U.S. patent number 7,293,385 [Application Number 11/621,485] was granted by the patent office on 2007-11-13 for modular trigger group for firearms and firearm having a modular trigger group.
Invention is credited to Michael L. McCormick.
United States Patent |
7,293,385 |
McCormick |
November 13, 2007 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ( Reexamination Certificate
) ** |
Modular trigger group for firearms and firearm having a modular
trigger group
Abstract
A module housing is adapted to be inserted into an operating
position in the trigger group receiving area of a firearm. The
module housing includes at least one pin receiver defined by two
openings formed in the module housing, one on each lateral side of
the housing. A module pin is received in the pin receiver and at
least one trigger group component is mounted or supported for
rotation on the module pin. The pin receiver is located on the
module housing so as to align with a pin receptacle of the firearm
when the module housing is in the operating position. By locating
the pin receiver in the module housing so as to align with a
corresponding pin receptacle of the firearm when the module housing
is in the operating position, the trigger group module and the
trigger group components housed in the module housing may be
readily supported by the OEM pin receptacle. The trigger group
module, pre-assembled with one or more trigger group components,
may be inserted to the operating position and then held in place
using the OEM pin receptacle.
Inventors: |
McCormick; Michael L. (Austin,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
32067787 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/621,485 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20070151138 A1 |
Jul 5, 2007 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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10806300 |
Mar 22, 2004 |
7162824 |
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10152557 |
May 21, 2002 |
6772072 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/75.03; 42/41;
124/32; 42/69.03; 89/138; 89/27.11; 89/155; 89/128; 42/42.03;
42/42.02; 124/31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A
19/10 (20130101); F41A 19/43 (20130101); F41A
19/15 (20130101); F41A 19/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41A
11/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;42/75.03,75.01,69.01
;89/27.11 ;124/31,32 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Murtz, "The Gun Digest of Exploded Gun Drawings." 2005, KP Books,
pp. 620, 625, and 658. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Carone; Michael J.
Assistant Examiner: Knox; Stewart T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Culbertson; Russell D. The
Culbertson Group, P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 10/806,300, filed Mar. 22, 2004, and entitled "Modular Trigger
Group for Firearms and Trigger Group Installation Method," now U.S.
Pat. No. 7,162,824 B1, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/152,557, filed May 21, 2002, and entitled
"Trigger Group Module for Firearms and Method for Installing a
Trigger Group in a Firearm," now U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,072 B1. The
Applicant hereby claims the benefit of both of these prior
applications under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120. The entire content of each
of these prior applications is incorporated herein by this
reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A trigger group module for a firearm, the firearm including a
receiver that defines a trigger group receiving area between a
first receiver side wall and a second receiver side wall, the
trigger group module including: (a) a module housing adapted to be
inserted to an operating position in the trigger group receiving
area, the module housing having a lower extremity that is located
above a lowermost edge of the first receiver side wall and a
lowermost edge of the second receiver side wall when the module
housing is in the operating position; (b) a number of trigger group
components mounted within the module housing; (c) a first pin
receiver positioned in the module housing so as to align with first
pin receptacle openings of the firearm when the module housing is
in the operating position, the first pin receptacle openings
defining pin support surfaces formed in the first receiver side
wall and the second receiver side wall; and (d) a first module pin
mounted in the first pin receiver on which one of the trigger group
components is supported in the module housing, the first module pin
including an opening that aligns with the first pin receptacle
openings of the firearm when the module housing is in the operating
position.
2. The trigger group module of claim 1 further including a second
pin receiver positioned in the module housing so as to align with
second pin receptacle openings of the firearm when the module
housing is in the operating position, the second pin receptacle
openings defining pin support surfaces formed in the first receiver
side wall and the second receiver side wall.
3. The trigger group module of claim 2 further including a second
module pin mounted in the second pin receiver on which an
additional one of the trigger group components is supported in the
trigger group housing, the second module pin including an opening
that aligns with the second pin receptacle openings of the firearm
when the module housing is in the operating position.
4. The trigger group module of claim 1 wherein the receiver
includes a safety mechanism mounted directly thereon and wherein
the safety mechanism contacts one of the trigger group components
when the trigger group module is in the operating position and the
safety mechanism is in an engaged position.
5. A firearm including: (a) a receiver having a first receiver side
wall and a second receiver side wall that define a trigger group
receiving area there between; (b) first pin receptacle openings
formed in the first receiver side wall and the second receiver side
wall and defining first pin support surfaces; (c) a module housing
located in an operating position in the trigger group receiving
area, the module housing in the operating position having a lower
extremity that is located above a lowermost edge of the first
receiver side wall and a lowermost edge of the second receiver side
wall; (d) a number of trigger group components mounted within the
module housing; and (e) a first pin receiver positioned in the
module housing and aligning with the first pin receptacle openings;
and a first module pin mounted in the first pin receiver and
wherein one of the trigger group components is supported in the
module housing on the first module pin, the first module pin
including an opening that aligns with the first pin receptacle
openings.
6. The firearm of claim 5 further including: (a) second pin
receptacle openings formed in the first receiver side wall and the
second receiver side wall and defining pin support surfaces; and
(b) a second pin receiver in the module housing, the second pin
receiver aligning with the second pin receptacle openings of the
firearm.
7. The firearm of claim 6 further including a second module pin
mounted in the second pin receiver, and wherein an additional one
of the trigger group components is supported in the trigger group
housing on the second module pin, the second module pin including
an opening that aligns with the second pin receptacle openings of
the firearm.
8. The firearm of claim 5 further including a safety mechanism
mounted directly on the receiver and wherein the safety mechanism
in an engaged position contacts one of the trigger group
components.
9. The firearm of claim 5 wherein the receiver represents a lower
receiver of the firearm and wherein the lower receiver is connected
to an upper receiver.
10. A trigger group module for a firearm, the trigger group module
including: (a) a module housing adapted to be inserted to an
operating position in a firearm, the firearm including a receiver
that defines a trigger group receiving area between a first
receiver side wall and a second receiver side wall and the firearm
further including a safety mechanism mounted directly on the
receiver; (b) a first trigger group component mounted on the module
housing and adapted to cooperate with the safety mechanism when the
module housing is in the operating position in the firearm and when
the safety mechanism is in an engaged position; (c) a first pin
receiver positioned in the module housing; (d) a second pin
receiver positioned in the module housing; (e) a first module pin
mounted in the first pin receiver, the first module pin including
an opening that aligns with first pin receptacle openings of the
firearm when the module housing is in the operating position; and
(f) a second module pin mounted in the second pin receiver, the
second module pin including an opening that aligns with second pin
receptacle openings of the firearm when the module housing is in
the operating position.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to firing mechanisms for firearms. More
particularly, the invention relates to a trigger group module
pre-assembled with one or more trigger group components and adapted
to be received in the frame of the firearm. The invention also
relates to a method of installing trigger group components in a
firearm.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Firearm firing mechanisms generally include a number of components
that cooperate to hold a spring-loaded hammer in a cocked position
and then selectively release the hammer. The firearm is fired or
discharged when the force of the released hammer is applied,
directly or through an intermediate device, to an ammunition
cartridge loaded in the firearm. The components for holding the
hammer in a cocked position and then releasing the hammer as
desired may be referred to as a trigger group. In addition to the
hammer itself, a trigger group generally includes a trigger
component having a finger lever or trigger that a user pulls to
release the hammer, and further includes a sear which may be a
separate component or integrally formed with the trigger component.
Some trigger groups also include other components such as a
disconnector for example. The disconnector is used in
semi-automatic firearms to catch the hammer as it rebounds after
firing and to hold the hammer in a cocked position until the
shooter can release the trigger and thereby reset the trigger group
to the "ready to fire position." The disconnector is required for
this function because semi-automatic firearms usually cycle so
quickly that it is physically impossible for the shooter to release
the trigger quickly enough after a discharge to allow the sear to
recapture the hammer in the cocked position.
Both the hammer component and trigger component are commonly
mounted for rotation in the firearm. The hammer is mounted on a
hammer pin to facilitate the desired rotation, while the trigger
component is mounted on a trigger pin. Each pin is retained in a
respective pin receptacle formed in the firearm. Each such pin
receptacle is defined by a first opening on one side of the firearm
and a second opening on the opposite side of the firearm. A hammer
spring is included in the trigger group to, among other things,
bias the hammer forward to a striking position. The trigger
component is also spring biased to provide resistance against
pulling the trigger and to return the trigger after it has been
pulled.
It may be desirable to modify or replace trigger group components
in a firearm. This is particularly true for firearms used in
competition. Such competition firearms may be fitted with special
trigger group components designed to improve firearm performance or
operational characteristics, or to suit the preferences of the
particular user. Also, different competitions or firearm
applications may require different trigger group characteristics.
However, due to the relatively small components in the trigger
group, the spring loading of components, the close tolerances
between components, and the small area in the firearm allotted for
trigger group components, a trigger group may commonly be installed
only by a skilled gunsmith using specialized tools in order to
ensure safe, proper, and reliable trigger group functioning. Due to
the difficulty in changing out trigger group components, it is
common for many competition shooters to have several different
complete firearms each with a different trigger group setup for a
particular competition or portion of a competition. Maintaining
several complete firearms greatly increases the cost of competitive
shooting.
Some prior art original equipment manufacturer (OEM) firearm
designs include a detachable housing that houses trigger group
components. The housing may be attached to the firearm frame with
screws or with pins that extend transversely through the housing
and are supported at either end by receptacles or bearing openings
in the firearm frame. These prior art OEM trigger group housings
attach from the bottom of the firearm and include a trigger guard
and surfaces that actually form part of the exterior of the fully
assembled firearm. Prior art OEM trigger group housings also house
safety components that cooperate with the trigger group components.
These structures and surfaces associated with the prior art OEM
trigger group housings limit their use to firearms specifically
designed for such housings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a trigger group module that is
pre-assembled with the trigger group components and adapted to be
mounted in a trigger group receiving area in place of the OEM
trigger group. The invention includes a special module housing and
also includes the special housing pre-assembled with one or more
trigger group components to form the self-contained trigger group
module. The invention further includes methods for mounting or
installing a trigger group in a firearm.
A module housing according to the invention is adapted to be
inserted into an operating position in the trigger group receiving
area of a firearm. The module housing includes at least one pin
receiver defined by two openings formed in the module housing, one
on each lateral side of the housing. In one form of the invention a
module pin is received in the pin receiver and at least one trigger
group component is mounted or supported for rotation on the module
pin. In this form of the invention, the module pin includes a pin
receiving opening there through and is located on the module
housing so that this pin receiving opening aligns with a pin
receptacle of the firearm when the module housing is in the
operating position. That is, the two openings defining the pin
receiver on the module housing and the pin receiving opening
through the module pin are adapted to align with the openings on
the firearm that define a pin receptacle for the firearm.
By locating the pin receiver in the module housing so as to align
with a corresponding pin receptacle of the firearm when the module
housing is in the operating position and by providing a pin
receiving opening in the module pin, the trigger group module and
the trigger group components housed in the module housing may be
readily supported by the OEM pin receptacle. The trigger group
module, pre-assembled with one or more trigger group components,
may be inserted to the operating position and then a pin may be
inserted or extended through the OEM pin receptacle and aligned
trigger group component and module pin to support the trigger group
component in the desired functional position in the firearm. The
module housing and module pin hold the trigger group component in
place while the module housing is being placed in the firearm. No
modification to the frame of the firearm is required and no special
skill or tools are required to install the self-contained,
pre-assembled trigger group module.
One preferred form of the invention is adapted to be used with a
firearm that includes a hammer pin receptacle and a trigger pin
receptacle. The trigger group module for this firearm includes a
first pin receiver and a second pin receiver. The first pin
receiver aligns with the hammer pin receptacle of the firearm when
the housing is in the operating position and the second pin
receiver aligns with the trigger pin receptacle when the housing is
in the operating position. The first pin receiver is adapted to
receive a first module pin having a pin receiving opening there
through and the second pin receiver is adapted to receive a second
module pin having a separate pin receiving opening there through.
To install this trigger group module, the original trigger group
components are removed from the firearm together with any
interfering components such as safety mechanisms for example, and
then the pre-assembled trigger group module is placed in the
operating position in the firearm. Once in the operating position,
the trigger group module may be held in place by pins inserted
through the openings defining the hammer pin receptacle and trigger
pin receptacle, respectively. Alternatively, caps, screws, or other
elements may be inserted into the OEM pin receptacle openings to
cooperate with a trigger group module or module pin to retain the
trigger group module in the operating position.
In yet other forms of the invention, the module housing may include
no pin receiver openings located to align with OEM pin receptacle
openings when the trigger group module is in the operating position
in the firearm frame. Rather, the trigger group component geometry
may be completely changed from the OEM trigger group geometry. In
these forms of the invention, the OEM pin receptacle openings may
still be used to receive screws, pins, or other devices to secure
the trigger group module in the operating position in the firearm
frame.
A module housing according to the invention may also include a
trigger component control feature that defines or sets either the
forward most or rearward most position of the trigger component.
Two different trigger component control features may be used to set
both the forward most and rearward most position of the trigger
component. The trigger component control feature setting the
rearward most position of the trigger component provides overtravel
control to minimize the amount of trigger movement possible after
the hammer release point. The trigger component control feature
setting the forward most position of the trigger component provides
take-up control which minimizes the movement of the trigger
required before reaching the hammer release point. A major
advantage of the present invention is that by incorporating the
overtravel and take-up features in the module housing, trigger
overtravel and take-up may be modified without having to modify the
frame of the firearm itself.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a view in perspective of a trigger group module
embodying the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1B is a view of the trigger group module shown in FIG. 1A from
an opposite perspective to that shown in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the trigger group
module shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 3 is a view in section taken a long line 3-3 in FIG. 1B.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a portion of a firearm with a trigger
group module embodying the principles of the invention in position
to be inserted to an operating position in the firearm.
FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the trigger
group module inserted to the operating position and showing an
upper receiver in position to be connected over the trigger group
module in the lower portion of the firearm.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view of the trigger group receiving area
of the firearm shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the firearm and trigger group module shown
in FIG. 5, with module securing pins partially inserted.
FIG. 8 is a top view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the module
securing pins in the fully inserted position.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A trigger group module 10 and module housing 11 embodying the
principles of the invention may be described with reference to
FIGS. 1A and 1B through FIG. 3. A method embodying the principles
of the invention for installing a trigger group may be described
with reference to FIGS. 4 through 8.
In the following description and claims, certain elements may be
described as right side elements while others may be described as
left side elements. The terms right side and left side are used
only for purposes of convenience to indicate that a particular
element is located on one lateral side of the respective structure
while another element is located on the opposite lateral side of
the structure. Of course, whether an element is truly located on a
right side or left side depends upon the perspective of the viewer.
For purposes of consistency, the right side elements described
below will be those elements located on the right side of trigger
group module 10 as viewed from the front of the module with the
trigger extending downwardly, while the left side elements will be
those elements on the left side as viewed from the front of the
module. The direction from the rear to the front of the module will
be indicated by the arrow F in each figure showing the module
10.
Referring first to FIGS. 1A and 1B through FIG. 3, trigger group
module 10 includes module housing or housing 11 for containing one
or more trigger group components. The trigger group components
shown for purposes of example are shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3 and
include a hammer 12, hammer spring 14, a trigger component 15
having a trigger or finger lever 18, a trigger spring 16, and a
disconnector 17. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that disconnector 17 is associated with a disconnector spring,
however, the disconnector spring is not necessary or helpful in
describing the invention and is thus omitted from the drawings. The
illustrated trigger group components are held in place in the
module housing with module pins and specifically a first module pin
21 for hammer 12 and a second module pin 22 for trigger component
15. Each of the illustrated module pins 21 and 22 include an
opening 21a and 22a, respectively, extending there through. First
module pin 21 is received through a pin opening 23 of the hammer
while second module pin 22 is received through a pin opening 24 of
trigger component 15 and a pin opening (not shown) of disconnector
17.
Housing 11 includes a first pin receiver for receiving first module
pin 21 and supporting the first module pin by its ends. This first
pin receiver is made up of a first right side receiver opening 26
on a right lateral side or first side wall 31 of housing 11 and a
first left side receiver opening 27 on the opposite lateral side or
second side wall 32 of the housing. Similarly, housing 11 includes
a second pin receiver for receiving second module pin 22 and
supporting the second module pin by its ends. This second pin
receiver is made up of a second right side receiver opening 29 and
a second left side receiver opening 30. Module pins 21 and 22 may
be held in place in module housing 11 by frictional engagement with
the receiver openings, by "C" retainers, or by any other suitable
means.
Those familiar with different types of firearms will recognize that
the trigger group components shown for purposes of example in the
embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B through FIG. 3
are the components used in the firing mechanism for the COLT model
AR-15 rifle. However, these trigger group components are shown only
for purposes of example and there are many other types and
arrangements of trigger group components that may be included in a
trigger group module embodying the principles of the present
invention. The invention is in no way limited to the trigger group
arrangement for an AR-15 rifle or the trigger group components
shown in the figures. In particular, some trigger components are
designed to slide along a track rather than pivot on a pin. Trigger
groups having a sliding trigger component may include only a pin
for the hammer.
As shown best in FIG. 3, the trigger group module 10 according to
the invention may include an overtravel feature 41. Overtravel
feature extends from a bottom wall 42 of housing 11 in a forward or
front portion of the housing in position to contact a forward part
of trigger component 15 so that the component cannot rotate further
forwardly or clockwise in FIG. 3. This effectively defines the
rearward most position of trigger 18. As is known in the art,
overtravel control prevents the trigger from excessive rearward
movement after the hammer release point.
The illustrated module 10 also includes a take-up feature 44.
Take-up feature 44 extends from housing bottom wall 42 in a rear
portion of housing 11 in position to contact a rear part of trigger
component 15. Contact between take-up feature 44 and trigger
component 15 prevents the trigger component from rotating further
counterclockwise in FIG. 3, and thus the take-up feature
effectively defines the forward most position of trigger 18. As is
known in the art, take-up control minimizes the amount of trigger
movement or "take-up" before reaching the hammer release point.
Both overtravel feature 41 and take-up feature 44 represent trigger
component control features that define the limits of movement of
the trigger component. In the preferred embodiment of the invention
where housing 11 is formed from sheet metal, both features may be
formed by pressing out a portion of the bottom wall of the housing
using a suitable stamp or press. The illustrated overtravel and
take-up features are stamped to form an elongated member that is
unsupported at one end. These elongated members may be bent upward
or downward to adjust the overtravel and take-up. Set screws or
other adjustable arrangements in housing 11 may also be used to
form adjustable overtravel and take-up features within the scope of
the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, that the
invention is not limited to modules including trigger component
control features of any type.
The method of installing a trigger group in a firearm may be
described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 8. The method includes
inserting trigger group module 10 into a trigger group receiving
area of a firearm receiver or frame 50. The trigger group receiving
area in the illustrated firearm frame 50 is shown generally at
reference numeral 51 (distinguishable only in FIG. 6) and comprises
a cavity defined between lateral side walls 53 and 54 of firearm
frame 50 large enough to house all of the trigger group components
and allow each of the components to move as desired to perform
their respective function. As mentioned previously, the model AR-15
rifle is used as a convenient and familiar example in this
disclosure. In the AR-15 example, trigger group receiving area 51
is accessible through a top opening that is exposed by removing a
top component of the firearm referred to as the upper receiver (52
in FIG. 5). Firearm frame 50 comprises the portion of the model
AR-15 rifle known as the lower receiver and is shown in the figures
with upper receiver 52 removed to expose the top opening to trigger
group receiving area 51. Upper receiver 52 may be reattached to the
lower receiver or frame 50 after trigger group module 10 is
installed as described in detail below.
The OEM trigger group for the AR-15 model rifle includes the
hammer, trigger component, disconnector, and associated springs
similar to that shown in connection with module 10. In order to
support the OEM trigger group components in the trigger group
receiving area 51, firearm frame 50 includes a first pin receptacle
for receiving and supporting a first OEM trigger group pin and a
second pin receptacle for receiving and supporting a second OEM
trigger group pin. In this case, the first pin receptacle comprises
a hammer pin receptacle made up of a right side receptacle opening
57 and a left side receptacle opening 58 (retaining the definition
of right and left as described above and using arrow F to indicate
the front of the devices in FIGS. 6 through 8). The second pin
receptacle comprises a trigger component receptacle made up of a
right side receptacle opening 59 and a left side receptacle opening
60. Openings 57 and 59 are formed through the right lateral side
wall 53, while openings 58 and 60 are formed through the left
lateral side wall 54. Each of these openings 57, 58, 59, and 60
provide bearing surfaces for supporting a respective OEM trigger
group pin extending through frame 50 between right lateral side
wall 53 and left lateral side wall 54. The OEM pins are not shown
in the figures, however, it will be appreciated that the pins fit
into the respective pair of pin openings 57 and 58 or 59 and 60,
and through the pin receiving opening of the respective trigger
group component or components. The OEM hammer and trigger pins for
the model AR-15 rifle each include an indent in a mid-section of
the pin which cooperates with a part of the trigger group serving
as a detent to hold the pin in place. In the installed position,
the OEM trigger group pins support the hammer, trigger component,
and disconnector in their respective operational positions and
allow the components to pivot as desired according to the operation
of the trigger group.
It will be appreciated that the trigger group receiving area of a
firearm is a relatively small area, commonly less than two inches
wide. Considering the small area in which to work, the small
components that fit in the area, the close tolerances between
components, and the spring loading of the components, it is no easy
matter to position the trigger group components in the trigger
group receiving area of a firearm and hold the components in the
proper position under spring pressure and aligned with the pin
receptacle openings while pressing the pins in place. This trigger
group installation according to the prior art method generally
requires special tools, skills, and experience. The prior art
trigger group installation method also requires great hand strength
to hold the various components in position against the pressure of
the springs in the trigger group.
Trigger group installation according to the present invention using
trigger group module 10 greatly simplifies installation, and may
allow a new trigger group to be installed without special tools and
skills. After the previous or OEM trigger group components are
removed to place the firearm frame in the condition shown in FIG.
6, the present trigger group installation method includes first
inserting the self-contained, pre-assembled trigger group module 10
into an operating position in firearm trigger group receiving area
51. In this operating position, at least one pin receiver on module
housing 11 is aligned with a corresponding pin receptacle of the
firearm. In the illustrated case, the first pin receiver is
positioned with its defining openings 26 and 27 aligned with the
firearm pin receptacle defined by receptacle openings 57 and 58.
This alignment of openings 26 and 27 with receptacle openings 57
and 58 also aligns module pin opening 21a with these receptacle
openings. The illustrated case also requires positioning module
housing 11 with the pin receiver openings 29 and 30 aligned with
firearm pin receptacle openings 59 and 60. This alignment of
openings 29 and 30 with pin receptacle openings 59 and 60 also
aligns module pin opening 22a with these pin receptacle openings.
FIG. 4 shows pre-assembled trigger group module 10 positioned above
the firearm and trigger group receiving area, while FIG. 5 shows
the module and its housing 11 inserted to the operating position
with the various openings aligned. It will be noted that inserting
trigger group module 10 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the
position shown in FIG. 5 may be accomplished only after removing
all of the OEM trigger group components originally in trigger group
receiving area 51 and after removing the safety mechanism from its
receiving opening 61, to place the firearm frame in the condition
shown in FIG. 6. Removing the OEM trigger group components for a
firearm such as the illustrated AR-15 rifle is accomplished by
removing each OEM trigger group pin to release the respective
trigger group component or components supported by the respective
pin as is known in the art. It will also be appreciated especially
from FIG. 5 that the safety mechanism mounted directly on the
firearm frame in openings 61 is in position to cooperate with the
back portion of trigger component 15 to provide the desired safety
function when the trigger group module 10 is in the operating
position.
When module housing 11 is in the operating position shown in FIG.
5, the lowermost part or lower extremity of the module housing is
located above the lowermost edge of the receiver side walls which
define trigger group receiving area 51. In particular, the
lowermost part of module housing 11 is located above the lowermost
edge of receiver side wall 53 and is also located above the
lowermost edge of opposite receiver side wall 54 (side wall 54
being shown in the top view of FIG. 6). No portion of module
housing 11 extends out of the area defined as trigger group
receiving area 51. The only portion of trigger group module 10 that
is exposed when the module is in the operating position is the pull
portion of trigger component 15. Also, no portion of module housing
11 forms any part of the exterior surface of the assembled
firearm.
After inserting module 10 to the operating position shown in FIG. 5
with the various pin openings aligned, the method then includes
inserting a first retainer pin 65 through one of the first pin
receptacle openings and through the corresponding module pin
opening. FIG. 7 shows first retainer pin 65 inserted through first
right side pin receptacle opening 57, through first right side
receiver opening 26 of housing 11, and partially through module pin
opening 21a.
The trigger group installation method according to the invention
finally includes positioning first retainer pin 65 so that the pin
is supported at one end by first right side pin receptacle opening
57 and is supported at its opposite end by first left side pin
receptacle opening 58 on the opposite side of firearm frame 50.
This final position of retainer pin 65 is shown in FIG. 8.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, trigger
group module 10 includes two module pins, first module pin 21
supporting hammer 12 and second module pin 22 supporting trigger
component 15. Thus, once openings 29 and 30 making up the second
pin receiver are aligned with openings 59 and 60 making up the
second pin receptacle, the method includes inserting a second
retainer pin 66 through one opening of the pin receptacle and into
module pin opening 22a. FIG. 7 shows second retainer pin 66
inserted through the right side receptacle opening 59, right side
receiver opening 29, and partially through module pin opening 22a.
Second retainer pin 66 is pushed further through openings 59, 29,
and 22a until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 8. In this
position, second retainer pin 66 is supported on one end by right
side pin receptacle opening 59 and is supported at its opposite end
by left side pin receptacle opening 60.
In some forms of the invention, module pins 21 and 22 may not align
with the OEM pin receptacles of the firearm frame. Because the
module pins in the module 10 need not align with the OEM pin
receptacles in some forms of the invention, those modules may
include a completely different trigger group geometry and structure
from the one originally designed for the firearm. Even where the
module pins 21 and 22 do not align with the OEM pin receptacles the
OEM pin receptacles may still be used in retaining the trigger
group module 10 in the operating position in the firearm frame 50.
For example, pins, screws, or other elements may be mounted in or
through OEM pin receptacles and contact the module 10 or some
feature on the module to serve as retaining devices or a retaining
arrangement to retain the module in the desired operating position.
The OEM pin receptacles may need to be modified to provide the
desired function. For example, threads may be tapped into the OEM
pin receptacles to accept a retainer or set screw.
It should also be noted that in the model AR-15 rifle example
described above, the OEM pin receptacles are designed by the
original manufacturer to support trigger group components that are
not pre-assembled in a module according to the present invention.
However, trigger group modules within the scope of the invention
are not limited to use in firearms originally designed to be used
with trigger group components assembled in place in the firearm.
Rather, trigger group modules within the scope of the present
invention may be used with firearms specifically designed to use
the trigger group module. An OEM pin receptacle may be a receptacle
designed to cooperate with a trigger group module according to the
invention.
As used herein, whether in the above description or the following
claims, the terms "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having,"
"containing," "involving," and the like are to be understood to be
open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Only the
transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially
of," respectively, shall be considered exclusionary transitional
phrases, as set forth, with respect to claims, in the United States
Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth
Edition, August 2001 as revised October 2005), Section 2111.03.
Any use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc.,
in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote
any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over
another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such
ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim
element having a certain name from another element having a same
name (but for use of the ordinal term).
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to
illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the
scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications
to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the
art without departing from the scope of the following claims.
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