Firearm Safety Selector Relocation to Pistol Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bolt-action rifles with pistol grips face inconvenience due to the inaccessible location of the safety selector, which is typically positioned alongside the bolt or on top of the buttstock, making it difficult to access when holding the rifle with a pistol grip, and can hinder disassembly of firearm components.
Innovation Solution
A safety mechanism that allows the safety selector to be mounted in a removable stock component separate from the firing mechanism assembly, using a safety shaft to interact with the trigger, enabling easy access and disassembly without additional disassembly of safety or fire-control components, and can be installed for left or right-hand operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the safety selector is positioned alongside the bolt or on top of the buttstock, then the firing mechanism can be controlled, but the safety selector becomes inaccessible when holding the rifle with a pistol grip
Solution Approach 1:
The safety selector is relocated from traditional positions (alongside the bolt or on top of the buttstock) to the pistol grip handle, specifically on the rear portion of the grip. This spatial repositioning in a different dimension allows the selector to be easily accessible by the thumb when holding the pistol grip, resolving the accessibility issue while maintaining functional control of the firing mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the safety selector is attached within another component separate from the receiver, then accessibility is improved, but it becomes difficult to separate components without disassembling additional rifle parts
Solution Approach 1:
The safety selector mechanism is segmented into independent components: the selector switch mounted on the pistol grip handle, the cross shaft extending through the grip and receiver, and the trigger interaction mechanism. This segmentation allows the safety selector to be accessed and operated independently while enabling the pistol grip to be removed from the receiver without requiring disassembly of additional rifle parts, as long as the safety is in the appropriate position.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross shaft serves as an intermediary element that connects the safety selector on the pistol grip to the trigger mechanism in the receiver. This intermediary allows the safety selector to control the firing mechanism while being physically separated from the receiver, enabling easy removal of the pistol grip when the safety is engaged, as the cross shaft can be withdrawn through the receiver without disassembling other components.
3Reliability
If a rotating safety selector is used where the cross shaft interacts with the fire-control group, then the firing mechanism can be controlled, but it blocks the firing mechanism and requires additional disassembly for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The safety selector is extracted from the traditional location within the receiver and relocated to the pistol grip handle. The cross shaft extends from the grip through the receiver to interact with the trigger, but the selector itself is mounted separately on the grip. This extraction allows the firing mechanism to be controlled reliably while reducing the number of components that need to be disassembled for maintenance, as the pistol grip with the safety selector can be removed independently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A bolt action rifle with safety mechanism includes a receiver, barrel coupled to the receiver, and a trigger housing detachably coupled to the receiver. The trigger housing includes a trigger-actuated firing mechanism operable to discharge the rifle. A safety mechanism comprises a safety shaft and safety selector each rotatably mounted in the trigger housing and operably coupled together by a mechanical linkage, such as a rod in one embodiment. The safety selector comprises a control shaft and selector switch for operating the selector. Rotating the safety selector in a first direction rotates and engages the safety shaft with the trigger to disable the firing mechanism. Rotating the safety selector in a second direction rotates and disengages the safety shaft from the trigger to enable the firing mechanism for discharging the rifle. In one embodiment, the safety selector is mounted in a lower stock which includes a pistol grip.