US3195259A - Trigger guard safety for dual trigger firearms - Google Patents

Description

ARMS

R. MEUNIER July 20, 1965 TRIGGER GUARD SAFETY FOR DUAL TRIGGER FIRE Filed Feb. 15, 1965 EH: ..iL

INVENTOR Rub E11 Mannie: M M x 5 .11114, ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,195,259 TRIGGER GUARD SAFETY FOR DUAL TRIGGER FIREARMS Robert Meunier, New Bedford, Mass assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Feb. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 432307 5 Claims. (Cl. 42-7 (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to firearms and pertains more particularly to the trigger mechanisms thereof.

Dual firing systems are incorporated in some firearms to extend the scope thereof and such firearms generally require two tandem arranged triggers for separately firing the two firing systems. Problems have arisen in these firearms as to space for the installation of a conventional type trigger guard because of the compactness required of the dual firing system and the requirements for the additional structure in the firearm receiver.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a trigger guard which utilizes the front one of the two triggers as a component part so that the trigger guard takes up a minimum of space in the firearm.

It is another object of this invention to provide for such firearms a trigger guard which includes the front one of the two triggers and a pivotal member which is engageable with the front trigger to establish a guard around the rear trigger and which also serves to hold the front trigger against displacement when engaged therewith to act as a safety therefor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a trigger guard which, when disengaged from the front trigger to permit use thereof and folded away, acts as a safety to prevent accidental displacement of the rear trigger.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a firearm showing the trigger guard of this invention mounted thereon and the pivotal member swung into position to engage the front trigger; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the pivotal member folded away into the pistol grip with the rear trigger safetied by the pivotal member and the pistol grip partially broken away to show the folded position of the pivotal member therein.

Shown in the figures is a firearm 12 having a dual firing system and selected fire power and which is provided with a receiver 14 and a pistol grip 16 depending therefrom. Pivotally mounted in receiver 14 forwardly of pistol grip 16 is a pair of tandem arranged triggers including a front trigger 18 and a rear trigger 20. A cylindrical selector knob 21 for selecting the fire powerof firearm 12 is rotatably mounted on the bottom of receiver 14 forwardly of front trigger 18 and thereby blocks any installation of a conventional type trigger guard for protecting the front trigger and rear trigger from accidental contact and discharge of the firearm.

Consequently, there is provided for firearm 12 a trigger guard 22 which consists of front trigger 18 and a fender 24 of strap iron stock, which is pivotally mounted in pistol grip 16 on a transverse pin 26 for snap engagement ice with the end of the front trigger, as hereinafter described. Provided in pistol grip 16 is a recess 28 which extends thereinto from the front side to receive fender 24 when swung down to a folded position.

Fender 24 is of L-configuration having a first arm 31) and a second arm 32 ext-ending at approximately right angles thereto. integrally formed on first arm 36, approximately midway the length thereof, is a bushing 34 which receives pin 26 for pivotally mounting fender 24 and which forms a finger 36 that extends between the bushing and the free end of the first arm. Pin 26 is located in pistol grip 16 in back of rear trigger it and finger 36 is so designed that, when fender 24 is swung to the folded position, the finger projects forwardly from the pistol grip into contact with the rear side of the rear trigger, as shown in FIG. 2, to block rearward displacement thereof.

integrally formed on the free end of second arm 32 is an essentially U-shaped fastener 38 which snaps over the end of front trigger 18 when fender 24 is swung to the engaged position, whereby the front trigger is releasably held against rearward displacement and rear trigger 20 is protected against accidental contact. Moreover, when fender 24 is swung into the engaged position, as shown in FIG. 1, finger 36 is pivoted upwardly away from contact with rear trigger 20 which is thereby free to be actuated for discharge of firearm 12.

Thus, when fender 24 is swung to the engaged position, it joins front trigger 18 to form trigger guard 22 for the protection of rear trigger 21D and also acts as a safety to prevent actuation of the front trigger. When fender 24 is swung to the folded position within recess 28, front trigger 18 is released for actuation and rear trigger 20 is blocked against actuation by finger 36.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim: I

1. In a gun having a receiver and pistol grip depending therefrom, a front trigger and a rear trigger pivotally mounted on the receiver so as to depend therefrom in tandem arrangement forwardly of the pistol grip, and a fender mounted on the pistol grip in cooperation with said front trigger to provide a trigger guard for said rear trigger and a safety for said front trigger.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means for mounting said fender on said pistol grip for pivotal displacement between an engaged and a folded position, means on said fender for engaging said fender when in the engaged position with said front trigger to form therewith a trigger guard respective to said second trigger and to form a safety to prevent accidental actuation of said first trigger, and means on said fender for preventing actuation of said rear trigger when said fender is in the folded position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means for mounting said fender on said pistol grip for pivotal displacement between an engaged and a folded position, a recess in the pistol grip for receiving said fender when in the folded position, and a fastener formed on said fender for cooperation with said front trigger when said fender is in the engaged position to provide snap engagement between said fender and the front trigversely disposed through the pistol grip and said bushing for pivotally mounting said fender, a finger formed between said bushing and the free end of said first arm, said finger being arranged to block displacement of said trigger when said fender is in the folded position, and wherein said fastener is terminally formed on said second arm.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A GUN HAVING A RECEIVER AND PISTOL GRIP DEPENDING THEREFROM, A FRONT TRIGGER AND A REAR TRIGGER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE RECEIVER SO AS TO DEPEND THEREFROM IN TANDEM ARRANGEMENT FORWARDLY OF THE PISTOL GRIP, AND A FENDER MOUNTED ON THE PISTOL GRIP IN COOPERATION WITH SAID FRONT TRIGGER TO PROVIDE A TRIGGER GUARD FOR SAID REAR TRIGGER AND A SAFETY FOR SAID FRONT TRIGGER.

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