PISTOL DRY FIRE DEVICE

Abstract

This pistol dry fire device enables multiple dry fire trigger pulls with just one racking of the slide or cocking of the semi-automatic double action only pistol without any modifications to the pistol or the standard magazine. Since the device is constructed from an impact resistant material that is inserted behind the slide and in front of the flush mounted hammer, the hammer does not contact the firing in when the device is properly positioned, rotated 90 degrees and locked in place, preventing damage to the pin, but does allow the hammer to fall and the trigger to reset as when live fire is conducted. This reset then allows for another trigger pull without racking the slide. The device also creates a visual failsafe condition without interfering with the pistol's normal functions or sights.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to dry firing apparatus for pistols. More particularly, this invention relates to dry firing apparatus for certain semi-automatic pistols equipped with recessed energy yielding hammers, including the Ruger LCP and similar models. This invention is not compatible with revolvers.

The present invention relates to the field of firearms, and, more particularly to the usage of trigger actuated firearms, pistols and training devices. The device serves to allow dry firing of a pistol for training and practice.

Dry firing is a practice employed by shooters to develop trigger control without expending ammunition or having to contend with the pistol's recoil or report. Repeatedly dry firing the pistol allows the shooter to develop the ability to accurately fire their pistol of choice. The shooter's control is enhanced by practice, with concentration on stance, grip with the dominate hand, support of the grip with the non-dominate hand, the position of the trigger finger during firing, maintaining the sight picture during multiple shots and focusing on development of the desired trigger press, reset and repress.

Prior to the development of this invention, dry fire practice with smaller, double-action only hammer-fired semi-automatic pistols resulted in more time spent loading magazines with dummy rounds and racking the slide (re-cocking the pistol) than in practicing accurate shooting basics. This invention also allows for dry firing with the user's pistol of choice and a standard magazine in place. This is a feature which was not previously available with any known invention.

There is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,089 to Meyer, a self-ejecting safety device for a pistol equipped with an exposed hammer, designed to prevent the hammer from accidently contacting the firing pin should the hammer be subjected to an impact load, such as being dropped, when a round of ammunition is in the firing chamber. This device consists of a blocking member, which fits between the hammer and firing pin, and is held in place by the pressure of the hammer. The device contains a self-ejection mechanism consisting of a spring mounted in the body of the blocking member and a retractable shaft which acts in relation to the spring. The shaft retracts into the blocking member when loaded against the base of the hammer. When the hammer is pulled hack prior to firing, the force of the hammer no longer retains the blocking member, allowing the spring to advance the retractable shaft which, in turn, forces the safety device to be ejected from the pistol. This safety device must be manually re-inserted after every firing to re-safe the pistol. This invention is not a dry-fire practice device as it is ejected upon the first pull back of the hammer, permitting the pistol to be fired immediately in a normal manner. Nor does it provide a method to repeatedly dry-fire the pistol when a live round of ammunition is in the firing chamber.

Another method employed to permit repeated dry-firing of a pistol is the use of a cartridge with the same caliber and weight as a live cartridge which will permit dry-firing without causing damage to the pistol, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,405,308 to Jack and U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,350 to Seminiano. The cartridges provide a yielding resistance to the firing pin approximately equivalent to that provided by the explosion of the primer of a live cartridge of the same caliber. Replacement of a live cartridge with the dry-fire cartridge is required to permit dry-firing. This provides no external indication of what type of cartridge has been loaded into the firing chamber making determination of the pistol's safety impossible to determine from external viewing. A similar device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,615 to Peterken which is primarily designed for use in a rifle. The difference from the previous inventions being that it is placed in the breech with a portion extending into the barrel for stability. All inventions of this type require exchange of the dry-fire and live fire cartridges to permit change-over of the pistol from a dry-fire to live-fire condition.

There is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,570 to Browning a dry-firing and safety device for pistols consisting of a combination or elements and parts for a pistol which provides for the functions of safe, dry-fire and normal operation. The device is intended to be adopted to the pistol manufacturing process and is not suitable for installation into existing firearms not already equipped with such a device.

There is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,081 to Izumi a dry-fire unit which requires replacement for the standard pistol firing pin with an alternate device consisting clan energy-absorbing wedge which is struck by the hammer of the firearm when the trigger is pulled. The removal and replacement of the firing pin is a modification to the firearm which requires partial firearm disassembly of the small parts associated with the firing pin assembly. This process is prohibitive to persons not able to handle such small parts or not well trained in the assembly and maintenance of the firearm. The replacement process exposes small, precise parts to potential contamination from exposure to dust, dirt and other materials and damage due to mishandling while they are stored outside of the firearm. Replacement of the firing pin is a major, complicated activity. Additionally, this device docs not provide for multiple dry-firing with only a single racking of the slide or cocking of the hammer.

This invention overcomes problems with and is distinct from the referenced patents for dry-fire devices by eliminating the need to modify the firearm in any manner or replace parts to permit dry-firing and providing for multiple dry-firings without the need to rack the slide or cock the hammer for each dry-fire.

It is the object of this invention to provide pistol dry fire device which allows failsafe operation of the pistol's trigger mechanism by preventing the hammer from contacting the firing pin.

It is another object of this invention to permit placement and operation of the dry fire device without the need to dissemble, replace parts, reassemble, or modify the pistol in any manner.

It is another object of this invention to permit practice dry tiring of multiple shots with just the initial racking of the slide or cocking of the pistol.

It is another object of this invention to prevent possible damage to the pistol's firing pin or hammer while being dry fired.

It is another object of this invention to permit dry firing using the pistol of choke employing either standard or extended magazines in place without any modifications made to the pistol or the pistol s firing mechanism.

Description of the Prior Art

A dry fire device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,081 which discloses a firing pin replacement device that requires replacement of the pistol's original firing pin. The use of the referenced device requires that ammunition first be unloaded and the pistol to be partially disassembled in order to facilitate replacement of the stock tiring pin. After replacement of the stock firing pin with the referenced dry fire device, the pistol must be reassembled before dry firing can be commenced. The assembly procedure must be reversed in order to replace the dry fire device with the original firing pin before returning the pistol to normal operating condition. The referenced dry fire device requires an operator skilled in the workings and assembly of the pistol. When compared with other dry fire devices, this invention is the only one that permits dry firing of a pistol without modification, while preventing possible damage to the firing pin or hammer, which would shorten the life of the pistol.

Other dry-fire inventions have employed the use of dummy pistols which do not provide the same weight and feel of the pistol of choice, involve insertion of devices in into the firing chamber area or use dummy rounds. Each of these inventions requires racking of the slide or re-cocking the pistol before additional practice shots can be taken. None of them provide the exact feel of the user's pistol of choice which is maintained with this invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The dry fire device is a non-metallic insert which fits into the opening created between the hammer and firing pin assembly of a pistol which occurs when the trigger is slightly pressed. The slight press of the trigger causes the hammer to be moved away from the firing. pin without being released to fall. Once inserted, the dry fire device absorbs impact from the hammer and allows for a proper reset of the trigger, which, in turn, enables an additional press of the trigger after the hammer fall. The dry fire device permits unobstructed sighting on the target and multiple trigger pulls, including hammer fails, without the need to rack the slide after each trigger pull. The dry fire device is an energy-absorbing material that is shaped to be positioned between the firing pin and hammer. The dry fire device is struck by the hammer when the pistol trigger is pulled, instead of the hammer striking the firing pin. This allows the pistol to be dry fired, preventing cracking, peening or otherwise damaging the hammer which would be caused by metal on metal contact.

Installation is achieved by slightly pressing on the pistol's trigger, which results in the hammer moving back and away from the firing pin. This provides access space for the pistol dry fire device to be installed. The pistol dry fire device is then locked into place by rotating it by ninety degrees (90°).

The pistol dry fire device is removed at the end of firing practice by slightly pressing on the trigger, which results in the hammer moving back and away from the firing pin. The dry fire device is then rotated ninety degrees (90°), which unlocks it from the slide. It can then be removed from the pistol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a section view of a typical pistol showing the installed placement of the dry fire device.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the dry fire device showing the various features of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the dry fire device.

FIG. 4 is a front end view of the dry fire device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the dry fire device.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the dry fire device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment to be preferred of the pistol dry fire device of the present invention is here and in figures disclosed.

For clarity, within this document all reference to the dry fire device will correspond to the pistol dry fire device as oriented in FIG. 5; the top of the figure when oriented such that the text is upright corresponding to top of the pistol dry fire device, and the bottom of the figure when oriented such that the text is upright corresponding to the bottom of the pistol dry fire device. Likewise, all reference to the front of the pistol dry fire device will correspond to the leftmost part of the pistol dry fire device as viewed in FIG. 4 when oriented with the text upright.

FIG. 1 shows a section view of a semi-automatic compact pistol for which the dry firing device 1 of this invention is applicable. It should be noted that the dry firing device of this invention 1 has applications to other makes of firearms of both the same and different calipers. The dry firing device of this invention made with different dimensions can be interchanged with other pistols equipped with similar hammer and firing pin designs.

Referring to FIG. 1, the dry fire device 1 is shown installed in it's operating position located between the hammer 2 and firing pin 14 of the pistol. The indicated position of the hammer 2 is achieved by a slight pull on the trigger 9 which engages the hammer 2 through the trigger bar 3, holding it away from the firing pin 14 and supported by the hammer catch 6. The dry firing device 1 is inserted into the space between the hammer 2 and firing pin 14. Once inserted, the dry firing device 1 is rotated 90 degrees which engages a locking ring on the shaft of the device with a hold-open detent located on the pistol frame 4. For clarity, the complex shape of the pistol frame 4 is not entirely shown on FIG. 1. The pistol grip and trigger guard 5 are shown for reference but are not impacted by this invention. Dry firing is performed by completing the pull of the trigger 9 which further rotates the hammer 2. Once the full rotation of the hammer 2 is obtained, the trigger bar 3 disengages and the hammer spring 7 pulls the hammer 2 toward the firing pin 14. Motion of the hammer 2 is stopped by the dry fire device 1 which prevents it from contacting the firing pin 14. The firing pin 14 does not move and the firing pin spring 13 is not compressed by this action, thus no cartridge can be fired. Because no ignition of a cartridge occurs, the barrel 12 or slide 11 remain stationary and the recoil springs 10 are not engaged. A complete trigger pull and hammer fall is achieved in this manner. The pistol may be dry fired with or without a magazine 8 in place, unless the pistol design requires a magazine to be in place to be fired.

FIG. 2-6 show ordinant and isometric views of the dry firing device 1. The head 15 serves as a stop to insure the proper seating of the dry firing device 1 and prevent it from being inserted too far into the pistol. A sloped surface 16 provides clearance for an unobstructed view along the pistol's sights. Gripping ridges 17 on the bottom side of the head 15 are provided to assist the operator with holding the dry firing device 1 and to facilitate engagement of the locking ring 21. A hammer cut out 18 along the bottom edge of the head 15 provides the proper clearance for seating the dry firing device above the hammer 2. An upper shaft 19 is shaped to fit through an opening in the slide 11. The lower shaft 20 is sized to fit though the frame 4 opening. A locking ring 21 secures the dry fining device 1 in place when in use. Flat areas 23 on opposite sides of the locking ring 21 permit insertion of the device through the frame 4. Once seated and turned, the locking ring 21 rests against the sides of the opening in the frame 4, preventing withdrawal during use. The nose 22 is shaped to allow easy insertion through the various noted openings. Smooth transitions 24 are provided between each change in dimension to provide for smooth and easy insertion and retraction of the dry firing device 1. Radiused edges 25 are provided on all head 15 surfaces for snag-free operation and finger comfort.

The dry firing device as indicated in FIG. 1-6 is constructed as a single unit from a material characterized as energy absorbing and able to withstand compressive impact without failing or permanently deforming, having a smooth finish with a low coefficient of friction and able to withstand contact with lubricants and cleaning solvents expected to be used with the operation and cleaning of a pistol. The material shall be a synthetic, non-metallic and suitable for injection molded fabrication.

The dry firing device 1 remains clearly visible when installed. This permits the operator to be aware at all times that the invention is in place and preventing contact between the hammer 2 and firing pin 14, while allowing dry firing of the pistol without the need to re-cock the pistol between trigger 9 pulls.

This invention has the advantage of providing dry firing trigger pulls for practice without the need to modify the pistol in any manner and preventing possible damage to the hammer or firing pin which would otherwise be caused by their impact. Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of the pistol dry fire device of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes not exemplified in the detailed description of the invention could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The presented embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all alternate embodiments and changes to the embodiments shown herein which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. In combination with a double action, semi-automatic pistol having a recessed hammer movable from a cocked position to an energy release position and a firing pin, a dry firing device composed of a resilient, energy absorbing material molded into a single piece, shaped to be easily inserted into the pistol, locked in place in the path of the hammer preventing contact between the hammer and firing pin when dry firing the pistol and removed from the pistol frame without the need to modify the pistol or magazine in any manner.

2. A dry firing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device, when locked in position, provides for multiple pistol dry firings with only a single racking of the slide or cocking of the firearm.

3. A dry firing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device projects from the pistol frame when locked in place so as to be readily visible, indicating the pistol is in a failsafe condition, without interfering with any of the pistol's functions or the view along the sights.