Firearm safety assembly including a lever detent spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9448023-B2
Application number	US-201414333246-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 26, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A two-position firearm safety assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a lever detent spring and a first lever, both of which are pivotally coupled to a firearm frame. The assembly can also include a second lever and a link connecting the two levers. The detent spring is in contact with the link and/or the first lever at an assembly pivot point, putting the detent spring in compression. The compression force on the detent spring provides two distinct safety assembly positions (e.g., fire and safe positions), and prevents the safety assembly from perching between the two-positions. The properties of the detent spring (e.g., the material, shape, hardness, spring constant, pre-compression in the safety assembly, etc.) can be customized as desired to adjust the properties of the safety assembly, such as the forces needed to toggle the assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A firearm safety assembly comprising:
a first lever pivotally coupled to a frame at a first frame pivot point; and
a detent spring pivotally coupled to the frame at a second frame pivot point and in contact with the first lever at an assembly pivot point;
wherein the detent spring is under compression, the compression force in a direction substantially aligned with a major plane of the frame; and
wherein the detent spring is configured to pivot about the assembly pivot point relative to the first lever.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compression force on the detent spring biases the assembly pivot point away from a straight line alignment with the first frame pivot point and the second frame pivot point.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lever includes a protrusion configured to mechanically block and/or disengage a firing component of the firearm.

4. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a second lever pivotally coupled to the frame at a third frame pivot point; and
a link connecting the first and second levers.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein a main axis of the link aligns with the axis of rotation at the assembly pivot point.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detent spring includes an aperture configured to align with a boss on the frame.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detent spring is inserted into a recess in the frame and thereby does not increase the maximum width of the frame.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detent spring is symmetrical along at least one axis of the detent spring.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detent spring is asymmetrical along all axes of the detent spring.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detent spring is stamped from a single sheet of metal.

11. A two-position lever detent assembly comprising:
a first lever pivotally coupled to a firearm frame at a first frame pivot point; and
a detent spring pivotally coupled to the frame at a second frame pivot point and in rotational contact with the first lever at an assembly pivot point;
wherein in a first assembly position, the force vector at the assembly pivot point is in a first direction; and
wherein in a second assembly position, the force vector at the assembly pivot point is in a second direction, the second direction within 30 degrees of 180 degrees from the first direction.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first assembly position is a firearm fire position and the second assembly position is a firearm safe position.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the detent spring includes a yoke, the yoke in rotational contact with the first lever at the assembly pivot point.

14. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the magnitude of the force vector at the assembly pivot point in the first assembly position is greater than the magnitude of the force vector at the assembly pivot point in the second assembly position.

15. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein in a third assembly position, the assembly pivot point includes two force vectors that are substantially opposite in direction.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the magnitudes of the force vectors at the third assembly position are equal.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the magnitudes of the force vectors at the third assembly position are not equal.

18. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein positive feedback is provided by the assembly when switching between the first and second assembly positions.

19. A firearm safety assembly comprising:
a first lever pivotally coupled to a frame at a first frame pivot point;
a second lever pivotally coupled to the frame at a second frame pivot point;
a link connecting the first and second levers; and
a detent spring pivotally coupled to the frame at a third frame pivot point and in contact with the link, wherein the detent spring is configured to pivot about the link.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the detent spring is under compression, the compression force in a direction substantially aligned with a major plane of the frame.

Assignees

• Sig Sauer Inc

Inventors

• Sheets Jr Robert E
• Lessard Ethan

Classifications

• F41A17/00 Primary

  Safety arrangements, e.g. safeties · CPC title

• F41A17/46

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