Firearms – Safety mechanism – Trigger lock
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-12
2001-01-16
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
Safety mechanism
Trigger lock
C042S070080, C042S070110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173518
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to safety devices employed in firearms to prevent accidental or unauthorized discharge of the firearm. More particularly, this invention relates to safety devices which are lockable to prevent discharge of the firearm.
Safeties for firearms are commonplace, and numerous safety configurations have been advanced. One general type of safety mechanism involves the use of a manually displaceable cross bolt which is oriented generally transversely to the firearm barrel. The safety is operated by manually displacing the bolt between two axial positions which are retained by a spring biased detent or other means.
One such type of safety involves a hammer block which is axially displaceable between a fire and a safety position. The cross bolt is configured to selectively interfere with the hammer and/or a component in the trigger/hammer assembly to prevent the hammer from moving forward sufficiently to fire the firearm. In the safety position, the bolt blocks the hammer from engaging the firing pin or discharging the firearm. When the bolt is moved to the fire position, the hammer is free to move forward to strike the firing pin and discharge the firearm.
A second type of safety is a trigger block which may also be positioned to engage the trigger or a portion or extension of the trigger to prevent the trigger from being pulled or limit the displacement of the trigger when the bolt is in the safety position. In the safety position, the trigger cannot be activated to discharge the firearm. In the fire position, the trigger can be pulled to discharge the firearm.
The use of locks and locking mechanisms, including electronic devices, to further secure a firearm is also commonplace, and a wide variety of devices and techniques have been advanced. The vast majority of conventional firearm locks and locking mechanisms operate independently of the firearm safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention in a preferred form is a lockable firearm safety which incorporates a locking mechanism into a cross bolt employed in a safety mechanism. The bolt is mounted in a bore disposed generally transversely of the barrel. The bolt is axially displaceable between the safety and the fire position. The bolt defines a lock recess and has a keyway axially extending through an end of the bolt. The bolt has axially spaced first and second surfaces which are respectively configured to prevent the discharge of the firearm in the safety position while allowing the firearm to discharge in the fire position. A detent assembly, which comprises a detent projectable into the lock recess of the bolt, locks the bolt in the safety position to prevent the bolt from being displaced to the fire position.
The bolt is rotatable by means of a key to an angular position which is generally diametrically opposite that of the normal safety position. The key has a blade insertable into the slot to cam the detent out of the lock recess to thereby allow the bolt to be angularly rotated and to permit axial displacement of the bolt from the safety to the fire position. The bolt also may be configured with first and second axially spaced recesses to retain the bolt in a semi-stable relationship in the safety and fire positions.
In one disclosed embodiment, the bolt is engageable with the trigger in the safety position to block the trigger from discharging the firearm. In a second disclosed embodiment, a hammer assembly is operatively connected to the trigger assembly. The bolt is engageable with the hammer assembly to block the hammer from discharging the firearm when the bolt is in the safety position. The detent assembly preferably comprises a detent pin and a spring which biases the pin toward the bolt. An outer surface of the bolt may be fixed with an indicator to indicate when the bolt is positioned in the locked angular position.
In another disclosed embodiment, the safety mechanism is secured in a locked position by means of a lock cylinder. A tailpiece extends from the lock cylinder plug. A lug extends from the tailpiece and is retainable in a slot upon angular rotation of the plug. The tailpiece includes a slot which receives an extension of the trigger when the safety is in the fire position and is also configured to engage the extension and obstruct rearward movement of the trigger when the safety is in the safety position. The lock cylinder may take the form of a key-retaining cylinder so that the key can only be removed when the locked safety position is achieved.
A sleeve-like liner may be interposed between the transverse bore and the bolt. The liner has a slot configuration which functions as a track for a lug which projects from the key blade. The track is configured so that the lug engages a shoulder of the track to prevent withdrawal of the key from the key slot unless the bolt is in the locked safety position. In addition, the key may be hinged so that it does not interfere with operation of the firearm.
An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lockable safety for a firearm.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lockable firearm safety which is reliable and provides a high degree of security for a firearm.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lockable firearm safety having an efficient and low cost construction and which can be readily incorporated into a firearm without substantial modification thereof.
A yet further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved locking device firearm which is operatively coupled in a user friendly application in conjunction with a proven safety for a firearm.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the specification and the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2225583 (1940-12-01), Blizard
patent: 3462869 (1969-08-01), Wallace
patent: 3673725 (1972-07-01), Cravener
patent: 4754568 (1988-07-01), Brandt
patent: 4827649 (1989-05-01), Sheehan
patent: 4881386 (1989-11-01), Glines
patent: 5022534 (1991-06-01), Briggs
patent: 5392551 (1995-02-01), Simpson
patent: 5581927 (1996-12-01), Meller
patent: 5913666 (1999-06-01), Perkins
Alix Yale & Ristas, LLP
Buckley Denise J.
Jordan Charles T.
The Marlin Firearms Company
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