FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to simulation firearms, in particular firearm barrels and mechanisms therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One type of training firearm uses a laser beam to simulate a point of expected impact or hit. A training barrel for such purpose is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,568,143 (Uhr, 2013 Oct. 29) describing a firearm barrel configured for use with a blank cartridge and a light emitting training cartridge to operatively simulate live fire training, and which can be used with a system for registering “hits” during simulated exercises and/or gaming with a handheld firearm. U.S. Pat. No. 8,568,143 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

There are also gas operated replica weapons or toy guns generally referred to in the industry as “Airsoft” or “BB” guns. These guns are a type of very low-power guns designed to shoot spherical projectiles such as plastic or metal pellets using compressed gas. These replicas are generally not considered as weapons and are referred to as “non-guns”. These guns can be used for target practice and entertainment. The terms “Airsoft”, “BB guns”, “replica” and “non-guns”, and their derivatives, are used interchangeably herein.

The slide is a component on most semi-automatic pistols that moves during the operating cycle and houses the firing pin/striker and the extractor, and serves as the bolt. The slide is spring-loaded so that after it has moved to its rearmost position in the firing cycle, the spring returns the slide to its starting position and chambers the subsequent cartridge/round/pellet, unless the magazine is empty. The terms “round”, “cartridge” and “pellet”, and their derivatives, are used interchangeably herein.

Each time the semi-automatic pistol is fired, the resultant recoil forces the slide back, which ejects the spent casing or shell and cocks the hammer or striker for the next shot; and then loads another cartridge/round into the chamber when the spring moves the slide forward again (if the magazine still contains a round). If the magazine is empty, the magazine's follower will be at the top of the magazine and mechanically press on a slide blocker/slide stop to prevent the slide from moving forward, because there is no round to be chambered. This indicates to the shooter that it is time to replace the magazine. The terms “shelf” and “casing”, and their derivatives, are used interchangeably herein.

Similar to a semi-automatic pistol, when using a semi-automatic pistol replica ‘non-gun’ such as airsoft or BB guns, one can use a laser to simulate hits (for example via the barrel described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 8,568,143). However, such use will prevent firing pellets, and one will be limited by the mechanism situated in the magazine and slide. As such, the mechanism will prevent the slide from sliding forward after every ‘shot’, indicating the magazine is empty.

An electronic target for use with a pulsed beam of laser light is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,303,960 (Uhr, 2016 Apr. 5). Such targets allow non-live fire training (repeated drawing, aiming and firing without ammunition) in a practical, convenient manner to improve and/or maintain shooting techniques. U.S. Pat. No. 9,303,960 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearm training barrels and associated mechanisms therefor.

In accordance with embodiments of one aspect of the present invention there is provided a replacement or retrofittable barrel for replica guns, s which have a slide and a magazine, wherein the barrel includes a mechanism/member configured to allow continuous firing even if the magazine is empty. In accordance with some embodiments the mechanism/member is adjustable to also allow the option wherein firing is not possible when the magazine is empty.

The barrel's mechanism/member is configured so that it simulates the physical effect of a round (pellet) in the magazine. This effect is achieved by a member (e.g. projection or finger) that is positioned in the place of the ‘next to be fired’ pellet preventing the magazine follower from reaching the top of the magazine to thus disable the typical slide block/stop mechanism that prevents the gun slide from returning forward in the absence of pellets in the magazine. As a result of the member situated in the magazine, the gun can be fired continuously. Thus, no reloading or slide release is required, and in fact no pellets are needed or typically used; rather, a laser firing simulator or the like can be used). The aforementioned member (projection, finger or the like) in effect simulates the presence of a round or cartridge (typically a pellet/BB in an airsoft gun) in the magazine.

As such, typical replica guns do not need to be re-configured to allow this continual firing (shooting); for example; there is no need to remove or limit the magazine follower or disable the slide blocker/slide stop or any other form of re-configuration. The barrel of existing replica guns can be replaced/retrofitted with the gun barrel of the present invention, either by the user or the manufacturer or simply supplied with the present gun barrel. No modification of the existing replica gun is required, other than using the barrel of the present invention.

The projection/finger may be adjustable (e.g. extendable, outwardly extracted or pivoted, etc.) to enter the magazine so that the barrel can be arranged to facilitate ‘pellet free’ continuous firing of the replica firearm (i.e. with the finger adjusted to simulate a round/pellet in the magazine whereby the slide continually operates/cycles). The projection/finger can also be arranged to be in a “finger-less” position (retracted/folded) whereby the slide acts in a standard manner, and, for example, the user receives the experience of the magazine emptying.

In other words, the invention provides a firearm training barrel for a replica gun, the gun having a slide and a magazine with a follower, wherein the barrel includes an extended or extendable member positioned or positionable to simulate the presence of one or more pellets in the magazine, whereby the replica gun slide block/stop mechanism is disabled.

In accordance with embodiments of another aspect of the present invention there is provided a replacement or retrofittable barrel for replica guns, having a slide and a magazine, wherein the barrel is configured to eject a pellet in a manner that simulates a spent casing/shell ejection, thereby providing a more realistic firing experience including realistically limiting the number of shots by the number of pellets in the magazine. This aspect provides for a more realistic firearm training experience.

The ejection effect is achieved by a curved tunnel (or equivalent) within the barrel that directs the pellet to eject from the barrel in a direction or manner that simulates a shell/casing ejection of a real firearm.

In some embodiments, the barrel further includes a pressure relief valve, vent or bleeder, typically in the form of a tunnel, to reduce the pressure on the pellet, whereby the pellet is ejected less forcefully so as to reduce the chance of injury to the user or a bystander. The pneumatic firing mechanism typically includes one or more of a gas capsule, a gas canister or has an associated compressor or tank with compressed gas.

In some embodiments, the aforementioned bleeder/vent has a calibration mechanism, e.g. a bleed adjustment screw.

