AUTO-SEAR FOR A FIREARM
Various embodiments are directed to auto-sears for a firearm, firearms, and methods of operating the same. In various embodiments, an auto-sear for a firearm may comprise a body configured to being pivotally mounted within a lower receiver of the firearm, the body having a front surface defined between a leading top body surface edge of a top surface and a leading bottom surface edge of a bottom surface; wherein an upper portion of the front surface is disposed on a first plane and a lower portion of the front surface is disposed on a second plane; and wherein at least a portion of the first plane is non-planar with the second plane. In various embodiments, the top surface of the body comprises a curved shape defined along a portion of the leading top surface edge.
Various embodiments described herein relate generally to automatic-firearm components. In particular, various embodiments are directed to auto-sears configured to facilitate fully-automatic operation of a firearm.
BACKGROUNDFirearm trigger assemblies may use one or more sears to hold and facilitate the release of a hammer to cause the discharge of a cartridge when the released hammer strikes the firearm's firing pin. One type of sear, known as an auto-sear, is configured to facilitate fully-automatic firing of the firearm by causing the hammer to automatically release following cycling of the bolt carrier without the operator releasing the trigger. The auto-sear may be configured for interaction with various firearm components (e.g., a hammer, a disconnector, a trigger, a bolt connector, and/or the like) to facilitate the fully-automatic firing operation. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, Applicant has solved problems relating to auto-sears by developing solutions embodied in the present disclosure, which are described in detail below.
BRIEF SUMMARYVarious embodiments are directed to an auto-sear for a firearm. Further, various embodiments are directed to a firearm comprising an auto-sear and methods of operating the same. In various embodiments, an auto-sear for a firearm may comprise a body configured for being pivotally mounted within a lower receiver of the firearm, the body having a front surface defined between a leading top body surface edge of a top surface and a leading bottom surface edge of a bottom surface; wherein an upper portion of the front surface is disposed on a first plane and a lower portion of the front surface is disposed on a second plane; and wherein at least a portion of the first plane is non-planar with the second plane.
In various embodiments, the leading top body surface edge of the front surface may be disposed on the first plane and leading bottom body surface edge of the front surface is disposed on the second plane. In various embodiments, the upper portion of the front surface may define a first planar portion of the front surface and the lower portion of the front surface defines a second planar portion of the front surface, wherein the first planar portion is angularly offset from the second planar portion. In certain embodiments, the first planar portion may be angularly offset from the second planar portion by an angle of separation of between 6.5 degrees and 8.5 degrees. In certain embodiments, the body may comprise an angled body portion that is defined at least in part by the first planar portion of the front surface.
In various embodiments, the auto-sear may further comprise a leg configured to contact at least one interior portion of the lower receiver, wherein the leg extends opposite the front surface of the body. In certain embodiments, the leg may extend from a proximal leg end defined at a back surface of the body to a distal leg end, and wherein the leading bottom surface edge is closer to the proximal leg end than the leading top surface edge. In certain embodiments, the leading top surface edge may be provided in a forward position with respect to the leading bottom surface edge relative to the proximal leg end. In various embodiments, the top surface of the body may comprise a curved shape as defined along a portion of the leading top surface edge. In certain embodiments, the curved shape may be defined by a u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge. Further, in certain embodiments, the body may define an upper sear trip engagement portion having two raised contact portions with a central recess provided therebetween, and wherein the upper sear trip engagement portion is defined at least in part by the curved shape of the top surface of the body such that the central recess is defined by the u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge. In various embodiments, the auto-sear may define a pivot axis about which the auto-sear is configured to rotate; wherein a contact portion of the leg defined along at least a portion of a back surface of the body defines a vertical axis; and wherein a first axis intersecting a forwardmost part of the leading top surface edge and being parallel to the vertical axis is farther from the pivot axis than a second axis intersecting the forwardmost part of the leading bottom surface edge.
Various embodiments are directed to a firearm comprising: an upper receiver assembly comprising a bolt carrier; and a lower receiver assembly comprising a trigger, a disconnector, a hammer, and an auto-sear, the auto-sear comprising: a body configured for being pivotally mounted within a lower receiver of the firearm, the body having a front surface defined between a leading top body surface edge of a top surface and a leading bottom surface edge of a bottom surface; wherein an upper portion of the front surface is disposed on a first plane and a lower portion of the front surface is disposed on a second plane; and wherein at least a portion of the first plane is non-planar with the second plane.
In various embodiments, the leading top body surface edge of the front surface may be disposed on the first plane and leading bottom body surface edge of the front surface is disposed on the second plane. In various embodiments, the upper portion of the front surface may define a first planar portion of the front surface and the lower portion of the front surface defines a second planar portion of the front surface, wherein the first planar portion is angularly offset from the second planar portion. In certain embodiments, the first planar portion may be angularly offset from the second planar portion by an angle of separation of between 6.5 degrees and 8.5 degrees. In certain embodiments, the top surface of the body comprises a curved shape as defined along a portion of the leading top surface edge. Further, in various embodiments, the curved shape may be defined by a u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge. In various embodiments, the body defines an upper sear trip engagement portion having two raised contact portions with a central recess provided therebetween, and the upper sear trip engagement portion may be defined at least in part by the curved shape of the top surface of the body such that the central recess is defined by the u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge. In various embodiments, the firearm may be an AR10 or SR25 platform firearm.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present disclosure more fully describes various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that some, but not all embodiments are shown and described herein. Indeed, the embodiments may take many different forms, and accordingly this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of one or more aspects are illustrated below, the disclosed assemblies, systems, and methods may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not yet in existence. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. While values for dimensions of various elements are disclosed, the drawings may not be to scale.
The words “example,” or “exemplary,” when used herein, are intended to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as an “example” or “exemplary” embodiment is not necessarily preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
As used herein, directional terms used to describe a component, configuration, action, position, direction, and/or the like (e.g., “downwardly,” “an upward vertical direction,” and the like) are meant to be interpreted relative to a hypothetical firearm with its barrel pointed towards the horizon in a normal shooting position, but the terms are not to be interpreted as requiring the firearm to be in this orientation at any particular time (i.e., a firearm with a normally downwardly-oriented angled surface would still have the angled surface oriented “downwardly” relative to the firearm even when the firearm is turned upside down).
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to firearm auto-sears. Auto-sears, in some instances, may be used to convert a semi-automatic weapon into a fully-automatic weapon by temporarily catching and releasing the hammer as the bolt carrier cycles rearwards and then forwards during a normal cycling operation. The auto-sear may release the hammer automatically in response to an impact of a portion of the bolt carrier on a portion of the auto-sear as the bolt carrier returns toward the chamber without the user releasing and re-pulling the trigger.
In some instances, the firearm may have a selector switch that configures the firing mode of the firearm. The selector switch may engage and restrict the motion of various portions of the trigger assembly in order to facilitate the particular firing mode selected. For example, in a fully-automatic mode, the selector switch may allow a full range of movement of the auto-sear while preventing the trigger disconnector from engaging the hammer as the bolt carrier cycles rearward following discharge of a cartridge. In a semi-automatic mode of operation, the selector switch may limit the range of motion of the auto-sear, preventing it from catching the hammer, while allowing the disconnector to move along its full range of motion. Various versions of auto-sears and selector switches may operate according to similar principles. An example of a trigger assembly and selector switch operable with a traditional auto sear is shown and described in U.S. Publication No. 2017/0089655, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In some embodiments, the auto-sear may be configured for an autoloading rifle, such as an AR10 or SR25. For example, the inventors of the present disclosure identified that a traditional auto-sear, as may be used with an AR15/M4 type rifle, could not perform sufficiently for larger weapons platforms, such as the AR10 or SR25 or other similar rifle platforms. The present inventors identified various improvements to the geometry of an auto-sear to facilitate improved firing and cycling.
For example, various embodiments of the present disclosure include auto-sears having an upper end defining an upper sear trip engagement portion having two raised contact portions with a central recess provided therebetween. In some embodiments, the transition of the upper edge between the raised contact portions and the central recess may be curved or multi-angled (e.g., the upper portion 110 and lower portion 112 need not be entirely planar from top to bottom) to provide a smooth, rounded transition and may create a clearance in the recess between the two contact portions. In operation, the contact portions may be configured to contact portions of the bolt carrier during rearward movement and forward movement of the bolt carrier to respectively rock the auto-sear back to engage the hammer and forward to release the hammer. In some embodiments, the bolt carrier of the firearm may include protruding portions in a central area of the underside of the bolt carrier. The central recess may provide clearance around these protruding portions of the bolt carrier.
In some embodiments, the timing of the release of the hammer and the engagement and release interaction between the auto-sear and the hammer may be improved by configuring the geometry of the auto-sear. For example, in some embodiments, the upper end of the front surface of the auto-sear defining the upper sear trip engagement portion of the auto-sear may be angled forward so as to be non-planar with a lower end of the front surface of the auto-sear. In this embodiment, the hammer may release later during the bolt carrier's forward movement and may allow for a smoother cycling operation with less wear on the internal components of the firearm than a straight faced auto-sear. In some embodiments, the shape of the auto-sear may also facilitate clearance within the lower receiver for the hammer to operate.
Further, as illustrated in
In various embodiments, an exemplary auto-sear 10 may be configured to facilitate a modification of a firearm to a fully-automatic ready firearm platform. In various embodiments, the auto-sear 10 may comprise a body and a leg that may be collectively defined by a one-piece singular material component or multiple, attached components pivotally supported within the lower receiver 2 of the firearm 1 in a rearward position (e.g., in a position closer to the rear end of the firearm 1) relative to a trigger 40 (e.g., measured in a z-direction as defined in the exemplary orientation illustrated in
In various embodiments, the lower receiver assembly 2 of the firearm 1 may comprise a trigger 40 that is operatively connected to a disconnector 30 and a hammer 20, each of which may be provided within the lower receiver 2 of the firearm 1. As illustrated, the trigger 40 may comprise a trigger sear 41 that engages a hammer tongue 22 of the hammer 20 when the trigger 40 is in a cocked position (e.g., trigger ready to pull, prior to firing in either automatic or semi-automatic firing modes) to prevent the hammer 20 from rotating about the hammer pin 23 toward a firing pin of the firearm 1 (e.g., in a clockwise direction according to the exemplary orientation illustrated in
In various embodiments, the hammer 20 may define a hammer tongue 22 configured for selective engagement with a disconnector 30 and/or the trigger sear 41, and a sear engagement portion 21 configured for selective engagement with an auto-sear 10 (e.g., at a lower sear trip engagement portion 160), as described herein, to facilitate a catching of the hammer by the auto-sear 10 that allows the hammer 20 to bypass engagement with a disconnector 30 and automatically fire subsequent rounds when the auto-sear releases the sear engagement portion 21 after each cycling of the bolt carrier while the trigger remains pulled.
In various embodiments, the disconnector 30 may embody either an integrated component or a separate component relative to the trigger 40 that is configured to be positioned within the firearm 1 and rotated at least in part based on movement of the trigger 40, such as, for example, in response to a repositioning (e.g., pulling) of the trigger 40 to an engaged position by an operator. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the disconnector 30 is capable of rotating slightly relative to the trigger 40 about a trigger pin 42, while the trigger is still capable of rotating the disconnector once its limited range of rotation is reached. In various embodiments, the disconnector 30 may comprise a disconnector catch 31 configured to selectively engage and disengage a portion of the hammer 20 (e.g., a hammer tongue 22) throughout various portions of a firing operation executed by the firearm 1. As non-limiting examples provided for illustrative purposes, an exemplary trigger 40 described herein may define a trigger assembly, such as a fully automatic-type trigger assembly, configured for use with, for example, an M4 carbine, an AR15, an SR25, and/or the like. Examples of a similar trigger mechanism and trigger components are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,338, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In various embodiments, as described herein, the trigger 40 may be pivotably configured for rotation about a trigger pin 42, and the hammer 20 may be pivotably configured for rotation about a hammer pin 23 as shown in
As illustrated, the lower receiver assembly further includes a pivot pin 60 configured to be received within the pivot pin apertures of the auto-sear 10 to facilitate the pivoted configuration of the auto-sear 10 within the lower receiver of the firearm 1. The pivot pin 60 may be a tubular component defining a central axis that, upon being installed relative to the auto-sear 10, may define the axis of rotation of the auto-sear 10. In some embodiments, the lower receiver 2 may be modified to include openings for the pivot pin after manufacturing of the principal firearm, and in some embodiments, the openings for the pivot pin may be added during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the pivot pin openings may be positioned in accordance with a standard auto sear placement.
As illustrated in
It is further noted that the operational descriptions are further limited to those components of the firearm firing operation controls (trigger, disconnector, hammer) and bolt carrier group which are relevant to the functionality of the auto-sear 10.
In various embodiments, as illustrated in
In various embodiments, the leading top body surface edge 131 of the front surface 110 may be disposed on the first plane and the leading bottom body surface edge 141 of the front surface 110 is disposed on the second plane with the two example planes intersecting but nonplanar. For example, in some embodiments, the upper portion 111 may be defined between the leading top surface edge 131 and an upper edge of the lower portion 112, while the lower portion 112 may be defined between the leading bottom surface edge 141 and a lower edge of the upper portion 111. In such an exemplary embodiment, the upper edge of the lower portion 112 and the lower edge of the upper portion 111 may be colinear so as to define an intersection of the upper and lower portions 111, 112 that extends between opposing lateral sides of the body 100 and embodies a transition between the upper portion 110 and the lower portion 112 of the front surface 110. In some embodiments, the front face 110 may be curved such that the planes aligning with the front face change gradually between the leading top surface edge 131 and the leading bottom surface edge 141.
In various embodiments, the upper portion 111 and the lower portion 112 of the front surface 110 may define a first planar portion and a second planar portion of the front surface 110, respectively, wherein the first planar portion is angularly offset from the second planar portion. For example, as illustrated in
In various embodiments, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiments shown in
In various embodiments, an exemplary auto-sear 10 may further comprise a leg 200 that extends opposite the front surface 110. In various embodiments, the leg 200 of an exemplary auto-sear 10 pivotably mounted within a lower receiver of a firearm may be configured to contact at least one interior portion (e.g., surface) disposed within the lower receiver as the auto-sear 10 is rotated about a pivot pin in order to at least partially define a range of motion (e.g., rotational motion) of the auto-sear 10. For example, the leg 200 may be configured to limit the range of rotational motion of the auto-sear 10 in one or more rotational directions based at least in part on the leg 200 contacting a fire control selector switch component (e.g., switch 84 shown in
In various embodiments, for example as shown in
In various embodiments, an auto-sear 10 may comprise one or more pivot pin apertures 300 defined within the leg 200 and/or an opposing lateral protrusion of the auto-sear 10 within which the auto-sear 10 may receive a pivot pin to define the axis of rotation of the auto-sear 10, as described herein. For example, an exemplary auto-sear 10 may include a second leg provided along an opposing lateral side of the body 100 from the leg 200, each of which may include a pivot pin aperture 300 defining a respective central axis that is at least substantially coaxial relative to the central axis of the opposing pivot pin aperture 300. In such an exemplary configuration, a pivot pin installed relative to the auto-sear 10 may extend between opposing lateral ends of the auto-sear (e.g., in the x-direction as defined in the exemplary orientation illustrated in
In various embodiments, an exemplary auto-sear 10 may define a pivot axis 301, and a contact portion 210 of the leg 200 may defines a vertical axis (e.g., an axis parallel to the y-axis shown in
In various embodiments, as illustrated in
As illustrated, the upper sear trip engagement portion 150 defined by the body 100 of the auto-sear 10 may be defined at least in part by the curved shape of the top surface of the body 100 such that the central recess 153 provided between the two raised contact portions 151, 152 is defined by the u-shaped profile of a portion of the leading top surface edge 131 that extends between the two raised contact portions 151, 152. In various embodiments, the curved shape (e.g., the u-shaped profile) defining central recess 153 of the upper sear trip engagement portion 150 may be configured to prevent and/or at least substantially minimize contact between the auto-sear 10 (e.g., the upper sear trip engagement portion 150) and the bolt carrier 16 as the bolt carrier 16 moves relative to the auto-sear 10 during a firing operation (e.g., as at least a portion of the bolt carrier 16 passes through the central recess 153.
For example, with reference to
In various embodiments, with reference to
Further, the u-shaped profile of the leading top surface edge 131 may include a first curved segment 131b that is adjacent to and/or at least substantially contiguous with the first linear segment 131a. The first curved segment 131b may extend from the first linear segment 131a to a central linear segment 131c to define a curved transition between the first linear segment 131a and the central linear segment 132c. In various embodiments, the first curved segment 131b may be defined by a radius of curvature of at least approximately between 0.0 inches and 0.220 inches. For example, in various embodiments, the radius of curvature of the first curved segment 131b may be at least substantially uniform throughout the first curved segment 131b (e.g., between the first linear segment 131a and the central linear segment 131c).
With reference to
As illustrated, the central linear segment 132c may be provided in a direction that is at least substantially perpendicular to the direction of the first linear segment 131a, such as, for example, in the positive x-direction as defined in the exemplary orientation illustrated in
Further, in various embodiments, a lower sear trip engagement portion 160 defined by the body 100 of the auto-sear 10 may be defined at least in part by the bottom surface 140 of the body 100, such as, for example, a leading bottom surface edge 141. As described herein, in various embodiments, the lower sear trip engagement portion 160 may be configured for engagement with a sear engagement portion 21 of the hammer 20 during the execution of a firing operation, including catching the hammer 20 in a downwardly pivoted position after the hammer 20 is forced into the aforementioned pivoted position by the rearwardly displacing bolt carrier 70. Further, the lower sear trip engagement portion 160 may be configured to rotate about a pivot axis to disengage the downwardly pivoted hammer 20 as the forwardly displacing bolt carrier 70 contacts the upper sear trip engagement portion 150, thereby enabling a release of the hammer 20 in a rotational direction towards the firing pin for subsequent firing actions.
Proceeding to the exemplary firearm 1 illustrated in
As described herein, the body of the auto-sear 10 defines an upper sear trip engagement portion 150 having two raised contact portions with a central recess provided therebetween, with the upper sear trip engagement portion 150 being defined at least in part by the curved shape of a top surface of the auto-sear 10 body such that the central recess is defined by a u-shaped profile of a portion of the leading top surface edge of the auto-sear 10. The curved shape (e.g., the u-shaped profile) defining central recess of the upper sear trip engagement portion 150 is configured to provide clearance and reduce friction between the auto-sear 10 and at least a portion of the bolt carrier 70 (e.g., the lower central protrusion 72) that passes through the central recess as the bolt carrier 70 travels in the rearward direction.
As described herein, an exemplary auto-sear 10 having a body 100 comprising a front surface 110 with an upper portion 111 that is angularly offset from a lower portion 112 thereof, as described herein, may increase the distance that the bolt carrier 70 has to travel in the forward direction (e.g., in the positive z-direction according to the exemplary orientation illustrated in
Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. An auto-sear configured for a firearm, the auto-sear comprising:
- a body configured for being pivotally mounted within a lower receiver of the firearm, the body having a front surface defined between a leading top body surface edge of a top surface and a leading bottom surface edge of a bottom surface;
- wherein an upper portion of the front surface is disposed on a first plane and a lower portion of the front surface is disposed on a second plane; and
- wherein at least a portion of the first plane is non-planar with the second plane.
2. The auto-sear of claim 1, wherein the leading top body surface edge of the front surface is disposed on the first plane and leading bottom body surface edge of the front surface is disposed on the second plane.
3. The auto-sear of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the front surface defines a first planar portion of the front surface and the lower portion of the front surface defines a second planar portion of the front surface, wherein the first planar portion is angularly offset from the second planar portion.
4. The auto-sear of claim 3, wherein the first planar portion is angularly offset from the second planar portion by an angle of separation of between 6.5 degrees and 8.5 degrees.
5. The auto-sear of claim 3, wherein the body comprises an angled body portion that is defined at least in part by the first planar portion of the front surface.
6. The auto-sear of claim 1, further comprising a leg configured to contact at least one interior portion of the lower receiver, wherein the leg extends opposite the front surface of the body.
7. The auto-sear of claim 6, wherein the leg extends from a proximal leg end defined at a back surface of the body to a distal leg end, and wherein the leading bottom surface edge is closer to the proximal leg end than the leading top surface edge.
8. The auto-sear of claim 7, wherein the leading top surface edge is provided in a forward position with respect to the leading bottom surface edge relative to the proximal leg end.
9. The auto-sear of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the body comprises a curved shape as defined along a portion of the leading top surface edge.
10. The auto-sear of claim 9, wherein the curved shape is defined by a u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge.
11. The auto-sear of claim 10, wherein the body defines an upper sear trip engagement portion having two raised contact portions with a central recess provided therebetween, and wherein the upper sear trip engagement portion is defined at least in part by the curved shape of the top surface of the body such that the central recess is defined by the u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge.
12. The auto-sear of claim 1, wherein the auto-sear defines a pivot axis about which the auto-sear is configured to rotate; wherein a contact portion of the leg defined along at least a portion of a back surface of the body defines a vertical axis; and wherein a first axis intersecting a forwardmost part of the leading top surface edge and being parallel to the vertical axis is farther from the pivot axis than a second axis intersecting the forwardmost part of the leading bottom surface edge.
13. A firearm comprising:
- an upper receiver assembly comprising a bolt carrier; and
- a lower receiver assembly comprising a trigger, a disconnector, a hammer, and an auto-sear, the auto-sear comprising:
- a body configured for being pivotally mounted within a lower receiver of the firearm, the body having a front surface defined between a leading top body surface edge of a top surface and a leading bottom surface edge of a bottom surface;
- wherein an upper portion of the front surface is disposed on a first plane and a lower portion of the front surface is disposed on a second plane; and
- wherein at least a portion of the first plane is non-planar with the second plane.
14. The firearm of claim 13, wherein the leading top body surface edge of the front surface is disposed on the first plane and leading bottom body surface edge of the front surface is disposed on the second plane.
15. The firearm of claim 13, wherein the upper portion of the front surface defines a first planar portion of the front surface and the lower portion of the front surface defines a second planar portion of the front surface, wherein the first planar portion is angularly offset from the second planar portion.
16. The firearm of claim 15, wherein the first planar portion is angularly offset from the second planar portion by an angle of separation of between 6.5 degrees and 8.5 degrees.
17. The firearm of claim 13, wherein the top surface of the body comprises a curved shape as defined along a portion of the leading top surface edge.
18. The firearm of claim 17, wherein the curved shape is defined by a u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge.
19. The firearm of claim 18, wherein the body defines an upper sear trip engagement portion having two raised contact portions with a central recess provided therebetween, and wherein the upper sear trip engagement portion is defined at least in part by the curved shape of the top surface of the body such that the central recess is defined by the u-shaped profile of the portion of the leading top surface edge.
20. The firearm of claim 13, wherein the firearm is an AR10 or SR25 platform firearm.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 26, 2022
Publication Date: Feb 29, 2024
Inventors: William Geissele (Lower Gwynedd, PA), Frank Robinson (Schwenksville, PA)
Application Number: 17/822,680