Recoil dampening assembly

Abstract

A recoil dampening assembly includes a sleeve and an elastomeric member received within the sleeve. A piston and rod retain the elastomeric member within the sleeve, and the elastomeric member includes a plurality of cone-like wall portions that form inner and outer annular ring surfaces. When the elastomeric member is compressed, the outer annular surfaces frictionally engage the sleeve, and the inner annular surfaces frictionally engage the rod to thereby dampen a force generated during discharge of a firearm.

1 . A recoil absorbing device for firearms, comprising: 
 an outer housing defining a cavity and a stop;    a sleeve disposed in the cavity of the housing, the sleeve defining an interior surface and a stop at a first end of the sleeve;    a rod disposed within the sleeve and having a first end connected to the sleeve;    a piston member slidably connected to the rod adjacent a first end of the rod;    a connector retaining the piston member on the rod;    an elastomeric member disposed within the sleeve with a first end adjacent the stop at the first end of the sleeve, the elastomeric member having a second end disposed adjacent the piston member, the elastomeric member defining at least one annular outer surface disposed adjacent the interior surface of the sleeve, and an annular inner surface disposed about the rod, and including a generally conical sidewall extending from the annular outer surface to the annular inner surface such that the elastomeric member deforms and frictionally engages the sleeve and the rod when a force is applied to the sleeve.    
   
   
       2 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the interior surface of the sleeve is generally cylindrical, the sleeve having a cover at the first end defining the stop.    
   
   
       3 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the piston member has a generally cylindrical outer surface and an end wall having an aperture therethrough;    the rod having an elongated portion adjacent the first end of the rod configured to be slidably received through the aperture, and an enlarged portion at a second end of the rod forming a stop that does not fit through the aperture.    
   
   
       4 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said elastomeric member includes a plurality of conical sidewall portions forming a plurality of annular outer surfaces and a plurality of annular inner surfaces.    
   
   
       5 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the elastomeric member has a circular first end wall at the first end of the elastomeric member abutting the cover of the sleeve.    
   
   
       6 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the first end wall has an opening therethrough, the first end of said rod extending through the opening.    
   
   
       7 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the elastomeric member has a circular second end wall at the second end of the elastomeric member, the second end wall abutting the end wall of the piston member.    
   
   
       8 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the connector comprises a stop member and a threaded fastener retaining the stop member to the first end of the rod.    
   
   
       9 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the stop member and piston are made of a hard elastomeric material having a durometer of at least 90.    
   
   
       10 . A recoil absorbing device for firearms, comprising: 
 a sleeve defining an interior surface;    a rod movably interconnected to the sleeve for movement between extended and retracted positions relative to the sleeve;    a resilient member having a first end operably connected to the sleeve and a second end operably connected to the rod, the resilient member having a tapered wall portion extending between an outer surface adjacent the interior surface of the sleeve and an inner surface adjacent the rod, such that said outer surface shifts into contact with the interior surface of the sleeve and the inner surface shifts into contact with the rod as the rod is moved from the extended position to the retracted position to thereby frictionally engage the sleeve and the rod and provide a force tending to act against movement to the retracted position.    
   
   
       11 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the tapered wall portion has generally conical inner and outer surfaces.    
   
   
       12 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the interior surface of the sleeve is cylindrical;    the rod has an outer cylindrical surface; and    the inner and outer surfaces of the resilient member are annular rings.    
   
   
       13 . The recoil absorbing device of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the resilient member includes a plurality of tapered wall portions having generally conical inner and outer surfaces that interconnect to define a plurality of annular rings defining inner and outer surfaces.    
   
   
       14 . A firearm, comprising: 
 a fixed member;    a bolt that shifts rearwardly along an axis relative to the fixed member upon firing of the firearm;    a first member attached to a selected one of the fixed member and the bolt;    a second member attached to the other of the fixed member and the bolt such that the first and second members shift relative to one another upon firing of the firearm;    a resilient member having a first surface adjacent the first member, and a second surface adjacent the second member, the resilient member having an angled portion extending between the first and second surfaces at a non-zero angle relative to the axis such that the first surface frictionally engages the first member and the second surface frictionally engages the second member when the first member shifts relative to the second member upon firing of the firearm.    
   
   
       15 . The firearm of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the first member comprises a sleeve; and    the second member comprises a rod disposed in the sleeve.    
   
   
       16 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the angled portion of the resilient member has generally conical inner and outer surfaces.    
   
   
       17 . The firearm of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the first and second surfaces are annular rings.    
   
   
       18 . The firearm of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the resilient member includes a plurality of conical inner and outer surfaces.    
   
   
       19 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the sleeve is made of a carbon fiber composite and the rod is made of a titanium material.    
   
   
       20 . The firearm of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the conical inner and outer surfaces form a wall having a uniform thickness.