Abstract:
A firearm includes a frame, a slide, and modular sear and trigger mechanism housings. The frame has fore and rear receptacles integrally formed therein, e.g., upwardly open compartments accessible from the top of the frame. The modular housings house one or more operational components of the firearm, e.g., trigger and sear components, and are configured for “drop in” insertion into the receptacles. Each housing also includes a set of integral slide rails. For assembly, the operational components are attached to the modular housings, and the housings are dropped into the receptacles and secured to the frame. The slide is operably positioned on the slide rails for reciprocating movement thereon. The frame is provided without integral rails and other features for supporting the operational components. Instead, the rails are provided as part of the modular, drop-in sear and trigger mechanism housings, which also support the operational components.

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 to firearms, and, more particularly, to firearm frames and frame components. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Most semiautomatic handguns include a frame and a slide that moves along the firearm&#39;s longitudinal firing axis in a reciprocating manner. The frame provides the core support structure for the firearm&#39;s operational and other components, e.g., trigger and firing mechanisms, grip, ammunition feeding system, barrel, and slide. For operably attaching the slide to the frame, the frame includes a set of rails positioned on opposite longitudinal sides of the frame. The rails are integral with the rest of the frame, i.e., the frame, including the rails, is machined or otherwise formed from a single piece of metal or other material. 
   In addition to the rails, the frame includes other integrally machined features for attaching, supporting, and/or guiding additional components of the firearm such as the trigger and firing mechanism sear. While such features (including the rails) function well from an operational standpoint, the manufacturing process for forming the rails and other integral features can be time consuming and complex. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to an embodiment of a firearm with modular sear and trigger mechanism housings of the present invention, a firearm includes a firearm frame and a modular housing. The frame has at least one receptacle formed therein, with the modular housing being removably received in the receptacle. For example, the receptacle may be an upwardly open compartment integral with the frame and accessible from the top of the frame, and the modular housing may be configured for “drop-in” insertion into the compartment. The modular housing is configured for accommodating one or more operational components of the firearm, e.g., triggers, trigger bar, sear assemblies, or the like. (By “accommodating,” it is meant that one or more firearm components may be operably attached to and/or housed in the modular housing.) In operation, the operational components are attached to the modular housing, the modular housing is dropped into receptacle, and the modular housing is secured in place. 
   In another embodiment, the modular housing is provided with a set of slide rails. The slide rails partially or wholly replace the rails typically integrally formed on a firearm frame. A slide portion of the firearm moves along the slides in a reciprocating manner during operation of the firearm. 
   In another embodiment, the frame has fore and rear receptacles formed therein. A modular trigger mechanism housing is disposed in the fore receptacle, and has one or more trigger mechanism components attached thereto. A modular sear mechanism housing is disposed in the rear receptacle for housing a sear mechanism. Each modular housing includes a set of slide rails. 
   One advantage of the firearm with modular sear and trigger mechanism housings according to an embodiment of the present invention is that it utilizes a “generic” frame provided without integral rails and other features for supporting the firing mechanism or other operational components. Instead, the rails are provided as part of the modular, drop-in sear and trigger mechanism housings configured to support the trigger and firing mechanisms. During assembly, the modular sear and trigger housings are simply inserted into the frame, at appropriate pre-configured locations, and are secured in place. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below: 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic side view of a semiautomatic pistol; 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic side elevation 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 perspective view of trigger and sear housing portions of a semiautomatic pistol according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are detail perspective views of the sear housing (sear block); and 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified schematic view of the semiautomatic pistol of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one exemplary embodiment of a semiautomatic pistol or firearm with modular sear and trigger mechanism housings of the present invention is shown generally at  10  and is hereinafter referred to as “firearm  10 .” The firearm  10  comprises a frame  12 , a slide  14 , and a fire control mechanism that operates via actuation of a trigger  16 . The frame  12  is fabricated of a high-impact polymer material, metal, or a combination of polymer and metal. The slide  14  houses a barrel  18  in the forward end thereof. The barrel  18  is cooperatively linked with the slide  14  and, together with the slide  14 , defines a longitudinal firing axis  20 . A rearward end of the barrel  18  is adapted for receiving an ammunition cartridge  22 . 
   The slide  14 , which is defined by a slide frame  26 , further includes a breech face  28  and an extractor port  30 . The breech face  28  is engagable with the rearward end of the barrel  18  to form a firing chamber when the slide  14  is disposed forwardly on the frame  12  ( FIG. 1 ). An ejection mechanism provides for the ejection of a cartridge casing  22  upon firing the firearm  10  or manually cycling the slide  14 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the firearm  10  further comprises a trigger mechanism housing  32  and a sear housing or sear block  34 . The trigger mechanism housing  32  and sear housing  34  together support portions of a fire control mechanism generally shown at  40 . The fire control mechanism  40  is of a striker-type configuration and comprises a striker-type firing pin  42  having a firing pin portion  43  and a depending leg  44 . The fire control mechanism further includes a sear assembly  46  and a trigger assembly  48 . The sear assembly  46  has a pivotally mounted sear  50  that engages the firing pin  42 . The trigger assembly  48 , which functions to actuate the sear  50 , includes a trigger  52  pivotally connected to the trigger mechanism housing  32 , and a trigger bar  54  pivotally connected to the trigger  52  via a pin  56 . The trigger bar  54  connects the trigger  52  and the sear assembly  46 . A trigger bar extension  58  extends from the trigger bar  54  into a channel  60  of the sear housing  34 . The trigger  52  may be of unitary construction, as shown, or of a multiple-piece articulated construction. 
   When the trigger  52  is actuated by being pressed in a rearward direction, the trigger  52  pivots about a pin  64  that extends through a lateral opening  66  in the trigger mechanism housing  32 . This transmits movement to the trigger bar  54  via the pin  56 . The trigger bar  54  is thereby moved in a rearward direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal firing axis  20  such that the trigger bar extension  58  correspondingly translates in the channel  60 , for actuation of the sear  50 . 
   The trigger mechanism housing  32  is a generally open frame-like support having first and second sidewalls  70 ,  72  interconnected by one or more lateral cross members  74 . The sidewalls  70 ,  72  are provided with various laterally aligning openings, e.g., the lateral opening  66 , for attachment of various subcomponents and/or for attachment of the trigger mechanism housing  32  to the frame  12 . As noted, the interior of the trigger mechanism housing  32  is generally open, to accommodate the trigger  52  as well as any other components configured for disposition between the two sidewalls  70 ,  72 . 
   The sear housing  34  is a generally solid body having a number of openings, slots, etc. formed therein for accommodating the various components of the sear assembly  46 . Detailed views of the sear housing  34  are shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The particular number of openings and slots in the sear housing  34 , and their dimensions/configurations, will depend on the particular nature and configuration of the sear assembly components, which, of course, will depend on the type of sear assembly utilized. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the sear housing  34  may have a longitudinal slot  47  formed therein for accommodating the sear  50  as well as the passage of the depending leg  44  of the firing pin  42 . The present invention can be adapted for use with different types of firing mechanisms, and is not meant to be limited to a particular type of firing mechanism. 
   For reciprocal movement of the slide  14  along the longitudinal firing axis  20 , the trigger mechanism housing  32  has a pair of forward slide rails  76 ,  78  respectively attached to, and extending laterally outwards from, the upper side edges of the sidewalls  70 ,  72 . Additionally, the sear housing  34  has a pair of rear slide rails  80 ,  82  similarly attached to, and extending laterally outwards from, opposite upper side edges of the sear housing  34 . The slide rails  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  are substantially identical in shape, and are dimensioned to fit within opposed, inwardly opening and longitudinally extending grooves (not shown) located on the inner surface of the slide  14 . The slide rails may have arcuate, convex bottom surfaces  100  and/or chamfered or rounded leading and trailing edges  102 ,  104 , respectively, to prevent the slide  14 , upon discharge of the firearm  10 , from the possibility of binding or overstressing the housings  32 ,  34 . As should be appreciated, the slide rails  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  are meant to fully or partially replace the rails previously integrally formed as part of the frame  12 . 
   The trigger mechanism housing  32  and sear housing  34  may be manufactured using standard methods such as machining or molding, in which case the slide rails are integrally formed as part of the housings  32 ,  34 . Alternatively, the housings  32 ,  34  may be assembled from various subcomponents attached together using standard means such as welding, adhesives, or fasteners. The housings  32 ,  34  may be made of various materials, but will typically be composed of a light, high-strength metal or metal alloy. 
     FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the manner in which the housings  32 ,  34  are attached to the frame  12 . As indicated, the trigger mechanism housing  32  and sear housing  34  are configured for “drop in” insertion into the frame  12 , which has forward and rear receptacles  84 ,  86  dimensioned to securely receive the housings  32 ,  34 , respectively. The receptacles  84 ,  86  are interior, upwardly open compartments or receptacles integrally formed as part of the frame  12  during manufacturing, and are respectively complementary in shape to the housings  32 ,  34 . Once inserted into the receptacles  84 ,  86 , the housings  32 ,  34  are attached to the frame  12  using adhesives, welds, press or friction fit, or pins or the like (not shown). Typically, the trigger assembly  48  and sear assembly  46  will be attached to the housings  32 ,  34 , respectively, prior to insertion of the housings  32 ,  34  into the frame  12 . Additionally, the receptacles  84 ,  86  may be provided with angled or vertically oriented slots (not shown) for receiving tabs  90  on the sides of the housings  32 ,  34  (see  FIGS. 3-5 ), for purposes of easily aligning the housings  32 ,  34  with respect to the receptacles and frame for assembly. 
   Once inserted into and attached to the frame  12 , the housings  32 ,  34  lie in operative alignment with one another, such that: (i) the trigger bar  54  may be connected to the sear assembly  46 ; and (ii) the fore slide rails  76 ,  78  respectively align with the rear slide rails  80 ,  82 . Additionally, the frame  12  may be provided with lead rails  88  on either side of the fore/barrel end of the frame  12 , for further guidance of the slide  14 . In that case, the rails  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  88  would all respectively align with one another for movement of the slide  14 . In particular, the rails  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  88  would extend along the underside of the slide  14  in the longitudinal direction to allow for cycling of the slide  14  between forward (battery) and rearward (retired) positions. 
   With the housings  32 , 34  provided as separate, modular components for attachment to the frame  12 , it is no longer necessary to machine or otherwise form the various component features of the housings  32 ,  34  as part of the frame  12  during the manufacturing process. Accordingly, the overall design and manufacturing process is rendered more efficient, more flexible (e.g., the possibility of different configurations and/or different materials for the frame  12  and housings  32 ,  34 ), and with less potential waste from manufacturing errors. Additionally, because the trigger and sear mechanism subcomponents can be attached to the housings prior to attaching the housings to the frame, the assembly process is simplified. 
   As should be appreciated, the receptacles  84 ,  86  and housings  32 ,  34  may be together characterized as “modular housing means” cooperative with the frame  12  for removably supporting one or more operational components of the firearm (e.g., the housings support the operational components and can be inserted into and removed from the receptacles) and for supporting the slide  14  in a reciprocating manner. 
   An additional embodiment of the present invention may be characterized as a modular firearm system having one or more firearm frames  12  and one or more separate housings, e.g.,  32 ,  34 , for holding, supporting, and/or guiding portions of a firearm operational mechanism. Each frame  12  has one or more receptacles for receiving the housings. The frames and housings are interchangeable, meaning that each frame accommodates all or some of the housings. Some of the receptacles may be configured to only accept one subset of the housings, e.g., if the frame has two receptacles, the first receptacle may be configured to accept one subgroup of housings and the second receptacle another subgroup of housings. 
   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. 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.