U.S. patent application number 12/201850 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for modular firearm system with interchangeable grip and slide assemblies and an improved firing pin safety for firearm.
Invention is credited to Ethan M. Lessard, Thomas U. Metzger, Adrian J. O. Thomele.
Application Number | 20090071053 12/201850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40452979 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090071053 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomele; Adrian J. O. ; et
al. |
March 19, 2009 |
Modular Firearm System with Interchangeable Grip and Slide
Assemblies and an Improved Firing Pin Safety for Firearm
Abstract
In one aspect, a firearm system allows multiple modular firearm
configurations, thereby providing significant customizability of
the firearm by the user. All of the components necessary to fire
the weapon are carried on a common receiver assembly.
Interchangeable slide assemblies and handgrip modules can be
detachably connected to the common receiver to substitute one
firearm size, handgrip circumference, and/or munitions caliber for
another. For example, the handgrip module can be substituted so as
to change the size of the firearm and/or the slide assembly can be
changed for purposes of changing the caliber of the firearm. In
another aspect, an improved firing pin safety, which is capable of
use in a one-piece machined slide, and which is additionally
capable of being manufactured as a stamped sheet metal part, is
provided.
Inventors: |
Thomele; Adrian J. O.;
(Eckernforde, DE) ; Metzger; Thomas U.;
(Eckernforde, DE) ; Lessard; Ethan M.; (East
Kingston, NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCOTT C. RAND, ESQ.;MCLANE, GRAF, RAULERSON & MIDDLETON, PA
900 ELM STREET, P.O. BOX 326
MANCHESTER
NH
03105-0326
US
|
Family ID: |
40452979 |
Appl. No.: |
12/201850 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60969047 |
Aug 30, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/1.01 ; 42/111;
42/14; 42/70.08; 42/71.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 15/12 20130101;
F41A 11/02 20130101; F41G 1/16 20130101; F41A 17/64 20130101; F41C
23/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/1.01 ;
42/71.01; 42/14; 42/70.08; 42/111 |
International
Class: |
F41A 11/00 20060101
F41A011/00; F41C 23/00 20060101 F41C023/00; F41A 3/00 20060101
F41A003/00; F41A 99/00 20060101 F41A099/00; F41A 17/64 20060101
F41A017/64; F41G 1/06 20060101 F41G001/06 |
Claims
1. A modular, customizable firearm system comprising: a receiver
assembly including a receiver having a trigger assembly pivotally
mounted thereto, a hammer assembly mounted thereto, and a
mechanical linkage between the trigger assembly and the hammer
assembly; a plurality of differently sized handgrip assemblies,
each of said differently sized handgrip assemblies having a
receiver channel for removably and interchangeably receiving said
receiver assembly and a handgrip portion having a hollow interior
for removably receiving a magazine assembly; and at least one slide
assembly removably and slidably attachable to said receiver
assembly.
2. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, further
comprising: said differently sized handgrip assemblies selectable
by a user, wherein interchange of said differently sized handgrip
assemblies alters one or both of a size of the firearm and a
circumference of said handgrip portion.
3. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 2, wherein the
size of the firearm is selected from full size, compact, and sub
compact.
4. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, further
comprising: said at least one slide assembly including a plurality
of differently sized slide assemblies selectable by a user, wherein
interchange of said differently sized slide assemblies alters one
or both of a size of the firearm and a caliber of the firearm.
5. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 4, wherein the
size of the firearm is selected from full size, compact, and sub
compact.
6. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 4, wherein the
caliber is selected from the group consisting of 9 millimeter, .357
Sig, S&W .40, and .45 Auto.
7. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, wherein
said at least one slide assembly includes a one-piece machined
slide.
8. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, further
comprising: serialized indicia on an outward facing surface of said
receiver; and each handgrip assembly having a window aligned with
said serialized indicia when the receiver assembly is received
within the receiver channel of the handgrip assembly to allow
transvisualization of the serialized indicia through said
window.
9. A modular, customizable firearm system comprising: a receiver
assembly including a receiver having a trigger assembly pivotally
mounted thereto, a hammer assembly mounted thereto, and a
mechanical linkage between the trigger assembly and the hammer
assembly; at least one handgrip assembly having a receiver channel
for removably receiving said receiver assembly and a handgrip
portion having a hollow interior for removably receiving a magazine
assembly; and a plurality of differently sized slide assemblies,
each of said differently sized slide assemblies removably and
slidably attachable to said receiver assembly.
10. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 8, further
comprising: said plurality of differently sized slide assemblies
selectable by a user, wherein interchange of said differently sized
slide assemblies alters one or both of a size of the firearm and a
caliber of the firearm.
11. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 10, wherein
the size of the firearm is selected from full size, compact, and
sub compact.
12. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 10, wherein
the caliber is selected from the group consisting of 9 millimeter,
.357 Sig, S&W .40, and .45 Auto.
13. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 9, wherein
each of said slide assemblies includes a one-piece machined
slide.
14. A safety mechanism for firearm having a slide, comprising: a
firing pin having a groove; a firing pin safety having a
projection, said firing pin safety being movable between a locked
position wherein said projection is received within said groove and
an unlocked position wherein said projection is not received with
said groove, wherein axial movement of said firing pin is blocked
when the firing pin safety is in the locked position; a spring
member urging said firing pin safety into the locked position; and
a safety lever coupled to a trigger assembly including a pivotally
moveable trigger, said safety lever moving said firing pin safety
from the locked position to the unlocked position against the
urging of the spring member in response to pivoting movement of the
trigger.
15. The safety mechanism of claim 14, further comprising: a firing
pin safety retainer received within a machined slot in the slide,
the firing pin safety retainer having an axially-extending opening
aligned with an axially extending opening in the slide for
receiving said firing pin; a first generally vertically-extending
recess formed on said firing pin safety retainer; and a second
vertically extending recess formed in an aligned and facing surface
of said machined slot, said first and second vertically extending
recess cooperating to define a cavity for capture of said spring
member.
16. The safety mechanism of claim 15, further comprising: said
firing pin safety retainer further including a hammer stop
portion.
17. The safety mechanism of claim 14, wherein said firing pin
safety is formed of a material selected from the group consisting
of sheet metal, machined metal, a metal injection molded material,
a plastic material, and a composite material.
18. The safety mechanism of claim 17, wherein said firing pin
safety is formed of stamped sheet metal.
19. The safety mechanism of claim 14, wherein said spring member is
a spring having a low spring force.
20. A method for securing a rear sight assembly within a slide
assembly of a handgun, the slide assembly having an extractor
assembly including an extractor, and extractor pin, an extractor
spring, said method comprising: mounting an extractor spring pin
within the slide assembly, said extractor spring pin having a
conical portion; securing a first end of the extractor spring to
the extractor spring pin and a second end of the extractor spring
to the extractor pin; and positioning the conical portion of the
extractor spring pin in aligned, facing, and contacting relation
with a partial conical recess in the rear sight assembly, wherein
the extractor spring cooperates with the conical portion to create
a bearing force against the partial conical cutout, thereby
securing the rear sight assembly within the slide assembly.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/969,047
filed Aug. 30, 2007. The aforementioned application is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to the art of
firearms. In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a
modular firearm system that is customizable with respect to firearm
size, handgrip size, caliber, or any combinations thereof. In a
second aspect, the present disclosure relates to an improved firing
pin safety for a firearm having a one-piece machined slide. The
present developments find particular application in conjunction
with a double-action semi-automatic pistol and will be described
with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated,
however, that the present invention is amenable to other like
single-action or double-action semi-automatic pistols.
SUMMARY
[0003] The embodiments disclosed herein allow for multiple modular
firearm configurations, thereby providing significant
customizability of the firearm by the user. As will be appreciated
upon a reading and understanding of this disclosure, all of the
components necessary to fire the weapon are carried on a common
receiver assembly. Interchangeable slide assemblies and handgrip
modules can be detachably connected to the common receiver to
substitute one firearm size, handgrip circumference, and/or
munitions caliber for another. For example, the handgrip module can
be substituted so as to change the size of the firearm and/or the
slide assembly can be changed for purposes of changing the caliber
of the firearm. In a further aspect, an improved firing pin safety
system is provided. In yet another aspect, a method and apparatus
for seating a rear sight assembly within the slide assembly are
provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and
arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment and method of which
will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and
wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exemplary customizable
firearm embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the firearm appearing in FIG.
1, illustrating a slide assembly and a handgrip assembly, either or
both of which may be interchangeably received on a receiver
assembly;
[0007] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the slide assembly;
[0008] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the receiver assembly;
[0009] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the handgrip module;
[0010] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the magazine;
[0011] FIG. 7 illustrates a firearm system having plural
interchangeable slide assemblies and plural interchangeable
handgrip modules;
[0012] FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of an integral hammer stop
and rear sight with firing pin safety; and
[0013] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side cross-sectional view showing
the trigger, hammer, and firing pin safety assemblies in
detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like or analogous components throughout the
several views, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
firearm denoted generally as 10 includes a slide assembly A, a
receiver assembly B, and a handgrip assembly C. A magazine D is
removably received within an interior compartment defined by a
generally hollow handgrip portion 228 of the handgrip assembly
C.
[0015] As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slide assembly A includes
a slide 12 having an axial channel 16 and a barrel 20 received
within the channel 16. A recoil spring 24 is coaxially received
about a recoil spring guide 28 for returning the slide 12 into a
state of battery.
[0016] The slide assembly A contains an extraction assembly,
including an extractor 30, an extractor pin 34, an extractor spring
38, and an extractor spring pin 42 for extracting a cartridge from
the chamber of the barrel 20. Other extractors and extraction
assemblies as are generally known to those skilled in the art are
also contemplated.
[0017] In the depicted preferred embodiment, the extractor 30 is a
pivoting type extractor having a bearing surface 31 that engages a
forward end 33 of the extraction pin 34. The extractor 30 is
pivotable about a pivot point 35, e.g., when chambering a round.
After a round is fired, the extractor 30 pulls the cartridge out of
the firing chamber and holds the cartridge in position for ejection
by the ejector 72 (see FIG. 4). A rearward end 37 of the extractor
pin 34 engages a forward end 39 of the spring 38, e.g., via a snap
fit. A rearward end 41 of the spring 38 engages a forward end 43 of
the extractor spring pin 42. The extractor spring pin 42 also
includes a conical portion 316, which engages the rear sight
assembly 36 to seat and retain the rear sight, as described
below.
[0018] The slide assembly A also includes front and rear sights 32
and 36, respectively, and an ignition system comprising a firing
pin 50 and firing pin spring 46 housed within the slide 12, a
firing pin retaining pin 58, and a firing pin safety 54, which is
discussed in greater detail below. In the depicted embodiment, the
rear sight assembly 36 also includes an integrated hammer stop 40,
although a hammer stop and rear sight that are separate may also be
employed.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 4, the receiver assembly B includes a
frame or receiver 44 including opposing and upstanding side members
48 and 52 and which are connected in opposed and spaced apart
relation via front base member 56 and rear base member 60.
[0020] The sidewalls 48, 52 of receiver 44 include front and rear
rail members 64 and 68, respectively, which are slidingly received
within complimentary axially extending channels 18 formed within
the channel 16 of the slide 12 to permit relative axial movement
between the slide 12 and the receiver 44.
[0021] An ejector 72 is formed on the sidewall 52 of the receiver
44 for pushing the cartridge out of the ejection port or aperture
14 of the slide 12 during rearward travel of the slide 12 during
operation, e.g., ejecting a spent cartridge when firing the firearm
or for manually extracting the cartridge.
[0022] The receiver 44 also includes a mounting point for the
barrel control means. In the depicted embodiment, barrel movement
is controlled by a transversely extending pin or the like 76, which
is received through opposing, aligned openings 80 in the sidewalls
48 and 52. In operation, the barrel control member 76 engages
locking/unlocking lugs 84 and 88, defining an inclined channel 92,
to unlock the barrel as the slide moves in the forward direction
and to lock the barrel as the slide moves in the rearward
direction.
[0023] In the depicted embodiment, the barrel control member 76
also provides a mounting point for a slide catch lever assembly
comprising a slide catch lever 96 and slide catch lever spring 100.
It will be recognized that in alternative embodiments a separate or
dedicated slide catch lever pin, separate from the barrel control
member, could be used as well.
[0024] The pin 76 is received through openings 104 formed in the
slide catch lever 96 to pivotally mount the slide catch lever to
the receiver 44. The spring 100 bears against an arm portion 108 of
the slide catch lever 96 to urge the slide catch lever 96 to the
normal, non-rotated position.
[0025] The magazine assembly D, as best seen in FIG. 6, includes a
magazine tube 112 for holding rounds of munitions to be fired, a
magazine base plate 116, a magazine spring 120, and a magazine
follower 124. The magazine follower 124 includes a slide catch
shelf 128 which engages the slide catch lever 96 when the magazine
is empty, i.e., when the last round has been fired or when an empty
magazine is inserted into the handgrip interior compartment. The
slide catch shelf 128, at the urging of the magazine spring 120,
moves the slide catch lever 96 into a rotated position, overcoming
and compressing the slide catch lever spring 100.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide catch lever 96
includes slide engagement members 132, which are sized to engage
complimentary notches 136 formed in the slide 12. In this manner,
when the last round is fired, the engagement members 132 engage the
notches 136 and the slide 12 is locked in an axial position
relative to the receiver 44 that is out of battery. When the slide
catch lever 96 is in the non-rotated position, the engagement
members 132 are seated in notches 140 in the receiver and notches
144 in the handgrip module C. The engagement members 132 thus are
externally accessible and may be manually operated to selectively
lock and unlock the slide 12 relative to the receiver 44.
[0027] The receiver 44 also provides a means for mounting a trigger
148, a hammer 150, and the mechanical linkage therebetween. The
trigger 148 is pivotally mounted in openings 154 in the receiver
sidewalls 48, 52, about a pivot point 152 and includes a trigger
shoe 156 for actuation with a user's finger for firing a round.
[0028] The trigger 148 also includes an arm 158 having protrusion
160 thereon, which engages a complimentary sized opening 162 in a
trigger bar 164. During operation, as the trigger 148 is rotated,
the trigger bar is moved forward and is cammed downward by an
inclined surface 168 running on a hammer pivot pin 172 received in
openings 176 of the receiver 44 sidewalls 48 and 52, the hammer
pivot pin 172 also extending through an opening 174 in the hammer
150 to pivotally mount the hammer 150 on the receiver 44. The
trigger bar 148 includes a hammer-engaging tab 180, which engages a
protrusion or shoulder 184 within an arcuate channel 196 in the
hammer 150.
[0029] The trigger bar 164 engages the hammer 150 when the trigger
150 is in its rest or non-rotated position. As the trigger bar 164
moves in response to rotation of the trigger 148, the hammer 150
rotates. One or more captured hammer springs 182a, 182b are
received within a cavity formed in the hammer 150 and are retained
therein by a hammer spring seat pin 188 which is received through
openings 192 in the receiver sidewalls 48 and 52 and the arcuate
channel 196 of the hammer 150. As the hammer is rotated in response
to a trigger pull, the springs 182a, 182b are compressed by the
relative movement of the hammer spring seat pin 188 as it travels
in the arcuate channel 196. In the depicted preferred embodiment,
the springs 182a and 182b are coaxial coil springs having opposite
directions of helical twist to avoid binding with each other as the
springs are compressed.
[0030] Further rotation of the trigger causes the hammer engaging
tab 180 to move out of contacting relation with the hammer 150 when
the trigger 148 is pivoted. The energy stored by the compression of
the hammer springs 182a, 182b causes the hammer to rotate with
force against the firing pin 50 to fire the weapon.
[0031] The movement of the trigger bar 168 also rotates a safety
lever 200 having an arm 204 engaging the firing pin safety 54. The
firing pin safety 54 includes a shoulder 212, which is urged
downward into engagement with a slot 216 in the firing pin 50 by a
firing pin safety spring 220. In this manner, the rotation of the
safety lever 200 during a trigger pull moves the safety 54 out of
engagement with the firing pin 50, so that the firing pin 50
becomes free to move.
[0032] A trigger bar spring 224, which may be a torsion spring,
provides the force to move the trigger bar 148 up and back, that
is, the upward force keeps the trigger bar engaged with the hammer
150 and the backward force resets the trigger bar to the rest
position after a round is fired.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 5, the grip module C includes the
handgrip portion 228, a trigger guard 232, and a dust cover portion
236. Because the handgrip module C has none of the components
required to fire the weapon, it may be readily interchanged with
other handgrip modules of different size. For example, in certain
embodiments, a firearm system may include a plurality of handgrip
modules, which allows the users to select from a plurality of
weapon sizes, e.g., full size, compact, and subcompact sized
handguns. Furthermore, for each given size of handgrip module C,
there may be provided a plurality of handgrip 228 circumferences,
e.g., small, medium and large. In this manner, the interchangeable
handgrip modules C provide a firearm system that is highly
customizable to the hand size or other size preferences of the
user. For example, in a preferred embodiment of a system having
three firearm sizes (i.e., full-size, compact, and sub compact)
and, for each firearm size, three handgrip 228 sizes (e.g., small,
medium and large), there are nine combinations of firearm size and
handgrip circumference.
[0034] The handgrip portion 228 includes a hollow interior portion
which receives the magazine D, which feeds rounds into a magazine
well portion 240 of the receiver 44. The hollow interior
compartment defined by the handgrip portion 228 defines an
extension of the magazine well 240.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the receiver 44, which
carries and locates everything required to fire a round, is
received within a channel 244 in the handgrip module C. A notch 248
formed in the rear of the channel 244 receives an extension tab 252
of the receiver 44 and locates the receiver at the appropriate
position within the channel 244.
[0036] The trigger shoe 156 passes through an opening 256 in the
channel 244 and extends into the region bounded by the trigger
guard 232. The dust cover portion 236 houses the barrel 20, recoil
guide 28, and recoil spring 24, and prevents external contaminants
from fouling the recoil mechanism.
[0037] A take down lever 260 passes through openings 264 in the
handgrip module C and aligned openings 268 in the receiver
sidewalls 48 and 52. A sealing ring or gasket 270 between the take
down lever 260 and the opening 264 provides a seal against the
entry of external contaminants into the channel 44. The take down
lever 260 locates and provides the primary locking position of the
barrel 20.
[0038] A magazine catch assembly includes a magazine catch 272, a
magazine catch stop 276, and a magazine catch spring 280 for
removably securing the magazine D in the interior compartment of
the handgrip. The magazine catch 272 is manually depressible to
remove the magazine D from the handgrip module C.
[0039] The handgrip module C may include a window or aperture 284
through which a serial number or other serialized indicia can be
visualized, the serialized indicia appearing on the corresponding
aligned portion of the exterior-facing surface of the sidewall 48.
The window may optionally include a pane or transparent material
received within the aperture. In this manner, any of a plurality of
handgrip modules C may be interchanged for a single, serialized
firearm.
[0040] In addition to the interchange of handgrip modules C to
provide a firearm having a desired firearm size and/or handgrip
circumference as described above, the firearm system in accordance
with this disclosure may also include multiple interchangeable
slide assemblies A which may be slidably and interchangeably
received on the rails 64, 68. In certain embodiments, the plurality
of interchangeable slide assemblies A may be sized to correspond to
the selected handgrip size, e.g., full-size, compact, and
subcompact. In further embodiments, for any given size of slide
assembly, there may be a plurality of munitions caliber options
available. The slide assembly A may be adapted by providing an
appropriate barrel 20 for firing cartridges of a variety of caliber
sizes including, but not limited to, 9 millimeter, .357 Sig,
S&W .40, and .45 Auto caliber sizes.
[0041] It will be recognized that, depending on the various
calibers selected, it may or may not be necessary to interchange
the handgrip module C when a different caliber slide assembly A is
selected. When exchanging slide assemblies A for different calibers
having the same axial length, a common handgrip module C may be
used for such different calibers, wherein it is only necessary to
exchange the magazine D. However, it is also contemplated that,
even for calibers having different lengths, a common handgrip
module C can be employed, for example, using different magazines D
and spacers within the interior compartment of the handgrip module
C as necessary to compensate for a selected caliber, as
required.
[0042] The interchangeability of modular components is illustrated
in FIG. 7. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality (up to some
number N) of slide assemblies A.sub.1 to A.sub.N are
interchangeably attachable to the common receiver assembly B.
Likewise, a plurality (up to some number M) of handgrip modules
C.sub.1 to C.sub.M are interchangeably attachable to the common
receiver B.
[0043] In this manner, in a preferred embodiment having three
different firearm sizes, one serialized subassembly can be used by
the consumer to make three sizes of gun (e.g., subcompact, compact,
or full size). In an especially preferred embodiment wherein each
of the three firearm sizes has three handgrip circumferences (e.g.,
small, medium, and large, there are a total of nine firearm size
and handgrip circumference configurations.
[0044] In a preferred embodiment where there are four calibers
(e.g., 9 mm, .40 S&W, .357 Sig, and .45 Auto) any of the
previous 9 firearm size/handgrip circumference configurations can
be combined with any of the four calibers to provide 32 possible
combinations of size, grip, and caliber so that the consumer can
tailor their gun to meet their specific requirements. It also
allows law enforcement agencies to issue the same model of gun to
everyone in their organization, but still be able to customize the
ergonomics to fit an ever-growing range of officers. The system
also allows rapid and facile reconfiguration of the firearm, with
reconfiguration taking less than one minute. It will be recognized
that other numbers of firearm size, handgrip size, and/or caliber
may be provided.
[0045] Although the preferred embodiment described herein provides
for variability of firearm size, handgrip circumference, and
caliber, it will be recognized that systems may be provided wherein
one or more of these variables remain constant. For example,
systems having interchangeable handgrip modules C and slides A for
providing variable firearm sizes and/or handgrip circumferences for
a single caliber are contemplated. Likewise, systems having
interchangeable handgrip modules C and slides A for providing
variable firearm sizes and/or variable calibers, without
necessarily providing variable handgrip sizes within each firearm
size, are also contemplated. Similarly, systems having
interchangeable handgrip modules C and slides A for providing
variable handgrip circumferences and/or variable calibers, all
within a single firearm size, are also contemplated.
[0046] In a further aspect of this disclosure, referring now to
FIGS. 8 and 9, there is provided an improved firing pin safety for
use in a one-piece machined slide. Although the firing pin safety
described herein may be used in connection with the slide assembly
A as detailed above, it will be recognized that the firing pin
safety herein is also amenable for use in other firearms having a
one-piece machined slide.
[0047] Commonly, the firing pin safety in a one-piece machined
slide is formed of a relatively heavy piece of metal received
within a bore hole formed in the slide. The firing pin safety is
urged into engagement with a firing pin safety spring and drop
testing requires that the firing pin safety remain engaged with the
firing pin when the weapon is dropped from a certain height.
Because the firing pin safety is typically formed of a relatively
heavy piece of metal in a one-piece machined slide and thus has
significant inertia when dropped, a firing pin safety spring with
relatively high spring force is required. The spring force of the
firing pin safety spring is one of the spring forces that must be
overcome by the user when pulling the trigger. Thus, a firing pin
safety spring with a high spring force is disadvantageous since it
increases the force required to actuate the trigger and fire the
weapon.
[0048] The improved firing pin safety system herein allows for the
use of a very lightweight firing pin safety member in a one-piece
machined slide and the firing pin safety member herein may be
produced relatively inexpensively as a stamped sheet metal part. It
will be recognized, however that the firing pin safety member
herein may be formed of any suitable material, including without
limitation, sheet metal, machined metal, a metal injection molded
material, a plastic, e.g., injection molded, material, a composite
material such as a fiber reinforced resin material, and so forth.
Because the firing pin safety member can be fabricated of a
material that is relatively low weight, thus providing a firing pin
safety member that is low in inertia, a firing pin safety spring
with a relatively low spring force can be used to bias the safety
member into the locked position, thereby reducing the trigger pull
weight while also meeting firearm drop testing requirements.
[0049] As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 8, a rear sight 36 includes an
integral hammer stop 40, which also functions as firing pin safety
retainer in the depicted preferred embodiment. The firing pin 50 is
received through an opening 300 in the hammer stop 40. The hammer
stop 40 is received within a machined slot 304 in the slide 12. A
first, generally semi-cylindrical recess 308 in the rearward-facing
surface of the slot 304 cooperates with a second, generally
semi-cylindrical recess 312 formed in the forward-facing surface of
the hammer stop 40 to define a cylindrical recess housing the
firing pin safety spring 220. It will be recognized that the firing
pin safety retainer need not be integral with the rear sight and/or
hammer stop, and that other firing pin safety retention
configurations are contemplated. For example, a separate or
dedicated firing pin safety pin retainer having an opening and
semi-cylindrical recess or cavity as described above can be
received in the slot 304.
[0050] In operation, the spring 220 urges the firing pin safety
spring 54 downward so that the shoulder 212 of the firing pin
safety engages the annular channel 216 in the firing pin 50,
thereby preventing axial movement of the firing pin 50. When the
firing pin safety 54 is urged upward by the arm 204 of the safety
lever 200 during a trigger pull operation, thereby compressing the
spring 220, the shoulder 212 moves out of the annular channel 216,
allowing the firing pin to move axially when struck by the hammer
150 to fire the weapon.
[0051] With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 8, the rear sight
assembly 36 in accordance with the depicted preferred embodiment
also includes a generally partial conical cut out or recess 314,
which engages an aligned, facing, and contacting portion of a
conical portion 316 of the extractor spring pin 42 (see FIG. 3).
The extractor spring 38 urges the extractor spring pin 42 in the
rearward direction. The engaging portion of the conical surface 316
thereby urges the rear sight assembly 36 to the right (in the
orientation shown in FIG. 8).
[0052] Also, the extractor spring pin 42 is aligned within the
slide assembly such that the longitudinal axis 318 of the extractor
spring pin 42 is lower than the vertical midpoint 320 of the
partial conical cutout 314. In this manner, when the conical
portion 316 bears against the cutout 314 at the urging of the
spring 38, the rear sight assembly 36 is also urged in the downward
direction (relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 8). Thus, the
net resultant force on the rear sight assembly 36 as a result of
the cooperation between the biased conical portion 316 and the
cutout 314 downward and to the right (in the orientation shown in
FIG. 8), to thereby retain and seat the rear sight assembly 36 in
proper position on the slide 12.
[0053] The present developments have been described with reference
to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will
occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding
detailed description of the preferred embodiment. It is intended
that the invention be construed as including such modifications and
alterations.
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