Patent Application
20250198716
This disclosure relates to a firearm. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a firearm with a magazine disconnect.
Some firearms utilize detachable magazines, which can hold one or more cartridges of ammunition. Cartridges are loaded from the magazine into the chamber of the firearm, where the cartridges are fired.
To load a magazine-fed firearm, a magazine containing one or more cartridges is inserted into the firearm. For example, the magazine is often inserted into a magazine well of the firearm, and the magazine is often secured in place by a magazine catch. Next, the action of the firearm can be cycled to feed a cartridge from the magazine into the chamber of the firearm. For example, a bolt, slide, or other component is often cycled to feed the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber. The cartridge in the chamber can then be fired.
To completely unload a magazine-fed firearm with a chambered cartridge, a user must remove the magazine from the firearm and unload the cartridge from the chamber of the firearm. If only the magazine is removed from the firearm but a cartridge remains in the chamber, the firearm may still be able to fire in many instances. At times, a user may mistakenly believe that a firearm is unloaded after removing the magazine from the firearm without also removing the cartridge from the chamber. This mistaken belief that the firearm is unloaded can result in unintentional discharge of the firearm, which can result in damage, injury, or even death.
Some magazine-fed firearms include a magazine disconnect, which can prevent the firearm from firing once the magazine has been removed from the firearm, even if a cartridge remains in the chamber of the firearm.
It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.
In one exemplary aspect, a firearm can comprising a frame defining a trigger opening and a magazine well; and a trigger assembly extending at least partially through the trigger opening, the trigger assembly coupled to the frame, the trigger assembly movable relative to the frame between a forward position and a rearward position, the trigger assembly comprising: a trigger; a trigger safety movable relative to the trigger between an engaged safety position and a disengaged safety position, the trigger safety interfering with the frame and preventing the trigger assembly from moving to the rearward position when the trigger safety is in the engaged safety position, the trigger assembly being movable to the rearward position when the trigger safety is in the disengaged safety position; and a magazine disconnect extending at least partially into the magazine well, the magazine disconnect being movable relative to the trigger between an engaged disconnect position and a disengaged disconnect position, the magazine disconnect blocking the trigger safety from rotating from the engaged safety position to the disengaged safety position when the magazine disconnect is in the engaged disconnect position, the trigger safety being movable from the engaged safety position to the disengaged safety position when the magazine disconnect is in the disengaged disconnect position; and wherein the firearm is configured to discharge when the trigger assembly is repositioned from the forward position to the rearward position.
In a further exemplary aspect, the magazine disconnect can be configured to contact a magazine of the firearm and move to the disengaged disconnect position when the magazine is inserted into the magazine well. In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger can be hingedly coupled to the frame by a trigger hinge pin, and the trigger assembly can be rotatable between the forward position and the rearward position about the trigger hinge pin. In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger safety can be coupled to the trigger by a trigger safety pin, and the trigger safety can be rotatable relative to the trigger between the engaged safety position and the disengaged safety position. In a further exemplary aspect, the magazine disconnect can be coupled to the trigger by a magazine disconnect pin, and the magazine disconnect can be rotatable relative to the trigger between the engaged disconnect position and the disengaged disconnect position. In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger safety can define a blocking end configured to interfere with the frame when the trigger safety is in the engaged safety position; the magazine disconnect can define a blocking leg; the blocking leg can contact the blocking end of the trigger safety when the magazine disconnect is in the engaged disconnect position and the trigger safety is in the engaged safety position to prevent the trigger safety from moving to the disengaged safety position; and the blocking leg can move out of contact with the blocking end when the magazine disconnect is in the disengaged disconnect position. In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger safety can comprise a first biasing member; the trigger safety can be biased to the engaged safety position; the magazine disconnect can comprise a second biasing member; and the magazine disconnect can be biased to the engaged disconnect position.
In another exemplary aspect, a trigger assembly can comprise a trigger; a trigger safety defining a user engagement end and a blocking end, the trigger safety coupled to the trigger by a trigger safety pin, the trigger safety rotatable about the trigger safety pin between an engaged safety position and a disengaged safety position; and a magazine disconnect defining a magazine engagement leg and a blocking leg, the magazine disconnect coupled to the trigger by a magazine disconnect pin, the magazine disconnect rotatable about the magazine disconnect pin between a engaged disconnect position and a disengaged disconnect position, the magazine disconnect blocking the trigger safety from rotating from the engaged safety position to the disengaged safety position when the magazine disconnect is in the engaged disconnect position.
In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger safety can define a user engagement end; the user engagement end can protrude from a front face of the trigger when the trigger safety is in the engaged safety position; and the user engagement end can be substantially flush with the front face of the trigger when the trigger safety is in the disengaged safety position. In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger safety can define a blocking end; the blocking end can protrude from a lower rear face of the trigger when the trigger safety is in the engaged safety position; and the blocking end can be withdrawn into the lower rear face of the trigger when the trigger safety is in the disengaged safety position. In a further exemplary aspect, the magazine disconnect can define a blocking leg; and an end of the blocking leg can contact the blocking end of the trigger safety when the magazine disconnect is in the engaged disconnect position. In a further exemplary aspect, the end of the blocking leg can be rotationally misaligned from the blocking end of the trigger safety when the magazine disconnect is in the disengaged disconnect position. In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger safety can comprise a first biasing member; the trigger safety can be biased to the engaged safety position; the magazine disconnect can comprise a second biasing member; and the magazine disconnect can be biased to the engaged disconnect position. In a further exemplary aspect, the magazine disconnect can comprise a magazine actuation leg, and the magazine actuation leg can extend outwards from an upper rear face of the trigger.
In another exemplary aspect, a method of operating a firearm with a magazine disconnect can comprise inserting a magazine into a magazine well of the firearm and contacting the magazine with the magazine disconnect to reposition the magazine disconnect from an engaged disconnect position to a disengaged disconnect position; pressing a trigger safety towards a front face of a trigger of the firearm to reposition the trigger safety from an engaged safety position to a disengaged safety position; and pulling the trigger from a forward position to a rearward position to discharge the firearm.
In a further exemplary aspect, the magazine disconnect can be coupled to the trigger by a magazine disconnect pin, and wherein the trigger safety is coupled to the trigger by a trigger safety pin. In a further exemplary aspect, repositioning the magazine disconnect from the engaged disconnect position to the disengaged disconnect position can comprise rotating the magazine disconnect about the magazine disconnect pin relative to the trigger. In a further exemplary aspect, the magazine disconnect can block the trigger safety from repositioning from the engaged safety position to the disengaged safety position when the magazine disconnect is in the engaged disconnect position. In a further exemplary aspect, the trigger safety can contact a frame of the firearm and can prevent the trigger from reposition from the forward position to the rearward position when the trigger safety is in the engaged safety position, and the frame can define the magazine well. In a further exemplary aspect, repositioning the trigger safety from the engaged safety position to the disengaged safety position can comprise sliding a blocking end of the trigger safety under a blocking leg of the magazine disconnect.
Various implementations described in the present disclosure may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the systems, methods, features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter.
The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.
The present disclosure can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, and the previous and following description. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, and, as such, can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.
The following description is provided as an enabling teaching of the present devices, systems, and/or methods in its best, currently known aspect. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the present devices, systems, and/or methods described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof.
As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an element” can include two or more such elements unless the context indicates otherwise.
Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
For purposes of the current disclosure, a material property or dimension measuring about X or substantially X on a particular measurement scale measures within a range between X plus an industry-standard upper tolerance for the specified measurement and X minus an industry-standard lower tolerance for the specified measurement. Because tolerances can vary between different materials, processes and between different models, the tolerance for a particular measurement of a particular component can fall within a range of tolerances.
As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
The word “or” as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also includes any combination of members of that list. Further, one should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain aspects include, while other aspects do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular aspects or that one or more particular aspects necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular aspect.
Disclosed are components that can be used to perform the disclosed methods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed, that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods and systems. This applies to all aspects of this application including, but not limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific aspect or combination of aspects of the disclosed methods.
Disclosed is a firearm and associated methods, systems, devices, and various apparatus. The firearm can comprise a magazine disconnect. It would be understood by one of skill in the art that the firearm is described in but a few exemplary aspects among many. No particular terminology or description should be considered limiting on the disclosure or the scope of any claims issuing therefrom.
The firearm 100 can comprise a slide 102, a barrel 104, a frame 106, and a magazine 108. The frame 106 can comprise a trigger assembly 120 and a magazine catch 130. The frame 106 can define a grip portion 110. The grip portion 110 can extend downwards and away from the slide 102. The grip portion 110 can define a magazine well 508 (shown in
The firearm 100 can define a front end 140 and a rear end 142. A muzzle 105 of the barrel 104 can be positioned at the front end 140. The rear end 142 can be opposite from front end 140. In some aspects, the rear end 142 can be defined by the slide 102 and/or the frame 106. The firearm 100 can define a top end 144 and a bottom end 146. The slide 102 can be positioned at the top end 144. The grip portion 110 of the frame 106 can terminate at or near the bottom end 146.
The trigger assembly 120 can be secured to the frame 106 by a trigger hinge pin 123. The trigger assembly 120 can hinge about the trigger hinge pin 123 between a forward position (shown in
In the present aspect, the trigger assembly 120 can further comprise a trigger safety 124, a trigger safety pin 125, a trigger bar pin 127. The trigger safety pin 125 can couple the trigger safety 124 to the trigger 122. The trigger safety 124 can rotate about the trigger safety pin 125 relative to the trigger 122 between an engaged safety position (shown in
The trigger bar pin 127 can couple the trigger 122 to a trigger bar of the firing mechanism (not shown).
In the present aspect, the trigger assembly 120 can further comprise the magazine disconnect 290; however, this should not be viewed as limiting. In some aspects, the magazine disconnect 290 can be incorporated into a different portion of the firearm 100. In the aspect shown, the magazine disconnect 290 can be coupled to the trigger 122 by a magazine disconnect pin 191.
The trigger safety 124 can comprise a blocking member 224 and a biasing member 226. In the aspect shown, the biasing member 226 can be integrally formed with the blocking member 224. For example and without limitation, the trigger safety 124 can comprise a resilient material, such as a metal, polymer, elastomer, or other suitable material. In some aspects, the biasing member 226 can define a spring extending outwards from the blocking member 224. In the aspect shown, the biasing member 226 can be a leaf spring; however, this should not be viewed as liming, and the biasing member 226 can be formed as a different type of spring in various aspects, such as coil springs, clock springs, tension springs, torsion springs, Belleville springs, wave springs, or any other suitable type of spring or biasing member.
In some aspects, the biasing member 226 can be separately formed from the blocking member 224. In some aspects, the biasing member 226 can be permanently or removably coupled to the blocking member 224.
The blocking member 224 can define a blocking end 220 and a user actuation end 221. As described in greater detail with respect to
The blocking end 220 can be defined opposite from the user actuation end 221. A pin hole 223 can be defined in the blocking member 224 between the ends 220,221. The pin hole 223 can be configured to receive the trigger safety pin 125 (shown in
The magazine disconnect 290 can comprise a disconnect member 292 and a biasing member 298. The disconnect member 292 can define a magazine actuation leg 294 and a blocking leg 296. The magazine actuation leg 294 can be configured to contact the magazine 108 (shown in
In the aspect shown, the biasing member 298 can be integrally formed with the disconnect member 292. For example and without limitation, the magazine disconnect 290 can comprise a resilient material, such as a metal, polymer, elastomer, or other suitable material. In some aspects, the biasing member 298 can define a spring extending outwards from the disconnect member 292. In the aspect shown, the biasing member 298 can be a leaf spring; however, this should not be viewed as liming, and the biasing member 298 can be formed as a different type of spring in various aspects, such as coil springs, clock springs, tension springs, torsion springs, Belleville springs, wave springs, or any other suitable type of spring or biasing member.
In some aspects, the biasing member 298 can be separately formed from the disconnect member 292. In some aspects, the biasing member 298 can be permanently or removably coupled to the disconnect member 292.
The magazine disconnect 290 can define a pin hole 297, which can be configured to receive the magazine disconnect pin 191 (shown in
The trigger 122 can define an upper rear face 210 and a lower rear face 212. The trigger 122 can define a trigger bar slot 214 in the upper rear face 210, which can be configured to receive a trigger bar (not shown). The trigger 122 can define a channel 216, which can be configured to receive the trigger safety 124 and the magazine disconnect 290. In the present aspect, the channel 216 can extend into front face 121, the upper rear face 210, and the lower rear face 212 of the trigger 122.
With the magazine disconnect 290 in the engaged disconnect position, the magazine actuation leg 294 of the magazine disconnect 290 can extend outwards from the upper rear face 210 of the trigger 122.
With the trigger safety 124 in the engaged safety position, the blocking end 220 of the trigger safety 124 can extend outwards from the lower rear face 212 of the trigger 122, and the user actuation end 221 can extend outwards from the front face 121 (shown in
The trigger 122 can define a first wall 498 positioned within the channel 216. The first wall 498 can face the magazine disconnect 290. The biasing member 298 can act against the first wall 498 to bias the magazine disconnect 290 towards the engaged disconnect position. The biasing member 298 can bias the magazine disconnect 290 to rotate in a clockwise direction (with respect to the present viewing angle) about the magazine disconnect pin 191. The magazine disconnect 290 can be rotated counter-clockwise (with respect to the present viewing angle) about the magazine disconnect pin 191 to reposition the magazine disconnect 290 from the engaged disconnect position to the disengaged disconnect position. As the magazine disconnect 290 is rotated about the magazine disconnect pin 191 to the disengaged disconnect position, the biasing member 298 can press against the first wall 498 and resiliently deform, thereby resisting repositioning of the magazine disconnect 290 from the engaged disconnect position to the disengaged disconnect position.
The trigger 122 can define a second wall 426 positioned within the channel 216. The second wall 426 can face the trigger safety 124. In the present aspect, the biasing member 226 can act against the second wall 426 to bias the trigger safety 124 towards the engaged safety position. The biasing member 226 can bias the trigger safety 124 to rotate in a clockwise direction (with respect to the present viewing angle) about the trigger safety pin 125. The trigger safety 124 can be rotated counter-clockwise (with respect to the present viewing angle) about the trigger safety pin 125 to reposition the trigger safety 124 from the engaged safety position to the disengaged safety position. As the trigger safety 124 is rotated about the trigger safety pin 125 to the disengaged safety position, the biasing member 226 can press against the second wall 426 and resiliently deform, thereby resisting repositioning of the trigger safety 124 from the engaged safety position to the disengaged safety position.
The trigger assembly 120 is shown in the forward position, and the trigger safety 124 and the magazine disconnect 290 are shown in their respective engaged positions, which can be the default positions for the trigger safety 124 and the magazine disconnect 290 due to the biasing members 226,298, as discussed above with respect to
With the magazine disconnect 290 in the engaged disconnect position, the magazine actuation leg 294 can extend from the upper rear face 210 through the trigger opening 520 and extend into the magazine well 508. The blocking leg 296 can contact the blocking end 220 of the trigger safety 124, which can secure the trigger safety 124 in the engaged safety position by preventing rotation of the trigger safety 124 about the trigger safety pin 125 to the disengaged safety position. In the present aspect, an end of the blocking leg 296 can contact the blocking end 220. The blocking leg 296 can extend at least partially in a radial direction from the magazine disconnect pin 191 to where the blocking leg 296 contacts the blocking end 220. Force exerted by the blocking end 220 on the magazine disconnect exerts minimal torque, if any, on the magazine disconnect 290 about the magazine disconnect pin 191. Therefore, the magazine disconnect 290 can resist very high forces applied to the trigger safety 124 without rotating out of the engaged disconnect position.
With the trigger safety 124 in the engaged safety position, the blocking end 220 of the trigger safety 124 can extend outwards from the lower rear face 212 of the trigger 122, and the blocking end 220 can interfere with a lower ledge 521 of the trigger opening 520. If the trigger 122 is pulled rearward by rotating in a counter-clockwise direction (with respect to the present viewing angle) about the trigger hinge pin 123, the blocking end 220 will contact the lower ledge 521 and prevent the trigger 122 from travelling sufficiently rearward to discharge the firearm 100.
Accordingly, when the magazine 108 is removed from the firearm 100, the magazine disconnect 290 and the trigger safety 124 can default to the respective engaged positions, which can prevent firing of the firearm 100.
With the magazine disconnect 290 rotated to the disengaged disconnect position, the blocking leg 296 can be rotated out of contact with the blocking end 220 of the trigger safety 124. In the present aspect, the end of the blocking leg 296 can be rotationally misaligned from the blocking end 220 when the magazine disconnect 290 is in the disengaged disconnect position. Once the magazine disconnect 290 is in the disengaged disconnect position, the trigger safety 124 can be rotated from the engaged safety position (shown) to the disengaged safety position (shown in
In the disengaged safety position, the blocking end 220 can be retracted sufficiently far towards the lower rear face 212 and into the channel 216 so that the blocking end 220 no longer interferes with the lower ledge 521. In some aspects, the blocking end 220 may not protrude from the lower rear face 212 when the trigger safety 124 is in the disengaged safety position. With the blocking end 220 retracted, the trigger assembly 120 can be pulled rearward about the trigger hinge pin 123 to the rearward position, as shown in
With the trigger safety 124 in the disengaged safety position, the blocking end 220 can fit up over the lower ledge 521 and extend into the trigger opening 520. Once the user releases his or her finger, the trigger 122 can return to the forward position (shown in
One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain aspects include, while other aspects do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular aspects or that one or more particular aspects necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular aspect.
It should be emphasized that the above-described aspects are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Any process descriptions or blocks in flow diagrams should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included in which functions may not be included or executed at all, may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described aspect(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure.
