Extendable Pistol Slide Member for Racking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many individuals, including those with weak hand strength, age-related issues, or medical conditions, find it difficult to properly rack the slide on semi-automatic pistols, which is essential for efficient operation but often requires strong grip and technique, leading to potential reliance on revolvers for concealed carry.
Innovation Solution
A pistol slide with an extendable, retractable slide member that provides a firm grip and leverage, allowing users to easily pull the slide back by extending laterally from the side surface and utilizing a resilient bias member for retraction, facilitating easier racking without compromising the pistol's slim design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pistol slide is designed with a conventional compact structure, then the pistol maintains a slim and compact form, but it becomes difficult for users with weak hand strength to rack the slide
Solution Approach 1:
The slide member is designed to be dynamically extendable and retractable rather than fixed. It can be extended laterally from the slide body when needed for racking, and retracted to maintain the compact form. This dynamic configuration allows the pistol to adapt its shape based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and slim design.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide member can be nested within or alongside the slide body when retracted, similar to a nested doll structure. The extendable portion contains guiding surfaces and gripping surfaces that are housed within the compact slide structure during normal carry, but can be deployed outward when racking is required. This nesting approach maintains the slim profile while providing extended functionality.
2Ease of operation
If an extendable slide member is added to facilitate racking, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide assembly is segmented into the main slide body and a separate extendable slide member. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be isolated in a dedicated component rather than integrated throughout the entire slide mechanism. The slide member can be independently designed, manufactured, and maintained, reducing the complexity burden on the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide member acts as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the slide body. It provides the complex guiding surfaces and gripping features needed for easy racking, while remaining a separate component that simplifies the main slide body design. This intermediary structure transfers the operational complexity from the core mechanism to an auxiliary component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to rack the slide more efficiently and confidently, reducing the need for strong grasping force and improving usability for a wider range of individuals, including those with limited hand strength or medical conditions, while maintaining the pistol's compact form.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient bias member providing a restoring force to the at least one slide member when the at least one slide member is extended laterally outwards, the restoring force acts to retract the at least one slide member laterally inwards towards the slide side surface
Data Source
AI summary
An extendable slide member on a pistol slide action, providing leverage and a gripping base for a user to pull back or “rack” the slide along guides on a pistol frame, in a longitudinal motion relative to the pistol frame. The slide member facilitating racking the slide when in an extended position the slide member rotates either laterally outwards from a side surface of the slide or vertically upwards from a top surface of the slide, and presents a gripping or holding segment for the user to pull the slide towards the breech end of the pistol.