Firing control system for firearm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874417-B2
Application number	US-201615392578-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2016
Priority date	Dec 28, 2015
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A firing control system for a firearm includes a frame, a barrel with chamber configured for holding a cartridge, a spring-biased striker movable forward and rearward in a linear path along a longitudinal axis, a trigger mechanism comprising a trigger, a pivotable sear, a pivotable sear connector engaged with the sear, a sear pivotable connector blocker engaged with the sear connector, and a linearly movable sear connector actuator engageable with and operable to move the sear connector and sear connector blocker. Pulling the trigger slides the sear connector actuator which in sequence engages and rotates the sear connector blocker to disengage the sear connector, and engage and rotate the sear connector to disengage the sear and release the striker from a cocked position to discharge the firearm. In the absence of a trigger pull, the sear connector blocker remains engaged with the sear connector to prevent firing the firearm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An auto-loading firearm with a firing control mechanism comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a frame;
a barrel supported by the frame and defining a chamber for holding a cartridge;
a trigger mechanism including a trigger movably mounted to the frame;
a spring-biased striker movable axially along the longitudinal axis in a linear path between a rearward cocked position and a forward firing position for striking a chambered cartridge;
a sear pivotably movable between an engaged position that holds the striker in the cocked position and a release position that releases the striker from the cocked position to fire the firearm;
a sear connector operably linked to the firing mechanism and pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the sear, the sear connector biased into engagement with the sear which prevents movement of the sear;
the sear when disengaged by the sear connector via operation of the trigger mechanism pivotably moving to release the striker for firing the firearm;
a sear connector blocker operably coupled to the trigger mechanism and movable into and out of engagement with the sear connector, the sear connector blocker being movable via operation of the trigger between a blocking position preventing movement of the sear connector and a non-blocking position allowing the sear connector to move and disengage the sear;
wherein pulling the trigger moves the sear connector blocker from the blocking position to the non-blocking position and disengages the sear connector from the sear which is released to discharge the firearm;
wherein the sear connector blocker is pivotably movable about a first pivot axis and biased into the blocking position;
wherein the sear connector blocker comprises a front downwardly biased and projecting hooked portion configured to engage an upwardly projecting operating arm of the sear connector to prevent the sear connector from moving and disengaging the sear.

2. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein the hooked portion of the sear connector blocker includes a rear facing blocking surface axially aligned with a mating front facing blocking surface on the operating arm of the sear connector when the sear connector blocker is in the blocking position.

3. The firearm according to claim 2 , wherein pulling the trigger pivots the hooked portion of the sear connector blocker upwards which moves the rear facing blocking surface out of alignment with the front facing blocking surface to allow the sear connector to rotate and disengage the sear for discharging the firearm.

4. The firearm according to claim 2 , wherein attempting to move the sear connector without pulling the trigger engages the rear and front facing blocking surfaces to prevent the sear connector from rotating out of engagement with the sear to prevent discharging the firearm.

5. The firearm according to claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinally movable sear connector actuator operably coupled to the trigger mechanism, the sear connector actuator configured and operable via operation of the trigger to engage and move the sear connector blocker from the blocking position to the non-blocking position.

6. The firearm according to claim 5 , wherein the sear connector actuator includes a laterally extending actuating post which engages a slot formed in a trigger bar coupled to the trigger for moving the sear connector blocker.

7. The firearm according to claim 5 , wherein the sear connector actuator includes a curved cam follower surface which slideably engages a cam surface on the sear connector blocker that moves the sear connector blocker to the non-blocking position.

8. The firearm according to claim 5 , wherein pulling the trigger raises the front hooked portion of the sear connector blocker to prevent engagement with the operating arm of the sear connector.

9. The firearm according to claim 5 , wherein the sear connector actuator is further configured and operable to engage and rotate the sear connector to disengage and release the sear for discharging the firearm.

10. The firearm according to claim 9 , wherein the sear connector actuator further includes a cam surface which engages a cam follower surface on the sear connector that moves the sear connector to release the sear.

11. The firearm according to claim 9 , wherein the sear connector actuator is further configured and operable to move the sear connector blocker from the blocking position to the non-blocking position before disengaging the sear connector from the sear.

12. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein the sear connector includes a flat latching surface which engages a mating latching edge on the sear.

13. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein the sear connector blocker is positioned above the sear and includes a longitudinally-extending slot and the sear includes a sear catch protrusion which projects upward through the slot.

14. The firearm according to claim 13 , wherein the sear connector blocker includes a longitudinally elongated right side and a left side laterally spaced apart on each side of the slot.

15. The firearm according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring mounted and acting directly between the sear and sear connector blocker which biases the sear connector blocker towards the blocking position.

16. An auto-loading firearm with a firing control mechanism comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a frame;
a barrel supported by the frame and defining a chamber for holding a cartridge;
a trigger mechanism including a trigger movably mounted to the frame;
a spring-biased striker movable axially along the longitudinal axis in a linear path between a rearward cocked position and a forward firing position for striking a chambered cartridge;
a sear pivotably movable between an engaged position that holds the striker in the cocked position and a release position that releases the striker from the cocked position to fire the firearm;
a sear connector operably linked to the firing mechanism and pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the sear, the sear connector biased into engagement with the sear which prevents movement of the sear;
the sear when disengaged by the sear connector via operation of the trigger mechanism pivotably moving to release the striker for firing the firearm;
a sear connector blocker operably coupled to the trigger mechanism and movable into and out of engagement with the sear connector, the sear connector blocker being movable via operation of the trigger between a blocking position preventing movement of the sear connector and a non-blocking position allowing the sear connector to move and disengage the sear;
wherein pulling the trigger moves the sear connector blocker from the blocking position to the non-blocking position and disengages the sear connector from the sear which is released to discharge the firearm;
wherein the sear connector blocker comprises an axially elongated body including a right side, a left side, a longitudinal slot therebetween, and a lateral cross piece coupling the sides together, and wherein the sear connector blocker is in a substantially horizontal orientation when in the blocking position and a tilted orientation when in the non-blocking position.

17. A firing control assembly for an auto-loading firearm, the assembly comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a firing control housing configured for insertion into a frame of a firearm;
a sear disposed in the firing control housing and pivotably movable about a first transversely oriented pivot pin, the sear including an upwardly extending catch protr

Assignees

• Sturm Ruger & Co

Inventors

• Zajk Joseph J
• Nebeker Darin
• Vavro Samuel
• Higley James B

Classifications

• F41A5/04

  the barrel being tilted during recoil · CPC title

• F41A19/30

  in bolt-action guns · CPC title

• F41A21/00

  Barrels; Gun tubes; Muzzle attachments; Barrel mounting means (F41A25/00 takes precedence; barrel attachments for firing grenades or riot-control ammunition from smallarms F41C27/06) · CPC title

• F41A5/06

  the barrel being rotated about its longitudinal axis during recoil · CPC title

• F41A19/15

  Modular firing mechanism units · CPC title