserting seats for a cross fastener adapted to be abutted on the barrel of the automatic rifle in order to fasten said front portion of said gun fore-end.  
   
   
       42 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 24  or  claim 2 , wherein said rear end of said sliding seat defines an abutment surface adapted to abut against a striking surface being associated to said gun fore-end and located at the rear and lower portion of said gun fore-end directly integral with the frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       43 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 1 , wherein said gun fore-end is made integral and as one piece with a frame of automatic rifle.  
   
   
       44 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 43  or  claim 2 , wherein the track has a “T-shaped” cross section.  
   
   
       45 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 44 , wherein said track comprises sloping surfaces adapted to define a bilateral fastening which transversally locks the grenade launcher to the barrel of the rifle in either directions.  
   
   
       46 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 2 , wherein said track has a plurality of notches being located transversal to the barrel of the rifle at an outer and lower surface of the track.  
   
   
       47 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 24 , wherein said rear and lower portion of said gun fore-end is made integral and as one piece with the frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       48 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 1 , wherein said gun fore-end comprises at least one sidetrack adapted to accommodate accessories.  
   
   
       49 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 48 , wherein the sidetrack is provided as one piece in the gun fore-end.  
   
   
       50 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 48 , wherein the sidetrack has a “T-shaped” cross section.  
   
   
       51 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 50 , wherein the sidetrack comprises sloping surfaces adapted to define a bilateral fastening for an accessory.  
   
   
       52 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 48 , wherein the sidetrack has a plurality of notches (being located transversal to barrel of the rifle at an outer surface of the sidetrack.  
   
   
       53 . The device for coupling a grenade launcher with an automatic rifle according to  claim 48 , wherein said gun fore-end comprises two sidetracks either for the assembly of more accessories or in order to allow front sights or other accessories to be right or left mounted.  
   
   
       54 . A kit comprising an automatic rifle being provided with a gun fore-end integral to a barrel of the rifle and having a first portion of mutual shape-coupling means externally between a frame of a grenade launcher and said gun fore-end, the kit further comprises either at least one covering element, or more covering elements being different from one another in shape, size, material, surface cover or other features, said covering element comprising a further second portion of mutual shape coupling means being similar to a second portion of mutual shape coupling means associated to a frame of the grenade launcher in order to fasten the covering element to the automatic rifle in a direction which is transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle when the grenade launcher is not fastened to the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       55 . A frame of an automatic rifle having integrally and as one piece a gun fore-end having externally a first portion of mutual shape coupling means adapted to be mutually coupled with a second portion externally associated to an additional device, such as a frame of a grenade launcher, an accessory or a covering element, said first and second portions being adapted to mutually slide one inside the other along a direction which is parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle in order to fasten the additional device to the automatic rifle in a direction which is transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       56 . A gun fore-end of an automatic rifle adapted to be fastened directly onto a frame of the automatic rifle, said gun fore-end having externally a first portion of mutual shape coupling means adapted to be mutually coupled with a second portion externally associated to an additional device, such as a frame of a grenade launcher, an accessory or a covering element, said first and second portions being adapted to mutually slide one inside the other along a direction which is parallel to the barrel of the automatic rifle in a direction which is transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       57 . The gun fore-end according to  claim 56 , comprising a rear and lower portion adapted to be made integral directly with a frame of the automatic rifle such as to carry out a rear fastening point adapted to allow the gun fore-end to be free to rotate around an axis transversal to the barrel of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       58 . The gun fore-end according to  claim 57 , wherein the rear and lower portion of the gun fore-end is provided in the shape of a tooth being adapted to be inserted into a slot of the frame of the automatic rifle.  
   
   
       59 . The gun fore-end according to  claim 56 , further comprising means for locking a front portion of the gun fore-end on a barrel of the automatic rifle such that the barrel holds the front portion of gun fore-end at the lower side thereof by means for locking, thereby said fore-end is fastened to the front and upper sides of the barrel and directly to the rear and lower sides of the frame of the automatic rifle.