US774712A - Safety device for firearms. - Google Patents

Description

No. 774,712. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

O. G. VOLD 1 N0 MODEL.

WWII" III/1W WITNESSES: INVENTOR BY a I 7 A TTOHNEYS Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

OLE G. VOLD, OF DAWSON, MINNESOTA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 774,712, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed October 20, 1903. Serial No. 177,774. (No model.)

To all whom it bury concern.-

Be it known that l, OLE Gr. VOLD, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Dawson, in the county of Lac qui Parle and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Firearms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in firearms, especially to a device for locking the hammer in fixed position, so that it cannot be tampered with and the arm accidentally fired by persons not acquainted with the pe-' culiarities of the weapon.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a combination locking device for the hammer operated at the exterior of the frame and which until properly set prevents the-hammer from being carried to a half-cocked or fullycocked position, and,further, to provide means whereby the combination locking mechanism cannot be removed from the arm for purposes of inspection unless the person is fully acquainted with the setting of the combination.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully'setforth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a revolver to which the improvement is shown applied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the revolver, having a side portion of the frame broken away to disclose the locking mechanism-for the hammer. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the frame and a plan view of the locking device. Fig. 4 is an inner face View of a portion of the frame, illustrating the mechanism for locking the locking device against displacement. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pivot-pin for the locking member of the locking device. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the parts adapted to be carried by the pin shown in Fig. 5 and through which a combination is effected. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the controllingbolt for the locking member of the device, and Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the locking member.

A represents the barrel of the revolver, to which the improvement is shown applied; A, the cylinder; A the frame, and A the grip. The hammer B is mounted in the frame in any suitable manner and is controlled in its action toward the barrel by means of the usual spring 11, located in the grip A but the said hammer B has a stud 10, which extends from one of its sides, as is shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, and this stud is adapted to be engaged by a locking member-,- t be hereinafter described, which serves to hold the hammer by such contact in cocked safety position as long as desired.

A pin 12 is passed through the frame at the rear of the hammer, and this pin, as is shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a head 13 at one end and threads at the opposite end, and the threaded'end has opposing flat surfaces 13 produced thereon. These flat surfaces are adapted to receive a pinion 14, located within the frame and held fast to the pin by the aforesaid flat faces, as is shown in Fig. 3. The teeth of the pinion 14 are engaged by a pawl -15. This pawl, which is a spring member,

is attached to a sleeve 16, and the said sleeve in its turn is secured to a base 17, attached to the inner face of one of the sides of the frame A and is fixed against movement, and, asis shown in Fig. 4, the spring-pawl 15 is provided with a bow-section 18 above the sleeve 16, asis also shown in Fig. 4, and in the sleeve 16 a trip member 19 is mounted to slide. When this trip member is pushed forward into the recess 24 in the body 20 of a locking member to be hereinafter described, the forward end of said trip member engaging with the bow-section 18 of the pawl holds the pawl out of engagement with the pinion 14,,permitting the pin 12 to be withdrawn; but when the trip member 19 is out of engagementwith the bow section 18 of the pawl the pawl will be in engagement with the pinion 14, holding the said pinion against turning, and consequently preventing the'pin 12 from being unscrewed from its position in the frame A The trip member 19 cannot be pushed forward excepting when the lock is half-way between locked-and unlocked position, as in such position only the recess 24 of the locking member 20 is directly opposite or in front of the said trip member 19, allowing it to come forward. The point of the said trip 19 then fits into the said recess 24.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a locking member which is adapted to turn loosely on the pin 12 and is located in the frame. This looking member consists of a skeleton disk-shaped body 20, having a nose 21, adapted when in locking position to engage with the pin of the hammer and hold the hammer against movement either to a half-cocked or to a fullcocked position. The body of the locking member is provided with a peripheral portion 22 adjacent to the nose 21, and in this portion 22 recesses 23 and 24 are produced, and the edge in which said recesses occur is practically diagonally opposite the location of said nose, and the said body 20 is further provided with an inwardly-extending sleeve 25, having an opening 26 therein to permit the spring 11 of the hammer to freely act should it prove the locking member shown in Fig. 8.

necessary to pass the spring through the sleeve.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the elements of the combination acting in conjunction with Taking these elements in the order in which they are shown in Fig. 6, 27 represents what I term the outer dial member, consisting of a dialhead 27, attached to a disk, and from the said disk a sleeve 28 is carried inward, and from the inner edge of said sleeve a finger 29 extends also in an inward direction. Next is the main dial member 30, which is preferably of disk-like formation and is of greater diameter than the body of the outer dial member 27. The head 27 of the outer dial member is polygonal. being illustrated as rectangular, and at the corners of the said head of said outer dial member 27 figures or characters are produced, in the drawings figures being shown reading I, II, III, I111. The body of the outer dial member 27 is adapted to turn in the second dial member 30, and this second dial member 30 on its outer face has characters produced thereon-as, for example, X, N, V, A, corresponding in position to the position of the figures or numbers on the head of the outer dial member 27. The outer dial member 27 turns independently of the inner dial member 30, in which it has movement, and both of these dial members appear at the outside of preferably the left-hand face of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner or second dial member 30 is provided with a collar 31 on its inner face, and in the inner edge of this collar recesses 32 are produced, preferably evenly spaced. The other elements of the combination member consist of a washer 33 and a second inner washer 36. The washer 33 is provided at its outer face at its periphery with atooth or spur 34, adapted to enter one of the recesses 32 in the second or inner dial member 30, and is also provided with a peripheral notch or recess 35, which will register with one of the notches 32 in the inner or second dial member 30 at the proper time. The last or innermost washer 36 is provided with three notches 38 in its inner peripheral edge and with an outer peripheral notch 37, and one of the inner notches or recesses 38 is adapted to receive the finger or spur 29 on the outer dial member 27 when the aforesaid elements of the combination are mounted on the pin 12, as is shown in Fig. 2. At proper time the outer peripheral recess 37 in the inner washer is adapted to register with the peripheral recess 35 of the inner washer and one of the recesses 32 in the dial member 30. It will be understood that the projection 29 on the dial 27 is sufficiently long to reach the washer 36 and that a rotation of the dial 27 effects a rotation of the washer 36 when the parts are set to act in unison. It will also be understood that the entrance of a tooth 34 into one of the recesses 32 is to temporarily insure an interlocking engagement between these parts, which can be broken when desired, as the parts shown in Fig. 6 have more or less sliding movement on the pin 12.

In connection with the locking member (shown in Fig. 8) I employ a controlling-bolt C. (Shown in Fig. 7.) This controlling-bolt consists of a body portion 39, cylindrical, or practically so, in cross-section, a thumb-piece 40 at the one end of the body, a spur 41 extending from the thumb-piece to the body, and an inner or foot member 42, longer than the said spur, together with trunnions 43, whereby the controlling-bolt is pivoted in the sides of the frame, as is illustrated in' Figs. 1, 2, and 3. When the controlling-bolt is placed in the frame, the free end of the thumb-piece 40 extends out through the upper slot 44, produced in the frame, as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the controlling-boltC is in position, the foot member 42 thereof enters the slot or recess 23 in the body 20 of the locking member, (shown in Fig. 8,) as is illustrated in Fig. 2, and the spur or projection 41 is adapted to enter the registering recesses of the elements of the combination shown in Fig. 6 when the recesses are in registry, at which time the foot member 42 is free to act on the locking member and move the same; but otherwise 'the locking member cannot be moved by the manipulation of the thumb-piece of the controlling-bolt.

In deciding on a combination before the pin 12 is placed in position in the frame the outer dial member is turned until, for example, the numeral "11 is opposite the exposed trunnion 43 of the controlling-bolt, and the inner dial member is then turned so as to bring one of the characters or letters thereon in corresponding registry. The elements of the combination are then placed in position in the frame, and the thumb-piece of the controllingbolt is carried downward to the position shown in positive lines in Fig. 2, thereby forcing the hammer, which is in firing position, (shown in Fig. 2,) to remain in such position by bringing the nose 21 of the locking member against the pin 10 of the hammer. The dials are then turned to destroy the visible combination, and the hammer will therefore remain locked until the characters of the combination are again brought into line with each other and with the trunnion 43, at which time the thumb-piece of the controlling-bolt C can be moved forward, as its spur 41 will enter the assembled registering recesses in the elements or members of the combination, permitting the foot member 42 to turn the body 20 of the locking member as the said thumbpiece is carried forward, thereby removing the nose 21 of the aforesaid locking member from engagement with the hammer and permitting the hammer to turn freely to its full cocked position, as at such time the cut-away portion 22 of the locking member will be opposite the rear lower portion of the hammer, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The trip member 19 is operated by hand after a side piece of the grip-section of the arm has been removed. In order that the alinement of the notches in the body 20 of the locking member may be destroyed after the hammer is locked and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the controlling-bolt C is afforded suflicient movement to carry the projection 41 out of the notches of said body 20 at such time.

Under this construction it will be observed that the weapon to which the improvement is applied is rendered perfectly safe in the hands of persons not understanding the combination, no matter how the weapon may be used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In small firearms, a combination-lock for the hammer, means for setting the said look at the outside of the frame and for operating the look at such point, and a releasing device for the lock normally concealed within the said frame.

2. In small firearms, a hammer, a combination-lock for the hammer, operative from the outside of the frame of the arm, a locking device normally concealed within the grip portion of the frame of the arm, which locking device when in action prevents the withdrawal of any of the elements forming the combination-lock, as and for the purpose described.

3. In small firearms, a hammer, a pin extending from the hammer, a locking member pivoted in the frame of the arm and operative from the exterior of the grip portion of the arm, a combination lock having operating members at the exterior of the frame and interior elements having coacting projections and recesses, the said interior elements acting on the aforesaidlocking member, and asafetylock normally concealed within the grip portion of the arm, and a pinion on the connecting-pin of the combination-lock and located within the frame, to and from which the safety device is adapted for manual movement when said safety device is exposed, as set forth.

4. In firearms,the combination with a frame, and a hammer pivoted in the frame and provided with a projection from one of its faces, of a combination locking device, comprising a pivot-pin, dials mounted to turn one in the other, the outer dial having a finger projecting therefrom through the inner dial, the inner dial being provided with a series of recesses at its bottom portion, an outer washer having an outer peripheral recess adapted in one position of the washer to register with a recess in the lower portion of the inner dial, and an upwardly-extending lug adapted to enter a recess at the bottom portion of the inner dial, a lower washer having interior recesses, one of which is adapted to receive the finger from the outer dial. and an outer peripheral recess adapted to register with the outer peripheral recess in the firstnamed washer and in the inner dial, a locking member mounted on the same support with the dials and washers, and provided with a nose extending from its periphery, and with recesses in its periphery, and a controlling-bolt having a thumb-piece and a lug adapted to enter the outer recesses in the dials and washers when such recesses register, and a foot member adapted to enter a recess in the said locking member, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLE Gr. VOLD. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. EWING, WILLIAM RUND.

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