Manual safety

Abstract

A manual safety assembly includes a manual safety bar. A manual safety lever extends from each side of the manual safety bar to allow a user to rotate the manual safety bar. A first groove and a second groove spaced from the first groove are defined through a portion of the surface of the manual safety bar. A safety extension extends from the manual safety bar at a location between the first groove and the second groove. The manual safety bar may be inserted into manual safety openings defined in a trigger housing of a firearm. The manual safety assembly has an engaged orientation that prevents rotation of a firing pin safety lever, preventing the firearm from firing. The manual safety assembly has a disengaged orientation that allows rotation of a firing pin safety lever, allowing the firearm to be fired.

Description

[0001] MANUAL SAFETY

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention pertains generally to firearms and, in particular aspects, to a manual safety for a firearm.

[0004] To prevent accidental firing of a firearm, firearm manufacturers have designed and implemented various mechanisms. There remains, however, a desire for new and improved safety mechanisms.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A firearm may comprise a trigger housing includes a first rail and a second rail opposing the first rail. The trigger housing may support a trigger assembly including a trigger bar and a trigger in communication with the trigger bar, wherein the trigger bar includes a sear contact surface. A first manual safety opening may be defined through the first rail and a second manual safety opening may be defined through the second rail. In some embodiments, each of the first and second manual safety openings includes an entrance section and a body section in communication with the entrance section, and a width of the entrance section is less than a width of the body section.

[0007] The firearm may also include a sear assembly including a primary sear and a sear assembly pin. The primary sear may be rotatable around the sear assembly pin. A firing pin safety lever may be rotatably coupled to the sear assembly pin. In some embodiments the trigger bar may contact a sear lever flange of a sear lever that is rotatable around the sear assembly pin of the sear assembly when the trigger bar is moved rearwardly upon pulling the trigger. The trigger bar may contact a safety lever flange of the firing pin safety lever when the trigger bar is moved rearwardly upon pulling the trigger.

[0008] A manual safety assembly of the firearm may include a manual safety bar including a first end and a second end. A first manual safety lever may extend from the manual safety bar at the first end of the manual safety bar. A second manual safety lever extending from the manual safety bar at the second end of the manual safety bar. A first groove may be defined through a portion of the manual safety bar and a second groove may be defined through a portion of the manual safety bar. The second groove may be spaced from the first groove and the first groove and the second groove may be aligned on a same side of the manual safety bar. In some embodiments, the first groove may be spaced from the second groove at a distance equal to a distance between the first rail and the second rail of the trigger housing. In certain embodiments, the first groove and the second groove are rectangular.

[0009] In some embodiments, the manual safety bar of the manual safety assembly may be positioned within the first and second manual safety openings defined in the trigger housing so that the manual safety bar may rotate with respect to the trigger housing. The manual safety assembly may have an engaged orientation in which the safety extension is configured to block rotation of the firing pin safety lever about the sear assembly pin. The manual safety assembly may have a disengaged orientation in which the safety extension is positioned to allow rotation of the firing pin safety lever about the sear assembly pin.

[0010] The manual safety assembly may also include a safety extension extending from the manual safety bar. In some embodiments, the safety extension may be positioned between the first groove and the second groove and may define a safety extension recess. In some embodiments, the safety extension may define a safety extension recess. A portion of the firing pin safety lever may be configured to rotate into the safety extension recess when the manual safety assembly is in the disengaged orientation. In some embodiments, the safety extension is positioned between the first rail and the second of the trigger housing when the manual safety bar is fit within the manual safety openings.

[0011] The manual safety assembly may also include a support extension extending from the manual safety bar. In some embodiments, the support extension may be positioned between the first groove and the second groove.

[0012] In some embodiments, a width of the manual safety bar at the first groove is less than a width of the entrance section of the first manual safety opening. Additionally, a width of the manual safety bar at the second groove is less than a width of the entrance section of the second manual safety opening.

[0013] In some embodiments, the firing pin safety lever may include a rear surface and the rear surface is configured to contact the safety extension when the firing pin safety lever rotates about the sear assembly pin and the manual safety assembly is in the engaged orientation.

[0014] A method of assembling a manual safety assembly of a firearm may include orienting grooves on a manual safety bar of the manual safety assembly to be substantially parallel with respect to entrance sections of manual safety openings in a trigger housing. The manual safety bar may be inserted through the entrance sections of the manual safety openings and into body sections of the manual safety openings. The body sections may have a width that is greater than the width of the entrance sections. The manual safety bar may be rotated within the body sections of the manual safety openings. In an engaged orientation, the manual safety bar may be rotated so that a safety extension of the manual safety bar interferes with rotation of a firing pin safety lever to prevent firing of the firearm. In a disengaged orientation, the manual safety bar may be rotated so that the safety extension of the manual safety bar allows rotation of the firing pin safety lever, allowing the firearm to be fired. In some embodiments, the safety extension of the manual safety bar contacts a rear surface of the firing pin safety lever to interfere with rotation of the firing pin safety lever.

[0015] Advantageously, the manual safety assemblies disclosed herein comprising a manual safety bar and manual safety levers may be monolithic. Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of a firearm.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the firearm of FIG. 1 with the frame and the slide removed.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the firearm of FIG. 1 with the frame and the slide removed.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a right side perspective view of a trigger housing of the firearm of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a partial right side perspective view showing a rear section of the trigger housing of FIG. 4.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a manual safety assembly of the firearm of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a right side perspective view of the manual safety assembly of FIG. 6 before insertion into the manual safety openings of the trigger housing of FIG. 4.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a right side perspective view of the manual safety assembly of FIG. 6 during insertion into the manual safety openings of the trigger housing of FIG. 4.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a right side perspective view of the manual safety assembly of FIG. 6 after insertion into the manual safety openings of the trigger housing of FIG. 4.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the manual safety assembly of FIG. 6 after insertion into the manual safety openings of the trigger housing of FIG. 4 and a sear assembly within the trigger housing.

[0027] FIG. 11 is a right side cross-sectional view of the manual safety assembly of FIG. 4 in an engaged orientation.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a right side cross-sectional view of the manual safety assembly of FIG. 4 in a disengaged orientation.

[0029] DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

[0031] Directional terms, such as forward, rearward, top, bottom, etc., are used in this description with reference to the specific embodiment shown and used for purposes of clarity. It should be recognized that these terms are not meant to be limiting. For the purposes of this description, the term “forward” refers to the direction moving toward the front end of the barrel, where a bullet exits upon being fired. The term “rearward” refers to a direction moving toward the grip end of the firearm.

[0032] A side view of a firearm 20 is shown in FIG. 1. Firearm 20 includes a frame 30 that defines a magazine well 35 for receiving a magazine 40. A slide 50 is positioned atop the frame 30 so that the slide 50 may move along the length of the frame 30. A barrel 60 is supported within the slide 50. The firearm 20 also includes a trigger assembly 110 that is housed within the frame 30. In some embodiments, the trigger assembly 110 may include a trigger 113 and a trigger safety 114 that is protected by a trigger guard 116.

[0033] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a right side view and a left side view, respectively, of the firearm 20 with the frame 30 and the slide 50 hidden to more clearly show the inner components of the firearm 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the trigger assembly 110 includes a trigger bar 120 that extends rearwardly from the trigger 113 and interacts with a sear assembly 130. The sear assembly 130 interacts with the firing pin 160 to allow release of the firing pin when the trigger 113 is pulled so that the firing pin may contact a loaded cartridge to fire the firearm 20.

[0034] A safety disassembly system 175 includes a safety disassembly lever 185 that is also capable of interaction with the sear assembly 130. The safety disassembly system 175 prevents accidental firing of the firearm 20 during disassembly of the firearm 20. In some embodiments, the safety disassembly lever 185 may also prevent disassembly of the firearm 20 when a magazine 40 is inserted into the magazine well. The safety disassembly lever 185 may also prevent insertion of a magazine 40 into the magazine well 35 when the safety disassembly system 175 is in a position to allow disassembly of the firearm 20.

[0035] A trigger housing 200 may be fit within the frame 30 and may provide support for the trigger assembly 110 and may also provide additional support for the frame 30. In addition to supporting the trigger assembly, the trigger housing 200 may also support the safety disassembly system 175. In some embodiments, the trigger housing 200 may define opposed openings through which a portion of the safety disassembly system 175 may be inserted. The trigger housing 200 may also provide support for a slide stop assembly 240. The slide stop assembly 240 may include a slide stop lever and a slide stop pin. The slide stop assembly 240 allows the slide 50 to be held in a rearward position.

[0036] A recoil spring assembly 260 is positioned below the barrel 60. The recoil spring assembly 260 assists to return the slide 50 to a forward position after the firearm 20 is fired.

[0037] A magazine catch assembly 310 is found within the frame 30 and adjacent to the magazine well 35 and the magazine 40 when the magazine 40 is loaded into the magazine well. The magazine catch assembly 310 holds the magazine 40 within the magazine well 35, and operation of the magazine catch assembly allows the magazine 40 to be released from the magazine well 35. In some embodiments, the magazine catch assembly 310 is designed to be ambidextrous so it may be operated by a right-handed or a left-handed user from either side of the firearm 20. Further, in some embodiments, the magazine catch assembly 310 may operate to prevent release of the magazine 40 from the magazine well 35 when the trigger 113 is pulled.

[0038] The firearm 20 also includes a manual safety assembly 340 which is positioned near the rearward end of the firearm 20. The manual safety assembly 340 may be in contact with and secured to a portion of the trigger housing 200. The manual safety assembly 340 may be rotatable with respect to the trigger housing 200, so that when the manual safety assembly 340 is rotated into an engaged orientation, the manual safety assembly 340 prevents rotation of the sear assembly 130. This prevents the firearm 20 from firing because the sear assembly 130 is unable to rotate to release the firing pin 160.

[0039] A backstrap assembly 360 is attachable to a rearward face of the frame 30. The backstrap assembly 360 provides a grip for a user firing the firearm 20. The backstrap assembly 360 may be designed to ergonomically fit within the hand of a user to increase comfort and make the firearm 20 more secure and easier to handle. In some embodiments, the backstrap assembly 360 may be designed to be attached and detached from the frame 30 without the need for an additional tool. Additionally, in some embodiments, the backstrap assembly 360 may include a lanyard assembly 390 that allows a lanyard to be attached the firearm 20.

[0040] An optical sight assembly 410 may be positioned on the top of the slide 50 of firearm 20. The slide 50 may include multiple mounting locations for the optical sight assembly 410 so that different varieties of optical sight assemblies 410 may be attached to the slide 50 as desired without the need for different mounting plates to be installed on the slide 50.

[0041] The trigger housing 200 is shown in FIG. 4. The trigger housing 200 includes a housing front section 201 and a housing rear section 202. The trigger housing 200 includes a pair of opposed rails 210, 220 that extend generally parallel to each other. The rails 210 are connected by a front housing brace 203 and a rear housing brace 206 that extend between and connect to a portion of the respective bottom edges of the rails 210, 220.

[0042] The rails 210, 220 define several aligned openings that allow for various components of firearm 20 to be inserted through and / or supported by the trigger housing 200. In the rear section 202, a manual safety opening 216 is defined through rail 210 and a corresponding manual safety opening 226 is defined through rail 220 to align with the manual safety opening 216. In the embodiment shown, the manual safety opening 216 is positioned rearward of a sear assembly pin opening 215 on rail 210 and the manual safety opening 226 is positioned rearward of a sear assembly pin 225 opening on rail 220.

[0043] In the embodiment shown, each of the manual safety openings 216, 226 extend through a bottom edge 211, 221 of the respective rail 210, 220 of the trigger housing 200. Each of the manual safety openings has a width that is smaller at the bottom edge of the rail 210, 220 and that increases moving away from the bottom edge of the rail 210, 220. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the manual safety opening 216 has an entrance section 217 that extends through the bottom edge 211 of rail 210. The manual safety opening 216 also includes a body section 218 that is in communication with the entrance section 217. The body section 218 of the manual safety opening 216 has a width that is greater than a width of the entrance section 217. Likewise, the manual safety opening 226 has an entrance section 227 that extends through the bottom edge 221 of rail 220. The manual safety opening 226 also includes a body section 228 that is in communication with the entrance section 227. The body section 228 of the manual safety opening 226 has a width that is greater than a width of the entrance section 227.

[0044] The manual safety assembly 340 is illustrated in FIG. 6. The manual safety assembly 340 includes a manual safety bar 342 and a manual safety lever 352, 354 that extends from each end of the manual safety bar 342. The manual safety bar 342 is rounded, but includes portions having a reduced cross-sectional dimension, such as a pair of grooves 343, 344 that are flat surfaces on the manual safety bar 342. In the embodiment shown, the grooves 343, 344 are rectangular in shape and aligned on the same side of the manual safety bar 342. These grooves 343, 344 are spaced apart from each other on the manual safety bar 342 at the same distance that rail 210 is spaced from 220 in the trigger housing 200. A safety extension 345 extends from the manual safety bar 342 and is positioned between the grooves 343, 344, adjacent to groove 343. In the embodiment shown, the safety extension 345 has a hook shape the defines a safety extension recess 346. A support extension 348 also extends from the manual safety bar 342 at a position adjacent to groove 344 and between grooves 343, 344.

[0045] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the assembly process for coupling the manual safety assembly 340 to the trigger housing 200. The manual safety bar 342 is rotationally aligned with the manual safety openings 216, 226 in the trigger housing 200 so that the grooves 343, 344 are parallel with respect to the surfaces that define the entrance sections 217, 227 of the manual safety openings 216, 226 in the trigger housing 200.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 8, orienting the grooves 343, 344 in this manner allows the manual safety assembly bar 242 to be inserted into the manual safety openings 216, 226. The grooves 343, 344 reduce the cross-sectional dimension (e.g., diameter) of the manual safety bar 342 so that the manual safety bar 342 may fit within the reduced diameter of the entrance sections 217, 227 of the manual safety openings 216, 226. Once the manual safety bar 342 is positioned within the body section 218, 228 of the manual safety openings 216, 226, the manual safety bar 342 may be rotated. The diameter of the manual safety bar 342 at the locations where the grooves 343, 344 are not present is greater than the width of the entrance sections 217, 227 of the manual safety openings 216, 226. Therefore, when the grooves 343, 344 are not parallel to the surfaces that define the entrance sections 217, 227 of the manual safety openings 216, 226, the manual safety bar 342 may not be removed from within the manual safety openings 216, 226. This prevents the manual safety bar 342 from inadvertently being removed from the manual safety openings 216, 226.

[0047] FIG. 9 illustrates the manual safety assembly 340 when the manual safety bar 342 has been inserted into the body sections 218, 228 of the manual safety openings 216, 226. The larger diameter of the body sections 218, 228 of the manual safety openings 216, 226 compared to the entrance sections 217, 227 allows the manual safety bar 342 to rotate within the body sections 218, 228. Rotation of the manual safety bar 342 may be used to place the manual safety assembly 340 into an engaged orientation or a disengaged orientation, as desired.

[0048] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the manual safety assembly 340 and the sear assembly 130 of the firearm 20 supported by the trigger housing 200. Other components of the firearm 20 have been removed from this view to more clearly show the interaction of the manual safety assembly 340 with the sear assembly 130.

[0049] The sear assembly 130 includes a sear lever 132, a safety sear 140 and a primary sear 150. An opening is defined through each of these components of the sear assembly 130. Each of these openings is aligned so that a sear assembly pin 131 may extend through the openings to connect the sear lever 132, safety sear 140, and primary sear 150. Each of the sear lever 132, safety sear 140, and the primary sear 150 are independently rotatable about the sear assembly pin 131. A firing pin safety lever 350 is also rotatably coupled to the sear assembly pin 131 and is positioned adjacent to the sear lever 132. The primary sear 150 includes a sear catch 156 that interacts with a firing pin 160 (see FIG. 2) of the firearm 20 to retain the firing pin 160 until the trigger of the firearm 20 is pulled.

[0050] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the manual safety assembly 340 in an engaged orientation and shows the interaction of the manual safety assembly with the sear assembly 130 while the manual safety assembly 340 is in the engaged orientation. The trigger bar 120 includes a sear contact surface 121 at the rear portion of the trigger bar 120. The sear contact surface 121 of the trigger bar 120 is aligned with a firing pin safety lever flange 353 of the firing pin safety lever 350 and a sear lever flange 133 of the sear lever 132. Pulling on the trigger 113 causes the trigger bar 120 to move rearwardly. As the trigger bar 120 moves rearward, the sear contact surface 121 of the trigger bar 120 comes into contact with the safety lever flange 353 and the sear lever flange 133. The force applied by the trigger bar 120 as the trigger bar 120 moves rearwardly causes the firing pin safety lever 350 and the sear lever 132 to rotate about the sear assembly pin 131. The rotation of the sear lever 132 causes the safety sear 140 and the primary sear 150 to also rotate so that the rear portion of the safety sear 140 and the rear portion of the primary sear 150 drop with respect to the firing pin 160, releasing the firing pin to contact a cartridge loaded in the firearm 20.

[0051] When the manual safety assembly is engaged, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the safety extension 345 of the manual safety bar 342 is positioned to block or interfere with rotation of the firing pin safety lever 350. A rear surface 351 of the firing pin safety lever 350 contacts the safety extension so that rotation of the firing pin safety lever 350 is avoided or limited to less than that sufficient to allow firing of the firearm. In other words, the avoided or limited rotation of the firing pin safety lever 350 limits rearward movement of the trigger bar 120 and avoids or limits rotation of the sear lever 132. In turn, since rotation of the sear lever 132 is avoided or limited, rotation of the safety sear 140 and the primary sear 150 is avoided or limited as well and the firing pin is not released from the sear catch 156 on the primary sear 150.

[0052] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the manual safety assembly 340 in a disengaged orientation and shows the interaction of the manual safety assembly 340 with the sear assembly 130 while the manual safety assembly 340 is in the disengaged orientation. To move the manual safety assembly 340 from the engaged orientation to the disengaged orientation, the manual safety bar 342 is rotated, typically using either of the manual safety levers 352, 354. In the view shown in FIG. 12, the manual safety bar 342 is rotated clockwise to move the manual safety assembly 340 from the engaged to the disengaged orientation. However, in other embodiments, the direction of rotation to move the manual safety assembly 340 from the engaged to the disengaged orientation may be switched.

[0053] As shown, rotation of the manual safety bar 342 causes rotation of the safety extension 345. The rotation of the safety extension 345 aligns the safety extension recess 346 with the rear surface 351 of the firing pin safety lever 350. This allows for rotation of the firing pin safety lever 350 as the trigger bar 120 moves rearward upon a user pulling the trigger 113 of the firearm 20. The rear surface 351 of the firing pin safety lever 350 is able to enter the safety extension recess 346 in the safety extension 345 so that the safety extension 345 does not limit rotation of the firing pin safety lever 350 to less than that sufficient to allow firing of the firearm. Accordingly, trigger bar 120 is able to move rearwardly and rotate the sear lever 132 through contact with the sear lever flange 133. Rotation of the sear lever 132 causes the safety sear 140 and the primary sear 150 to rotate so that the firing pin 160 loses contact with the sear catch 156 and is biased forward to impact a cartridge loaded in the firearm 20.

[0054] The following numbered clauses set out specific embodiments that may be useful in understanding the present invention:

[0055] 1. A manual safety assembly comprising: a manual safety bar including a first end and a second end; a first manual safety lever extending from said manual safety bar at said first end of said manual safety bar; a first groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; a second groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar, wherein said second groove is spaced from said first groove; and wherein said first groove and said second groove are aligned on a same side of said manual safety bar.

[0056] 2. The manual safety assembly of clause 1, wherein said first groove and said second groove are rectangular.

[0057] 3. The manual safety assembly of any preceding clause, further comprising: a safety extension extending from said manual safety bar.

[0058] 4. The manual safety assembly of clause 3, wherein said safety extension defines a safety extension recess.

[0059] 5. The manual safety assembly of clause 3, wherein said safety extension is positioned between said first groove and said second groove.

[0060] 6. The manual safety assembly of clause 3, further comprising: a support extension extending from said manual safety bar.

[0061] 7. The manual safety assembly of clause 6, wherein said support extension is positioned between said first groove and said second groove.

[0062] 8. The manual safety assembly of any preceding clause, further comprising: a second manual safety lever extending from said manual safety bar at said second end of said manual safety bar.

[0063] 9. A firearm comprising: a trigger housing including a first rail and a second rail opposing said first rail, wherein a first manual safety opening is defined through said first rail and a second manual safety opening is defined through said second rail; a sear assembly including a primary sear and a sear assembly pin, wherein said primary sear is rotatable around said sear assembly pin; a manual safety assembly including a manual safety bar and a safety extension extending from said manual safety bar; a firing pin safety lever, wherein said firing pin safety lever is rotatably coupled to said sear assembly pin; wherein said manual safety bar of said manual safety assembly is positioned within said first and second manual safety openings defined in said trigger housing so that said manual safety bar is rotatable with respect to said trigger housing; and wherein said manual safety' assembly has an engaged orientation in which said safety extension is configured to block rotation of said firing pin safety lever about said sear assembly pin; and wherein said manual safety assembly has a disengaged orientation in which said safety extension is positioned to allow rotation of said firing pin safety lever about said sear assembly pin.

[0064] 10. The firearm of clause 9, further comprising: a first groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; and a second groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar, wherein said second groove is spaced from said first groove.

[0065] 11. The firearm of clause 10 wherein said first groove is spaced from said second groove at a distance equal to a distance between said first rail and said second rail of said trigger housing.

[0066] 12. The firearm of any one of clauses 9-11, wherein said safety extension defines a safety extension recess, and wherein a portion of said firing pin safety lever is configured to rotate into said safety extension recess when the manual safety assembly is in the disengaged orientation.

[0067] 13. The firearm of any one of clauses 9-12, wherein said safety extension is positioned between said first rail and said second of said trigger housing when said manual safety bar is fit within said manual safety openings. 14. The firearm of any one of clauses 9-13, wherein each of said first and second manual safety openings includes an entrance section and a body section in communication with said entrance section, and wherein a width of the entrance section is less than a width of the body section.

[0068] 15. The firearm of clause 14, wherein a first groove is defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; wherein a second groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; and wherein a width of said manual safety bar at said first groove is less than a width of the entrance section of said first manual safety opening, and wherein a width of said manual safety bar at said second groove is less than a width of the entrance section of said second manual safety opening.

[0069] 16. The firearm of any one of clauses 9-15, further comprising: a trigger assembly including a trigger bar and a trigger in communication with said trigger bar, wherein said trigger bar includes a sear contact surface.

[0070] 17. The firearm of clause 16, wherein said trigger bar is configured to contact a sear lever flange of a sear lever that is rotatable around said sear assembly pin of said sear assembly when said trigger bar is moved rearwardly upon pulling said trigger; and wherein said trigger bar is configured to contact a safety lever flange of said firing pin safety lever when said trigger bar is moved rearwardly upon pulling said trigger.

[0071] 18. The firearm of any one of clauses 9-17, wherein said firing pin safety lever includes a rear surface and wherein said rear surface is configured to contact said safety extension when said firing pin safety lever rotates about said sear assembly pin and said manual safety assembly is in said engaged orientation.

[0072] 19. A method of assembling a manual safety assembly of a firearm, the method comprising: orienting grooves on a manual safety bar of the manual safety assembly to be substantially parallel with respect to entrance sections of manual safety openings in a trigger housing; inserting the manual safety bar through the entrance sections of said manual safety openings and into body sections of said manual safety openings, wherein said body sections have a width that is greater than the width of said entrance sections; rotating said manual safety bar within said body sections of said manual safety openings; wherein in an engaged orientation, said manual safety bar is rotated so that a safety extension of said manual safety bar interferes with rotation of a firing pin safety lever to prevent firing of the firearm; and wherein in a disengaged orientation, said manual safety bar is rotated so that the safety extension of said manual safety bar allows rotation of the firing pin safety lever, allowing the firearm to be fired.

[0073] 20. The method of clause 19, wherein said safety extension of said manual safety bar contacts a rear surface of said firing pin safety lever to interfere with rotation of said firing pin safety lever.

[0074] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A manual safety assembly comprising: a manual safety bar including a first end and a second end; a first manual safety lever extending from said manual safety bar at said first end of said manual safety bar; a first groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; a second groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar, wherein said second groove is spaced from said first groove; and wherein said first groove and said second groove are aligned on a same side of said manual safety bar.

2. The manual safety assembly of claim 1, wherein said first groove and said second groove are rectangular.

3. The manual safety assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a safety extension extending from said manual safety bar.

4. The manual safety assembly of claim 3, wherein said safety extension defines a safety extension recess.

5. The manual safety assembly of claim 3, wherein said safety extension is positioned between said first groove and said second groove.

6. The manual safety assembly of claim 3, further comprising: a support extension extending from said manual safety bar.

7. The manual safety assembly of claim 6, wherein said support extension is positioned between said first groove and said second groove.

8. The manual safety assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:a second manual safety lever extending from said manual safety bar at said second end of said manual safety bar.

9. A firearm comprising: a trigger housing including a first rail and a second rail opposing said first rail, wherein a first manual safety opening is defined through said first rail and a second manual safety opening is defined through said second rail; a sear assembly including a primary sear and a sear assembly pin, wherein said primary sear is rotatable around said sear assembly pin; a manual safety assembly including a manual safety bar and a safety extension extending from said manual safety bar; a firing pin safety lever, wherein said firing pin safety lever is rotatably coupled to said sear assembly pin; wherein said manual safety bar of said manual safety assembly is positioned within said first and second manual safety openings defined in said trigger housing so that said manual safety bar is rotatable with respect to said trigger housing; and wherein said manual safety assembly has an engaged orientation in which said safety extension is configured to block rotation of said firing pin safety lever about said sear assembly pin; and wherein said manual safety assembly has a disengaged orientation in which said safety extension is positioned to allow rotation of said firing pin safety lever about said sear assembly pin.

10. The firearm of claim 9, further comprising: a first groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; and a second groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar, wherein said second groove is spaced from said first groove.

11. The firearm of claim 10 wherein said first groove is spaced from said second groove at a distance equal to a distance between said first rail and said second rail of said trigger housing.

12. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said safety extension defines a safety extension recess, and wherein a portion of said firing pin safety lever is configured to rotate into said safety extension recess when the manual safety assembly is in the disengaged orientation.

13. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said safety extension is positioned between said first rail and said second of said trigger housing when said manual safety bar is fit within said manual safety openings.

14. The firearm of claim 9, wherein each of said first and second manual safety openings includes an entrance section and a body section in communication with said entrance section, and wherein a width of the entrance section is less than a width of the body section.

15. The firearm of claim 14, wherein a first groove is defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; wherein a second groove defined through a portion of said manual safety bar; and wherein a width of said manual safety bar at said first groove is less than a width of the entrance section of said first manual safety opening, and wherein a width of said manual safety bar at said second groove is less than a width of the entrance section of said second manual safety opening.

16. The firearm of claim 9, further comprising: a trigger assembly including a trigger bar and a trigger in communication with said trigger bar, wherein said trigger bar includes a sear contact surface.

17. The firearm of claim 16, wherein said trigger bar is configured to contact a sear lever flange of a sear lever that is rotatable around said sear assembly pin of said sear assembly when said trigger bar is moved rearwardly upon pulling said trigger; and wherein said trigger bar is configured to contact a safety lever flange of said firing pin safety lever when said trigger bar is moved rearwardly upon pulling said trigger.

18. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said firing pin safety lever includes a rear surface and wherein said rear surface is configured to contact said safety extension when said firing pin safety lever rotates about said sear assembly pin and said manual safety assembly is in said engaged orientation.

19. A method of assembling a manual safety assembly of a firearm, the method comprising: orienting grooves on a manual safety bar of the manual safety assembly to be substantially parallel with respect to entrance sections of manual safety openings in a trigger housing; inserting the manual safety bar through the entrance sections of said manual safety openings and into body sections of said manual safety openings, wherein said body sections have a width that is greater than the width of said entrance sections; rotating said manual safety bar within said body sections of said manual safety openings; wherein in an engaged orientation, said manual safety bar is rotated so that a safety extension of said manual safety bar interferes with rotation of a firing pin safety lever to prevent firing of the firearm; and wherein in a disengaged orientation, said manual safety bar is rotated so that the safety extension of said manual safety bar allows rotation of the firing pin safety lever, allowing the firearm to be fired.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said safety extension of said manual safety bar contacts a rear surface of said firing pin safety lever to interfere with rotation of said firing pin safety lever.

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