US3229400A

US3229400A - Firearm

Info

Publication number: US3229400A
Application number: US377837A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Albert J Del Pozo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-25
Filing date: 1964-06-25
Publication date: 1966-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-18

Description

Jan. 18, 1966 Filed June 25, 1964 A J. DEL POZO, JR

FIREARM 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.3

100 no n7 I02 98 INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. DEL POZQJR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1966 A J. DEL POZO, JR 3,229,400

FIREARM Filed June 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALBERT J. DEL POZOv JR.

ATTORNEY A United States Patent 3,229,400 FIREARM Albert J. Del Pozo, Jr., New York, N.Y. (160-64 25th Drive, Whitestone, N.Y.) Filed June 25, 1964, Ser. No. 377,837 8 Claims. (Cl. 42-36) The present invention relates to a firearm and, more particularly, to a pistol, and has for its general object to provide a pistol of greatly simplified and improved construction.

. It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a pistol, of the character described, having a new and novel breech block construction whereby the action of the pistol may be greatly reduced in size and make possible the provision of pistols having greatly shortened action and, therefore, greatly reduced length and weight, and highly compact, as compared to pistols of similar power and barrel length as provided by the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pistol, of the character described, having a breechblock construction that is firmly and rigidly guided from loading to firing position, and is firmly and accurately held in the latter position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pistol, of the character described, which is formed of a minimum of relatively simple and sturdy parts that are relatively easy to form and to assemble and which will form a sturdy, trouble-free, and easy to operate structure when assembled.

It is still a further and principal object of the present invention to provide a pistol, of the character described, having greatly simplified and yet greatly improved safety means for maintaining the firing mechanism in safe position against misfiring at all times.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the pistol of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiments are shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pistol embodying the present invention, shown in closed position;

FIG.2 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the pistol of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale, with the broken lines indicating the two positions of the breechblock locking mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken on line 3'3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, with the breech block shown in open position, ready for loading, and the hammer in retracted or cocked position; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational view, on a reduced scale, showing the exterior of the pistol when in the position of FIG. 4.

Referring now in greater detail, to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the same shows a pistol comprising an elongated barrel, generally designated as 10, including a front barrel section 12, having, preferably, parallel sides and a rounded top; an intermediate section 14, of slightly greater height than the front section 12 and having parallel sides which may be continuous with the sides of the front barrel section 12 and, preferably a flat top surface; and a rear section 16 of rectangular cross-section, preferably equal in height with the intermediate barrel section 14 but of greater thickness and defined from the intermediate section 14 by an armate, preferably dovetail shoulder 18. The barrel 10 is formed with a preferably upright flat rear face 19. The barrel 10 has a continuous bore 20 formed with a shallow enlargement 21 in the rear face 19 for accommodating the flange of a cartridge or bullet inserted into the bore 20.

The barrel 10 is provided with a depending handle or grip, generally designated as 22, at its rear end portion, which may be hollow and may be formed of two matching, flanged

handle sections

24 and 26, the upper portion of which may extend from a point at the rear end of the front barrel section 12 to project rearwardly of the rear barrel section 16. The two

handle sections

24 and 26 are provided with the conventional matching finger openings 28 in their sides, and an opening 30 in the rear face of their projecting end for accommodating the movement of a hammer, generally designated as 32, which is pivotally supported in the hollow of the handle on pivot pin 34, set into the

handle sides

24 and 26, and project upwardly through opening 307 The pistol of the invention is provided with a breechblock, generally designated as 36, which is of yoke shape and includes a block portion 38 of preferably rectangular cross-section and of relatively short length, having a flat forward face adapted to fit against the rear face 19 of the barrel 10. The block 38 may be of a height equal to the height of the rear barrel section 16 and of a width greater than such barrel section, to overlap the same on each side. The breechblock 36 also includes parallel arms 40 extending forwardly from the overlapping portion of the block 38 and fitting snugly against the sides of the rear barrel section 16. The arms 40 may be of a width equal to the height of the barrel portion 16 and are provided with offset end portions 42 adapted to fit snugly against the sides of the intermediate barrel section 14. The shoulders 44 connecting the arms 40 with their extensions 42 are formed with arcuate, dovetail inner faces 46 adapted to fit within the dovetails 18 of the barrel 10. The breechblock 36 is pivoted by the upper corners of its arm sections 42, on. the upper part of the forward portion of the intermediate barrel section 14, as at 48, in tiltable position, to permit the inner face of block 38 to be fitted flatly and snugly against the rear end face 19 of the barrel 10. The arcs of the dovetails center on the pivot 48.

The block 38 is formed with a preferably vertical elongated rectangular recess, 50, opening into its outer face and terminating short of the inner edge in a restricted opening, 50, extending into and through such inner edge. A firing pin, generally designed 'as 54 is disposed in the recess 40; such firing pin consisting of a rectangular stem portion, 56, of a length less than the length of the recess 50, and a pin section, 55, extending into the opening 42, adapted to be projected therefrom when the outer end of the stem portion 56 is moved flush with the outer surface of the block 38. A spring, 60, is fitted over the pin portion 58 intermediate the inner wall of the recess 48 and the inner face of the firing pin stem 56 such spring normally maintaining the firing pin 54 in retracted position in recess 50 and partly projecting therefrom. A horizontal slot, 62, is formed in the firing pin stem 56, fitting over a pin 64 set into the sides of the recess 50 to maintain the firing pin within the recess against falling out therefrom when the hammer 32 is not holding it in position; the slot 60 being so positioned and of such length as to permit the movement of the firing pin inwardly into the firing position.

The block 38 is formed with a pair of parallel, rearwardly-extending, spaced vertical ribs 68, one to each side of the recess 50, and inwardly-spaced from the sides 3 of the block; the ribs 68 having at least their facing sides parallel to one another and defining a guideway for the hammer 32.

Means are provided for locking the breechblock 36 in closed or firing position over the bar-rel section 16. Such means comprise horizontally-disposed slot-s, 70, formed in the sides of the block 38, close to the top thereof, and extending into the arms 40 to partly overlie the rear portion of the rear barrel section 16 in which registering detent recesses, 72, are formed. An L-shaped latch, 74, is pivoted by its longer leg as on a pin 76, slot 70 in position to have its other shorter leg engageable within a recess 72. The longer leg of the latch 74 projects rearwardly of the block 38 and is tensed to locking position by the extension spring 78, interposed between the projecting end of the latch and the adjacent rib 68. The recess-engaging leg of each latch 74 is such that when pressure is applied to the projecting end thereof, against the pressure of the spring 78, the latch will be released from the barrel to permit the lifting of breechblock 36.

The hammer 32 may comprise a bar of a thickness adapted to fit between the ribs 68 and has the upper striking section 80 formed with a flat forward striking edge adapted to fit flatly against the rear surface of the block 38 and to strike against the outer projecting end of the firing pin 54, to move it inwardly into firing position. The hammer 32 is formed with a head portion, 82, by which it may be engaged for manual cocking and is formed with a circular base portion, 84, centering on the pivot pin 34. The hammer is normally urged into firing position by a rod 86 (FIG. 3), which may have an inwardly-extending end by which it is pivoted on a pivot pin, 88, set into the hammer base 84 below the center pivot 34. The other end of the rod is guided in an opening, formed in a bar or lug, 90, secured between the sides of the handle 22. The rod 86 carries inwardly of its sliding a fixed collar, 92, and mounts an expansion spring 94 intermediate of and compressed between such collar and the bar or lug 90; such spring urging the striking end 80 of the hammer 32 against the outer face of the block 38.

Means are provided for releasably maintaining the hammer 32 both in cocked position against the tension of the spring 94 and also in closed or firing position. Such means comprise vertically-spaced notches, 96 and 98, formed in the forward edge of the base 84 of the hammer. The lower notch 96 is arranged to be engaged by the rear end of a sear consisting of a horizontally-disposed rod, 100, whose rear end may be supported and guided in an opening formed in the pin, 102, supported between the handle sections, and whose other end is pivoted on the inner end of the trigger piece, 106; the latter being urged rearwardly by the expansion spring, 108, which engages the trigger by one end and whose other end may be anchored on the handle 22 forwardly of the trigger 106 in any suitable manner.

It will be clear that when the hammer is in closed or firing position, against the block 38, the rear end of rod 100 will engage in the upper notch, 98, to maintain the hammer in such closed position, as more clearly seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings. It will be seen that when the hammer 32 is cocked :by manual engagement of its head, 82, and the releasing of the rod 100 from the notch 98 by pulling of the trigger 106, the rod 100 will be engaged in notch 96, upon release of the trigger, to maintain the hammer in cocked position, as seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings. This will move rod 86 forwardly to compress spring 94 so as to urge the hammer into firing position when the trigger is next pulled.

Auxiliary safety means are provided for preventing the movement of the hammer into firing position except when the breechblock is fully disposed in such firing position. Such safety means comprises a rod, 110, pivotally supported, at its center, as at 112, and disposed directly above the sear rod 100. The rear portion of the rod is provided with an upwardly turned end, 113, lying directly below the space occupied by the block 38 when in firing position. The forward end of the rod 110 is provided with a downwardly turned end, 114, immediately above an opening, 116, formed in the sear rod when the latter is in engagement within a

notch

96 or 98. An expansion spring, 117, is interposed between the rear end of the rod and the sear rod 100, that normally urges the rod end 112 upwardly into the space to the rear of the barrel 10. When such rod end 113 is disposed in such space and the end of the sear rod 100 is in either one of the

notches

96 or 98, the rod end 114 will engage into the opening 116 to prevent movement of the sear and thereby prevent movement of the hammer from the position it occupies; either cocked or closed, into the other of the two positions. Only when the breechblock 36 is in full firing position and block 38 thereof depressed the rod end 113 of the safety arm 110 does its other end 114 release the sear rod or arm 100 to permit the movement thereof and of the hammer 32 from one position to the other.

Additional safety means inhibiting contact between the hammer 32 and the firing pin 54 when the breechblock is not fully and completely in firing position may be provided. Such means is in the form of a pin, 118, set into the block 38 and projecting rearwardly therefrom and a correspondingly positioned notch, 120, formed in the forward edge of the hammer head 82, arranged to receive the projecting end of the pin 118 when the breechblock is in full firing position. It will be clear that when the breechblock is in any except the last position, the pin will engage against the forward edge of the firing pin 32 above the notch, 120 and prevent complete closing of the hammer into firing position.

This completes the description of the firearm of the present invention and the method of its operation. It will be readily apparent that such firearm is of relatively short length, compact, and of relatively light weight, and is, nevertheless, strong and sturdy. It will also be apparent that the firearm of the present invention is composed of a minimum number of relatively simple parts that are economical to produce and simple and easy to assemble.

It will be likewise apparent that the firearm of the present invention affords maximum safety against inadvertent discharge.

It will be further apparent that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the firearm of the present invention by anyone skilled in the art; in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, the protection of the patent laws for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. In a pistol of the character described, a barrel having a rear section of greater thickness than the forward section thereof, said rear section having parallel sides each defined from said forward section by a shoulder, said rear section having a flat rear face, a breechblock of yoke shape and including a block portion having a forward face adapted to fit aaginst said rear face, and arms extending forwardly from said block portion for moving said block into and out of juxtaposition of its forward face against said rear face of said barrel, said arms having shoulders adapted to fit against said shoulders of said barrel, said shoulders of said barrel and of said arms being curved on a radius centering on the pivot of said arms on said barrel, and a firing spin slidably retained within said block and resiliently projected therefrom.

2. The pistol of claim 1, wherein said shoulders on said bar-rel and on said breechblock arms dovetail with one another.

3. The pistol of claim 1, wherein means are provided for releasably engaging said breechblock on said barrel when said forward face of said block is disposed against said rear face of said barrel.

4. The pistol of claim 1, including a hollow handle depending from the rear portion of said barrel and projecting rearwardly thereof, said handle open at the top of .its projecting portion, a hammer pivotally supported on said handle and projecting upwardly therefrom through said handle opening for movement toward and away from contact with the firing pin projecting from said block.

5. The pistol of claim 4, wherein means are provided in said handle for normally, resiliently urging said hammer to firing position, and releasable means are provided for maintaining said hammer in cocked position, and trigger means are provided for releasing said releasable means from said hammer.

6. The pistol of claim 5, wherein said releasable means for maintaining said hammer in cocked and in closed position comprises a circular base on said hammer within said handle centering on the point of pivot of said hammer, a trigger mounted in said handle, a sear rod connected by one end to said trigger in position to have its other end engage against said hammer base, spring means engaging against said trigger normally urging said rod into contact with said hammer base, and a pair of spaced notches formed in the forward edge of said hammer base, one of said notches adapted to receive the adjacent end of said sear rod when said hammer is in cocked position and the other of said notches arranged to receive the adjacent end of said sear rod when said hammer is in firing position.

7. The pistol of claim 6, including means inhibiting the movement of said sear rod when said breechblock is in upwardly-tilted position, comprising a rod pivotally supported intermediate its ends within said handle above said sear rod, one end of said rod terminating to the rear of said barrel and having an upwardly-turned end adapted to move into the space to the rear of said, barrel when said breechblock is upwardly tilted, spring means normally urging said rod end upwardly, the other end of said rod having a depending edge portion, and an opening formed in said sear end rod arranged to receive said downwardlyturned end, when said breechblock is in upwardly tilted position and said sear rod is in engagement with one of said notches in said hammer base.

8. The pistol of claim 1, wherein a projection is provided on the rear face of said block and a recess is formed in the forward face of said hammer adapted to fit closely about said projection when said block is in lowermost position against the rear face of said barrel and said hammer is moved against said block.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A PISTOL OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A BARREL HAVING A REAR SECTION OF GREATER THICKNESS THAN THE FORWARD SECTION THEREOF, SAID REAR SECTION HAVING A PARALLEL SIDES EACH DEFINED FROM SAID FORWARD SECTION BY A SHOULDER, SAID REAR SECTION HAVING A FLAT REAR FACE, A BREECHBLOCK OF YOKE SHAPE AND INCLUDING A BLOCK PORTION HAVING A FORWARD FACE ADAPTED TO FIT AGINST SAID FACE, AND ARMS EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID BLOCK PORTION FOR MOVING SIAD BLOCK INTO AND OUT OF JUXTAPOSITION OF ITS FOR WARD FACE AGAINST SAID FACE OF SAID BARREL, SAID ARMS HAVING SHOULDERS ADAPTED TO FIT AGAINST SAID SHOULDERS OF SAID BARREL, SAID SHOULDERS OF SAID BARREL AND OF SAID ARMS BEING CURVED ON A RADIUS CENTERING ON THE PIVOT OF SAID ARMS ON SAID BARREL, AND A FIRING PIN SLIDABLY RETAINED WITHIN SAID BLOCK AND RESILIENTLY PROJECTED THEREFROM.