Striker-Fired Trigger Group for Selectable Fire Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trigger systems for striker-fired firearms cannot readily adapt to provide selectable modes of fire between pull-fire only and pull-and-release-fire, as they lack components like hammers and disconnectors, making it difficult to interact specifically with striker systems.
Innovation Solution
A trigger group design for striker-fired firearms that includes a frame, slide, barrel, trigger assembly, firing pin assembly, sear surface, selector, and connector, allowing the trigger connector to move between positions to selectively engage and disengage the sear with the firing pin, enabling both pull-fire and pull-and-release-fire modes while adhering to the striker system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional hammer-fired trigger system is used to achieve pull-and-release-fire functionality, then the firearm can fire one round upon trigger pull and another round upon trigger release, but the device complexity increases due to requiring hammer, disconnector, selector, and additional parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the hammer and disconnector components from the trigger system, retaining only the essential trigger, sear, and connector elements. This extraction maintains the pull-and-release-fire functionality while significantly reducing device complexity by removing unnecessary parts that are characteristic of traditional hammer-fired systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger assembly is designed to perform multiple functions using a simplified set of components. The trigger serves both as a release mechanism and a positioning element, the sear provides both retention and directional guidance, and the connector handles both mode selection and trigger bar guidance. This multi-functionality achieves pull-and-release-fire capability without requiring the complex multi-component system of traditional designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing hammer-fired trigger designs are adapted to striker-fired firearms, then pull-and-release-fire functionality can be achieved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to the need for additional specialized parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hammer and disconnector components that would complicate manufacturing, keeping only the trigger, sear, and connector elements. This extraction simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of specialized parts that need to be produced, assembled, and quality-checked, while still achieving the desired pull-and-release-fire functionality.
3Device complexity
If a simplified trigger system without hammer and disconnector is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide selectable modes of fire between pull-fire only and pull-and-release-fire is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The simplified trigger assembly achieves multi-functionality through the interactive design of the trigger, sear, and connector. The connector's interaction with the sear and trigger bar enables mode selection, while the sear's geometry provides both retention and directional guidance. This universal design allows the simplified system to perform both pull-fire and pull-and-release-fire modes without requiring additional specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the trigger and sear, enabling mode selection and coordinating their interaction. This intermediary component allows the simplified system to achieve complex functionality by facilitating controlled interaction between the remaining essential parts, providing selectable fire modes without requiring the full complexity of traditional hammer-fired systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Trigger groups for striker-fired firearms have a frame defining a medial plane, a slide connected to the frame and operable to reciprocate between a forward battery position and a rearward recoil position, a barrel connected to the slide and having a forward muzzle end, a trigger assembly connected to the frame and movable between a forward trigger position and a rearward trigger position, a firing pin assembly connected to the slide and operable to reciprocate between a rearward retracted position and a forward extended position, the firing pin assembly including a forward-facing retention surface, the trigger assembly including a sear surface configured to selectively engage the retention surface to releasably restrain the firing pin assembly, a selector movable between a first selector position and a second selector position, and a connector operably engaged to the trigger assembly and to the selector.