Firearm Mode Selection Lever With Flexible Spring Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mode selection mechanisms for firearms are often complex, difficult to maintain, and expensive, lacking a simple and reliable solution for engaging and disengaging firearm safety.
Innovation Solution
A mode selection mechanism featuring a lever with a pivot pin and detent pin, combined with a flexible stop made of spring metal, allowing for easy and snap-like movement between safety positions, suitable for various firearms including pistols and rifles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mode selection mechanisms are used, then safety engagement and disengagement can be achieved, but the mechanism becomes complex, difficult to maintain, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is divided into distinct functional components: a lever for user operation, a detent pin for position locking, a pivot pin for rotation, and a flexible stop for positioning. Each component performs a specific function, allowing for simplified manufacturing and maintenance while ensuring reliable safety engagement through modular functionality.
2Reliability
If traditional mode selection mechanisms are used, then safety engagement and disengagement can be achieved, but the mechanism becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible stop is extracted as a separate, replaceable component that can be independently maintained or replaced. The detent pin and pivot pin are also separate components that can be accessed and serviced without disassembling the entire firearm, significantly improving maintenance ease while maintaining safety reliability.
3Reliability
If traditional mode selection mechanisms are used, then safety engagement and disengagement can be achieved, but the mechanism becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible stop is made from spring metal with specific elastic properties only where needed for the detent function, while other components use standard metals. This localized application of specialized material properties reduces overall manufacturing cost while maintaining the reliability of the safety engagement mechanism.
4Device complexity
If a simple mechanism is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and maintenance is easier, but reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The arc-shaped aperture in the frame is asymmetrically positioned and sized to work specifically with the detent pin geometry, creating a reliable detent action that prevents accidental disengagement. The asymmetric design ensures positive locking in both safe and fire positions while maintaining mechanical simplicity.
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
Provides a simple, reliable, and cost-effective method to switch the firearm safety between locked and unlocked positions, enhancing user convenience and maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible stop includes an open ring of spring metal disposed in a ring orifice in the frame. The flexible stop is generally secured in the ring orifice, but is able to compress generally in a plane of the ring. The detent pin is disposed against the flexible stop wherein, as the lever is moved from the first position to the second position, and as the lever is moved from the second position to the first position, the flexible stop compresses and then uncompresses thereby creating a detent wherein the lever snaps as it moves between the positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A mode selection mechanism for a firearm is provided including a lever having an exposed surface and an inner surface and a pivot pin and a detent pin depending from the inner surface, the pivot pin extending through a orifice in the frame, the detent pin extending generally parallel to the pivot pin. The lever is pivotable from a first position to a second position about the pivot pin, wherein the detent pin moves in an arc-shaped aperture in the frame. A flexible stop includes an open ring of spring metal and is disposed in a ring orifice in the frame. The detent pin is disposed against the flexible stop wherein, as the lever is moved from the first position to the second position, the flexible stop compresses and then uncompresses thereby creating a detent.