Patent Application
20240110761
The present invention relates to firearms and, more particularly to off-trigger safety devices for firearms.
Off-trigger safety devices for firearms provide firearms operators a muscle memory training device for the positioning of the operator's trigger finger in a safe, off-trigger location when handling the firearm.
Other off-trigger safety devices rely on longitudinally aligned protrusions to adapt the user to the position of the device rather than positioning the device based on the location of the user's trigger finger when grasping the firearm. These devices do not provide complementing tactile references for the position and orientation of the user's trigger finger.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved off-trigger safety training device.
In some aspects of the invention, an off-trigger finger rest for a firearm is disclosed. The off-trigger finger rest for a firearm, includes a plate having a front surface and a back surface. A concave recess is defined in the front surface and extends laterally across a longitudinal length of the plate. A plurality of rib protrusions are disposed in a spaced apart relation from one another along a vertical centerline of the plate.
In some embodiments, an adhesive is applied to the back surface of the plate. The adhesive is adapted to attach the off-trigger finger rest with a rail of the firearm.
In some embodiments, the concave recess has a radius of curvature adapted to receive a tip of a trigger finger of the user.
In some embodiments, the plurality of rib protrusions are offset from a longitudinal centerline and extend across a nadir of the concave recess.
In some embodiments, a ridge is disposed at a top end and a bottom end of the plate at ends of the concave recess. The ridge may have a flattened surface.
In other aspects of the invention, an off-trigger finger rest is disclosed. The off-trigger finger rest having a concave recess defined in a front surface of a plate. The concave recess extends laterally across the front surface. A plurality of rib protrusions are disposed in a spaced apart relation from one another. The plurality of rib protrusions extend laterally across the concave recess. A ridge is provided at a top end and a bottom end of the plate at opposed ends of the concave recess. Each of the concave recess, the plurality of rib protrusions, and the ridge provide complementary tactile feedback for positioning of a user's trigger finger.
In some embodiments, an attachment is provided on a back surface of the plate. The attachment is adapted to secure the trigger finger rest to a rail of a firearm. Preferably, the attachment is an adhesive.
In some embodiments, a nadir in the concave recess is disposed between the plurality of rib protrusions.
In other aspects of the invention, a method of fitting a firearm with an off-trigger finger rest is disclosed. The method includes providing an off-trigger finger rest formed as a plate having a concave recess defined in a front surface of the plate. A plurality of protruding ribs are disposed in a spaced apart relation and extend laterally across the concave recess. The concave recess and the plurality of protruding ribs provide a first and a second complementary tactile feedback for an operator of the firearm. A back surface of the plate is positioned in abutment with a rail of the firearm at an off-trigger location of a fingertip of a user's trigger finger, while holding a grip of the firearm. The off-trigger location is marked on the rail of the firearm.
In some embodiments, the method includes applying an adhesive to the back surface of the off-trigger finger rest and adhering the off-trigger finger rest to the off-trigger location.
In other embodiments, the method includes providing a ridge disposed across a top end and a bottom end of the front surface of the plate, the ridge providing a third complementary tactile feedback for the operator of the firearm.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an improved off-trigger training device for developing proper trigger finger discipline in the handling and operation of a firearm. The off-trigger training device provides an off-trigger finger rest that develops proper muscle memory for the operator of a firearm to position their trigger finger in a safe position, off the trigger of the firearm, until the operator is ready to fire the firearm.
While it sounds easy to do, “trigger finger discipline” may be one of the more difficult firearm safety rules to make a habit. The problem arises because of the operator's natural tendency to grip the trigger of the firearm when their other three fingers grasp the grip of the firearm. The natural tendency of the operator's trigger finger to grasp the trigger may be overcome by proper training and the training device of the present invention is provided to teach the operator proper “trigger finger discipline.” The off-trigger training device may also be utilized as a trigger finger rest.
The off-trigger finger rest allows the operator to learn not to grasp the trigger with the trigger finger, but rather, to leave it in an extended position until ready to fire. To learn this skill and train effectively the off-trigger finger rest provides a tactile feedback to the operator at a location to accommodate an extended trigger finger at an off-trigger position. After much practice and development of the muscle memory, the off-trigger positioning of the operator's trigger finger will become more natural. In fact, after an effective training period, the operator will notice that they will automatically extend their index finger to the off-trigger position all the time.
Firearms have no dedicated off-trigger location for positioning the user's trigger finger as built. Typically, a device must be added to the firearm to provide a dedicated tactile location for the user's trigger finger. As seen in reference to the drawings of
Top and bottom ends of the plate have an arcuate shape. A top and a bottom ridge 18 extend across a top edge and a bottom edge of the off-trigger finger rest 10 at ends of the concave recess 16. The top and the bottom ridges 18 have a flattened top surface and abrupt side edges to allow the operator to positively determine the position of their finger with the finger rest 10, and then position a tip of their trigger finger within the concave recess 16.
A plurality of rib protrusions 20 are disposed in a vertically offset relation from one another along a vertical centerline of the arcuate plate. Preferably, the plurality of rib protrusions 20 are offset from a longitudinal centerline extending across a nadir of the concave recess 16, such that the center of the operator's trigger finger is positioned in the nadir between two adjacent rib protrusions 20 with the off-trigger finger rest 10 mounted to a firearm 50. The plurality of rib protrusions 20 are disposed as longitudinal ridges extending across the face of the concave recess 16. The combination of the rib protrusions 20 and the nadir of the concave recess 16 provide complementary tactile alignment reference points for off-trigger positioning and alignment of the operator's trigger finger with the rail 52 of the firearm 50. Advantageously, each of the concave recess 16, the top and bottom ridges 18, and the rib protrusions 20, provide complementing tactile positioning references to allow the user to position their finger along the rail 52 without positioning their trigger finger on the slide 54 of the firearm 50. As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, the off-trigger finger rest 10 may also be mounted to a stock of a long gun forward of the trigger guard.
The off-trigger training device 10 may be removably mounted to the firearm 50 with an attachment 30, such as an adhesive, a magnet, a weld, or a screw. Preferably, the adhesive 30 is a very high bond double sided tape with a release liner.
To use the off-trigger training device 10, the user would clean the firearm 50 with a suitable cleaner or solvent, such as isopropyl alcohol, to remove any oils and dirt, so that a strong adhesive bond may be obtained. The operator would “dry fit” the off-trigger training device 10 by grasping the butt or hand grip of the firearm 50 and extend their trigger finger along the rail 52 of the firearm 50, marking the location for mounting the off-trigger training device 10. Once a desired position is marked. Peel back the adhesive liner (preferred) and attach the off-trigger training device 10 to the firearm 50 with the application of a light pressure. Grip the firearm 50 to ensure proper location and positioning of the concave recess 16 of the off-trigger safety device 10 in a unique and specific location for each user.
The off-trigger training device 10 could be used on other triggered devices like crossbows.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/377,902, filed Sep. 30, 2022, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63377902 | Sep 2022 | US |
