Patent Grant
9791232
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates generally to a trigger mechanism of a firearm, and more specifically, to an external power source for a user's trigger finger reset upon discharge of a firearm.
Semi-automatic firearms are well known in the art. Common to this type of firearms is its dependency on a user's ability to continually pull the trigger in a rapid manner when a high rate of fire is desired. Because human fatigue reduces an amount of time that a high rate of fire can be sustained, or physiological impairments may interfere with a user's ability to operate the trigger effectively, there are ongoing efforts to improve firearm design.
As stated, one of the limiting factors of semi-automatic firearms is the user's ability to continually pull the trigger in a rapid manner when higher rates of fire are desired. Human finger speed can be quick for only a short period of time and would not be continually uniform. The use of a fully automatic gun is often cost prohibitive. Fully automatic guns also have complicated internal mechanisms which make them more prone to jamming and breaking and makes them harder to fix. The prior art has not adequately addressed these issues. Therefore, it can be appreciated that there is room in the art for significant improvement on the prior art with regard to the trigger action. The present invention addresses these needs.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome disadvantages of the prior art. In this regard, the present invention discloses a trigger reset that utilizes an external power source for resetting the user's trigger finger after fire. Still other objects will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows.
A trigger finger reset that is disposed in a firearm handle or grip including an electric motor used with the disclosed trigger reset system. The trigger reset further includes a battery, a gear box and cam lobe mounted on a shaft of the motor. A reset bar assembly is secured to cam lobe. As shaft turns, cam lobe moves to provide a reciprocating motion to reset bar assembly. The reset bar assembly may be biased in lateral directions via a spring or the like. Rearward movement of the firearm trigger causes movement of the reset bar assembly in a rearward longitudinal direction. When the trigger reset is actuated, the motor rotates the cam lobe moving the reset bar assembly in a forward position thereby urging the user's trigger finger to a reset position prior to actuating the next firing sequence.
The reset trigger finger device further includes a switch that is electrically connected to the motor and battery, and is disposed in the grip of the firearm. A face portion of the switch is positioned on the exterior surface of the grip and immediately below the trigger for easy accessibility when holding or firing the firearm. Continually pressing the switch while holding and/or firing the firearm will maintain actuation of the trigger finger reset.
And, releasing the electric switch will deactivate the reset. Thus, while the reset is actuated, the trigger can be depressed and the activated trigger reset will immediately reset the user's trigger finger as described with less effort by the user.
The mechanism of the present invention is directed to a firearm trigger finger reset that is used with semi-automatic firearms. Unlike the prior art, the firearm trigger finger reset of the present invention defines a trigger reset that utilizes an external power source for resetting the user's trigger finger after fire. As will be described, the firearm trigger finger reset as disclosed further consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.
From the outset, it should be understood that the present invention relates to a trigger finger reset for quickly and continuously resetting the user's trigger finger upon discharge. The present invention does not alter the cycle of operation of firing the semi-automatic firearm which is widely known and again, not altered by the present invention.
A trigger finger reset designated as numeral 10 of the present invention generally includes a reset bar assembly 20 in communication with a reset mechanism 29 that generally includes a cam lobe 25, a gear box 30, a clutch member 45, and a power source 40. The trigger reset 10 also preferably includes an electric motor 35 in electrical connection 36 with power source 40.
In the embodiment illustrated, the reset mechanism 29 is disposed in the firearm's 99 handle or grip 110. In this regard, the firearm's handle 110 includes a molded front and rear casing 110a, 110b, which can serve as a housing for the trigger reset mechanism 29 and the bar assembly 20. However, it should be understood that the reset mechanism 29 or components of the reset mechanism 29 may be disposed for example in the shoulder stock (not designated) of the firearm 99, or external of the firearm 99.
The electric motor 35 and gear box 30 are standard commercial components. Electric motor 35, for example, is preferably a low voltage DC motor. Power to motor 35 is preferably a battery 40 mounted in a battery mount. Switch 50 is electrically connected 50a to motor 35 and battery 40.
The bar assembly 20 is comprised of an arm 21 that defines an extension 23. The opposite end 20a of bar assembly 20 terminates adjacent cam lobe 25. During operation, the bar assembly 20 is translated by rotation of the cam lobe 25 and communication between cam lobe 25 and opposite end 20a. Rotation of cam lobe 25 is via the electric motor 35. Opposite end 20a is preferably a roller assembly that includes a roller axle (not shown) and roller 20b configured to engage the cam lobe 25. In particular, the purpose of the roller assembly 20a is to roll around the perimeter 25a of the cam 25 moving from a high position and to a low position (as will be further discussed), and vice versa. The roller 20b reduces friction between the assembly 20a and perimeter 25a, compared to a non-roller piece.
The gear box 30 is in communication with the motor 35 and cam lobe 25 is mounted on shaft 37 of motor 35 to drive the cam lobe 25. Gear box 30 configured to rotatably position the cam lobe 25 when motor 35 is actuated. Motor 35 and gear box 30 are connected 31 using standard couplings.
Switch 50 is electrically connected 50a to the motor 35 and battery 40, and is preferably disposed in the grip 110 of the firearm. As illustrated, a face portion 51 of the switch 50 is positioned on the exterior surface of the grip and immediately below the trigger 100. Preferably, the switch 50 is a pressure sensor.
As is known, when a user fires the firearm, the user generally wraps its hand 120 around the grip 110 of the firearm 99 with the index (trigger) finger 121 positioned against the trigger 100. In this position, and in the preferred embodiment (see
Thus, while the reset 10 is actuated, the trigger 100 can be depressed by the user manually urging the extension 23 in the rearward direction with his/her trigger finger and the activated trigger reset 10 will immediately reset the extension 23 causing the user's trigger finger to be pushed off the extension 23 with little effort by the user. As should be understood, when the trigger 100 is actuated as described, the firearm's own firing mechanism will reset the trigger 100 for firing.
Clutch member 45 is in mechanical communication with the switch 50. A tip 46 of clutch member 45 is in releasable communication with at least one notch 26a of the cam lobe 25. In particular, when switch 50 is activated, the clutch member 45 first disengages its hold on cam 25 by releasing tip 46 from notch 26a. Such releasing action is accomplished by the face portion 51 of the switch 50 being pulled in a rearward direction by the user's middle finger 122 which causes the camming geometry 125 on top of the face portion 51 of the switch 50 to rotate clutch member 45 and specifically rotating or releasing tip 46 from notch 26a of the cam 25.
Once released, the motor 35 is able to turn the cam 25. As cam 25 turns, the cam 25 pushes reset bar 20 in a forward motion (see Arrow “F” in
Cam lobe 25 may be located on and fixed for rotation with shaft 37. As shaft 37 turns, cam lobe 25 moves to provide a reciprocating motion to reset bar assembly 20. More particularly, the gear box 30 and cam lobe 25 generally define a first position and a second position. In the first position, cam lobe 25 is at a first or rest position, and in the second position and upon actuation of the trigger reset 10, the motor rotates cam lobe from the second position to the rest position.
When the cam lobe 25 is in the defined rest position, the extension 23 has been reset as a result of cam 25 making at least a 180 degree rotation, meaning, the roller assembly 20a has gone from a low point to a high point back to a low point which occurs every 180 degrees of rotation. The trigger 100 is once again ready to fire, and reset bar 20 is therefore tangent to the firearm trigger 100 as a result of contact point 22 disposed on the extension 23. At this point, roller assembly 20a is not in contact with cam 25, there is now a gap (not shown) between cam 25 and roller assembly 20a which is caused by the user releasing pressure from his trigger finger 121 and releasing pressure off switch 50 with his middle finger 122.
As described, when activated, and when the cam lobe is in the second position, the motor turns cam lobe to the rest position, which moves the reset bar 20 forward and returns the extension 23 to a reset, ready to fire position.
As illustrated, cam lobe 25 includes a bottom plate portion 26 that includes the at least (1) notch 26a. In application, the cam lobe 25 defines a high position HP and a low position LP (see
When the switch 50 is disengaged, the clutch member 45 is configured to rotate such that the clutch tip 46 is received in notch 26a to stop the motor 35 from rotating the cam 25. More particularly, clutch member 45 is configured to allow motor 35 to rotate approximately half a revolution until the reset bar 20 and particularly the roller assembly 20a and the cam 25 are returned to the same position (low spot) before the switch 50 was engaged.
Again it should be understood that when the switch 50 is not engaged, the reset bar 20 is in the low position LP and the user is able to take single shots with the firearm without application or engagement of the clutch, motor and cam as described.
In the present non-limiting example, the reset bar assembly 20 is generally perpendicular to the length of the firearm's trigger 100 and defines an extension 23 that is operably engageable with the trigger 100. As illustrated, the extension 23 preferably has a very similar shape and form as the trigger 100 and is aligned in front of and parallel with the trigger 100.
As described, upon operation of the trigger reset 10 via rearward movement of the extension 23, a contact point 22 of the extension 23 engages the firearm's trigger 100.
The reset mechanism 29 is preferably a self-supporting assembly within the housing 110. As illustrated, the housing 110 includes appropriate couplings for securing the mechanism 29 within the housing. The battery 40 is preferably positioned in a base portion 111 of the grip 110. The motor 35 is positioned adjacent the power source 40 with the gear box 30 coupled to the motor 35. The cam lobe 25 coupled with the gear box 30 as described.
The reset bar assembly 20 may be biased in lateral directions via a spring (not shown) or the like. As described, rearward movement of the reset bar's extension 23 causes a reciprocal movement by the trigger 100 in a rearward longitudinal direction. After firing, the trigger reset 10 is actuated such that the motor 35 rotates the cam lobe 25 moving the reset bar assembly 20 in a forward, or the rest position thereby urging the extension 23 to a reset position prior to actuating the next firing sequence.
As illustrated, the trigger reset 10 further includes a printed circuit board assembly 60 that is in electrical communication with the reset mechanism 29. In particular, the assembly 60 is configured to (1) act as a reverse current protection should various acts of user error for example, cause the motor 35 to run in reverse. As may be understood, if the reset device were to mistakenly run in reverse it would likely cause damage to the device including damage to the electric motor 35. The board assembly 60 provides a protection from such damage occurring. (2) The board assembly 60 further serves as a voltage amplifier by taking input voltage from the power source 40 and approximately doubling it after passing through the board assembly 60 giving an approximate 40%-50% input voltage increase to the motor. The inventor has found this voltage amplifier feature critical to the present invention since it is important to achieve the proper revolutions per minute (rpm) for the device to function as desired. (3) The board assembly 60 further serves as a low voltage shut off. Once the power source (battery) 40 can no longer maintain enough voltage input for the board 60 to amplify and run the motor 35 at the desired rpm, the board assembly 60 will automatically stop or shut off power to the device. The inventor has found that the board assembly 60 and electronics described in the reset mechanism 29 can be damaged by low input voltage and the rpm can slow down and not operate the device as intended.
During operation of the firearm, the user can depress the extension 23 urging the trigger in the rearward direction to fire. Depressing switch 50 as described generally results in activation of the device 10, movement of the clutch member 45 and rotation of the cam lobe 25 as described that moves the reset bar in the forward F position. Forcing the reset bar 20 forward as described likewise urges the user's trigger finger forward to a reset position. As such, the reset bar assembly 20 is configured to continuously and forcibly return the extension 23 (and the user's trigger finger) to the trigger's reset after firing.
Although the above description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. As such, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the claims.
It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although not shown, rather than using a battery for power as illustrated and described, the power source may be some other known power means such as a supply of regulated air pressure from an external source. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 62/255,723, filed Nov. 16, 2015, with title “Firearm Trigger Reset” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par. 119(e)(i).
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|---|---|---|---|
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62255723 | Nov 2015 | US |
