Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6457271
-
Patent Number
6,457,271
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, December 27, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 1, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Jordan; Charles T.
- Hayes; Bret
Agents
- McCormick, Paulding & Huber LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 042 70
- 042 7001
- 042 7002
- 042 7005
- 042 7008
- 089 137
- 089 144
- 089 147
- 089 148
- 089 150
- 089 154
- 089 195
- 089 196
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A magazine safety is provided for a semi-automatic firearm having a frame with a magazine well, a magazine, and a firing mechanism that includes a trigger bar. The magazine safety includes a latch and a latch bias. When the magazine is not received within the magazine well, the latch bias biases the latch into engagement with the trigger bar, thereby preventing the actuation of the firing mechanism via the trigger bar. Inserting the magazine completely into the magazine well causes the magazine to disengage the latch from the trigger bar, thereby preventing the latch from impeding movement of the trigger bar.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to firearms in general, and to magazine safeties for firearms in particular.
2. Background Information
Semi-automatic pistols typically include an ammunition magazine disposed in the handle portion of the pistol's frame. Rounds of ammunition stored in the magazine are individually fed from the magazine into a firing chamber, where each round is fired. The magazine can be manually installed and removed from the firearm by the operator. Many gun manufacturers offer firearms that include a magazine safety that prevents the firearm from being fired if the magazine is not fully received within the magazine well. The magazine safety is principally designed to provide an additional safety mechanism to ensure that the firearm is safe regardless of whether the magazine is installed within the firearm or removed from the firearm.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a magazine safety is provided for a semi-automatic firearm having a frame with a magazine well, a magazine, a slide, and a firing mechanism that includes a trigger bar. The magazine safety includes a latch and a latch bias. When the magazine is not received within the magazine well, the latch bias biases the latch into engagement with the trigger bar, thereby preventing the actuation of the firing mechanism via the trigger bar. Inserting the magazine completely into the magazine well causes the magazine to engage the latch and cause the latch to disengage the trigger bar, thereby preventing the latch from impeding movement of the trigger bar.
An advantage of the present invention is that the operating safety of the firearm is appreciably enhanced. The present invention safety provides an additional safety to ensure that the firearm is safe regardless of whether the magazine is installed within the firearm or removed from the firearm. A further advantage of the present invention is that the magazine safety is automatically engaged when the magazine is removed from the magazine well.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a diagrammatic assembly of a semi-automatic firearm partially sectioned, showing the present magazine safety in the engaged mode.
FIG. 2
is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the trigger bar of the present invention magazine safety.
FIG. 3
is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the latch portion of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a diagrammatic assembly of a semi-automatic firearm partially sectioned, showing the present magazine safety in the disengaged mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a semi-automatic firearm
10
includes a frame
12
, a firing mechanism
14
, a slide assembly (not shown), a magazine
16
, and a magazine safety
18
. The frame
12
includes a magazine well
20
for receiving the magazine
16
, a handle portion
22
, a trigger guard
24
, and a pair of guide rails
28
. The magazine well
20
is disposed in the handle portion
22
. The guide rails
28
support and guide the slide along the frame
12
. The slide assembly includes a firing chamber and a barrel (not shown) through which the projectile portion of a round of ammunition travels. The firing mechanism
14
includes a pivotly mounted trigger
34
, a trigger bar
36
, and a primer contacting mechanism
38
. The trigger bar
36
operably connects the trigger
34
and the primer contacting mechanism
38
such that actuating the trigger
34
under normal unsafe operating conditions causes the primer contacting mechanism
38
to be actuated. The primer contacting mechanism
38
can be any mechanism actuable by a trigger bar
36
that directly or indirectly causes the round of ammunition residing within the firing chamber to be fired. Primer contacting mechanisms
38
include, but are not limited to, hammer-type and striker pin-type percussion assemblies. The present invention safety can also be used with firearms that utilize a trigger bar
36
with an electronic type firing mechanism.
Referring to
FIGS. 1
,
3
, and
4
, the magazine safety
18
includes a latch
40
and a latch bias
42
. In the most preferred embodiment (shown in
FIGS. 1
,
3
, and
4
), the latch
40
is a member pivotly mounted within the frame
12
in the upper region of the handle portion
22
. In alternative embodiments, the latch may be slidably mounted within the frame in a manner that permits the latch to engage the trigger bar
36
; e.g., a plunger-type device. In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4
, the latch
40
is pivotable about a pin
44
extending side to side within the frame
12
. The latch
40
includes a catch
46
, a spur
48
, and a midportion
50
extending between the catch
46
and the spur
48
. The pin
44
, which extends through the midportion
50
, defines the pivot point around which the latch
40
pivots. The latch bias
42
is a spring having a first end
52
acting on the spur
48
, and a second end
53
acting on the frame
12
. The latch bias
42
biases the latch
40
toward the trigger bar
36
. The latch bias
42
is not limited to the above described spring embodiment, and alternatively can be any type of bias that is capable of biasing the latch
40
toward the trigger bar
36
. The spur
48
has a cam-like contact surface
49
that allows for non-binding interaction with the magazine
16
as will be explained below. The contact surface
49
and the latch bias
42
also each provide a means for adjusting the nature of the contact between the magazine and the latch; i.e., the “feel” of the magazine being inserted into the magazine well. For example, a sharper sloped contact surface
49
vis-a-vis the magazine
16
and/or a latch bias
42
with a higher spring rate can make the insertion of the magazine “feel” stiffer. In addition, a longer spur contact surface
49
can change the nature of the contact or “feel” by increasing the distance that the spur
48
and the magazine
16
are in contact with one another during movement of the magazine within the magazine well.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, when the magazine
16
is not completely received within the magazine well
20
, the latch bias
42
biases the latch
40
in the direction shown by arrow
55
, thereby causing the spur
48
to travel a distance into the magazine well
20
and the latch
40
into engagement with the trigger bar
36
. The engagement between the trigger bar
36
and the latch
40
prevents movement of the trigger bar
36
adequate to actuate the primer contacting mechanism
38
. The manner of engagement between the latch
40
and the trigger bar
36
can be adapted to the firearm at hand, and more specifically, can be adapted to the primer contacting mechanism
38
at hand.
FIGS. 1 and 4
, for example, partially show a striker-type primer contacting mechanism
38
operably connected to the trigger
34
by the trigger bar
36
.
In the embodiment of the present magazine safety shown in
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
4
, the trigger bar
36
includes one or more notches
54
shaped and positioned to receive the catch
46
. A trigger bar
36
with one notch
54
is typically used with a single action firearm and a trigger bar
36
with two notches
54
is typically used with a double action firearm. In the case of a double action firearm, one notch
54
is positioned to provide the safety mechanism if the firearm is in single action mode, and the other notch
54
is positioned to provide the safety mechanism if the firearm is in double action mode. When the magazine
16
is removed from the magazine well
20
, the latch
40
becomes engaged with the trigger bar
36
when the catch
46
is received within the notch
54
. Any attempt to actuate the primer contacting mechanism
38
via the trigger
34
(i.e., fire the firearm) is prevented by the engagement between the latch
40
and the trigger bar
36
.
Now referring to
FIG. 4
, when the magazine
16
is inserted a distance into the magazine well
20
, the magazine
16
will contact the spur
48
. As the magazine
16
is inserted further into the magazine well
20
, the magazine
16
will contact the spur
48
and cause the latch
40
to rotate in the direction shown by arrow
56
. Rotation of the latch
40
causes the latch
40
to disengage from the trigger bar
36
. In the preferred embodiment, the disengagement occurs when the catch
46
is removed from the notch
54
disposed in the trigger arm
36
. The spur
48
is subsequently biased against the magazine
16
and the latch
40
is maintained in a disengaged position. Once the latch
40
is disengaged, it no longer impedes translation of the trigger bar
36
and therefore actuation of the primer contacting mechanism
38
via the trigger
34
. As stated above, the manner of engagement between the latch
40
and the trigger bar
36
can be adapted to the firearm at hand. For example, in some instances the translation path of the trigger bar
36
includes linear and non-linear portions. In such cases, the notch(es)
54
and the catch
46
are shaped in a manner to allow engagement during such motion.
Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is intended that the present invention be used as a magazine safety. However, it is possible that in some instances there may be advantage in using the present invention in an application where something other than a magazine is used to actuate the latch portion of the present safety.
Claims
- 1. A magazine safety for a semi-automatic firearm having a frame with a magazine well, a magazine, and a firing mechanism that includes a trigger bar, said magazine safety comprising:a latch mounted in said frame; and a latch bias; wherein when said magazine is not received within said magazine well, said latch bias biases said latch into engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing movement of said trigger bar; wherein inserting said magazine completely into said magazine well, causes said magazine to disengage said latch from said trigger bar, thereby preventing said latch from impeding said movement of said trigger bar.
- 2. The magazine safety of claim 1, wherein said latch comprises:a catch; a spur; and a midportion extending between said catch and said spur; wherein said latch is pivotly mounted in said frame about said midportion; and wherein inserting said magazine completely into said magazine well, causes said magazine to contact said spur and rotate said catch out of engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing said catch from impeding movement of said trigger bar.
- 3. The magazine safety of claim 2, wherein said trigger bar includes a notch, and wherein when said latch is engaged with said trigger bar, said catch is received in said notch.
- 4. The magazine safety of claim 2 wherein said trigger bar includes a first notch and a second notch, and wherein when said latch is engaged with said trigger bar, said catch is received in one of said first notch or said second notch.
- 5. The magazine safety of claim 4, wherein said firearm is operable in a single action mode or a double-action mode, and when said magazine is not received within said magazine well and said firearm is in said double action mode, said catch is received within one of said first notch or said second notch, and when said magazine is not received within said magazine well and said firearm is in said single action mode, said catch is received within the other of said first notch or said second notch.
- 6. The magazine safety of claim 2, wherein said magazine safety further comprises a means for adjusting the nature of said contact between said latch and said magazine.
- 7. The magazine safety of claim 2, wherein said firearm is a single action type.
- 8. The magazine safety of claim 1, wherein said firearm is a single action type.
- 9. The magazine safety of claim 1 wherein said trigger bar includes a first notch and a second notch, and wherein when said latch is engaged with said trigger bar, said latch is received in one of said first notch or said second notch.
- 10. The magazine safety of claim 1, wherein said magazine safety further comprises a means for adjusting the nature of said contact between said latch and said magazine.
- 11. A magazine safety for a semi-automatic firearm having a frame with a magazine well, a magazine, and a firing mechanism that includes a trigger bar, said magazine safety comprising:a latch having a catch, a spur, and a midportion extending between said catch and said spur, said latch pivotly mounted in said frame about said midportion; and a latch bias; wherein when said magazine is not received within said magazine well, said latch bias biases said spur into said magazine well and said catch into engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing movement of said trigger bar; wherein inserting said magazine completely into said magazine well, causes said magazine to contact said spur and rotate said catch out of engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing said catch from impeding said movement of said trigger bar.
- 12. A safety for a semi-automatic firearm having a frame, a magazine, and a firing mechanism that includes a trigger bar, said safety comprising:an insertable member that can be selectively received within a cavity disposed in said frame; a latch mounted in said frame; and a latch bias; wherein when said insertable member is not received within said cavity, said latch bias biases said latch into engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing movement of said trigger bar; wherein inserting said insertable member completely into said cavity causes said insertable member to disengage said latch from said trigger bar, thereby preventing said latch from impeding movement of said trigger bar.
- 13. The safety of claim 12, wherein said latch comprises:a catch; a spur; and a midportion extending between said catch and said spur; wherein said latch is pivotly mounted in said frame about said midportion; and wherein inserting said insertable member completely into said magazine well, causes said insertable member to rotate said latch out of engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing said latch from impeding movement of said trigger bar.
- 14. The safety of claim 13, wherein said trigger bar includes a notch, and wherein when said latch is engaged with said trigger bar, said catch is received in said notch.
- 15. A semi-automatic firearm, comprising:a firing mechanism having a trigger and a trigger bar; a magazine; a frame with a magazine well for receiving said magazine; and a latch mounted in said frame; and a latch bias; wherein when said magazine is not received within said magazine well, said latch bias biases said latch into engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing movement of said trigger bar; and wherein inserting said magazine completely into said magazine well causes said magazine to disengage said latch from said trigger bar, thereby preventing said latch from impeding said movement of said trigger bar.
- 16. The semi-automatic firearm of claim 15, wherein said latch comprises:a catch; a spur; and a midportion extending between said catch and said spur; wherein said latch is pivotly mounted in said frame about said midportion; and wherein inserting said magazine completely into said magazine well, causes said magazine to contact said spur and rotate said catch out of engagement with said trigger bar, thereby preventing said catch from impeding movement of said trigger bar.
- 17. The semi-automatic firearm of claim 16, wherein said trigger bar includes a notch, and wherein when said latch is engaged with said trigger bar, said catch is received in said notch.
US Referenced Citations (9)