Dynamic variable force trigger mechanism for firearms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690430-B2
Application number	US-201916530545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2019
Priority date	Mar 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A magnetically variable firing system for a firearm includes a trigger mechanism allowing a user to selectively adjust the trigger pull force-displacement profile by changing the static magnetic field in the mechanism. In a closed magnetic loop configuration, the trigger mechanism includes a stationary yoke and pivotably movable trigger member. The trigger member includes a trigger portion and working portion operably interfaced with the firing mechanism of the firearm for discharging the firearm. An openable first air gap formed between the trigger member and yoke is maintained in a closed position via magnetic attraction therebetween absent a trigger pull. A control insert movable relative to a second control air gap in the yoke allows adjustment of the static magnetic field to alter the trigger pull force required to actuate the trigger mechanism. Other embodiments provide open magnetic loop trigger mechanism designs adjustable to magnetically vary the trigger pull force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An open loop magnetically variable trigger mechanism for a firearm, the trigger mechanism comprising:
a housing;
a trigger member pivotably coupled to the housing about a first pivot axis, the trigger member defining a vertical central axis which passes through the first pivot axis;
the trigger member having a vertically elongated body comprising an upper working portion configured to engage a firing mechanism of the firearm, and a lower trigger portion configured for actuation by a user;
the trigger member movable via pulling the lower trigger portion between an upright unactuated position and an angled actuated position for discharging the firearm;
a permanent magnet arranged proximate to the upper working portion of the trigger member to generate a static magnetic field in the trigger member, the static magnetic field creating a primary resistance force opposing movement of the trigger member when pulled by the user;
the permanent magnet selectively movable in position relative to the housing and the upper working portion of the trigger member; and
an adjustable control air gap formed between the permanent magnet and the upper working portion of the trigger member, the control air gap openable and closeable via moving the permanent magnet away from or towards the upper working portion of the trigger member respectively;
wherein the static magnetic field is user changeable via varying position of the permanent magnet relative to the upper working portion to adjust a trigger pull force of the trigger mechanism.

2. The trigger mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein moving the permanent magnet towards the trigger member decreases the air gap and increases the static magnetic field in the trigger member and the trigger pull force, and moving the permanent magnet away from the trigger member increases the air gap and decreases the static magnetic field in the trigger member and the trigger pull force.

3. The trigger mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the permanent magnet is fixedly coupled to a translatable magnet holder supported from the housing, wherein moving the magnet holder towards or away from the upper working portion of the trigger member concomitantly moves the permanent magnet in the same manner.

4. The trigger mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein the magnet holder is made of a polymer or non-magnetic metallic material.

5. The trigger mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein the magnet holder is threaded and rotatably mounted to a thread mounting block fixedly mounted to the housing, wherein rotating the magnet holder in alternatingly opposing directions linearly advances the permanent magnet towards the working portion of the trigger member, or linearly retracts the permanent magnet from the working portion of the trigger member.

6. The trigger mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein the magnet holder and permanent magnet are mounted proximate to a rear side of the upper working portion of the trigger member, and pulling the trigger member rotates the upper working portion forwards about the first pivot axis away from the permanent magnet.

7. The trigger mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating trigger member trigger member has a one-piece unitary construction such that the lower trigger portion is a unitary structural part of the upper working portion.

8. The trigger mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the lower trigger portion is hingedly connected to the upper working portion of the trigger member by a resiliently flexible element.

9. The trigger mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the lower trigger portion of the trigger member has an arcuately curved profile for engaging the user's finger and the upper working portion and the upper working portion has a different shape.

10. The trigger mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the upper working portion is straight.

11. The trigger mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis is located approximately midway between top and bottom ends of the trigger member defining the upper working portion above the first pivot axis and the lower portion below the first pivot axis.

12. The trigger mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the upper working portion of the trigger member includes a sear surface operably coupled directly or indirectly through an intermediate linkage to a cockable spring-biased striking member of the firing mechanism releasable to discharge the firearm in response to a trigger member pull.

13. The trigger mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the upper working portion of the trigger member includes a sear surface selectively engageable with a sear pivotably mounted to the housing about a second pivot axis, the sear in turn operably coupled directly to a cockable spring-biased striking member of the firing mechanism releasable to discharge the firearm in response to a trigger member pull.

14. The trigger mechanism according to claim 13 , wherein the sear surface supportingly engages the sear when the trigger member is in the upright unactuated position, and the sear surface disengages the sear when the trigger member is in the angled actuated position such that the sear pivots and releases the striking member to discharge the firearm.

15. The trigger mechanism according to claim 14 , wherein the sear is biased upwards by a sear spring and the upper working portion of the trigger member rotates forward to disengage the sear when moved to the angled actuated position.

16. The trigger mechanism according to claim 15 , wherein permanent magnet is mounted to a movable magnet holder for translating the magnet relative to the trigger member, the magnet holder movably coupled to a mounting block fixedly mounted to the housing, and wherein the sear spring has a bottom end supported by the mounting block and a top end engaging a bottom surface of the sear.

17. The trigger mechanism according to claim 14 , wherein the sear includes an upwardly extending sear protrusion which selectively engages a sear catch on the striking member.

18. An open loop magnetically variable trigger mechanism for a firearm, the trigger mechanism comprising:
a housing;
a rotating trigger member pivotably coupled to the housing about a first pivot axis, the trigger member defining a vertical central axis which passes through the first pivot axis;
the trigger member having a vertically elongated body comprising a lower trigger portion configured for actuation by a user, and an upper working portion defining a sear surface operably coupled directly or indirectly through an intermediate linkage to a cockable spring-biased striking member releasable to discharge the firearm in response to a trigger member pull;
the trigger member pivotably movable via pulling the lower trigger portion between an upright unactuated position parallel to the vertical central axis and an angled actuated position obliquely angled to the vertical central axis for discharging the firearm;
a permanent magnet arranged proximate to the upper working portion of the trigger member to generate a static magnetic field in the trigger member, the static magnetic field creating a primary resistance force opposing movement of the trigger member when pulled by the user;
the permanent magnet selectively movable in position relative to the upper working portion of the trigger member; and
an adjustable control air gap formed between the permanent magnet and the upper working portion of the trigger member, the control air gap openable and closeable via moving the permanent magnet aw

Assignees

• Sturm Ruger & Co

Inventors

• Galie Louis M
• Gilliom Rob
• Klebes John
• French John M
• Hamilton Gary
• Slezok Rafal

Classifications

• F41A19/59 Primary

  Electromechanical firing mechanisms, i.e. the mechanical striker element being propelled or released by electric means · CPC title

• F41A19/16

  Adjustable firing mechanisms; Trigger mechanisms with adjustable trigger pull (F41A19/17 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F41A19/58

  Electric firing mechanisms (F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41A19/17 Primary

  Hair-trigger mechanisms · CPC title

• F41A19/10

  Triggers; Trigger mountings · CPC title