GB2205633A - Trigger and trigger guard spring system - Google Patents

Description

2205633 TRIGGER AND TRIGGER GUARD SPRING SYSTEM _Prior arrangements for

handguns have'been proposed In which the trigger spring Is used to perform additional functions in the operation of the gun (U.S. Rugor Patent No.

4,067el3l). Spring loaded attachments have been proposed for trigger guards for use with easier disassembly (U.S.

Ruger Patent No. 3r654,720).

Prior arrangements in handguns for the ready removal and disassembly of trigger guards have not; however, satisfactorily provided for adequate integrity during operation, ease of removal for assembly, and simplicity of design.

Also, the shape of the rearward portions of detachable trigger guards has been such that exact mating of the trigger guard and grips of the handgun has been impossible in normal manufacture.

Broadly# the present invention comprises a handgun having a frame, a trigger, a removable trigger guard mounted on the frame through a releasable latch mounted on the trigger guard and engageable with the frame wherein spring ineans mounted on the trigger guard urges (a) the latch to its frame engagement position and (b) urges the trigger to its at rest position.

It Is a feature of the invention that as the trigger is pulled to move it from its at rest position to its fire position the trigger guard latch arrangement is subjected to greater force thus Increasing the force necessary to separate the frame and the guard and avoiding inadvertent detachment during recoil.

It is also a feature of the invention that the rearward portion of the trigger guard is so shaped and configured to mate exactly with the handgun's grips, thus avoiding gaps between the grips and trigger guard which must occur In the the use of conventionally shaped trigger guards, and which can pinch portions of the user fingers.

rig. 1 Is a wide Clevational view of the revolver of the Inventioni rig. 2 is an enlarged partially broken away elevational view of showing the trigger guard latch and hammer spring arrangementy Fig. 3 Is a partial side elevational view of the revolver with portions broken away showing the trigger In its rest position; Fig. 4 Is a partial wide elevational view of the revolver with portions broken away showing the trigger In Its pulled position; Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of Figs.

3 and 4; Fig. 6 Is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Fig.

3; rig. 7 is a aectional view along line 7-7 of Fig.

3; rig. 8 is an exploded view showing the trigger guard, trigger and associated parts; Fig. 9 Is a partial perspective view of the revolver showing the trigger guard and its engagement with the handle grips; and rig. 10 Is a partial bottom view of the revolver.

in rig. 1, 2, and 3, revolver 10 Includes barrel 11, frame 12, cylinder 13, trigger guard 14 Including trigger guard housing 14a and trigger guard band 14b, trigger 16, handle 17 and handle grips 18a, leb. Also shown are hammer 19, hammer strut 21 and hammer spring 22, rear sight 23, transfer bar 24 and firing pin 26.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4t trigger guard 14 Is relessably engageable with frame 12 through (1) forward trigger guard lug 28 which is received In frame lug recess 29, and (2) spring loaded rearward detent 31 vh1ch is received by handle recess 32 in handle 17. Detent 31 is slidably mounted In trigger guard passageway 33 and Is biased rearwardly by coil spring 34 which engages guard slide piece 35 also slidable in passageway 33. Trigger -strut 36 is pivotally connected to trigger 16 about pin 38.

Trigger 16 is mounted on frame 12 through trigger pivot pin 39 and trigger 16 is biased forwardly to its at rest position by action of spring 34 and strut 36. Strut 36 engages slide 35 in slide and hollow 43 to accommodate for slight change in orientation of strut 36 during operation of trigger 16. In its rest position, trigger 16's rotation about pin 39 counterclockwise is limited by trigger face 41 engagement cylinder latch 42.

Turning now to Figs. 4 and 5, it is seen that as trigger 16 is pulled back spring 34 is compressed through rearward movement of strut 36, in turn causing slide 35 to move rearwardly against spring 34. Since detent 31 is unable to move further rearwardly in recess 32v the force holding detent 31 in handle recess 32 is increased as the trigger 16 is pulled thus increasing the forces required to cause trigger guard 14 to be released from the frame 12 during handling or firing of the revolver.

Detent 31 includes a notched portion 44, retaining lip 45 for engaging retaining pin 47 to prevent detent 31 from exiting passageway 33 under urging of spring 34 upon disassembly of the trigger guard 14. Coil spring 34 is mounted around slide projection 51 forming a part of slide at Its rearward end and around detent projection 52 formed at the forward end of detent 31 (see oleo FIG. 6).

4_ Turning to figs. 6, 7t and 61 the preferred embodiment Is further shown Including an exploded view. it is seen that trigger 16 includes a trigger recess S3 to accommodate strut 36 as mounted on pin 38 too Figs. 6 and 8). a.

Turning finally to Fig. 9 and 10, trigger guard 14 Includes rearward trigger housing section 55 (see also Irig.

6) which housing section 55 further includes center section 56 and side sections 57, 56. Center section 56 extends rearwardly further than side sections 57, SO. Center section 56 fits into and Is received by half-notch 60 in left-hand grip l8a and half-notch 61 in right-hand grip l8b.

The trigger guard housing 14a with it center section 56 together with complementary hand grip notches 60, 61 provide revolver 10 with a continuous curvature from the guard band l4b rearwardly to grips 16a, 18b. This structural feature provides a continuous curvature line along the underside of the revolver from the guard band l4b to and including the handle grips l8a, l6b, which is Impossible with conventional revolvers because the rear of their trigger guards are fitted to the metal grip frames, Instead of the grips themselves, as in the described invention. The grips of conventional revolverag if they are of the awraparound" style which cover the metal grip frame, must necessarily overlap the grip frame and therefore will always create a gap between the rear of the trigger guard and the front lower portion of the grips, approximately in area 56. No gap or opening is formed between trigger guard 14 and the revolver handle into which a portion of the gun operator's finger could be lodged and subsequently pinched by recoil of the revolver, because the invention provides for exact flush fit of the rear of the guard (56, 57, 56) and the overlapping grip.

qws- CLUKS1 In & handgun having a frame# a trigger Pivotally mounted On the frame# and a detachable trigger guard mounted on the framet the Improvement comprizings a) first latch cans for engaging a forward portion of trigger guard to the framei b) second latch cans for engaging a rearward portion of the txlgger guard to the frame Including a latch-receiving recess In the framei the second latch means In turn comprising; a) strut means pivotally mounted on trIggerl b) spring means on the is trigger guard urging the strut means forward to place the trigger In a biased-forward position; and c) releasable latch cans on the trigger guard which latch means Is urged Into the said latch- receiving recess in the frame by said spring means; d) trigger pivot means about which the trigger rotates as the trigger moves rearwardly carrying the strut means to compress the spring means to In turn i.ncrease the forces with which the detachable trigger guard Is held In the frame; whereby said spring means simultaneously biases the trigger and the releasable latch means and whereby the pulling of the trigger In a rearward direction increases the biasing force on the releasable latch means.

2. The Improvement of claim I In which the second latch means Is housed in trigger guard passageway and further Includes a slide means and slidable dtOnt means each such means alidably mounted In said passageway and each such means urged apart by said spring weanse 3. The Improvement of claim 2 In which the detent means Is prevented from exiting the passageway by detent limit means whereby upon disassembly of the trigger guard the detent means will remain in the guard passageway.

4. In a handgun having a frame, a handle, handle grips on the handle and a trigger guard, the improvement comprising a) a trigger housing and a trigger guard band forming the trigger guard; and b) the trigger housing including a rearward housing section shaped to abuttingly engage the handle grips to define a continuously lower curvature line along the underside of the handgun between the trigger guard band and the handle grips. I 5. The improvement of claim 4 in which the rearward trigger housing section includes a center tab section which is positioned in notches in the grips.

6. A handoun substantially as hereinlefore described with reference to the acconnanyin- drawings.

POOR Amendments to the claims (WALITY have been filed as follows

Claims (3)

1. In a handgun having a framet a handle,handl grips on the handIt and a trigger guard, the improvealt nt comprising:

a) a trigger housing and a trigger guard band forming the trigger guard: and b) the trigger housing including a rearward bou# ng section shaped to abuttinqly engage the handle gr ps to define a continuously lower curvature line a14 9 the underside of the handgun between the trigger, qiard band and the handle grips.

2, The improvement of claim 1 in which the rearw rd trigger housing section includes a center tab seotionj which is positioned in notches in-the grips.

3. A handgun substantially as hereinbtfore described with reference to the accompanying drawingl ice, ubljshed 1985 at The Patent Office. State House, 66171 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Off ltd, st Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1/87.

Sales Branch, St Ma.17 Cray. Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques