U.S. patent application number 14/949288 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-25 for pistol dry fire device.
The applicant listed for this patent is John Tucker. Invention is credited to John Tucker.
Application Number | 20170146311 14/949288 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58721616 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170146311 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tucker; John |
May 25, 2017 |
PISTOL DRY FIRE DEVICE
Abstract
This pistol dry fire device enables multiple dry fire trigger
pulls with just one racking of the slide or cocking of the
semi-automatic double action only pistol without any modifications
to the pistol or the standard magazine. Since the device is
constructed from an impact resistant material that is inserted
behind the slide and in front of the flush mounted hammer, the
hammer does not contact the firing in when the device is properly
positioned, rotated 90 degrees and locked in place, preventing
damage to the pin, but does allow the hammer to fall and the
trigger to reset as when live fire is conducted. This reset then
allows for another trigger pull without racking the slide. The
device also creates a visual failsafe condition without interfering
with the pistol's normal functions or sights.
Inventors: |
Tucker; John; (Phoenix,
AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tucker; John |
Phoenix |
AZ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58721616 |
Appl. No.: |
14/949288 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 19/53 20130101;
F41A 33/00 20130101; F41A 17/74 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 17/74 20060101
F41A017/74 |
Claims
1. In combination with a double action, semi-automatic pistol
having a recessed hammer movable from a cocked position to an
energy release position and a firing pin, a dry firing device
composed of a resilient, energy absorbing material molded into a
single piece, shaped to be easily inserted into the pistol, locked
in place in the path of the hammer preventing contact between the
hammer and firing pin when dry firing the pistol and removed from
the pistol frame without the need to modify the pistol or magazine
in any manner.
2. A dry firing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device,
when locked in position, provides for multiple pistol dry firings
with only a single racking of the slide or cocking of the
firearm.
3. A dry firing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device
projects from the pistol frame when locked in place so as to be
readily visible, indicating the pistol is in a failsafe condition,
without interfering with any of the pistol's functions or the view
along the sights.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to dry firing apparatus for pistols.
More particularly, this invention relates to dry firing apparatus
for certain semi-automatic pistols equipped with recessed energy
yielding hammers, including the Ruger LCP and similar models. This
invention is not compatible with revolvers.
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of firearms, and,
more particularly to the usage of trigger actuated firearms,
pistols and training devices. The device serves to allow dry firing
of a pistol for training and practice.
[0003] Dry firing is a practice employed by shooters to develop
trigger control without expending ammunition or having to contend
with the pistol's recoil or report. Repeatedly dry firing the
pistol allows the shooter to develop the ability to accurately fire
their pistol of choice. The shooter's control is enhanced by
practice, with concentration on stance, grip with the dominate
hand, support of the grip with the non-dominate hand, the position
of the trigger finger during firing, maintaining the sight picture
during multiple shots and focusing on development of the desired
trigger press, reset and repress.
[0004] Prior to the development of this invention, dry fire
practice with smaller, double-action only hammer-fired
semi-automatic pistols resulted in more time spent loading
magazines with dummy rounds and racking the slide (re-cocking the
pistol) than in practicing accurate shooting basics. This invention
also allows for dry firing with the user's pistol of choice and a
standard magazine in place. This is a feature which was not
previously available with any known invention.
[0005] There is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,089 to Meyer, a
self-ejecting safety device for a pistol equipped with an exposed
hammer, designed to prevent the hammer from accidently contacting
the firing pin should the hammer be subjected to an impact load,
such as being dropped, when a round of ammunition is in the firing
chamber. This device consists of a blocking member, which fits
between the hammer and firing pin, and is held in place by the
pressure of the hammer. The device contains a self-ejection
mechanism consisting of a spring mounted in the body of the
blocking member and a retractable shaft which acts in relation to
the spring. The shaft retracts into the blocking member when loaded
against the base of the hammer. When the hammer is pulled hack
prior to firing, the force of the hammer no longer retains the
blocking member, allowing the spring to advance the retractable
shaft which, in turn, forces the safety device to be ejected from
the pistol. This safety device must be manually re-inserted after
every firing to re-safe the pistol. This invention is not a
dry-fire practice device as it is ejected upon the first pull back
of the hammer, permitting the pistol to be fired immediately in a
normal manner. Nor does it provide a method to repeatedly dry-fire
the pistol when a live round of ammunition is in the firing
chamber.
[0006] Another method employed to permit repeated dry-firing of a
pistol is the use of a cartridge with the same caliber and weight
as a live cartridge which will permit dry-firing without causing
damage to the pistol, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,405,308 to Jack
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,350 to Seminiano. The cartridges provide a
yielding resistance to the firing pin approximately equivalent to
that provided by the explosion of the primer of a live cartridge of
the same caliber. Replacement of a live cartridge with the dry-fire
cartridge is required to permit dry-firing. This provides no
external indication of what type of cartridge has been loaded into
the firing chamber making determination of the pistol's safety
impossible to determine from external viewing. A similar device is
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,615 to Peterken which is primarily
designed for use in a rifle. The difference from the previous
inventions being that it is placed in the breech with a portion
extending into the barrel for stability. All inventions of this
type require exchange of the dry-fire and live fire cartridges to
permit change-over of the pistol from a dry-fire to live-fire
condition.
[0007] There is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,570 to Browning a
dry-firing and safety device for pistols consisting of a
combination or elements and parts for a pistol which provides for
the functions of safe, dry-fire and normal operation. The device is
intended to be adopted to the pistol manufacturing process and is
not suitable for installation into existing firearms not already
equipped with such a device.
[0008] There is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,081 to Izumi a
dry-fire unit which requires replacement for the standard pistol
firing pin with an alternate device consisting clan
energy-absorbing wedge which is struck by the hammer of the firearm
when the trigger is pulled. The removal and replacement of the
firing pin is a modification to the firearm which requires partial
firearm disassembly of the small parts associated with the firing
pin assembly. This process is prohibitive to persons not able to
handle such small parts or not well trained in the assembly and
maintenance of the firearm. The replacement process exposes small,
precise parts to potential contamination from exposure to dust,
dirt and other materials and damage due to mishandling while they
are stored outside of the firearm. Replacement of the firing pin is
a major, complicated activity. Additionally, this device docs not
provide for multiple dry-firing with only a single racking of the
slide or cocking of the hammer.
[0009] This invention overcomes problems with and is distinct from
the referenced patents for dry-fire devices by eliminating the need
to modify the firearm in any manner or replace parts to permit
dry-firing and providing for multiple dry-firings without the need
to rack the slide or cock the hammer for each dry-fire.
[0010] It is the object of this invention to provide pistol dry
fire device which allows failsafe operation of the pistol's trigger
mechanism by preventing the hammer from contacting the firing
pin.
[0011] It is another object of this invention to permit placement
and operation of the dry fire device without the need to dissemble,
replace parts, reassemble, or modify the pistol in any manner.
[0012] It is another object of this invention to permit practice
dry tiring of multiple shots with just the initial racking of the
slide or cocking of the pistol.
[0013] It is another object of this invention to prevent possible
damage to the pistol's firing pin or hammer while being dry
fired.
[0014] It is another object of this invention to permit dry firing
using the pistol of choke employing either standard or extended
magazines in place without any modifications made to the pistol or
the pistol s firing mechanism.
Description of the Prior Art
[0015] A dry fire device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,081
which discloses a firing pin replacement device that requires
replacement of the pistol's original firing pin. The use of the
referenced device requires that ammunition first be unloaded and
the pistol to be partially disassembled in order to facilitate
replacement of the stock tiring pin. After replacement of the stock
firing pin with the referenced dry fire device, the pistol must be
reassembled before dry firing can be commenced. The assembly
procedure must be reversed in order to replace the dry fire device
with the original firing pin before returning the pistol to normal
operating condition. The referenced dry fire device requires an
operator skilled in the workings and assembly of the pistol. When
compared with other dry fire devices, this invention is the only
one that permits dry firing of a pistol without modification, while
preventing possible damage to the firing pin or hammer, which would
shorten the life of the pistol.
[0016] Other dry-fire inventions have employed the use of dummy
pistols which do not provide the same weight and feel of the pistol
of choice, involve insertion of devices in into the firing chamber
area or use dummy rounds. Each of these inventions requires racking
of the slide or re-cocking the pistol before additional practice
shots can be taken. None of them provide the exact feel of the
user's pistol of choice which is maintained with this
invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The dry fire device is a non-metallic insert which fits into
the opening created between the hammer and firing pin assembly of a
pistol which occurs when the trigger is slightly pressed. The
slight press of the trigger causes the hammer to be moved away from
the firing. pin without being released to fall. Once inserted, the
dry fire device absorbs impact from the hammer and allows for a
proper reset of the trigger, which, in turn, enables an additional
press of the trigger after the hammer fall. The dry fire device
permits unobstructed sighting on the target and multiple trigger
pulls, including hammer fails, without the need to rack the slide
after each trigger pull. The dry fire device is an energy-absorbing
material that is shaped to be positioned between the firing pin and
hammer. The dry fire device is struck by the hammer when the pistol
trigger is pulled, instead of the hammer striking the firing pin.
This allows the pistol to be dry fired, preventing cracking,
peening or otherwise damaging the hammer which would be caused by
metal on metal contact.
[0018] Installation is achieved by slightly pressing on the
pistol's trigger, which results in the hammer moving back and away
from the firing pin. This provides access space for the pistol dry
fire device to be installed. The pistol dry fire device is then
locked into place by rotating it by ninety degrees
(90.degree.).
[0019] The pistol dry fire device is removed at the end of firing
practice by slightly pressing on the trigger, which results in the
hammer moving back and away from the firing pin. The dry fire
device is then rotated ninety degrees (90.degree.), which unlocks
it from the slide. It can then be removed from the pistol.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a section view of a typical pistol showing the
installed placement of the dry fire device.
[0021] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the dry fire device showing
the various features of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top view of the dry fire device.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a front end view of the dry fire device.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of the dry fire device.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the dry fire device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] An embodiment to be preferred of the pistol dry fire device
of the present invention is here and in figures disclosed.
[0027] For clarity, within this document all reference to the dry
fire device will correspond to the pistol dry fire device as
oriented in FIG. 5; the top of the figure when oriented such that
the text is upright corresponding to top of the pistol dry fire
device, and the bottom of the figure when oriented such that the
text is upright corresponding to the bottom of the pistol dry fire
device. Likewise, all reference to the front of the pistol dry fire
device will correspond to the leftmost part of the pistol dry fire
device as viewed in FIG. 4 when oriented with the text upright.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a section view of a semi-automatic compact
pistol for which the dry firing device 1 of this invention is
applicable. It should be noted that the dry firing device of this
invention 1 has applications to other makes of firearms of both the
same and different calipers. The dry firing device of this
invention made with different dimensions can be interchanged with
other pistols equipped with similar hammer and firing pin
designs.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, the dry fire device 1 is shown
installed in it's operating position located between the hammer 2
and firing pin 14 of the pistol. The indicated position of the
hammer 2 is achieved by a slight pull on the trigger 9 which
engages the hammer 2 through the trigger bar 3, holding it away
from the firing pin 14 and supported by the hammer catch 6. The dry
firing device 1 is inserted into the space between the hammer 2 and
firing pin 14. Once inserted, the dry firing device 1 is rotated 90
degrees which engages a locking ring on the shaft of the device
with a hold-open detent located on the pistol frame 4. For clarity,
the complex shape of the pistol frame 4 is not entirely shown on
FIG. 1. The pistol grip and trigger guard 5 are shown for reference
but are not impacted by this invention. Dry firing is performed by
completing the pull of the trigger 9 which further rotates the
hammer 2. Once the full rotation of the hammer 2 is obtained, the
trigger bar 3 disengages and the hammer spring 7 pulls the hammer 2
toward the firing pin 14. Motion of the hammer 2 is stopped by the
dry fire device 1 which prevents it from contacting the firing pin
14. The firing pin 14 does not move and the firing pin spring 13 is
not compressed by this action, thus no cartridge can be fired.
Because no ignition of a cartridge occurs, the barrel 12 or slide
11 remain stationary and the recoil springs 10 are not engaged. A
complete trigger pull and hammer fall is achieved in this manner.
The pistol may be dry fired with or without a magazine 8 in place,
unless the pistol design requires a magazine to be in place to be
fired.
[0030] FIG. 2-6 show ordinant and isometric views of the dry firing
device 1. The head 15 serves as a stop to insure the proper seating
of the dry firing device 1 and prevent it from being inserted too
far into the pistol. A sloped surface 16 provides clearance for an
unobstructed view along the pistol's sights. Gripping ridges 17 on
the bottom side of the head 15 are provided to assist the operator
with holding the dry firing device 1 and to facilitate engagement
of the locking ring 21. A hammer cut out 18 along the bottom edge
of the head 15 provides the proper clearance for seating the dry
firing device above the hammer 2. An upper shaft 19 is shaped to
fit through an opening in the slide 11. The lower shaft 20 is sized
to fit though the frame 4 opening. A locking ring 21 secures the
dry fining device 1 in place when in use. Flat areas 23 on opposite
sides of the locking ring 21 permit insertion of the device through
the frame 4. Once seated and turned, the locking ring 21 rests
against the sides of the opening in the frame 4, preventing
withdrawal during use. The nose 22 is shaped to allow easy
insertion through the various noted openings. Smooth transitions 24
are provided between each change in dimension to provide for smooth
and easy insertion and retraction of the dry firing device 1.
Radiused edges 25 are provided on all head 15 surfaces for
snag-free operation and finger comfort.
[0031] The dry firing device as indicated in FIG. 1-6 is
constructed as a single unit from a material characterized as
energy absorbing and able to withstand compressive impact without
failing or permanently deforming, having a smooth finish with a low
coefficient of friction and able to withstand contact with
lubricants and cleaning solvents expected to be used with the
operation and cleaning of a pistol. The material shall be a
synthetic, non-metallic and suitable for injection molded
fabrication.
[0032] The dry firing device 1 remains clearly visible when
installed. This permits the operator to be aware at all times that
the invention is in place and preventing contact between the hammer
2 and firing pin 14, while allowing dry firing of the pistol
without the need to re-cock the pistol between trigger 9 pulls.
[0033] This invention has the advantage of providing dry firing
trigger pulls for practice without the need to modify the pistol in
any manner and preventing possible damage to the hammer or firing
pin which would otherwise be caused by their impact. Having thus
described in detail a preferred embodiment of the pistol dry fire
device of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will
be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes not
exemplified in the detailed description of the invention could be
made without altering the inventive concepts and principles
embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous
embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiment are
possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the
inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The presented
embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all alternate
embodiments and changes to the embodiments shown herein which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the appended claims
are therefore to be embraced therein.
* * * * *