Trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism

Abstract

A gun having a trigger block magazine disconnect safety mechanism includes a frame, a trigger, a block, and a spring. The frame has a magazine well configured to receive a magazine. The trigger is pivotably mounted in the frame and operable between a resting position and a pulled position. The block is between the trigger and the magazine well. The block is movable via receipt of the magazine in the magazine well from a blocking position to a non-blocking position. In the blocking position, the block obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position. In the non-blocking position, the block does not obstruct movement of the trigger to the pulled position. The spring extends through the block and biases the block toward the blocking position so that the block obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position when the magazine is absent from the magazine well.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63 / 743,376, filed Jan. 9, 2025 and titled “TRIGGER BLOCKING MAGAZINE DISCONNECT SAFETY MECHANISM,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not Applicable.REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

[0004] Not Applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of guns, including firearms and airguns. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to safety mechanisms for auto-loading pistols. Modern auto-loading pistols typically utilize removable magazines that hold multiple cartridges. Various safety mechanisms operable to disable the firing control mechanism of such pistols are known. One type of safety mechanism, known as a “magazine disconnect” safety mechanism, operates to prevent the weapon from firing when the magazine is removed. These types of safety mechanisms are required by law in some states. However, currently available magazine disconnect safety mechanisms are overly complicated with intricate components, making them expensive and difficult to manufacture and assemble, and challenging to service.

[0006] U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2025 / 0102256 discloses a magazine disconnect mechanism that includes an intricate hollow trigger block with an open coil compression spring housed therein. The trigger block has a wide longitudinal channel into which a part of the receiver protrudes. The coil spring is seated longitudinally in the channel between a surface of the trigger block and the part of the receiver that protrudes into the channel. The coil spring pushes against the receiver in the channel to bias the trigger block into a blocking position wherein the trigger cannot be pulled to discharge the weapon. However, the intricate design of this trigger block makes it delicate and therefore challenging to manufacture and assemble, requiring appreciable dexterity to properly fit the trigger block to the receiver and insert the removable coil spring into the channel. The small coil spring can also easily become lost when the weapon is disassembled for maintenance. In addition, the large open channel in which the coil spring rides also exposes the mechanism to fouling which can interfere with proper functioning. Accordingly, what is needed are improvements in safety mechanisms for auto-loading pistols.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] This Brief Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Features of the presently disclosed invention overcome or minimize some or all of the identified deficiencies of the prior art, as will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information presented in this document.

[0008] It is a goal of the present invention to provide a trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism for guns that is simply designed, sturdy and reliable, and easy to manufacture, assemble, and service. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure provides a gun including a frame that defines a magazine well configured to receive a magazine, a trigger pivotably mounted in the frame and operable between a resting position and a pulled position, a trigger blocking member in the frame between the trigger and the magazine well, and a spring. The trigger blocking member is movable, in response to the magazine well receiving the magazine, from a blocking position to a non-blocking position. In the blocking position, the trigger blocking member obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position so that the gun cannot be discharged. In the non-blocking position, the trigger blocking member does not obstruct movement of the trigger to the pulled position so that the gun can be discharged. The spring biases the block toward the blocking position so that the block obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position to thereby prevent the firearm from being discharged when the magazine is absent from the magazine well.

[0009] The spring can be a torsion spring or other spring-loaded wire form. In some embodiments, a portion of the spring can extend vertically through an aperture, such as a hole, passage, or slot, defined through an end of the trigger blocking member and press directly against the trigger blocking member so as to reliably bias the trigger blocking member to the blocking position. Another portion of the spring can be anchored to another component of the gun or other part of the frame that is spaced from the trigger blocking member so that the spring cannot become inadvertently detached and lost. In addition, no part of the frame or receiver is received in any part of the trigger blocking member, which simplifies installation and maintenance. The trigger blocking member is designed as a robust generally rectangular body without delicate sidewalls, large voids, or intricate protrusions so as to streamline manufacturing and assembly, increase robustness and reliability, and prevent fouling of the safety mechanism.

[0010] Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings and description of exemplary embodiments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified. In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an elevated front left side perspective view of a handgun containing a trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevated rear left side perspective view of the handgun of FIG. 1 showing the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism in the blocking position (i.e., with the magazine removed) with the trigger in the resting position. The slide, barrel, and certain other components are omitted for clarity.

[0014] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the objects of FIG. 2 with the left half of the trigger housing omitted for clarity.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an magnified lateral sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3 at location 4.

[0016] FIG. 5 is an elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 6 is another elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 7 is another elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3 showing the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism in the non-blocking position (i.e., with the magazine inserted) with the trigger in the resting position.

[0019] FIG. 8 is another elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 7 showing the trigger in the pulled position.

[0020] FIG. 9 is an elevated rear left side perspective view of the trigger of the firearm of FIG. 1 shown in isolation.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a rear left side perspective sectional view of the trigger of FIG. 9.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a left side view of the trigger of FIG. 10.

[0023] FIG. 12 is an elevated front left side perspective view of the trigger blocking member of the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism of FIG. 1 shown in isolation.

[0024] FIG. 13 is an bottom rear left side perspective view of the trigger blocking member of FIG. 12.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth in this document. Modifications to embodiments described in this document, and other embodiments, will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information provided herein. The information provided in this document, and particularly the specific details of the described exemplary embodiment(s), is provided primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. In case of conflict, the specification of this document, including definitions, will control.

[0026] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0027] While the terms used herein are believed to be well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a number of terms are defined below to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter disclosed herein belongs. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims.

[0028] As described herein, an “upright” position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described herein. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation unless otherwise specified. The upright position of a gun (e.g., a pistol) is a generally level firing position (i.e., held as if being intentionally discharged by a user at a target of the same general elevation as the user). “Vertical,”“horizontal,”“above,”“below,”“side,”“top,”“bottom,”“upper,”“lower,” and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation, unless otherwise specified, and are used to provide an orientation of embodiments of the invention to allow for proper description of example embodiments. A person of skill in the art will recognize, however, that the apparatus can assume different orientations when in use.

[0029] As used herein, the terms “front” and “forward” means in a direction extending toward the muzzle of the gun. In some cases, the term “forward” can also mean forward beyond the muzzle of the gun. The terms “aft” and “rear” means in a direction extending away from the muzzle of the gun toward a rear end of a gun. In some cases, the term “rearward” can also mean rearward beyond the rear end or stock of the gun.

[0030] As used herein with reference to a gun, the term “frame” is synonymous with the term “receiver” in the context of guns. A frame or receiver is the part of a gun which integrates other components by providing a housing for internal action components such as a hammer, bolt, firing pin, striker, extractor, trigger mechanism, slide release, barrel, and the like.

[0031] The term “when” is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified.

[0032] The terms “above”, “below”, “over”, and “under” mean “having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesser than” and are not intended to imply that one object or component is directly over or under another object or component.

[0033] The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,”“might,”“may,”“e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and / or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and / or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments.

[0034] All measurements should be understood as being modified by the term “about” regardless of whether the word “about” precedes a given measurement.

[0035] The terms “significantly”, “substantially”, “approximately”, “about”, “relatively,” or other such similar terms that may be used throughout this disclosure, including the claims, are used to describe and account for small fluctuations, such as due to variations in manufacturing or processing from a reference or parameter. Such small fluctuations include a zero fluctuation from the reference or parameter as well. For example, they can refer to less than or equal to ±10%, such as less than or equal to ±5%, such as less than or equal to ±2%, such as less than or equal to ±1%, such as less than or equal to ±0.5%, such as less than or equal to ±0.2%, such as less than or equal to ±0.1%, such as less than or equal to ±0.05%. In some contexts, and unless otherwise specifically defined hereinafter, the term “substantially” means what is considered normal or possible within the limits of applicable industry-accepted manufacturing practices and tolerances.

[0036] All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present disclosure shall include the corresponding plural characteristic(s) or limitation(s) and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

[0037] All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

[0038] The methods and devices disclosed herein, including components thereof, can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the embodiments described herein, as well as any additional or optional components or limitations described herein or otherwise useful.

[0039] Referring now generally to FIGS. 1-13, there is shown a gun 5 in the form of an exemplar semi-automatic pistol 5 containing a novel trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10 formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pistol 5 includes a frame 12 defining a magazine well 15, an ammunition magazine 14 in the magazine well 15, a slide 16 on the frame 12 arranged to reciprocate longitudinally back and forth during cycling of the pistol, a barrel 18 in the slide defining a bore axis 20, a firing control housing or “trigger housing”22 seated in the frame 12, a trigger 24 pivotably mounted in the trigger housing 22 about a pivot pin 25 and operable to discharge the pistol 5. The trigger 24 is pivotable between a forward resting position (e.g., FIG. 5) and a rear pulled position (FIG. 8). The magazine 14 is sized and configured to hold and dispense a plurality of cartridges. The magazine 14 is removably insertable into the magazine well 15. When the magazine 14 is received in magazine well 15, an uppermost portion of the magazine 14 rests within the trigger housing 22. It is to be noted that although the trigger housing 22 is depicted in the appended figures as a separate component that is removably mounted in the frame 12, in some embodiments, the trigger housing 22 can be integrated with or integrally formed with the frame 12. The trigger housing 22 supports various firing control mechanism components, including the trigger 24 and the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10.

[0040] The trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10 includes a trigger blocking member 30 and a biasing member 32. The trigger blocking member 30 is slidably disposed in the trigger housing 22 for longitudinal movement between a blocking position (FIGS. 2-6) and a non-blocking position (FIGS. 7-8). In the blocking position, the trigger blocking member 30 obstructs movement of the trigger 24 from the resting position to the pulled position. More specifically, downward facing stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 engage corresponding upward facing stop surfaces 36 on the trigger 24 and thereby prevent the trigger 24 from pivoting rearwardly about the pin 25 to discharge the pistol 5 when the trigger 24 is pulled while the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position. In the non-blocking position, the trigger blocking member 30 does not obstruct movement of the trigger 24 from the resting position to the pulled position. More pointedly, the trigger blocking member 30 does not engage the trigger or otherwise deter rearward movement of the trigger 24 when the trigger is pulled while the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position.

[0041] The biasing member 32 is arranged to bias the trigger blocking member 30 rearwardly toward the blocking position so that the trigger blocking member 30 obstructs movement of the trigger 24 to the pulled position when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15. This prevents the gun 5 from being fired without a magazine 14 seated in the magazine well 15. In the depicted exemplar embodiment, the biasing member is a torsion spring 32 arranged to directly contact and push the trigger blocking member 30 rearwardly into the blocking position when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15. The trigger blocking member 30 is movable from the blocking position to the non-blocking position in response to the magazine well 15 receiving the magazine 14. Put another way, inserting the magazine 14 into the magazine well 15 moves the trigger blocking member 30 from the blocking position to the non-blocking position so that the pistol 5 can be fired. The trigger blocking member 30 is movable from the non-blocking position back to the blocking position to disable the pistol 5 from firing simply by removing the magazine 14 from the magazine well 15.

[0042] The trigger blocking member 30 is mounted in the trigger housing 22, and thus the frame 12, longitudinally rearward of (i.e., behind) the trigger 24. The trigger blocking member 30 is received in a longitudinally extending slot 35 defined through a portion of the trigger housing 22. As such, the trigger blocking member 30 is positioned in the frame 12 between the trigger 24 and the magazine well 15. The trigger blocking member 30 can reciprocate back and forth in the slot 35. The trigger blocking member 30 includes a longitudinally elongated body 40 having a front end 42, a rear end 44, a left side 46, and a right side 48. The elongated body 40 is a solid (i.e., not hollow) generally rectangular member. The rear end 44 defines a rounded contact surface 50 positioned to contact the magazine 14 when the magazine is received in the magazine well 15. The rear end 44 of the trigger blocking member 30 protrudes into the magazine well 15 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position. Inserting the magazine 14 into the magazine well 15 causes the trigger blocking member 30 to translate longitudinally forward in the slot 35 to the non-blocking position as the magazine moves upward to a seated position in the magazine well 15. This in turn moves the downward facing stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 out of the path of the trigger 24 so that the trigger can be moved to the pulled position.

[0043] The elongated body 40 defines a first width 41 extending from the left side 46 to the right side 48 between the front end 42 and the rear end 44. The elongated body 40 also defines a first height 43 extending from an upper surface 57 to a bottom surface 59 proximate the rear end 44. The body 40 includes a pair of protrusions 50 extending laterally (i.e., transverse to a longitudinal axis 45 of the body 40) from the left and right sides 46, 48 of the front end 42. The pair of protrusions 50 define a blocking member head 54. The blocking head member 54 has a second width 52 extending from the left side 46 of the front end 42 to the right side 48 of the front end 42. The blocking head member 54 also defines a vertically protruding step 90 having a second height 47 greater than the first height 43 extending from the bottom surface 59 to an upper surface 49 of the step. The second width 52 of the blocking member head 54 is greater than the first width 41 of the elongated body 40. The greater width 52 of the head 54 relative to the body 40 of the trigger blocking member 30 ensures that the head 54 is retained in a recess 72 of the trigger 24 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position, as best shown in FIG. 8 and explained in more detail below. The greater height 47 of the step 90 relative to the body 40 of the trigger blocking member 30 retains the trigger blocking member 30 inside the frame by preventing the spring 32 from pushing the trigger blocking member 30 rearwardly out of the slot 35 in the trigger housing 22 and into the magazine well 15 when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15, as best shown in FIG. 6. In this way, the front end 42 (i.e., the head 54 with step 90) of the trigger blocking member 30 is configured to engage the trigger housing 22 or frame 12 to limit rearward longitudinal travel of the trigger blocking member 30 into the magazine well 15 to prevent the trigger blocking member 30 from undesirably exiting the frame 12.

[0044] Each protrusion 50 of the pair of protrusions on the trigger blocking member 30 defines a stop surface 34 on a bottom thereof. Each downward facing stop surface 34 is configured to engage a corresponding upward-facing stop surface 36 on the trigger 24 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position and an attempt to pull the trigger 24 is made. Accordingly, the trigger 24 defines a pair of spaced stop surfaces 36 configured to engage the pair of stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30. Engagement of the pair of stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 by the pair of stop surfaces 36 on the trigger 24 prevents rearward movement of the trigger 24 and thereby precludes discharge of the pistol 5 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position. The pair of stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 is longitudinally moveable into and out of vertical or angular alignment with the pair of stop surfaces 36 on the trigger 24 when the trigger blocking member 30 is moved between the blocking and non-blocking positions, respectively.

[0045] The trigger 24 defines a vertical slot 70 in a rear surface thereof in which the portion of the elongated body 40 defining the first width 41 is receivable when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position and the trigger 24 is pulled. The trigger 24 also defines a recess 72 longitudinally forward of the slot 70. The head 54 of the trigger blocking member 30 (defining the second width 52) is receivable in the recess 72 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position. As such, the head 54 of the trigger blocking member 30 is captured in the recess 72 of the trigger 24 when the trigger is pulled, as best shown in FIG. 8. This can also aid in preventing the trigger blocking member 30 from inadvertently exiting (i.e., falling out of) the gun 5 during use.

[0046] The spring 32 is configured to bias the trigger blocking member 30 longitudinally rearward toward the non-blocking position. The spring 32 is at the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. The spring 32 directly contacts and presses against the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. The spring 32 biases the trigger blocking member 30 at least partially into the magazine well 15 when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15. The rear end 44 of the trigger blocking member 30 is biased by the spring 32 into the magazine well 15 when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15.

[0047] The spring 32 is not contained in the trigger blocking member 30. Rather, the spring 32 is positioned in the trigger housing 22 above the trigger blocking member 30. Specifically, in the depicted embodiment, the spring 32 has a coil body 60 and two legs, including an upper leg 62 and a lower leg 64. The coil body 60 is seated on and supported by a cross pin 65. The cross pin 65 extends laterally through the trigger housing 22 in the frame 12 above the trigger blocking member 30. The cross pin 65 extends through the coil body 60 from one side of the trigger housing 22 to the other. The cross pin 65 is spaced longitudinally rearward from the pivot pin 25 of the trigger 24. The upper leg 62 of the spring 32 is secured in a laterally extending socket 66 defined in the trigger housing 22 above an upper surface of the blocking member 30. In this way, the spring 32 is both captured on the cross pin 65 above the trigger blocking member 30 and anchored at one end 62 to the trigger housing 22, and thus cannot easily become detached from the trigger housing 22 when the pistol 5 is disassembled.

[0048] The lower leg 64 of the spring 32 extends vertically downward from the coil body 60 through the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30 opposite the magazine well 15. The lower leg 64 of the spring 32 thus extends through the head 54 of the trigger blocking member 30. The trigger blocking member 30 defines a vertical aperture 56 in which the lower leg 64 of the spring 32 is received and through which the lower leg 64 of the spring 32 extends. The spring 32 is the only component that rides in the aperture 56. The aperture 56 extends from the upper surface 57 of the trigger blocking member 30 to the bottom surface 59 of the trigger blocking member 30. In the depicted embodiment, the aperture 56 is open at the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. As such, the aperture 56 is an open-ended slot 56 defined through the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. The slot 56 has the shape of an obround lacking a semicircle at the forwardmost end. However, in other embodiments, the aperture 56 can be a simple circular or elliptical through-hole or passage 58 defined through the trigger blocking member 30 and spaced from the forwardmost surface thereof as exemplified by dashed lines in FIG. 12. The lower leg 64 of the spring 32 is received in the aperture or slot 56, and presses directly against the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. Consequently, the lower leg 64 of the spring moves forward with the trigger block member 30 to store mechanical energy in the coil body 60 when a magazine 14 inserted into the magazine well 15 moves the trigger blocking member 30 to the non-blocking position.

[0049] The foregoing arrangement of the spring 32 and trigger blocking member 30 ensures that the spring 32 reliably applies a constant rearward force to the trigger blocking member 30 to bias the trigger blocking member toward the blocking position immediately upon removable of the magazine 14 from the magazine well 15, and advantageously protects the safety mechanism 10 from the fouling and disfunction associated with prior art magazine disconnect mechanisms. Guns equipped with the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10 disclosed herein are thus less intricate, more economical to manufacture, easier to service, and more reliable than handguns equipped with currently available magazine disconnect safety mechanisms.

[0050] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, in some embodiments, the biasing member 32 can be a single or multi-axis torsion spring designed for compression or tension. In other embodiments not shown here, the biasing member 32 can be a spring-loaded wire form.

[0051] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

[0052] It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0053] All of the compositions and / or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and / or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0054] Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]The details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth in this document. Modifications to embodiments described in this document, and other embodiments, will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information provided herein. The information provided in this document, and particularly the specific details of the described exemplary embodiment(s), is provided primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. In case of conflict, the specification of this document, including definitions, will control.

[0026]While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention ...

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63 / 743,376, filed Jan. 9, 2025 and titled “TRIGGER BLOCKING MAGAZINE DISCONNECT SAFETY MECHANISM,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not Applicable.REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

[0004] Not Applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of guns, including firearms and airguns. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to safety mechanisms for auto-loading pistols. Modern auto-loading pistols typically utilize removable magazines that hold multiple cartridges. Various safety mechanisms operable to disable the firing control mechanism of such pistols are known. One type of safety mechanism, known as a “magazine disconnect” safety mechanism, operates to prevent the weapon from firing when the magazine is removed. These types of safety mechanisms are required by law in some states. However, currently available magazine disconnect safety mechanisms are overly complicated with intricate components, making them expensive and difficult to manufacture and assemble, and challenging to service.

[0006] U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2025 / 0102256 discloses a magazine disconnect mechanism that includes an intricate hollow trigger block with an open coil compression spring housed therein. The trigger block has a wide longitudinal channel into which a part of the receiver protrudes. The coil spring is seated longitudinally in the channel between a surface of the trigger block and the part of the receiver that protrudes into the channel. The coil spring pushes against the receiver in the channel to bias the trigger block into a blocking position wherein the trigger cannot be pulled to discharge the weapon. However, the intricate design of this trigger block makes it delicate and therefore challenging to manufacture and assemble, requiring appreciable dexterity to properly fit the trigger block to the receiver and insert the removable coil spring into the channel. The small coil spring can also easily become lost when the weapon is disassembled for maintenance. In addition, the large open channel in which the coil spring rides also exposes the mechanism to fouling which can interfere with proper functioning. Accordingly, what is needed are improvements in safety mechanisms for auto-loading pistols.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] This Brief Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Features of the presently disclosed invention overcome or minimize some or all of the identified deficiencies of the prior art, as will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information presented in this document.

[0008] It is a goal of the present invention to provide a trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism for guns that is simply designed, sturdy and reliable, and easy to manufacture, assemble, and service. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure provides a gun including a frame that defines a magazine well configured to receive a magazine, a trigger pivotably mounted in the frame and operable between a resting position and a pulled position, a trigger blocking member in the frame between the trigger and the magazine well, and a spring. The trigger blocking member is movable, in response to the magazine well receiving the magazine, from a blocking position to a non-blocking position. In the blocking position, the trigger blocking member obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position so that the gun cannot be discharged. In the non-blocking position, the trigger blocking member does not obstruct movement of the trigger to the pulled position so that the gun can be discharged. The spring biases the block toward the blocking position so that the block obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position to thereby prevent the firearm from being discharged when the magazine is absent from the magazine well.

[0009] The spring can be a torsion spring or other spring-loaded wire form. In some embodiments, a portion of the spring can extend vertically through an aperture, such as a hole, passage, or slot, defined through an end of the trigger blocking member and press directly against the trigger blocking member so as to reliably bias the trigger blocking member to the blocking position. Another portion of the spring can be anchored to another component of the gun or other part of the frame that is spaced from the trigger blocking member so that the spring cannot become inadvertently detached and lost. In addition, no part of the frame or receiver is received in any part of the trigger blocking member, which simplifies installation and maintenance. The trigger blocking member is designed as a robust generally rectangular body without delicate sidewalls, large voids, or intricate protrusions so as to streamline manufacturing and assembly, increase robustness and reliability, and prevent fouling of the safety mechanism.

[0010] Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings and description of exemplary embodiments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified. In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an elevated front left side perspective view of a handgun containing a trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevated rear left side perspective view of the handgun of FIG. 1 showing the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism in the blocking position (i.e., with the magazine removed) with the trigger in the resting position. The slide, barrel, and certain other components are omitted for clarity.

[0014] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the objects of FIG. 2 with the left half of the trigger housing omitted for clarity.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an magnified lateral sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3 at location 4.

[0016] FIG. 5 is an elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 6 is another elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 7 is another elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 3 showing the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism in the non-blocking position (i.e., with the magazine inserted) with the trigger in the resting position.

[0019] FIG. 8 is another elevated left side perspective longitudinal sectional view of the objects of FIG. 7 showing the trigger in the pulled position.

[0020] FIG. 9 is an elevated rear left side perspective view of the trigger of the firearm of FIG. 1 shown in isolation.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a rear left side perspective sectional view of the trigger of FIG. 9.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a left side view of the trigger of FIG. 10.

[0023] FIG. 12 is an elevated front left side perspective view of the trigger blocking member of the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism of FIG. 1 shown in isolation.

[0024] FIG. 13 is an bottom rear left side perspective view of the trigger blocking member of FIG. 12.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth in this document. Modifications to embodiments described in this document, and other embodiments, will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information provided herein. The information provided in this document, and particularly the specific details of the described exemplary embodiment(s), is provided primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. In case of conflict, the specification of this document, including definitions, will control.

[0026] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0027] While the terms used herein are believed to be well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a number of terms are defined below to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter disclosed herein belongs. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims.

[0028] As described herein, an “upright” position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described herein. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation unless otherwise specified. The upright position of a gun (e.g., a pistol) is a generally level firing position (i.e., held as if being intentionally discharged by a user at a target of the same general elevation as the user). “Vertical,”“horizontal,”“above,”“below,”“side,”“top,”“bottom,”“upper,”“lower,” and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation, unless otherwise specified, and are used to provide an orientation of embodiments of the invention to allow for proper description of example embodiments. A person of skill in the art will recognize, however, that the apparatus can assume different orientations when in use.

[0029] As used herein, the terms “front” and “forward” means in a direction extending toward the muzzle of the gun. In some cases, the term “forward” can also mean forward beyond the muzzle of the gun. The terms “aft” and “rear” means in a direction extending away from the muzzle of the gun toward a rear end of a gun. In some cases, the term “rearward” can also mean rearward beyond the rear end or stock of the gun.

[0030] As used herein with reference to a gun, the term “frame” is synonymous with the term “receiver” in the context of guns. A frame or receiver is the part of a gun which integrates other components by providing a housing for internal action components such as a hammer, bolt, firing pin, striker, extractor, trigger mechanism, slide release, barrel, and the like.

[0031] The term “when” is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified.

[0032] The terms “above”, “below”, “over”, and “under” mean “having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesser than” and are not intended to imply that one object or component is directly over or under another object or component.

[0033] The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,”“might,”“may,”“e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and / or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and / or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments.

[0034] All measurements should be understood as being modified by the term “about” regardless of whether the word “about” precedes a given measurement.

[0035] The terms “significantly”, “substantially”, “approximately”, “about”, “relatively,” or other such similar terms that may be used throughout this disclosure, including the claims, are used to describe and account for small fluctuations, such as due to variations in manufacturing or processing from a reference or parameter. Such small fluctuations include a zero fluctuation from the reference or parameter as well. For example, they can refer to less than or equal to ±10%, such as less than or equal to ±5%, such as less than or equal to ±2%, such as less than or equal to ±1%, such as less than or equal to ±0.5%, such as less than or equal to ±0.2%, such as less than or equal to ±0.1%, such as less than or equal to ±0.05%. In some contexts, and unless otherwise specifically defined hereinafter, the term “substantially” means what is considered normal or possible within the limits of applicable industry-accepted manufacturing practices and tolerances.

[0036] All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present disclosure shall include the corresponding plural characteristic(s) or limitation(s) and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

[0037] All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

[0038] The methods and devices disclosed herein, including components thereof, can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the embodiments described herein, as well as any additional or optional components or limitations described herein or otherwise useful.

[0039] Referring now generally to FIGS. 1-13, there is shown a gun 5 in the form of an exemplar semi-automatic pistol 5 containing a novel trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10 formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pistol 5 includes a frame 12 defining a magazine well 15, an ammunition magazine 14 in the magazine well 15, a slide 16 on the frame 12 arranged to reciprocate longitudinally back and forth during cycling of the pistol, a barrel 18 in the slide defining a bore axis 20, a firing control housing or “trigger housing”22 seated in the frame 12, a trigger 24 pivotably mounted in the trigger housing 22 about a pivot pin 25 and operable to discharge the pistol 5. The trigger 24 is pivotable between a forward resting position (e.g., FIG. 5) and a rear pulled position (FIG. 8). The magazine 14 is sized and configured to hold and dispense a plurality of cartridges. The magazine 14 is removably insertable into the magazine well 15. When the magazine 14 is received in magazine well 15, an uppermost portion of the magazine 14 rests within the trigger housing 22. It is to be noted that although the trigger housing 22 is depicted in the appended figures as a separate component that is removably mounted in the frame 12, in some embodiments, the trigger housing 22 can be integrated with or integrally formed with the frame 12. The trigger housing 22 supports various firing control mechanism components, including the trigger 24 and the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10.

[0040] The trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10 includes a trigger blocking member 30 and a biasing member 32. The trigger blocking member 30 is slidably disposed in the trigger housing 22 for longitudinal movement between a blocking position (FIGS. 2-6) and a non-blocking position (FIGS. 7-8). In the blocking position, the trigger blocking member 30 obstructs movement of the trigger 24 from the resting position to the pulled position. More specifically, downward facing stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 engage corresponding upward facing stop surfaces 36 on the trigger 24 and thereby prevent the trigger 24 from pivoting rearwardly about the pin 25 to discharge the pistol 5 when the trigger 24 is pulled while the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position. In the non-blocking position, the trigger blocking member 30 does not obstruct movement of the trigger 24 from the resting position to the pulled position. More pointedly, the trigger blocking member 30 does not engage the trigger or otherwise deter rearward movement of the trigger 24 when the trigger is pulled while the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position.

[0041] The biasing member 32 is arranged to bias the trigger blocking member 30 rearwardly toward the blocking position so that the trigger blocking member 30 obstructs movement of the trigger 24 to the pulled position when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15. This prevents the gun 5 from being fired without a magazine 14 seated in the magazine well 15. In the depicted exemplar embodiment, the biasing member is a torsion spring 32 arranged to directly contact and push the trigger blocking member 30 rearwardly into the blocking position when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15. The trigger blocking member 30 is movable from the blocking position to the non-blocking position in response to the magazine well 15 receiving the magazine 14. Put another way, inserting the magazine 14 into the magazine well 15 moves the trigger blocking member 30 from the blocking position to the non-blocking position so that the pistol 5 can be fired. The trigger blocking member 30 is movable from the non-blocking position back to the blocking position to disable the pistol 5 from firing simply by removing the magazine 14 from the magazine well 15.

[0042] The trigger blocking member 30 is mounted in the trigger housing 22, and thus the frame 12, longitudinally rearward of (i.e., behind) the trigger 24. The trigger blocking member 30 is received in a longitudinally extending slot 35 defined through a portion of the trigger housing 22. As such, the trigger blocking member 30 is positioned in the frame 12 between the trigger 24 and the magazine well 15. The trigger blocking member 30 can reciprocate back and forth in the slot 35. The trigger blocking member 30 includes a longitudinally elongated body 40 having a front end 42, a rear end 44, a left side 46, and a right side 48. The elongated body 40 is a solid (i.e., not hollow) generally rectangular member. The rear end 44 defines a rounded contact surface 50 positioned to contact the magazine 14 when the magazine is received in the magazine well 15. The rear end 44 of the trigger blocking member 30 protrudes into the magazine well 15 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position. Inserting the magazine 14 into the magazine well 15 causes the trigger blocking member 30 to translate longitudinally forward in the slot 35 to the non-blocking position as the magazine moves upward to a seated position in the magazine well 15. This in turn moves the downward facing stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 out of the path of the trigger 24 so that the trigger can be moved to the pulled position.

[0043] The elongated body 40 defines a first width 41 extending from the left side 46 to the right side 48 between the front end 42 and the rear end 44. The elongated body 40 also defines a first height 43 extending from an upper surface 57 to a bottom surface 59 proximate the rear end 44. The body 40 includes a pair of protrusions 50 extending laterally (i.e., transverse to a longitudinal axis 45 of the body 40) from the left and right sides 46, 48 of the front end 42. The pair of protrusions 50 define a blocking member head 54. The blocking head member 54 has a second width 52 extending from the left side 46 of the front end 42 to the right side 48 of the front end 42. The blocking head member 54 also defines a vertically protruding step 90 having a second height 47 greater than the first height 43 extending from the bottom surface 59 to an upper surface 49 of the step. The second width 52 of the blocking member head 54 is greater than the first width 41 of the elongated body 40. The greater width 52 of the head 54 relative to the body 40 of the trigger blocking member 30 ensures that the head 54 is retained in a recess 72 of the trigger 24 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position, as best shown in FIG. 8 and explained in more detail below. The greater height 47 of the step 90 relative to the body 40 of the trigger blocking member 30 retains the trigger blocking member 30 inside the frame by preventing the spring 32 from pushing the trigger blocking member 30 rearwardly out of the slot 35 in the trigger housing 22 and into the magazine well 15 when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15, as best shown in FIG. 6. In this way, the front end 42 (i.e., the head 54 with step 90) of the trigger blocking member 30 is configured to engage the trigger housing 22 or frame 12 to limit rearward longitudinal travel of the trigger blocking member 30 into the magazine well 15 to prevent the trigger blocking member 30 from undesirably exiting the frame 12.

[0044] Each protrusion 50 of the pair of protrusions on the trigger blocking member 30 defines a stop surface 34 on a bottom thereof. Each downward facing stop surface 34 is configured to engage a corresponding upward-facing stop surface 36 on the trigger 24 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position and an attempt to pull the trigger 24 is made. Accordingly, the trigger 24 defines a pair of spaced stop surfaces 36 configured to engage the pair of stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30. Engagement of the pair of stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 by the pair of stop surfaces 36 on the trigger 24 prevents rearward movement of the trigger 24 and thereby precludes discharge of the pistol 5 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the blocking position. The pair of stop surfaces 34 on the trigger blocking member 30 is longitudinally moveable into and out of vertical or angular alignment with the pair of stop surfaces 36 on the trigger 24 when the trigger blocking member 30 is moved between the blocking and non-blocking positions, respectively.

[0045] The trigger 24 defines a vertical slot 70 in a rear surface thereof in which the portion of the elongated body 40 defining the first width 41 is receivable when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position and the trigger 24 is pulled. The trigger 24 also defines a recess 72 longitudinally forward of the slot 70. The head 54 of the trigger blocking member 30 (defining the second width 52) is receivable in the recess 72 when the trigger blocking member 30 is in the non-blocking position. As such, the head 54 of the trigger blocking member 30 is captured in the recess 72 of the trigger 24 when the trigger is pulled, as best shown in FIG. 8. This can also aid in preventing the trigger blocking member 30 from inadvertently exiting (i.e., falling out of) the gun 5 during use.

[0046] The spring 32 is configured to bias the trigger blocking member 30 longitudinally rearward toward the non-blocking position. The spring 32 is at the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. The spring 32 directly contacts and presses against the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. The spring 32 biases the trigger blocking member 30 at least partially into the magazine well 15 when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15. The rear end 44 of the trigger blocking member 30 is biased by the spring 32 into the magazine well 15 when the magazine 14 is absent from the magazine well 15.

[0047] The spring 32 is not contained in the trigger blocking member 30. Rather, the spring 32 is positioned in the trigger housing 22 above the trigger blocking member 30. Specifically, in the depicted embodiment, the spring 32 has a coil body 60 and two legs, including an upper leg 62 and a lower leg 64. The coil body 60 is seated on and supported by a cross pin 65. The cross pin 65 extends laterally through the trigger housing 22 in the frame 12 above the trigger blocking member 30. The cross pin 65 extends through the coil body 60 from one side of the trigger housing 22 to the other. The cross pin 65 is spaced longitudinally rearward from the pivot pin 25 of the trigger 24. The upper leg 62 of the spring 32 is secured in a laterally extending socket 66 defined in the trigger housing 22 above an upper surface of the blocking member 30. In this way, the spring 32 is both captured on the cross pin 65 above the trigger blocking member 30 and anchored at one end 62 to the trigger housing 22, and thus cannot easily become detached from the trigger housing 22 when the pistol 5 is disassembled.

[0048] The lower leg 64 of the spring 32 extends vertically downward from the coil body 60 through the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30 opposite the magazine well 15. The lower leg 64 of the spring 32 thus extends through the head 54 of the trigger blocking member 30. The trigger blocking member 30 defines a vertical aperture 56 in which the lower leg 64 of the spring 32 is received and through which the lower leg 64 of the spring 32 extends. The spring 32 is the only component that rides in the aperture 56. The aperture 56 extends from the upper surface 57 of the trigger blocking member 30 to the bottom surface 59 of the trigger blocking member 30. In the depicted embodiment, the aperture 56 is open at the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. As such, the aperture 56 is an open-ended slot 56 defined through the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. The slot 56 has the shape of an obround lacking a semicircle at the forwardmost end. However, in other embodiments, the aperture 56 can be a simple circular or elliptical through-hole or passage 58 defined through the trigger blocking member 30 and spaced from the forwardmost surface thereof as exemplified by dashed lines in FIG. 12. The lower leg 64 of the spring 32 is received in the aperture or slot 56, and presses directly against the front end 42 of the trigger blocking member 30. Consequently, the lower leg 64 of the spring moves forward with the trigger block member 30 to store mechanical energy in the coil body 60 when a magazine 14 inserted into the magazine well 15 moves the trigger blocking member 30 to the non-blocking position.

[0049] The foregoing arrangement of the spring 32 and trigger blocking member 30 ensures that the spring 32 reliably applies a constant rearward force to the trigger blocking member 30 to bias the trigger blocking member toward the blocking position immediately upon removable of the magazine 14 from the magazine well 15, and advantageously protects the safety mechanism 10 from the fouling and disfunction associated with prior art magazine disconnect mechanisms. Guns equipped with the trigger blocking magazine disconnect safety mechanism 10 disclosed herein are thus less intricate, more economical to manufacture, easier to service, and more reliable than handguns equipped with currently available magazine disconnect safety mechanisms.

[0050] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, in some embodiments, the biasing member 32 can be a single or multi-axis torsion spring designed for compression or tension. In other embodiments not shown here, the biasing member 32 can be a spring-loaded wire form.

[0051] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

[0052] It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0053] All of the compositions and / or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and / or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0054] Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]The details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth in this document. Modifications to embodiments described in this document, and other embodiments, will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information provided herein. The information provided in this document, and particularly the specific details of the described exemplary embodiment(s), is provided primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. In case of conflict, the specification of this document, including definitions, will control.

[0026]While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention ...

Claims

1. A gun, comprising:a frame defining a magazine well configured to receive a magazine;a trigger pivotably mounted in the frame and operable between a resting position and a pulled position;a trigger blocking member in the frame between the trigger and the magazine well, the trigger blocking member movable, in response to the magazine well receiving the magazine, from a blocking position wherein the trigger blocking member obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position, to a non-blocking position wherein the trigger blocking member does not obstruct movement of the trigger to the pulled position; anda spring extending through the trigger blocking member configured to bias the trigger blocking member toward the blocking position such that the trigger blocking member obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position when the magazine is absent from the magazine well.

2. The gun of claim 1, wherein the spring extends vertically through an end of the trigger blocking member opposite the magazine well.

3. The gun of claim 1, wherein the trigger blocking member defines an aperture in which the spring is received, the aperture extending from an upper surface of the trigger blocking member to a bottom surface of the trigger blocking member.

4. The gun of claim 3, wherein the aperture is an open-ended slot defined through a front end of the trigger blocking member.

5. The gun of claim 4, wherein the spring directly contacts and presses against the trigger blocking member in the slot.

6. The gun of claim 3, wherein the spring is a torsion spring seated on a cross pin positioned above the trigger blocking member in the frame.

7. The gun of claim 6, wherein a leg of the spring is received in the aperture and moves with the trigger blocking member when the magazine is inserted into the magazine well.

8. The gun of claim 1, wherein:the trigger blocking member moves longitudinally between the blocking position and the non-blocking position; andthe trigger blocking member includes a longitudinally elongated body having a rear end and a front end, the rear end defining at least one contact surface configured to contact the magazine when the magazine is received in the magazine well, the front end configured to limit longitudinal travel of the trigger blocking member.

9. The gun of claim 8, wherein:the front end defines a vertical aperture through which the spring extends; andthe front end includes a step configured to limit longitudinal travel of the trigger blocking member.

10. The gun of claim 1, wherein:the trigger blocking member includes a longitudinally elongated body having a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a first width extending from the left side to the right side between the front end and the rear end, a first height extending from a bottom surface to a top surface, and a pair of protrusions extending laterally from the left and right sides at the front end, the pair of protrusions defining a head having a second width that is greater than the first width and a second height greater than the first height, each protrusion defining a stop surface configured to engage a respective surface of the trigger when the trigger blocking member is in the blocking position; andthe rear end defines at least one contact surface configured to contact the magazine when the magazine is received in the magazine well.

11. The gun of claim 10, wherein:the trigger defines a pair of spaced stop surfaces configured to engage the pair of stop surfaces on the trigger blocking member to obstruct movement of the trigger to the pulled position and thereby prevent discharge of the gun when the trigger blocking member is in the blocking position;the trigger defines a vertical slot in which the portion of the elongated body defining the first width is receivable when the trigger blocking member is in the non-blocking position; andthe trigger defines a recess longitudinally forward of the slot in which recess the portion of the elongated body defining the second width is receivable when the trigger blocking member is in the non-blocking position.

12. The gun of claim 11, wherein:the pair of stop surfaces on the trigger blocking member is longitudinally moveable into and out of vertical or angular alignment with the pair of stop surfaces on the trigger when the trigger blocking member is moved between the blocking and non-blocking positions, respectively.

13. The gun of claim 1, wherein:the frame includes a removable trigger housing;the trigger is pivotably mounted in the trigger housing; andthe trigger blocking member is disposed in the trigger housing between the trigger and the magazine well.

14. A handgun frame defining a magazine well configured to receive a magazine, comprising:a trigger pivotably mounted in the frame and operable between a resting position and a pulled position;a trigger blocking member in the frame between the trigger and the magazine well, the trigger blocking member movable, in response to the magazine well receiving the magazine, from a blocking position wherein the trigger blocking member obstructs movement of the trigger to the pulled position, to a non-blocking position wherein the trigger blocking member does not obstruct movement of the trigger to the pulled position; anda spring at an end of the trigger blocking member configured to bias the trigger blocking member toward the blocking position such that the trigger blocking member obstructs moving the trigger to the pulled position when the magazine is absent from the magazine well.

15. The handgun frame of claim 14, wherein:the trigger blocking member moves longitudinally between the blocking position and the non-blocking position;the trigger blocking member includes a longitudinally elongated body having a rear end configured to contact the magazine when the magazine is received in the magazine well and a front end opposite the rear end; andthe spring is configured to contact and push against the front end of the trigger blocking member.

16. The handgun frame of claim 15, wherein:the front end of the trigger blocking member defines an aperture extending from an upper surface of the trigger blocking member to a bottom surface of the trigger blocking member; andthe spring is a torsion spring having a leg received in the aperture.

17. The handgun frame of claim 14, wherein:the trigger blocking member moves longitudinally between the blocking position and the non-blocking position;the trigger blocking member includes a longitudinally elongated body with a step extending vertically upward from a front end of the body; andthe step is configured to engage the frame to limit longitudinal travel of the trigger blocking member.

18. The handgun frame of claim 17, wherein:each protrusion defines a stop surface configured to engage a respective surface of the trigger when the trigger blocking member is in the blocking position; andthe trigger defines a pair of spaced stop surfaces configured to engage the pair of stop surfaces on the trigger blocking member to prevent rearward movement of the trigger and thereby prevent discharge of the firearm when the trigger blocking member is in the blocking position.

19. The handgun frame of claim 18, wherein:the pair of stop surfaces on the trigger blocking member is longitudinally moveable into and out of vertical or angular alignment with the pair of stop surfaces on the trigger when the trigger blocking member is moved between the blocking and non-blocking positions, respectively.

Images