Abstract: An ergonomic semi-automatic handgun includes a pivotable trigger with a concave face portion disposed in front of the grip portion whereby when the trigger is pivoted, the center of the concave portion will travel in a generally straight line towards the base of the saddle parallel to the axis of the barrel and at an optimum distance from the barrel. A unitary polymeric frame including a semi-cylindrical front strap is disposed at predetermined angle relative to the barrel. A ridge and channel are formed on each side of the frame and are adapted to guide and retain the thumb and forefinger of a shooter in the appropriate position to hold, aim and fire the gun.

Abstract: An improved means is provided for mounting a front sight onto the slide of a semi-automatic pistol. The sight includes an upper portion and an integral anchor portion of a resilient polymeric material in which the upper portion is adapted to disposed on the upper surface of the slide. An elongated opening is formed in the slide, is dimensioned to receive therein the anchor portion of the sight and has a predetermined depth terminating at an inner surface portion of the slide adjacent the lower edge of the opening. The anchor portion has a plurality of legs spaced apart in a peripheral array and which extend downward from the upper portion. Each lo leg has at its lower end a radially extending foot having a beveled lower surface adapted to engage the outer edge of the opening and to flex the legs inwardly for fitting into and through the opening.

Abstract: A two-piece safety trigger for a handgun or pistol fabricated from high impact polymer is provided in which a lower portion comprising approximately the entire lower half of the trigger face is pivotable relative to the upper portion. The lower trigger portion includes a rearwardly extending latch portion which, when the lower trigger portion is in its forward position, serves to engage the frame of the gun to prevent firing movement of the trigger in the event the gun is dropped or otherwise impacted. The lower trigger portion is biased to its forward position by a flexible spring finger disposed within the upper portion and is adapted to be overcome when the user squeezes the trigger in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A recoil mechanism used to return the slide of a semi-automatic handgun back to its battery position after firing is provided having a recoil spring, a rod member and a discrete flange member. The rod and the flange member each of polymeric material have a flange at one end thereof which retain the recoil spring disposed therebetween. The recoil mechanism is assembled by coaxially fitting the recoil spring onto the rod and then snap fitting the flange member onto the one end of the rod.

Abstract: A fire control mechanism for a firing pin striker operated semiautomatic double action handgun includes a sear pivotably disposed on a frame between forward and rearward positions. The sear includes an edge portion for controlling the firing pin and further includes a cam surface for downward displacement of the sear to release the firing pin in response to trigger firing movement. The firing pin includes an extension adapted to be in planar movement with the controlling edge of the sear with selective engagement and disengagement therewith in response to angular and translatory movement of the sear upon response to actuation of the trigger. A trigger bar includes a disconnect portion disposed to move the trigger bar downwardly upon recoil of the slide. The sear, firing pin extension, cam surface and trigger are all movable in coplanar relationship with one another and the trigger bar and disconnect are movable in a plane parallel thereto.

Abstract: An extractor for the removal of cartridge cases from the chambers of a revolver is mounted adjacent the outer end of a tubular stem. The extractor is in the form of a plate having a plurality of radially extending arms equally spaced apart and defining, between each adjacent pair of the arms, a cylindrical surface which conforms with the inner cylindrical surface portion of one cartridge chamber of the revolver cylinder. The outer edge portion of each of the arms is generally a rectilinear edge and together define a rectangular shape having its geometric center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stem. The revolver cylinder includes a recess in the rear surface of the cylinder which has a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the extractor plate and includes inner, rectilinear edge portions contiguous to and parallel with each of the outer edge portions of the extractor arms to limit rotation of the extractor plate relative to the axis of the cylinder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a handcuff device for restraining the wrists of a detainee. The device comprises a pair of handcuff members and a link member of unitary construction. Each of the handcuff members have one or more integrally formed mounting posts. The link member is configured to hingedly interconnect the handcuff members about the posts. The unitary construction of the link member, combined with the integrally formed posts of the handcuff members, provide a handcuff device which is strong and durable and which does not require the use of multiple components, such as a pivot pin, and substantially limits the movement of the detainees hands.

Abstract: Quality control attachment adapted to be fitted onto a threaded depth control bar of a drill press machine includes a sleeve having an axial opening for fitting onto the control bar and being longitudinally movable relative to the bar. The sleeve carries a pawl and an elastic O-ring which urges an edge portion of the pawl into engagement with the threads of the control bar for enabling one-way movement of the control bar downwardly through the sleeve. An actuator pin is slidably disposed in a bore which extends through the sleeve and is movable downwardly in response to contact with a stop-nut disposed on the bar when the drill press has advanced to a preset depth represented by the position of the stop-nut.

Abstract: Improved decocking mechanism for a semi-automatic firearm has a lever pivotable on one side of the frame of the gun. One end of the lever includes an actuator and the opposite end, has a sector gear meshed with the toothed surface of a pawl rotatable on the hammer pin between a first position and a second position. The pawl is disposed adjacent the hammer and includes a first leg engageable with the sear to pivot the same against sear spring pressure out of engagement with a first notch adapted for holding the hammer in its fully cocked position. The pawl includes a second leg engageable with the drawbar to pivot the same downwardly to prevent its engagement with the sear in response to the trigger pull. The hammer includes a second notch engageable with the sear to hold the hammer in a half-cocked position and a reset pin disposed to engage the first leg and to return the pawl and the decocking lever to their at-rest positions upon forward rotation of the hammer.

Abstract: Slide decelerator for a firearm has a cylindrical cavity formed in the metallic receiver of the firearm and a deformable mass of elastomeric material is disposed within the cavity. A piston is slidably fitted into the cavity and a rod extends outwardly from the piston for engagement with a depending portion of the slide. The elastomer consists of a cylindrical plug which has a diameter substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the cavity and an axial length approximately equal to that to the length of the cavity. Upon firing, the slide, being moved rearwardly by blow-back of combustion gases, will impact against the rod and elastomeric material will be deformed to thereby absorb the kinetic energy of the slide. As a result, the slide is stopped before impacting against the receiver of the firearm.

Abstract: Removable front sight for the barrel of a firearm has an upper blade portion, a generally rectangular base portion and a lower shank portion. The base portion is adapted to fit into a correspondingly shaped recess and the shank portion is generally cylindrical in shape to fit into an upwardly opening bore formed in the upper surface of the gun barrel and adjacent the muzzle end thereof. A longitudinal hole extends from the muzzle end of the barrel, communicates with the bore, and terminates rearwardly thereof to provide a housing for a combination spring and detent disposed therein. The detent is urged forwardly by the spring to engage, releasably, a groove in the shank having an axially opening entry portion and a detent receiving cavity angularly offset from the groove. A pin extends across the longitudinal hole and fits into a trough formed in the upper edge portion of the detent to limit the stroke of the detent.

Abstract: Removable front sight for the barrel of a firearm has an upper blade portion and a lower keel portion. The keel portion is undercut and adapted to fit into an upwardly opening recess provided in the upper surface of the gun barrel and adjacent the front end thereof. A cylindrical hole extends longitudinally from the muzzle end of the barrel, communicates with the recess, and terminates rearwardly thereof to provide a housing for a combination spring and detent disposed therein. The detent is releasably urged forwardly by the spring to engage the inner end of the keel. A cross-pin is fitted across the recess to engage the forward end of the keel and to prevent removal of the spring and detent from the cylindrical hole. The spring is rearwadly compressible sufficiently to enable insertion and removal of the keel from the recess from between the detent and cross-pin.

Abstract: Cartridge magazine for semi-automatic firearms has a base, side walls and a front and rear wall. The front wall has an opening at its upper end for the feeding of cartridges into the chamber of the firearm. The magazine includes a spring and a spring follower which feeds the cartridges upwardly toward the feed lips on the upper edge of the side walls of the magazine. A guide member extends inwardly from opposed sidewall portions of the magazine to engage the extractor groove of the cartridge being advanced toward the feed lips. Each guide member is formed by die lancing the side walls of the magazine at a distance from the feed lips greater than the cartridge radius, but less than the diameter thereof. Each member has an upright edge portion disposed at an oblique angle to the real wall of the magazine such that it is generally perpendicular to the axis of the cartridges being fed by the magazine spring follower.

Abstract: An integral grip for the handle of a handgun frame is molded from a resilient, flexible, synthetic plastic material. The grip is of generally U-shaped configuration including a curved rear wall and two spaced opposed sidewall portions. The sidewall portions are biased inwardly from the rear wall portion to their outer edges and are also of tapered cross-section diminishing from the rear wall to the outer edges thereof. The material, its distribution and inward bias of the sidewall portions are such that when fitted onto the handle of the handgun frame, the grip will be in tensioned, clamping relation thereon. An undercut rib is disposed on the inner surface of each sidewall portion adjacent the outer edge thereof for interlocking with a recessed edge portion of the handle. Adjacent the lower end of its rear wall portion, the grip includes a boss with a bore therethrough. The handle, itself, includes two laterally-spaced arms which also include bores aligned with the bore of the boss.

Abstract: A retainer for a revolver yoke stud includes a screw portion with spring and pin detent carried thereby in a unitary assembly. The yoke stud includes an angular groove with a chamfered surface adapted to be engaged by the tapered end of the pin. The frame of the revolver is provided with a threaded bore and a hole in its plate aligned with the chamfer of the stud when the yoke is disposed in operative position in the revolver. The screw serves the dual function of a fastener for the side plate and as the base or mounting member for the spring detent assembly. The screw and pin include oppositely opening tubular recesses and the pin is adapted for axial movment with respect to the screw member. The outer ends of the spring are enlarged to be captured and retained in the opposed tubular recessed of the screw and pin, thereby forming a unitary assembly.

Abstract: A reversible magazine catch mechanism for handguns includes a knurled actuator button removably screw-fitted onto a shaft which is disposed for slidable axial movement in a bore which extends laterally through the frame of the gun. An enlarged head portion is disposed on the end of said shaft opposite the actuator button and an arm extends radially from the head for interlocking engagement with cutouts provided in opposite sides of the magazine. A spring-biased detent engages a recess in the undersurface of the actuator button to prevent unscrewing of the button from the shaft and to bias the latch arm of the laterally movable shaft into engagement with one of the magazine cutouts.