Patents by Inventor Nicholas Schafer

Nicholas Schafer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240401896
    Abstract: A dynamically balanced trigger system for a firearm. The dynamically balanced trigger has a specific design, orientation, weights, and cutouts such as to provide a balanced trigger, where the chances of accidental discharge due to drops, shocks, and impacts are dramatically reduced. Unlike other triggers, the dynamically balanced trigger system has a trigger with a center of gravity near the center point of the trigger, which weights the trigger components against itself to prevent movement, such as may be caused by dropping the firearm, thereby helping prevent an unintentional discharge of the firearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Ethan Lessard, Nicholas Schafer
  • Publication number: 20230280120
    Abstract: A dynamically balanced trigger system for a firearm. The dynamically balanced trigger has a specific design, orientation, weights, and cutouts such as to provide a balanced trigger, where the chances of accidental discharge due to drops, shocks, and impacts are dramatically reduced. Unlike other triggers, the dynamically balanced trigger system has a trigger with a center of gravity near the center point of the trigger, which weights the trigger components against itself to prevent movement, such as may be caused by dropping the firearm, thereby helping prevent an unintentional discharge of the firearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ethan Lessard, Nicholas Schafer
  • Patent number: 11332964
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a forkbolt biased to rotate in a first direction about a first pivot point, and a detent biased to rotate in a second direction about a second pivot point, the detent configured to engage with the forkbolt in at least two different positions. The latch assembly further includes a lever having a first end coupled to the detent and a second end biased toward the forkbolt. The latch assembly further includes a switch configured to detect a position of both the forkbolt and the combined lever and detent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Nicholas Schafer, Julie Zier
  • Patent number: 11181331
    Abstract: A rifle includes a receiver and a bolt body at least partially disposed in the receiver and including a body axis. The bolt body is discretely (1) rotatable about the body axis within the receiver and (2) axially slidable along the body axis. The rife also includes a bolt handle coupled to the bolt body so as to discretely (1) rotate with the bolt body about the body axis and (2) move with the bolt body along the body axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Patent number: 11072949
    Abstract: A powered latch with manual release includes a forkbolt, a detent lever, and a powered actuator. The forkbolt is pivotable about a first axis to latch and unlatch a striker. The detent lever is pivotable about a second axis and engageable with the forkbolt to secure the forkbolt in the latched position. A power cinching lever is rotatable by the powered actuator to cinch the forkbolt to the latched position. A power release lever is rotatable by the powered actuator to release the detent lever from the forkbolt. A manual release lever is supported for rotation about a third axis and operable by a single manual rotation from outside the powered latch, without operation of the powered actuator, to both: interrupt a power transmission path between the powered actuator and the power cinching lever, and drive the detent lever to release the forkbolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Nicholas Schafer, Julie Zier
  • Publication number: 20200109903
    Abstract: A rife includes a receiver and a bolt body at least partially disposed in the receiver and including a body axis. The bolt body is discretely (1) rotatable about the body axis within the receiver and (2) axially slidable along the body axis. The rife also includes a bolt handle coupled to the bolt body so as to discretely (1) rotate with the bolt body about the body axis and (2) move with the bolt body along the body axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Patent number: 10533816
    Abstract: A rife includes a receiver and a bolt body at least partially disposed in the receiver and including a body axis. The bolt body is discretely (1) rotatable about the body axis within the receiver and (2) axially slidable along the body axis. The rife also includes a bolt handle coupled to the bolt body so as to discretely (1) rotate with the bolt body about the body axis and (2) move with the bolt body along the body axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Patent number: 10514219
    Abstract: A bolt assembly for a bolt action firearm includes a bolt body, a handle coupled to the bolt body, and a shroud that receives the bolt body and the handle. Rotation of the shroud with respect to the bolt body allows the handle to be removed from the bolt assembly. A bolt handle for a firearm includes a shaft having a radial extension at one end and a knob at an opposite end, a radial protrusion extending from the radial extension, and prongs extending from the radial extension that define a space for coupling the handle to the bolt body without engaging a firing arm of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Patent number: 10401108
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a firing mechanism for a firearm, wherein the firing mechanism includes: a housing having a central bore, a cam surface, and a striker sear slot; a striker sear pivotally connected to the housing and positioned within the striker sear slot, the striker sear having a striker head engagement surface; and a striker head movably positioned within the central bore, the striker head having a striker sear engagement surface configured to interface with the striker head engagement surface of the striker sear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Schafer, Ethan Lessard, Brian McDonald
  • Publication number: 20190078849
    Abstract: A bolt assembly for a bolt action firearm includes a bolt body, a handle coupled to the bolt body, and a shroud that receives the bolt body and the handle. Rotation of the shroud with respect to the bolt body allows the handle to be removed from the bolt assembly. A bolt handle for a firearm includes a shaft having a radial extension at one end and a knob at an opposite end, a radial protrusion extending from the radial extension, and prongs extending from the radial extension that define a space for coupling the handle to the bolt body without engaging a firing arm of the firearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Publication number: 20180291657
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a forkbolt biased to rotate in a first direction about a first pivot point, and a detent biased to rotate in a second direction about a second pivot point, the detent configured to engage with the forkbolt in at least two different positions. The latch assembly further includes a lever having a first end coupled to the detent and a second end biased toward the forkbolt. The latch assembly further includes a switch configured to detect a position of both the forkbolt and the combined lever and detent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Nicholas Schafer, Julie Zier
  • Publication number: 20180195818
    Abstract: A rife includes a receiver and a bolt body at least partially disposed in the receiver and including a body axis. The bolt body is discretely (1) rotatable about the body axis within the receiver and (2) axially slidable along the body axis. The rife also includes a bolt handle coupled to the bolt body so as to discretely (1) rotate with the bolt body about the body axis and (2) move with the bolt body along the body axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Publication number: 20180195823
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a firing mechanism for a firearm, wherein the firing mechanism includes: a housing having a central bore, a cam surface, and a striker sear slot; a striker sear pivotally connected to the housing and positioned within the striker sear slot, the striker sear having a striker head engagement surface; and a striker head movably positioned within the central bore, the striker head having a striker sear engagement surface configured to interface with the striker head engagement surface of the striker sear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Schafer, Ethan Lessard, Brian McDonald
  • Publication number: 20180087298
    Abstract: A powered latch with manual release includes a forkbolt, a detent lever, and a powered actuator. The forkbolt is pivotable about a first axis to latch and unlatch a striker. The detent lever is pivotable about a second axis and engageable with the forkbolt to secure the forkbolt in the latched position. A power cinching lever is rotatable by the powered actuator to cinch the forkbolt to the latched position. A power release lever is rotatable by the powered actuator to release the detent lever from the forkbolt. A manual release lever is supported for rotation about a third axis and operable by a single manual rotation from outside the powered latch, without operation of the powered actuator, to both: interrupt a power transmission path between the powered actuator and the power cinching lever, and drive the detent lever to release the forkbolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Nicholas Schafer, Julie Zier
  • Patent number: D827753
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan Lessard, Kevin Brittingham, Brian McDonald, Nicholas Schafer, Patrick Law
  • Patent number: D854643
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Schafer, Patrick Law
  • Patent number: D868196
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Patent number: D871536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan Lessard, Kevin Brittingham, Brian McDonald, Nicholas Schafer, Patrick Law
  • Patent number: D879905
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Schafer
  • Patent number: D1038312
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Q, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan Lessard, Nicholas Schafer