The field of the invention is firearm slide lock mechanisms.
The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
When a semiautomatic firearm expends its last round of ammunition, a slide of the firearm is locked in the aft position (to aid in reloading) by an upward movement of a thumb-operated slide lock lever which interfaces with a permanent slide notch on the firearm slide.
After an empty magazine is replace by another magazine (containing at least one round of ammunition), the slide is released (to return to its forward most position under a biasing force of a recoil spring (the recoil spring's function/configuration known by those in the art and thus not described)) by the user depressing the thumb operated slide lock lever to the down position. This action “slips” the slide lock lever off of the permanent slide notch. As the slide returns to its forward position, the slide chambers/feeds ammunition from the magazine into a barrel to make the firearm ready for discharge.
The permanent slide notch wears over time and the entire slide must be replaced to restore the slide locking feature of the firearm.
Moreover, the existing slides do not allow for the adjustment of the force at which the recoil spring acts on the slide upon unlocking, thus limiting the adaptability of the firearm for environments that could render the firearm more prone to jamming or malfunction.
Thus, there is still a need for an adaptable slide replacement mechanism that reduces the need to replace entire slide and is adaptable to the needs of the user.
One objective of the present invention is to provide an easily replaceable (as well as relatively inexpensive) slide notch so as to prevent the costly replacement of the entire slide when its permanent Slide notch wears out. Another objective is to allow for inexpensive/replaceable performance modifications of the slide notch (e.g.—filing down the slide notch to make the weapon automatically chamber a first round of a magazine when the magazine is inserted forcefully into the weapon (commonly known as a “slam load” or an “automatic slide release” by those in the art)).
Additionally, a further objective of the systems and methods of the inventive subject matter is to offer alternate notch geometries which affords the user the option of increasing recoil spring compression when the slide locks in the aft position (increasing the spring's potential energy) and therefore increase ammunition chambering/feeding reliability.
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a replaceable slide notch component can be inserted and removed from a cavity in a slide component such that a user can change the slide notch surface of a firearm without having to replace the entire slide.
In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, a replaceable slide notch component is dimensioned to be inserted and secured within a corresponding cavity in a slide component. The replaceable slide notch component includes a slide notch surface that, when the replaceable slide notch component is installed within the cavity, aligns with the slide lock lever of the firearm frame to lock the slide when ammunition is exhausted.
The replaceable slide notch component can be installed within the cavity of the slide via a plug and spring mechanism that fits into a cavity of the replaceable slide notch component and, when inserted into the slide's cavity, into a corresponding locking blind hole of the slide to secure the replaceable slide notch component in place. The corresponding shapes of the replaceable slide notch component and the cavity also secure the replaceable slide notch component against lateral movement. In other embodiments, a spring with a conical end is used instead of a plug-and-spring combination.
In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the slide notch surface of the replaceable slide notch component is positioned to correspond to the default position of the default slide of the firearm.
In embodiments, the slide notch surface of the replaceable slide notch component is disposed such that the slide is locked at a further rearward position than the default. In these embodiments, the recoil spring of the firearm exerts a greater force on the slide when the slide is unlocked.
In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the replaceable slide notch component includes a first slide notch surface on one end and second slide notch surface on a second end such that the replaceable slide notch component can be inserted for either the first or second slide notch surface to align with the slide lock lever of the firearm. To change the engaging slide notch surface, the replaceable slide notch component can be removed from the slide's cavity, rotated, and reinserted.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.
To install the replaceable slide notch component 810 securely within cavity 822, plug spring 814 and plug 815 would be inserted into plug cavity 816. Plug 815 is depressed (against plug spring's 814 biasing force) completely within the body of the slide notch component 810. This assembly would then be inserted upwardly into cavity 822 of the slide 801. Once fully inserted, the biasing force of plug spring 814 pushes plug 815 outward into a correspondingly sized notch locking blind hole 817, the notch locking blind hole 817 having a depth of less than the length of plug 815 (preferably about half of the length) such that plug 815 extends approximately halfway out of the replaceable slide notch component 810 and bottoms out into the notch locking blind hole 817. Thus, plug 815 locks the replaceable slide notch component 810 within cavity 822, preventing movement in the −Y direction (i.e., downward). As seen in
To uninstall the replaceable slide notch component 810, a suitable plunger (e.g., a straightened paperclip, a skinny nail) is inserted through disassembly hole 818 (diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of notch locking blind hole 817 and plug 815 and axially aligned with the notch locking blind hole 817) of slide 801 to depress plug 815 against the biasing force of plug spring 814 and into plug cavity 816, disengaging the plug 815 from the notch locking blind hole 817 and thus allowing for removal of the slide notch component 810 from cavity 822.
The embodiments of the inventive subject matter illustrated herein incorporate the securing mechanism discussed above involving the plug 815, plug spring 814 and plug cavity 816 to secure the slide notch component 810 within the cavity 822. However, other methods of securing the slide notch component 810 within cavity 822 are contemplated within the scope of the inventive subject matter.
In an alternative to the embodiments illustrated in
As noted above, the embodiment of
The difference in the position of the locked slides 801 when using the slide notch component 810 versus the slide notch component 1310 is illustrated in
The further rearwardly locked slide of the firearm using the replaceable slide notch component 1310 with the notch surface 1312 compresses the firearm's recoil spring to a greater degree than the locked slide of the firearm using the replaceable slide notch component 810 (with notch surface 812). The difference between the positions of the slides 801A and 801B of a distance X3 is seen in
Thus, in situations where jamming is a greater risk, a user could swap the replaceable slide notch component 810 out for replaceable slide notch component 1310. Likewise, where a user prefers to have a “default” feel to the firearm slide locking mechanism, the user can easily replace the replaceable slide notch component 1310 with the replaceable slide notch component 810. This could even be done in the field, with the user taking a single slide 801 and only having to carry the replaceable slide notch components 810, 1310 to make adjustments as needed, without having to carry an entire separate slide assembly.
The embodiment of the replaceable slide notch component 1310 of
In embodiments, the replaceable slide notch component can have a slide notch surface that is disposed further rearward than the default position of slide notch surface 812. In these embodiments, the force exerted by the recoil spring when the slide 801 is released will be less than when the replaceable slide component 810 with slide notch surface 812 is used. This results in less noise, which can be advantageous in reloading situations where the user must be as quiet as possible.
As seen in
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment shown in
It is contemplated that the components of the inventive subject matter described herein can be made from suitable materials (e.g.—sheet metal, steel, steel alloys, polymers (plastics), etc.) and processes (e.g.—machining, 3D Printing, Metal Injection Molding, sheet metal folding, etc.) known by those in the art.
Alternative embodiments and/or uses of the methods and devices described above and modifications and equivalents thereof are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. These embodiments could include any objects which utilize easy assembly/disassembly methods (i.e.—screws, pins, cotter pins, partial turn locking means, magnets, locking washers, locking nuts, etc.).
Although only a semiautomatic handgun is described, the invention could be readily adapted to be utilized in alternate types of firearms (i.e.—(semi and fully automatic) rifles, shotguns, cannons, etc.).
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200363152 A1 | Nov 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62686273 | Jun 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16241865 | Jan 2019 | US |
Child | 16837741 | US |