Collapsible Buttstock Assembly

Abstract

Collapsible and extendable buttstock apparatus for use on a weapon having a buffer tube element. The apparatus is assembled onto the buffer tube and tightened in place using a compression clamp to hold the apparatus to the buffer tube. Upon release of the clamp the assembly can be slid along the buffer tube to a desired location and clamped in the preferred position.

1 ) A buttstock assembly for use on a weapon, the weapon including a buffer tube, the buttstock assembly comprising:
 a clamp;   a left side rail and a right side rail, each rail connected at a first end of each rail to the clamp;   a butt element of the butt stock assembly, the butt element connected to a second end of each of the left side rail and a right side rail, whereby the clamp and the butt element are connected together by the side rails.   
     
     
         2 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising:
 the clamp being a generally “U-shaped” element having adjustable width space between the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp; and 
 a tightening element carried on the clamp, the tightening element capable of adjusting the width of the space between the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp, whereby narrowing the width of the space between the legs secures the buttstock assembly to the buffer tube of the weapon. 
 
     
     
         3 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising:
 the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp have an aligned aperture extending from a right side aperture to a left side aperture with a portion of the left side aperture threaded and the right side aperture is a smooth bore; and 
 the tightening element comprises a wheel portion and threaded extension projecting from the wheel, the threaded portion of the threaded extension positioned through the smooth bore of the right side aperture, across the space between the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp and into the threaded left side aperture of the clamp. 
 
     
     
         4 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising:
 the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp have an aligned aperture extending from a right side aperture to a left side aperture with a portion of the left side aperture threaded and the right side aperture is a smooth bore; and 
 the tightening element comprises a lifting lever and threaded extension projecting from the lifting lever, the threaded portion of the threaded extension positioned through the smooth bore of the right side aperture, across the space between the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp and into the threaded left side aperture of the clamp. 
 
     
     
         5 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 1 , the clamp further comprising:
 a lower portion below the location of where the rails are connected to the clamp, the lower portion defining a gap between a left and a right side of the clamp;   a left aperture and right aperture in the lower portion of the clamp.   
     
     
         6 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 5  further comprising a pair of springs, one of each of the pair of springs carried in one of each of the apertures in the lower portion of the clamp. 
     
     
         7 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 6  further comprising:
 the left aperture and the right aperture have internal threaded portions; and 
 a pair of set screws, one set screw screwed into each threaded portion of the apertures, each set screw retaining one spring in the left aperture and one spring in the right aperture, whereby the springs will urge the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp apart. 
 
     
     
         8 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the clamp further comprises:
 the clamp defining a cavity having a modified generally cylindrical interior shape, the cavity open at both ends of the cylinder, the cavity sized to accommodate the buffer tube of a weapon; 
 an extension of the cavity, the extension depending from the generally cylindrical interior shape, the extension defined by a left side channel wall and a right side channel wall, whereby the left side channel wall and a right side channel wall will contact the buffer tube when the buttstock assembly is positioned on the buffer tube. 
 
     
     
         9 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising:
 the butt element of the buttstock assembly having a perimeter defining a void area inside the perimeter of the buttstock assembly. 
 
     
     
         10 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising:
 the butt element of the buttstock assembly having a perimeter defining a void area inside the perimeter of the buttstock assembly, the void area being less than the entire interior of the buttstock assembly as defined by the buttstock perimeter. 
 
     
     
         11 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the butt element of the buttstock assembly being a panel with an outboard surface and an inboard surface, the panel having a width less than the height of the butt element. 
     
     
         12 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the outboard surface of the butt element having a friction-inducing surface formed on the outboard surface of the butt element. 
     
     
         13 ) A buttstock assembly for use on a weapon, the weapon including a buffer tube, the buttstock assembly comprising:
 a clamp being a generally “U-shaped” element having an adjustable width space between the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp; and   a tightening element carried on the clamp, the tightening element capable of adjusting the width of the space between the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp;   the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp have an aligned aperture extending from a right side aperture to a left side aperture with a portion of the left side aperture threaded and the right side aperture is a smooth bore; and   the tightening element including a threaded extension, the threaded portion of the threaded extension positioned through the smooth bore of the right side aperture, across the space between the legs of the “U-shaped” clamp and into the threaded left side aperture of the clamp;   a left side rail and a right side rail, each rail connected at a first end of each rail to the clamp;   a butt element of the butt stock assembly, the butt element connected to a second end of each of the left side rail and a right side rail, whereby the clamp and the butt element are connected together by the side rails.   
     
     
         14 ) The invention in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising:
 the butt element of the buttstock assembly being a panel with an outboard surface and an inboard surface, the panel having a width less than the height of the butt element; 
 and the outboard surface of the butt element having a friction inducing surface formed on the outboard surface of the butt element. 
 
     
     
         15 ) A collapsible buttstock assembly for use on a weapon, the weapon including a buffer tube, the collapsible buttstock assembly configured to allow a sliding relationship between the collapsible buttstock assembly and the buffer tube, the collapsible buttstock assembly comprising:
 a clamp that encircles the buffer tube when the collapsible buttstock assembly is positioned on the buffer tube;   a left side rail and a right side rail, each rail connected at a first end of each rail to the clamp;   a butt element of the butt stock assembly, the butt element connected to a second end of each of the left side rail and a right side rail, whereby the clamp and the butt element are connected together by the side rails.