Trigger assembly for a fire arm

A trigger assembly for a fire arm including a breechblock moving between a base position and a charging position. The trigger assembly includes a catch lever moving between a resting position and a catch position. The trigger assembly includes a trigger element moving between a non-actuation and an actuation position to transfer the catch lever from the catch position into the resting position, and a release element moving between a hold position and a release position for releasing the catch lever. The release element is transferred from the hold position into the release position by the breechblock moving toward the charging position. The release element pivots about a release-element axis movable relative to the trigger element so the release element in the non-actuation position moves out of a movement space of the breechblock when the trigger is secured via a breechblock moving towards the base position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/062556, filed on Jun. 18, 2013, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2012 212 388.1, filed on Jul. 16, 2012. The International Application was published in German on Jan. 23, 2014, as WO 2014/012727 A1 under PCT Article 21 (2).

FIELD

The invention relates to a trigger assembly for a fire arm, comprising a breechblock which can be moved between a base position and a charging position, a catch lever which can be moved between a resting position for releasing the breechblock and a catch position for catching the breechblock, a trigger element that can be moved between a non-actuation position and an actuation position, in order to transfer the catch lever from the catch position thereof into the resting position thereof, a release element that can be moved relative to the trigger element, which release element can be moved between a hold position for holding the catch lever in the resting position thereof and a release position for releasing a movement of the catch lever in the catch position thereof, the release element being transferred from the hold position thereof into the release position by a contact of the breechblock moving in the direction of the charging position with the release element.

BACKGROUND

Trigger assemblies for a rapid-fire weapon are known from DE 101 63 003 A1 and from DE 10 2007 052 105 B3. The aim of the release element is for the catch lever to assume a defined position, i.e. either a resting position in which the breechblock can be moved, unimpeded by the catch lever, in the direction of the cartridge chamber (base position), or a catch position in which the catch lever prevents the breechblock from moving in the direction of the base position. The release element is preferably held in the hold position by means of a spring, and can be transferred into the release position counter to the action of the spring.

If, in a weapon of the above-mentioned type when the weapon is secured, the breechblock is moved out of the base position into an intermediate position in which the catch lever which is in the catch position is not yet engaged with the breechblock, a movement of the breechblock starting from the intermediate position in the direction of the base position results in the breechblock running onto the release element with a catch element of the bolt carrier and blocking there in an intermediate position.

If, in the case of a (secured or unsecured) weapon of the above-mentioned type, the breechblock is moved out of the base position into the charging position, in which the catch lever which is in the catch position prevents the breechblock from moving in the direction of the base position, a manipulation of the weapon (manual holding of the breechblock in the charging position, (if secured) releasing the safety of the weapon, pulling of the trigger element, releasing of the trigger element, re-securing) results in the release element which moves with the trigger element backing the catch lever, and in the hold position of the release element holding the catch lever in the resting position thereof. The catch lever then remains in its resting position, so that the breechblock can be moved in the direction of the base position. A movement of the breechblock starting from the charging position in the direction of the base position under these circumstances however again results in the breechblock running onto the release element and blocking there on the foremost sear catch of the breechblock.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a trigger assembly for a fire arm including a breechblock moving between a base position and a charging position. The trigger assembly includes a catch lever moving between a resting position and a catch position. The trigger assembly includes a trigger element moving between a non-actuation and an actuation position to transfer the catch lever from the catch position into the resting position, and a release element moving between a hold position and a release position for releasing the catch lever. The release element is transferred from the hold position into the release position by the breechblock moving toward the charging position. The release element pivots about a release-element axis movable relative to the trigger element so the release element in the non-actuation position moves out of a movement space of the breechblock when the trigger is secured via a breechblock moving towards the base position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An aspect of the present invention is to improve a trigger assembly such that blocking of a breechblock which is moving in the direction of the base position by the release element when the trigger is secured is prevented.

This aspect is achieved according to the invention in a trigger assembly referred to first hereinbefore in that the release element can be pivoted about a release-element pivoting axis which is movable relative to the trigger element, so that the release element in the non-actuation position of the trigger element can be moved out of a movement space of the breechblock even when the trigger is secured, by means of a breechblock which moves in the direction of the base position.

In the trigger assembly according to the invention, provision is made for the release element to be able to be pivoted about a release-element pivoting axis, the position of this pivoting axis being able to be moved relative to the trigger element. This provides an additional degree of freedom for the movement of the release element, so that after a manipulation of the weapon as described first hereinbefore a movement of the breechblock in the direction of the base position when the trigger is secured is no longer accompanied by blocking of the breechblock with the release element. Rather, it is now possible for the breechblock which is moving in the direction of the base position to subject the release element to a contact force and in this manner to displace the release-element pivoting axis, so that a section of the release element which originally protrudes into the movement space of the breechblock moves into a position outside the movement space.

The movement of the release element out of the movement space of the breechblock takes place advantageously substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the breechblock. The operation of the release element moving out of the way can also be described by the term “descent”.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the release-element pivoting axis to be arranged on an additional element which is separate from the release element and the trigger element, and for the additional element to be mounted so as to be movable relative to the trigger element. This means that the movability of the release-element pivoting axis relative to the trigger element can be achieved in a manner which is simple in terms of design.

Advantageously, the additional element is mounted in the trigger element to be pivotable about an additional-element pivoting axis, so that a relative movement of the additional element relative to the trigger element is accompanied by pivoting of the additional element. This has the advantage that the space available within the trigger element can be used for a movement of the additional element relative to the trigger element.

Further, it is preferred if the release-element pivoting axis and the additional-element pivoting axis are parallel to one another, in particular colinear with one another. In this manner, a compact arrangement can be provided in which the release element can be pivoted relative to the additional element, and the additional element relative to the trigger element. “Descent” of the release element as described above is then accompanied by pivoting of the additional element about the additional-element pivoting axis, with the trigger element remaining in an in particular secured non-actuation position.

Advantageously, the trigger assembly comprises a safety means, which in a secured state secures the catch lever in the catch position thereof and the trigger element in the non-actuation position thereof, and in an unsecured state permits transfer of the catch lever into the resting position thereof and transfer of the trigger element into the actuation position thereof.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the safety means has a safety element which is coupled in terms of movement with the release element in such a way that transfer of the safety means out of the unsecured state into the secured state is compulsorily accompanied by transfer of the release element out of the hold position thereof into the release position. This has the advantage that a catch lever which is subjected to force by a trigger spring, accompanied by securing of the fire arm, is compulsorily transferred into the catch position. In the case of a manipulation of the weapon which is described first hereinbefore (manual holding of the breechblock in the charging position, unsecuring of the weapon, pulling of the trigger element, re-securing), the catch lever is automatically transferred into its hold position. By means of the safety element, it is now possible that after the trigger element has been transferred into the non-actuation position thereof securing of the weapon is not accompanied by the catch lever remaining in its resting position, but instead of this being transferred automatically into the catch position.

A compact and reliable design arises if the safety element can be pivoted about a safety-element pivoting axis.

A particularly compact construction arises if the safety-element pivoting axis is parallel, in particular colinear, to a bearing axis of a trigger spring which serves to subject the catch lever to a spring force.

Further, it is preferable if the safety means comprises an operating element, which can be pivoted about an operating axis, in order to transfer the safety element into the secured or non-secured state thereof, and if the operating element and the safety element are coupled together in terms of movement by means of a turning and sliding joint. This permits reliable transfer of a pivoting movement of the operating element to a pivotably mounted safety element.

The invention furthermore relates to a fire arm, in particular a handgun, which comprises a trigger assembly as described above.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphical representation of preferred embodiments.

A trigger assembly10illustrated in the drawings comprises a breechblock12which can be moved along a centre line14between a base position (cf.FIG. 1) and a charging position (cf.FIG. 3). The breechblock12has on its underside a plurality of sear catches16which are arranged one behind another when viewed along the centre line14.

The breechblock12occupies a movement space18which is indicated in the drawing by broken lines which are parallel to one another. The breechblock12can be acted upon in the direction of firing by a recoil spring which is known per se and is therefore not illustrated.

The trigger assembly10further comprises a grip piece20, on which a trigger element22is mounted pivotably about a trigger-element pivoting axis24. The trigger element22is held in a non-actuation position by means of a trigger spring26. The trigger spring26is in the form of a leg spring which is mounted on a transverse pin28. The transverse pin28is fastened to the grip piece20.

The trigger spring26furthermore cooperates with a catch lever30which is mounted on the grip piece20to be pivotable about a catch-lever pivoting axis32. The catch lever30has on its rearward end a safety pawl36which is pivotably mounted on a spindle34.

The catch lever30can assume a resting position in which the safety pawl36is located outside the movement space18of the breechblock12(cf.FIG. 1). The catch lever30can furthermore assume a catch position in which the safety pawl36of the catch lever30protrudes into the movement space18of the breechblock12, in order to catch the breechblock12on the sear catch16thereof and to prevent it from a movement in the direction of the base position.

The trigger element22has a release roller38which together with the trigger element22can be pivoted about the trigger-element pivoting axis24. In an unsecured state of the trigger assembly10, the trigger element22, starting from the non-actuation position illustrated for example inFIG. 2, can be pivoted counter to the action of the trigger spring26rearwards into an actuation position, so that the release roller38presses against an underside of the catch lever30and transfers the latter, counter to the action of the trigger spring26, out of the catch position illustrated inFIG. 2into the resting position illustrated inFIG. 1.

The trigger assembly10further comprises a safety means which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral40. This comprises a manually operated operating element42which can be pivoted about an operating axis44. The operating element42is connected in rotation-resistant manner to a safety roller46, which has a safety-pawl recess48. The safety means40further comprises a safety section50which can be pivoted with the operating element42, which section cooperates with a rearward section52of the trigger element22.

In the secured state of the safety means40, the safety section50prevents pivoting of the trigger element22about the trigger-element pivoting axis24. Further, the safety roller46, in the catch position of the catch lever30and when a sear catch16of the breechblock12is lying against the safety pawl36(cf.FIG. 9), prevents a lower safety-pawl section54of the safety pawl36from dipping into the safety-pawl recess48of the safety roller46. In this manner, the safety means40secures the catch lever30in the catch position thereof when the breechblock is caught.

The trigger assembly10further comprises a release element56, which can be pivoted about a release-element pivoting axis58. The release element56is subjected to force by means of a release-element spring60, so that the release element56in a hold position presses against a stop61of the grip piece20. In this hold position, a release pawl62of the release element56protrudes into the movement space18of the breechblock12.

The release element56further has a catch projection64which serves to back a contact section66of the catch lever30. The contact section66extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In the resting position of the catch lever30, the release element56holds the catch lever30by the catch projection64of the release element56backing the contact section66(cf.FIG. 1).

If, in the trigger assembly10illustrated inFIG. 1, the breechblock12moves out of the base position in the direction of the charging position and assumes for example an intermediate position illustrated inFIG. 2, the rear side of the breechblock12and the sear catches16pass over the release pawl62, so that the release element56is moved about the release-element pivoting axis58rearwards and out of the movement space18of the breechblock12into a release position. In the release position of the release element56, the catch projection64of the release element56is no longer engaged with the contact section66of the catch lever30, so that the latter is transferred out of its resting position (cf.FIG. 1) into its catch position (cf.FIG. 2) by means of the trigger spring26.

If, starting from the intermediate position of the breechblock12illustrated inFIG. 2, said breechblock is to be moved forwards in the direction of the base position while the trigger is secured (cf.FIG. 1), a sear catch16which is arranged behind the release pawl62in the direction of firing blocks on the release pawl62, since the release element56lies against the stop61of the grip piece20. Since the rearward section52of the trigger element22is also backed by the safety section50of the safety means40, the trigger element22and the release element56which is mounted securely therein cannot move out of the way.

Such blocking may also occur in the charged state of the trigger assembly10(cf.FIGS. 3 and 4); if the breechblock12is in the charging position illustrated inFIG. 3and the catch lever30adopts a catch position (cf.FIG. 9), the safety means40in its secured state causes the trigger element22not to be movable out of a non-actuation position into an actuation position, since the rearward section52of the trigger element22presses against the safety section50of the safety means40. Further, the safety roller46prevents the lower section54of the safety pawl36from dipping into the safety-pawl recess48. If now the breechblock is held by hand and the safety means40is transferred into its unsecured state, the trigger element22can be pivoted about the trigger-element pivoting axis24, so that the release roller38presses against the underside of the catch lever30and transfers the catch lever out of the catch position into the resting position illustrated inFIG. 3, in which the catch projection64of the release element56backs the contact section66of the catch lever30.

If now the trigger element22is transferred back into its non-actuation position, i.e. the trigger element22is released, the catch lever30remains in the resting position illustrated inFIG. 3. If then the safety means40is transferred out of the unsecured state into the secured state illustrated inFIG. 3, then although the trigger element22is prevented from moving into an actuation position, the catch lever30is in its resting position. If now the breechblock12which is held by hand is released, the recoil spring brings about a movement of the breechblock12, starting from the charging position illustrated inFIG. 3, forwards in the direction of the base position. In this case, a sear catch16of the breechblock12which is arranged at the front in the direction of firing comes into blocking engagement with the release pawl62, which protrudes into the movement space18of the breechblock12and is blocked as a result of the release element56lying against the stop61of the grip piece20.

If now, starting from the blocking position of the trigger assembly10illustrated inFIG. 4, the safety means40is unsecured, a shot can be fired unintentionally by the release pawl62descending without the trigger element22being actuated.

A trigger assembly10illustrated inFIGS. 5 to 7has a construction comparable to the trigger assembly10described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4. Therefore, reference will also be made to the above description for the description of the construction and the method of operation of the trigger assembly10according toFIGS. 5 to 7.

In the trigger assembly10according toFIGS. 5 to 7, the release-element pivoting axis58is not fixed to the trigger element22. Rather, the release-element pivoting axis58is movable relative to the trigger element22.

The release-element pivoting axis58is mounted on an additional element68which can be pivoted about an additional-element pivoting axis70.

The additional-element pivoting axis70is colinear and preferably identical to the trigger-element pivoting axis24of the trigger element22. In one structural realisation of the pivoting axes24and70, for example a pin fastened to the grip piece20is provided, about which both the trigger element22and the additional element68can be pivoted.

The release-element pivoting axis58is arranged in front of the additional-element pivoting axis70in the direction of firing. Pivoting of the additional element68about the additional-element pivoting axis70thus brings about displacement of the release-element pivoting axis58in a direction transverse to the centre line14of the breechblock12.

The release-element spring60, which subjects the release element56to a restoring force, is supported on the additional element68, in particular on a spring stop surface72of the additional element68.

The trigger spring26, which at one end acts on the catch lever30, is supported at the other end on a trigger-spring contact section74which is connected securely to the additional element68or is formed in one piece therewith.

The additional element68has a supporting surface76which cooperates with a grip piece surface78(cf.FIG. 6).

The additional element68can be pivoted between an initial position illustrated inFIG. 5and a pivot position illustrated inFIG. 6.

In the initial position illustrated inFIG. 5, the trigger spring26presses against the trigger-spring contact section74of the additional element68, so that the latter lies with its supporting surface76against the grip piece surface78. Furthermore, the release-element spring60causes the release element56in its hold position to lie against the stop61.

A pivot angle80measured between the initial position and the pivot position of the additional element68is preferably relatively small, and is for example approximately 10° to approximately 20°.

If the breechblock12of the trigger assembly10is in an intermediate position illustrated inFIG. 6, a movement of the breechblock12in the direction of the base position no longer results in the sear catch16blocking with the release pawl62. The release pawl62can be transferred out of its position illustrated inFIG. 5, in which it protrudes into the movement space18of the breechblock12, into an out-of-the-way position, in which the release element56lies against the stop61of the grip piece20, but moves away from the sear catch16in a direction substantially transverse to the centre line14of the breechblock12, namely by pivoting the additional element68out of its initial position (cf.FIG. 5) into the pivot position (cf.FIG. 6).

In so doing, the sear catch16presses on the release pawl62, as a result of which the release-element pivoting axis58moves out of the way downwards, as a result of which the additional element68is pivoted about the additional-element pivoting axis70. In so doing, the supporting surface76detaches itself from the grip piece surface78. Furthermore, the trigger spring26is deformed. Owing to the pivotability of the additional element68, it is possible for the release pawl62to move out of the way even when the weapon is secured.

It is also possible for the release element56to move out of the way as described above when the breechblock12, starting from a charging position, moves in the direction of the base position (cf.FIG. 7).

A trigger assembly10illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9has a construction similar to the trigger assembly10described above with reference toFIGS. 5 to 7. Therefore, reference will be made to the description of the trigger assembly10according toFIGS. 5 to 7and also to the description of the trigger assembly10according toFIGS. 1 to 4with regard to the construction and the method of operation of the trigger assembly10according toFIGS. 8 and 9.

In the trigger assembly10according toFIGS. 8 and 9, a safety element82is provided which can be pivoted about a safety-element pivoting axis84. The safety-element pivoting axis84is secured to the grip piece. It is preferred if the safety-element pivoting axis84is formed by the transverse pin28, which also serves for mounting the trigger spring26.

The safety element82has a section86pointing from the safety-element pivoting axis84in the direction of the safety means40, which section is coupled in terms of movement with the operating element42of the safety means40by means of a turning and sliding joint88.

The safety element82further has a second section90pointing from the safety-element pivoting axis84in the direction of the release element56, on which section an operative surface92which cooperates with the release element56is provided. The operative surface92is formed for example by a pin94extending parallel to the safety-element pivoting axis84.

If the safety means40is in its unsecured position, the operative surface92of the safety element82is arranged approximately at the height of the stop61of the grip piece20, so that the release element56(cf.FIG. 5) is pressed forwards. In the unsecured state of the safety means40, a rotary joint96of the turning and sliding joint88is arranged closer to the safety-element pivoting axis84than in the secured state (illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9). Transferring the operating lever42out of the unsecured state into the secured state is accompanied, under the action of the turning and sliding joint88, by pivoting of the safety element82, upon which the operative surface92of the safety element82moves substantially rearwards relative to the direction of firing and in so doing compulsorily transfers the release element56into a release position. This moves the contact section66of the catch lever30away from the catch projection64(cf.FIG. 5) of the release element56, so that the catch lever30(supported by the trigger spring26) is transferred into the catch position. As a result, a breechblock12is caught in an intermediate position or in a charging position illustrated inFIG. 9by means of the safety pawl36. As a result, even a manipulation of the trigger assembly10as described above with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4does not result in the catch lever30adopting its resting position (and not its catch position) in the secured state of the safety means40.