Abstract:
A device is disclosed that is used temporarily to replace a trigger assembly of a weapon. In one embodiment, the device is self-resetting, including a biasing mechanism to reset a trigger lever to a firing position. As such, the feel of depressing a cocked trigger with each simulated trigger pull is simulated. This device allows the user to experience a more realistic dry fire training session, allowing the user to still cycle the gun action normally if they choose.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/129,560 filed Mar. 6, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Dry firing is a training method commonly used for weapon training that simulates a weapon&#39;s action. The object of dry fire training is to practice trigger control and other weapons manipulation techniques without using live ammunition. For example, AR15, AR10, M4 and M16 and similarly patterned weapons are single action weapons. For the trigger to release the hammer to strike the firing pin, the action must be cycled to reset or cock the firing mechanism. This cycling is normally done automatically by virtue of the weapon action&#39;s normal cycle from firing live ammunition. During dry fire practice, however, current simulation devices require the user to manually work the action to reset the trigger and hammer each time before the trigger can be depressed. This reset is inconsistent with live ammunition fire and thus not desirable for training. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A device is disclosed that is used temporarily to replace a trigger assembly of a weapon. In one embodiment, the device is self-resetting, including a biasing mechanism to reset a trigger lever to a firing position. As such, the feel of depressing a cocked trigger with each simulated trigger pull is simulated. This device allows the user to experience a more realistic dry fire training session, allowing the user to still cycle the gun action normally if they choose. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a top, perspective view of a trigger simulation device positioned within a lower portion of a weapon. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side, perspective view of a trigger simulation device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a side, perspective view of an alternative support block of for use with a trigger simulation device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top, perspective view of a trigger simulation device  10  positioned within a weapon  12  (e.g., an AR15). In particular, the device  10  is positioned within a cavity  14  of the weapon  12 , wherein the trigger assembly (not shown) of the weapon  12  has been removed and device  10  has been inserted in its place. The device  10  includes a support block  20  and a trigger lever  22  movable with respect to the support block  20 . Upon final assembly, the trigger lever  22  extends to a position accessible by a user, particularly including a lower trigger portion  22   a  configured to engage a finger of a user. In particular, the device  10  locates the trigger portion  22   a  in a firing position. When applying pressure to the trigger portion  22   a,  the lever  22  rotates from the firing position about a pivot pin  24  to an extended position. Upon release of the trigger portion  22   a  when the lever  22  is in the extended position, a biasing mechanism  26  (e.g., a tension spring) operates to return the lever  22  to the firing position. 
         [0009]      FIGS. 2-3  illustrate the device  10  in more detail. As illustrated, the support block  20  is substantially rectangular in shape and includes an elongated slot  30  extending vertically through the block  20  to accommodate the trigger lever  22   b  and a transverse slot  32  accommodating a safety interface portion  22   b  of the trigger lever  22  from the firing position to the extended position. Movement of the lever  22  is controlled via the pivot pin  24  and a retaining assembly  34 . In particular, the pivot pin  24  defines an axis of rotation for trigger lever  22  and the retaining assembly  34  defines a pressure threshold wherein, for rotational force on the trigger portion  22   a  below the threshold, the trigger lever  22  remains in the firing position. In particular, the retention assembly  34  engages a retention portion  50  of support block  20  when in the firing position. To that end, the retention assembly  34 , in one embodiment, defines means for retaining the lever  22  in the firing position. When rotational force on the trigger portion  22   a  exceeds the predetermined threshold, the lever  22  is released from the firing position and further rotational movement allows transition to the extended position. Various features of the device  10  can be selected to establish a level of the predetermined threshold. 
         [0010]    The firing position can be defined as the position of lever  22  wherein the retaining assembly  34  engages retention portion  50  and safety interface portion  22   b  is generally parallel to a lower edge  20   b  of block  20 . The extended position can be defined as the position of lever  22  with respect to block  20  wherein safety interface portion  22   b  contacts a safety cam lever (not shown) or other portion of weapon  14 . Contact between the safety interface portion  22   b  and the cam lever prevents further rotational movement of trigger lever  22  with respect to block  20 . Based on the above, movement of trigger lever  22  relative to block  20  can be defined as including the firing position, wherein rotational movement of the lever  22  is prevented based on rotational forces  22  placed on trigger portion  22   a  below a predetermined threshold. When rotational force on trigger portion  22   a  is above the predetermined threshold, the lever  22  releases from the firing position. Further rotational force allows the lever  22  to further transition through intermediate positions to the extended position, wherein safety interface portion  22   b  contacts the cam lever. Between the firing position (i.e., in the intermediate positions), and the extended position, in one embodiment, forces below the predetermined threshold allow rotation of the lever  22  relative to the block  20 . Biasing mechanism  26  can include a spring constant that is sufficient to rotate lever  22  to the firing position (from the extended position or intermediate positions) upon release of the user&#39;s finger from the trigger portion  22   a.  In one embodiment, the biasing mechanism  26  can be referenced as biasing means for returning the lever  22  to the firing position. 
         [0011]    The pivot pin  24  extends through apertures  20   a  in the block  20  positioned on either side of slot  30  and an aperture  22   c  within the lever  22  to control rotation of the lever  22  with respect to the block  20  about a central axis of the pivot pin  24 . The retaining assembly  34  interfaces between an extension portion  22   d  of the lever  22  and mounting block  20  to simulate pressure applied to a trigger in a normal firing situation. From the firing position, upon rotation of the lever  22  with respect to the block  20  in excess of the predetermined level, the retaining assembly  34  releases from engagement with the block  20  and the lever  22  is able to rotate within the block to the extended position. 
         [0012]    The retaining assembly  34  includes a pair of ball bearings  40   a,    40   b  positioned on either side of a biasing mechanism  42 . The ball bearings  40   a,    40   b  and biasing mechanism  42  are located within an aperture  22   e  in the extension portion  22   d  of the trigger lever  22 . In one embodiment, bearings  40   a,    40   b  are larger in diameter than a retention portion  50  (formed of corresponding apertures  50   a,    50   b ) formed within the block  20 . Together, the apertures  50   a,    50   b  form a retention portion of the support block  20 . The relative size of the bearings  40   a,    40   b  and apertures  50   a,    50   b,  the vertical position of bearings  40   a,    40   b  on trigger lever  22  and block  20  may be changed to create a different feel to the action of the device  10 . In one embodiment, bearings  40   a,    40   b  are made out of plastic, resin or other suitable material instead of metal. Biasing mechanism  42  sits in between bearings  40   a,    40   b,  whose function is to provide bias to both bearings  40   a,    40   b  that push on block  20 , and seat in apertures  50   a,    50   b.  Features such as spring weight, number of coils, overall diameter, distance between apertures  22   c  and  22   e,  or other features may be changes to provide a different feel to the action of the device  10 . In a further embodiment, the retention portion so can take various forms such as depressions or recesses. 
         [0013]    Upon final assembly and when trigger lever  22  is in the firing position, biasing mechanism  42  locks bearings  40   a,    40   b  into apertures  50   a,    50   b.  Due to rotation of trigger lever  22 , bearings  40   a,    40   b  are forced into aperture  22   e  due to interface between surfaces of slot  30  and the bearings  40   a,    40   b.  When pressure is sufficient so as to force bearings  40   a,    40   b  to release from apertures  50   a,    50   b,  lever  22  can rotate more freely. 
         [0014]    In one example, the support block  20  is machined from a solid piece of metal, plastic, resin or other suitable material to be hollowed to accommodate the trigger lever  22 . Pivot pin  24  serves to not only provide a pivot point for trigger lever  22  to pivot on, but serves to locate and secure the device  10  within the lower receiver of the weapon  14  though existing apertures in the weapon  12 . In one example, pivot pin  24  is made of metal, plastic or resin and may include a flat head on one side with an expanding anchor on the other. 
         [0015]    In one example, trigger lever  22  can be made from formed plastic, resin, metal, or other suitable material and colored to a bright safety color. The lever includes the trigger portion  22   a,  safety interface  22   b  extending orthogonal to the trigger portion  22   a  and extension portion  22   d  extending opposite the trigger portion  22   a.  Safety interface  22   b  is a projection of the trigger lever  22  that makes contact with a safety cam lever (not shown) of weapon  14 . As such, the device  10  allows a safety switch of the weapon  14  to operate normally. 
         [0016]    In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an alternative block  20 ′ includes a slot  30 ′ that includes plates  60   a  and  60   b  provided on either side of the slot  30 ′. These plates  60   a  and  60   b  can be formed of a variety of materials so as to prevent surfaces of the slot  30 ′ from wear. Example materials for plates  60   a  and  60   b  include metal, plastic and the like. The plates  60   a  and  60   b  can be coupled to the slot  30 ′ using an adhesive or other attachment structure. In one embodiment, grooves (not shown) can be formed in a surface of the slot  30 ′ to receive the adhesive. 
         [0017]    Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiment[s] are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.