Abstract: A firearm having a pistol grip panel retention system is provided, including a frame to receive grip panels. The frame has grip offset surfaces to receive the grip panels. The grip offset surfaces have forward frame undercuts. The frame and grip panels have fasteners to secure the panels to the frame. The grip panels have forward grip undercuts facing a trigger side of the frame to receive a forward frame undercut disposed on the sides of the frame. Each forward grip undercut engages the corresponding forward frame undercut by seating each grip panel in its grip offset surface and translating each grip panel toward the trigger side of the frame. Buffers are disposed between the forward frame undercut and the forward grip undercut. Each grip panel is inserted into a grip offset surface and translated forward to an engagement position.

Abstract: A firearm having a pistol grip panel retention system is provided, including a frame to receive grip panels. The frame has grip offset surfaces to receive the grip panels. The grip offset surfaces have forward frame undercuts. The frame and grip panels have fasteners to secure the panels to the frame. The grip panels have forward grip undercuts facing a trigger side of the frame to receive a forward frame undercut disposed on the sides of the frame. Each forward grip undercut engages the corresponding forward frame undercut by seating each grip panel in its grip offset surface and translating each grip panel toward the trigger side of the frame. Buffers are disposed between the forward frame undercut and the forward grip undercut. Each grip panel is inserted into a grip offset surface and translated forward to an engagement position.

Abstract: A firearm having a grip panels and backstrap retention system is provided. A latch plate is disposed adjacent to the backstrap side of the frame having a pair of side edges having rearward facing protuberances thereon and is moveable perpendicular to the magazine well axis from an engagement position towards the trigger side of the frame to a disengagement position towards the backstrap side of the frame. A latch plate spring biases the latch plate to the disengagement position. Each grip panel has a forward grip undercut to receive corresponding forward frame undercuts. Each forward grip undercut engages the corresponding forward frame undercut by seating each grip panel in its grip offset surface and translating each grip panel toward the trigger side of the frame. Each grip panel further has a rearward grip undercut facing the frame to receive a corresponding undercut latch plate protuberance.

Abstract: A slide assembly for a pistol includes a slide, a firing pin, a firing pin spring and a firing pin retainer. The firing pin retainer includes left-side and right side flat surfaces disposed on the rails of the firing pin retainer on the top side. A rear sight is providing having a bottom side having a pair of threaded mounting holes. A pair of threaded mounting fasteners each having a head is provided to mount the sight on the slide. A pair of threaded mounting holes of the slide is coaxial with the threaded mounting holes of the rear sight, wherein the threaded mounting fasteners extend through the rear sight mounting holes in the slide and into the pair of mounting holes in the rear sight, wherein, when the firing pin retainer is fully seated in the grooves of the slide, the heads of the fasteners are captured by the flat surfaces of the firing pin retainer.

Abstract: A magazine for a firearm is formed by a plurality of sidewalls that define a space for holding ammunition cartridges. An opening between two of the walls provides access to the space. Feed lips are positioned on opposite sides of the opening. The feed lips contact and retain the cartridges within the space. Feed ramp surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the opening. The feed ramp surfaces are angularly oriented to tilt a cartridge so that it may be fed into the chamber of a barrel as it is pushed out of the opening along the feed ramp surfaces. Guide surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the opening between the feed lips and the feed ramp surfaces. The guide surfaces guide the cartridge as it disengages from the feed lips and moves up along the feed ramp surfaces.

Abstract: A container may employ an upper portion defining a mouth, a shoulder portion formed with the upper portion and extending away from the upper portion, a bottom portion forming a base, a sidewall extending between and joining the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of smooth surfaced vacuum panels formed in the sidewall, which may be separated by one or more strengthening grooves. The vacuum panels and/or the container in a profile view may form an hourglass shape. The container may also employ a sidewall utilizing three smooth, grooveless, vacuum panels, which may form a triangle in cross-section. The vacuum panels may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container and have an hourglass shape when the container is viewed in a side view.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The sidewall portion may generally be in an hourglass shape and employ a plurality of arched contour ribs and a plurality of arched contour lands that may alternate along a longitudinal length of the sidewall portion. An outside diameter of an upper body portion is greater than an outside diameter of a lower body portion, which may form a hand grip area. The arched contour ribs may further employ an upper flat wall, a lower flat wall, and an inner curved wall joining the upper and lower walls, which together may form an angle of about 60 degrees, and move in response to hot-fill product contraction within the container or top load forces.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic container includes a container body and an upper portion having a finish. Integrally formed with the finish and extending downward therefrom is a shoulder region. The shoulder region merges into and provides a transition between the finish and a sidewall portion. The sidewall portion extends downward from the shoulder region to a base portion having a base. The sidewall portion defines a series of horizontal lands and horizontal ribs. The horizontal lands and horizontal ribs extend continuously in a vertical direction from the shoulder region to the base portion. The horizontal ribs are designed to achieve optimal performance with regard to vacuum absorption, top load strength capabilities and dent resistance.

Abstract: A container may employ an upper portion defining a mouth, a shoulder portion formed with the upper portion and extending away from the upper portion, a bottom portion forming a base, a sidewall extending between and joining the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of smooth surfaced vacuum panels formed in the sidewall, which may be separated by one or more strengthening grooves. The vacuum panels and/or the container in a profile view may form an hourglass shape. The container may also employ a sidewall utilizing three smooth, grooveless, vacuum panels, which may form a triangle in cross-section. The vacuum panels may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container and have an hourglass shape when the container is viewed in a side view.

Abstract: A polyethylene terephthalate container having a laser-formed area, wherein the laser-formed area is modified in response to radiation energy. In some embodiments, the laser-formed area of the container permitting localized contouring to permit or otherwise generally prevent flexural response to vacuum and/or loading forces. In some embodiments, the laser-formed area of the container comprises visible indicia formed to permit labeless containers.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The sidewall portion may generally be in an hourglass shape and employ a plurality of arched contour ribs and a plurality of arched contour lands that may alternate along a longitudinal length of the sidewall portion. An outside diameter of an upper body portion is greater than an outside diameter of a lower body portion, which may form a hand grip area. The arched contour ribs may further employ an upper flat wall, a lower flat wall, and an inner curved wall joining the upper and lower walls, which together may form an angle of about 60 degrees, and move in response to hot-fill product contraction within the container or top load forces.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic container includes a container body and an upper portion having a finish. Integrally formed with the finish and extending downward therefrom is a shoulder region. The shoulder region merges into and provides a transition between the finish and a sidewall portion. The sidewall portion extends downward from the shoulder region to a base portion having a base. The sidewall portion defines a series of horizontal lands and horizontal ribs. The horizontal lands and horizontal ribs extend continuously in a vertical direction from the shoulder region to the base portion. The horizontal ribs are designed to achieve optimal performance with regard to vacuum absorption, top load strength capabilities and dent resistance.