IMPROVED SELF-OPENING ACTION

Abstract

The Improved Self-opening Action uses the spring energy of the extractors and the firearm's frame to self-open the gun. This improvement uses fewer parts than other designs and opens and closes with less effort due to its greater mechanical advantage.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

This invention relates to firearms and improvements to opening and cocking the action with less effort.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Description of the Related Art

Most firearms are manually broken open without assisted opening. Depending on the type of action and spring strength, considerable human effort may be needed by the shooter to open and cock their firearm.

A refinement found on some quality firearms is the self-opening mechanism. This allows the gun to be opened quickly and easily, often one-handed. Gunmakers Purdey and Holland & Holland produce the two main types of self-opening mechanisms. The Holland & Holland, the most common, uses a separate compressor fitted underneath the barrels to open the action and is easier to manufacture. The Purdey self-opener is an integral part of the action. Two levers in the bar of the action are powered by the action's mainspring. While the Purdey system opens the gun with less effort it takes more effort to close. British gunmaker Boss' standard action provides a slight unintended assist from the ejectors when they push against the breech face upon opening the gun.

This invention improves on prior designs by using the spring force of the extractors and the firearm's frame to channel this force in a time-controlled fashion to assist the self-opening and cocking of the gun. Because of the leverage advantage, the shooter does not sense any additional effort to close the gun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This improved design uses the spring force of the extractors and the firearm's frame to channel this energy in a time-controlled fashion to assist in self-opening and cocking the gun. The existing spring force of the extractors is channeled to the pivot point of the frame and acts like a fulcrum with the barrels providing the leverage advantage to easily open, cock and close the gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view with a transparent Block to illustrate all of the working parts of the Improved Self-Opening Action.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the Improved Self-Opening Action highlighting key features of this invention.

FIG. 3 details the front view of the extractor and crescent along with back views of these parts.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Frame—front portion

1A Frame pivot point

1B Frame pocket for crescent

2 Crescent

2A Crescent frame pocket engagement boss

2B Crescent containment pocket

2C Crescent pivot boss

2D Crescent containment boss

3 Extractor

3A Extractor spring

3B Extractor guide pin

3C Extractor containment pocket

3D Extractor pivot boss

3E Extractor containment boss

3F Extractor face

4 Mono-block or Chopper block [“Block”]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This improved design uses the spring force of the extractors and the firearm's frame to channel this energy in a time-controlled fashion to assist in self-opening and cocking the gun. The existing spring force of the extractors is channeled to the pivot point of the frame that acts like a fulcrum with the barrels providing the leverage advantage to easily open, cock and close the gun.

FIG. 1's view with a transparent Block illustrates all of the working parts of the Improved Self-Opening Action. The critical portion of the frame 1, in relation to this invention, is shown. The crescent 2 is positioned in the frame by placing the crescent's frame pocket engagement boss in the frame's pocket for the crescent 1B. The crescent 2 is interlocked to the extractor 3 and is not removable when the gun is fully assembled. The extractor spring 3A exerts spring pressure on the extractor guide pin 3B that connects to the extractor face 3F. Since the crescent 2 is both interlocked to the extractor 3 and the frame in the frame's pocket for the crescent 1B, the extraction motion powered by the extractor spring will assist or self-open the gun once the opening process is initiated. The Block 4 encloses or contains the action components.

FIG. 2's detailed view of the Improved Self-Opening Action highlights key features of this invention. The crescent is removed from this illustration to show the Frame pocket for crescent 1B and the extractor 3 interlocking surfaces. The shape of the Frame pocket for crescent 1B keeps the crescent firmly seated when the gun is opened and closed. The location of the Frame pocket for crescent 1B is the fulcrum point for the barrel assembly acting a lever with great mechanical advantage with the self-opening assistance provided by the extraction motion translates into an easy opening and closing gun

FIG. 3 details the front and back views respectively of the extractor and crescent. The crescent pivot boss 2C goes into the Extractor containment pocket 3C and the Extractor pivot boss 3D goes into the Crescent containment pocket 2B. The Extractor containment boss 3E and the Crescent containment boss 2D keep the Crescent 2 and Extractor 3 interlocked, but able to pivot. The shapes of the Extractor pivot boss 3D and crescent pivot boss 2C provide a cam action that allows the crescent to rotate and transform the spring action to a self-opening action.

In summary, by utilizing the extraction process and mechanics this design simplifies the self-opening action and aligns the fulcrum point with the pivot point to provide better mechanical advantage in opening, cocking and closing the gun.

Claims

1. A self-opening action for a firearm, comprising: a spring force as a means to remove the shell from the firearm's chamber, a means of channeling said spring force to a rotational force around the firearm action opening pivot point, whereby said firearm action is assisted in opening.