Revolver-type hand gun

Abstract

A double-action revolver has a hammer assembly which includes a mechanism for positively defining the displacement and the engagement positions of the sear to insure accurate and smooth coaction of the sear with the trigger mechanism.The trigger assembly includes a cylinder-actuating hand, trigger lever, and transfer slide which is raised by the trigger to a position where it is struck by the hammer to percuss the firing pin. Percussing of the firing pin can only be accomplished by coaction of the trigger and hammer, thereby eliminating the requirement for a hammer block or other safety device.The handle of the revolver includes a wedge-shaped section adapted to fit snugly in the web of the palm between the thumb and first finger, while the butt of the handle fits in the hypothenar eminence area of the palm, so that the handle will be stably held at both its upper and lower ends during the firing cycle of the revolver, to prevent bucking or twisting of the revolver when it is discharged. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to revolver-type hand guns and, more specifically, to the revolvers having improved trigger, hammer and handle construction and the coaction thereof.2. Description of the Prior ArtDouble-action revolvers require elaborate and precise coaction between the trigger and the hammer in order for the operator of the revolver to be able to easily and smoothly discharge the revolver without disturbing the position of the weapon and thereby reducing the accuracy of the shot. The trigger force necessary to actuate the firing mechanism must be as smooth and uniform as possible. One of the most critical areas of coaction is between the trigger and the sear of the hammer. The engagement and disengagement of the sear with the trigger during the firing cycle effects the smoothness of the trigger pull and the amount of force that is necessary to pull the trigger.In the past, great efforts have been made to position the sear as accurately as possible with respect to the trigger, in order to increase the smoothness of operation, while at the same time attempting to avoid placing the sear so close to the trigger so as to interfere with the smooth displacement of the trigger. Because of the relationship of the sear to the trigger, it is common to grind the point of contact between the sear and the hammer, to which it is attached, and also, on some occasions to grind the end of the sear that contacts the trigger in order to provide the degree of smoothness and uniformity required for proper operation of the firearm. This hand grinding requirement has several disadvantages. Not only is the machining of the parts much more costly, but in addition, each firearm becomes, to some extent, a one-of-a-kind item, with custom made mating parts which cannot be easily replaced without custom machining.Another problem that has long existed in connection with the design of revolver-type hand guns is the necessity to provide an effective safety mechanism which can prevent the accidental discharge of the weapon if it is dropped, or if the hammer should somehow slip from the cocked position without being actuated by the trigger. Methods of providing blocking members or hammer blocks, which are interposed between the hammer and the firing pin and actuated by the trigger have effectively served this function, but they often require additional mechanisms to be placed in the chain of coacting parts that are involved in firing the weapon, which adds to the complexity of the mechanism and complicates the sequence of forces that must be overcome by the trigger pull. Additionally, some hammer block devices can become inoperative without being apparent to the user of the weapon, so that corrective action will not be taken in a prompt and expeditious manner suitable to the seriousness of the failure of this important safety device.Another problem that has existed in the manufacture of revolver-type hand guns relates to the stability of the hand gun in the grip of the user when the weapon is discharged. Revolver design has traditionally followed that of the "Wild West" six-shooter type hand gun, in which the front and back surfaces of the handle resembled arcs of non-concentric circles, with the handle tapering from the widest point at the butt or bottom surface, to the narrowest point near the top of the handle. This design may have had advantages for the users of the hand gun during past times, such as providing a surface suitable for quick grabbing during a fast draw. However, this traditional design makes the weapon inherently unstable in the hand of the user, seriously reducing the accuracy and usefulness of the weapon for other uses. During the discharge of the weapon, the barrel has a tendency to rise. However, because the handle is held primarily at its widest point, which is at the bottom or butt, and it is not adequately supported at the top where it is narrowest, the twisting force of the rising barrel will cause the weapon to twist in the user's hand, so that the weapon has to be regripped and re-aimed for the next shot to be taken.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn order to overcome the problems in the prior art discussed above, the present invention sets forth a double-action revolver having a hammer assembly which includes mechanism for positively defining the displacement and the engagement positions of the sear to insure accurate and smooth coaction of the sear with the trigger mechanism.The trigger assembly includes a cylinder-actuating hand, trigger lever, and transfer slide which is raised by the trigger to a position where it is struck by the hammer to percuss the firing pin. Percussing of the firing pin can only be accomplished by coaction of the trigger and hammer, thereby eliminating the requirement for a hammer block or other safety device.The handle of the revolver includes a wedge-shaped section adapted to fit snugly in the web of the palm between the thumb and first finger, while the butt of the handle fits in the hypothenar eminence area of the palm, so that the handle will be stably held at both its upper and lower ends during the firing cycle of the revolver, to prevent bucking or twisting of the revolver when it is discharged.Accordingly, in view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun which provides a more accurately fabricated and smoothly working firing mechanism.Another object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun which provides a sear construction which does not require grinding or custom fitting to define the position or travel or coaction of the sear.It is still another object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun which provides a sear construction more precisely dimensioning the movement of the sear and connection of the sear with the trigger.Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun which has a simplified sear construction process.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun which provides greater accuracy because of smoother trigger action.An additional object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun which eliminates the need for a rebound slide to position the trigger and provide for uniform trigger pressure.It is another object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun having a simplified trigger assembly construction.Still another object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun which provides improved safety features.It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun which does not require a hammer block to prevent accidental discharge.A further object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun which provides a transfer slide that is struck by the hammer to in turn percuss the firing pin, to thereby prevent accidental discharge of the hand gun.It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun which provides a transfer slide which is held in operative position by the bolt of the hand gun.Another object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun having a transfer slide firing pin actuator controlled by movement of the trigger coincidentally with movement of the hand to rotate the cylinder of the hand gun.It is still another object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun having a trigger assembly in which a single pin controls the transfer slide used for percussing the firing pin and the hand used for rotating the cartridge cylinder.Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun having increased stability in the hand of the user during the discharge of the hand gun.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun having a handle which will reduce the tendency of the hand gun to pivot or twist in the hand of the user when discharged.An additional object of the present invention is to provide a revolver-type hand gun having a wedge-shaped handle to provide increased control contact between the palm of the user's hand and the handle of the firearm.It is another object of the present invention to provide a revolver-type hand gun which is of relatively simplified construction, relatively durable construction, has relatively greater reliability and relatively greater accuracy.Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

Description

Claims

1. In a firearm having a frame, a hammer pivotally mounted in said frame, a trigger pivotally mounted in said frame below said hammer and coacting with said hammer to move said hammer from a cocked position to a firing position upon actuation of said trigger, a cartridge-receiving cylinder rotatably mounted in front of the hammer and hand means connected to said trigger and including a hand coacting with said cartridge-receiving cylinder to rotate said cylinder responsive to actuation of said trigger, and a firing pin resiliently extending from said frame, a improved hammer construction comprising:

a sear pivot pin fixed to said hammer;

a sear pivotally mounted on said sear pivot pin to allow one end of said sear to translate toward and away from said cylinder, to coact with said trigger;

sear stop means fixed to said hammer between said sear pivot pin and said translating end of said sear to limit movement of said sear; and

resilient means connected to said hammer to urge said translating end of said sear towards said cylinder until stopped by said sear stop means to resiliently position said translating end of said sear.

2. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein said improved hammer construction further comprises:

a sear groove formed in said hammer;

said sear groove having sear groove sides on each side of said sear groove; and

said sear pivot pin extending to each of said sear groove sides.

3. The firearm according to claim 2, wherein said sear is dimensioned with relation to said sear groove so that there is clearance between said sear groove and the end of said sear remote from said translating end of said sear.

4. The firearm according to claim 3, wherein said sear stop means comprise a sear stop pin extending to each of said sear groove sides.

5. The firearm according to claim 4, wherein said resilient means urging said translating end of said sear towards said cylinder comprise:

a bore in said sear groove; and

spring means extending from said bore to bear against said sear.

6. In a firearm having a frame, a hammer pivotally mounted in said frame, a trigger pivotally mounted in said frame below said hammer and coacting with said hammer to move said hammer from a cocked position to a firing position upon actuation of said trigger, a cartridge-receiving cylinder rotatably mounted in front of the hammer and hand means connected to said trigger and including a hand coacting with said cartridge-receiving cylinder to rotate said cylinder responsive to actuation of said trigger, and a firing pin resiliently extending from said frame, the improvement of apparatus for percussing said firing pin, comprising:

a transfer slide having a body and a striking surface disposed in slidable relation to said firing pin;

means to hold said transfer slide in said slidable relation to said firing pin;

means to slide said transfer slide with relation to said firing pin from a first position to a second position and back to said first position, said first position in which said striking surface is disposed below said firing pin, and said second position wherein said striking surface covers said firing pin, so that striking of said transfer slide striking surface by said hammer will cause said striking surface to percuss said firing pin;

said means to hold said transfer slide in said slidable relation comprise:

a transfer slide groove formed in said slide of said frame to guide movement of said transfer slide; and

a bolt disposed on said side of said frame extending over said transfer slide groove.

7. The firearm according to claim 6, wherein said means to slide said transfer slide with relation to said firing pin comprising:

pin means extending from said trigger; and

slot means in the body of said transfer slide adapted to receive said pin means extending from said trigger.

8. The firearm according to claim 7, wherein said slot means in said body of said transfer slide having a length substantially longer than the diameter of said pin extending from said trigger so that initial displacement of said pin extending from said trigger will not produce movement of said transfer slide from said first position.

9. The firearm according to claim 8, further comprising:

a striking surface on said hammer adapted to strike the striking surface of said transfer slide; and

a safety step on said hammer above said striking surface on said hammer, said safety step extending less than the thickness of said striking surface of said transfer slide, so that said safety step on said hammer will be spaced from the end of said frame when said hammer striking surface contacts said striking surface of said transfer slide.

10. The firearm according to claim 9, further comprising:

hand pin means pivotally connecting said hand means to said trigger; and

said hand pin means extending through said trigger to form said pin means extending from said trigger into the slot in the body of said transfer slide.

11. The firearm according to claim 10 further comprising:

a trigger lever groove in said trigger;

trigger lever means pivotally mounted in said trigger lever groove; and

trigger spring means connected to said trigger lever to be compressed upon actuation of said trigger.

12. In a firearm having a barrel, a frame, a hammer pivotally mounted in said frame, a trigger pivotally mounted in said frame below said hammer and coacting with said hammer to move said hammer from a cocked position to a firing position upon actuation of said trigger, a cartridge receiving cylinder rotatbly mounted in front of the hammer and hand means connected to said trigger and including a hand coacting with said cartridge-receiving cylinder to rotate said cyclinder responsive to actuation of said trigger, and a firing pin resiliently extending from said frame, the improvement of a handle to enable stable gripping of said firearm during the discharge thereof, comprising:

a bottom butt surface, dimensioned to extend to and abut the hypothenar eminence area of the palm when the handle is grasped for the purpose of actuating said firearm;

a top surface of said handle;

a thumb groove at the top of one side of said handle, adapted to form a rest surface to position the thumb;

said handle having a back surface of varying slope, said slope always being in a forward direction at all points from the midpoint of said handle to the top surface thereof when said barrel is horizontally disposed with said trigger vertically below said barrel; and

a wedge-shaped portion disposed at the top of said handle on the back surface thereof, dimensioned to extend against the upper part of the web of the palm between the thumb and first finger when the thumb is disposed in said thumb groove and the first finger is positioned on the trigger of said firearm, so that when said handle is grasped by the average-shape hand for actuating said firearm, the butt of the handle will be securely abutting the hypothenar eminence of the palm simultaneously with the wedge portion at the top of the handle securely abutting the upper part of the web between the thumb and the first finger of the hand.

13. The firearm according to claim 12, further comprising grooves in the front of said handle adapted to position said middle and ring fingers of the hand when wrapping the fingers of said hand about said handle to grasp the firearm.

14. In a firearm having a frame, a hammer pivotally mounted in said frame, a trigger pivotally mounted in said frame below said hammer and coacting with said hammer to move said hammer from a cocked position to a firing position upon actuation of said trigger, a cartridge-receiving cylinder rotatably mounted in front of the hammer and hand means connected to said trigger and including a hand coacting with said cartridge-receiving cylinder to rotate said cylinder responsive to actuation of said trigger, and a firing pin resiliently extending from said frame, a firearm including:

an improved hammer construction comprising:

a sear pivot pin fixed to said hammer;

a sear pivotally mounted on said sear pivot pin to allow one end of said sear to translate towards and away from said cylinder, to coact with said trigger;

a sear stop pin fixed to said hammer between said sear pivot pin and said translating end of said sear to limit movement of said sear; and

resilient means connected to said hammer to urge said translating end of said sear towards said cylinder until stopped by said sear stop means to thereby resiliently position said translating end of said sear;

improved apparatus for percussing said firing pin comprising:

a transfer slide having a body and a striking surface disposed in slidable relation to said firing pin;

means to hold said transfer slide in said slidable relation to said firing pin; and

means to slide said transfer slide with relation to said firing pin from a first position to a second position and back to said first position, said first position in which said striking surface is disposed below said firing pin, and said second position wherein said striking surface covers said firing pin, so that striking of said transfer slide striking surface by said hammer will cause said striking surface to percuss said firing pin; and

an improved handle to enable stable gripping of said firearm during the discharge thereof, comprising:

a bottom butt surface, dimensioned to extend to and abut the hypothenar eminence area of the palm when the handle is grasped for the purpose of actuating said firearm;

a top surface of said handle;

a thumb groove at the top of one side of said handle, adapted to form a rest surface to position the thumb;

a wedge-shaped portion disposed at the top of said handle on the back surface thereof, dimensioned to extend against the top of the web of the palm between the thumb and first finger when the thumb is disposed in said thumb groove and the first finger is positioned on the trigger of said firearm, so that when said handle is grasped by the average-shape hand for actuating said firearm, the butt of the handle will be securely abutting the hypothenar eminence of the palm simultaneously with the wedge portion at the top of the handle securely abutting the top of the web between the thumb and first finger of the hand.