Firearm Blocker Sear Mechanism Prevents Accidental Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearms lack a reliable mechanism to prevent accidental discharge in the absence of an intentional trigger pull, posing a safety risk.
Innovation Solution
A firearm with a striker firing mechanism that includes a sear and a blocker, where the blocker is rotatable between a blocking position to prevent the sear from releasing the striker and a non-blocking position to allow firing, ensuring the firearm can only discharge when the trigger is intentionally pulled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional striker firing mechanism is used, then the firearm can be discharged when the trigger is pulled, but the firearm lacks a reliable safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The firing mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the striker, the sear, and the blocker. Each component has a specific role in the firing sequence, allowing for independent control and safety functions. The blocker acts as a separate safety element that can independently prevent the sear from releasing the striker, providing a mechanical safety layer without requiring complete redesign of the entire firing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocker serves as an intermediary element between the trigger mechanism and the striker release mechanism. It mediates the interaction by providing a mechanical barrier that must be overcome for the striker to be released. The blocker engages with the sear to prevent inadvertent discharge, and only when the trigger is intentionally pulled does the blocker rotate out of engagement, allowing the sear to release the striker.
2Reliability
If the blocker is added to prevent accidental discharge, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocker is integrated into the existing firing mechanism structure, merging the safety function with the existing components. The blocker is rotatably disposed in the frame and operably linked to the trigger bar, combining multiple functions (safety blocking and trigger operation) into a single integrated mechanism. This reduces the need for entirely separate safety systems and minimizes the overall complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocker performs multiple functions: it acts as a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge, it rotates in response to trigger bar movement, and it engages with the sear to control striker release. By designing the blocker to perform these multiple functions, the patent reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable safety protection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A striker-fired firearm in one embodiment includes a trigger assembly including a trigger and trigger bar supported by a frame, a rotatable sear operable to hold a spring-biased striker in a cocked ready-to-fire position, and a rotatable sear blocker operable to prevent rotation of the sear. The trigger bar is operably linked to the sear and blocker such that pulling the trigger rotates the sear and blocker. When the blocker is in a blocking position, the blocker engages and prevents movement of the sear and release of the striker in the absence of a trigger pull. When the blocker is in a non-blocking position effectuated by pulling the trigger, the blocker disengages the sear which rotates and releases the striker to fire the firearm.