Semi-automatic rifle ambidextrous push type speed safety

Abstract

A sliding safety device for use in AR-15 style and type of semi-automatic rifles is disclosed. The sliding safety device having cylindrical end portions is configured to prevent the discharge of semi-automatic rifle when the device is in a safe position. Additionally the invention includes the method of retrofitting the sliding safety device into the lower receiver of a semi-automatic style or type rifle after removal of the standard rotating safety selector device that has been in use since the inception of semi-automatic rifles of the AR-15 style or type.

Claims

1. A sliding safety selector for use in a lower receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, the semi-automatic rifle based on an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle platform, the sliding safety selector comprising: a cylindrical first end having an inboard surface; a cylindrical connecting rod having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical connecting rod carried on the inboard surface of the cylindrical first end; a cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector connected to the second end of the cylindrical connecting rod, the cylindrical second end having a safety selector shelf of a first diameter and a body section having diameter larger than the diameter of the safety selector shelf; a longitudinal chamber formed in the safety selector shelf and the body section of the cylindrical second end, the longitudinal chamber extending longitudinally along the cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector; first and second detent recesses formed in the longitudinal chamber.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 comprising an incline formed between the first and second detent recesses.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the incline has an upward slope portion and a downward slope portion.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the cylindrical first end has a length greater than its diameter.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the body portion of the second end has a length greater than the diameter of the cylindrical second end.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 comprising a circumferential groove formed in the body portion of the cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein the circumferential groove is given a highly visible surface treatment.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein the circumferential groove contains an O-ring.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein the O-ring is a highly visible color.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein the O-ring is red.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein a narrow circumferential groove is formed in the safety shelf immediately inboard of the body portion of the second end where the body portion of the second end attaches to the safety shelf.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body portion of the cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector comprises a highly visible surface.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 1 comprising friction-improving surfaces at each end of the device.

14. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the friction-improving surface comprises a series of concentric grooves.

15. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the friction-improving surface comprises graphic indicia.

16. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a detent pin engageable with the first and second detent recesses of the longitudinal chamber.

17. A sliding safety selector for use in a lower receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, the semi-automatic rifle based on an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle platform, the sliding safety selector comprising: a cylindrical first end having an inboard surface; a cylindrical connecting rod having a major axis and having a first end and a second end, the connecting rod carried on the inboard surface of the cylindrical first end a cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector connected to the second end of the cylindrical connecting rod, the cylindrical second end having a safety selector shelf of a first diameter and a body section having diameter larger than the diameter of the safety selector shelf; a longitudinal chamber formed in the safety selector shelf and the body section of the cylindrical second end, the longitudinal chamber extending longitudinally along the cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector; first and second detent recesses formed in the longitudinal chamber; an incline formed between the first and second detent recesses wherein the incline has an upward slope portion and a downward slope portion.

18. The invention in accordance with claim 17 further comprising a detent pin engageable with the first and second detent recesses of the longitudinal chamber.

19. A method of replacing a rotating safety selector in a semi-automatic rifle, the semi-automatic rifle based on an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle platform comprising the acts of: cocking back a hammer of the semi-automatic rifle to the half-cocked position; removing the rotating safety selector from the semi-automatic rifle by removing a pistol grip of the semi-automatic rifle and removing a detent spring and removing a retaining detent pin allowing the rotating safety selector to be pushed out of contact with the semi-automatic rifle; positioning a sliding safety selector of claim 1, the sliding safety selector comprising a slot in the sliding safety selector, into place in the semi-automatic rifle; replacing the detent pin and the detent spring to retain the sliding safety selector of claim 1 in place in the semi-automatic rifle; rotating the sliding safety selector of claim 1 in apertures on each side of the semi-automatic rifle until the detent pin engages the slot in the sliding safety selector; replacing the pistol grip on the semi-automatic rifle to retain the detent spring and detent pin in the semi-automatic rifle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) 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:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an orthographic projection of a sliding safety selector and the detent pin used with the safety selector.

(3) FIG. 2 is a portion of the main body of the selector showing the longitudinal chamber and associated elements.

(4) 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

(5) 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.

(6) As mentioned above, this invention has to do with AR style rifles and particularly the safety selector carried in the lower receiver of an AR style rifle. This type of lower receiver has a pair of aligned holes or apertures, one on each side to the lower receiver. These holes accommodate the safety selector on all AR style rifles. The placement of the holes is to position the safety selector slightly above the tail extension or trigger tail (also known as the top surface of the rear portion of the trigger) of the AR style trigger. This invention is carried in those two holes and has its center section, including the safe shelf or smaller diameter section of the second end of the sliding safety device that restrains the trigger from firing the AR style rifle. The sliding safety selector is thus positioned slightly above the trigger tail in just the same position as a lever or rotary safety selector.

(7) Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a projected view of the sliding safety selector and the detent pin used with the sliding safety selector. These two components are all that are needed to replace a rotating safety selector in a civilian AR lower receiver.

(8) The sliding safety selector 12 includes a first end 16, which is cylindrical in cross section and makes up about a third of the length of the sliding safety selector. The diameter of these elements are selected to be compatible with the mil-spec dimensions of the holes in the lower receiver that accommodates them. For instance, they can have a diameter range of 0.375+/0.010 inches, in one embodiment they are 0.371 inches in diameter. A connecting rod 18 extends from the first end 16 to a second end 20. In a preferred embodiment the connecting rod is round in cross-section but can have any cross-sectional shape that acts as a connector between the two ends of the sliding safety connector. The second end 20 of the sliding safety connector has a body portion 22 that is the same diameter as the diameter of the first end 16. A smaller diameter section 24, of about 0.325+/0.010 inches, in one embodiment the measurement is 0.322 inches, is formed on the sliding safety selector inboard of the body portion 22 of the second end 20 and is also connected to the connecting rod 18. There is a small circumferential groove 26 formed in the smaller diameter section 24 at the juncture of the smaller diameter section 24 and the body portion 22 of the second end 20 of the sliding safety selector 12.

(9) Near the top of the outboard end of the body portion 22 there is a second circumferential groove 28. Carried in this groove 28 is a highly visible colored O-ring 30, in one example this O-ring would be red. The O-ring 30 is used to display that the sliding safety selector is positioned in the fire position and the AR can be fired. If the O-ring 30 isn't visible when the sliding safety selector is slid into a bore of a lower receiver of the AR the rifle is in the safe mode. Since the red O-ring is nested in the receiving bore of the lower receiver, the safety is on and the rifle can't be fired.

(10) The red O-ring can be any color that helps show that the sliding safety is in the fire position. Furthermore, the end of the body portion can be painted or anodized to be distinctive. For night use it would be helpful to have a highly visible finish on the end of the body portion, such as, but not limited to, a glowing or phosphorescent coating.

(11) In another embodiment of the invention no circumferential groove is provided but the body portion of the second end is treated to be highly visible.

(12) The ends of the sliding safety selector may have a pattern of concentric ridges or grooves formed on the ends of one or both of the first and second ends. Alternatively other friction enhancing surface treatments, such as but not limited to, graphic indicia.

(13) A detent pin 14 restrains the movement of the sliding safety selector through the bores of the lower receiver. Bores in the lower receiver portion of AR style rifles are formed transverse to the major axis of the lower receiver. These bores are of a standard size and will accommodate the sliding safety selector 12 presented here. The intent of the inventor is to present a sliding safety selector that is a direct replacement of the rotating safety selector used on all modern civilian AR style rifles. Thus no machining of the lower receiver is necessary to fit the sliding safety selector in place of a rotating safety selector removed from an assembled civilian AR style rifle.

(14) The detent pin 14 has one end 32 that is generally rounded and a second end 34 with a diameter slightly larger then the diameter of the longitudinal body 44 of the detent pin 14. There is a circumferential groove 36 between the body of the detent pin and the slightly larger diameter at the non-rounded end of the detent pin.

(15) The detent pin 14 is carried in and is spring loaded in a preexisting bore in the lower receive previously used to contain a similar detent pin used with the rotating safety selector. The pin 14 of the sliding safety selector simply replaces a similar pin used with the rotating style safety selector that is being replaced with the sliding safety selector 12.

(16) The rounded end of the detent pin 14 is spring loaded (spring not shown, it is one of the two dozen or so parts of a conventional AR style lower receiver and is the same spring and same spring mounting location as used in an AR style lower receiver with a rotating safety selector) to detent the sliding safety selector as the rounded end 32 of the pin 14 interfaces with a machined slot or longitudinal chamber 38 formed in the body portion of the second end of the sliding safety device. As best seen in FIG. 1, the base of this longitudinal chamber 38 has first 40 and second depressions 42, or pin receiving dimples, to accommodate the rounded end 32 of the pin 14 when the pin 14 is in one or the other of two displacements, either in the fire position or in the safe position. Between the first 40 and second 42 depressions the floor of the longitudinal chamber there is an incline 46 that extends upwardly from the edge of the first depression 40 toward the second depression 42 and when the incline 46 is midway between the first depression 40 and the second depression 42 the incline extends downwardly toward the second depression 42. The sides of the longitudinal chamber 38 are not parallel but have contours extending toward each other with the closest point between the sides of the longitudinal chamber proximate the highest point of the upward and downward sloping incline between the first and second depressions. This is a result of the tool, normally a ball end mill, used to form the depressions being moved away from the major axis of the sliding safety selector after forming the first depression and cutting the longitudinal groove 38 as the ball mill tool moves toward the location of the second depression on a downward direction. The incline thus formed assists in allowing the rounded end of the detent pin to move smoothly from one depression to the other depression.

(17) The generally flat ends of the cylinders 16 and 20 may have a series concentric circles formed on the ends of the cylinders as shown in FIG. 1.

(18) Once the sliding safety selector, generally 10, has been installed in the lower receiver of an AR style rifle the portion of the selector between the two ends 12 and 14 will contact the upper portion of the trigger assembly when the sliding safety selector is in the safe position. When the selector is in the safe position the end of the top surface of trigger will ride on the smaller diameter 24 of the selector. In this position the rifle can't be fired.

(19) To allow the safety selector 10 to be in position to allow the rifle to fire, the sliding safety selector 10 will be urged by the operator pressing on the exposed end surface of the first end of 16 of the sliding safety selector to the fire position. In this position the second end 22 of the sliding safety selector 10 will project outwardly from the side of lower receiver. The red O-ring will be exposed indicating that the sliding safety selector 10 is no longer in contact with the extension on the trigger thus allowing the weapon to be fire. In this position the trigger extension will be off the smaller diameter 24 section of the selector and will be adjacent the connecting rod 18 but not in contact with it.

(20) Installing the sliding safety selector in the lower receiver of an AR style rifle is uncomplicated. Of course the rifle has to be cleared to make sure there is no ammo in the rifle so it is not fired accidently. First the rotating safety selector has to be removed. The lever or rotating safety selector is simply pushed out of the lower after the retaining detent pin is removed and the new sliding safety selector is pushed into place and the detent pin is replaced. The selector detent pin is urged into contact with the selector by a selector spring held in place under the pistol grip. The pistol grip is attached to the lower by a pistol grip screw and a locking washer. The pistol grip is removed to get access to the selector spring and the selector detent. They will both just fall out of the lower receiver with the pistol grip removed. After the selector detent is removed the hammer is cocked back to the half-cocked position and the selector can be removed.

(21) Installation of the sliding safety selector is basically the reverse of the removal process. With the rifle's hammer in the half-cocked position the sliding selector is pushed through the lower receiver from either the left or right until it is in the fire position with the red O-ring showing on the right side of the lower. The selector detent is positioned in its bore and the selector spring is positioned against the outboard end of the selector detent pin. The sliding safety selector is rotated in the selector apertures on each side of the lower receiver until the selector pin engages the slot or longitudinal chamber in the sliding selector. At this point the pistol grip can be reinstalled and secured using the pistol grip screw and washer to retain the selector spring in compression between the pistol grip and the outboard end of the selector pin. The sliding safety selector is now tested to make sure it locks the hammer in safe when the sliding safety selector is pushed to the safe location with the red O-ring hidden in the lower receiver.

(22) In summary the invention comprises a component for an AR style lower receiver. The component is a sliding safety selector that replaces the lever operated rotating safety selector in the lower receiver of AR style rifle. No AR style rifle uses a sliding safety selector. As far as the inventor knows all AR style rifles use a rotating safety selector.

(23) In further summary the invention is a sliding safety selector for use in a lower receiver of an AR style semi-automatic rifle the sliding safety selector includes at least a cylindrical first end with an inboard surface and an outboard surface. A cylindrical connecting rod is attached to the inboard surface of the first end. The connecting rod has a major axis, a first end, and a second end. The connecting rod is carried on the inboard surface of the cylindrical first end, the connecting rod aligned with the major axis of the cylindrical connecting rod. A cylindrical second end is connected to the second end of the connecting rod. This cylindrical second end has a safety selector shelf of a first diameter and a body section having diameter larger than then diameter of the safety selector shelf. The cylindrical second end also has an outboard surface. A longitudinal chamber is formed in the safety selector shelf and the body section of the cylindrical second end. This chamber extends longitudinally along the cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector. There are also first and second detent recesses formed in the longitudinal chamber.

(24) An incline is formed, must easily using a ball end mill, between the first and second detent recesses. The incline has an upward slope portion and a downward slope portion.

(25) The cylindrical first end of the sliding safety selector has a length greater than its diameter. Similarly the body portion of the second end of the selector has a length greater than the diameter of the cylindrical second end.

(26) It is desirable to have a circumferential groove formed in the body portion of the cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector. This circumferential groove can be given a highly visible surface treatment. Alternatively, an O-ring, having a highly visible color, such as red, can be carried in the circumferential groove.

(27) An alternative to the circumferential groove, although it can be used as well, is to have the body portion of the cylindrical second end of the sliding safety selector comprising a highly visible surface.

(28) In one embodiment of the invention a narrow circumferential groove is formed in the safety shelf immediately inboard of the body portion of the second end where the body portion of the second end attaches to the safety shelf.

(29) As this device is generally interfacing with a human hand or finger it is advantageous to provide the sliding safety selector with friction-improving surfaces at each end of the device. This can be a series of concentric grooves, or in one embodiment, a graphic indicia, such as a company logo.

(30) The sliding safety selector has a two depressions or dimples that are provided to receive a detent pin. The detent pin is engageable with the first and second detent recesses of the longitudinal chamber. The detent pin will also track along an in the inclined recess formed between the two detents in the longitudinal chamber of the main body. The pin is always, (when properly installed) in spring loaded seated contact with one of the depressions and when not seated in a depression the pin is contained in the longitudinal chamber. This prevents the main body of the sliding safety selector from sliding out of the host AR style lower receiver.

(31) 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.

(32) Accordingly, neither the above description of preferred exemplary embodiments nor the abstract defines or constrains the invention. Rather, the issued claims variously define the invention. Each variation of the invention is limited only by the recited limitations of its respective claim, and equivalents thereof, without limitation by other terms not present in the claim.