Firearm suppressor end cap

Abstract

A suppressor having a front cap assembly comprising outer cap and inner cap elements that are matable and rotationally engaged, with a first condition having a first gas flow characteristic between the chamber and the exterior and a second condition having a first gas flow characteristic between the chamber and the exterior. The outer cap element defines a first gas bypass aperture, and the inner cap element defines a second gas bypass aperture, angularly offset from each other by a rotational offset increment. The gas bypass apertures may be registered or not registered depending on the condition. The outer cap defines an eccentric aperture, and the inner cap defines a protrusion, which may be polygonal and has a plurality of opposed parallel faces to include tool-engagement surfaces, defining a bullet bore, and configured to be closely received in the eccentric aperture for rotational engagement.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A suppressor comprising:
 a tube having a front end and a rear end and defining an interior chamber;   a baffle element received in the chamber;   a front cap assembly connected to the front end of the tube;   the front cap assembly comprising a first cap element and a second cap element;   the first cap element and second cap element being matable in a first condition having a first gas flow characteristic between the chamber and an exterior and a second condition having a first gas flow characteristic between the chamber and the exterior.   
     
     
         2 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein each of the first cap element defines a first gas bypass aperture, and the second cap element defines a second gas bypass aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The suppressor of  claim 2  wherein the first and second gas bypass apertures are registered with each other when the cap assembly is in the first condition and offset from each other when in the second condition. 
     
     
         4 . The suppressor of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the first and second cap element defines a bullet bore separate from the gas bypass aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein each of the first cap element and the second cap element defines at least one gas bypass aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The suppressor of  claim 5  wherein the gas bypass apertures are arrayed circularly. 
     
     
         7 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein the first and second cap elements are rotationally engaged to each other when in the mated condition. 
     
     
         8 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second cap elements defines an eccentric aperture and the other of the first and second cap elements defines a protrusion configured to be closely received in the eccentric aperture for rotational engagement. 
     
     
         9 . The suppressor of  claim 8  wherein the eccentric aperture is polygonal. 
     
     
         10 . The suppressor of  claim 8  wherein the eccentric aperture has a plurality of opposed parallel faces. 
     
     
         11 . The suppressor of  claim 8  wherein the protrusion includes tool-engagement surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The suppressor of  claim 8  wherein the protrusion defines a bullet bore. 
     
     
         13 . The suppressor of  claim 1  wherein the first condition and second condition are angularly offset from each other by a rotational offset increment, and wherein the first cap element and second cap element define gas bypass apertures offset from each other by a different rotational offset increment.