Method and apparatus for trigger assemblies for firearms

• US 8,250,799 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Incorporated (Mossberg Corporation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Incorporated (Mossberg Corporation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duperry, Peter A., Bartozzi, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US12/509,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20100024273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 42/700.1, 42/700.4, 42/700.5, 42/700.6, 42/420.2
• US Class Current: 42/70.04
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/10 Triggers; Trigger mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/16 Adjustable firing mechanisms; Trigger mechanisms with adjustable trigger pull F41A19/17 takes precedence

Abstract

Applicants have disclosed an improved trigger assembly for firearms, and a related method, to avoid premature firing after an unintentional trigger pull, especially where light trigger pulls have previously been set. In the preferred embodiment, Applicants'"'"' trigger assembly has two non-coaxial triggers: a slotted primary trigger and a secondary trigger which can pivot into the slot. During an intentional trigger pull, the shooter'"'"'s finger initially pushes against the secondary trigger until it pivots and nestles within the primary trigger'"'"'s slot. Continued pulling on both the secondary and primary triggers causes a sear to fall off the primary trigger and the firearm to discharge. In an unintentional trigger pull, where the secondary trigger is not pulled back enough to nestle within the primary trigger'"'"'s slot, a protrusion on the secondary trigger blocks the sear from falling, thereby avoiding discharge.

Claims

1. A trigger assembly for firearms comprising:

a. a first trigger, which is pivotally mounted on a first pivot pin, wherein the first trigger has

i. at least one vertically extending slot; and

ii. a shoulder, which is adapted in size and shape for a sear, which is located outside the slot, to rest on the shoulder during a cocked position of a striker;

b. a second trigger, which is pivotally mounted within the slot on a second pivot pin which is not coaxial with the first pivot pin, wherein the second trigger has a protrusion, which extends substantially vertically atop the second trigger; and

c. the sear has a bore in the underside of the sear, wherein;

i. the bore is adapted in size and shape to house the protrusion; and

ii. the width of the bore is at least 50% larger than the width of the protrusion to allow for rotational movement of the protrusion within the bore, during a partial unintentional rotation of the second trigger within the slot, to keep the second trigger from pivoting out from under the sear and thereby prevent the firearm from firing.

2. The trigger assembly of claim 1 wherein the shoulder is located adjacent an upper portion of the first trigger.

3. In an adjustable trigger assembly for a firearm, of the type having a pivotable trigger and an adjustment screw for adjusting the amount of trigger pull force necessary to discharge the firearm, the improvement comprising:

a. avoidance means for avoiding a premature discharge caused by an unintentional rotation of a trigger, wherein the avoidance means comprises;

i. a first trigger having an elongated slot;

ii. a second trigger pivotable within the slot, wherein a protruding ledge extends generally vertically atop the second trigger;

iii. a sear, located outside the slot, having a bore on the underside of the sear, wherein the bore is adapted in size and shape to house the ledge during an unintentional rotation of the first trigger;

iv. the width of the bore is at least 50% larger than the width of the protrusion to allow for rotational movement of the ledge within the bore, during an unintentional partial rotation of the second trigger within the slot of the first trigger, to keep the second trigger from pivoting out from under the sear and thereby prevent the firearm from prematurely firing;

iv. both the first trigger and the second trigger are pivotally mounted on non-coaxial pins; and

v. the second trigger is designed in size and shape to nestle into the first trigger, only during an intentional rotation of the first and second triggers, to allow discharge of the firearm.

4. A method comprising:

a. avoiding a premature discharge of a firearm, upon an unintentional jostling of a first trigger, by temporarily housing a protruding ledge atop a second trigger within a bore on the underside of a sear to block the sear from falling;

b. avoiding a premature discharge of a firearm, upon an unintentional partial rotation of a blade of the second trigger within a central slot of the first trigger, by allowing the ledge to move rotationally within the bore during the partial rotation of the blade of the second trigger, to keep the second trigger from pivoting out from under the sear and thereby prevent the firearm from prematurely firing;

i. wherein the bore is located outside the slot; and

ii. wherein the width of the bore is at least 50% larger than the width of the ledge;

c. discharging the firearm, upon an intentional trigger pull, by;

i. intentionally pulling and rotating the blade of the second trigger until that blade nestles within the slot of the first trigger; and

ii. pulling the trigger together thereafter to rotate the triggers out from beneath the sear, thereby allowing the sear to fall and the firearm to discharge;

d. wherein the triggers are mounted on non-coaxial pivot pins.

5. A method comprising:

a. avoiding a premature discharge of a firearm, upon an unintentional jostling of a first trigger, by temporarily housing a protruding ledge atop a second trigger within a bore on the underside of a sear to block the sear from falling;

b. wherein the width of the bore is at least 50% larger than the width of the ledge to allow for rotational movement of the ledge within the bore, during an unintentional partial rotation of the second trigger within a slot of the first trigger, to keep the second trigger from pivoting out from under the sear and thereby prevent the firearm from prematurely firing; and

c. wherein the triggers are mounted on non-coaxial pivot pins.

6. A trigger assembly for firearms comprising:

a. a first trigger, which is pivotally mounted on a first pivot pin, wherein the first trigger has;

i. at least one vertically extending slot; and

ii. a shoulder, which is adapted in size and shape for a sear, which is located outside the slot, to rest on the shoulder during a cocked position of a striker;

b. a second trigger, which is pivotally mounted within the slot on a second pivot pin which is not coaxial with the first pivot pin, wherein the second trigger has a protrusion; and

c. the sear has a bore in the underside of the sear, wherein;

i. the width of the bore is at least 50% larger than the width of the protrusion to allow for rotational movement of the protrusion within the bore during an unintentional partial rotation of the second trigger within the slot, to keep the second trigger from pivoting out from under the sear and thereby prevent the firearm from firing.