The present invention relates to adding a lever extension to a cylinder release button such that a necessary inward, toward the revolver body, force is reduced.
Revolver cylinder actions have evolved over the years to provide an automatic revolving action as the trigger is pulled. Each time the hammer hits a chamber in the cylinder, the cylinder has automatically advanced by one chamber. International Publication Number WO81/03065 (29 Oct. 1981) discloses an improved cylinder latch mechanism for revolvers that eliminates the possibility of loss of the cylinder latch or misassembly of the mechanism itself by securely mounting the pivoted cylinder latch on the frame or on the trigger guard of the revolver.
All double action revolvers have a hinged cylinder with a manually activated cylinder release button on the frame. Colt® and Smith & Wesson® have a forward (Smith) or backward (Colt) sliding release button that is quite easy to activate. One reason is that the shooter's hand is gripped around the pistol grip for stability, and the thumb can exert the necessary force either forward or backward to release the cylinder.
The Ruger® cylinder release mechanism requires the thumb to press down into the frame on a spring biased button. This lateral left to right force cannot be executed by the shooter when he/she has a full grip on the pistol grip. Thus, for women shooters, or any shooter such as a younger child, depressing the cylinder release button can be difficult if not impossible.
What is needed in the art is a cylinder release lever extension for a Ruger® revolver that reduces the lateral left to right force needed to depress the cylinder release button. The present invention provides an aftermarket accessory lever that is attached to the factory cylinder release button to extend the lever arm on the cylinder release button. An original factory model is also disclosed.
The main aspect of the present invention is to extend the lever arm of a Ruger® cylinder release button with an aftermarket accessory.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a factory original version.
Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
The aftermarket embodiment is a slightly curved lever that fits into the factory cylinder release button and extends rearward at least half the diameter of the cylinder release button. A hole is drilled through the lever and into the cylinder release button. The holes are threaded. A threaded fastener bolt is used to secure the lever against the cylinder release button. An adhesive could be used either as an alternate means to fasten or an additional means to fasten.
In use the rearward tip of the lever is easily depressed to release the cylinder for loading.
Before explaining the disclosed embodiments in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in application to the details of the particular arrangements shown, since other embodiments are possible. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Referring first to
The cylinder release rod 7 has a ridged finger face 8. The shooter exerts a line of effort force F on the ridged finger face 8 to move the pin 10 forward to release the cylinder 5 to open for loading. Several pounds of force F are needed to overcome a spring force to move pin 10 forward. In referring to
Referring next to
Referring next to
For installation of the lever 100 the preferred method is to drill a hole H through both the lever 100 and the release rod 7. Next the hole H is threaded as shown. Next a bolt 45 is screwed into hole H. Additionally a glue G could be inserted between the lever 100 and the ridged finger face 8.
Alternately just a glue G could be used. Another embodiment implied but not drawn is a factory made one piece combination of the release rod 7 and the lever 100.
The lever 100 allows a woman or any weaker handed shooter to easily release the cylinder 5. The approximately force NEW F is about optional ridges 110 are shown on the lever 100. The thickness of the lever can range from about 1/16 to about 3/16 inch.
While a number of exemplifying features and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and subcombinations thereof. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4769936 | Miller | Sep 1988 | A |
4835892 | Ruger | Jun 1989 | A |
8112926 | Gussalli Beretta | Feb 2012 | B2 |
8695477 | Esch | Apr 2014 | B2 |
9518792 | Huang | Dec 2016 | B1 |
20030208940 | Johnson | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20100192440 | Curry | Aug 2010 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
WO8103065 | Oct 1981 | WO |