U.S. patent application number 10/825509 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-20 for pistol with loaded chamber indicator.
Invention is credited to McGarry, James.
Application Number | 20050229456 10/825509 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35094772 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050229456 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGarry, James |
October 20, 2005 |
Pistol with loaded chamber indicator
Abstract
A pistol including a loaded chamber indicator to identify the
presence of a cartridge loaded in the firing chamber. The pistol
may generally include a barrel, a receiver attached to the barrel
thereby defining a barrel-receiver assembly, and a chamber
associated with the barrel-receiver assembly. An indicating element
is provided which in one embodiment may be pivotally mounted in the
barrel-receiver assembly. The indicating element is displaceable in
response to contact by the cartridge from a first position which
may in one embodiment correspond to an absence of a cartridge
loaded in the chamber, to a second position which may in one
embodiment correspond to a presence of a cartridge loaded in the
chamber. A biasing member, such as a spring, may be provided to
bias the indicating element towards the first position. In one
embodiment, the indicating element protrudes outwards from the
exterior of the pistol in response to contact by the cartridge rim
to provide a visual and tactile indication of a loaded chamber
condition to a user of the pistol.
Inventors: |
McGarry, James; (Prescott
Valley, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
1111 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
35094772 |
Appl. No.: |
10/825509 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/1.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 9/53 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/001.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pistol with loaded chamber indicator comprising: a chamber to
receive a cartridge having a rim; a continuous circumferential seat
surrounding the chamber that locates the rim of the cartridge; and
an element positioned to contact the rim of the cartridge, the
element displaceable to a loaded-chamber-indication position by
contact with the cartridge rim.
2. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the element is positioned in the
loaded-chamber-indication position by contact with a side of the
cartridge rim.
3. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the element comprises a pivot to
pivotally mount the element in the pistol.
4. The pistol of claim 3, wherein the element is substantially
rigid in structure such that the element does not bend by contact
with the cartridge rim but is moveable about the pivot by contact
with the cartridge rim.
5. The pistol of claim 3, wherein the pivot comprises a pin.
6. The pistol of claim 3, wherein the element comprises a sensor
contact surface to operably contact the cartridge and a signal area
to communicate the loaded chamber condition to a pistol user, the
signal area being located at a distance farther from the pivot on
the element than the sensor contact surface.
7. The pistol of claim 6, wherein the signal area has an indicia to
denote a loaded chamber condition.
8. The pistol of claim 7, wherein the signal area is sized to
include an indicia in the form of at least one alphanumeric
character that is at least about 0.075 inches tall.
9. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the pistol comprises an exterior
surface and at least a portion of the element protrudes outwards
from the exterior surface of the pistol in the
loaded-chamber-indication position to provide a user of the pistol
with a visual and tactile indication that the cartridge is in a
loaded condition.
10. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the chamber is sized to receive
a 0.22 caliber cartridge.
11. The pistol of claim 10, wherein the element comprises a
broadened portion that is flanged and has a thickness that is less
than the thickness of an adjacent body portion of the element, the
flanged portion laterally projecting outwards from the body portion
in a direction generally towards the chamber when the element is
mounted in pistol.
12. The pistol of claim 11, further comprising the broadened
portion having an arcuately shaped surface configured to contact
the cartridge rim.
13. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the element is positioned in the
pistol to a lateral side of the chamber area and the element
contacts the rim of the cartridge behind and outside of the
chamber.
14. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the element is displaceable by
the cartridge rim in generally a lateral direction along a
transverse axis with respect to the pistol.
15. The pistol of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member
mounted in the barrel-receiver assembly that biases the element
towards the first position.
16. The pistol of claim 15, wherein the biasing member is a
spring.
17. The pistol of claim 1, further comprising the chamber being
disposed in a chamber block having a rear surface and the
continuous circumferential seat is disposed on the rear surface,
wherein the element contacts the cartridge rim at the rear surface
with the cartridge loaded in the chamber.
18. The pistol of claim 17, wherein the chamber block has sidewalls
without cutouts to substantially support the cartridge.
19. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the cartridge rim holds the
element in the loaded-chamber-indication position.
20. A pistol with loaded chamber indicator comprising: a
barrel-receiver assembly having an exterior surface and defining a
chamber that receives a cartridge having rim; a continuous
circumferential seat surrounding the chamber that contacts the rim
of the cartridge when the entire body of the cartridge is disposed
in the chamber; and an indicating element positioned to contact the
rim of the cartridge and simultaneously protrude outwards from the
exterior surface of the barrel-receiver assembly.
21. The pistol of claim 20, wherein the indicating element is
disposed in a first position wherein the cartridge rim does not
contact the indicating element and a second position wherein the
indicating element contacts the cartridge rim and protrudes
outwards from the exterior surface of the barrel-receiver
assembly.
22. The pistol of claim 21, wherein the indicating element does not
protrude outwards from the exterior surface of the barrel-receiver
assembly in the first position.
23. The pistol of claim 20, wherein the indicating element is
pivotally mounted in the pistol about a pivot and is substantially
rigid in structure such that the indicating element does not bend
by contact with the cartridge rim but is moveable about the pivot
by contact with the cartridge rim.
24. The pistol of claim 20, wherein the indicating element
comprises a sensor contact surface to operably contact the
cartridge and a signal area to communicate a loaded chamber
condition to a user of the pistol, the signal area being located
farther from the pivot on the indicating element than the sensor
contact surface.
25. The pistol of claim 20, further comprising a biasing member
that biases the indicating element towards the first position.
26. The pistol of claim 20, further comprising a continuous
circumferential seat to abuttingly contact the cartridge rim when
the cartridge is loaded in the chamber.
27. The pistol of claim 26, further comprising the chamber being
disposed in a chamber block having a rear surface, and the
circumferential seat located on the rear surface surrounding the
chamber.
28. The pistol of claim 20, wherein the indicating element
comprises a longitudinally-extending substantially planar side and
an opposite longitudinally extending irregularly-shaped side, the
irregularly-shaped side facing towards the chamber to operably
contact the cartridge rim.
29. The pistol of claim 20, wherein the indicating element includes
an indicia to denote a loaded chamber condition to a user of the
pistol.
30. A method of indicating a loaded pistol chamber comprising:
locating a rim of a cartridge on a continuous circumferential seat;
and displacing an element to a loaded-chamber-indication position
with the rim of the cartridge.
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of
protruding at least a portion of the indicating element outwards
from an exterior surface of the pistol to provide a user of the
pistol with a visual and tactile indication that a cartridge is
loaded in the chamber.
32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of
retracting the indicating element inside the pistol to an
unloaded-chamber-indication position in the absence of contact
between the indicating element and cartridge rim.
33. A pistol with loaded chamber indicator comprising: a housing
that defines a chamber to receive a cartridge with a rim, the
chamber being disposed along a longitudinal axis passing through
the chamber; a firing pin offset from the longitudinal axis of the
chamber; and an indicating element positioned to contact the rim of
the cartridge, the element displaceable to a
loaded-chamber-indication position by contact with the cartridge
rim.
34. The pistol of claim 33, wherein the chamber includes a
continuous circumferential seat to locate the rim of the
cartridge.
35. The pistol of claim 33, further comprising the chamber disposed
in a chamber block having sidewalls without cutouts, the chamber
block substantially supporting the cartridge.
36. A pistol with loaded chamber indicator comprising: a housing
having an exterior surface; a barrel having a bore defining a
longitudinal axis; a chamber having a longitudinal centerline to
receive a cartridge with a rim, the chamber disposed adjacent to
the barrel and positioned such that the chamber centerline and
longitudinal axis are concentrically aligned; a firing pin offset
from the centerline of the chamber; and an indicating element
positioned to contact the rim of the cartridge and simultaneously
protrude outwards from the exterior surface of the pistol housing
to indicate a loaded chamber condition to a user of the pistol.
37. The pistol of claim 36, wherein the indicating element is
moveable from a first position wherein the cartridge rim does not
contact the indicating element to a second position wherein the
indicating element contacts the cartridge rim and simultaneously
protrudes outwards from the exterior surface of the pistol.
38. The pistol of claim 36, further comprising the chamber disposed
in a chamber block having a continuous circumferential seat to
provide abutting contact with the cartridge rim when the cartridge
is loaded in the chamber.
39. A pistol with loaded chamber indicator comprising: a frame; a
trigger mounted to the frame; a barrel-receiver assembly having an
exterior surface and defining a chamber that receives a cartridge
having rim, the barrel-receiver assembly mounted to the frame; a
continuous circumferential seat surrounding the chamber that
supports the rim of the cartridge when the entire body of the
cartridge is disposed in the chamber; a bolt slidably disposed in
the barrel-receiver assembly; an indicating element positioned to
contact the rim of the cartridge and simultaneously protrude
outwards from the exterior surface of the barrel-receiver assembly;
and a spring to bias the indicating element towards a position
wherein the indicating element does not protrude outwards from the
exterior surface of the barrel-receiver assembly when not
contacting the rim of the cartridge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to firearms, and
more particularly to an improved device suitable for use with, but
not limited to rimfire-type cartridges to indicate the presence of
a cartridge in the chamber of a pistol (i.e., a "loaded
chamber").
[0002] While the loaded condition of a firearm's chamber is
customarily and most positively checked by the user opening the
action and visually observing the presence of a cartridge therein,
there have been prior devices which attempt to augment this
procedure by providing a mechanical device to signal the chamber's
state of readiness, particularly in military firearms where opening
the chamber and observing the loaded condition of same may not be
practical or possible due to the need for stealth. In a known
loaded chamber indicator, an opening or window is cut into the rear
portion of the barrel or chamber wall. The opening extends radially
inwards from the side of the barrel and through the barrel's rear
face against which the rim of a cartridge abuts when a cartridge is
loaded into the barrel bore. An elongated thin elastic clip is
provided that is fixed to the front portion of the barrel at one
end. At the opposite end, the clip has a small projection that
protrudes through the window in the barrel to contact the side of
the cartridge casing when a cartridge is loaded into the barrel.
The clip, however, is physically deflected outwards only by a very
small amount by the cartridge casing. Moreover, the clip does not
protrude beyond the exterior surface of the pistol in a loaded
chamber condition, making the indicator not readily noticeable.
Both of these factors make it difficult for a pistol user to
visually distinguish a loaded chamber condition from an empty
chamber condition by use of such devices.
[0003] In another known indicator, a very small viewing window or
port is similarly cut into in the barrel or chamber wall of a
pistol to allow the presence of the cartridge casing in the barrel
bore to be seen through the window. Dirt, unburned gun powder
residue, carbon build-up, and grease may obscure the small viewing
ports and render them ineffective. The viewing port type indicators
are also not useable at night or in other darkened
environments.
[0004] A drawback of the foregoing known loaded chamber indicators
is that they are also not suitable for use with all types of known
self-contained cartridges currently on the market today because the
window cutouts in the rear barrel or chamber reduce structural
support of the cartridge casing and rim. In particular, the
foregoing indicators are not well-suited for the very popular
rimfire-type cartridges, such as the 0.22 Long Rifle, which
optimally require substantial structural support of the cartridge
casing and rim during firing. In a rimfire cartridge, the
impact-sensitive primer material, which is used to ignite the
propellant powder (i.e., gunpowder), is distributed inside and
around the base of the cartridge casing in the rim. The rim is a
relatively thin and narrow laterally-protruding hollow annular
structure disposed around the circumference of the cartridge casing
at its base. An annular space is contained inside the rim for
holding the primer material. Striking the rim from the rear (such
as with a firing pin) crushes and flattens the rim together against
the rear face of the barrel or chamber. This "squeezing"
deformation of the rim creates internal friction in the primer
material sandwiched in the narrow annular space within the rim, and
ignites the primer which in turn sets off the propellant powder.
Accordingly, the casing in the base area, and in particular the rim
of the cartridge casing, are intentionally made relatively thin and
weak by structural design to be readily deformable. Therefore, a
rimfire-type pistol, to provide maximum support to the base and rim
of the cartridge to prevent the fragile rimfire casing from
bursting during firing, should preferably not contain cutouts in
the barrel or chamber area.
[0005] The known loaded chamber indicators discussed above all
require cutting away of cartridge support provided by the barrel or
chamber to allow those indicators to function properly. There has
never been a loaded chamber indicator in the prior art that
functions in a truly satisfactory fashion on firearms chambered for
rimfire-type ammunition, which comprise a large percentage of the
firearms sold. Accordingly, there is a need for a loaded chamber
indicator that does not undermine support of a cartridge during
firing and, in particular, one which functions satisfactorily with
rimfire-type ammunition such as the 0.22 Long Rifle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A preferred embodiment provides a moveable loaded chamber
indicator for a pistol that advantageously does not require cutting
away of the rear barrel or chamber, thereby providing substantial
structural support of the cartridge casing when the cartridge is
loaded in the barrel or chamber. The preferred embodiment further
advantageously provides a loaded chamber indicator that is more
readily noticeable to a pistol user from a visual and tactile
standpoint than known indicators.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the loaded chamber indicator
operates by contact with the cartridge rim which remains outside
of, and to the rear of or behind the chamber when the cartridge is
loaded therein. Accordingly, the structural integrity of the
chamber is not compromised by any openings cut through the chamber
walls into the chamber like the known indicators discussed above.
Therefore, the relatively fragile rimfire cartridge casing may be
substantially and properly supported by the chamber.
[0008] In a rimfire cartridge, striking the cartridge rim from the
lateral or side direction (instead of from the normal rear firing
direction as with a firing pin) does not ignite the primer because
the "squeezing" deformation of the rim needed to ignite the primer
material (discussed above) is not created by impacting the rim from
the side. In addition, the arched shape of the rim presented in the
lateral direction makes the rim inherently stronger and more
resistant to deformation from a blow to the side. Accordingly, the
side of the cartridge rim which may conveniently be used to
activate the indicator.
[0009] A pistol designed according to the preferred embodiment
includes a barrel, a housing which may be a receiver preferably
coupled to the barrel to define a barrel-receiver assembly, and a
chamber capable of holding a cartridge and which is operably
associated with the barrel-receiver assembly. In a preferred
embodiment, the chamber may be a cylindrical longitudinal bore
which may be contained in a chamber block having sidewalls and a
rear surface for abuttingly receiving a cartridge having rim.
Preferably, the rear surface of the chamber block surrounding the
chamber opening is uninterrupted by cutouts and forms a continuous
circumferential seat for abuttingly contacting and supporting the
rim of the cartridge. In one embodiment, the chamber is sized for
receiving a 0.22 caliber cartridge.
[0010] An indicating element is provided which preferably operates
off contact with the rim of the cartridge. More preferably, in the
preferred embodiment, the indicating element operates off contact
with the side of the cartridge rim. The indicating element may be
pivotally mounted to the barrel-receiver assembly at a pivot
defining a pivot point. Preferably, the indicating element is
moveable and displaceable in response to contact by the cartridge
from a first inactivated position or location, which may correspond
to an absence of a cartridge fully-loaded in the chamber (i.e. an
unloaded-chamber-indication position), to a second activated
position or location, which may correspond to the presence of a
cartridge loaded in the chamber (i.e. a loaded-chamber-indication
position). In one embodiment, at least a portion of the indicating
element protrudes outwards and away from exterior surface of the
barrel-receiver assembly in the second position in response to
contact by the cartridge. This provides both a visual and tactile
indication that a cartridge is loaded in the chamber.
[0011] In one embodiment, the indicating element may have a sensor
surface configured to contact and detect the cartridge, and a
signal area to identify and communicate the presence of a cartridge
in the chamber. The sensor surface may be a cam. Preferably, the
signal area may protrude outward and away from the exterior surface
of the pistol in the second loaded-condition-indication position.
The signal area has an ornamental shape which in one embodiment may
also include an ornamental written, graphic, colored, and/or other
suitable indicia or combination thereof on one or more of its
surfaces to denote a "loaded chamber" condition.
[0012] According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the
pistol includes a bolt that is slidably mounted in the
barrel-receiver assembly. The bolt is preferably slidable in a
forward direction towards the front of the pistol and in a rearward
direction towards the rear of the pistol, as further described
below. In one embodiment, the bolt has a recess configured and
arranged to receive the indicating element. In another embodiment,
the barrel-receiver assembly similarly has a cutout configured and
arranged to receive the indicating element.
[0013] As the terms are used herein, the "front" of a pistol is
defined as the barrel end and the "rear" of a pistol is defined as
the handle or grip end of a pistol. Also as the terms may be used
herein with respect to orientation using the pistol as a frame of
reference to direction, "forward" indicates a direction towards the
muzzle (front of barrel) end of the pistol and "rearward" indicates
a direction towards the handle or grip end of the pistol.
"Downwards" indicates a direction towards the bottom or underside
of the pistol and "upwards" indicates a direction towards the top
of the pistol opposite the bottom or underside.
[0014] In the foregoing definitions and descriptions provided
herein, any reference to either orientation or direction is
intended primarily for the convenience in describing the preferred
embodiment and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the
present invention thereto.
[0015] According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, a
biasing member, such as a spring, may be provided in one embodiment
which is associated with the loaded chamber indicating element. The
spring may be disposed in the barrel-receiver assembly and
interacts with the indicating element to preferably bias the
indicating element towards the first position described above
(i.e., absence of a fully-loaded cartridge in the chamber). In one
embodiment, the biasing member may be a helical spring.
[0016] A method of indicating a loaded pistol chamber is also
provided including locating the rim of a cartridge on a continuous
circumferential seat and displacing an element to a
loaded-condition-indication position with the rim of the cartridge.
In one embodiment, the method further includes protruding at least
a portion of the indicating element outwards from an exterior
surface of the pistol to provide a user of the pistol with a visual
and tactile indication that a cartridge is loaded in the chamber.
In yet another embodiment, the method includes the step of
retracting the indicating element inside the pistol to an
unloaded-chamber-indication position in the absence of contact
between the indicating element and cartridge rim.
[0017] Although the preferred embodiment of a magazine disconnect
mechanism will be described for convenience with reference to a
pistol having a receiver that is fixed on the grip frame, and a
bolt that is slidably movable within the receiver in response to
recoil forces developed during firing, the invention is not limited
in its applicability by such reference. Accordingly, the preferred
embodiment may also be used in pistols having a movable bolt in the
form of a slide that is slidably mounted on the grip frame to move
in response to the recoil forces developed during firing. Although
the preferred embodiment of a loaded chamber indicator is
particularly suited for use with pistols that utilize rimfire-type
ammunition, the preferred embodiment may be beneficially used in
centerfire cartridge-type pistol applications as well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The features of the preferred embodiments will be described
with reference to the following drawings where like elements are
labeled similarly, and in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of a firearm in the form of a pistol and in which the pistol has
been partially cut away to show the rear of the chamber and a
cartridge rim contacting a loaded chamber indicator;
[0020] FIG. 1A is a left side elevational detail view of the pistol
of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 1B is a left side view detail taken from FIG. 1A;
[0022] FIG. 2 is top cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in
FIG. 1A, but instead showing a cartridge partially loaded into the
chamber;
[0023] FIG. 2A is a top detailed view taken from FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 3 is the top cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3
in FIG. 1A showing a cartridge fully loaded into the chamber;
[0025] FIG. 3A is a top detailed view taken from FIG. 3;
[0026] FIG. 3B is a detailed cutaway view from FIG. 3A showing a
rimfire cartridge with primer material contained in the rim and
loaded in the chamber before firing;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a top view of the indicating element of FIG.
1;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the indicating
element of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;
[0029] FIG. 5A is a bottom perspective view of the indicating
element of FIG. 5;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the indicating element of FIG.
1 taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of the
barrel-receiver assembly of the pistol of FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a top cross-sectional view of the barrel-receiver
assembly taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;
[0033] FIG. 9 shows the pivot pin of FIG. 1 used to mount the
indicating element in the pistol of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 10 is a left side elevational view of the bolt of the
pistol of FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 11 is a top cross-sectional view of the bolt of FIG. 10
taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10; and
[0036] FIG. 12 is a front end view of the bolt of FIG. 10 taken
along line 12-12 in FIG. 10.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment
will now be described for convenience with reference to a
rimfire-type pistol in the form of an autoloading pistol. It will
be appreciated that the preferred embodiment is equally applicable
for use with other type pistols including, without limitation,
non-autoloading pistols, centerfire-type cartridge firing pistols,
etc. In addition, the preferred embodiment may be used in
non-firearm applications where a tactile and visual indication of a
component operating position is desired.
[0038] Pistol 1 includes a longitudinally-extending barrel 2 with
longitudinal bore 5 therethrough and a generally hollow-structured
receiver 4 in operational relationship with barrel 2. In a
preferred embodiment, receiver 4 is disposed adjacent to and
preferably attached to barrel 2; the combination defining a
barrel-receiver assembly 3. Receiver 4 has an exterior surface 80
and an interior surface 82 defining a cavity 86 therein (see, e.g.,
FIGS. 2A and 3A).
[0039] Barrel 2 defines a longitudinal axis "LA" for pistol 1
passing through barrel bore 5. A transverse axis "TA" is defined
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA. The barrel-receiver
assembly 3 is preferably mounted to a grip frame 6 that includes a
grip frame handle portion 15, which in one embodiment may hold a
removable magazine (not shown) capable of holding and dispensing a
plurality of cartridges. Pistol 1 further includes a trigger 8 for
discharging the pistol.
[0040] A chamber block 70 associated and in operable relationship
with barrel-receiver assembly 3 may be provided adjacent to the
rear of the barrel 2. Chamber block 70 may be integral with barrel
2 or a separate component attached to barrel 2. Chamber block 70
preferably includes a chamber 11 which in the preferred embodiment
may be a cylindrical bore. Chamber 11 is positioned and arranged to
receive and hold a cartridge 50 which may include a cartridge
casing 52 and an annular laterally-protruding rim 54 disposed
around the rear or base 58 of the cartridge (best seen in FIG. 3B).
In the case of a rimfire cartridge (as shown in FIG; 3B), the
primer material is distributed and contained inside the rim.
[0041] Chamber 11 defines a longitudinal chamber centerline 84
which coincides with longitudinal axis LA of the pistol and in
which chamber centerline 84 is concentrically aligned with bore 5
of barrel 2. Chamber 11 preferably communicates with both bore 5 of
barrel 2 to its front, and interior receiver cavity 86 to its rear
to permit a cartridge to be loaded and chambered from the magazine
into chamber 11, and ultimately discharged from pistol 1 through
barrel 2. Accordingly, chamber 11 functions to hold cartridge 50 in
preparation for discharging pistol 1.
[0042] In one embodiment, chamber block 70 may further includes
sidewalls 76 and a rear surface 72. In a rimfire cartridge 50, rim
54 protrudes radially outwards beyond cartridge casing 52 (see
FIGS. 2A, 3A, and particularly 3B) and has a larger outside
diameter than the casing. Rear surface 72 includes a
circumferential seat 74 which preferably surrounds chamber 11.
Cartridge rim 54 abuts against circumferential seat 74 when
cartridge 50 is loaded in chamber 11 (see FIGS. 1A and 3A).
Preferably, circumferential seat 74 is continuous and uninterrupted
by cutouts for a loaded chamber indicator to substantially support
cartridge rim 54 and cartridge casing 52. Also preferably, chamber
block sidewall 76 does not have any openings or windows cut
therethrough for a loaded chamber indicator to provide maximum and
substantial support for cartridge casing 52 when cartridge 50 is
loaded in chamber 11 and fired.
[0043] In one embodiment (as best seen in FIG. 3B), circumferential
seat 74 may include a slight chamfer 75 (e.g., typically about
0.010 inches) around the rear entrance opening to chamber 1 in rear
chamber block surface 72 to facilitate loading of cartridge 50
before firing a cartridge from pistol 1 (best seen in FIGS. 2A and
3A). If a chamfer 75 is provided, however, it should be noted that
the structural integrity of circumferential seat 74 is not
adversely affected and seat 74 still substantially and sufficiently
supports cartridge rim 54 and cartridge casing 52 to seal chamber
11.
[0044] A spring-biased hook-like extractor 81 may be provided which
removes a spent cartridge casing from chamber 11 by grasping the
cartridge rim 54 after pistol 1 is discharged. The spent casing is
subsequently ejected from pistol 1. A small extractor notch 79
(best seen in FIGS. 2A and 3A) may also be provided in chamber
block 70 to further facilitate removal of a spent cartridge casing
from chamber 11. Notch 79 is preferably angled towards the rear
entrance to chamber 11 disposed in chamber block rear surface 72.
However, notch 79 does not penetrate into chamber 11. Therefore,
notch 79 does not adversely affect substantial and sufficient
support of cartridge rim 54 and cartridge casing 52 during
firing.
[0045] It will be appreciated that in an embodiment of pistol 1
intended to be used with centerfire cartridges (not shown), it is
contemplated that cutout(s) may be made in circumferential seat 74
and/or sidewall 76 of chamber block 70. Centerfire cartridges have
a deformable primer cup located in the center of the rear or bottom
of the casing. The firing pin in a centerfire pistol is therefore
positioned to strike the rear center of the cartridge at the primer
cup. Accordingly, centerfire casings are typically strong in
contrast to relatively fragile rimfire cartridges and do not
require substantial support of the casing.
[0046] Chamber block 70 may have any suitable overall size and
three-dimensional shape (e.g., square or rectangular block,
cylindrical, etc.) so long as the chamber block is capable of
housing a chamber 11 disposed therein.
[0047] Receiver 4 may further have a cartridge loading opening 17
as shown in FIG. 7 which communicates with grip frame 6 and the
magazine therein (not shown) for loading cartridge 50 into chamber
11. Receiver 4 also preferably includes a cartridge ejector opening
13 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2-3) to allow a spent cartridge casing 52 to
be ejected from pistol 1 after firing.
[0048] Pistol 1 further includes a firing pin 36 to strike the
cartridge and discharge the pistol. Firing pin 36 has a
longitudinally reciprocating forward and rearward motion and is
mechanically actuated by trigger 8 (eventually) through various
intermediate operable linkages. In the case of a rimfire cartridge,
the rear of rim 54 must be struck and deformed by firing pin 36
(best seen FIGS. 1A and 1B) to ignite the primer and discharge
pistol 1 (see Background of the Invention). Accordingly, in a
rimfire-type pistol 1 as shown herein, firing pin 36 is preferably
mounted and positioned in the pistol offset from centerline 84 of
chamber 11 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1A and 1B) which coincides with
longitudinal axis LA of pistol 1. More preferably, firing pin 36 is
offset and positioned to strike a portion of cartridge rim 54 from
the rear during the firing pin's forward motion. This crushes rim
54 sandwiched between rear surface 72 of chamber block 70 and
firing pin 36, thereby causing the needed "squeezing" deformation
of rim 54 (as discussed above) which ignites the primer therein and
sets off the propellant powder to discharge pistol 1.
[0049] Referring now also to FIGS. 10-12, pistol 1 further includes
a bolt 7 which may be slidably mounted in barrel-receiver assembly
3. Bolt 7 preferably slides in a forward and axial direction
towards the front of pistol 1 to push and load a cartridge 50 into
chamber 11 from the magazine (not shown). Bolt 7 also preferably
slides and is retractable in a rearward axial direction to recoil
upon discharging the pistol. This rearward motion allows a spent
cartridge casing 52 to be ejected, and a new cartridge to be
positioned in receiver 4 for loading forward into chamber 11. Bolt
7 further includes a forward bolt stop surface 47 and breech face
90 which contacts the rear or base 58 of cartridge 50 when it is
loaded into chamber 11 by bolt 7. Bolt stop surface 47 abuttingly
contacts rear surface 72 of chamber block 70 when cartridge 50 is
loaded into chamber 11. Preferably, breech face 90 is recessed
below bolt stop surface 47 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3B and 11), thereby
defining a space to accommodate base 58 and rim 54 of cartridge 50
when bolt stop surface 75 abuts rear surface 72 as shown in FIG.
3B. Preferably, the depth that breech face 90 is recessed is
sufficient to provide extra clearance 91 beyond that necessary to
accommodate the actual size and depth of cartridge rim 54. The
extra clearance 91 ensures that cartridge rim 54 is not compressed
when cartridge 50 is loaded into chamber 11 to avoid discharging
pistol 1. Upon firing, cartridge casing 52 and rim 54 expands into
the space between chamber block rear surface 72 and breech face
90.
[0050] The rear of bolt 7 may further have ears 40 as shown to
allow a user to readily grip and manually retract the bolt.
[0051] With further reference to FIGS. 1-3, pistol 1 includes a
moveable indicating element 10 which identifies and communicates
the presence of a fully-loaded cartridge 50 in chamber 11 (i.e., a
"loaded chamber") to a user of the pistol. Preferably, indicating
element 10 provides a visual and tactile indication or signal to
the user of a loaded chamber condition, as further described below.
In one embodiment, indicating element 10 may be pivotally mounted
in the barrel-receiver assembly 3 about a pivot point P, and
preferably in the general proximity of chamber 11, as shown.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, at least a portion of indicating
element 10 may be mounted inside the barrel-receiver assembly 3
such that indicating element 10 is substantially contained within
the barrel-receiver assembly 3. In the preferred embodiment shown,
indicating element 10 may be positioned and mounted to the side or
laterally of chamber 11. Preferably, indicating element 10 is
positioned to be contacted by cartridge 50, and more preferably
contacted by the side 56 of cartridge rim 54.
[0053] It will be appreciated that other mounting positions of
indicating element 10 are possible so long as indicating element 10
is mounted close enough to chamber 11 such that at least a portion
of indicating element 10 may come into operable contact with and be
displaceable by cartridge 50 when the cartridge is loaded in the
chamber.
[0054] Additional reference is now made to FIGS. 4-6 which shows a
preferred embodiment of indicating element 10 in greater detail.
Alternatively, it will be appreciated that other suitable
embodiments and configurations of an indicating element 10 are
possible so long as the indicator is displaceable to a loaded
chamber position by contact with the cartridge, and more preferably
the cartridge rim 54. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by
the preferred embodiment described herein.
[0055] As shown, indicating element 10 may include a substantially
planar or flat body portion 25 having an overall width W and
overall length L, a top surface 16, a bottom surface 18, and at
least two longitudinally-extending sides 24, 34 connecting the top
and bottom surfaces thereby defining a thickness 21 for indicating
element 10. Preferably, side 24 may be substantially flat and faces
towards the exterior of pistol 1 in one embodiment. Opposite side
34 may be irregularly-shaped for reasons described below.
Indicating element 10 and side 24 are preferably configured as
shown such that indicating element 10 will not protrude
substantially beyond the exterior of the barrel-receiver assembly 3
when indicating element is in the first position (i.e., cartridge
not fully-loaded into chamber 11) described above. It will be
appreciated, however, that in some embodiments indicating element
10 may protrude slightly beyond the exterior of barrel-receiver
assembly 3. Also preferably, the other side 34 faces towards
chamber 11 and is configured to contact cartridge 50 when the
cartridge is loaded into the chamber.
[0056] Indicating element 10 preferably may be generally elongate
in shape and have two ends 12, 14. In one embodiment, indicating
element 10 also preferably includes a broadened and laterally
projecting portion 26 adjacent to body portion 25. Broadened
portion 26 is preferably located between ends 12, 14 approximately
near the middle of length L of indicating element 10. In one
embodiment, broadened portion 26 may be configured to contact
cartridge 50 and may be substantially planar.
[0057] In one embodiment, laterally projecting and broadened
portion 26 may be flanged such that its thickness 23 is thinner
than the thickness 21 of body portion 25 (best seen in FIGS. 5A and
6). This allows the amount material to be removed from bolt 7 to
accommodate indicating element 10 to be kept at a minimal so as to
not unduly weaken the bolt, for reasons described in more detail
below. Also preferably, flanged portion 26 projects from side 34
and in a lateral direction towards chamber 11 when indicating
element 10 is mounted in pistol 1.
[0058] Preferably, indicating element 10 in one embodiment may be
substantially rigid in structure. Preferably, indicating element 10
may made of any type steel; however, other suitable metallic (e.g.,
aluminum, titanium, etc.) and non-metallic materials (e.g.,
plastics) that are rigid may be used. In the preferred embodiment,
indicating element 10 is made of steel.
[0059] With continuing reference to FIGS. 4-6, indicating element
10 may further include a signal area to provide a visual and/or
tactile indication of a "loaded chamber" condition to the user of
pistol. In one embodiment, the signal area may be configured as an
elongated section 27 having an ornamental shape as shown. Elongated
section 27 may be attached to or integral with body portion 25 of
indicating element 10. At least a portion of elongated section 27
preferably may be capable of protruding outwards beyond the
exterior surface 80 of barrel-receiver assembly 3 to provide a
tactile and visual signal of a loaded chamber condition to a user
of pistol 1. Elongate section 27 may further include an indicia 22
on one or more of its top surface 6, bottom surface 18, or sides
24, 34. In the drawings, indicia are only shown on top surface 6 to
avoid unduly cluttering and clearly show the details indicating
element 10. However, emplacement of indicia is not limited to top
surface 6 alone. The indicia 22 may be in the form of a color,
symbolic graphic, marking, alphanumeric characters (in any
language), and/or other suitable indicia or combination thereof to
communicate and denote that a cartridge 50 is loaded in chamber 11.
The indicia may be incorporated onto and/or into the surface by any
suitable method commonly used in the art such as painting, etching,
inscribing, etc. or any combination thereof. In one embodiment,
elongated section 27 is sized sufficiently large enough to include
at least one surface area on which at least one alphanumeric
character may be placed that is at least about 0.075 inches tall in
height 92 (see FIG. 4). In an alternative embodiment, elongate
section 27 may be plain without any indicia place thereon.
[0060] Indicating element 10 may further preferably include a
sensor surface such as cartridge contact surface 28 which is
configured and located on element 10 to physically and operably
contact cartridge 50 when loaded into chamber 11. Preferably,
cartridge contact sensor surface 28 is located on indicating
element 10 such that it may be operably contacted by side 56 of
cartridge rim 54. Contact sensor surface 28 may be located on
broadened portion 26 of indicating element 10. In one embodiment,
contact surface 28 may be a cam having a generally arcuate or
curved shape to come into gradual and smooth engagement with
cartridge rim 54 when loaded into chamber 11; however, other
suitable shapes may be used and are contemplated so long as
cartridge 50 is able to physically deflect indicating element 10 by
contact. Contact surface 28 may also include a chamfer 77 on its
underside (see, e.g., FIG. 5A) to further enhance smooth engagement
of indicating element 10 with cartridge rim 54.
[0061] Preferably, contact surface 28 is an integral part of
indicating element 10 and more preferably of portion 26. However,
contact surface 28 may be a separate component connected to
indicating element 10. In an embodiment of an indicating element 10
having a flanged portion 26 as described above, cartridge contact
surface 28 may preferably be disposed on flanged portion 26. The
functioning of contact surface 28 will be discussed below.
[0062] As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (and noted above), indicating
element 10 may be pivotally mounted in barrel-receiver assembly 3
and moveable in preferably a substantially arcuate manner around a
pivot point, as will now be described. Indicating element 10
preferably may be located in barrel-receiver assembly 3 so as to be
moveable in a lateral direction (as indicated by directional arrow
60) generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA of pistol 1
in the direction of the transverse axis TA. In one embodiment,
indicating element 10 may be mounted in barrel-receiver assembly 3
via a moveable pinned arrangement between indicating element 10 and
barrel-receiver assembly 3. In one embodiment, indicating element
10 may therefore have a hole 20 configured to receive a pin 29
(shown for example in FIGS. 1-3). Barrel-receiver assembly 3 is
provided with a pin cavity 32 (best seen in FIG. 7) that is
configured to receive pin 29. The location of hole 20 through which
pin 29 passes defines a pivot point "P" for indicating element 10
(see, e.g., FIGS. 2A and 3A). It should be noted that pin 29 is
preferably a separate component insertable through into hole 20 as
described above. Alternatively, pin 29 may be part of indicating
element 10 formed as an integral part thereof or rigidly attached
via shrink fitting, welding, threadable attachment, or other
suitable method commonly employed in the art. In one embodiment,
pin 29 is held in pin cavity 32 by being trapped in the cavity by
grip frame 6 when pistol 1 is assembled.
[0063] A biasing member may be provided which is in operable
relationship with loaded chamber indicating element 10. In one
embodiment, the biasing member is a helical spring 38 as shown.
Spring 38 may be disposed in the barrel-receiver assembly 3 and
interacts with indicating element 10 to preferably bias the
indicating element towards the first position described above and
shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., absence of a fully-loaded cartridge in the
chamber). In one embodiment, indicating element 10 may have a notch
31 (best seen in FIG. 4) to engage and confine spring 38 in
position. Spring 38 may be trapped in position within notch 31 and
the barrel-receiver assembly 3 when pistol 1 is assembled. Although
a biasing member in the form of spring 38 is disclosed, it should
be noted that any suitable type of biasing member may be used so
long as indicating element 10 may be biased towards the first
position.
[0064] Operation of the loaded chamber indicator mechanism in
conjunction with loading a cartridge into the chamber of a pistol
will now be described with reference to the preferred embodiment
described herein. FIG. 2 shows cartridge 50, which in this
embodiment without limitation is a rimfire cartridge, partially
loaded into chamber 11 with the assistance of bolt 7 which is
biased forwards by a recoil spring (not shown). In FIG. 2,
indicating element 10 preferably does not contact or may slightly
contact the side of the cartridge casing 52 provided element 10
does not physically impede the proper loading of cartridge 50 into
chamber 11. Indicating element 10 is in the first and non-activated
position corresponding to the absence of a cartridge 50
fully-loaded in chamber 11 (i.e., the unloaded-chamber-indication
position). In this position, elongated section 27 of indicating
element 10 is preferably substantially flush with or recessed with
respect to the exterior surface 80 of barrel-receiver assembly 3
such that indicating element 10 does not substantially physically
protrude outwards from pistol 1. The first position therefore
signifies an unloaded chamber condition.
[0065] As cartridge 50 continues to be loaded forward into chamber
11 by bolt 7, the side 56 of rim 54 eventually contacts and engages
indicating element 10, preferably at cartridge contact sensor
surface 28 of side 34 of indicating element 10. Rim 54 activates
and physically displaces indicating element 10, causing indicating
element 10 to pivotally move about pivot point P. Indicating
element 10 comes to a second and fully-activated position as shown
in FIG. 3, wherein cartridge 50 is fully-loaded into chamber 11,
and the side 56 of cartridge rim 54 holds indicating element 10 in
a fully-extended position (i.e., the loaded-chamber-indication
position). As shown, elongated section 27 of indicating element 10
preferably protrudes beyond the exterior surface 80 of
barrel-receiver assembly 3 to indicate that a cartridge is
fully-loaded in chamber 11. In this position, elongated section 27
may be clearly seen and felt by a user of pistol 1 to provide a
visual and tactile indication of a loaded chamber condition.
Accordingly, the change in position of indicating element 10 from
the first inactivated position to the activated second position is
used to identify and communicate the presence of a fully-loaded
chamber to the pistol user. The second position therefore signifies
a loaded chamber condition.
[0066] Pistol 1 is normally discharged when trigger 8 is pulled,
thereby causing firing pin 36 to strike the rear of cartridge rim
54. As shown in the figures (particularly FIG. 3B), a portion of
rim 54 rests outside of and overlaps the rear of chamber 11,
thereby allowing firing pin 36 to crush the rim against the rear of
chamber 11 to ignite the primer material, and discharge pistol 1.
The spent cartridge casing 52 is then ejected from pistol 1.
Without cartridge 50 in chamber 11, spring 38 returns indicating
element 10 to the initial first or non-activated position described
above. As another cartridge 50 is loaded into chamber 11 either
automatically via the magazine or manually, the above sequence is
repeated and indicating element 11 moves to the second
fully-activated position to indicate that the pistol is loaded.
[0067] It should be noted that pin 29, and thus pivot point P, may
be located in a number of suitable positions along the length L
(see FIG. 5) of indicating element 10. Preferably, in one
embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, pivot point P is asymmetrically
located along the length L of indicating element 10 being
positioned closer towards the forward end 12 of indicating element
10 than towards the rear end 14, and preferably near and forward of
sensor contact surface 28. Accordingly, the distance between pivot
point P and forward end 12 is shorter than the distance between
pivot point P and rear end 14. Also preferably, the end 14 of
elongate section 27 (i.e., the signal area) may be located
relatively far from pivot point P. This advantageous arrangement
physically magnifies the lateral displacement of elongated section
27 (i.e., in a direction along the transverse axis TA) when
indicating element 10 is activated by contact with cartridge rim
54, making the signal area more visually and tactiley noticeable to
a pistol user than known loaded chamber indicators. Thus in a
preferred embodiment, the signal area of indicating element 10 is
located farther from pivot point P than sensor contact surface 28
of indicating element 10. It will be appreciated, however, that
numerous variations and configurations of indicating element 10 and
accompanying positioning of sensor contact surface 28 and signal
area 27 are possible and contemplated within the scope of the
claims appended hereto.
[0068] To accommodate and receive indicating element 10, the
barrel-receiver assembly 3 preferably includes a-cutout 30 (best
seen in FIGS. 7 and 8). Preferably, cutout 30 allows indicating
element to be housed inside pistol 1 when a cartridge 50 is not
loaded in chamber 11. Accordingly, in one embodiment, cutout 30 is
sized and configured cooperatively with the size and configuration
of indicating element 10. Preferably, cutout 30 in the embodiment
shown has at least one curved or arcuate surface to match the
embodiment of indicating element 10 (as shown in FIG. 4). Cutout 30
preferably may be designed to communicate with the area to the rear
of chamber 11 to allow indicating element 10 to be contacted and
activated by rim 54 of cartridge 50. Cutout 30 also preferably
communicates with the exterior of pistol 1 such that indicating
element 10 may protrude outwards from barrel-receiver assembly 3 to
visually and tactiley indicate a loaded chamber condition.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 10-12, and functionally similar to cutout
30 in barrel-receiver assembly 3 described above, bolt 7 also
preferably includes a cutout or recess 42 to receive indicating
element 10. Bolt recess 42 may preferably configured to accommodate
indicating element 10 when bolt 7 slidably moves forwards and
rearwards in barrel-receiver assembly 3 to avoid physical
interference with the operation of these components.
[0070] Bolt recess 42 includes an upper cavity 41, lower cavity 43,
and a step 45 between upper and lower cavities 41, 43. Preferably,
step 45 may be inclined or ramped as shown. In one embodiment as
shown, lower cavity 43 and upper cavity 45 are preferably
contiguous and form a common space to accommodate indicating
element 10. Also as shown, upper cavity 41 preferably is deeper
extending farther radially inwards towards the center of bolt 7
than lower cavity 43. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the
volume of upper cavity 41 is larger than that of lower cavity
43.
[0071] The forward or bolt stop surface 47 of bolt 7 (typically
made of steel) preferably may be surface work hardened during the
manufacturing process. This toughens bolt stop surface 47 to
withstand forces imparted by bolt 7 striking the rear surface 72 of
chamber block 70, thereby minimizing the possibility of structural
fractures. Interior portions of bolt 7, however, are not hardened
and less resistant to such impact forces. Accordingly, bolt recess
42 preferably may be stepped in shape as shown to minimize the
amount of undercutting required and concomitantly maximize the
strength of bolt 7. Thus, indicating element 10 is preferably
cooperatively shaped with bolt recess 42 and in the preferred
embodiment may have a stepped configuration also (as best shown in
FIG. 6).
[0072] While the foregoing description and drawings represent the
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be
understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In
particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the
present invention may be embodied in other specific forms,
structures, arrangements, proportions, sizes, and with other
elements, materials, and components, without departing from the
spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art
will appreciate that the invention may be used with many
modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes,
materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of
the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific
environments and operative requirements without departing from the
principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed
embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being
defined by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing
description or embodiments.
* * * * *