Rifle safety for low caliber .22 cartridges and similar calibers

Abstract

This invention refers to a new safety, incorporated toward the end of the mechanism chamber of a double-shot rifle, located slightly behind the trigger, whose safety has a movement toward the back which occurs automatically upon moving the bolt handle to remove the shell or the cartridge and prepare the rifle, leaving the safety in place for its shot, and where the safety is removed manually upon moving the safety toward the front of the gun when the arm is ready for shooting. The safety is formed by a trigger safety to prevent accidental firing of the weapon and is fit to the combination of a rectangular plate in whose base there is a mechanism release window corresponding to the track of the trigger having in addition some bores in its corners in eyelet form that serve as guides for the course and movement of the trigger safety.

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is used as an article for sports and diversion, particularly for young adult males. In this case, the invention's objectives contribute to preventing all types of chance accidents resulting from improper use of the gun, whether it be accidental due to unfamiliarity with the gun or whether it be due to the inappropriate use of the gun.

Due to the above, this invention has as its objective the realm of cartridge rifles. Upon activation of the invention, the gun is left in a secure condition; in addition, the invention allows the gun to be changed from a double-shot to a repetition rifle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is widely known, there are many types of safeties for weapons which have been discussed in various patents, citing for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,164,646; 1,509,257; 2,729,28; 3,465,741; and 3,839,999; referring briefly to the following considerations.

1. U.S. Pat. No. 1,164,646 (Pop Rifle—Heyman and Arden) dated Dec. 21, 1915, publishes a shooting mechanism for a children's sporting cork rifle.

The mechanism being proposed differs from that patent because in the above-mentioned patent, when the cam is lowered to get ready to shoot, the gun is not locked. The proposed invention includes a latch that is automatically locked when the gun is loaded and which must be released manually.

2. U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,257 (Air Gun or Rifle—Randall) dated Feb. 26, 1926, lays claim to a spring mechanism for air rifles.

Although said invention preceded this proposal, it does not include a safety mechanism to prevent accidental shooting nor does it prevent a shot when the cam is not in place, in which case the user's fingers may be smashed by the cam when the gun is shot.

3. U.S. Pat. No. 2,729,208 (Popgun—Gaeke) dated Sep. 11, 1953, protects an air rifle from going off. Its mechanism produces a sound similar to that of a real rifle. Additionally, the cam blocks the shooting mechanism but not the trigger directly.

4. U.S. Pat. No. 2,837,865 (Popgun construction—Wells) dated Jun. 10, 1958, publishes a mechanism consisting of a valve through which a blast for toy popguns with corks is produced.

5. U.S. Pat. No. 3,465,741 (Popgun with extended barrel for protecting puff of air—Daniel, et al) dated Jun. 15, 1965, refers to a mechanism that produces a blast for a popgun by means of a valve. Therefore, this invention differs appreciably from the proposal. Even though there might be elements that are the same or similar, the arrangement of such is totally different.

6. U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,999 (Gun with Safety Member Mounted Therein—Fleming) refers to a lateral safety activated by several tension cams. The invention proposed is different due to the fact that it refers to a button which operates directly without a cam mechanism.

Apart from the last invention, which has an auxiliary safety, the others do not present any type of safety for the protection of the rifle when it is loaded.

It has been observed that in some cases, a lack of knowledge of the mechanism of the gun has caused some minor injuries to the users, particularly to their fingers and hands. This is due to excessive confidence and to the curiosity to investigate the results of having the rifle in an other-than-normal position.

Referring specifically to the cartridge rifle with a reloading lever, the safety is put in place, clasping a part below the trigger; it is removed after the rifle is loaded and ready to shoot.

It may be said that in agreement with the antecedents and to the best knowledge of the patent-seeker, no other invention close to the proposed one is known. Therefore, the improvements made constitute a new invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of this invention is to prevent accidents by the user at the moment of involuntary movement of the safety when the gun is prepared for shooting.

Another goal of this invention is to have the safety external to the sport cartridge rifle equipped with safety mechanisms and to avoid the involuntary removal of the safety therefore minimizing any chance accidents due to inadequate handling or lack of knowledge of the same.

Another objective of this invention is that of an external safety which complies satisfactorily with safety regulations and security norms.

Another purpose of this invention is to prevent the removal of the safety if or when the rifle falls to the ground and hits exactly on the safety.

This invention refers to a new safety, incorporated toward the end of the mechanism chamber of a double-shot rifle, located slightly behind the trigger, whose safety has a movement toward the back which occurs automatically upon moving the bolt handle to remove the shell or the cartridge and prepare the rifle, leaving said safety in place for its shot, and where said safety is removed manually upon moving said safety toward the front of the gun when it is ready for shooting.

Said safety has a spring that upon moving the safety, produces an audible click by which one has the certainty that the safety is in one position or the other. In addition there is a red point on the butt for noting that the bore of the safety is properly aligned with the butt.

Also, said safety consists of two screws which act in the front as a catch for the retrogression handle in such a way that when removing the first screw in the front, a double-shot rifle can be converted into a common repetition rifle.

The development of different types of safeties for guns has been discussed in various patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,164,646; 1,509,257; 2,729,28; 3,465,741; and 3,839,999.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of this safety for sport cartridge rifles can be clearly seen in the following description and in the drawings that accompany it as an illustration. The same reference points indicate the same parts in the figures.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the rifle with the rifle safety.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the rifle with the rifle safety.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the rifle with the rifle safety with the safety off.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the rifle safety.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the rifle safety.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the rifle safety.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the trigger, the bolt and the hammer of the rifle.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the trigger, the bolt, and the hammer of the rifle.

FIG. 10 is a view of the bolt and the hammer of the rifle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a safety for cartridge rifles by which safe operation of the rifle is guaranteed, preventing an accident due to inappropriate use by minors or adults.

With reference to the cited figures, the rifle with said safety consists of a combination of a barrel 70 at the front through which the bullet or pellet will be shot, followed by a mechanism chamber 72 where the firing mechanism is located, and by the butt 74, which serves as a support for the barrel 70 and the mechanism chamber 72 when firing.

Toward the end of the mechanism chamber 72, present on the upper left-hand side, is a cartridge feeder 20 where a cartridge that is inserted will be fed automatically. Also located there is a second cartridge which stays in the rifle chamber in such a way that the rifle can be converted to a double-shot type or the repetition type and where the cartridge feeder 20, formed by a curved plate conforming to the cylindrical curvature of the cartridge casing, is a spring that stops the second cartridge so that it does not come out of place and where the bullet or pellet is fed into the chamber of the rifle upon the opening of a bolt 30 whose function is that of introducing a cartridge into the interior of the chamber for its later detonation and at the same time of extracting the casing once it has been detonated.

This bolt 30 consists of a cylindrical piece which has at the end a striker 32, whose function is to detonate the cartridge, formed by a raised edge on its cylindrical face, and an extractor 34 with the function of extracting the shell of the detonated bullet or the cartridge at the moment said bolt 30 is moved. Toward the opposite end, there is a bolt handle 36, consisting of a cam, attached so that it is perpendicular to the cylindrical piece and fixed to the cylinder, whose function will be to move the bolt 30 in a rocking motion toward the front and the back, having in addition a small groove above the straight part of the cylinder forming the step of the release 38 that aligns with a groove on the trigger 51 and a V-cut 41 at the end of the cylindrical part, which should align with a hammer 40, whose function is to hit the perforator that is inside the bolt 30 and this, in turn, impact the cartridge.

This hammer 40 is a hollow cylindrical piece forming a ring with walls at one end and having a V-shaped protuberance 43 which aligns with the V-shaped cut on the bolt 30 by which exact alignment of the hammer 40 with the bolt 30 is assured and toward which the straight part of the cylinder presents a catch 42, whose function will be to prevent the cylinder from turning, consisting of a small round-headed pin, connected transversely, and where at the interior of the cylinder is located a screw 44 and which unites with an alignment thread located in the center of the bolt 30 in such a way that the pieces are joined, in addition, there is a screw 46 inside the cylinder that fixes the interior walls of the end, in such a way that the screw 44 keeps the two parts in a fixed position and at the same time permits both pieces to run to one side.

Under the hammer assembly 40 appears the trigger 50, whose function is to cause the execution of the impact of the cartridge. Connected to a plate, it is the piece below in the form of a canal with an elongated, slightly curved portion where the finger is rested to shoot the weapon. This is mounted on the trigger support 52, made up of a rectangular plate to which is attached the end of the trigger 50. Extending past the trigger 52, there is a protuberance which fits into the end of the trigger 50 with which the cut of the trigger 51 is formed and where said protuberance halts the advance of the hammer 40 when the rifle is loaded and at the same time leaves the hammer 40 free at the time of firing. In addition, the trigger support 52 has at its other end a bore for the passing and fixing of the trigger support 52 by way of a screw 54 and where there is also a spring 56 which stays compressed as much because of said screw 54 as because of the trigger support 52 upon its fastening in the mechanism chamber 72 in such a way that, upon pulling the trigger 50, the trigger support 52, with the screw 54 and the spring 56, move about a fixed point that corresponds to the point at which the screw assembly and the spring join.

The trigger safety 60 functions so as to prevent accidental firing of the weapon and is fit to the combination of a rectangular plate in whose base there is a mechanism release window 62 corresponding to the track of the trigger 50 having in addition some bores 64 in its corners in eyelet form that serve as guides for the course and movement of the trigger safety 60. From the base of the rectangular plate, the plate continues with a section at ninety degrees and some curved pieces following the contour of the mechanism chamber 72, ending with a horizontal segment at each side; said safety is attached in its curved sections via conventional screws and where on the right-hand side of the curved extension is a spring 66 by which is determined the movement of safety release, signaled with a click, consisting of a flat plate in whose center there is a vertical mark and that aligns with the alignment grooves located on the surface of the curved part of the safety 60. On the other side, the right-hand extension has on its face two threaded bores where two return stop screws 68 and 69 are fixed. The first acts as a return stop where upon moving the bolt handle 36 to load the rifle, the return stop screw 68 moves and brings the safety 69 toward the back in a secure position and at the same time brings the hammer 40 to its final position and brings the protuberance into alignment with the terminal of the trigger 50 in front of the hammer 40 at which point it will be in position for loading Meanwhile the second return stop will act as a point or peg to activate and release the safety 60 manually.

In addition, it has a third bore 63 that serves as a window for observing the red alert point 75 marked on the butt.

BEST WAY TO OPERATE THE INVENTION

Operating the above-described mechanism is extremely simple.

The rifle is opened via the bolt handle 36, which pushes the hammer 40 and the trigger safety 60 into the loaded position A cartridge is fixed in the rifle chamber.

The action of loading is completed at the moment at which the bolt handle 36 pushes the cartridge into the chamber, where the hammer 40 is stopped by the action of the protuberance corresponding to the terminal of the trigger 50, and although a shot may be attempted, the rifle will be in a secure state. A second cartridge may be introduced into the cartridge feeder 20.

Firing the rifle is achieved by manually releasing the trigger safety 60, lightly pushing toward the front, in which case a click will be heard when the vertical marking of the spring 66 aligns with the vertical alignment grooves is the curved piece. The red alert point may be observed through the security window or bore 63. At this time, the trigger 50 is pulled, leaving the hammer 40 free which produces the detonation at the moment of crashing with the bolt 30.

The action of opening the rifle is repeated resulting in the extractor 34 extracting the detonated shell and at the same time resulting in the cartridge being located in the cartridge feeder 20 and fed into the rifle. As the hammer 40 and bolt 30 are returned to their initial positions, the bolt rotates and at the same time pushes the safety toward the back and a light click is heard, corresponding to the alignment of the vertical markings of the spring 66 and the vertical alignment grooves in the curved section observing that the red alert point 75 is visible.

Again the second cartridge is introduced into the chamber via the bolt handle 36; at the same time the cartridge feeder is loaded with another cartridge. The user may proceed to shoot after releasing the trigger safety 60. In this form, a double-shot rifle is achieved.

If the return stop screw 68 is manually removed, the rifle becomes a repetition rifle, but in this case the safety must be placed manually and not automatically.

Claims

1. Safety for low (0.22) and similar caliber cartridge rifles, having a cylinder at the front, followed by the mechanism chamber and the butt, comprising:

toward an end of the mechanism chamber, present on the upper left-hand side, a cartridge feeder where a cartridge that is inserted will be fed automatically and a second cartridge which stays in the rifle chamber in such a way that the rifle can be converted to a double-shot type or the repetition type;

where the cartridge feeder, formed by a curved plate conforming to the cylindrical curvature of the cartridge casing, a spring that stops the second cartridge so that it does not come out of place and where the bullet or pellet is fed into the chamber of the rifle upon the opening of a bolt whose function is that of introducing a cartridge into the interior of the chamber for its later detonation and at the same time of extracting the casing once it has been detonated;

said bolt being fit to a cylindrical piece which has at the end a striker, whose function is to detonate the cartridge, formed by a raised edge on its cylindrical face,

an extractor, whose function is that of extracting the shell of the detonated bullet or the cartridge at the moment said bolt is moved said bolt being formed by a protruding border on its cylindrical face besides having a bolt handle located toward the opposite end, being comprised of a cam attached so that it is perpendicular to the cylindrical piece and fixed to the cylinder, whose function will be to move the bolt in a rocking motion toward the front and the back, having in addition a small groove above the straight part of the cylinder forming the step of the release that aligns with a groove on the trigger and a V-cut at the end of the cylindrical part, which should align with a hammer, whose function is to hit the perforator that is inside the bolt, and this, in turn, impact the cartridge;

said hammer being a hollow cylindrical piece forming a ring with walls at only one end and having a V-shaped protuberance which aligns with the V-shaped cut on the bolt by which exact alignment of the hammer with the bolt is assured and toward which the straight part of the cylinder presents a catch, whose function will be to prevent the cylinder from turning, being comprised of a small round-headed pin, connected transversely, and where at the interior of the cylinder is located a screw which unites with an alignment thread located in the center of the bolt in such a way that the screw keeps the two parts in a fixed position, in addition to a spring located in the interior of the cylinder where the interior walls of the end are fixed in such a way that the screw keeps the two parts in a fixed position and at the same time permits both pieces to run to one side;

under the hammer assembly, a trigger, whose function is to cause the execution of the impact of the cartridge, being connected to a plate, it is the piece below in the form of a canal with an elongated, slightly curved portion where the finger is rested to shoot the weapon and is mounted on the trigger support, comprised of a rectangular plate to which is attached the end of the trigger;

extending past the trigger, a protuberance which fits into the end of the trigger with which the cut of the trigger is formed and where said protuberance halts the advance of the hammer when the rifle is loaded and at the same time leaves the hammer free at the time of firing; and

a trigger support having at its other end a bore for the passing and fixing of the trigger support by way of a screw and where there is also a spring which stays compressed as much because of said screw as because of the trigger support upon its fastening in the mechanism chamber in such a way that, upon pulling the trigger, the trigger support, with the screw and the spring, move about a fixed point that corresponds to the point at which the screw assembly and the spring join, characterized by a trigger safety which functions so as to prevent accidental firing of the weapon and is fit to the combination of a rectangular plate in whose base there is a mechanism release window corresponding to the track of the trigger having in addition some bores in its corners in eyelet form that serve as guides for the course and movement of the trigger safety, from the base of the rectangular plate, the plate continuing with a section at ninety degrees and some curved pieces following the contour of the mechanism chamber, ending with a horizontal segment at each side;

said safety being attached in its curved sections via conventional screws and where on the right-hand side of the curved extension is a spring by which is determined the movement of safety release, signaled with a click, being comprised of a flat plate in whose center there is a vertical mark and that aligns with the alignment grooves located on the surface of the curved part of the safety; on the other side, the right-hand extension having on its face two threaded bores where two return stop screws are fixed, a first acting as a return stop where upon moving the bolt handle to load the rifle, the return stop screw moves and brings the safety toward the back in a secure position and at the same time brings the hammer to its final position and brings the protuberance into alignment with the terminal of the trigger in front of the hammer at which point it will be in position for loading, a second return stop acting as a point or peg to activate and release the safety manually, a third bore that serves as a window for observing the red alert point being marked on the butt.

2. Safety for low (0.22) and similar caliber cartridge rifles, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a decorated cover to hide the screws, being comprised of not only the first return stop screw but also the second return stop screw, comprised of a safety support block with a rectangular cover and a screw, which upon placing said screw in the first threaded bore in the front, works as a return block and automatically activates the safety, upon changing the position to the second threaded bore in the back, the rifle being converted into the common repetition type, where the safety stays in the manual form.