US20080222935A1

US20080222935A1 - Three-Piece Grip Safety

Info

Publication number: US20080222935A1
Application number: US12/050,028
Authority: US
Inventors: Ned F. Christiansen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-16
Filing date: 2008-03-17
Publication date: 2008-09-18

Abstract

The present invention is an improved multiple piece grip safety for handguns. The safety comprises a fixed main body and two interfacing pivoting members, pivoting about the top and bottom of the grip respectively. The two interfacing pivoting members counteract each other to prevent accidental disengagement of the safety while also providing a more efficient purposeful disengagement.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority on prior filed U.S. provisional application No. 60/895,301, filed Mar. 16, 2007, and incorporates the prior Application herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of firearms and more particularly relates to a grip safety for handguns which is structured in two pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The grip safety of a pistol is intended to prevent the pistol from firing until a proper firing grasp depresses it forward, pivoting on a pin. This action pivots the body of the grip safety inward. An integral blocking arm, which protrudes forward from the grip safety's main body and into the interior of the pistol, pivots upward as the grip safety is depressed inward. This upward motion of the arm removes it from the path of the trigger bow, allowing the trigger to be pulled and thus the pistol to be fired.
The most common design for a grip safety is called a “beavertail,” shown in FIG. 1. The term beavertail is derived from the fact that the top portion of the grip safety 10 is wider and longer than the original design, and somewhat resembles a beaver's tail. These have been in common use for 25+ years, first as aftermarket parts custom fitted, then as factory standard features. The advantage of the beavertail grip safety is increased comfort afforded by the wider and longer top portion, which, when the pistol is held in a firing grasp, is situated over the top of the web of the hand. The increased contact area tends to distribute the recoil from firing over a larger portion of the hand, reducing the perception of recoil.
It was soon realized that, while comfort was increased, the upward pressure that the web of the hand exerted to the underside of the beavertail directly opposed the forward pressure required to be applied to the lower portion of the grip safety. The result was that many shooters complained that full disengagement of the grip safety was difficult to obtain, resulting in the pistol not firing. The only solution offered has been the addition of a raised area at the bottom of the grip safety 15, to increase the likelihood of getting the grip safety depressed enough to enable firing. This solution does work most of the time for most shooters. Some shooters resort to taping or pinning the grip safety into the depressed position to make sure. Other shooters fear this solution as a potential legal liability. The beavertail grip safety as it exists, then, can be likened to a Bell crank—pressure forward on the lower portion is desirable and necessary. Pressure upward on the underside of the beavertail portion is counterproductive but unavoidable
The inventor developed a solution to the above problem in the form of a two-piece grip safety in 2004. FIG. 2 represents the original design from January of 2004. The solution is accomplished by making the grip safety a two-piece unit, where the main body 20 no longer pivots. Only the right-hand side pivots, and no portion of this pivoting member 25 extends above the pivot point 23; so, no pressure counter to the required forward pressure can be exerted. The result is a more certain and consistent disengagement of the grip safety. Further improvement occurred in January 2006 by making the bottom portion of the pivoting member 25 somewhat wider. This design is, however, susceptible to accidental disengagement as the pivoting member is free to pivot about the pivot point 23 without hinderance.
The present invention is a still further improvement in the two-piece grip safety design. In the present design, the lower portion is further enlarged to increase positive activation and it is structured in two pieces which interact cooperatively to disengage the safety. The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the two-piece grip safety of the present invention allows for an easier disengagement of the safety while still insuring that such disengagement is purposeful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of grip safeties, this invention provides an improved two-piece grip safety. To accomplish these objectives, the improved grip safety comprises a fixedly attached body with a secondary pivoting member. The pivoting member is connected to a blocking arm which protrudes into the weapon and blocks the trigger bow. Towards the bottom of the pivoting member is a broad thick pressure plate to increase positive interaction between the pivoting member and a user's hand. The pivoting member likewise interacts with a tertiary pivoting lower member, which can bias the secondary pivoting member in the disengaged position.
The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.
Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art beavertail style grip safety.

FIG. 2 is a prior art two-piece grip safety.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial section view of the present invention, detailing the interaction of the present invention and the firearm to which it is mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the two-piece grip safety is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the grip safety comprises a fixed main body 30, ideally of the beavertail style, and an adjacent pivoting member 34 mounted upon an upper pivot point 32. Pivoting member is generally located on the right hand side of the main body 30, though appropriate configurations of weapons would allow a left hand side mounting. Pivoting member 34 may also have an expended region or pad to further increase hand contact and depressive action. Extending into the firearm from the pivoting member 34 is a blocking arm 35 which engages trigger bow 40 and prevents firing of the weapon. Pivoting member also interfaces with pivoting base member 36 hinged on lower pivot point 38. These two members have a length sufficient to allow them to contact each other and serve as mutual blocks to free motion. This causes the members to have a slight outwards bowing effect. However, their length is not sufficient to prevent intentional depression and rotation. The actual lengths of these members will then vary depending upon the make and model of firearm and grip associated with said firearm. It will also be dependent upon the location of the pivot points for each member. When depressed by a user's hand, pivoting member 34 rotates slightly upward, thereby rotating blocking arm 35 correspondingly upwards to disengage from the trigger bow 40, allowing the weapon to be fired. Base member 36 is also depressed in the action. Simply depressing base member 36 will also depress pivoting member 34 due to their abutment and rotational relation, causing disengagement of the blocking arm 35. The result is a more efficient grip safety as it is easier to purposefully engage, while lessening accidental engagement of pivoting member 34 and base member 36 due to their counter-positioning at their joint.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

1. A grip safety for a handgun comprising:

a. an upper pivoting member, extending in a generally downward direction and having a generally perpendicular trigger block extending from a back side and pivoting about a point near a top of a grip of the handgun; and

b. a lower pivoting member, pivoting about a bottom of the handgun grip, the upper and lower pivoting members interfacing in a manner to restrict but not prohibit free motion of the upper pivoting member;

wherein the trigger block engages and prevents motion of a trigger bow inside the handgun and depression of the upper pivoting member will cause rotation of said member about its pivot point and rotate the trigger block out of engagement with the trigger bow.

2. The grip safety of claim 1, further comprising a static member, fixedly attached to the grip of the handgun and adjacent at least the upper pivoting member.

3. The grip safety of claim 2, the static member having a flared upper portion.

4. The grip safety of claim 1, the upper pivoting member having an expanded lower pad adjacent to the interface of the upper and lower pivoting members.

5. The grip safety of claim 4, further comprising a static member, fixedly attached to the grip of the handgun and adjacent at least the upper pivoting member.

6. The grip safety of claim 5, the static member having a flared upper portion.