Safety mechanism for firearm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9441897-B2
Application number	US-201514980563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Dec 26, 2014
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A firearm with safety mechanism, the firearm comprising:
a receiver;
a barrel coupled to the receiver and defining a longitudinal axis;
a trigger housing detachably coupled to the receiver;
a trigger-actuated firing mechanism mounted in the trigger housing and operable to discharge the firearm via pulling a trigger;
a safety shaft extending transversely through the trigger housing and defining a first pivot axis, the safety shaft rotatable between a blocking position in which the safety shaft disables the firing mechanism and an unblocking position in which the shaft enables the firing mechanism to discharge the firearm;
a safety selector comprising a control shaft extending transversely through the trigger housing and defining a second pivot axis, the safety selector mechanically coupled to the safety shaft such that rotation of the safety selector rotates the safety shaft, the safety selector rotatable between a safe position and a fire position; and
a selector switch disposed on a first end of the control shaft for rotating the safety selector;
wherein rotating the safety selector about the second pivot in a first direction from the safe position to the fire position rotates the safety shaft about the first pivot axis from the blocking position to the unblocking position; and
wherein rotating the safety selector about the second pivot axis in a second direction from the fire position to the safe position rotates the safety shaft about the first pivot axis from the unblocking position to the blocking position.

2. The firearm according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotary cam rotatably mounted in the trigger housing, the rotary cam lockingly engaged by the control shaft of the safety selector; and
an axially elongated control rod coupling the safety selector to the safety shaft;
wherein the rotary cam converts rotary motion of the selector switch to linear motion of the control rod which moves the safety shaft between the blocking and unblocking positions by rotating the safety selector.

3. The firearm according to claim 2 , wherein:
the control shaft of the safety selector is removably received in mating downwardly open slots disposed in the trigger housing and the rotary cam,
wherein when the rotary cam is in a first rotational position, the slot in the rotary cam is in parallel alignment with the slot in the trigger housing to form a vertical withdrawal path which permits downward removal of the control shaft and safety selector from the trigger housing; and
wherein when the rotary cam is in a second rotational position, the slot in the rotary cam is arranged obliquely to the slot in the trigger housing such that the rotary cam obstructs the vertical withdrawal path which prevents downward removal of the control shaft and safety selector from the trigger housing.

4. The firearm according to claim 3 , wherein the control shaft of the safety selector comprises opposing abutment surfaces arranged to engage mating abutment surfaces formed on the trigger housing, the abutment surfaces on the safety selector and trigger housing acting in concert to prevent lateral removal of the safety selector from the trigger housing.

5. The firearm according to claim 2 , wherein the safety shaft further comprises an oblong operating protrusion extending radially from a first end of the safety shaft, a first end of the control rod being coupled to the operating protrusion and a second end of the control rod being coupled to the rotary cam.

6. The firearm according to claim 5 , wherein the safety shaft is positioned forward of the trigger and the safety selector is positioned rearward of the trigger.

7. The firearm according to claim 6 , wherein:
the safety shaft comprises a substantially flat operating surface and a circumferentially adjoining arcuate blocking surface,
the operating surface being arranged parallel to a front side of the trigger when the safety shaft is in the unblocking position to provide clearance which allows pivotable movement of the trigger for discharging the firearm; and
the arcuate blocking surface engages the front side of the trigger when the safety shaft is in the blocking position to prevent pivotable movement of the trigger.

8. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein the safety shaft directly engages the trigger to prevent pivotable movement thereof when the safety shaft is in the blocking position.

9. The firearm according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower stock detachably mounted to the receiver;
the safety selector mounted transversely in the lower stock and rotatably supported independently of the trigger housing such that removal of the lower stock removes the safety selector therewith.

10. The firearm according to claim 9 wherein the control shaft of the safety selector further extends transversely through the lower stock between opposing first and second lateral sides, the selector switch located on the exterior of the first lateral side of the lower stock for operational access.

11. The firearm according to claim 10 , wherein a second end of the control shaft opposite the selector switch extends through the second lateral side and is exposed for viewing.

12. The firearm according to claim 11 , wherein the second end includes indicia for verifying whether the safety selector is in the safe or fire position.

13. The firearm according to claim 9 , wherein the lower stock includes a pistol grip.

14. The firearm according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a manually operated bolt axially movable forward and rearward in the receiver, the bolt including a spring-biased firing pin and a cocking piece coupled to the firing pin;
a sear pivotably engaged between the trigger and cocking piece, the sear pivotable between a blocking position engaging the cocking piece to hold the firing pin in a rearward cocked position, and a non-blocking position in which the sear disengages and releases the firing pin via pivotable movement of the trigger to detonate a cartridge chambered in the barrel.

15. The firearm according to claim 14 , wherein the safety shaft disables the firing mechanism by engaging the trigger to prevent pivotable movement thereof to release the sear when the safety shaft is in the blocking position.

16. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein the safety selector is mechanically coupled to the safety shaft by an axially elongated control rod.

17. The firearm according to claim 16 , further comprising a diametrically enlarged operating protrusion extending radially from a first end of the safety shaft in a direction perpendicular to the safety shaft, a front end of the control rod coupled to the operating protrusion.

18. A trigger housing assembly attachable to a bolt-action firearm, the trigger housing comprising:
a body defining an interior space and longitudinal axis;
a firing mechanism disposed at least partially in the interior space, the firing mechanism operable to discharge the firearm via pulling a trigger movably mounted to the body;
a safety shaft extending transversely through the trigger housing and defining a first pivot axis, the safety shaft rotatable between a blocking position in which the safety shaft disables the firing mechanism and an unblocking position in which the shaft enables the firing mechanism to discharge the firearm;
a downwardly open vertical first slot formed in the body;
a rotary cam rotatably disposed in the body proximate to the first slot, the rotary cam comprising a second slot having an open end and a closed end;
the rotary cam

Assignees

• Sturm Ruger & Co

Inventors

• Mather Jonathan Philip
• Parker Benjamin K

Classifications

• F41A17/46 Primary

  Trigger safeties, i.e. means for preventing trigger movement (F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41A11/00

  Assembly or disassembly features; Modular concepts; Articulated or collapsible guns (F41A3/64, F41A19/10 - F41A19/15, F41A21/48, F41A25/26 take precedence) · CPC title