Patent Application
20240288245
The present invention relates generally to a gun (e.g., airsoft gun) and actuating mechanisms for selecting the fire rate of a projectile and methods of using the same. More particularly, the present invention provides a trigger assembly that is operable to configure and switch the gun between a semi-automatic firing configuration and a full-automatic firing configuration.
An airsoft gun is a non-lethal replica firearm that fires small plastic projectiles known as BBs. These guns are often used for recreational activities such as simulated military or law enforcement training and target shooting. They are typically made with metal or plastic bodies and use a spring-loaded mechanism, electric motor, or compressed gas canister to propel the BBs. Airsoft guns are designed to be as realistic as possible, often resembling real firearms in appearance. High-capacity airsoft guns utilize a spring-loaded magazine to store and feed BBs into the gun. When the trigger is pulled, a spring-loaded valve knocker (e.g., piston) is released and propels a BB out of the barrel through the muzzle. The magazine can hold a large number of BBs, allowing the gun to fire many shots without manual reloading. Some airsoft guns also can fire in fully automatic mode, where the gun continuously fires BBs as long as the trigger is held down or until the magazine is empty. The trigger operates a sear, which is a latch that holds the spring-loaded piston in place when the gun is cocked. When the trigger is pulled, the sear is released, the hammer rotates forward and the valve knocker moves forward, firing a BB.
Various firearm platforms are replicated in airsoft guns, and one of the most popular platforms is the 1911A1 firearm and the 2011 which is a variant of the 1911 that is double stacked and provides a wider grip. A 1911 air soft gun includes similar components to the traditional firearm, such as a frame, slide, barrel, and a firing assembly that includes a disconnector, sear, hammer, disconnect pins, and various springs. Unlike traditional firearms, where a firing pin strikes a cartridge to combust gunpower and propel the projectile down the barrel and retract the slide, an airsoft gun utilizes a spring-loaded piston and compressed air to propel the BB down the barrel and includes additional components, such as a blowback unit positioned in the slide and frame to simulate the combustion of a cartridge and the sliding action of a traditional firearm. In comparison, traditional firearms have selectable firing configurations, including semi-automatic, fully automatic, burst fire, and safety. Mechanically actuated airsoft handguns that use compressed gas and spring-actuated airsoft handguns are limited to a safety mode and either a semi-automatic or a full-automatic firing mode. There is a need for an airsoft handgun system (e.g., Hi-Capa, 2011, 1911, etc.) that is configurable between a semi-automatic and a full-automatic firing mode.
The present invention provides a trigger mechanism that is operable to switch the fire rate configuration of a toy gun (e.g., airsoft handgun, 2011, etc.) between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing rate to provide a realistic simulation of a real firearm.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a gun (e.g., an air gun) having a frame (e.g., lower receiver) that is operable to secure a grip, a safety, a trigger assembly, a slide (e.g., upper receiver), and a magazine. The trigger assembly may include a disconnector, a sear, a sear spring, a hammer, a hammer strut, a safety, a grip safety, side panel, a chassis cover plate, a valve knocker, a valve knocker torsion spring, a knocker lock, a knocker lock spring, a hammer pin, a trigger, and a trigger bar. The trigger assembly may secure to the inside of the frame body with various screws and mounting points. In some embodiments, the trigger assembly may include a selector switch pin, a selector switch spring, and a selector cover plate. The slide may include a blowback unit, frame, barrel, a hop-up unit, and may be in communication with the frame and have a recoil spring that is operable to return the slide to the starting position after discharging a round.
In assembly, the trigger and trigger bar are fixedly mounted together and may be positioned through the grip and in communication with the disconnector. The sear is mounted on a shaft that positions a lower pawl of the sear in contact with the disconnector. A sear spring applies constant forward pressure to the disconnector and sear and is operable to impart a forward rotation to the sear when the sear is disengaged from the disconnector. The sear may have an upper pawl (e.g., locking pawl) that is normally engaged with a hammer to prevent rotation. The hammer communicates with a valve knocker that is actuated forward and releases gas from a magazine. The gas travels up through a nozzle in the blowback unit and propels the BB through the hop up unit and down the barrel. The compressed gas pushes the nozzle, the blowback unit, and the slide in a backwards direction mimicking a recoil and resets the hammer, the disconnector, the valve knocker, and firing pin positions. A spring in the front of the gun then returns the slide forward to its initial position. The BB may sit in an opening of the hop up unit before the trigger is pulled and once fired it is replaced in the hop up unit by the forward returning of the nozzle in the blowback unit.
The present invention provides a disconnector and sear combination that are operable to switch the airsoft gun firing configuration between a semi-automatic firing rate and a fully automatic firing rate. The disconnector may include a selector pin, a rear indent, an engagement pin, a wedge post, and a trigger bar interface that is operable to translate a trigger actuation to the firing components. The sear may have an upper locking pawl, a lower pawl, and a lower cutout. The frame may have a selector slot that is operable to secure the disconnector selector pin and may have a structure operable to receive the selector switch assembly.
The present invention provides a semi-automatic configuration that configures the disconnector and sear in a position that allows only one round to be discharged down the barrel when the trigger is squeezed and requires an operator to disengage the trigger to reset the system. In such configurations, the disconnector selector pin may be positioned at the top of the selector slot and the sear engages with the wedge post of the disconnector. When discharging a round, the trigger and trigger bar is pulled backward, pushing the disconnector horizontally backward and rotating the sear out of the teeth of the hammer, releasing the hammer to rotate forward and discharge the round. During the discharging process, the slide and blowback unit recoil backward and a ramp on the blowback unit pushes the disconnector downwards, disconnecting it from the sear before the slide and blowback unit return to position. The lower cut out of the sear may engage with the disconnector engagement post, and the sear rotates to a hammer locking position. After a round is done cycling, if the trigger remains depressed, the disconnector stays down and disconnected from the sear, and the sear rotates back to position to engage with the teeth. When the trigger is released forward, the disconnector may move up between the trigger bar and the sear.
The present invention provides a fully automatic firing configuration in which the sear and disconnector are disengaged from the firing component when the trigger is engaged. In such embodiments, the disconnector switch is pulled down, and the selector pin engages with the disconnector indent preventing upward and downward movement and locking the disconnector below the frame rails, not allowing the blowback unit to engage with the disconnector during recoil. The disconnector engagement post interfaces with the lower pawl of the sear. When discharging a round, the trigger and trigger bar are pulled backward, pushing the disconnector horizontally backward and rotating the sear out of the teeth of the hammer, releasing the hammer to rotate forward and discharge the round. While the trigger remains squeezed, the disconnector and the sear maintain their position, providing no interference with the hammer. The hammer continuously rotates forward and backward, discharging rounds because of the spring and recoil forces. Once the trigger is released forward, the disconnector and sear move back to their original position, and the sear engages with the hammer teeth preventing discharging.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a mechanism for selecting a fire rate of an airsoft gun actuating system, the device may include: a sear having a stop pawl on the top end, a lower cutout, and a lower engagement surface at the base of the lower cutout; a disconnector having a body, an angled tip on a top end, a selector post on a first side, an engagement post and a wedge post on a second side, a trigger bar interface on a front surface, and a locking indent on a rear surface; and a frame having a channel operable to receive the disconnector body and a slot operable to receive the selector post and to secure a trigger, a slide, a hammer and rotatably secure the sear, wherein the disconnector is operable to configure the sear in a semi-automatic and fully-automatic firing position. The disconnector may be in communication with the trigger at the trigger bar interface and may be operable to translate with the trigger and rotate around the selector post when the trigger is engaged. The sear lower pawl engages with the disconnector wedge post in semi-automatic configurations and may be operable to disengage the locking pawl from the teeth of the hammer when the trigger is engaged. While the trigger is engaged, a round is discharged, and a slide may translate to a rear position, and a disconnector angled tip may engage with a blowback unit disconnector ramp and translate downward, thereby disengaging the sear lower pawl from the disconnector wedge post, and the sear lower cutout engages with the disconnector engagement post. The lower cutout may engage with the disconnector engagement post, thereby positioning the sear locking pawl with the hammer teeth and locking the hammer.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a frame with a selector switch assembly that may include a selector pin positioned between the frame and disconnector that may be operable to engage with the disconnector locking indent and lock the disconnector below the frame, a spring between a selector pin and a frame slot that may be operable to translate the selector pin forward; and a cover that is operable to hide and secure the selector pin and spring to the frame. The disconnector selector post may be positioned at the bottom of the frame slot, and the selector pin engages with the disconnector locking indent to configure the disconnector in a fully automatic firing configuration. The fully automatic firing configuration positions the disconnector angled tip below the top of the frame and the lower pawl of the sear in engagement with the engagement post. The disconnector may be in communication with the trigger on the trigger bar interface and is operable to translate with the trigger and rotate around the selector post when the trigger is engaged, and the sear is operable to rotate around a sear pin and disengage the locking pawl from the hammer teeth when the trigger is depressed, and a round is discharged. The sear may engage with the disconnector engagement post while the trigger remains depressed, and the locking pawl maintains disengagement from the hammer teeth, allowing for continuous rotation of the hammer and discharging of successive rounds.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a semi-automatic and fully automatic firing switch for an airsoft gun actuating system, that may include: a frame being operable to secure a trigger mechanism, a slide, a barrel, a safety switch, and providing a slot for controlling the trigger mechanism with a selector switch, where the trigger mechanism may include: a trigger and a trigger bar in communication with a disconnector having a selector post that extends through the frame slot and may be operable to configure the disconnector in a locked automatic position and a semi-automatic position; and a sear in communication with the disconnector and under a spring tension that is operable to actuate a hammer and regulate a rate of fire; wherein the trigger mechanism disconnector is in communication the selector switch and may be operable to position the disconnector above the frame for semi-automatic fire and below the frame for fully automatic fire. The trigger mechanism may be in a semi-automatic position and the sear may include a lower pawl that engages with a disconnector wedge post. When the trigger is engaged, the disconnector translates with the trigger bar, the lower pawl maintains engagement with the disconnector wedge post, a sear locking pawl disengages from the hammer, and a round is propelled through the barrel, and the slide translates backward. The slide may translate backward, resetting the hammer and translating the disconnector down, thereby disengaging the lower pawl of the sear from the disconnector wedge post and positioning a lower cutout of the sear in collision with a disconnector engagement post, thereby rotating the sear and locking pawl in a position to lock the hammer. The locked hammer is maintained while the trigger is engaged, and the sear and disconnector are in communication with a sear spring that is operable to position the sear and disconnector to a starting position when the trigger is released. When the trigger assembly is in a fully automatic configuration, the user may slide the selector post to the bottom of the frame slot, thereby dropping the disconnector to a lower position and positioning a lower pawl of the sear in contact with a disconnector engagement post. When the trigger is subsequently engaged, the disconnector and sear are translated, and a locking pawl of the sear disengages from the trigger allowing a round to propel down the barrel and the slide translates backward, thereby resetting the hammer and the locking pawl and disconnector, maintaining the translated position, and allowing for continuous actuation of the hammer and slide while the trigger is engaged. When the trigger is disengaged, the disconnector and sear translate to the starting position, and the locking pawl of the sear is engaged with the hammer, thereby interfering with the hammer rotation.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for selectively switching an airsoft gun actuating mechanism between a semi-automatic and a fully automatic configurations, the method may include use of an airsoft gun having a frame provided with a disconnector, a sear, a trigger, a hammer, a selector switch, and a slide housing a barrel and a blowback unit; and a spring-loaded selector lock positioned in the frame that is operable to lock the disconnector below the frame; the disconnector may be in constant engagement with the sear and may be under a spring tension, and when the trigger is squeezed the disconnector swivels about a frame mounting point and the sear is disengaged from the hammer thereby rotating the hammer and discharging a round through the barrel. Subsequently, the slide may translate backward to reset the hammer. The disconnector may include a selector pin that is positioned in a frame slot and that allows a user to select a fully automatic configuration, which results in positioning the disconnector below the frame and the selector pin being positioned at a base of the frame slot and the semi-automatic position configures the disconnector and selector pin at the top of the frame slot.
Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those having skill in the art from the description and disclosure provided herein.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a 1911, Hi-Capa, and 2011 airsoft handgun platforms with a selector switch assembly allowing the user to switch the gun between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing configuration.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a replacement disconnector and sear for an airsoft handgun system to enable a user with the ability to select the fire rate of the projectile between semi-auto and full-auto fire rates.
The above-described objects, advantages, and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described herein. Further benefits and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without all of the specific details provided.
The present invention concerns an air pistol fire selector system incorporated into a handgun air pistol.
The firing assembly 104 as shown in the exploded view of
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
A stripped-down frame 101 illustrated through
In some embodiments, the airsoft handgun 100 may be in a fully automatic configuration, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the airsoft handgun 100 may be in a semi-automatic configuration, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, disconnector 200, sear 250, selector pin 160, selector pin spring 161, and selector pin cover plate 162 may be provided as a kit operable to replace the disconnector and sear of a traditional airsoft handgun and provide the ability for a user to configure the airsoft gun platform in a semi-automatic or fully-automatic configuration as described herein.
It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention, and uses thereof, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
