Cleaning implements for firearms

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for cleaning implements for firearms. In one embodiment, a single-use cleaning implement may include a hollow member; and a cleaning surface disposed along a length of the hollow member. The cleaning surface may be disposed about a circumference of the hollow member. A flexible shaft may be configured to extend through the hollow member. The flexible shaft may comprise a retainer component disposed at a distal end, the retainer component configured to abut a distal end of the cleaning implement and to impede the cleaning implement from passing over the retainer component. The flexible shaft may be used to pull the hollow cleaning implement through the barrel of the firearm while the retainer component abuts the distal end of the cleaning implement and the first cleaning surface engages with an inner surface of the barrel to clean the barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single-use cleaning implement for a barrel of a firearm, comprising:
 a shaft;   a plurality of cleaning surfaces disposed along the length of the shaft, each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces being separated from each other cleaning surface by at least a portion of the shaft, and each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces configured to be received within the barrel of the firearm during a cleaning process;   a separator disposed between two adjacent cleaning surfaces, the separator configured to facilitate separation of a first portion of the shaft from a second portion of the shaft, such that after separation of the first portion of the shaft from the second portion of the shaft each of the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft comprise at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces;   wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces exert an outward force against the barrel while the cleaning implement is disposed within the barrel, such that each cleaning surface removes debris from the barrel as the cleaning surface passes through the barrel during the cleaning process.   
     
     
         2 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft each comprise a proximal end configured to create a friction fit within a threaded female receptacle of a cleaning rod. 
     
     
         3 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 2 , wherein the friction fit results in engagement between the proximal end and the cleaning rod while the cleaning rod is pushed in a first direction through the barrel from the proximal end, and results in disengagement of the proximal end from the cleaning rod when the cleaning rod is pulled away from the proximal end in a second direction, the first direction being opposite to the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 2 , wherein the friction fit between the cleaning implement and the cleaning rod is configured to disengage when the proximal end exits from a distal end of the barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a hollow member. 
     
     
         6 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 5 , wherein the hollow member is configured to receive a flexible shaft through the hollow member, the flexible shaft comprising a retainer component disposed at a distal end, the retainer component configured to abut a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement and to impede the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement from passing over the retainer component. 
     
     
         7 . The single use cleaning implement of  claim 6  wherein the hollow member is configured to be pulled through the barrel of the firearm using the flexible shaft during the cleaning process and while the retainer component abuts the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement and at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces engages with an inner surface of the barrel to clean the barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces increases in diameter from a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement to a proximal end of the cleaning implement. 
     
     
         9 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the cleaning surfaces comprises one of cotton, felt, flannel, wool, brass wool and steel wool. 
     
     
         10 . The single-use cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces comprises a material wrapped around the hollow member. 
     
     
         11 . A method of cleaning a barrel of a firearm, comprising:
 providing a single-use cleaning implement, comprising:
 a shaft; 
 a plurality of cleaning surfaces disposed along the length of the shaft, each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces being separated from each other cleaning surface by at least a portion of the shaft, and each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces configured to be received within the barrel of the firearm; 
 a separator disposed between two adjacent cleaning surfaces, the separator configured to facilitate separation of a first portion of the shaft from a second portion of the shaft, such that after separation of the first portion of the shaft from the second portion of the shaft each of the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft comprise at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces; 
 separating the first portion of the shaft from the second portion of the shaft; 
   performing a cleaning process by passing one of the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft through the barrel of the firearm, such that each cleaning surface removes debris from the barrel as the cleaning surface passes through the barrel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft each comprise a proximal end configured to create a friction fit within a threaded female receptacle of a cleaning rod. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning process further comprises:
 pushing the cleaning rod in a first direction through the barrel from the proximal end, the friction fit resulting in engagement between the proximal end and the cleaning rod; and   pulling the cleaning rod in a second direction, the first direction being opposite to the second direction, the friction fit resulting in disengagement between the proximal end and the cleaning rod.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the friction fit between the cleaning implement and the cleaning rod disengages when the proximal end exits from a distal end of the barrel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft comprises a hollow member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 passing a flexible shaft through the hollow member,   abutting a retainer component disposed at a distal end of the flexible shaft against a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement, the retainer component configured to impede the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement from passing over the retainer component.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning process further comprises: pulling the hollow member through the barrel of the firearm using the flexible shaft while the retainer component abuts the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement and at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces engages with an inner surface of the barrel to clean the barrel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces increases in diameter from a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement to a proximal end of the cleaning implement. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of the cleaning surfaces comprises one of cotton, felt, flannel, wool, brass wool and steel wool. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces comprises a material wrapped around the hollow member.