Thumb-operable firearm

Abstract

A firearm (1), for example a pistol or a rifle, is described, wherein the drive mechanism (5) of the firing pin (6) is controlled by a trigger (T), a key or a button, laterally positioned on the firearm (1) and operable by the hand thumb. The firearm, with respect to the known art, is characterized by a reduced aiming distance (d1), which is the distance between the index finger (f1) and the longitudinal axis (X) of the barrel (2). This leads to a reduced recoil.

Claims

1. Firearm (1) comprising: a main body (B); a barrel (2) and a butt (3), both constrained to the main body; a firing pin (6) translatable in a corresponding seat of the main body (B) between a backward position, at which the firing pin (6) does not interfere with a bullet loaded in the barrel (2), and a forward position, at which the firing pin (6) is in abutment against the bullet loaded in the barrel (2), in order to activate a primer thereof; and a drive mechanism (5) of the firing pin (6), comprising a trigger (T) and levers (10, 12, 13) and/or gears (8, 9) and/or elastic elements (15), wherein the trigger (T) is positioned substantially laterally to the barrel or butt (3), in order to be pressed with a user's thumb, the drive mechanism (5) comprises, in addition to the trigger (T): a drive shaft (8) fixed to the trigger (T) and rotating on rotation axis (Y) thereof, a thrust cam (9) fixed to the drive shaft (8), a main lever (10) having a first end hinged to the main body (B) of the firearm, a thrust lever (12) pivoted to the main lever (10) at the second end, and a snap lever (13) pivoted to the main body (B) and pivoted to the thrust lever (12) and provided with means (14) for temporarily retaining the firing pin (6), wherein the rotation of the trigger (T) leads to an equal rotation of the drive shaft (8) and of the thrust cam (9), the thrust cam (9) thereby rotationally pushing the main lever (10) in an opposite way, and wherein the rotation of the main lever (10) leads to a corresponding roto-translation of the thrust lever (12), the thrust lever (12) rotationally pushing the snap lever (13) up to cause disengagement thereof from the firing pin (6).

2. The firearm (1) according to claim 1, wherein the firearm is free of a conventional trigger (T) that substantially extends cantileverly in parallel to the butt (3), in a median plane of the firearm (1) itself, and wherein the butt (3) is shaped to be tightened in a user's hand by index (f1), middle, ring and little (f2) fingers of the user's hand, and the trigger (T) is positioned at the upper portion of the butt (3).

3. The firearm (1) according to claim 1, wherein the trigger (T) is positioned on a left side or the a right side of the firearm, depending on whether the user is right- or left-handed, respectively.

4. The firearm (1) according to claim 1, wherein the trigger (T) is rotating with respect to the main body (B) of the firearm (1) on a rotation axis (Y) skew with respect to a longitudinal axis (X) of the barrel and wherein said rotation axis (Y) is in-between the longitudinal axis (X) of the barrel and the butt (3).

5. The firearm (1) according to claim 4, wherein a distance between the longitudinal axis (X) of the barrel and the rotation axis (Y) of the trigger (T) is shorter than 20 mm.

6. The firearm (1) according to claim 1, wherein an aiming distance (d1) is equal to a strong-grasp distance (d2) and is shorter than, or equal to, 20 mm.

7. The firearm according to claim 1, further comprising springs (15) configured to counter rotation of the trigger (T) and of the snap lever (13).

8. The firearm according to claim 1, comprising at least one safety mechanism (15) inhibiting the drive mechanism (5), wherein the safety mechanism (15) comprises at least one of: a safety lever (17) pivoted to the butt (3) and rotating with respect thereto at its back portion, and an elastic element (19) countering the rotation of the safety lever (17), wherein in a first position an end (20) of the safety lever engages the snap lever (13) and prevents the rotation thereof, and hence it prevents the activation of the firing pin (6) and, in a second position, the safety lever (17) does not engage the snap lever (13), thereby allowing the activation of the firing pin (6), the switching from the first to the second position being caused by a user's palm as the user grasps the butt (3), by overcoming a force of the countering elastic element (19); a safety button (21) at a front and upper portion of the butt (3), where the user's first finger is expected to be placed, movable between an active position, next which the button (21) engages the trigger (T) and prevents the rotation thereof, and an inactive position, corresponding to the button pressed towards the butt (3) by the first finger and to disengagement of the trigger (T), which is therefore free to rotate.

9. A rifle (100, 200) comprising: a main body; a barrel (102, 202) and a butt (103, 203), both constrained to the main body; a firing pin (6) translatable in a corresponding seat of the main body between a backward position, at which the firing pin (6) does not interfere with a bullet loaded in the barrel, and a forward position, at which the firing pin (6) is in abutment against the bullet loaded in the barrel, in order to activate a primer thereof; and a drive mechanism (105, 205) of the firing pin (6), comprising a trigger (T) and levers (106, 113, 206, 213) and/or gears (209) and/or elastic elements, wherein the trigger (T) is positioned substantially laterally to the barrel (102, 202) or butt (3), in order to be pressed with a user's thumb, wherein the drive mechanism (105, 205) comprises, in addition to the trigger (T), a hammer (106, 206) pivoted to the main body and rotating between an initial position, in which the hammer (106, 206) is held by the trigger (T) directly or by the interposition of other elements (113, 213), and a final position contacting and pushing the firing pin (6), wherein the trigger (T) does not hold the hammer (106, 206), and wherein a preloaded spring pushes the hammer (106, 206) with violence towards the firing pin (6); the rifle further comprising at least one safety mechanism inhibiting the drive mechanism, wherein the at least one safety mechanism (15) comprises at least one of: a safety lever (17) pivoted to the butt (3) and rotating with respect thereto at a back portion thereof, and an elastic element (19) countering rotation of the safety lever (17), wherein in a first position an end (20) of the safety lever engages a snap lever (13) and prevents the rotation thereof, thereby preventing activation of the firing pin (6) and, in a second position, the safety lever (17) does not engage the snap lever (13), thereby allowing the activation of the firing pin (6), switching from the first to the second position being caused by a user's palm as the user grasps the butt (3), by overcoming the force of the countering elastic element (19); a safety button (21) at a front and upper portion of the butt (3), where a user's first finger is expected to be placed, movable between an active position, next which the safety button (21) engages the trigger (T) and prevents the rotation thereof, and an inactive position, corresponding to the button pressed towards the butt (3) by the first finger and to disengagement of the trigger (T), which is therefore free to rotate.

Description

BRIEF LIST OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident from a review of the following specification of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, shown for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a gun according to known art;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of a gun according to the present invention;

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective partial views of the gun shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective partial views of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 8A is a right side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2 in a first configuration;

(8) FIG. 8B is an enlargement of FIG. 8C;

(9) FIG. 8C is a left side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in the first configuration;

(10) FIG. 9A is a right side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in a second configuration;

(11) FIG. 9B is an enlargement of FIG. 9C;

(12) FIG. 9C is a left side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in the second configuration;

(13) FIG. 10A is a right side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in a third configuration;

(14) FIG. 10B is an enlargement of FIG. 10C;

(15) FIG. 10C is a left side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in the third configuration;

(16) FIG. 11A is a right side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in a fourth configuration;

(17) FIG. 11B is an enlargement of FIG. 11C;

(18) FIG. 11C is a left side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in the fourth configuration;

(19) FIG. 12A is a right side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in a fifth configuration;

(20) FIG. 12B is an enlargement of FIG. 12C;

(21) FIG. 12C is a left side view of the drive mechanism of the gun shown in FIG. 2, in the fifth configuration;

(22) FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a detail of the gun shown in FIG. 2;

(23) FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of another detail of the gun shown in FIG. 2;

(24) FIG. 15 is a top view of the detail shown in FIG. 14;

(25) FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a first rifle according to the present invention;

(26) FIG. 17 is a partial and sectional view of the drive mechanism of the rifle shown in FIG. 16;

(27) FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism of the rifle shown in FIG. 16;

(28) FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a second rifle according to the present invention;

(29) FIG. 20 is a partial and sectional view of the drive mechanism of the rifle shown in FIG. 19;

(30) FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism of the rifle shown in FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(31) As previously mentioned, FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a traditional gun.

(32) FIG. 2 shows a gun 1 according to the present invention provided with a barrel 2, having a longitudinal X axis, a slide 4, a butt or grip 3, and a trigger T positioned laterally on the firearm between the butt 3 and the slide 4.

(33) FIGS. 3 and 4 are, respectively, partial front and rear perspective views of the gun 1, clearly showing the position and the respective bulk of the trigger T.

(34) In FIG. 2, f1 refers to the vertical section of the first finger and 12 to the vertical section of the middle, ring and little fingers of the same hand of the user, overall. In view of the foregoing description, the trigger T is not engaged by the first finger, being conversely designed to be pressed by the thumb (not shown), i.e. rotated in the direction of the arrow R.

(35) As will be explained with reference to the remaining figures, the trigger T controls a drive mechanism 5 of the firing pin 6 of the gun 1. With respect to traditional solutions, wherein the trigger is activated by the first finger, the vertical bulk of the drive mechanism 5 is reduced, due to the position of the trigger T on the side of the firearm 1.

(36) In the example shown in FIGS. 1-3, the aiming distance d1 is equal to the strong-grasp distance d2 and is equal to 20 mm; the aiming distance d1 of the traditional gun 1′ shown in FIG. 1, having the same caliber, is equal to about 33 mm, the distance d2 of the gun 1′ is equal to 55-65 mm.

(37) As evident, the gun 1 according to the present invention is less affected by the recoil phenomenon.

(38) FIGS. 5 and 6 are right and left perspective views, respectively, of the drive mechanism 5 of the gun 1, which is substantially within the firearm (except for the radially projecting trigger T), and of the firing pin 6.

(39) FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism 5 and the firing pin 6.

(40) Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the firing pin 6 is translatable in a corresponding seat along the X axis, towards the bullet loaded in the barrel 2 or in the breech, if it is present. As the trigger T is pressed, a preloaded spring 7 pushes the firing pin 6. The drive mechanism 5 comprises, in addition to the trigger T, a drive shaft 8 fixed to the trigger T itself and rotating on the communal rotation axis Y. A thrust cam 9 is keyed to the drive shaft 8 and is shaped so as to transmit a predetermined law of motion to a main lever 10. The main lever 10 is pivoted at 11 to the main body B of the gun 1 (shown in FIG. 7). The opposite end of the main lever 10 is pivoted to a thrust lever 12. The thrust lever 12 is pivoted at 12′ to a snap lever 13, the latter being in its turn pivoted to the main body B of the gun 1.

(41) The snap lever 13 is provided with a prominence 14 shaped so as to ensure the shape coupling with a foot 6′ of the firing pin 6 and holds it against the thrust of the spring 7 when the snap lever 13 is in a first angular position, corresponding to the firearm 1 at rest.

(42) The rotation of the assembly formed by the trigger T, the drive shaft 8 and the thrust cam 9 on the Y axis, causes the main lever 10 to rotate in the opposite direction on the pin 11. The thrust lever 12 is pushed backwards and slightly rotated on the pin 12′ thus leading to a corresponding rotation of the snap lever 13 up to cause the disengagement thereof from the foot 6′ of the firing pin, which therefore snaps forward to activate the bullet primer.

(43) A plurality of springs 15 are provided in order to return the drive mechanism to its initial position after a shot and to be able to operate a new shot.

(44) The operating sequence of the drive mechanism 5 is shown in FIGS. 8A to 12C.

(45) FIG. 8A and FIG. 8C are schematic right and left elevation views of the drive mechanism 5 and the firing pin 6. FIG. 8B is an enlargement of the encircled portion in FIG. 8C. These figures show the drive mechanism 5 at rest, before the user activates the trigger T. The prominence 14 of the snap lever 13 holds the firing pin 6 thus remaining stationary.

(46) FIG. 9A and FIG. 9C are schematic right and left elevation views of the drive mechanism 5 and the firing pin 6, and show an instant following that respectively shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C. FIG. 9B is an enlargement of the encircled portion in FIG. 9C. These figures show the drive mechanism 5 when the user begins to press the trigger T in order to rotate it on the Y axis. The above described kinematic chain formed by the elements 8-13 leads to the rotation of the snap lever 13 on the pin 13′ and to the lowering of the prominence 14. In FIGS. 9A-9C the prominence 14 has lowered and is at the limit point where the foot 6′ is about to disengage.

(47) FIG. 10A and FIG. 10C are schematic right and left elevation views of the drive mechanism 5 and the firing pin 6, and show an instant following that respectively shown in FIGS. 9A and 9C. FIG. 10B is an enlargement of the encircled portion in FIG. 10C. These figures show the drive mechanism 5 when the snap lever 13 has further lowered up to disengage the prominence 14 from the foot 6′ of firing pin 6. The latter is suddenly pushed forward by the spring 7. FIG. 10C shows in dotted line the position of the firing pin 6 when disengaging from the snap lever 13 and it can be clearly seen that the experienced forward displacement leads the tip 6″ to activate the bullet primer (not shown).

(48) FIGS. 11A and 11C are schematic right and left elevation views of the drive mechanism 5 and the firing pin 6, and show an instant following that respectively shown in FIGS. 10A and 10C. FIG. 11B is an enlargement of the encircled portion in FIG. 11C. After the bullet primer has been activated, it is discharged from the barrel 2 of the gun 1 and the firing pin is then quickly pushed backward; the foot 6′ moves back also with respect to the prominence 14 of the snap lever. A spring 15 slightly raises the thrust lever 12 just enough to release the pin 12′ from the corresponding seat 13″ obtained in the snap lever 13 and cause the prominence 14 to be raised in order to allows the latter to intercept the foot 6′ of the firing pin returned by the spring 7.

(49) FIGS. 12A and 12C are schematic right and left elevation views of the drive mechanism 5 and the firing pin 6, and show an instant following that respectively shown in FIGS. 11A and 11C. FIG. 12B is an enlargement of the encircled portion in FIG. 12C. The firing pin 6 is returned to its initial position (corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 8A-8C) and is ready to be activated again, or to fire again. The drive mechanism 5 is also returned to the initial position.

(50) FIG. 13 is a partial and vertical sectional view of a safety mechanism 16 preventing the snap lever 13, and thus the trigger T, from rotating if the firearm 1 is not correctly grasped by the user. The safety mechanism 16 is housed in the butt 3 of the firearm and comprises a lever 17 pivoted at 17″. A cover 18 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 13) of the lever 17 protrudes backward from the butt 3 towards the user. A spring 19 counters the rotation of the lever 17. The upper end 20 of the lever 17 has a gripper shape in order to engage the snap lever 13 and prevent it from rotating. When the firearm is correctly grasped, the hand palm causes the rotation of the lever 17, clockwise in FIG. 13, leading the end 20 to disengage from the lever 13 which is free to operate, as previously described, to obtain a shot.

(51) FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic views, respectively a vertical section view and a plan view, of a preferably present second safety mechanism 20. Such mechanism comprises a button 21 (also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) which protrudes frontally from the butt 3 of the gun 1 to be pressed by the first finger. The button 21 comprises seats 22 for receiving a portion of the trigger T, whereby the rotation of the trigger T is possible only when the button 21 is held down by the user and the seats 22 are aligned with the aforesaid portion of the trigger T.

(52) FIG. 16 shows a rifle 100 according to the present invention, provided with a barrel 102, a butt 103, a side trigger T and a safety button 21 which is the same as the one above described relative to the gun 1.

(53) FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view of the drive mechanism 105 and the firing pin 6 of the rifle 100. FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the mechanism 105. The trigger T causes the snap lever 113 snapping, thereby releasing a spring-loaded hammer 106; the hammer 106 rotates on its pin 106′ and hits against the firing pin 6.

(54) FIGS. 19-21 refers to another type of rifle 200 according to the present invention, provided with the barrel 202, the trigger T on the firearm side and the butt 203. The drive mechanism 205 comprises a cam 209 rotating with the drive shaft 208. The cam causes the snap lever 213 to rotate until the hammer 206 is released and it suddenly rotates due to the preload of a spring until striking the firing pin 6.

(55) As evident for a field technician, the advantages provided by the present invention can be used both in guns and in rifles.