Automatic rifle converted for non-military use

• US 20070180748A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tomas Quis
• Original Assignee: Tomas Quis
• Inventors: Zemanek, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/69.20
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/12 Sears; Sear mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/32 for catching the percussion or firing pin after each shot, i.e. in single-shot or semi-automatic firing mode
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/33 Arrangements for the selection of automatic or semi-automatic fire
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/40 mounted on the bolt F41A3/42 takes precedence

Abstract

In an automatic rifle which has been converted for non-military purposes to be semi-automatic by the removal of parts that allow its automatic function, additional suppressing elements are provided to ensure that the interrupter remains depressed until the bolt carrier fully passes the striker catch before the striker catch is engaged by the interrupter. This prevents premature connection of the striker catch and the interrupter, which could prevent sufficient striker spring pressure so that the next round can be fired. In one embodiment the trigger mechanism is fitted with an additional suppressing element (10) formed as a side push plate 7 on the bridge (6) of bolt carrier (5). In a second embodiment the interrupter is provided with a pin (8) protruding to the left, in a direction of fire, while the receiver side wall has a cavity (11), over which a thin metal sheet (9) with a beveled corner is placed such that between the lower edge of metal sheet (9) and the lower edge of cavity (11), as well as between rear edge of metal sheet (9) and rear edge of cavity (11) a gap (12) is provided to receive the pin. The additional suppressing element is particularly applicable to a Czech model SA vz .58 semi-automatic rifle which has been converted for non-military purposes.

Claims

1. In an automatic rifle which has been modified for non-military purposes by removing one of two striker catches, a release lever and one arm of a trigger mechanism feather, leaving a trigger connected to an interrupter which moves forwardly in a direction of fire and vertically, and in its rear upward position engages a striker catch, a bolt carrier including a lower downwardly extending bridge, which during its rearward movement within the receiver of the rifle is adapted to engage and depress the interrupter, the improvement comprising:

an additional depressing element arranged to engage and depress the interrupter over the complete length of the bolt carrier rearward movement.

2. The modified automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein the rifle is a Czech Sa vz .58 model.

3. The modified automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein said additional depressing element is a plate attached to the bolt carrier and extending downwardly from its lower side.

4. The modified automatic rifle of claim 3, wherein the plate extends downwardly to the same extent as the bridge.

5. The modified automatic rifle of claim 3, wherein said plate extends from the bridge forwardly in the direction of fire.

6. The modified automatic rifle of claim 3, wherein said plate is a side push plate arranged on the left side of the bolt carrier, when viewed in the direction of fire.

7. The modified automatic rifle of claim 1, wherein

said additional depressing element includes a pin extending laterally from the interrupter, and wherein the side wall of the receiver includes a cavity to receive said pin.

8. The modified automatic rifle of claim 7, further including:

a thin metal sheet laid over the cavity on the inside of the receiver.

9. The modified automatic rifle of claim 8, wherein

said metal sheet covers the cavity partially, leaving a rear vertically extending gap and a lower horizontally extending gap, for receiving and constraining the movement of said pin.

10. The modified automatic rifle of claim 9, wherein

said metal sheet is resilient and flexible and includes a bevel at its rear edge over which the pin may ride as the interuptor moves forwardly.

11. The modified automatic rifle of claim 7, wherein said pin extends laterally to the left as viewed in the direction of fire.

12. A semi-automatic rifle comprising:

a receiver;

a bolt carrier mounted for longitudinal movement within said receiver;

a striker mounted for longitudinal movement within said receiver against the bias of a striker spring urging the striker forward in the longitudinal direction of fire;

a striker catch mounted within said receiver and biased to move to an engaged position holding the striker in its rearward, spring biased position;

a trigger;

an interrupter attached to said trigger and arranged to move forwardly as said trigger is depressed, said interrupter also being capable of moving to an upward position within said receiver;

said striker catch being held in said engaged position by cooperation with the interrupter, when in its upward position;

said bolt carrier including a downwardly extending bridge which bears against said interrupter as the bolt carrier moves rearwardly to depress the interrupter; and

an additional depressing element to ensure the continued depression of the interrupter until the bolt carrier moves fully rearwardly despite any unintentional premature release followed by continued pull of the trigger.

13. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 12, wherein said additional depressing element is a plate attached to the bolt carrier and extending downwardly from its lower side.

14. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 13, wherein said plate extends downwardly to the same extent as the bridge.

15. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 13, wherein said plate extends from the bridge forwardly in the direction of fire.

16. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 13, wherein said plate is a side push plate arranged on the left side of the bolt carrier, when viewed in the direction of fire.

17. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 12, wherein said additional depressing element is provided by a pin extending extending laterally from the interrupter, and wherein the side wall of the receiver includes a cavity to receive said pin.

18. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 17, further including

a thin metal sheet laid over the cavity on the inside of the receiver.

19. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 18, wherein

said metal sheet covers the cavity partially, leaving a rear vertically extending gap and a lower horizontally extending gap, for receiving and constraining the movement of said pin.

20. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 19, wherein

said metal sheet is resilient and flexible and includes a bevel at its rear edge over which the pin may ride as the interuptor moves forwardly.

21. The semi-automatic rifle according to claim 17, wherein said pin extends laterally to the left as viewed in the direction of fire.

22. A bolt carrier for a firearm, the bolt carrier extending longitudinally in the fire direction and including a downwardly extending bridge on its rear lower surface, and

a side plate attached on the lower side of the bolt carrier adjacent the bridge and extending forwardly,

said side plate extending downwardly beneath the bolt carrier to generally the same extent as the bridge.

23. A firearm having a receiver and an interrupter within the receiver, the interrupter being actuated for forward movement by a trigger and and capable of upward movement to cooperate with a striker catch;

a pin extending laterally from the interrupter;

wherein the side wall of the receiver includes a cavity to receive said pin.

24. The firearm according to claim 23, further including

a thin metal sheet laid over the cavity on the inside of the receiver.

25. The firearm according to claim 24, wherein

said metal sheet covers the cavity partially, leaving a rear vertically extending gap and a lower horizontally extending gap, for receiving and constraining the movement of said pin.

26. The firearm according to claim 24, wherein

said metal sheet is resilient and flexible and includes a bevel at its rear edge over which the pin may ride as the interuptor moves forwardly.

27. A method of converting an automatic rifle which has been modified for non-military purposes by removing one of two striker catches, a release lever and one arm of a trigger mechanism feather, leaving a trigger connected to an interrupter which moves forwardly in the direction of fire and vertically, and in its rear upward position engages a striker catch, a bolt carrier including a lower downwardly extending bridge, which during its rearward movement within the receiver of the rifle may engage and depress the interrupter, and wherein the conversion includes;

providing an additional depressing element arranged to engage and depress the interrupter over the complete length of the bolt carrier rearward movement.

28. The method of converting a rifle as in claim 27, wherein the additional depressing element is provided by:

forming a side push plate with a height generally equal to the downward extent of the bridge and with a length to extend forwardly of the bridge;

attaching said side push plate to the lower side of the bolt carrier, adjacent the bridge and extending forwardly.

29. The method of converting a rifle as in claim 27, wherein the additional depressing element is provided by

attaching a laterally extending pin to the interrupter;

and

forming a cavity within the side wall of the receiver to receive said pin.

30. The method of converting a rifle as in claim 29, further including:

placing a thin metal sheet over the cavity on the inside of said cavity;

partially covering said cavity by said metal sheet so as to leave a rear vertically extending gap and a lower horizontally extending gap for receiving and constraining the movement of said pin.

31. The method of converting a modified rifle as in claim 30, including

providing said metal sheet with a bevel at its rear edge over which the pin may ride as the interuptor moves forwardly.

32. The method of converting a modified rifle as in claim 27, wherein the modified rifle is a Czech Sa vz .58 model.