Blank firing barrels for semiautomatic pistols and method of repetitive blank fire

Abstract

The present invention embodiments provide a barrel component with the forward under-portion of the barrel configured in various manners. For example, the configurations may include an upward displacement, or angular or radial contouring, of barrel material at the forward underside of a barrel component understation or projection. These configurations provide clearance to allow the barrel to bypass frame-mounted impediments to blank-fire, and permit proper timing and coordination of rearward barrel motion under impact of the recoiling slide and the resultant barrel drop into recoil position without interference with, or re-capture by, the reciprocating slide component. In addition, the blank-fire barrel may be configured to incorporate a laser device for marksmanship training and conducting realistic tactical training exercises.

1 . A barrel unit for a firearm to enable repetitive blank fire comprising:
 a barrel portion; and   a chamber portion disposed proximally of said barrel portion to receive a blank cartridge, wherein said chamber portion includes:
 a first projection disposed on a chamber portion bottom surface toward a barrel unit proximal end; and 
 a second projection disposed on said chamber portion bottom surface toward said barrel portion, wherein said first and second projections are separated on said chamber portion bottom surface by a gap, and said chamber portion bottom surface extending from said barrel portion to said first projection is substantially planar with said barrel portion bottom surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The barrel unit of  claim 1 , wherein said firearm includes a slide with a slide abutment surface, and said chamber portion further includes:
 a barrel abutment surface disposed on said chamber portion top surface toward said barrel portion, wherein said barrel abutment surface is angled to delay engagement by said slide abutment surface during recoil of said firearm.   
     
     
         3 . The barrel unit of  claim 2 , wherein said gap displaces said first projection from said second projection sufficiently to enable proper drop of said barrel unit in said firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The barrel unit of  claim 1 , wherein said barrel unit is configured for a Heckler and Koch type pistol. 
     
     
         5 . The barrel unit of  claim 1 , wherein said barrel portion includes an occlusion to prevent passage of combustion gases generated from discharge of said blank cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The barrel unit of  claim 1 , wherein said barrel portion includes threading at a barrel portion distal end. 
     
     
         7 . The barrel unit of  claim 1 , further including a laser device at least partially disposed within said barrel portion to emit a laser beam in response to actuation of said firearm. 
     
     
         8 . The barrel unit of  claim 7 , wherein said barrel portion includes threading at a barrel portion distal end, and said laser device includes complementary threading to engage said barrel portion threading and secure said laser device to said barrel portion. 
     
     
         9 . A firearm for repetitive blank fire comprising:
 a frame;   a slide mounted on said frame; and   a barrel unit including:
 a barrel portion; and 
 a chamber portion disposed proximally of said barrel portion to receive a blank cartridge, wherein said chamber portion includes:
 a first projection disposed on a chamber portion bottom surface toward a barrel unit proximal end; and 
 a second projection disposed on said chamber portion bottom surface toward said barrel portion, wherein said first and second projections are separated on said chamber portion bottom surface by a gap, and said chamber portion bottom surface extending from said barrel portion to said first projection is substantially planar with said barrel portion bottom surface. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . A method of enabling repetitive blank fire within a firearm, wherein said firearm includes a barrel unit comprising a barrel portion and a chamber portion disposed proximally of said barrel portion to receive a blank cartridge, and wherein said chamber portion includes a first projection disposed on a chamber portion bottom surface toward a barrel unit proximal end and a second projection disposed on said chamber portion bottom surface toward said barrel portion and separated from said first projection by a gap, said method comprising:
 (a) configuring said chamber portion bottom surface extending from said barrel portion to said first projection to be substantially planar with said barrel portion bottom surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said firearm includes a slide with a slide abutment surface and said chamber portion further includes a barrel abutment surface disposed on said chamber portion top surface toward said barrel portion, said method further comprising:
 (b) configuring said barrel abutment surface to be angled to delay engagement by said slide abutment surface during recoil of said firearm.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (c) configuring said gap to displace said first projection from said second projection sufficiently to enable proper drop of said barrel unit in said firearm.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (b) preventing passage of combustion gases generated from discharge of said blank cartridge within said barrel portion via an occlusion.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (b) configuring said barrel portion to include threading at a barrel portion distal end.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (b) receiving a laser device at least partially within said barrel portion to emit a laser beam in response to actuation of said firearm.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said barrel portion includes threading at a barrel portion distal end and said laser device includes complementary threading, and step (b) further includes:
 (b.1) engaging said barrel portion threading with said laser device threading to secure said laser device to said barrel portion.   
     
     
         17 . A barrel unit for a firearm to enable repetitive blank fire comprising:
 a barrel portion; and   a chamber portion disposed proximally of said barrel portion to receive a blank cartridge, wherein said chamber portion includes:
 a first projection disposed on a chamber portion bottom surface toward a barrel unit proximal end; and 
 a second projection disposed on said chamber portion bottom surface toward said barrel portion, wherein said first and second projections are separated on said chamber portion bottom surface by a gap, and wherein said second projection includes a lower projection with a bottom surface projecting toward said chamber portion and forming a distal portion of a bottom surface of said second projection. 
   
     
     
         18 . The barrel unit of  claim 17 , wherein said lower projection bottom surface is oriented at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said barrel unit. 
     
     
         19 . The barrel unit of  claim 17 , wherein said lower projection bottom surface includes a curved configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The barrel unit of  claim 17 , wherein said firearm includes a slide with a slide abutment surface, and said chamber portion further includes:
 a barrel abutment surface disposed on said chamber portion top surface toward said barrel portion, wherein said barrel abutment surface is angled to delay engagement by said slide abutment surface during recoil of said firearm.   
     
     
         21 . The barrel unit of  claim 20 , wherein said gap displaces said first projection from said second projection sufficiently to enable proper drop of said barrel unit in said firearm. 
     
     
         22 . The barrel unit of  claim 17 , wherein said barrel unit is configured for a GLOCK type pistol. 
     
     
         23 . The barrel unit of  claim 17 , wherein said barrel portion includes an occlusion to prevent passage of combustion gases generated from discharge of said blank cartridge. 
     
     
         24 . The barrel unit of  claim 17 , wherein said barrel portion includes threading at a barrel portion distal end. 
     
     
         25 . The barrel unit of  claim 17 , further including a laser device at least partially disposed within said barrel portion to emit a laser beam in response to actuation of said firearm. 
     
     
         26 . The barrel unit of  claim 25 , wherein said barrel portion includes threading at a barrel portion distal end, and said laser device includes complementary threading to engage said barrel portion threading and secure said laser device to said barrel portion. 
     
     
         27 . A firearm for repetitive blank fire comprising:
 a frame;   a slide mounted on said frame; and   a barrel unit including:
 a barrel portion; and 
 a chamber portion disposed proximally of said barrel portion to receive a blank cartridge, wherein said chamber portion includes:
 a first projection disposed on a chamber portion bottom surface toward a barrel unit proximal end; and 
 a second projection disposed on said chamber portion bottom surface toward said barrel portion, wherein said first and second projections are separated on said chamber portion bottom surface by a gap, and wherein said second projection includes a lower projection with a bottom surface projecting distally toward said chamber portion and forming a distal portion of a bottom surface of said second projection. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . A method of enabling repetitive blank fire within a firearm, wherein said firearm includes a barrel unit comprising a barrel portion and a chamber portion disposed proximally of said barrel portion to receive a blank cartridge, and wherein said chamber portion includes a first projection disposed on a chamber portion bottom surface toward a barrel unit proximal end and a second projection disposed on said chamber portion bottom surface toward said barrel portion and separated from said first projection by a gap, said method comprising:
 (a) configuring said second projection to include a lower projection with a bottom surface projecting distally toward said chamber portion and forming a distal portion of a bottom surface of said second projection.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein step (a) further includes:
 (a.1) configuring said lower projection bottom surface to be oriented at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said barrel unit.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein step (a) further includes:
 (a.1) configuring said lower projection bottom surface to include a curved configuration.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said firearm includes a slide with a slide abutment surface and said chamber portion further includes a barrel abutment surface disposed on said chamber portion top surface toward said barrel portion, said method further comprising:
 (b) configuring said barrel abutment surface to be angled to delay engagement by said slide abutment surface during recoil of said firearm.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 (c) configuring said gap to displace said first projection from said second projection sufficiently to enable proper drop of said barrel unit in said firearm.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 (b) preventing passage of combustion gases generated from discharge of said blank cartridge within said barrel portion via an occlusion.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 (b) configuring said barrel portion to include threading at a barrel portion distal end.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 (b) receiving a laser device at least partially within said barrel portion to emit a laser beam in response to actuation of said firearm.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said barrel portion includes threading at a barrel portion distal end and said laser device includes complementary threading, and step (b) further includes:
 (b.1) engaging said barrel portion threading with said laser device threading to secure said laser device to said barrel portion.   
     
     
         37 . The barrel unit of  claim 18 , wherein said angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said barrel unit is in the range of one to fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said barrel unit is in the range of one to fifteen degrees.