Flash suppressor apparatus

Abstract

Flash suppressors having novel expansion features are disclosed. In one embodiment, a suppressor includes an attachment portion adapted to attach to a gun barrel, and a suppressor portion coupled to the attachment portion. The suppressor portion has a suppressor bore that is adapted to be aligned with a longitudinal axis of the gun barrel to allow a projectile from the gun barrel to pass therethrough. The suppressor bore is defined by at least one bore surface having at least one expansion groove disposed therein. The expansion groove may be partially-circumferentially disposed about the suppressor bore, or may include a plurality of expansion grooves. In another embodiment, a flash apparatus includes a suppressor portion having a plurality of longitudinally elongated members spaced apart about a circumference of the suppressor bore, each member being separated from adjacent elongated members by a longitudinal slot, at least one longitudinal slot having non-parallel sidewalls.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A flash suppressor configured to attach to the barrel of a gun and for suppressing the flash created by a muzzle blast from the gun, the flash suppressor comprising:
 a suppressor bore aligned with the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel and the gun barrel bore;   two or more longitudinally extending members disposed about the suppressor bore, each of the two or more longitudinally extending members comprising an inner surface proximate to the suppressor bore, an outer surface, and a first and a second sidewall;   two or more longitudinally extending slots, wherein each of the two or more longitudinally extending slots is formed by the first sidewall of a first longitudinally extending member and the second sidewall of a second longitudinally extending member adjacent the first longitudinally extending member, and wherein the first sidewall of the first longitudinally extending member and the second sidewall of the second longitudinally extending member are non-parallel with respect to each other; and   a plurality of expansion grooves associated with and circumferentially extending along the inner surface of each of the two or more longitudinally extending members.   
     
     
         16 . The flash suppressor of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of expansion grooves are helically disposed along the longitudinally extending members and have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         17 . The flash suppressor of  claim 15 , wherein a first plane that includes the first sidewall and a second plane that includes the second sidewall form a divergence angle of about seven degrees. 
     
     
         18 . A flash suppressor configured to attach to the barrel of a gun and for suppressing the flash created by a muzzle blast from the gun, the flash suppressor comprising:
 a suppressor bore aligned with the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel and the gun barrel bore;   two or more longitudinally extending members disposed about the suppressor bore, each of the two or more longitudinally extending members comprising an inner surface proximate to the suppressor bore, an outer surface, and a first and a second sidewall;   two or more longitudinally extending slots, wherein each of the two or more longitudinally extending slots is formed by the first sidewall of a first longitudinally extending member and the second sidewall of a second longitudinally extending member adjacent the first longitudinally extending member, and wherein the first sidewall of the first longitudinally extending member and the second sidewall of the second longitudinally extending member are non-parallel with respect to each other; and   a plurality of expansion grooves associated with and circumferentially extending along the inner surface of each of the two or more longitudinally extending members, wherein the plurality of expansion grooves associated with each of the two or more longitudinally extending members are positioned relative to the first and second non-parallel sidewalls of the corresponding longitudinally extending member such that the reduction in flash due to muzzle blast is greater than the reduction in flash due to muzzle blast of an identical flash suppressor that does not employ both the first and second non-parallel sidewalls and the plurality of expansion grooves.   
     
     
         19 . The flash suppressor of  claim 18 , wherein the expansion grooves are helically disposed along the longitudinally extending members and have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         20 . The flash suppressor of  claim 18 , wherein a first plane that includes the first sidewall and a second plane that includes the second sidewall form a divergence angle of about seven degrees.