FIREARM FIRE SELECTOR CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

A fire control selector assembly in a firearm includes an upper receiver, a lower receiver coupled to the upper receiver and having a trigger group. A selector lever movable between at least two positions is carried outside the lower receiver and includes a fulcrum portion having an axis of rotation centrally located therethrough and a grip portion having a longitudinal axis. The grip portion extends from the fulcrum portion and is offset from the axis of rotation so the longitudinal axis does not intersect the axis of rotation of the fulcrum portion. A selector body is carried inside the lower receiver coupled to the selector lever for rotation therewith and for interaction with the trigger group.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/419,030, filed 8 Nov. 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to firearm control devices and more specifically the present invention relates to a fire selector control device for a firearm lower receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In semi-automatic and automatic firearms such as the AR15/M16 types, a fire control selector lever is employed to interact with a firing mechanism, typically the trigger group, to provide different firing modes. Selection between various modes, such as safe, semi-automatic, burst, and fully automatic can be provided for the operation of the firearm. In civilian firearms, the selection is between safe and semi-automatic settings. Typically, a selector lever is carried outside the lower receiver and is coupled to a selector body carried within the lower receiver. The selector lever includes a fulcrum portion and a grip portion extending therefrom. The fulcrum portion has an axis of rotation centrally located therethrough, while the grip portion extends from the fulcrum portion and has a longitudinal axis which intersects the axis of rotation. Thus, the grip portion is aligned with and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the fulcrum portion. To switch modes, the selector lever is rotated about the axis of rotation, rotating the selector body which extends longitudinally along this axis and interacts with the firing mechanism.

While the conventional fire control selector lever has been used for many years and is very effective, current firearms are often modular and can support many and varied accessories and non-standard parts. Some parts, which can be used to modify a firearm, can interfere with the efficient manipulation and operation of conventional selector lever. Additionally, the lever can often be difficult to turn, requiring complete access to the grip portion to allow application of the most force by an individual operator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fire control selector lever.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire control selector lever which has enhanced access and force application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention, provided is a fire control selector assembly for a firearm including a selector lever movable between at least two positions and a grip portion. The selector lever includes a fulcrum portion having an axis of rotation centrally located therethrough and rotatable between the at least two positions. A grip portion having a longitudinal axis, extends from the fulcrum portion and is offset from the axis of rotation so the longitudinal axis does not intersect the axis of rotation of the fulcrum portion. A selector body is coupled to the selector lever for rotation therewith between the at least two positions for interaction with a firing mechanism of a firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial left side perspective view of a prior art firearm;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the fire control selector disassembled from the lower receiver of the firearm of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial left side perspective view of a firearm having a fire control selector according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the fire control selector according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the fire control selector and selector body according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which illustrate a prior art AR15/M16 style firearm generally designated 10. Firearm 10 includes a lower receiver 12 and mating upper receiver 13. Upper receiver 13 includes bolt, cartridge insertion and removal mechanism and a firing pin as known in the art. A barrel 14 is engaged in the front end of upper receiver 13 and a stock 15 is affixed to the rear end of lower receiver 12 by some convenient means, such as threading into a rear opening in lower receiver 12. A trigger group of lower receiver 12 fits into a downwardly directed opening in lower receiver 12 and is integrated with the internal mechanism of upper receiver 13 and lower receiver 12 in a well known manner. A pistol grip 16 is attached to lower receiver 12 in a well known manner. A magazine 18 is inserted into a downwardly directed opening in lower receiver 12 for inserting cartridges into the mechanism within upper receiver 13 in a well known manner. A handguard assembly 20 is affixed to the front end of upper receiver 13 and surrounds and protects a portion of barrel 14. A conventional fire control selector lever 22 is coupled to a selector body 24 carried within lower receiver 12. As is well known in the art, fire control selector lever 22 is employed to select between various firing modes through the interaction of the selector body with the trigger group. The setting can include modes such as safe, semi-automatic, burst, and fully automatic for the operation of the firearm. In civilian firearms, the selection is between safe and semi-automatic settings.

Referring additionally to FIG. 2, a fire control selector assembly including a fire control selector lever 22 and selector body 24 can be seen in more detail. Fire control selector lever 22 and selector body 24 form a two or more position selector switch that is designed to change the operation of firearm 10. Essentially, a firing mechanism (not visible) carried by the lower receiver is changeable between a plurality of selected firing modes of operation by the selector body 24. Selector body 24 engages the firing mechanism in a well known manner and will not be elaborated upon in this disclosure. The operations or positions include: a ‘safe’ mode; a semi-automatic mode; a burst mode; and a fully automatic mode. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the modes available will depend on the type of firearm employed, such as for military use or civilian use. Selector lever 22 includes a fulcrum portion 25 having an axis of rotation 27 centrally located therethrough. Lever 22 further includes a grip portion 28 extending from fulcrum portion 25. Grip portion 28 includes a longitudinal axis 29 intersecting the axis of rotation 27. Thus, grip portion 28 is aligned with and perpendicular to axis of rotation 25. To switch modes, lever 22 is rotated about axis of rotation 25. Selector body 24 extends longitudinally along this axis and rotated with the rotation of lever 22 to provide engagement with the firing mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an AR15/M16 style firearm 30 is illustrated. Firearm 30 includes an upper receiver 32, a lower receiver 34 and a butt stock 35 that includes adjustment rails 36 that can extend forwardly alongside lower receiver 34. A fire control selector lever 42 is coupled to a selector body 44 carried within lower receiver 34. As is well known in the art, fire control selector lever 42 is employed to select between various settings such as safe, semi-automatic, burst, and fully automatic for the operation of the firearm. In civilian firearms, the selection is between safe and semi-automatic settings. Fire selector lever 42, in accordance with the present invention, is carried by lower receiver 34 in the conventional position, which is adjacent rail 36. As can be seen in FIG. 1, an AR15/M16 style firearm 10 with a conventional buttstock 15 has no obstructions proximate lower receiver 12 which could impact access to and the operation of selector lever 22. However, as seen in FIG. 3, the presence of rails 36 limits the space between selector lever 42 and rails 36. The proximity of rails 36 can interfere with the use of a conventional selector lever, lever 42 overcomes these problems.

With additional reference to FIG. 4, selector lever 42 includes a fulcrum portion 45 having an axis of rotation 47 centrally located therethrough. Lever 42 further includes a grip portion 48 extending from fulcrum portion 45. Grip portion 48 includes a longitudinal axis 49 which is offset and does not intersect axis of rotation 47. This offset accomplishes numerous objectives, including reducing the force required to rotate lever 42 and thus rotate selector body 44 by increasing the effective lever arm, and the offset downwardly, away from upper receiver 32 provides additional space between lever 42 and rails 36 to facilitate access. Additionally, grip portion 48 extends from fulcrum portion 45 and terminates in an end 50, directed downwardly at an angle. This provides additional space from rails 36 to enhance access thereto.

It will be understood that while lever 42 is shown on the left side of firearm 30, lever 42 can be positioned on the left side or the right side or both sides for ambidextrous use. The ability of a lever to be present and used on both sides of the firearm, either individually or together, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,549,982, issued 8 Oct. 2013, incorporated herein by reference.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:

Claims

1. A fire control selector assembly for a firearm comprising:

selector lever movable between at least two positions, the selector lever including: a fulcrum portion having an axis of rotation centrally located therethrough and rotatable between the at least two positions; and a grip portion having a longitudinal axis, the grip portion extending from the fulcrum portion and offset from the axis of rotation so the longitudinal axis does not intersect the axis of rotation of the fulcrum portion; and

a selector body coupled to the selector lever for rotation therewith between the at least two positions for interaction with a firing mechanism of a firearm.

2. A fire control selector assembly for a firearm as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grip portion terminates in an end directed downwardly away from the longitudinal axis.

3. A fire control selector assembly in a firearm comprising:

an upper receiver;

a lower receiver coupled to the upper receiver, the lower receiver having a trigger group;

a selector lever movable between at least two positions, the selector lever carried outside the lower receiver and including: a fulcrum portion having an axis of rotation centrally located therethrough and rotatable between the at least two positions; and a grip portion having a longitudinal axis, the grip portion extending from the fulcrum portion and offset from the axis of rotation so the longitudinal axis does not intersect the axis of rotation of the fulcrum portion; and

a selector body carried inside the lower receiver, the selector body coupled to the selector lever for rotation therewith between the at least two positions for interaction with the trigger group.

4. A fire control selector assembly in a firearm as claimed in claim 3 wherein the grip portion terminates in an end directed downwardly away from the longitudinal axis.

5. A fire control selector assembly in a firearm comprising:

an upper receiver;

a lower receiver coupled to the upper receiver, the lower receiver having a trigger group;

a buttstock extending rearwardly from the lower receiver, the buttstock includes adjustment rails that extend forwardly alongside the lower receiver;

a selector lever movable between at least two positions, the selector lever carried outside the lower receiver adjacent the adjustment rails and including: a fulcrum portion having an axis of rotation centrally located therethrough and rotatable between the at least two positions; and a grip portion having a longitudinal axis, the grip portion extending from the fulcrum portion and offset from the axis of rotation and away from the adjustment rails so the longitudinal axis does not intersect the axis of rotation of the fulcrum portion; and

a selector body carried inside the lower receiver, the selector body coupled to the selector lever for rotation therewith between the at least two positions for interaction with the trigger group.

6. A fire control selector assembly in a firearm as claimed in claim 5 wherein the grip portion terminates in an end directed downwardly away from the adjustment rails and away from the longitudinal axis.