Abstract: An ambidextrous magazine catch for a firearm has a body movable on the frame of the firearm. A dog is rotatably mounted on the body. The dog has a jaw which is movable toward and away from the magazine well upon either motion of the body or rotation of the dog. The jaw engages a magazine in the magazine well. A plunger engaged with the body effects rotation of the dog through a cam surface on the plunger and a cam follower on the dog.
Abstract: A rotary ammunition magazine for a rifle has a follower that is spring biased and rotates about an axis to move cartridges for feeding to the rifle's chamber. The follower has a surface portion which engages the last cartridge in the stack. The surface portion has one or more characteristics including a transverse orientation angle, a longitudinal orientation angle and an arcuate shape which determine the direction of the force vector and the lengthwise load distribution on the cartridge.
Abstract: A rotary ammunition magazine for a rifle has a follower that is spring biased and rotates about an axis to move cartridges for feeding to the rifle's chamber. The follower has a surface portion which engages the last cartridge in the stack. The surface portion has one or more characteristics including a transverse orientation angle, a longitudinal orientation angle and an arcuate shape which determine the direction of the force vector and the lengthwise load distribution on the cartridge.
Abstract: A rotary ammunition magazine for a rifle has a follower that is spring biased and rotates about an axis to move cartridges for feeding to the rifle's chamber. The follower has a surface portion which engages the last cartridge in the stack. The surface portion has one or more characteristics including a transverse orientation angle, a longitudinal orientation angle and an arcuate shape which determine the direction of the force vector and the lengthwise load distribution on the cartridge.
Abstract: A revolver has a detent mechanism providing positive mechanical engagement between the cylinder yoke and the frame. A housing mounted on the frame has a spring biased plunger that transversely engages a pin. The pin projects from the housing and engages a recess on the yoke when the revolver cylinder is closed. The pin is biased into engagement with the recess by the plunger to maintain the revolver closed and the chambers of the cylinder in precise alignment with the barrel during firing. Manual force applied to the cylinder can overcome the biasing force and permit the revolver to be opened and closed.
Abstract: A revolver has a shroud for housing a barrel. The shroud has a receptacle formed on an upper surface. The receptacle is aligned with one sight receiving flat on an exterior periphery of the barrel. The flat is located adjacent to the muzzle end of the barrel. A front sight is disposed within the receptacle. A bottom portion of the sight is in registration with the flat so as to prevent rotation of the barrel.
Abstract: A method of installing a safety selector in a firearm includes inserting the safety selector into an opening in the firearm, aligning a hole extending through the safety selector with a cavity extending transversely from the opening, inserting a spring through the hole and into the cavity, inserting a detent plunger through the hole and at least partially into the cavity, thereby compressing the spring, and moving the safety selector within the opening transversely to the cavity so as to capture the detent plunger at least partially within the cavity. The invention also encompasses a method of removing the safety selector.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 27, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 26, 2017
Assignee:
Smith & Wesson Corp.
Inventors:
Matteo Vincenzio Viviano, Joshua Raymond Lloyd
Abstract: A rotary ammunition magazine for a rifle has a follower that is spring biased and rotates about an axis to move cartridges for feeding to the rifle's chamber. The follower has a rib and/or a projection on a surface facing the cartridges. The rib engages the last cartridge in a stack and directs the force from the follower in the direction of movement of the cartridges within the magazine. The projection engages the extractor groove in the last cartridge to prevent it from moving under inertial forces caused by recoil. The rib engages and prevents the last cartridge from moving down the follower. The projection and rib prevent bolt override malfunctions.
Abstract: A metal tube provides a bearing for a bolt carrier in a rifle. The tube is machined to provide openings and co-molded with a polymer outer shroud to form a lightweight composite upper receiver. The tube has an inner surface that supports the bolt carrier in its reciprocal motion during cycling of the rifle action during firing. The length and diameter of the tube are designed to prevent tilt of the bolt carrier during operation.
Abstract: An end cap for a semiautomatic pistol is mounted at the breech end of a slide to maintain the striker assembly in place when subject to inertial loads. The end cap includes a body with a base and a cover. A metal plate is mounted between the base and cover to prevent striker blow-out in the event that a primer is pierced. Flexible, resilient projections extend from the base and engage the slide within a recess, the projections extending transversely to the firing axis to counter inertial forces that might otherwise dislodge the end cap and cause a stoppage.
Abstract: A metal tube provides a bearing for a bolt carrier in a rifle. The tube is machined to provide openings and co-molded with a polymer outer shroud to form a lightweight composite upper receiver. The tube has an inner surface that supports the bolt carrier in its reciprocal motion during cycling of the rifle action during firing. The length and diameter of the tube are designed to prevent tilt of the bolt carrier during operation.
Abstract: A sight for a pistol has a sliding fit within a channel in the slide of the pistol. A fastener retains the sight to the slide. The fastener passes through a slot in the slide. The slot is surrounded by a countersink surface and has a major dimension oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the slide. The fastener has a conical head with a cone angle which may be the same as or different from the angle of the countersink surface.
Abstract: A trigger assembly has a sear with a stop surface engageable with a reciprocating component for holding the reciprocating component in a cocked configuration. A trigger is movable into and out of engagement with the sear to hold and release the reciprocating component. A drop pendulum has a trigger cam engageable with the trigger. A spring acts between the trigger and the drop pendulum to bias the trigger cam into engagement with the trigger. The drop pendulum also has a head cam follower engageable with the reciprocating component. Motion of the reciprocating component acting through the head cam follower and the trigger cam forces the trigger to return to a configuration of engagement between the trigger and the sear. Use of the drop pendulum improves the stability of trigger mechanisms and effectively inhibits accidental discharge of firearms when subjected to inertial forces which occur when the firearm is dropped.