Self-Adjusting Gunstock Recoil Pad

Abstract

A Self-adjusting Gunstock Recoil Pad comprises of an intermediary mounting plate with individually movable segments bearing against a ring. The elastic ring is forced outwards by each segment, and provides a field-adjustable external contour matching individual variations in profile of gun-to-recoil-pad interfaces. A recess in the plate holds a wedge captive by a pin through a slot in the wedge, the wedge when inserted engages bosses protruding from the pad into a receiver and forms an attachment between the gun and pad which is reversible by use of a hook shaped wrench applied to a receiving profile in the plate, the profile guides the action of the wrench in pulling the wedge out. The plate is assembled from two layers to confine the wedge as an assembly by use of tabs in one layer engaging interference-fit cut-outs in the other layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad with a movable continuous or segmented periphery with which is to affect size changes to a profile by manipulation. 
     
     
         2 . The size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 1 , which comprises of an adjusting mechanism mounted between the recoil pad and the gunstock or constructed into the recoil pad proper. 
     
     
         3 . The size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 1 , wherein radial adjustment of the outward surface of the pad is affected by an inner plate, wherein the inner plate serves to bear against a ring, the outer surface of the ring forming the profile being adjusted by action of the inner plate, to match the shape of the gun stock closely without requiring the pad to be materially altered. 
     
     
         4 . The size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 1 , wherein the plate has one or more segments along its periphery formed by slits, the surface of the plate periphery being formed to be oriented generally normal to the radial axis of the desired adjustment direction, each of the segments serving as an independently variable adjustment point, each of the independently variable adjustment points bearing radially outwards against the ring individually. 
     
     
         5 . The size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 1 , which has an adjusting mechanism comprising of at least in part the ring, the ring as supplied being somewhat smaller in profile length that that of the pad or stock so as to necessitate stretching in order to apply it to the stock, the ring being adjustable outward radially against elastic tension inherent in the ring by the action of the segments, each of the segments being adjustable by deformation and causing a persistent change in position of the face of each segment acting against the force derived from the inherent elasticity of the ring holding the ring inwards in contact with the segments, and the inherent elasticity having enough force to resist unintended removal of the ring through casual use. 
     
     
         6 . The size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 1 , in which the plate has a radial dimension somewhat smaller than the true profile of either the pad or the butt-stock, and which when initially supplied has a radial space between the segment faces and the stock profile edge greater than the cross section of the ring supplied, so that when the segment faces forming the adjusting elements are advanced, the ring can be made to advance outwardly to meet the true profile of the gun stock. The radial space provides a groove between the stock and the pad into which the ring will snap into by virtue of the inherent elasticity of the ring material. 
     
     
         7 . A gunstock recoil pad mounting system, which has a wedge receiving pocket provided on one face of a mounting plate which accepts a captive wedge which when inserted engages a boss protruding from a gunstock recoil pad and produces a fastening force which holds a second boss protruding from the gunstock recoil behind a lug on the opposite end of the receiving pocket, and provides a reversible attachment. 
     
     
         8 . A gunstock recoil pad mounting system as in  claim 7 , which has a boss protruding from the back face of the pad, with lugs on at least two reverse facing surfaces capable of engaging similar opposite features in the mounting plate. 
     
     
         9 . A gunstock recoil pad mounting system as in  claim 7 , where the wedge is provided with a head, and from which a tool with a curved finger on one extremity can engage the wedge head in order to pull it clear of the mounting boss, and which uses a recess provided adjacent to the wedge receiving pocket in order to guide the insertion and operation of the tool. 
     
     
         10 . A size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad fitted with at least one bladder along its periphery with which is to affect size changes to a profile by the introduction of a space-filling medium into the bladder(s). 
     
     
         11 . An size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad installation system using a pre-existing gunstock as a rigid object against which to set the size of an installation system consisting of a form wrapped around the gunstock and held in tension around the stock by a clamp, the edge of the form exceeding the gunstock by a convenient length and forming an exact-sized inner recess duplicating the profile of the stock, into which a gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 7  was pre-installed, the gap between the gunstock recoil pad and the stock being fitted with a bladder, the bladder having one or more chambers into which is introduced a catalyzing fluid, the catalyzing fluid being introduced into the one or more ports by suitable pumping equipment, the catalyzing fluid being forced into the bladder to produce some hydrostatic distension of the bladder, the bladder being elastic in nature in order to comply with the introduction of the catalyzing fluid, the expansion of the bladder in response to the catalyzing fluid filling the natural space set out by the foil as an outer boundary, the pad as an upper boundary, the stock as a lower boundary, and the mounting plate as an inner boundary, and making permanent the shape of the bladder as set out by the foil once the catalyzing fluid hardened. 
     
     
         12 . A size-adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 10 , where the bladders are non-hermetic, and receive space-occupying objects of suitable size and shape inserted into ports to effect the expansion of the bladder to match the adjacent gunstock profile onto which it is installed 
     
     
         13 . A size adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 1 , where the periphery of an interface plate mounted between a recoil pad and a gunstock is made radially adjustable at intervals by one or more slits made into the edge of the plate at an oblique angle, and causing individual projections to be formed with a hinge point available at or near the root of each projection in the homogeneous material near a point where the cut(s) terminate, and with a localized widening of the kerf partway along each cut into which to apply a prying tool such as a screwdriver, in order to adjust the outward end of the projection(s) to conform to a desired profile. 
     
     
         14 . A size adjustable gunstock recoil pad as in  claim 13 , where the widening of kerfs are made to accept cams, tapered screws, tapered pins, stepped ramps or wedges in order to affect positive outward positioning of the terminal end of each projection as they are progressively inserted, thereby affecting the outer profile size of the interface plate.