Abstract:
An extractor mechanism with improved reliability is provided having an extractor arm pivotally mounted within a pocket in a firearm slide. The extractor arm includes a body portion and a hook portion, the body portion being disposed within the pocket and the hook portion extending out of the pocket from an opening proximate to the breech face. The hook portion is biased toward the firearm&#39;s firing axis and includes a distal edge sized to engage a cartridge rim. The hook portion preferably has a height greater than the body portion and the portions are preferably connected by a curved portion. Two surfaces preferably meet at the distal edge of the hook portion, with the surface more proximal to the breech face being substantially parallel to the breech face and the surface more distant from the breech face, diverging from the breech face at an acute angle.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Ser. No. 60/639,187; Ser. No. 60/638,594; Ser. No. 60/638,753; Ser. No. 60/638,593; Ser. No. 60/638,746; Ser. No. 60/638,592; Ser. No. 60/638,751; and Ser. No. 60/638,752, all filed Dec. 22, 2004, and all hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to semiautomatic pistols or handguns and, more particularly, to an extractor mechanism for a handgun. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various types of extractor mechanisms for removing cartridges or casings from the firing chambers of semiautomatic pistols or handguns exist. One type of extractor mechanism comprises a substantially flat elongated spring steel member that is mounted to the slide of the handgun. A hook or claw is positioned on the forward end of the member to engage the rim of the cartridge casing as the casing is contained within the firing chamber of the handgun. When engaged, the hook positions the rim of the casing in the space (known as the headspace) between the hook and a breech face of the slide. Upon operation of the handgun, the firing pin projects through the breech face to contact the primer of the casing and fire the cartridge. 
   Upon firing the cartridge (or manually drawing the slide from its forward (battery) position to its rearward (retired) position), the hook of the extractor mechanism removes the cartridge or spent casing from the chamber and ejects it through an ejection port, thereby throwing it clear of the handgun. 
   One operable feature of the extractor mechanism is the extractor arm from which the hook depends to extend into the firing chamber to grasp the rim of the cartridge and eject it as the slide moves in the rearward direction. The axial distance between the engaging surface of the hook and the breech face, which forms the rear wall of the firing chamber and supports the cartridge in the firing position, ensures the proper ejection of a spent cartridge. When the handgun is fired, the hook travels in the rearward direction with the slide and engages the cartridge rim to pull the cartridge from the rear of the barrel. As the cartridge is pulled over a shoulder protruding from the frame assembly, the cartridge is forced out through the ejection port in the slide and thrown clear from the handgun. 
   Occasionally, however, such extractor mechanisms fail to properly eject the spent cartridge, resulting in a firearm jam or other malfunction that is potentially dangerous to clear and can delay further use of the firearm in time critical situations (e.g., military or law enforcement use). Accordingly, there is a need for an extractor mechanism for a handgun that enhances consistent, reliable operation during the cycling of the slide. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an extractor mechanism for a semi-automatic firearm, with an extractor arm having a body portion and a hook portion. The extractor arm is preferably pivotally mounted within a pocket of a firearm slide with the hook portion extending out of the pocket from an opening proximate to the slide&#39;s breech face and biased toward the firearm&#39;s firing access. A distal edge of the hook portion is sized to engage a cartridge rim. 
   In one embodiment the operation of the extractor mechanism is enhanced by providing a hook portion with a height in a plane perpendicular to the firing axis that exceeds the height of the body portion in a plane parallel to the firing axis. 
   In another advantageous embodiment a curved transition portion connects the hook and body portions. 
   In an additional embodiment, a first and second surface meet at the distal edge, the first surface being more proximate to the breech face than the second surface. The first surface is arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the breech face, whereas the second surface is a plane that diverges acutely from the breech face. 
   An advantage provided by various embodiments of the present invention is that the reliability of the ejection function of a handgun is improved. In particular, the downward-extending portion of the hook facilitates the grasping of a cartridge rim as the slide travels rearward during cycling. 
   These and other advantages and features of the present invention will be clear from the drawings and detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic view of a pistol shown with an extractor mechanism of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic view of the pistol of  FIG. 1  shown with the slide moved to a rearward position on the pistol frame. 
       FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic exploded perspective view of the assembly of the slide, the barrel, and the recoil spring. 
       FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic perspective view of the slide showing the breech face and the pocket in which the extractor mechanism is housed. 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic side elevational view of the slide showing the pocket in which the extractor mechanism is housed. 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified schematic plan view of the pocket in which the extractor mechanism is housed. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are simplified schematic perspective views of the extractor mechanism. 
       FIG. 9  is a simplified schematic plan view of the extractor mechanism housed in the slide. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a semiautomatic pistol or handgun is shown generally at  10  and is hereinafter referred to as “handgun  10 .” The handgun  10  comprises a frame assembly  12 , a slide  14 , a barrel  16 , and a firing mechanism. The frame assembly  12  is fabricated of a high-impact polymer material, metal, or a combination of polymer and metal. The barrel  16  is disposed in the forward end of the slide  14 , is cooperatively linked therewith, and, together with the slide  14 , defines a longitudinal firing axis  18 . A rearward end  19  of the barrel  16  is adapted for receiving an ammunition cartridge. A trigger  22  is pivotally mounted to the frame assembly  12  to actuate the firing mechanism and fire the handgun  10 . The firing mechanism acts on a firing pin that is generally centered on the firing axis  18  and biased in a rearward direction by a firing spring, in the handgun shown. Other types of firing mechanisms are employed in semiautomatic handguns, as is well known to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not limited to a particular type of semiautomatic firing mechanism. 
   The slide  14  is fitted to opposingly-positioned rails  28  of the frame assembly  12  to effect the reciprocal movement of the slide  14  along the longitudinal firing axis  18 . The rails  28  extend along the underside of the slide  14  in the longitudinal direction and are cooperative with the frame assembly  12  to allow the cycling of the slide  14  between forward (battery) and rearward (retired) positions. The slide  14  further includes a breech face  32  and an extractor port  34 . The breech face  32  is engagable with the rearward end  19  of the barrel  16  to form a firing chamber when the slide  14  is disposed forwardly on the frame assembly  12 . An ejector mechanism, generally  38 , provides for the ejection of a cartridge casing  40  in a direction indicated by an arrow  42  upon firing of the handgun  10  or manual cycling of the slide  14 . 
   For the present type of firearm, the cooperation of the frame assembly  12 , the slide  14 , and the firing mechanism during the loading, firing, and ejecting of a cartridge casing  40  can be understood by referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,579 entitled “DECOCKING MECHANISM FOR A SEMI-AUTOMATIC FIREARM”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,659 entitled “FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOLS”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,731 entitled “HANDGUN OF IMPROVED ERGONOMIC CONSTRUCTION”, all of which are owned by the Assignee and are incorporated by reference herein. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the slide  14 , in the semiautomatic handgun shown, is an elongated box-like structure having a rearward end that is enclosed to house the firing pin and an open forward end in which the barrel  16  is mounted. The rails  28  are engaged by surfaces  29  extending from the forward end of the slide  14  to the rearward end of the slide  14 . The barrel  16  includes a tubular portion  44  that is receivable through an aperture  46  at the forward end of the slide  14  and a rear portion  48  that, when the barrel  16  is positioned in the slide  14 , closes the extractor port  34 . The slide  14  and the barrel  16  are linkably connected such that when the slide  14  is cycled in the rearward direction, the barrel  16  unlinks therefrom. A recoil spring  50  is operatively engaged with the barrel  16 . The operative engagement of the recoil spring  50  with the barrel  16  is effected by the engagement of one end of the recoil spring  50  with a surface  52  on the barrel  16  and by the engagement of the other end of the recoil spring  50  with a surface  54  on the slide  14 . 
   The forward-most portion of the dosed rearward end of the slide  14  includes a breech block  31 . The forward-most surface of the breech block  31  defines the breech face  32 . The breech face  32  includes an opening  56  through which the forward end of the firing pin is received to strike the cartridge and fire the handgun. The undersurface of the dosed rearward end of the slide  14  also includes a pickup rail  58  that, upon operation of the handgun, strips cartridges from a magazine and urges the cartridges into a firing position. 
   The ejector mechanism (shown at  38  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) includes an extractor mechanism/means  60  mounted on an inner surface of the slide  14  proximate the breech face  32  and a shoulder (not shown) disposed on the frame assembly. The extractor mechanism  60  is laterally displaced from the firing axis and is positioned so as to be horizontal relative to the firing axis. Upon cycling of the slide, the extractor mechanism  60  cooperates with the shoulder to eject cartridges or spent cartridge casings. When the slide  14  is moved to a retired position, the firing chamber is exposed through the extractor port  34 , and the shoulder acts with the extractor mechanism  60  to engage the casing and eject it from the firing chamber through the extractor port  34 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , a cavity or pocket  64  is formed in a side wall of the slide  14  to accommodate the extractor arm  80 . The pocket  64  includes an upper pocket surface  66 , a lower pocket surface  68 , and a contoured end  70 . The upper pocket surface  66  and the lower pocket surface  68  are parallel and spaced to receive the extractor mechanism in a close-tolerance fit. As can be best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the upper pocket surface  66  and the lower pocket surface  68  are connected by a side surface  72  of the breech block  31 . The contoured end  70  may include a recess  76  that accommodates a corresponding protrusion on the extractor mechanism to secure the extractor mechanism in the pocket  64 . 
   The extractor mechanism comprises an extractor arm  80 , shown with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , which is positioned in the pocket as shown. The extractor arm  80  comprises a body portion  82  and a hook portion  84 . When positioned into the pocket, the body portion  82  extends substantially perpendicular to and along the longitudinal firing axis  18 . The forward end of the body portion  82  extends around the corner defined by the breech face  32  and a side surface of the breech block  31  to terminate in the hook portion  84  that engages a rim of the casing of a cartridge. To provide strength to the extractor arm  80 , the body portion  82  and the hook portion  84  are formed from a single piece of metal, and the transition portion from the body portion  82  (whose height lies in a plane substantially parallel to the firing axis) along the length of the slide  14  to the hook portion  84  (whose height lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the firing axis) comprises a curved surface  86 . Preferably this curved transition portion  86  forms a smooth curve from the plane of the body portion to the plane of the hook portion. 
   The hook portion  84  includes a hook  88  that depends from the forward end of the body portion  82  in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal firing axis  18 . The hook  88  is defined by at least two surfaces arranged to form an acute angle and that meet at an edge  90 . The hook  88  is furthermore configured to extend in a downward direction a distance d 0  away from a major axis L of the body portion  82 . The extension of the hook  88  in the downward direction facilitates the engagement of the hook  88  with the cartridge. In other words, the height of the hook portion  84  in a plane substantially perpendicular to the firing axis  18  is greater than the height of the body portion  82  in a plane parallel to the firing axis. The edge  90  is configured to facilitate movement of the hook portion  84  over the rim of a cartridge, points toward the longitudinal firing axis  18 , and is spaced a distance d 1  therefrom. A hook face  92  is oriented substantially parallel to the breech face  32  and is spaced axially a distance d 2  therefrom to define a head space  94 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the extractor arm  80  is preferably pivotally mounted in the pocket  64  by means of an extractor mount pin  98 , and biased by means of an extractor spring  96 . The extractor arm  80  and the extractor spring  96  are dimensioned according to standards known in the art that consider the type and caliber of firearm in which the components indicative of those described herein are used. An extractor spring bore  100  is appropriately sized to receive the extractor spring  96 . The extractor mount pin  98  is press fitted vertically through the upper surface and the lower surface of the pocket  64  and fits loosely through the extractor arm  80  to allow pivotal movement of the extractor arm  80  in a plane substantially perpendicular to the breech face  32  and parallel to the longitudinal firing axis  18 , thereby allowing the edge  90  of the hook  88  to engage the rim of the cartridge  40 . An extractor pivot recess  102  is included to allow room for the extractor arm  80  to pivot within the pocket  64 . 
   The distances d 1  and d 2  provide for the consistent, reliable operation of the handgun, including proper and consistent loading and extraction of cartridges  40 . 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, a semiautomatic handgun comprises a frame, a slide reciprocatingly mounted on the frame, and a barrel mounted inside the slide. The slide comprises an elongated structure having a forward end for housing the barrel and a rearward end in which is housed a firing pin mechanism that cooperates with a trigger assembly and a fire control assembly mounted in the frame. The elongated structure of the slide includes an extractor mechanism having an arm. A body portion of the arm extends parallel to a longitudinal firing axis of the handgun, and a hook portion extends from a forward portion of the body portion to engage a cartridge rim. The hook portion extends downward from a major axis of the body portion to provide surface area that is sufficient for the engagement of the cartridge rim. 
   Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Particularly, the present invention is not limited to a particular structure and arrangement of the slide components surrounding the extractor mechanism. 
   In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the above description.