U.S. patent application number 17/025303 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-08 for trigger-cycled firearm.
This patent application is currently assigned to Franklin Armory Holdings, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Franklin Armory Holdings, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ryan Paul Fellows, Jay Leonard Jacobson.
Application Number | 20210207914 17/025303 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005478587 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210207914 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fellows; Ryan Paul ; et
al. |
July 8, 2021 |
TRIGGER-CYCLED FIREARM
Abstract
Trigger-cycled firearms have a frame, a barrel, a bolt assembly
connected to the frame in registration with the barrel and operable
to reciprocate between a retracted position and a forward battery
position, a trigger lever connected to the frame and operable to
move between a forward rest position and a rearward actuated
position, and the trigger lever operably connected to the bolt to
move the bolt from the forward battery position to the retracted
position and to release the bolt to the forward battery position
and discharge the firearm in response to movement of the trigger
lever from the forward rest position to the rearward actuated
position when the bolt is in the forward position. There may be a
connector bar pivotally connected to the frame and operably engaged
to the bolt assembly and to the trigger lever. The connector bar
may be slidably connected to the bolt assembly.
Inventors: |
Fellows; Ryan Paul;
(Hollister, CA) ; Jacobson; Jay Leonard; (Minden,
NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Franklin Armory Holdings, Inc. |
Minden |
NV |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Franklin Armory Holdings,
Inc.
Minden
NV
|
Family ID: |
1000005478587 |
Appl. No.: |
17/025303 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16703763 |
Dec 4, 2019 |
10816299 |
|
|
17025303 |
|
|
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|
62775940 |
Dec 6, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 19/24 20130101;
F41A 19/30 20130101; F41A 19/13 20130101; F41A 19/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 19/24 20060101
F41A019/24; F41A 19/13 20060101 F41A019/13; F41A 19/30 20060101
F41A019/30; F41A 19/10 20060101 F41A019/10 |
Claims
1. A firearm comprising: a frame; a barrel; a bolt assembly
connected to the frame in registration with the barrel and operable
to reciprocate between a retracted position and a forward battery
position; a trigger lever connected to the frame and operable to
move between a forward rest position and a rearward actuated
position; and the trigger lever operably connected to the bolt to
discharge the firearm in response to movement of the trigger lever
from the forward rest position to the rearward actuated position
when the bolt is in the forward battery position.
2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the bolt assembly includes a bolt
carrier and a bolt movable axially with respect to the bolt carrier
between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein
the bolt assembly includes a firing element operable to discharge
the firearm when the bolt is in the retracted position, and
inoperable to discharge the firearm when the bolt is in the
extended position.
3. The firearm of claim 2 including a safety element movable
between a safe condition in which the safety element prevents
movement of the bolt from the extended position to the retracted
position, and a live condition in which movement of the bolt from
the extended position to the retracted position is enabled.
4. The firearm of claim 3 wherein the safety element is operably
connected to the trigger to remain in the safe condition while the
trigger in in the rest position and in intermediate positions
between the rest position and the actuated position, and the safety
element is in the live condition when the trigger lever is in the
actuated position.
5. The firearm of claim 3 including a charging handle operably
engaged to the bolt assembly and operable to cycle the bolt
assembly, and wherein the safety element is operably engaged to the
charging handle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application a Continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 16/703,763 filed on Dec. 4, 2019, entitled "TRIGGER-CYCLED
FIREARM," which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Number 62/775,940 filed on Dec. 6, 2018, entitled
"Trigger-cycled firearm," which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to firearms, and more
particularly to a trigger-cycled firearm that utilizes the force
from the operator's trigger finger to cycle the action.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Semi-automatic firearms are legally defined in many
jurisdictions as firearms that utilize a portion of the energy of a
firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber
the next round, and which require a separate pull of the trigger to
fire each cartridge. Many jurisdictions outside of the United
States ban the civilian ownership of semi-automatic firearms.
[0004] Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved
trigger-cycled firearm that provides a firearm having a repeating
action that is safe and effective while not being semi-automatic.
In this regard, the various embodiments of the present invention
substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this
respect, the trigger-cycled firearm according to the present
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus
primarily developed for the purpose of providing a firearm having a
repeating action that is safe and effective while not being
semi-automatic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides an improved trigger-cycled
firearm, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and
drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide an improved trigger-cycled firearm that has
all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
[0006] To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention essentially comprises a frame, a barrel, a bolt assembly
connected to the frame in registration with the barrel and operable
to reciprocate between a retracted position and a forward battery
position, a trigger lever connected to the frame and operable to
move between a forward rest position and a rearward actuated
position, and the trigger lever operably connected to the bolt to
move the bolt from the forward battery position to the retracted
position and to release the bolt to the forward battery position
and discharge the firearm in response to movement of the trigger
lever from the forward rest position to the rearward actuated
position when the bolt is in the forward position. There may be a
connector bar pivotally connected to the frame and operably engaged
to the bolt assembly and to the trigger lever. The connector bar
may be slidably connected to the bolt assembly. There are, of
course, additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims
attached.
[0007] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the current embodiment of
a trigger-cycled firearm constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the trigger-cycled firearm of
FIG. 1 with the rear cap and butt stock omitted.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top isometric sectional view of the upper
receiver, lower receiver, magazine well assembly, and magazine of
the trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during double action operation
immediately after discharge/at rest.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during double action operation at
the moment the disconnector hands off the trigger lever to the
sear.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during double action operation at
the threshold of firing.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during double action operation as
the first safety element encounters the lobe of the trigger
lever.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during double action operation as
the first safety element is cleared from the bolt gap. The first
safety element is in the firing position.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during double action operation
with the bolt in the collapsed position/firing condition.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during single action operation
immediately after discharge/at rest.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during single action operation at
the moment the charging handle assembly is deliberately
released.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during single action operation at
the threshold before the trigger lever is pulled to initiate
discharge.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during single action operation at
the threshold after the trigger lever is pulled to initiate
discharge.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during normal single action
operation with the charging handle assembly forward in battery.
[0022] FIG. 15 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during normal operation in either
single or double action operation with the charging handle assembly
partially withdrawn and the second safety element intervening
behind the rear of the bolt.
[0023] FIG. 16 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during normal single action
operation immediately before the trigger lever has caught the bolt
via the cycle lever. The second safety element continues to
intervene behind the rear of the bolt.
[0024] FIG. 17 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during normal single action
operation with the charging handle assembly deliberately released
for single action firing. The bolt is caught by the sear's
engagement with the trigger lever as the charging handle assembly
heads home. The second safety element no longer intervenes behind
the rear of the bolt.
[0025] FIG. 18 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during normal single action
operation with the bolt in the collapsed position/firing condition.
The fixed firing pin protrudes from the front of the bolt to
discharge a cartridge in the chamber.
[0026] FIG. 19 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during abnormal single action
operation where the charging handle assembly has been inadvertently
prematurely released. The second safety element intervenes behind
the rear of the bolt.
[0027] FIG. 20 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during abnormal single action
operation where the charging handle assembly has been inadvertently
prematurely released. The second safety element contacts the rear
of the bolt.
[0028] FIG. 21 is a side sectional fragmentary view of the
trigger-cycled firearm of FIG. 1 during abnormal single action
operation where the charging handle assembly has been inadvertently
prematurely released. The second safety element is forced downward
and prevents the bolt from reaching the collapsed position/firing
condition. This prevents the fixed firing pin from protruding from
the front of the bolt to discharge a cartridge in the chamber.
[0029] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
[0030] An embodiment of the trigger-cycled firearm of the present
invention is shown and generally designated by the reference
numeral 10.
[0031] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the improved trigger-cycled firearm 10
of the present invention. More particularly, the trigger-cycled
firearm includes a frame/upper receiver 12 with a barrel assembly
14 mounted to the front 16 of the upper receiver. The upper
receiver has a top 18 that forms an elongated mounting rail 20. The
upper receiver also has a bottom 22, rear 24, left side 26, right
side 28, and defines a central bore 30. The left side defines a
channel 32 that receives a reciprocating charging handle assembly
34. The right side defines an ejection port 36. A rear cap 38 is
attached to the rear of the upper receiver. A butt stock 40 is
removably attached to a mounting rail 42 (first shown in FIG. 4)
formed by the rear 44 of the rear cap.
[0032] A lower receiver 46 is attached to the bottom 22 of the
upper receiver 12. The lower receiver has a front 48, rear 50, top
52, and bottom 54. The bottom of the lower receiver forms a trigger
guard 56. A pistol grip 58 is attached to the bottom rear of the
lower receiver.
[0033] A magazine well assembly 60 is attached to the bottom 22 of
the upper receiver 12 and the front 48 of the lower receiver 46.
The magazine well assembly has a front 62, rear 64, top 66, bottom
68, and defines a magazine well 70. A magazine 72 is releasably
received within the magazine well. The magazine has a top 74 and a
bottom 76. The top of the magazine is in communication with the
central bore 30 of the upper receiver 12. The bottom of the
magazine protrudes below the bottom of the magazine well
assembly.
[0034] A bolt assembly 78 is received within the central bore 30 of
the upper receiver 12. The bolt assembly includes a bolt carrier
80, bolt carrier side plate 82, bolt 84, fixed firing pin 86, first
safety element 88, second safety element 90, and cam pin 110. The
bolt carrier has a front 92, rear 94, top 96, bottom 98, left side
100, and right side 102. The front defines a central bore 104
(first shown in FIG. 14). The right side defines a slot 106 (first
shown in FIG. 14) that receives the second safety element. A
forward portion of the slot is in communication with the central
bore. The top defines a cam pin channel 108 that receives the cam
pin 110. The right side includes a protrusion 112 that is pivotally
received by aperture 188 defined by the first safety element. The
right side also defines a vertical channel 114. The bolt carrier
side plate is attached to the right side of the bolt carrier. The
bolt has a front 116, rear 118, defines a bolt axis 120, and is
connected to the cam pin. The rear of the bolt is received by the
central bore in the front of the bolt carrier. Rotational movement
of the bolt within the central bore in the front of the bolt
carrier is controlled by the interaction of the cam pin with the
cam pin channel.
[0035] A cycle lever 122 is connected to the bolt carrier 80 by a
pin (not shown) received in an aperture 124 in the upper end 126 of
the cycle lever that is also received by the vertical channel 114.
A disconnector 128 is a spring biased movable tab connected to the
lower end 130 of the cycle lever. The lower end of the cycle lever
also includes a hook feature that serves as a sear 132. The cycle
lever has a pivot point 190 located between the upper and lower
ends.
[0036] A trigger lever 134 has a top 136, bottom 138, front 140,
and rear 142. When the trigger lever is installed in the lower
receiver 46, the bottom of the trigger lever protrudes from the
bottom 54 of the lower receiver and is encircled by the trigger
guard 56. The top rear of the trigger lever forms a lobe 144. The
rear of the trigger lever below the lobe forms a hook feature 146
that interacts with the disconnector 128 and sear 132 so that a
separate pull of the trigger lever is required to fire each
cartridge.
[0037] FIGS. 4-9 illustrate the improved trigger-cycled firearm 10
of the present invention. More particularly, the figures illustrate
the sequence of operation of the trigger-cycled firearm 10 in
double action operation. In FIG. 4, the trigger-cycled firearm 10
is shown immediately after discharge/at rest. The rear 118 of the
bolt 84 can be seen within the bolt gap 148 defined by the bottom
160 rear 94 of the bolt carrier 80 because the bolt is in the
collapsed position/firing condition within the central bore 104 of
the bolt carrier. The rear of the bolt holds the forward toe 150 of
the first safety element 88 out of the bolt gap. In the event a
spent casing is present in the chamber 156 defined by the rear 158
of the barrel assembly 14, the spent casing is extracted and
ejected when the trigger lever 134 is initially pulled. In FIG. 5,
the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown at the moment the
disconnector 128 hands-off the trigger lever 134 to the sear 132.
The bolt has moved forward within the central bore 104 of the bolt
carrier, and the forward toe of the first safety element has
pivoted into the bolt gap under spring pressure (spring not shown).
The forward toe prevents the rear of the bolt from occupying the
bolt gap to place the bolt in the collapsed position/firing
condition. In FIG. 6, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown at the
threshold of firing. In FIG. 7, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is
shown as the bottom 152 of the first safety element 88 encounters
the lobe 144 of the trigger lever. As the bolt carrier moves
forward, the front 116 of the bolt strips the uppermost cartridge
154 from the top 74 of the magazine 72 and loads the cartridge into
the chamber. In FIG. 8, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with
the first safety element in the firing position. As the interaction
between the lobe of the trigger lever and the bottom of the first
safety element has moved rearward, the first safety element has
pivoted clockwise sufficiently so that the front toe of the first
safety element has cleared the bolt gap. The condition shown in
FIG. 8 is the bolt assembly 78 and cycle lever 122 returning to
battery under spring bias. The trigger lever has been pulled
rearward sufficiently to cause the release of the bolt assembly
from being controlled by the trigger lever. This means the trigger
lever is also pulled sufficiently to be in a position to deactivate
the first safety element because the safety element passes over the
trigger lever as the bolt assembly travels. In FIG. 9, the
trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with the bolt 84 in the
collapsed position/firing condition with the rear of the bolt
extending into the bolt gap and contacting the front toe of the
first safety element to prevent the first toe of the first safety
element from reentering the bolt gap. The rearmost portion 162 of
the bottom of the first safety element is angled slightly upward so
the lobe of the trigger lever will disengage from the bottom of the
first safety element. The trigger-cycled firearm 10 returns to the
after discharge/at rest condition shown in FIG. 4 under spring
pressure (springs not shown) after firing and subsequent release of
the trigger lever by the operator. The cycle lever 122 and
disconnector 128 are returned to their starting positions after
they are released by the trigger lever by the forward movement of
the bolt carrier because the cycle lever has its upper end 126
pinned within the vertical channel 114 of the bolt carrier.
[0038] FIGS. 10-13 illustrate the improved trigger-cycled firearm
10 of the present invention. More particularly, the figures
illustrate the sequence of operation of the trigger-cycled firearm
10 in single action operation. In FIG. 10, which is identical to
FIG. 4, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown immediately after
discharge/at rest. The rear 118 of the bolt 84 can be seen within
the bolt gap 148 defined by the bottom 160 rear 94 of the bolt
carrier 80 because the bolt is in the collapsed position/firing
condition within the central bore 104 of the bolt carrier. The rear
of the bolt holds the forward toe 150 of the first safety element
88 out of the bolt gap. In the event a spent casing is present in
the chamber 156 defined by the rear 158 of the barrel assembly 14,
the spent casing is extracted and ejected when the trigger lever
134 is initially pulled. In FIG. 11, the trigger-cycled firearm 10
is shown at the moment the charging handle assembly 34 has been
deliberately released after first having been pulled rearwardly
until the rear 94 of the bolt carrier 80 has contacted the front
164 of a buffer 166 protruding forwardly from the front 168 of the
rear cap 38. In FIG. 12, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown at
the threshold before the trigger lever 134 is pulled to initiate
discharge. In FIG. 13, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown at
the threshold after the trigger lever is pulled to initiate
discharge. The hook feature 146 on the trigger lever has disengaged
from the sear 132 on the cycle lever 122, which will permit the
bolt carrier to fly forward. The remaining steps of the single
action operation of the trigger-cycled firearm 10 are identical to
those of double action operation shown in FIGS. 7-9, after which
the trigger-cycled firearm 10 returns to the immediately after
discharge/at rest condition shown in FIGS. 4 and 10. The cycle
lever 122 and disconnector 128 are returned to their starting
positions after they are released by the trigger lever by the
forward movement of the bolt carrier because the cycle lever has
its upper end 126 pinned within the vertical channel 114 of the
bolt carrier.
[0039] FIGS. 14-18 illustrate the improved trigger-cycled firearm
10 of the present invention. More particularly, the figures
illustrate the sequence of operation of the trigger-cycled firearm
10 in normal single action operation. In FIG. 14, the
trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with the charging handle
assembly 34 forward in battery. The fixed firing pin 86 is received
in a central bore 170 defined by the bolt 84. The front 172 of the
fixed firing pin protrudes from the front 116 of the bolt when the
bolt is in the collapsed position/firing condition. The rear 174 of
the fixed firing pin protrudes from the rear 118 of the bolt and
from the rear 94 of the bolt carrier. In FIG. 15, the
trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with the charging handle
assembly partially withdrawn and the second safety element 90
intervening behind the rear of the bolt. The second safety element
has a front 176, rear 178, top 180, and bottom 182. The top end
rear of the second safety element are arcuate in shape. The front
defines a substantially circular recess 184 that is bounded on one
side by a downwardly protruding tooth 186. When the second safety
element intervenes behind the rear of the bolt, the downwardly
protruding tooth extends into the central bore 104 defined by the
bolt carrier when the charging handle assembly contacts the top of
the second safety element and pivots the front of the second safety
element clockwise. In FIG. 16, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is
shown immediately before the trigger lever 134 has caught the bolt
via the cycle lever 122. The second safety element continues to
intervene behind the rear of the bolt. In FIG. 17, the
trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with the charging handle
assembly having been deliberately released for single action
firing. The bolt has been caught by the engagement of the sear 132
with the trigger lever as the charging handle assembly heads home.
The front of the second safety element has pivoted counterclockwise
under spring pressure (spring not shown) so the second safety
element no longer intervenes behind the rear of the bolt. In FIG.
18, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with the bolt in the
collapsed position/firing condition. Because the second safety
element no longer intervenes behind the rear of the bolt, the rear
of the bolt is free to move rearward within the central bore
defined by the bolt carrier so the front 172 of the fixed firing
pin 86 protrudes from the front of the bolt to discharge a
cartridge in the chamber 156.
[0040] FIGS. 19-21 illustrate the improved trigger-cycled firearm
10 of the present invention. More particularly, the figures
illustrate the sequence of operation of the trigger-cycled firearm
10 in abnormal single action operation where the charging handle
assembly 34 has been inadvertently prematurely released. In FIG.
19, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with the second safety
element 90 intervening behind the rear 118 of the bolt 84. In FIG.
20, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is shown with the downwardly
protruding tooth 186 of the second safety element contacting the
rear of the bolt. In FIG. 21, the trigger-cycled firearm 10 is
shown with the front 176 of the second safety element having been
forced downward by the rear of the bolt. The downwardly protruding
tooth prevents the bolt from continuing to move rearward into the
collapsed position/firing condition. This prevents the front 172 of
the fixed firing pin 86 from protruding from the front 116 of the
bolt to discharge a cartridge in the chamber 156.
[0041] It should be appreciated that the action of the
trigger-cycled firearm of the current invention utilizes the force
from the operator's trigger finger to cycle the action. When
starting with a loaded magazine and an empty chamber, the action
performs the following functions when operating in double action
mode: [0042] 1. By pulling the trigger lever, the bolt carrier is
forced backward against spring pressure (spring not shown). [0043]
2. At a predetermined point in the rearward stroke of the trigger
lever, the trigger lever stops acting upon the cycle lever, and the
bolt carrier is allowed to freely travel forward under spring
pressure. [0044] 3. As the bolt carrier travels forward, it feeds a
loaded round from the spring-loaded box magazine. [0045] 4. As the
bolt carrier continues forward, it chambers the loaded round.
[0046] 5. As the bolt carrier travels further still, the bolt
slides into a recess in the barrel extension at the rear of the
barrel assembly as the bolt carrier is allowed to continue
traveling forward. [0047] 6. Under the influence of the cam channel
cut into the bolt carrier and upper receiver the bolt is forced to
rotate into a locked position as the bolt carrier continues its
path forward. [0048] 7. At the point the bolt is completely locked,
the bolt carrier has approximately 0.020 inch of additional travel
before the fixed firing pin is allowed to impact the primer on the
loaded cartridge. This is an important buffer zone designed for
safety. [0049] 8. Once the bolt carrier has traveled fully forward,
the fixed firing pin impacts the primer on the chambered cartridge.
[0050] 9. The loaded round than fires while no parts move, and the
bolt remains locked. [0051] 10. When the trigger lever is pulled
again, the bolt carrier will again travel backwards against spring
pressure. While doing so, the bolt carrier will first extract and
then eject the spent case through the ejector port. [0052] 11. If
the trigger lever is pulled further back, the trigger-cycled
firearm will repeat the double action cycle beginning with step
2.
[0053] The trigger-cycled firearm is not a semi-automatic firearm
because it never utilizes any portion of the energy of the firing
cartridge to extract, eject, reload a cartridge. Instead, the
trigger-cycled firearm utilizes a manually-cycled action.
Furthermore, it is believed to have the world's safest action
because the trigger-cycled firearm is designed to be stored,
carried, and operated with an empty chamber. The only time a round
is loaded in the chamber is immediately before it is fired.
[0054] When starting with a loaded magazine and an empty chamber,
the action performs the following functions when operating in
single action mode: [0055] 1. By pulling the charging handle
assembly, the bolt carrier and the cycle lever are forced backward
against spring pressure to a point where the cycle lever is held
back by a single action notch located adjacent to the hook feature
on the trigger lever. This location is positioned beyond the range
of motion of the cycle lever during double action firing. The
single action notch can only be utilized when manually activated by
the charging handle assembly. [0056] 2. By pulling the trigger
lever slightly further, the bolt carrier is allowed to freely
travel forward under spring pressure. [0057] 3. As the bolt carrier
travels forward, it feeds a loaded round from the spring-loaded box
magazine. [0058] 4. As the bolt carrier continues forward, it
chambers the loaded round. [0059] 5. As the bolt carrier travels
further still, the bolt slides into a recess in the barrel
extension at the rear of the barrel assembly as the bolt carrier is
allowed to continue traveling forward. [0060] 6. Under the
influence of the cam channel cut into the bolt carrier and upper
receiver the bolt is forced to rotate into a locked position as the
bolt carrier continues its path forward. [0061] 7. At the point the
bolt is completely locked, the bolt carrier has approximately 0.020
inch of additional travel before the fixed firing pin is allowed to
impact the primer on the loaded cartridge. This is an important
buffer zone designed for safety. [0062] 8. Once the bolt carrier
has traveled fully forward, the fixed firing pin impacts the primer
on the chambered cartridge. [0063] 9. The loaded round than fires
while no parts move, and the bolt remains locked. [0064] 10. The
single action cycle can be repeated by beginning with step 1.
[0065] The first safety element is a trigger-activated bolt carrier
lockout. It is designed to prevent an unintentional discharge of
the trigger-cycled firearm. This lockout is a physical block to
prevent the bolt carrier from going into battery and impacting the
fixed firing pin when the trigger lever is not pulled. When the
trigger lever is pulled, the lobe is in an upward position that
pushes this lockout out of the way. If the bolt carrier has been
moved to the rearward by means other than pulling the trigger
lever, such as the user pushing it back with a tool, the lobe would
be in a downward position when the bolt carrier moved forward to
return home. This lockout is spring biased to remain engaged and
prevent the bolt carrier from going fully into battery.
[0066] The second safety element is a charging handle
assembly-activated bolt carrier lockout. It is designed to prevent
an unintentional discharge of the trigger-cycled firearm. This
lockout is activated when the charging handle assembly is applying
rearward force to the bolt carrier. The charging handle assembly
causes this lockout to engage, thereby disallowing the bolt carrier
from going fully into battery, any time it pushes the bolt carrier
past a certain point in the rearward travel range as long as the
charging handle assembly remains engaged with the bolt carrier. If
the bolt carrier is only charged part way and then released, or if
the charging handle assembly follows it back to home, the charging
handle assembly stays in contact with the bolt carrier, which keeps
this lockout engaged and prevents a full battery lockup. The
purpose of this lockout is to prevent someone from charging the
bolt carrier almost all the way to single action hookup with the
trigger lever, but then mistakenly releasing the bolt carrier. At
that point, the trigger-cycled firearm would fire if not for the
lockouts. The trigger-activated lockout works in tandem with the
charging handle assembly-activated lockout so that even if the
charging handle assembly-activated lockout failed, so long as the
trigger lever was not being held back at the time of accidental
release, the trigger-cycled firearm would still not fire.
[0067] When the charging handle assembly-activated bolt carrier
lockout is pulled back far enough that the bolt carrier assembly is
held by another means, such as the sear in single action mode, and
then the charging handle assembly is returned home manually prior
to the bolt assembly closing, this lockout is allowed to disengage
via its spring bias. Therefore, the bolt carrier is able to achieve
full battery when it moves forward and returns home.
[0068] It should also be appreciated that the bolt assembly is
connected to the frame/upper receiver in registration with the
barrel and operable to reciprocate between a retracted position and
a forward battery position. The trigger lever is connected to the
frame and is operable to move between a forward rest position and a
rearward actuated position. The trigger lever is operably connected
to the bolt to move the bolt from the forward battery position to
the retracted position and to release the bolt to the forward
battery position and discharge the firearm in response to movement
of the trigger lever from the forward rest position to the rearward
actuated position when the bolt is in the forward battery position.
The cycle lever is a connector bar pivotally connected to the frame
and operably engaged to the bolt assembly and to the trigger lever.
The connector bar is slidably connected to the bolt assembly. The
bolt assembly defines a bolt axis and defines an interface feature
angularly offset from the bolt axis and configured to be engaged by
the connector bar. The interface feature is the vertical channel,
which is preferably perpendicular to the bolt axis. However, the
interface feature can be a channel at an angle relative to vertical
to shift the point at which the force from the connector bar is
applied perpendicularly to the interface feature surface (either
forward or rearward in regard to the bolt travel). It is currently
anticipated a suitable range for the angle relative to vertical
would be +/-45.degree.. The connector bar includes the
disconnector, which is a movable tab configured for selective
engagement by the trigger lever. The movable tab is spring biased
in a selected direction. The connector bar defines a pivot point
and has a first crank length from the pivot point to a first
portion (the upper end) contacting the bolt assembly, and a second
crank length from the pivot point to a second portion (the lower
end) contacting the trigger lever. The first crank length is
greater than the second crank length by a magnitude sufficient to
demonstrate an appreciable mechanical advantage and is broadly
within the range of five to ten times for practical applications.
In the current embodiment, the ratio of the first crank length to
the second crank length is 7.5:1. However, it should be appreciated
that the ratio of the first crank length to the second crank length
can vary substantially based upon the desired stroke length of the
bolt assembly. The bolt assembly includes the bolt carrier and the
bolt, which is movable axially with respect to the bolt carrier
between a retracted position and an extended position. The bolt
assembly includes a firing element (the fixed firing pin) operable
to discharge the firearm when the bolt is in the retracted
position, and inoperable to discharge the firearm when the bolt is
in the extended position. The bolt is operably engaged to the bolt
carrier to rotate based on axial position in the current
embodiment. However, alternative bolt locking mechanisms could be
employed to lock the bolt to the barrel, including a Fortner-type
action. The first and second safety elements are movable between a
safe condition in which the first and second safety elements
prevent movement of the bolt from the extended position to the
retracted position, and a live condition in which movement of the
bolt from the extended position to the retracted position is
enabled. The charging handle assembly is operably engaged to the
bolt assembly and is operable to cycle the bolt assembly. The
second safety element is operably engaged to the charging handle
assembly.
[0069] While a current embodiment of a trigger-cycled firearm has
been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications
and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the
true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the components
such as the barrel, handguard, muzzle device, grip, and butt stock
could vary widely from those depicted depending on the application
of the trigger-cycled firearm. With respect to the above
description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional
relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations
in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0070] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *