The fire lance, a bamboo tube that used gunpowder to fire a lance, is considered to be the first gun. It was invented in China in the tenth century. Its first use in battle most likely involved unintended discharges that resulted in injury or death to the operators of the weapon. Since that time, weapon designers and manufacturers have endeavored to prevent their creations from experiencing unintended discharges.
In modern designs, many different safety designs have been employed in guns, with many achieving high levels of protection against unintended discharges. Most safeties operate to prevent the trigger from moving or to otherwise break the firing chain so the weapon cannot be discharged. However, even with the use of safeties, there are still many deaths each year from unintended discharges related to improper weapon handling. Very few guns have an indicator that indicates when the gun is loaded and ready to fire. If a weapon is loaded and the safety is in the “fire” position, a user may not know the condition of the weapon, then attempt to pick up the weapon and unintentionally depress the trigger, thereby causing the weapon to discharge. Sometimes a user may pick up the weapon by grabbing around the center mass resulting in a portion of user's hand other than the index finger depressing the trigger. If a person just happens to be in the line of fire, which could be hundreds of feet away, an injury or death is the typical result. This type of handling of a weapon is a major contributor to the cause of unintended discharges and the injuries that may result.
Many accidental deaths also result when a user is not properly holding the grip of a firearm and unintentionally depresses the trigger. This can happen when a user shifts his/her grip during use, or, is picking up or putting down the weapon and some part of the user's hand unintentionally depresses the trigger.
Current safety systems may require internal modifications to the firearm, fail to promote proper hand grip, lack adaptability to a wide variety of firearms, or are not customizable to the user. As such, there is a demand for improved trigger safety systems to prevent unintentional discharges that is light in weight, adjustable for a user's comfort, indicates when the trigger safety system is disengaged, provides an electrical interface for external devices, and can be adapted to any firearm that utilizes a hollow grip or handle.
The present invention is directed toward an adjustable trigger safety system. In some embodiments, the adjustable trigger safety system includes a frame, a safety lever, an activation lever, and a main safety. In various embodiments, the frame is configured to mount to a firearm. In other embodiments, the frame can be mounted proximate to a trigger. In additional embodiments, the safety lever and the activation lever partially extend from the frame. In further embodiments, the main safety can move between a first position or “Safe” position and a second position or “Fire” position. In more embodiments, the safety lever must be depressed before the activation lever can be depressed. Additionally, when the activation lever is depressed, it causes the main safety to rotate from the first position to the second position.
In some embodiments, the safety lever has a first safety catch and the activation lever has a second safety catch corresponding to the first safety catch. In other embodiments, the first safety catch will intersect with the second safety catch if the safety lever is not at least partially depressed before the activation lever is depressed. In additional embodiments, the activation lever cannot be depressed if the first safety catch intersects with the second safety catch.
In other embodiments, one end of a safety cable is anchored inside the frame, and the other end of the safety cable is attached to the main safety. In additional embodiments, when depressed, the activation lever comes into contact with and applies a force to the safety cable. In more embodiments, the safety cable will transfer the force to the main safety causing it to move from the first position to the second position.
In some embodiments, a cable catch is located on the activation lever and is configured to come into contact with and apply a force to the safety cable when the activation lever is depressed.
In other embodiments, a locking hole is located on the safety lever and is configured to receive a locking device, where the locking device will prevent the safety lever from being depressed.
In additional embodiments, the adjustable trigger safety system can have an accessory connector that can connect to a device and an accessory activator that can activate the device. In other embodiments, the device can be located external to the frame. In additional embodiments, the accessory activator is integral to the safety lever and will activate the device when the safety lever is depressed. In more embodiments, the safety lever must be fully depressed to activate the device.
In further embodiments, the activation lever can cause the main safety to return to the first position when the activation lever is released and returns to its original position.
The present invention is also directed to an adjustable trigger safety system that includes a firearm having a main safety, a finger actuator, and a trigger safety indicator. In some embodiments, the trigger safety indicator is located coaxially with the main safety. In other embodiments, the trigger safety indicator is mechanically connected to the main safety. In additional embodiments, when the finger actuator is actuated, the trigger safety indicator disconnects from the main safety such that the trigger safety indicator can rotate independently from the main safety.
In other embodiments, when the finger actuator is actuated, the trigger safety indicator disconnects from the main safety and rotates from a first position to a second position.
In further embodiments, the main safety can have a main safety gear and the trigger safety indicator can have a trigger safety gear. In some embodiments, the main safety gear and the trigger safety gear are mechanically engaged such that when the main safety moves, the trigger safety indicator also moves.
In some embodiments, when the finger actuator is actuated, the trigger safety gear disengages from the main safety gear thereby allowing the trigger safety indicator to move independently from the main safety.
In additional embodiments, the finger actuator is ambidextrous.
In other embodiments, the adjustable trigger safety system further comprises a finger actuator lever. In some embodiments, the finger actuator is configured to disconnect the trigger safety indicator from the main safety when the finger actuator is actuated.
In further embodiments, the finger actuator lever is configured to limit the movement of the trigger safety indicator. In other embodiments, when the trigger safety indicator is in the first position and the finger actuator is not actuated, the finger actuator lever prevents the trigger safety indicator and main safety from moving thereby keeping the main safety in the “Safe” position and preventing the firearm from discharging.
In additional embodiments, when the finger actuator is actuated while the trigger indicator is in the first position, the trigger safety indicator moves from the first position to the second position independent of the main safety. In other embodiments, the finger actuator lever allows the trigger safety indicator and the main safety to move concurrently such that the trigger safety indicator returns to the first position and the main safety moves from a “Safe” position to a “Fire” position.
The present invention is further directed toward an adjustable trigger safety system comprising a firearm having a main safety and a grip, an activation lever, a trigger safety indicator, and a finger actuator. In some embodiments, the activation lever is located partially in the grip and is configured to cause the main safety to move from a safe position to a fire position. In other embodiments, the trigger safety indicator mechanically engages with the main safety. In additional embodiments, the trigger safety indicator is capable of rotating from a first position to a second position independent of the main safety. In more embodiments, the finger actuator is configured to mechanically disengage the trigger safety indicator from the main safety. In some embodiments, the finger actuator must be actuated so that the trigger safety indicator rotates to the second position when the main safety stays in the safe position before the activation lever can be depressed causing the main safety to move from the safe position to the fire position.
In some embodiments, the trigger safety indicator automatically moves from the first position to the second position when the finger actuator is actuated.
In other embodiments, when the activation lever is released, the main safety returns to the safe position.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the adjustable trigger safety system is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the adjustable trigger safety system will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the adjustable trigger safety system as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same or similar reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.
In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementations, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application-related and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
Referring initially to
In some embodiments of the present invention, an accessory connector 120 provides a portal for users to connect electrical devices, including, but not limited to, flashlights, target designators, and night optics. Upon release of the safety lever 112, the external device will de-energize.
The safety lever 112 and the activation lever 114 are positioned to promote proper hand grip and function to prevent accidental discharge of the firearm. When the adjustable trigger safety system 100 is engaged, the main safety 106 is prevented from rotating from the “Safe” position to the “Fire” position. When the adjustable trigger safety system 100 is disengaged by the user, the main safety 106 is permitted to rotate from the “Safe” position to the “Fire” position, thereby allowing the firearm to discharge.
To disengage the adjustable trigger safety system 100, the user must activate a finger actuator 110, which allows the main safety 106 to rotate. Next, the safety lever 112 must first be depressed until it is flush with the grip 124. This in turn allows the activation lever 114 to rotate into the grip 124 and cause the main safety 106 to rotate.
In some embodiments, the safety lever 112 has a locking hole 152, which allows for the use of a locking device (not shown) to prevent the safety lever 112 from being rotated into the grip 124, thereby maintaining the main safety 106 in the “Safe” position. In other embodiments, the locking hole 152 is located on the activation lever 114.
Referring to
The frame 118 is a structure used to contain the internal components of the adjustable trigger safety system 100 and to provide pivot points with some of the internal components. Some internal parts have pivot points that engage the frame 118, thereby allowing those parts to move, rotate, pivot, turn, or roll. The safety lever 112 and the activation lever 114 are mounted internally to the frame 118. When activated, the safety lever 112 rotates at hinge 112H. When rotated, the safety lever 112 allows for the activation lever 114 to rotate at the activation lever hinge 114H. A portion of the safety lever 112 and the activation lever 114 protrude from the frame 118, these portions being designed to engage a user's hand. When the user releases the safety lever 112, it is returned to its original position by a safety lever spring 112S. When the user releases the activation lever 114, it is returned to its original position by an activation lever spring 114S. Different springs 112S and 114S can be used to adjust the tension on the safety lever 112 and the activation lever 114, respectively.
A lever guide channel 118C provides a path for a cable catch 114C (see
Referring to
The safety cable 116 passes through a cable passage 118P located in the frame 118. The safety cable 116 then connects to the main safety 106 such that when the adjustable trigger safety system 100 is disengaged, the safety cable 116 causes the main safety 106 to rotate from the “Safe” position to the “Fire” position. Also shown is a guide channel 118G located integral to the frame 118. The cable passage 118P provides a pathway for the safety cable 116 to exit the interior of the frame 118 in an upward direction to allow it to interface with the main safety 106. The edges of the cable passage 118P are polished to minimize friction with and wear to the safety cable 116. Additionally, the lever guide channel 118C is shown.
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When the safety lever 112 is depressed first, followed by the activation lever 114, the safety lever catch 112A moves such that it will no longer come into contact with the activation lever catch 114A as the activation lever 114 is depressed. In some embodiments, the safety lever 112 does not need to be fully depressed to allow the activation lever 114 to be depressed such that the cable catch 114C comes into contact with the safety cable 116 (see
The accessory activator 122 allows for the activation of an external device, such as a laser, an indicator, a flashlight, or any device configured to be used with a firearm. In operation, when the safety lever 112 is depressed, the accessory activator 122 comes in contact with the accessory connector 120, thereby activating any connected external device. In some embodiments, the accessory connector 120 is routed through the frame 118 using an accessory connector channel 120C. The accessory connector 120 can be located anywhere in the frame 118 where it can be accessed from the exterior of the frame 118. It should be noted that after the activation lever 114 is depressed, the safety lever 112 can be released. This also allows for a user to use the safety lever 112 to control the external device after the adjustable trigger safety system 100 is disengaged. In some embodiments, the safety lever 112 needs to be fully depressed to activate the external device to allow for the disengagement of the adjustable trigger safety system 100 without activating the external device.
The safety cable 116 connects to the main safety 106 such that a downward force on the safety cable 116 causes the main safety 106 to rotate. It should be noted that when the main safety 106 rotates to the “Fire” position and the main safety lever 106L is vertically pointing down, the main safety cylinder 106C also rotates such that it no longer prevents the trigger 104 from being depressed and discharging the firearm. Also shown is the cable catch 114C.
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In some embodiments, the trigger safety indicator 108F automatically rotates when the finger actuator 110 is actuated, such as, for example, by way of a spring force applied to the trigger safety indicator 108F. In other embodiments, the trigger safety indicator 108F stays in the rearward horizontal position when the adjustable trigger safety system 100 is re-engaged. In additional embodiments, the trigger safety indicator 108F will rotate back to the vertically up position when the main safety 106 rotates back to the “Safe” position and must be manually reset to the horizontally rearward position to prevent the main safety 106 from rotating to the “Fire” position.
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The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices. As such, aspects have been described with reference to various embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope herein.
It is understood that although a number of different embodiments of the adjustable trigger safety system have been illustrated and described herein, one or more features of any one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of one or more of the other embodiments, provided that such combination satisfies the intent of the adjustable trigger safety system.
While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments of the adjustable trigger safety system have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claim and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/260,668 filed on Aug. 27, 2021, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/306,417 filed on Feb. 3, 2022, and PCT Application Serial No. US22/41760 filed on Aug. 26, 2022, by the present inventor. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US22/41760 | 8/26/2022 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63260668 | Aug 2021 | US | |
63306417 | Feb 2022 | US |