Firearms – Revolvers – Firing mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2002-05-14
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Firearms
Revolvers
Firing mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
active
06385888
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a device for improved operation of handguns. More particularly it relates to an improved pawl which, when used in combination with a Ruger® single action revolver such as the Vaquero®, the Blackhawk®, and handguns of similar mechanical single action operation. When installed, the improved pawl allows the handgun owner the ability to rotate the cylinder of a revolver either direction when the loading gate is open.
2. Prior Art
Revolver style handguns typically have a revolving cylinder which holds a number of cartridges to be fired by the firearm during use. Such cylinders allow for easy loading, firing, arid unloading of the revolver during use and give the user the ability to fire multiple rounds before having to reload the spent rounds in the cylinder. The capacity of revolving cylinder dictates the available rounds for firing by the user before reloading.
Loading and unloading the revolving cylinder of the typical Ruger® single action revolver such as the aforementioned models and revolvers of similar mechanical operations, traditionaly involve, opening the loading gate to gain access to the plurality of chambers in the revolving cylinder. Each such chamber is sized to accommodate the exterior circumference of the shell casing of the ammunition used to allow the ammunition to be slidably located inside the chamber. The number of chambers of courses determines the number of rounds available to be fired before the spent shell casings are removed from each chamber so that the chamber may be reloaded.
Single action revolvers, such as the aforementioned Ruger® revolvers and those of similar mechanical operation from both Ruger® and other manufacturers, conventionally are designed to allow a one direction rotation of the revolving cylinder by the factory pawl ratcheting the revolving cylinder. This one way rotation is accomplished by a ratchet style mechanical action of the factory pawl rotates the cylinder in one direction during the ratcheting action. At rest, the factory pawl is positioned to prevent a backward rotation of the rotating cylinder through positioning the pawl in contact with a cooperating part of the cylinder. During rotation using the factory pawl, with the loading gate open, the user hears a discernable clicking noise caused by the ratchet action of the engagement end of the factory pawl against the cooperating notches of the revolving cylinder. This interaction of the factory pawl continually engaging and disengaging notches on the revolving cylinder prevent reverse rotation of the cylinder as well as creating drag on the cylinder rotation. Consequently, users of revolvers of the aforementioned mechanical design may only load and unload the plurality of chambers with the conventional factory pawl activated revolving cylinder, by rotating the cylinder only in one direction.
The device disclosed herein are directed at an improved pawl configured for use in combination with the Ruger® single revolvers such as the Vaquero® and the Blackhawk® and revolvers of similar mechanical operation made by other manufacturers. Such revolvers have a removable trigger mechanism that is insertable into a shaft formed in the handgun body and are well known to those trained in the art. The free spin pawl herein described and disclosed, when installed on such revolvers, allow the user to take advantage of being able to load the chambers in the rotating cylinder of such revolvers by spinning the rotating cylinder in either direction. Additionally, the resistance caused by the ratcheting of the factory pawl against the rotating cylinder, which impedes the spin of the revolving cylinder when the loading gate is open, is eliminated. Eliminating this ratcheting contact when the revolver is in a resting or uncocked position, thus allows for a much easier and free spin in either direction by the user.
The disclosed device in it current best mode is a drop in part on most such revolvers and simply replaces the factory pawl. However, due to different tolerances in factory production of the aforementioned revolvers, some minor alterations are sometimes needed to assure a smooth and trouble-free operation. Generally however, removal of the factory provided cylinder pawl, and insertion of the free spin cylinder pawl herein disclosed, will afford the user the utility and benefits of a free spinning revolving cylinder when the loading gate is in the open position and the revolver is not cocked. This free spin of the cylinder not only makes it easier to spin than the original factory version, the cylinder may also be loaded by spinning it in either direction. This increased spinning utility of the revolving cylinder decreases the time needed to load and unload the spinning cylinder and also allows users with less dexterity a double option on how they wish to load their revolver.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,530 (Melcher) teaches trigger system and a cylinder latch mechanism for a revolver. However Melcher teaches the use of a continually engaging pawl for rotating the cylinder preventing the rotation of the cylinder one direction when The revolver is in an at rest state.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,131 (Ruger) teaches a firing mechanism for a revolver, however, Ruger also teaches the use of a continually engaged cylinder pawl which both prevents the rotation of the cylinder in one direction, and inhibits the free spin of the pawl in the allowed direction due to friction caused by the continuously engaged cylinder pawl.
As such, there exists a need for an easily and inexpensively manufactured trigger mechanism that will totally disengage the cylinder pawl from the cylinder when the firearm is in the at rest position. Such a device should allow the cylinder of the a revolver in which it functions, to rotate in either direction when the revolver is in an at rest position during loading and unloading. There exists an additional need for such a device that will also totally disengage from the cylinder and alleviate the drag caused thereon thus making the cylinder easier to rotate during loading and unloading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Applicant's device provides an easily manufactured and installed cylinder pawl for retrofit to existing revolvers of the type described above which have removable trigger mechanisms that mount into a revolver frame. The disclosed improved pawl in the current best mode, and the additional pawl translating designs for newly manufactured similarly configured revolvers, when incorporated, allow for an unrestricted spin, in either direction, of the revolving cylinder of a conventional single action revolver style firearm, such as the aforementioned Ruger® single action Blackhawk® and Vaquero® revolvers and clones of these revolvers wherein the trigger mechanism is removable from a slotted frame configured for the revolving cylinder holding the ammunition for the revolver. In the current best mode of the device, a specially configured cylinder pawl, is easily installed in revolvers with little or no modification to the body, or to other components of the revolver during such installation. Such an easy installation is provided due to the inherent design characteristics to the aforementioned revolvers which feature a frame for carrying the revolving cylinder with the frame also being slotted to receive a trigger mechanism with a hammer and pawl which when operatively positioned in the slot in the frame operatively communicates with one end of the cylinder to rotate it.
The device features a unique configuration for a cylinder pawl in the current best mode which allows the pawl vertical translation using the conventional axis pin mount on the rotating hammer, as well as concurrent controlled lateral translation of the engagement end, away from engagement with the indexing ratchet located on the hammer side of the revolving cylinder. Unlike conventional cylinder pawls which have only a first end for engagement of the cylinder indexing ratchet which extends from only one side of their axis pin mounting, the device h
Harms Donn K.
Jordan Charles T.
Lofdahl Jordan
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