Trigger Assembly with Captive Disconnector

Abstract

Provided is a trigger assembly that helps prevent malfunctioning of trigger assemblies in firearms. This is accomplished by the expedient of a convex curved projection on the upper surface of the actual trigger of the trigger assembly. Interfacing with this convex surface on the trigger is a mating concave curved projection having a surface with a radius that is similar to the radius of the trigger's concave curved projection. The trigger's concave curved projection extends relatively downwardly from the bottom side of the actual hammer of the trigger assembly. The relationship of the trigger and the hammer of the trigger assembly provides a trigger/hammer interface when the convex curved projection of the trigger is proximate the concave curved projection of the hammer. In this trigger assembly there is a captive disconnector having a disconnector engagement stabilizing projection formed as a portion of the disconnector. The stabilizing projection is generally opposite from the portion of the disconnector having a hook or small ledge where there is contact between the projecting elements of the disconnector and of the hammer. This disconnector engagement stabilizing projection limits the travel of the disconnector interfacing projection of the hammer from moving away from the disconnector engagement location of the trigger assembly.

Claims

1. A trigger assembly comprising: a hammer having a concave curved projection; a trigger having a convex curved projection located proximate the concave curved projection of the hammer.

2. The trigger assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a disconnector having a disconnector engagement stabilizing projection.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 further comprising: the convex surface on the trigger capable of interfacing with the concave curved projection of the hammer, the convex surface of the hammer having a radius substantially identical to the radius of the trigger's concave curved projection whereby; the relationship of the trigger and the hammer of the trigger assembly provides a trigger/hammer interface when the convex curved projection of the trigger is proximate the concave curved projection of the hammer.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the hammer includes a lower surface and the concave curved projection of the hammer extends relatively downwardly from the lower surface of the hammer.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, the trigger assembly further comprising a captive disconnector having a disconnector engagement stabilizing projection formed as a portion of the disconnector.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein the stabilizing projection of the captive disconnector further comprises: the disconnector having a hook; the stabilizing projection located opposite from the hook of the disconnector.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein the disconnector comprises an engagement stabilizing projection; and the hammer comprises a disconnector interfacing projection; the engagement stabilizing projection limits the travel of the disconnector interfacing projection of the hammer from moving away from the disconnector engagement location of the trigger assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the drawing figures wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of the trigger assembly having a captive disconnector; the convex curved projection on the upper surface of the actual trigger of the trigger assembly; and mating concave curved projection extending relatively downwardly from the bottom side of the actual hammer of the trigger assembly.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a depiction, in elevation view, of the trigger used in the trigger assembly shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a depiction, in elevation view, of the disconnector used in the trigger assembly shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a depiction, in elevation view, of the hammer used in the trigger assembly shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] Elements and acts depicted in the figure are illustrated for simplicity. They are presented to illustrate the invention to assist in an understanding thereof. The figure is not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence, size, scale or embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the invention is not limited to the examples that are described below.

[0020] As mentioned above, this invention has to do with rifles and particularly the removable trigger assembly carried in the lower receiver of a rifle. This modified trigger assembly may replace similar trigger assemblies that don't have the disconnector feature and/or the hammer travel-limiting feature included in the trigger as this trigger does.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a depiction of a trigger assembly with various springs, bearings and adjustment elements left out of the depiction for clarity. The hammer 10 is shown proximate the disconnector 12 and the trigger 14. The hammer 10 and the trigger 14 are pivotably mounted in a housing (not shown). The hammer 10 will rotate in a direction away from the pull direction of the trigger 14 such that the sear 16, shown angularly before the sear engagement end 20 of the trigger restrains the hammer from rotating clockwise, through spring pressure (spring not shown), in FIG. 1 until the trigger is pulled to fire the host weapon. When the hammer 10 is in a ready to fire position with the sear engagement end 20 interfacing with the sear 16 the trigger holding the trigger assembly in a fixed, but ready to fire position.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the hammer 10 having concave curved projection 22 extending relatively downwardly from the bottom side of the actual hammer of the trigger assembly. A convex curved projection 24 of the trigger 14 is proximate the concave curved projection 22 of the hammer. In FIG. 1 these concave and convex surfaces are in contact, thus preventing the hammer 10 from rotating counter-clockwise in this view. In the ready to fire position the concave 22 and convex 24 curved projections will not be in contact as the hammer will be rotated generally clockwise in FIG. 1 with the sear engagement end 20 of the trigger interfacing with the sear 16.

[0023] The disconnector 12 in FIG. 1 is shown pivotally carried through a rotatable element 26 formed on the disconnector in a recess 30 of the trigger 14. The disconnector 12 includes an engagement stabilizing projection 32 not found on known disconnectors. This engagement stabilizing projection 32, also referred to as a wall or a limiter, limits the travel of the disconnector interfacing projection 34 of the hammer 10 from moving away from the disconnector engagement location of the trigger assembly.

[0024] FIGS. 2-4 are component parts of the trigger assembly that are modified from what is normally known in the trigger assembly art. These three parts are only three of the components that make up a trigger assembly but these are the parts modified to make this captive disconnector improvement of prior known trigger assemblies.

[0025] In summary the invention comprises a trigger assembly having a modified hammer, a modified trigger, and a modified disconnector. The hammer comprises a concave projection extending outwardly from the pivot point of the trigger. The concave projection generally extends from about the 12:00 o'clock position relative to the pivot point of the trigger when the hammer is pivotable mounted in a workable position in the frame of the host trigger assembly housing to about the 2:00 o'clock position relative to the pivot point of the trigger. The trigger itself has a convex projection generally extending from about the 12:00 o'clock position relative to the pivot point of the trigger to about the 2:00 o'clock position relative to the pivot point of the trigger. These clock positions can be longer or shorter based on the nuances of trigger design. The modification to the known disconnector is the inclusion of the disconnector interfacing projection 34 shown clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3. Normally a disconnector will have a cavity to accommodate the disconnector interfacing projection of the hammer. In this modified disconnector there is a wall or engagement stabilizing projection 32 providing for the non-latching surface 36 of the hammer to interface with the engagement stabilizing projection 32 of the disconnector.

[0026] While the invention is described herein in terms of preferred embodiments and generally associated methods, the inventor contemplates that alterations and permutations of the preferred embodiments and methods will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

[0027] Accordingly, neither the above description of preferred exemplary embodiments defines or constrains the invention.