Patent Application
20240230276
The field of the invention generally relates to firearms, and more particularly, to firearm thumb rests which attach to pistols via a forked extension comprising a cylindrical pin for the assembly of components of a pistol and its neighboring anti-rotation plug that mates within an otherwise open and unplugged receiver cavity or channel.
Firearm thumb rests provide the operator of a firearm a resistive surface for their support hand's thumb to lock down against, mitigating the undesirable effect of muzzle-lifting recoil from the firing cycle, allowing for faster follow-up shots on target. Thumb rests are popular in competitive shooting competitions as a tool to improve performance, however the installation of these enhancements pose a challenge when retro-fitting firearms that were not designed to utilize them. This has led to the destructive and irreversible drilling and tapping the firearm's receiver or grip module for fastening a thumb rest via screws. Since most firearm lower receivers are serialized parts, there are shooters who would prefer not to permanently modify their firearm as this not only voids most warranties but may also ruin the aesthetics and/or function of the firearm. Permanent modifications can also restrict which competitive divisions a shooter can shoot in.
These issues led to the innovation of finding non-permanent attachment designs and methods for adding thumb rests to existing firearms. These include thumb rests being incorporated into replaceable firearm components such as disassembly levers, slide stops, straddling two or more assembly pins, or attaching them via 1913 Picatinny Rails that would otherwise be used for lights or lasers. However, not all firearm designs provide for a simple modification of components, many of which are often limited to positioning that impairs natural grip ergonomics, creates undesired complexity and/or aesthetics, or adds considerable bulk that makes holstering excessively difficult or impossible.
Some prior thumb rest designs include the following:
U.S. Patent application US20170307327A1, abandoned by Wes Cross with a publication date of Oct. 26, 2017, entitled “THUMB REST,” which describes a competition style thumb rest that attaches via Picatinny rail.
U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/175,113B1, issued Nov. 16, 2021 to STRIKE INDUSTRIES, INC., entitled “THUMB REST AS INTEGRAL PART OF FIREARM,” which describes an integrated surface feature that acts a rest for the shooter's thumb.
An anti-rotation thumb rest is disclosed herein, providing advantages that allow for non-destructive and unobtrusive installation on firearms that would otherwise not be able to accommodate a thumb rests, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. These embodiments may be constructed by attaching or manufacturing a long cylindrical pin onto the back side of a thumb rest, as to serve as a trigger pin, locking block pin, or other pin used for securing pistol components internally together, while also providing a typically rectangular, square, circular, or irregular shaped protrusion that serves as an anti-rotation stop for installation in a typically unused recess in the firearm's receiver, that was not expressly designed for installing components.
As disclosed herein, an externally protruding thumb rest surface opposite of an internally insert-able cylindrical shaft or pin that replaces an otherwise featureless firearm assembly pin for retention, while preventing thumb rest rotation with the parallel insertion of a protruding stop into a neighboring cavity or channel in the receiver addresses issues described above, in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. During the assembly of a firearm, a retaining pin such as a trigger pin, locking block pin, or other connecting pin would have a protruding end piece in the form of a thumb rest. To prevent rotation and to lock the thumb rest in place for the thumb to push solidly against, the thumb rest would have a second protrusion in the form of an anti-rotation stop extending from the thumb rest, parallel to the pin. This protrusion can take any shape or form as to mate with a receiving recess in the firearm's frame, such as a sidewall cavity intended to maintain the receiver's wall thickness when working with the flow control of a polymer injection mold, metal injection mold, or forging during manufacturing, as an aid in material filling, thermal cooling to reduce warpage, or add strength through the displacement of material. Other recesses may take the form of CNC Machined lightening cuts to reduce weight or for cosmetic purposes that would otherwise not be used for other purposes. Or utilize a portion of a channel that is normally reserved for a sliding disassembly catch to takedown the pistol as to release the slide assembly. The obstructing use of which would impede the motion of a typical spring-loaded catch and prevent disassembly until the thumb rest assembly pin is pushed out far enough to allow the neighboring anti-rotation stop to clear the channel. While an unused recess is ideal, the use of and impedance of the disassembly channel typically does not affect weapons usage. Disassembly when in active use is usually only required when there is a catastrophic failure, such as a squib load that obstructs the barrel with an undercharged bullet getting stuck, or during cleaning and maintenance at all other times. Either of which requires the use of tools and a steel punch would be typically used to push the pin out enough to clear the channel and a rod to clear stuck bullets.
One benefit of the simultaneous use of using this thumb rest assembly pin with an anti-rotation stop is the installation of a thumb rest that would normally be impossible, without damaging or adding bulk to the pistol. Another benefit of using a single assembly pin with anti-rotation stop, is that disassembly applies pressure to only one pin, opposed to a thumb rest that is bridged between two assembly pins. The former creates stress when there are two friction-fit pins and only one pin can be removed, typically with the hammering of a punch tool on the opposite side of the firearm, one-at-a-time, causing torsion in said part and greater difficulty in removal.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Aspects of this disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:
The illustrations and diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems according to various embodiments of the present invention.
LT lever 100 as disclosed herein provides an anti-rotation thumb rest installation ability that would otherwise not typically be available for certain models of firearms. The disclosed subject matter also enables an operator of a firearm to gain more grip control on the firearm. Considering that a gripping hand(s) of a pistol generally acts as a fulcrum point for rotational yaw due to recoiling torque and muzzle rise from a reciprocating slide mass and muzzle blast upon firing the firearm (which gets magnified further away from the hand), these enhancements may also assist in minimizing the firearm's lifting muzzle flip during recoil.
Also illustrated is a grip module 206, slide assembly 208 and receiver 210 of pistol 200. Anti-rotation stop 106 is a protrusion that may have a rectangular, square, circular or irregularly cross-section and is adapted to fit into otherwise unobstructed recess 202 in receiver 210 of pistol 200. Recess 202 may be a sidewall cavity intended to maintain the thickness of a wall of receiver 210 when working with flow control of a polymer injection mold, metal injection mold or forging during manufacture, as an aid in material filing, thermal cooling to reduce warpage or add strength through the displacement of material. Recess 202 may also utilize a channel such as one normally reserved for a sliding disassembly catch (not shown) to takedown pistol 200 as to release slide assembly 208.
It should be understood that
The structures described above together create an anti-rotation thumb rest installation ability that would otherwise not typically be available to certain models of firearms. It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
The present application is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Patent Application, entitled “Thumb Rest Anti-Rotation Pin for a Firearm,” Ser. No. 29/881,895, filed Jan. 7, 2023, assigned to the assignee of the present application and hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29881895 | Jan 2023 | US |
| Child | 18111557 | US |
