Patent Application
20230013610
The disclosure is directed generally to firearms, and more particularly to modular drop-in trigger units configured to be simply pushed into a firearm, preferably into the lower receiver of the firearm.
A modern trigger unit should generally be easy to use, reliable, easy to maintain and, by means of a fire-control/safety selector, should be adjustable between a “safe” state and at least one “unlocked” or “fire” state. A large number of such trigger units have a construction which prevents the selector from being adjusted to the “safe” position when the hammer is in the behind or downward position. This is often due to the fact that the trigger lever, which includes a sear that interacts with the fire-control/safety selector (also often referred to as a safety lever), the trigger and the hammer (also referred to as a striking piece), is designed in one piece. Examples are U.S. Pat. No. 10,330,413 B2, EP 2 950 033 B1, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,338 B2, from which these relationships can be seen very clearly.
Reference is also made to US 2016/0363401 A1, which discloses a modular hammer-trigger system in which, as can be seen particularly well in
Another common concern is the shooter's interest in having a trigger unit that requires a two-stage build-up of resistance until the shot is fired. These trigger resistances should be perceived and distinguishable by the shooter when the trigger is operated. Here, too, a large number of two-stage trigger units are known to have a first trigger pull resistance (e.g. “pre-trigger resistance”) and a second trigger pull resistance (e.g. “main trigger resistance”). Overcoming the first and second trigger resistances is often referred to in English as the “first stage” and the “second stage.” The previously cited U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,338 B2, and US 2019/257606 A1, should be mentioned as representative of the many different design options for two-stage trigger units since very different components are responsible for their operation.
The content of DE 20 2011 004 556 U1, EP 2 950 033 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,338 B2, US 2016/0363401 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 10,330,413 B2 and US 2019/257606 A1 are incorporated by reference to the content of the present application for jurisdictions in which this is possible.
The present disclosure concerns a modular system for a trigger unit for a firearm, where the trigger unit is designed as a drop-in trigger unit to complement a trigger pocket of the lower receiver of the firearm, and that the trigger unit is received by the trigger pocket, preferably completely.
In one example, the disclosure includes a trigger unit for a firearm having a trigger pocket in a lower receiver, wherein the trigger unit is arranged in a trigger housing and configured to be a drop-in trigger unit that complements the trigger pocket, such that the trigger housing is received by the trigger pocket.
In another example, the disclosure includes a lower receiver of a firearm, the lower receiver defining a trigger pocket for receiving a modular drop-in trigger unit, where the trigger unit is arranged in a trigger housing and the trigger pocket includes lateral guides configured to support the trigger housing and secure it within the trigger pocket.
In another example, the disclosure includes a firearm including a breech, an upper receiver, and a lower receiver, where the lower receiver defines a trigger pocket for receiving a modular drop-in trigger unit, the trigger unit is arranged in a trigger housing, and the trigger pocket includes lateral guides configured to support the trigger housing and secure it within the trigger pocket. When the modular drop-in trigger unit is installed in the trigger pocket the modular drop-in trigger unit is secured from movement from above by the upper receiver and/or the breech.
The present disclosure relates to a trigger for a firearm with a sear, a sear axis, a trigger lever with a trigger axis, a disconnector with a joint and a hammer rotatable about a hammer axis having a hammer spring. The disclosure also relates to the accommodation of such a trigger in a receiver, whereby a drop-in trigger unit is created which is simply pushed into the weapon, preferably its lower receiver, if it has a lower receiver, whereby the drop-in trigger unit is fixed by the upper receiver. The disclosed trigger can include a fire-control/safety selector as a rotational lever or as a sliding lever. The present disclosure further relates to firearms that contain one or more of these components.
The trigger units, receivers, and firearms of the present disclosure, and their variants, are not limited to use in rifles, carbines, etc., but can, in principle, also be used in certain pistols. The improvements achieved and the effects/advantages of these improvements are stated below. Since such trigger units can be used interchangeably as a module in existing weapons and the weapons themselves only provide the geometric and functional boundaries for their use, the invention primarily relates to a trigger unit and only secondarily to a weapon having such a trigger unit.
The present disclosure provides a trigger unit which enables the firearm to be secured with the fire-control/safety selector able to turn to the “safe” position when the hammer is in the behind or downward position. The present disclosure also provides, with at least one embodiment, a two-stage or three-stage trigger unit with different trigger resistances are provided.
The present disclosure further provides a fire-control/safety selector that is easy to use and, if necessary, easy to replace.
In one aspect of the disclosure, the total number of components of a trigger assembly are kept as low as possible and their arrangement in the receiver of a firearm is made as positionally stable and as easy to replace as possible.
Furthermore, in one variant, the present disclosure provides a trigger unit that is easy to handle, easy to maintain and relatively easy to replace as a modular “drop-in” trigger unit.
The trigger unit of the disclosure comprises a hammer that is rotatably mounted about a hammer axis and can be biased by means of a hammer spring, wherein the hammer spring has a first arm and a second arm, a trigger lever that is rotatably mounted about a trigger axis and which, preferably integrally formed with it, has a trigger that, when viewed in a normal direction, lies below the trigger axis and is moved against a running direction when the trigger unit is actuated, wherein the trigger lever has a trigger rear part that is designed to accommodate at least one disconnector, as well as a sear rotatably mounted about a sear axis and can be biased by means of a sear spring, wherein the hammer axis, the trigger axis and the sear axis are arranged parallel to one another and parallel to a transverse direction. The trigger lever has a recess and the sear is at least partially arranged within the recess of the trigger lever so that the sear axis and the trigger axis coincide, and the sear has a bearing on its upper side for receiving and limiting rotation around a disconnector axis of a disconnector joint formed on the underside of the disconnector. In addition, the bearing is designed to at least partially surround the disconnector joint in the direction of rotation about the disconnector axis.
In other words, the sear and the trigger lever have a common axis of rotation, such that the sear axis and the trigger axis coincide. The sear has a bearing on its upper side for receiving and limiting rotation about a disconnector axis of a disconnector joint formed on the underside of the disconnector, and the bearing for the disconnector joint is at least partially designed to enclose the disconnector axis in the direction of rotation. In this way, the hammer, which is rotatably mounted about the hammer axis and can be biased by means of a hammer spring, is no longer blocked by the trigger when it is in the behind or downward position.
The trigger lever, which is mounted rotatably about the trigger axis, comprises an integral trigger and a trigger rear part that is designed to accommodate the disconnector, or at least one disconnector. The inventive design and arrangement, and the interaction of the sear, disconnector and trigger lever, allow for the adjustment of the fire-control/safety selector when the hammer is in the behind or downward position to the “safe” position, since the rear part of the trigger can be easily deflected in this state. The bearing and the disconnector joint are designed to be substantially complementary to one another in terms of shape and function in order to allow a rotation around the disconnector axis within limits. The assembly can be carried out simply by pushing together laterally, as is explained in more detail in the description of the figures. In the installed condition, this also prevents the components of the trigger unit from being lost.
The subject matter of the present description includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties, such as those relating to, among other things, differently designed trigger units, in particular a modular “drop-in” trigger unit, a “pull-through” trigger unit, and housing components for receiving these trigger units, as well as the design of fire-control/safety selectors, may be claimed in applications claiming priority from this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, these aspects are explained in detail using the following description of the figures.
The terms left, right, top, bottom, front and rear always refer to the shooter's view in the firing direction of the firearm when it is held in a ready to fire position. The weapon has, going through the barrel axis and oriented vertically, a weapon center plane, which forms a plane of symmetry.
In the description and the claims, the terms “front,” “rear,” “above,” “below” and so on are used in the generally accepted form and with reference to the object in its usual use position. This means that, for the firearm, the mouth (also referred to as the muzzle) of the barrel is “at the front,” and that the breech is moved “rearward” by the force of explosive gas, etc. Transverse to a direction substantially means a direction of rotation by 90°.
In the figures described below, the barrel direction (e.g. towards the mouth/muzzle of the barrel) is indicated by arrow 91, the normal direction upward with arrow 93 and the transverse direction to the left with arrow 92.
In
The trigger comprises at least one hammer 21, a trigger bar 264, a trigger rear 263, a sear 40, and a disconnector 30. In a preferred embodiment, which is described below, the trigger according to the present disclosure is arranged in a trigger housing 23 and is referred to as a trigger unit 20 (
As is often the case, the hammer 21 is rotatably supported by a hammer pin 219 about the hammer axis 212 and protrudes partially upward out of the trigger housing 23 in the normal direction 93 and, as described further below, is biased by the hammer spring 211.
The trigger lever 26 is rotatably mounted about the trigger axis 262, for example by means of a trigger pin 269 in the trigger housing 23, wherein the trigger axis 262 is arranged behind the hammer axis 212 when viewed in the barrel direction 91 to the front.
The mechanical engagement on the hammer 21 or its hammer cam 215 (in the prior art often also referred to as a trigger catch on the hammer or hammer catch, see also, for example,
In addition, the sear 40 is connected to a disconnector 30 according to the present disclosure in that the sear 40 has a bearing 42 on its upper side for receiving a disconnector joint 32 formed on the underside of the disconnector 30. The bearing 42 surrounds the disconnector joint 32 at least partially (preferably to over 180°) in the direction of rotation about the disconnector axis 35, which runs in the transverse direction 92 through the disconnector joint 32. In the installed condition, this allows a limited rotation of the disconnector 30 about the disconnector axis 35 and, due to the formation of the common sear axis 43 and trigger axis 262, the sear 40 and the disconnector 30 can be tilted or rotated within limits, both individually and together. The sear 40 and the disconnector 30 are preferably at least partially received by the trigger lever 26, which, as shown, is then divided in the form of a recess.
A sear spring 41 which is essentially U-shaped when viewed from above and approximately L-shaped when viewed from the side is also arranged on both sides of the trigger lever 26, each having one or more turns in the kink areas of the “L.” The sear spring 41 is held in the trigger unit 20 (
The hammer spring 211 comprises a first arm 2111, a first spiral (screw winding), a central and essentially U-shaped connecting piece, a second spiral, and a second arm 2112 (see
The hammer 21 is biased in the installed condition by means of the hammer spring 211. The hammer spring 211 is tensioned in the usual way with the central connecting piece of the hammer spring 211 from below against the hammer 21, and the first arm 2111 can be counter-supported by the trigger pin 269, for example. In the embodiment shown, as can be seen from viewing
The second arm 2112 of the hammer spring 211, which, as is difficult to see in
As also shown in
The trigger according to the present disclosure can be designed as a two-stage trigger, or as a three-stage trigger (hereinafter also referred to as a “pull-through trigger”). In the two-stage version, the trigger can assume a rest position 70 (
Analogous to the two-stage design, the three-stage “pull-through trigger” can also assume a rest position 70, a first trigger stage position 71 and a second trigger stage position 72. In addition, the trigger can take a further, third trigger stage position 73. The second trigger stage position 72 allows the firing of individual shots (single fire), the third trigger stage position 73 is reached after increasing the force on the trigger bar 264 and allows the automatic firing of multiple shots (continuous fire).
The trigger according to the present disclosure can, as shown, be designed with a fire-control/safety selector 60 which, in a special embodiment, is arranged normal to the weapon's center plane when in the installed condition. The fire-control/safety selector 60 allows a desired fire selection position to be selected, with at least two positions—“safe” and “fire”—being possible. Depending on the embodiment of the trigger and the fire-control/safety selector 60, the “fire” position can allow, for example, a single shot (“single fire” position) and/or automatic firing of multiple shots (“continuous fire” position).
In special embodiments, at least one further firing position of the fire-control/safety selector 60, for example “continuous fire,” is also possible. In the case of military variants in particular, in addition to the “continuous fire” position, a “burst” fire position may also used, whereby the automatic firing of shots is stopped after, for example, three shots. These additional firing positions are usually known to the person skilled in the art and do not require any further explanation here.
In the “safe” position, the fire-control/safety selector 60 blocks the movement of the trigger lever 26 and the reaching of the second trigger stage position 72. In the position “fire” (which can be a “single fire” position and/or a “continuous fire” position) the fire-control/safety selector 60 releases the movement of the trigger lever 26 to reach the second trigger stage position 72 and—if available—the third trigger stage position 73.
The fire-control/safety selector 60 can be designed as a rotary selector 610 (
At this point it should be pointed out that, within the scope of the present present disclosure, different and even arbitrary combinations of the described two- or three-stage trigger with a rotary selector (610) or sliding selector (650) device with two or three firing positions can be implemented.
To the person skilled in the art it will be clear from the following description and analysis of
In
The disconnector 30 has a disconnector joint 32 on its underside, which has a circular cylindrical section with an axis that runs in the transverse direction 92. This serves for the receiving and rotatably mounting on the upper side of the sear 40, on which a circular cylindrical recess is formed in a complementary shape, whereby a disconnector axis 35 is defined in the transverse direction 92. Furthermore, a spring recess 46 for a disconnector spring 34 is formed on the underside of the disconnector 30. This receptacle, which can be better seen in cross section views, for example in
In a preferred embodiment, the sear 40, as shown enlarged in detail C in
In all the embodiments described, however, the function of the disconnector spring 34 is the same in that it biases the disconnector 30 about the disconnector axis 35, i.e. substantially upward in the direction of hammer hook 213 (
Looking together at
As shown, a hammer recess 217 can be formed on the hammer 21 in a special embodiment, which strikes a hammer stop 57 of the auto sear 50 in such a way that the auto sear edge 51 (
In
The spring force of the hammer spring 211 or its first arm 2111 (
In order to discharge a shot, the trigger lever 26 actually has to be moved beyond the first trigger stage position 71 into the second trigger stage position 72. Otherwise a movement of the hammer 21 is blocked by the sear edge 44 (in cooperation with the hammer cam 215).
In a particular embodiment, at least one spur 266 (in cooperation with the safety cam 216) (
As already described with reference to
The spur 266 of the trigger lever 26 is, since it lies in front of the trigger axis 262 in the barrel direction 91, biased upward and in the rest position 70 protrudes into the movement path of the safety cam 216 of the hammer 21. In the rest position 70, the spur 266 does not yet touch the safety catch 216 and a small gap 270 (
In this particular embodiment, the intended shot is fired analogously to the sequence described above by overcoming the first or second trigger stage positions 71, 72, whereby when the first trigger stage position 71 is reached, the spur 266 lies outside the path of the safety cam 216 and the movement of the hammer 21 is thus released in the upward/forward direction.
The auto sear 50 is biased by the second arm 2112 of the hammer spring 211, which acts on the spring seat 55, that is, the hammer spring 211 tries (in the illustration of
The fire-control/safety selector 60 is held in a selectable position by a locking lever 620 which is biased by the locking lever spring 630 acting on the locking lever body 625 (
The corresponding detailed views M and L of
As shown in
In
A detailed view of the area Z of
This aspect of the present disclosure can therefore substantially be summarized as follows:
A trigger unit (20) for a firearm, comprising:
It is characterized in that the trigger lever (26) has a recess and the sear (40) is at least partially arranged within the recess,
In one embodiment it is provided that a limiter (660) is arranged in the trigger unit (20) and is rotatably mounted about a locking lever axis (641) parallel to the transverse direction (92) and is biased by a locking lever spring (630).
In a further embodiment with a rest position (70) and three trigger stage positions (71, 72, 73) for the trigger lever (26), it is provided that in the trigger unit (20) a rocker lever (45) is arranged around a rocker axis (456), when viewed in the barrel direction (91), in front of the trigger axis (262), that the rocker lever (45) has a first end (451) and a second end (452) that in the third trigger stage position (73) the first end (451) of the rocker lever (45) is pressed downward by the sear (40), when viewed in the normal direction (93), and the rocker lever (45) is rotated about the rocker axis (456), and that the second end (452) of the rocker lever (45) protrudes upward in the third trigger stage position (73) and moves the disconnector (30) upward on a finger (36), when viewed in the normal direction (93), and rotates it around the disconnector axis (35).
In a further development, it is provided that the sear (40) has a sear opening (47) arranged in front of the disconnector axis (35) for the second end (452) of the rocker lever (45) to reach through, when viewed in the barrel direction (91).
Another development provides that in the trigger unit (20) an auto sear (50), biased by the hammer spring (211) and rotatably mounted about an auto sear axis (52), when viewed in the barrel direction (91), is arranged in front of the hammer axis (212).
In yet another further development, a spring seat (55) for supporting the second arm (2112) of the hammer spring (211) is formed on the auto sear (50), when viewed in the normal direction (93), below the auto sear axis (52).
In an advantageous further development it is provided that the first arm (2111) of the hammer spring (211) is supported on the hammer spring support (261) of the trigger lever (26), and the second arm (2112) of the hammer spring (211) supported on the spring seat (55) of the auto sear (50).
In yet another further development, it is provided that a hammer spring support (261) for supporting the hammer spring (211) is formed on the trigger lever (26) in the transverse direction (92).
In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the disconnector (30), when viewed in the normal direction (93), has a spring recess (46) on its underside for at least partial accommodation of a disconnector spring (34).
In a further development it is provided that the spring recess (46) is at least partially open when viewed laterally in at least one transverse direction (92).
In a further development of this embodiment it is provided that the spring recess (46) has an outwardly sloping ramp (461) when viewed in the transverse direction (92).
Another further development of the basic idea provides that at least one spur (266) extending from the trigger axis (262) in the barrel direction (91) is formed on the trigger lever (26) and a spur (266) is formed on the hammer (21) in the area of the hammer axis (212), and that the spur (266) protrudes in the rest position (70) and when in the first trigger stage position (71), into a movement path of the safety cam (216) of the hammer (21).
Another development provides that a back end (33) is formed on the disconnector (30) and in the second trigger stage position (72) a stud (613) of a rotary selector (610) presses down against the force of a disconnector spring (34).
In one embodiment it is provided that the trigger unit (20) is accommodated in a trigger housing (23) which is preferably designed as a modular drop-in unit.
Finally, the present disclosure includes a firearm which has a trigger unit (20) with the features defined above.
As previously described above, the trigger according to the present disclosure can also be designed in three stages as a pull-through trigger. As already explained, with a pull-through trigger, continuous fire can be achieved by pulling the trigger bar 264 all the way through the second trigger stage position 72 into a third trigger stage position 73, possibly without changing the position of the fire-control/safety selector 60. In
The pull-through variant comprises, like the two-stage trigger described above with reference to
In a modification of the two-stage trigger described above, the illustrated embodiment of a pull-through trigger includes an additional limiter 660, which is mounted between the locking lever 620 and the locking lever spring 630 so as to be rotatable about the locking lever axis 641. Furthermore, the pull-through trigger has a rocker lever 45 which, in the embodiment shown, is rotatably supported by a dowel pin 455 about a rocker axis 456. The rocker axis 456 is arranged in front of the trigger axis 292 when viewed in the barrel direction 91. The sear 40 has a sear opening 47 through which the rocker lever 45 partially protrudes and, when viewed in the barrel direction 91, in front of it a front end 48 with an underside formed on the sear 40. No back end (compare with 33 in
The embodiment as a pull-through trigger can be designed with a fire-control/safety selector 60, wherein the fire-control/safety selector 60 can be designed as a rotary selector 610 or a sliding selector 650. The fire-control/safety selector 60 can preferably have at least two positions (“safe” and “fire”), i.e. with the fire-control/safety selector 60 in the “fire” position the user of the firearm can fire individual shots (“single fire”) by pulling the trigger bar 264 to the first trigger stage position 72, or fire multiple shots (“continuous fire”) by pulling the trigger bar 264 through to the third trigger stage position 73.
However, a fire-control/safety selector 60 with, for example, three or more positions is also conceivable (“safe,” “single fire” and “continuous fire,” or also “burst fire”). By selecting the “single fire” position of the fire-control/safety selector 60, the trigger bar 264 cannot be pulled through into the third trigger stage position 73 and only individual shots can be fired (“single fire”). With the fire-control/safety selector 60 in the “continuous fire” position, the trigger bar 264 can be moved to the third trigger stage position 73 and multiple shots can be automatically fired.
The variant of the pull-through trigger shown has a fire-control/safety selector 60 that is a sliding selector 650 with two positions, wherein a rotary selector 610 can also be used, as described in the following and is shown in
On the locking lever 620 for the sliding selector 650, no spike 622 is required on the locking lever arm 621; instead, the locking lever 620 preferably comprises, as shown, a spring-loaded plunger 670, which is arranged laterally in the locking lever 620 and normal to the barrel axis (in the transverse direction 92) and is connected to the locking lever 620 (for example screwed in, glued, etc.). The spring-loaded plunger 670 engages in a detent (recess) in the trigger housing 23 or in the receiver 11 of the firearm and thus holds the locking lever 620 in position.
In
The limiter 660, which is rotatably mounted about the locking lever axis 641, is biased by the locking lever spring 630 supported on the trigger housing 23 and is pressed counterclockwise against the locking lever 620, as shown in the illustration, and is limited thereby in its rotational movement.
In the “fire” position,
If the trigger bar 264 is now “fully pulled through” beyond the second trigger stage position 72, as shown in
The function of the rocker lever 45 can also be clearly seen in
It should be pointed out at this point that in addition to the illustrated embodiment of the rocker lever 45 and the sear 40 with opening 47 for the passage of the second, rear end 452 of the rocker lever 45, other functionally identical shapes can also be used and, for example, the rocker lever and the sear can be side by side, however it is essential that the second, rear end 452 presses the disconnector 30 on its finger 36 upward and away from the sear 40 when the trigger bar 264 is pulled through to the rear. Designs are also conceivable in which the sear 40 is formed integrally with the trigger lever 26.
The pull-through trigger according to the present disclosure can, as shown, comprise a fire-control/safety selector 60 that is designed, for example as a rotary selector 610 or sliding selector 650, as well as an auto sear 50 which functions as has already been described above (see
As already described above, the fire-control/safety selector 60 can be designed as a rotary selector 610.
As is customary in the prior art, the rotary selector 610 comprises a cam surface 617, which preferably has a stud 613. The first rotary lever 611 comprises a cylinder 6111 with a substantially cylindrical end section 6112 adjoining it, wherein the end section 6112 has a smaller outer diameter than the cylinder 6111. At least one detent 616 is formed on the end section 6112. Two detents or several detents 616 (see
In a preferred embodiment, the first rotary lever 611 can also have further detents 616 on the cylinder 6111 adjacent to the cam surface 617, which are arranged on a line in the circumferential direction. These further detents 616 can be arranged, for example, between the cam surface 617 and the actuator 6101. Each of the detents 616 formed on a line lying in the circumferential direction corresponds to a corresponding fire selection position (with two notches for “safe” and “fire,” or with three notches for “safe,” “fire” and “continuous fire”). These characteristics apply mutatis mutandis to the eventual formation of a “burst fire” position.
The second rotary lever 612 comprises a hollow cylinder 6212 with a hollow cylinder axis 6213 which has at least one selector slot 6165 running in the circumferential direction and a continuous notch 615 running parallel to the cylinder axis 6213. The inside diameter of the hollow cylinder 6212 corresponds to the outside diameter of the end section 6112, and the outside diameter of the hollow cylinder 6212 corresponds to the outside diameter of the middle section of the cylinder 6111. The end section 6112 with the rib 614 is designed to complement the shape of the hollow cylinder 6212 with the continuous notch 615 and allows the end section 6112 to be pushed into the hollow cylinder 6212. The continuous notch 615 receives the rib 614 and the selector slot 6165 is arranged above the detents 616 on the end section 6112, whereby the detent 616 remains accessible from the outside. The detents 616 and the selector slot 6165 above appear like a notch with detents 616 and act accordingly.
In the installed condition, the first and second rotary levers 611, 612 are connected to one another in such a way that they are non-rotatable and a common rotation about the cylinder axis 6213 through one-sided operation is possible. In the installed condition, the rotary selector 610 is secured by the engagement of the locking lever 620 with the locking lever arm 621 and spike 622, whereby the rotary selector 610 is protected against being pulled apart or unintentionally falling apart—see also
In
In the installed condition, a firing position is selected by turning the rotary selector 610. The locking lever 620 is pressed backward against its spring preload, so that the spike 622 is pressed out of a detent 616 and, upon further rotation, is pressed into the next detent 616 by the spring force of the locking lever spring 630. The spike 622 protrudes into selector slot 6165 at all times during this rotary movement, which prevents the two rotary levers 611, 612 from being pulled apart or inadvertently falling apart.
Only by actively pushing the locking lever body 625 backward can the locking lever arm 621 with the spike 622 be turned upward so far that the spike 622 no longer protrudes into the selector slot 6165, whereby the two rotary levers 611, 612 can be pulled apart. This allows the rotary selector 610 to be dismantled or replaced without tools. It is also possible to easily swap a rotary selector 610 with three positions for a rotary selector 610 with two positions (e.g. without the “continuous fire” position). This special version of a rotary selector 610 with locking lever 620 may represent an invention of its own.
It is also easily feasible for a person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the present disclosure, to use the inventive rotary selector 610 (even without connection to the locking lever 620) in a slightly modified embodiment trigger systems other than the systems described herein, such as the triggers utilized in firearms based on the traditional AR-15 platform. The spring-loaded pressure pin that is typically arranged in the grip and lower receiver of firearms based on the traditional AR-15 platform would now engage the rotary selector 610 and secure it in place, instead of the spike 622 through the selector slot 6165 in the detent 616 as detailed above.
Details of the sliding selector 650 proposed in one embodiment of the present disclosure are shown in
At least one pair of parallel and mutually merging grooves 652, which serve as detent positions for the locking lever 620, is formed on the outer contour of the sliding selector 650 facing the locking lever 620. In the installed condition, the sliding selector 650 is preferably arranged in its longitudinal direction normal to the barrel direction 91 in the transverse direction 92, whereby the grooves 652 are formed substantially parallel to the barrel direction 91 or parallel to the center plane of the weapon. In the installed condition, the sliding selector 650 can protrude with both ends over the firearm's receiver 11 or—depending on the position—end flush with the receiver 11 on one side. In principle, it is also conceivable that one end lies in at least one position within the receiver 11.
If the sliding selector 650 is now shifted in the transverse direction 92 (in the position shown in the direction of the second groove 652 of the pair of grooves) by pressing on the push portion 655, the locking lever arm 621 is pressed against the spring preload thereby making it possible to shift the sliding selector 650 from the first firing position to the second firing position. As a result of the spring preload, the locking lever 620 engages in the second groove 652 of the pair of grooves after the second firing position has been reached.
Each groove 652 of a groove pair has a stop 653 on the side facing the other groove 652, so that further displacement of the sliding selector 650 is limited by the locking lever arm 621 contacting the stop 653 (
As shown, a spring-loaded plunger 670 can be arranged on one side of the locking lever 620 so that it interacts in a locking position on the inside of the trigger housing 23 and thus holds the locking lever 620 in position. The locking lever 620 will be held in position even if, for example, the trigger is pulled through to the trigger stage position 73, because the limiter 660 is pressed backward against its spring preload and thus already releases a movement of the locking lever 620. As a variant, it is also possible to arrange a further spring between the limiter 660 and the locking lever 620.
In addition to
As already described, the fire-control/safety selector 60 can be exchanged easily and without tools using the locking lever 620 according to the present disclosure. The locking lever 620 only has to be pushed back against its spring preload to release the detent 616 (in the case of a rotary selector 610), or the groove 252 (in the case of a sliding selector 650), and thus the fire-control/safety selector 60. A rotary selector 610 with three positions can easily be exchanged for a rotary selector 610 with two positions and vice versa. Likewise, a sliding selector 650 with two positions can easily be exchanged for one with three positions (and vice versa). If the cross-sectional shapes of the rotary and sliding selectors 610, 650 are appropriately selected and the selector opening 237 is appropriately shaped, it is also conceivable to exchange a rotary selector 610 for a sliding selector 650. For example, the sliding selector 650 can be round and have the same diameter as the cylinder 6111 of the rotary selector 610; the interaction of the locking lever 620 with the detent 616 prevents a round shaped sliding selector 650 from turning.
However, a round shaped sliding selector 650 with an external longitudinal rib is also conceivable, which acts as a rotary selector with a corresponding longitudinal groove in the selector opening 237. Other forms of a selector opening 237 are also possible, which can accommodate both a rotary selector 610 and a sliding selector 650 with different cross sections.
The described sliding selector 650 according to the present disclosure can also be used with triggers other than those described herein, including those known from the prior art, and it is not limited to the examples shown.
The pull-through trigger shown in
The trigger described above can be designed in two stages or as a three-stage pull-through trigger. In each case, an embodiment with a fire-control/safety selector 60, which is designed as a rotary selector 610 or a sliding selector 650, is possible, wherein the fire-control/safety selector 60 can each have two or three fire positions.
According to the above statements, it is easily possible for a person skilled in the art to implement variants of the trigger according to the present disclosure without a continuous fire function, in which, for example, the limiter 660 or the stud 613 are omitted.
This aspect of the present disclosure can therefore substantially be summarized as follows:
The present disclosure relates to a trigger unit (20) for a firearm comprising a trigger lever (26) mounted rotatably about a trigger axis (262) which, preferably formed integrally with it, has a trigger bar (264) which, viewed in a normal direction (93), lies below the trigger axis (262) and when the trigger unit (20) is actuated when the trigger bar (264) is moved against a barrel direction (91), and a fire-control/safety selector (60) for selecting at least one “safe” and one “fire” position. It is characterized in that a locking lever (620) rotatably mounted about a locking lever axis (641) is arranged in the trigger unit (20) and is biased in the circumferential direction by a locking lever spring (630), and that the locking lever axis (641), considered in the barrel direction (91), is arranged behind the trigger axis (262), and the locking lever (620) is designed for releasably fixing the fire-control/safety selector (60) in a selectable position.
In a further development it is provided that the fire-control/safety selector (60) is designed as a rotary selector (610) which is rotatably mounted about an axis parallel to the normal direction (93) and comprises a first rotary lever (611) and a second rotary lever (612),
In one embodiment, it is provided that in the installation situation in a firearm having a locking lever (620), the two rotary levers (611, 612) of the rotary selector (610), by engaging a spike (622) of the locking lever (620) in the selector slot (6165), are secured against axially moving apart, and that the rotary selector (610) is secured in this way in the trigger housing (23).
The basic idea can advantageously be further developed in such a way that the fire-control/safety selector (60) is designed as a sliding selector (650) which is mounted displaceably along an axis parallel to the normal direction (93), and
This configuration can be further developed by the sliding selector (650) having an outer contour with which it is displaceably guided in at least one opening of complementary shape in a trigger housing (23) or in the receiver (11, 111, 112) of the firearm.
The basic idea can advantageously be further developed so that the locking lever (620) comprises on one side a push portion (670) which is oriented in the transverse direction (92) and which, when installed, engages in a detent in a trigger housing (23) or in the receiver (111, 112) of the firearm.
This configuration can be further developed by the trigger housing (23) having the opening of complementary shape in which the sliding selector (650) is displaceably guided.
The basic idea can advantageously be further developed so that the trigger unit (20) is housed in a trigger housing (23), which is preferably designed as a modular drop-in unit.
The present disclosure also comprises a firearm which has one of the trigger units (20) defined above.
Another possible embodiment of the trigger according to the present disclosure is shown in
As can be seen in a synopsis of
In the assembled state, the sides of the trigger unit 20 (or of the trigger housing 23) are guided by the lateral guides 123 of the trigger pocket 12 and held in position. The front and rear ends of the trigger unit 20 (or the trigger housing 23) can rest against the front and/or rear boundaries 124 and thus guided into the trigger pocket 12 and held in position. Furthermore, at least one trigger housing protrusion 231 (
The trigger housing protrusion 231 (
The modular drop-in trigger unit 20 inserted in the trigger pocket 12 of the lower receiver 112 is thus positioned in the lower receiver 112 so that it cannot move in all directions except upward, and is also secured against upward movement in the installed condition by a retaining element in either the upper receiver 111 or the breech, and is thus fixed and immobile in the firearm's receiver 11.
The modular structure allows the number of fire positions to be changed by, for example, exchanging the fire-control/safety selector 60. Furthermore, the modular structure is advantageous, since by changing the trigger unit 20 it is possible to switch from a two-stage to a three-stage (pull-through) trigger quickly and without tools (and vice versa). There are also advantages in production because the modular drop-in trigger unit 20 according to the present disclosure can be produced particularly efficiently due to a generally small number of parts, and the individual variants of the trigger can also be implemented by exchanging only a very limited number of parts. For example, it is conceivable to use a trigger lever 26 with a trigger rear 263 designed to accommodate the back end 33 and/or a disconnector 30 with a back end 33 (which then has no function) in a pull-through trigger. Likewise, in a two-stage trigger, both a (again functionless) limiter 660 and a sear 40 that is designed to interact with a rocker lever 45 (not necessary in the two-stage trigger) are conceivable. It is also possible to have the same shape of the locking lever 620 (with or without a spring-loaded plunger 670) for either a rotary selector 610 or a sliding selector 650.
This modular drop-in trigger unit 20 according to the present disclosure can be exchanged without tools and therefore quickly and easily. If necessary, this modular drop-in trigger unit 20 represents an invention of its own, for example as defined below:
The present disclosure relates to a trigger unit (20) for a firearm and is characterized in that it is designed as a drop-in trigger unit (20) to complement a trigger pocket (12) of a lower receiver (112) of the firearm, and that the trigger pocket (12) accommodates the trigger housing (23), preferably completely accommodates it.
It should also be noted that the trigger pocket (12) as a reference value for the “module,” the drop-in trigger unit (20) is necessary in the definition without actually being part of the subject matter according to the present disclosure. The term “accommodate” is understood here to mean that the trigger unit (20) is inserted (pushed) into the trigger pocket (12) in such a way that it only protrudes from the lower receiver (112) of the firearm with those parts for which the function of such a protrusion is necessary, and the term “fully” is intended to emphasize this; it is always a technical and not a mathematical-geometric approach.
In one embodiment it is provided that the trigger unit (20) has a hammer (21) which is rotatably mounted about a hammer axis (212) and can be biased by means of a hammer spring (211), wherein the hammer spring (211) has a first arm (2111) and a second arm (2112), a trigger lever (26) rotatably mounted about a trigger axis (262) which, preferably formed integrally with it, has a trigger bar (264) which, viewed in a normal direction (93), lies below the trigger axis (262) and is moved against a barrel direction (91) when the trigger bar (264) is actuated, wherein the trigger lever (26) has a trigger rear (263) that is designed to accommodate at least one disconnector (30), as well as a sear (40) rotatably mounted about a sear axis (43) and biased by means of a sear spring (41), wherein the hammer axis (212), the trigger axis (262) and the sear axis (43) are arranged parallel to one another and parallel to a transverse direction (92)
In another embodiment it is provided that the trigger housing (23) is formed with receptacles or bearings for the pins, shafts etc. (219, 269, 640) of the components (21, 26, 30, 40) rotatable about the axes (212, 35, 262, 43).
In yet another embodiment it is provided that laterally at least one trigger housing protrusion (231) is formed on the trigger housing (23) in the transverse direction (92).
The present disclosure also relates to a trigger pocket (12) of a firearm, in particular in its lower receiver 112, for a modular drop-in trigger unit (20) as defined above, wherein it is provided that the trigger pocket (12) has lateral guides (123) which support the trigger housing (23) and hold it in position.
In a further development the lateral guides (123) are designed as rails, nipples, or, preferably, flat.
In another development, the trigger pocket (12) has front and/or rear boundaries (124) that guide the trigger housing (23) and hold it in position.
In a further development the front and/or rear boundaries (124) are designed as a rail, nipple, or, preferably, flat.
In one embodiment of the last two developments it is provided that the trigger pocket (12) has a trigger window (121) with receiving surfaces (122) for receiving a trigger housing protrusion (231) with protrusion side surfaces (232), and
This aspect of the present disclosure also relates to a firearm with a breech, an upper receiver (111) and a lower receiver (112) with a trigger pocket (12) according to one of the preceding definitions, wherein a modular drop-in trigger unit (20) is secured against upward movement in the installed condition by the upper receiver (111) and/or the breech.
In the modular drop-in trigger unit (20) according to the present disclosure, a trigger other than the one shown and described, including one already known from the prior art, can be provided because the mentioned advantages of such a drop-in trigger unit (20) can also be used with other triggers.
The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments, but can be modified and configured in various ways. In particular, the cross-sectional shapes shown in the illustrations of the mentioned receiver parts, pins, rails, recesses, etc. can be adapted to the given basic data, and the lengths and the positions with respect to the receiver can also be easily adapted by a person skilled in the art with knowledge of the present disclosure. In particular, equivalent designs are obvious with knowledge of the present disclosure and can be carried out without further ado by a person skilled in the art.
It should also be noted that, in the description and the claims, terms such as the “lower region” of an object, refer to the lower half and in particular the lower quarter of the overall height; “lowermost region” refers to the lowermost quarter, and in particular an even smaller part, while “central region” refers to the central third of the overall height. The use of the terms “width” or “length” apply mutatis mutandis. All of these terms have their generally accepted meanings applied to the intended position of the object under consideration.
Principally, it has to be stated that, the number and possibilities of combinations of the individual embodiments described are not limited to the variants shown and described. Further, it is no problem for the person skilled in the art and knowing the present disclosure to combine a detail of a first variant with one or more details of another variant or variants without sticking to (the) other details of the first variant! Free combinations of all details per se are possible without being mentioned here.
In the description and the claims, the term “substantially” means a deviation of up to 10% of the stated value, if physically possible, both downward and upward, otherwise only in the appropriate direction; in the case of degrees (angle and temperature), and for indications such as “parallel” or “normal,” these terms mean ±10°. If there are terms such as “substantially constant,” etc., what is meant is the technical possibility of deviation which the person skilled in the art takes as a basis and not a mathematical deviation. For example, a “substantially L-shaped cross-section” comprises two elongated surfaces, which merge at one end into the end of the other surface, and whose longitudinal extension is arranged at an angle of 45° to 120° to one another.
All given quantities and percentages, in particular those relating to the limitation of the present disclosure, insofar as they do not relate to specific examples, are understood to have a tolerance of ±10%; accordingly, for example: 11% means: from 9.9% to 12.1%. With terms such as “a holding means,” the word “a” is not to be considered to represent a singular numeral (“one”), but rather is to be considered an indefinite article or pronoun, unless the context indicates otherwise.
The terms “combination” or “combinations” mean, unless otherwise stated, all types of combinations, starting from two of the relevant components up to a plurality or all of such components. The term “containing” also means “consisting of.”
The features and variants stated in the individual embodiments and examples can easily be combined with those of the other examples and embodiments and, in particular, can be used for characterizing the invention in the claims without necessarily including the other details of the particular embodiment or of the particular example.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19216895.3 | Dec 2019 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/078724 | 10/13/2020 | WO |
