US3423154A - Gun bore inspecting device which includes a diffuse and a specular reflector - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21,. 1969 J, P. WEBER, JR 3,423,154

GUN BORE INSPECTING DEVICE WHICH INCLUDES A DIFFUSE AND A SPECULAR REFLECTOR Filed Dec. 28, 1964 INVENTOR. JW/IV 2 n zaze JA.

Wen/MUM S United States Patent 3,423,154 GUN BORE INSPECTING DEVICE WHICH IN- CLUDES A DIFFUSE AND A SPECULAR REFLECTOR John P. Weber, Jr., 1630 Robinson Circle, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 Filed Dec. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 421,395 US. Cl. 356-241 Int. Cl. Gllln 21/16 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to devices or implements for inspecting guns, and is particularly directed to a flat reflecting article of manufacture used for the specific purpose of properly inspecting, thoroughly and completely, gun bores of various calibers.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel inspecting device of simple inexpensive construction and of a dispensable nature.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inspection device that is easily manipulatable, durable, and highly eflicient in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for a proper and complete inspection of bores of a plurality of guns or weapons having various sized bores.

Another object of this invention is to provide an easily maneuverable inspecting device for use in the breech end of a gun barrel during the process of cleaning its bore; inspection thereof being required, and of essentiality, from both muzzle and breech ends of the bore to assure a complete and satisfactory cleaning.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inspecting device of a lightweight, flat, compact character so that it may be conveniently stored with a weapon, carried in a pocket, enclosed in a package, or the like, incident to use on a weapon.

These and other objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the particular art to which this invention pertains, upon a complete and full reading of the following description and the appended claim thereto taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my inspecting device;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my device turned over about a horizontal axis from its position in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view with phantom lines added to show flexibility of the device;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inspecting device applied to a gun bore for the first step of inspection thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inspecting device applied to a gun bore for completion of a proper and satisfactory inspection thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

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Referring now to the drawing in which reference characters refer to like characters in the following description, 10 represents my novel inspecting device comprising a flat flexible member 11 having opposing or back-to-back faces 12 and 13. Faces 12 and 13 comprise sections each of which is divided into two essential elements; face 12 comprises a light reflecting non-mirror element 16- and a mirror element 17, and face 13 comprises a mirror element 18 and a non-mirror reflecting element 19.

The sections constituting faces 12 and 13 are defined and limited by opposed curved ends 21, 22 connected together by opposed tapering edges 23, 24 generally tangent to the different arcs of curvature forming curved ends 21, 22 of device 10. Tapering edges 23, 24 converge towards end 21 and correlatively, diverge towards end 22. Thus, it will be apparent that the extent of introduction of either end 21, 22 of device 10 into the breech of a gun bore is determined by the bore size or caliber of the particular weapon being inspected. Further, the size of the gun bore being inspected provides for the determination of which of curved ends 21, 22 will be applied, held at, or inserted, at the breech end of the bore, for facile operation of device 10 in its inspecting chores.

The mirror elements 17, 18 comprise plate glass treated in a conventional manner to form a mirror reflecting surface and cut to suitable dimensions for device 10. The white reflecting elements 16, 19 comprise material providing for subdued reflective qualities, such as white plastic strips of opaque material, or of white paper board stock.

In one form of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3, 4, a backing 25 comprising a fiberglass base and suitable resin binder is utilized to combine and secure together the respective elements shown to be included in faces 12 and 13 of device 10. In another form of the invention shown in FIG. 7, a strip 26 having the dimensions of faces 12, 13, and of a subdued reflecting nature, is provided for the purpose of functioning as reflecting material constituting elements 16, 19 of faces 12, 13, respectively, in the form illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4. Strip 26 may be of paper board stock or plastic material, with suitable gluing provided to mount mirror elements 27, 28 thereon in their relative positions, as shown in FIGS. 7, 1 and 2. Flexibility is included in backing 25 or inherent in plastic strip 26 so that finger manipulation of device 10 in a gun bore during an inspecting cycle is facilitated. Such flexibility is obtained through the natural characteristics of the material employed, however, lack of it does not interfere with the functioning of device 10 during inspection.

Each of faces 12 and 13 coextensively extend to limits relative to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Mirror element 17 of face 12 is defined and limited to curved end 22 and extends lengthwise of device 10 to substantially an edge 30 normal to the longitudinal axis of device 10, preferably meeting the intersection of diverging tapering edges 23, 24 and the curvature defining curved end 22. Reflecting element 19 is similarly situated in face 13, in corresponding coextensive relationship with element 17, extending lengthwise of device 10 between the tip of curved end 22 and normal edge 30a. Edges 30, 30a are preferably coincident with respect to each other, in the determination of the length of elements 17, 19, however, it should 'be understood that the exact positions of each edge 30, 30a are not critical as long as suflicient longitudinal length of their respective elements 17, 19 is provided for proper utilization and operation of device 10.

The dimensions of mirror element 18 in face 13 are limited by tapering edges 23, 24 and curved end 21. Reflective element 16 is similarly situated in face 12, in generally corresponding coextensive relationship with element 18, however, its length normal to the longitudinal axis of device 10 terminates at edge T lying between tapering edges 23, 24. Edge T is preferably non-coincident with edge V of element 18, as a matter only of conservation of use of glass material. It should be understood that exact positions of terminal edges T, V of corresponding elements 16, 18 are not critical for operation of device 10, as long as sutficient longitudinal length of the elements 16, 18 from the tip of curved end 21 is provided.

Thus, it is apparent that device 10 incorporates reflecting elements 16, 17, 18 and 19 so correlated to each other that a complete and satisfactory inspection results upon use of device 10 upon any one of a plurality of weapons having various sized bores, without the necessity of requiring a plurality of inspection devices each for the purpose of inspecting a particular sized bore in a weapon.

A complete job of cleaning a particular gun bore demands visual observation from both muzzle and breech ends thereof, to assure determination and absence of lead fouling, pits, metal or other foreign objects or obstructions detrimental to a first-class condition of the bore. The action of the gun is first opened. Gun cleaning implements, such as a rod, cotton, patches, oils and the like are inserted and suitably applied in bore 31 of a gun barrel 30, by reciprocation, etc. for absorption of and passage of dirt, lead fouling, etc., and other foreign particles into such patches and through the bore for discharge therefrom, all performed in a conventional fashion well known to a gun entrepreneur. Thereafter, a thorough and complete inspection of the bore is required to assure that the cleaning process was satisfactory.

For ease of illustration in the use of device 10, FIGS. 5 and 6 do not illustrate the stock of gun barrel 31, and it should be understood that the gun barrel 31 need not be removed from its stock for purpose of application of my device 10.

In the ordinary method-of inspection, observation of bore 31 is made visually from its muzzle end by placing a piece of white material at the guns breech. A mirror is not satisfactory in this form of inspection, as it emits too much reflected light into the bore causing intense or undue glare. The use of the white material does not reveal the condition of the chamber, particular- 1y those of an automatic or lever-type action, from which the bolt cannot be easily removed. Thus a white opaque reflecting material is not adequate by itself for such an inspection and a mirror reflecting element overcompensates. Consequently, the condition of each land and groove and/or the presence of foreign objects cannot be properly determined.

In my concept, such intense or over-compensating glare and inadequate reflection is obviated. I include in device 10, which is held only at the breech end of the weapon, a white diffusely reflecting background, such as incorporated in reflective elements 16 and 19, with the result that a subdued but wholly sufiicient reflection of the interior of the bore is visually manifested upon proper use of such elements. Coupled with use of mirror elements 17, 18, observation from both the muzzle and breech ends provides for a thoroughly complete inspection of the cleanliness of the bores lands and grooves.

A clear, unobstructed, and non-glaring inspection results in the use of my device from the necessary steps of operation to ensure bore cleanliness. Carrying out my concept to provide for a proper and thorough inspection, and as shown in FIG. 5 and 6, reflective element 16 is inserted in the breech end of bore 31 of barrel 30, with light rays from a source 33 directed towards element 16 at the breech end of barrel 30. End 21 is rested on the surface of bore 31. Device 10 is manipulated to an angle with the axis of bore 31 so that the viewer 35 at the muzzle end of barrel is able to observe through bore 31 the reflection of light rays off of element 16. Reflecting element 16 provides for a subdued reflection of the intensity of light source 33 so that a clear, nonglaring inspection of the length of bore 31 is performed by the observer 35. To complete the cycle of inspection, device 10 is manually manipulated at the breech end of barrel 30 to expose mirror element 18 to' observer who in turn provides for the introduction of light rays from source 33 into the muzzle end of barrel 30. The intensity of light from source 33 is normally reduced as the result of the restriction of light rays introduced at the muzzle. A less but nevertheless sufficient light intensity reflects off of rnirror element 18 to provide a satisfactory inspection of bore 31 by observer 35 from the breech end of barrel 30.

Thus, use of device 10 as outlined in the above procedure provides for a complete inspection of the cleanliness of a guns bore.

End 21 is manually inserted into the breech end of barrel 3t), and need not be withdrawn until after the complete inspection has been performed. Device 10 is held at an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of the gun barrel or bore so that curved end 21 engages and registers upon the rim of the breech end of barrel 30. The size of the caliber or gauge of the weapon in no Way impedes the functioning of mirror element 18 and reflecting element 16, for in application of device 10 to bore 31, curved end 21 is traversable about the rim of bore 31 to provide for a clear inspection by viewer 35. Flexibility of device 10 provides for a smoother manipulation there of, by the fingers holding and manuevering the device at bore 31.

The technique and operation on large caliber weapons, such as shotgun, is carried out along the other curved end 22 of device 10 in the same manner as described aforesaid in relation to smaller end 21. Mirror element 17 and subdued reflecting element 19 are provided along curved end 22 in their respective faces 12, 13, and are manipulated in bore 31 in a similar manner as was done with elements 16 and 18.

Thus, it will now be seen that an interdependency of a white background and a mirror provides for a thorough and complete inspection of a gun bore, and that I have provided a simple, novel and unique device 10 by which such an inspection is accomplished. The shininess of a bore complemented by an over-compensating mirror reflection when the mirror is inserted at or in the breech has too often in the past established a blinding condition to the observers eye thereby preventing proper determination of metal, lead fouling, pits, or objects that other wise exist in the bore and on the lands and in the grooves thereof, or in other words, the general condition of the bore. However, my device 10, properly used as aforedescribed, eliminates this disadvantage and satisfactorily accomplishes its purpose, for knowledge of a guns bore conditions is necessary for proper and eflicient discharge of the weapon.

FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose the preferable size of my device 10, ,although it is not necessarily limited thereto. The mirror elements are preferably or 7 in thickness. The flexibility provided in device 10 by means of backing 25 assures easy maneuverability of the instrument about the rim of the breech end of bore 31, in view of a tw'o-or-three-fingered support for device 10. Strict rigidity in device 10 produces some awkwardness in holding device 10 in the fingers, although this does not essentially defeat the purpose for which device 10 was developed, nor the functioning of its elements.

Pursuant to the requirements of the patent statutes, the principle of this invention has been explained and exemplified in a manner so that it can be readily practiced by those skilled in the art, such exemplification including what is considered to represent the best embodiment of the invention. However, it should be clearly 5 6 understood that, within the scope of the appended claim, whereby on one of said curved ends of said flat elonthe invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifigated member is a mirror element and diffusingly cally described and exemplified herein, by those skilled reflecting element back-to-back for use in inspecting in the art, and having the benefit of this disclosure. any one of a number of bore sizes.

Therefore, what is claimed to be patentably novel is: 5 1. An article of manufacture for completely and thor- References Cited oughly inspecting any one of a number of gun bores of various sizes comprising in combination, UNITED STATES PATENTS a flat elongated member having face portions back-to- 399 23 3 1 39 Russdl 14 back extending co-extensively with each other and 10 3 1 2 191 12 19 4 Canan 35 299 XR having opposed curved ends, said curved ends being characterized by having ditfer- JEWELL PEDERSEN Primary Examiner ent arcs of curvature, a mirror element included on each of said face portions 0. B. CHEW, Assistant Examiner.

and on opposing ends of said member, and 15 a difiusingly reflecting element included on each of said face portions on the curved end opposite the mirror element,

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