US2775051A

US2775051A - Safety for firearms

Info

Publication number: US2775051A
Application number: US387914A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gehman George
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-10-23
Filing date: 1953-10-23
Publication date: 1956-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-25

Description

Dec. 25, 1956 e. GEHMAN SAFETY FOR FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Gear 6' (he/email MM 0m ATTOEMEYI K v u I v I a Filed Oct. 23, 1953 Dec. 25, 1956 G. GEHMAN SAFETY FOR FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1953 INVENTOR. lye Gehman,

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United States Patent SAFETY FOR FIREARMS George Gehman, Oxford, N. J. Application October 23, 1953, Serial No. 387,914

2 Claims. (CI. 42-70) This invention relates to improved safety locks or catches for firearms, and the primary object of the invention is to provide safer, more reliable, and more conveniently operable devices of this kind.

Another important object of the invention is to provide devices of the character indicated above which are automatic to the extent that they return automatically to locked position from released position whenever the hand of the operator is removed therefrom.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above which is releasable by the hand of the gunner only with the hand in trigger-operating position on a gun or rifle, the device being protectively located with respect to the trigger guard and stock of a gun or rifle so that accidental contacts of objects with the device which might otherwise release the device, are rendered unlikely, and if they do occur, the device returns automatically to locked position upon withdrawal of such contacts.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration rather than limitation, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary right hand side elevation of a double barrel shotgun, partly broken away to show safety means in accordance with the present invention in set or locked position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the safety means in released or unlocked position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing in phantom lines a hand releasing the safety means and operating a trigger; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 generally designates a conventional form of shotgun having a stock 6 in whose forward end is secured the mechanism housing 7, carrying the barrel or barrels 8.

The housing includes side walls 9, 9, a top wall 10, and a bottom wall 11, the bottom wall 11 being provided with opening means 12 through which a trigger or triggers 13 depend, the trigger 13 being pivoted on a pin 14 extending across the opening means 12. A trigger guard 15 is secured to the underside of the housing 7 and encloses the trigger 13. A safety button 16 is slidably mounted on the housing top wall and has a spring arm 17 terminating at its forward end in a depending leg 18 which is engaged in a notch 19 in the upper end of a vertical latch lever 20. The latch lever 20 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 21 extending across the housing 7, and has a squared notch 22 in its lower end, in which is engageable a latch lug or finger 23 on the upper end of a trigger 13, in the locking position of the latch lever 20, as shown in Figure r 2,775,051 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 1. The safety button 16 may be'operated as usual, if desired.

In accordance with the present invention, a manual releasing lever 24 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 25 extending across the housing 7 at the rear end of the trigger guard 15. The lever 24 includes a rearwardly extending arm 26 which extends along the underside of the housing 7 and stock 6 behind the trigger guard 15, andan upright arm 27 which reaches upwardly into the housing 7 through the opening means 12.

A horizontal bolt 28 has a clevis 29 on its rear end which receives the upper end of the lever arm 27 and is pivoted thereto by a pin 30. The forward end of the bolt 28 has therein a closed slot 31 through which loosely extends the upper end of the latch lever 20. A pivot pin 32 secures the upper end of the latch lever 20 in the slot 31. A helical spring 33 is mounted on and is compressed between the forward end of the bolt 28 and the forward end 33 of the housing 7.

As shown in Figure 3 with the hand 34 on the grip 35 of the stock 6, the trigger finger 36 engaged with the trigger 13, and the remaining fingers 37 behind the trigger guard 15 in the usual way, the fingers 37 will naturally be beneath the arm 26 of the releasing lever 24, upward pressure by the fingers 37 will swing the lever arm 26 upwardly.

This upward movement of the release lever arm 26 pushes the bolt 23 forwardly, against the resistance of the spring 33, and thereby tilts the upper end of the latch lever 20 forwardly and its lower end rearwardly. This elevates the lower end of the latch lever 20 from the upper end 38 of the trigger 13 behind the shoulder 39 thereon, and thereby frees the trigger 13 to be pulled to fire the gun 5.

As soon as the fingers 37 are relaxed, the spring 33 returns the parts to the safety locked position shown in Figure 1.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a trigger mechanism including a housing having a front wall, side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall provided with opening means, a trigger positioned in a forward part of said opening means and pivoted on the housing to move forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, a vertical latch lever within said housing and having upper and lower ends, said latch lever being pivoted intermediate its ends on the housing above said trigger to swing forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, the lower end of the latch lever having a portion normally engaging an upper portion of the trigger and preventing firing operation of the trigger, a horizontal bolt having a forward end and a rear end, the forward end of the bolt having a closed slot through which loosely extends the upper end of the latch lever, spring means acting between the forward end of said bolt and the front wall of the housing and normally urging said bolt in a rearward direction so as to maintain said lower end of said latch lever in blocking engagement with the said upper portion of the trigger, and a releasing lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said housing beneath the rear end of the bolt, said releasing lever having a horizontal arm underlying the housing at a point rearwardly of the trigger and a vertical arm rising through said opening means and pivoted to the rear end of said bolt.

2. In combination, a trigger mechanism including a housing having a front wall, side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall provided with opening means, a trigger positioned in a forward part of said opening means and pivoted on the housing to move forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, a vertical latch lever within said housing and having upper and lower ends, said latch lever being pivoted intermediate its ends on the housing above said trigger to swing forwardly andrearwardly relative thereto, the lower endvof the latch lever having a portion normally engaging an upper portion of the trigger and preventing firing operation of the trigger, a horizontal b'olthaving a forward end andna rear end, the forward 5 end of the bolt being loosely connected to the upper. end of the latch lever, spring meansfacting between said bolt and the front wall ofthe housing and normally urging said bolt in a rearward direction so as to maintain said lower end of saidlatch lever in blocking' engagement 10 bolt, a safety mounted on the top wall of the housing for forward and rearward movement relative to the housing, said safety comprising a spring arm having a forward end terminating in a depending leg, the upper end of the latch lever having a notch in which said leg is I engaged in a rearward position of the latch lever with the safety in its rearward position.

References Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,669 Hanson Nov. 30, 1943 2,484,928 Boone Oct. 18, 1949 2,635,380 Baker et'al; Apr. 21,- 1953 15 2,679,706 Windle- June 1, 1954