Foam swabs for cleaning firearms

Abstract

Applicant has disclosed a foam swab for cleaning and lubricating firearms. In the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises: a molded plastic shank having a threaded free end and a series of parallel rings spaced between parallel spacers; and a foam cover, preferably made of polyurethane, thermally bonded to the spacers. To clean a firearm, solvent or lubricant is applied to the foam cover. Then the threaded end can be screwed into a gun cleaning rod and the foam swab drawn through a firearm bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device to clean a firearm bore comprising:
 a. a molded plastic shank having:
 i. parallel rings spaced respectively between parallel spacers along a mid-length of the shank; and 
 ii. a threaded free end adapted in size and shape to be screwed into a gun cleaning rod; 
 
 b. a polyurethane cover over all the rings and all the spacers, wherein the cover is affixed by thermal bonding to the shank before the device is initially held by an end-user and subsequently used by the end-user to clean the firearm bore; 
 c. rifling-cleaning means for enabling the device to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning, wherein the means comprises:
 i. the polyurethane cover is wider than the bore, prior to the device cleaning the bore, whereby the cover compresses upon the device being placed inside the bore; and 
 ii. compression of the polyurethane cover, within the bore, is limited by the rings and spacers; and 
 
 d. whereby when the device is pushed within the bore:
 i. the device is tightly fit into the bore and loosens residue for the polyurethane cover to absorb; and 
 ii. compressive forces, seeking to expand the compressed polyurethane cover within the bore, force the cover to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the polyurethane cover is thermally bonded to the spacers but not the rings to allow the rings to move more freely than the spacers within the cover. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein the spacers extend beyond the shank less than the rings. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the spacers are knurled cylinders; and 
 b. the foam cover is affixed by thermal bonding to the knurled spacers but not the rings. 
 
     
     
       5. A device to clean a firearm bore comprising:
 a. a molded plastic shank having:
 i. parallel rings spaced respectively between parallel spacers along a mid-length of the shank; and 
 ii. a threaded free end adapted in size and shape to be screwed into a gun cleaning rod; 
 
 b. a polyurethane cover over all the rings and all the spacers, wherein the cover is affixed by thermal bonding to the spacers but not the rings, whereby the rings can move more freely than the spacers within the cover; 
 c. rifling-cleaning means for enabling the device to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning, wherein the means comprises:
 i. the polyurethane cover is wider than the bore, prior to the device cleaning the bore, whereby the cover compresses upon the device being placed inside the bore; and 
 ii. compression of the polyurethane cover, within the bore, is limited by the rings and spacers; 
 
 d. whereby when the device is pushed within the bore:
 i. the device is tightly fit into the bore and loosens residue for the polyurethane cover to absorb; and 
 ii. compressive forces, seeking to expand the compressed polyurethane cover within the bore, force the cover to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A device to clean a firearm bore comprising:
 a. handle with an attached swab extending from the handle, wherein the swab comprises:
 i. a molded plastic shank having parallel rings spaced respectively between parallel spacers along a mid-length of the shank; 
 ii. a polyurethane cover over all the rings and all the spacers, wherein the cover is affixed by thermal bonding to the shank before the device is initially held by an end-user and subsequently used by the end-user to clean the firearm bore with the swab; and 
 iii. rifling-cleaning means for enabling the swab to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning, wherein the means comprises:
 1. the polyurethane cover is wider than the bore, prior to the device cleaning the bore, whereby the cover compresses upon the swab being placed inside the bore; and 
 2. compression of the polyurethane cover, within the bore, is limited by the rings and spacers; 
 
   b. whereby when the swab is pushed within the bore:
 i. the swab is tightly fit into the bore and loosens residue for the polyurethane cover to absorb; and 
 ii. compressive forces, seeking to expand the compressed polyurethane cover within the bore, force the cover to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning.  
   
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6 wherein the polyurethane cover is thermally bonded to the spacers but not the rings to allow the rings to move more freely than the spacers within the cover.  
     
     
       8. The device of claim 7 wherein the spacers extend beyond the shank less than the rings.  
     
     
       9. The device of claim 6 wherein:
 a. the spacers are knurled cylinders; and   b. the polyurethane cover is affixed by thermal bonding to the knurled spacers but not the rings.    
     
     
       10. A device to clean a firearm bore comprising:
 a. a handle with an attached swab extending from the handle, wherein the swab comprises:
 i. a molded plastic shank having parallel rings spaced respectively between parallel spacers along a mid-length of the shank; 
 ii. a polyurethane cover over all the rings and all the spacers, wherein the cover is affixed by thermal bonding to the spacers but not the rings, whereby the rings can move more freely than the spacers within the cover; and 
 iii. rifling-cleaning means for enabling the swab to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning, wherein the means comprises:
 1. the polyurethane cover is wider than the bore, prior to the swab cleaning the bore, whereby the cover compresses upon the device being placed inside the bore; and 
 2. compression of the polyurethane cover, within the bore, is limited by the rings and spacers; 
 
   b. whereby when the swab is pushed within the bore:
 i. the swab is tightly fit into the bore and loosens residue for the polyurethane cover to absorb; and 
 ii. compressive forces, seeking to expand the compressed polyurethane cover within the bore, force the cover to fit into any rifling within the bore for cleaning.