Abstract:
A method of assembling a pistol includes coupling a tool to the pistol such that a portion of the pistol is interposed within a retaining aperture formed within the tool, interposing a first portion of a slide stop within an aperture formed within the frame of the pistol, interposing a second portion of the slide stop within a notch formed within the frame, and urging the second portion of the slide stop to contact the tool to prevent a scratch on a portion of the pistol that is prone to being scratched by the second portion of the slide stop.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/218,934; filed on Jun. 20, 2009; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates generally to tools for disassembly and reassembly of pistols. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Some pistols are maintained by users who disassemble and reassemble the pistol for cleaning and maintenance. Often, some pistol parts are available in varying versions, such as the slide stop. Assembly may involve scratching the frame, or other portions of the pistol as unintentional contact is made with edges of some portions of the pistol. Further, many versions of the slide stop are available with differing manufacturing tolerances, which may result in assembly of the pistol with a slide stop, or other portion, that will tend to scratch a portion of the pistol as the pistol parts are brought together during assembly. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a tool for preventing frame scratches during assembly and disassembly of a pistol. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The drawings are illustrative embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be removed, exaggerated, moved, or partially sectioned for clearer illustration. The embodiments illustrated herein are not intended to limit or restrict the claims. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a pistol. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the pistol of  FIG. 1  with a slide stop rotated during assembly/disassembly. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the pistol of  FIG. 1  with a slide stop rotated during assembly/disassembly with a frame scratch prevention tool, according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged side view of the slide stop of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a view taken generally along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  and rotated 90 degrees for clarity. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tool of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the tool of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tool of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the tool of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the tool of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY 
       [0016]    In an embodiment, a tool is provided for use during assembly and disassembly of a pistol. The tool is retained adjacent the pistol by inserting a magazine release button within an aperture formed within the tool. In use, the tool prevents contact between a slide stop and the pistol frame to reduce scratches on the pistol frame. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate an embodiment of a pistol  20 . The pistol  20  includes a frame  22 , a slide  24 , a stock  26 , a trigger  28 , a magazine release button  30 , a hammer  32 , a slide lock safety  34 , a trigger guard  36 , a receiver  38 , a barrel  40  (generally defining an axis B-B), a recoil spring plug  42 , a slide stop lever  44 , and a plunger tube  46  having a slide stop plunger  48  partially interposed therein. The slide  24  includes a front sight  50 , a rear sight  52 , a slide stop notch  54 , a disassembly notch  56 , and a lower slide surface  58 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the frame  22  includes a slide stop cut  60  formed therein. Further, the frame  22  includes a slide stop aperture  62  and a frame side surface  64 . The stock  26  includes a forward surface  66 . In the embodiment illustrated the forward surface  66  is a portion of a grip portion of the stock. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the slide stop lever  44  in greater detail. In the embodiment illustrated, the slide stop lever  44  includes a generally planar central body portion  70 , with an engagement pin  72  extending therefrom, a slide engaging member  74  extending therefrom, a first end  76  ( FIG. 4 ), and a second end  78  ( FIG. 4 ). Generally, the engagement pin  72  extends in a first direction along an axis A-A while the slide engaging member  74  extends in a second direction S, orthogonal (perpendicular) to the first direction F. More specifically, the engagement pin  72  of the slide stop  44  extends from the first end  76  of the slide stop  44  in the first direction F and the slide stop engaging portion  82  of the slide stop  44  extends from the second end  78  of the slide stop  44  in the first direction F. The slide stop  44  is formed from a single piece of material, usually stainless steel or gun steel. 
         [0019]    The slide engaging member  74  includes a thumb engaging portion  80 , a slide stop engaging portion  82 , and a slide stop engaging surface  86 . The engagement pin  72  is interposed into the slide stop aperture  62  as the slide stop  44  is coupled to the pistol  20  (while the slide stop engaging portion  82  is interposed within the slide stop cut  60 ), as discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0020]    In operation, the slide  24  is urged to move toward the direction D ( FIG. 1 ) by at least one spring (not shown). The slide  24  also moves axially (generally parallel to the axis B-B of the barrel  40 ) toward the direction C ( FIG. 1 ) as the pistol  20  fires or when a user urges the slide  24  to move. The slide  24  may be moved until the stop engaging surface  86  of the slide stop  44  aligns with either the slide stop notch  54  or the disassembly notch  56 . Then, the slide stop  44  may be rotated generally about the A-A axis relative to the frame  22  (in the rotational direction R) to permit the slide stop engaging surface  86  to engage either the slide stop notch  54  or the disassembly notch  56 , thus restraining the slide  24  from returning to the position illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The slide stop plunger  48  moves axially (generally parallel to the axis B-B of the barrel  40 ) within the plunger tube  46  and is urged toward the direction D by a spring (not shown) within the plunger tube  46 . As the slide stop plunger  48  contacts the slide stop  44 , the slide stop plunger  48  exerts a small force on the slide stop  44  and restrains the slide stop  44  from moving in the rotational direction R. 
         [0021]    During assembly, the engagement pin  72  of the slide stop  44  is inserted into the slide stop aperture  62  of the frame  22 , as generally shown in  FIG. 2 . Then, the slide stop  44  is rotated about the engagement pin  72  (in the rotational direction R) until the slide stop engaging portion  82  is moved toward the slide stop cut  60 . Interposing the slide stop engaging portion  82  within the slide stop cut  60  may be difficult. That is, a user generally rotates the slide stop  44  in the rotational direction R ( FIGS. 2-4 ) while moving the slide stop  44  in the direction F ( FIG. 5 ). This rotational movement aids in moving the slide stop engaging portion  82  past the slide stop plunger  48  and into the slide stop cut  60 . On many pistols, such as the pistol  20 , it may be impossible to insert the slide stop engaging portion  82  into the slide stop cut  60  by moving the slide stop  44  only in the direction F ( FIG. 5 ), with no rotation, since the slide stop plunger  48  may interfere with the slide stop  44 . Therefore, the assembly maneuver may include rotation of the slide stop in the direction R as well as translation in the direction F. As a result, during this assembly maneuver inadvertent contact between the slide stop engaging portion  82  and the frame side surface  64  may occur.  FIG. 2  also illustrates a typical scratch (denoted as “S”) on the frame side surface  64  that may result from this inadvertent contact between the slide stop engaging portion  82  and the frame side surface  64 . 
         [0022]      FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  7  illustrate a scratch prevention tool  100 . The tool  100  includes a generally planar body  102  having a thickness T 1  ( FIG. 6 ) and defined by a first surface  104 , a second surface  106  opposing the first surface  104 , a retaining aperture  108  formed within the body  102  and intersecting the first surface  104  and the second surface  106 . The body  102  is further defined by an upper surface  110  interconnecting the first surface  104  and the second surface  106 , a side surface  112  interconnecting the first surface  104  and the second surface  106 , a notch  114  interconnecting the first surface  104  and the second surface  106 , and interconnecting the upper surface  110  and the side surface  112 , and an outer surface  116  interconnecting the first surface  104  and the second surface  106 , and further interconnecting the upper surface  110  and the side surface  112 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the notch is defined by a first notch surface  120  and a second notch surface  122 . 
         [0023]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the upper surface  110  selectively abuts the lower slide surface  58  of the slide  24  of the pistol  20  as the side surface  112  selectively abuts a forward surface  66  of a grip  26  of the pistol  20 . As installed, at least a portion of the magazine release button  30  is selectively interposed within the retaining aperture  108 . In an embodiment, the material for the body  102  is a plastic, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or other material suitably durable to prevent metal-to-metal contact, and the fit between the magazine release button  30  and the retaining aperture  108  is a slight interference fit which may ensure that the tool  100  is retained in place when installed as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The thicknesses T 1  and T 2  may be about 0.010 inches, or any suitable thickness, to permit full insertion of the slide stop as described herein. 
         [0024]    With the tool  100  installed as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a user may disassemble the pistol  20 . When the slide  24  and grip  26  is removed, the frame  22  may be placed on a surface (not shown) with the tool  100  resting on the surface to prevent scratching the frame  22 . During reassembly, the slide stop  44  may be installed with the slide stop engaging portion  82  interposed within the slide stop cut  60 . With the tool  100  installed, the slide stop engaging portion  82  cannot contact the frame side surface  64 , thereby preventing scratches, such as the scratch S, on the frame  22 . 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the tool  100  is illustrated as a tool  200 . The tool  200  includes a generally planar body  202  having a thickness T 2  ( FIG. 10 ) and defined by a first surface  204 , a second surface  206  opposing the first surface  204 , a retaining aperture  208  formed within the body  202  and intersecting the first surface  204  and the second surface  206 . The body  202  is further defined by an upper surface  210  interconnecting the first surface  204  and the second surface  206 , a side surface  212  interconnecting the first surface  204  and the second surface  206 , a notch  214  interconnecting the first surface  204  and the second surface  206 , and interconnecting the upper surface  210  and the side surface  212 , and an outer surface  216  interconnecting the first surface  204  and the second surface  206 , and further interconnecting the upper surface  210  and the side surface  212 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the notch is defined by a first notch surface  220  and a second notch surface  222 . The second notch surface  222  defines a plane P that is orientated at about a 45 degree angle α to both the first surface  204  and the upper surface  210 . 
         [0026]    The tool  200  is used in similar manner as the tool  100 , with the angled second notch surface  222  enabling the slide stop  44  to be guided in both the direction F and the rotational direction R as the slide stop engaging portion  82  is guided along the second notch surface  222  is interposed within the slide stop cut  60 . 
         [0027]    As used herein, the term ‘abut’ includes generally parallel surfaces that may touch in at least some portions. Further, the term ‘interference fit’ includes a circular member with a first predetermined diameter inserted within a generally circular aperture having a second predetermined diameter, where the first predetermined diameter is greater that the second predetermined diameter. 
         [0028]    The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled 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, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. The invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.