Recoil apparatus for a firearm

#The present invention concerns a device useful to dampen the recoil experienced by a shooter upon firing a firearm.

#Gun recoil is experienced when using virtually any firearm. Recoil from such firearms can cause the shooter to flinch, the muzzle of the firearm to deflect and for large caliber firearms, discomfort or pain. Such movements generally result in reduced accuracy. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce recoil to improve accuracy and decrease shooter discomfort.

#Recoil devices operable to reduce the amount of recoil transmitted to the shoulder of a shooter are well known in the art. For example, a commonly used recoil system employs one or more compression springs disposed inside the butt stock of a firearm. Upon firing, the butt stock slides rearward toward a shoulder-engaging portion of the firearm, compressing the springs and thereby damping the recoil effect. Other state-of-the-art recoil-reducing devices employ pneumatic air chambers and hydraulic cylinders to reduce the effect of gun recoil.

#These and other features of the invention will be more fully appreciated when the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a firearm having a recoil apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of the butt end of the stock of the firearm of FIG. 1 showing the recoil apparatus prior to firing.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a firearm, indicated generally at 10, which may comprise, for example, a shotgun or a rifle. Firearm 10 in the illustrated configuration comprises an elongate stock portion, or butt stock, 12, having a lower base portion 14 and an upper comb portion 16. Base portion 14 is fitted with a recoil apparatus, indicated at 17, constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention, for absorbing the recoil of the firearm 10.

#Referring also to FIGS. 2-5, the recoil apparatus 17 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a shoulder member 18 (also referred to herein as a shoulder-engaging portion in other embodiments), which has a forward mounting plate 26, a butt pad 28 and a spacer member 30 extending forwardly toward the firearm barrel from the mounting plate 26. The spacer member 30 may be secured to the mounting plate 26 as desired, such as by using fasteners, including screws 25 as illustrated. The butt pad 28 desirably comprises a resilient material, such as rubber, as generally known in the art.

#A key 32 may be coupled to the forward end of the spacer member 30. The key 32 is positioned to bear against a first magnet 38 (described below) disposed in the base portion 14. The shoulder member 18 is movable longitudinally with respect to the base portion 14 from a first, extended position (FIG. 2) to a second, retracted or recoiled position (FIG. 3) in response to the recoil of the firearm 10 upon firing, as described in greater detail below.