Ambidextrous Thumb Safety With Interference Fit Fastener
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ambidextrous safeties for firearms often suffer from backlash and looseness due to being made in two parts that are not securely fastened together, compromising their compactness and retention.
Innovation Solution
A compact ambidextrous safety design featuring a pivot pin and a two-part fastener with a socket and protuberance providing an interference fit, minimizing backlash and ensuring secure retention of the safety's two parts within a firearm frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ambidextrous safety is made in two parts for left and right side use, then adaptability for both-handed use is improved, but backlash and looseness between parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety is divided into two separate portions (first portion for right-handed use, second portion for left-handed use) that can be independently installed in the safety aperture, enabling ambidextrous operation while maintaining a single-piece construction for each handedness configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The two portions are combined through a two-part fastener system consisting of a socket and protuberance that interlock to securely attach the portions together, eliminating backlash and looseness while maintaining compactness
2Ease of manufacture
If two-part fastener is used to connect safety portions, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but backlash and looseness between parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
A two-part fastener system acts as an intermediary between the first and second portions, consisting of a socket (first part of fastener) and protuberance (second part of fastener) that interlock to securely connect the portions while enabling easy installation and removal
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener components feature tapered geometries (tapered cutaway section in socket, tapered protuberance) that facilitate easy insertion through interference fit while maintaining secure retention when assembled
Data Source
AI summary
An ambidextrous safety for a firearm includes a first portion, a second portion and a pivot pin, where each portion has a thumb lever that is rotatable in a frame aperture about the pivot pin having a first end and a second end. The first end is integrally disposed on the first portion and the second end has a first part of a two-part fastener. The second portion has a second part of the two-part fastener. The fastener rigidly secures the first portion to the second portion through the aperture. One part of the fastener has a socket and the other part has a protuberance for receipt in the socket. The protuberance is oblong and tapers inwardly. The socket has a socket aperture having a cutaway, tapering inwardly for receipt of the protuberance. The socket and the protuberance provide an interference fit. The two-part fastener provides retention and minimizes backlash.