Firearm having nonmetallic components and an extractor yoke lockup

A polymeric revolver including a frame, a cylinder mounted in a rectangular aperture in the frame via a yoke, and a cylinder retaining mechanism is provided. The cylinder retaining mechanism includes multiple assemblies, which lock the yoke in the cylinder-closed position, including: (1) an extractor, a locking bolt and a locking bolt retainer that house an extractor rod spring and engage a ratchet hub driver, hub drive center pin and central pin plate that house a ratchet drive spring; (2) a star-shaped configuration of grooves and ridges on the extractor and the ratchet hub driver, respectively; (3) a rear taper of the locking bolt that engages a concave recess at the axial center of the rounded groove of the locking bolt recess; and (4) an annular ring that engages an inner wall of an annular opening in a breach face of the frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to firearms and, more particularly, to a revolver having nonmetallic components and an improved extractor yoke lockup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known revolvers employ a rotatable cylinder mounted in a rectangular aperture of a frame of the revolver for selectively positioning one of a plurality of rounds of ammunition in opposition to the firing bore of the revolver. The cylinder is typically rotatably mounted on a yoke of the revolver for selectively moving the cylinder in or out of the rectangular aperture of the frame during a loading or unloading operation.

For example, a known revolver includes a frame, a barrel, an ejector rod assembly and a cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal bores which are adapted to selectively position, in sequence, rounds of ammunition in opposition to the firing bore of the barrel. A yoke stud is integrally mated to the frame and provides an axis of rotation to selectively pivot both the yoke and the cylinder between an open position and its closed position. A spring biased ball plunger is integrally mated to the yoke and in communication with a ball cavity formed in the body of the frame for retaining the yoke and the cylinder in the closed position.

While successful to a certain degree, the interaction between the spring biased ball plunger and the ball cavity may experience sporadic, operational complications during and immediately following the discharge of a round of ammunition. When a round is discharged, the forces that propel the round down the length of the barrel exert a corresponding force in the opposite direction, that is, towards the rear, handgrip portion of the revolver. Although the effect of this opposite force is marginal on the interconnected elements of the revolver, the manufacturing tolerances inherent in the revolver permit a minute amount of structural translation to occur as a result of this incident and opposite discharge force.

The effect of the structural translation of certain elements in the revolver, as a result of the discharge of a round of ammunition and the associated manufacturing tolerances of the revolver, may cause the cylinder and the yoke assembly, to move slightly rearwardly, towards the handgrip portion of the revolver. The rearward movement of the yoke may cause the spring biased ball plunger to disengage from the ball cavity, thus facilitating the unintended pivoting of the cylinder from the closed position to the open position. The possibility of the spring biased ball plunger disengaging from the ball cavity may increase in proportion to the age of the revolver, owing to the increasing age and reduced resilience of the biasing spring, or the like, which serves to bias the ball plunger into contact with the restraining ball cavity.

There is, therefore, a need for a retaining mechanism to retain the cylinder within the rectangular aperture, especially subsequent to firing.

There is also a concern that firearms, and, in particular, revolvers, be designed so that the expended ammunition cartridge can be easily removed from the cylinder upon being discharged. Known revolvers employ an extractor, which disrupts the connection of the round of ammunition to the cylinder, in order to rapidly expel expended ammunition from the chamber of the cylinder. Said extractors are generally designed to avoid having any impact on the retention or release of the cylinder from the rectangular aperture of the frame. There is, therefore, a need for an improved extractor that works in conjunction with the retaining mechanism to promote retention of the cylinder in the rectangular aperture, especially subsequent to firing.

There is also a concern that, once the expended ammunition cartridges have been removed and new ammunition cartridges have been inserted into the cylinder, the retaining mechanism be designed so that the cylinder and yoke assembly can be easily pivoted from the open position to the closed position. There is, therefore, a need for an improved closing mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a revolver with an improved yoke lockup mechanism that prevents the revolver from coming out of battery during operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a revolver with an improved extractor that works in conjunction with the yoke lockup mechanism to prevent the revolver from coming out of battery during operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a revolver with an improved yoke assembly that facilitates the pivoting of the cylinder and yoke assembly from the open position to the closed position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a firearm having a cylinder retaining mechanism is provided. The firearm includes a frame defining an aperture having a breach face and a locking bolt recess disposed on a side of the aperture opposite from the breach face, wherein the locking bolt recess comprises a narrow section with a concave recess; a cylinder mounted in the aperture and defining a bore; and a locking bolt mounted in the bore and fitted to be received in the concave recess; wherein the cylinder is retained in the aperture when the locking bolt is received in the concave recess.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a firearm having a cylinder retaining mechanism is provided. The firearm includes a frame defining an aperture and an annular opening in a breach face thereof; a cylinder pivotally mounted in the aperture and defining a bore; and an extractor mounted in the bore and having an annular ring fitted to be inserted in the annular opening; wherein the cylinder is retained in the aperture when the annular ring is inserted in the annular opening.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a firearm having a cylinder rotating mechanism is provided. The firearm includes: a frame defining an aperture; a cylinder rotatably mounted in the aperture and having a bore; an extractor mounted coaxially in the bore, wherein the extractor is rotationally fixed to the cylinder; a ratchet hub driver mounted coaxially with and engaged to the extractor and having annular lobed ridges; a hand having an end that abuts and reciprocally engages the annular lobed ridges of the ratchet hub driver; and a trigger connected to a distal end of the hand; whereby actuation of the trigger causes the hand to engage the annular lobed ridges of the ratchet hub driver, which rotates the ratchet hub driver, the extractor and the cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, one exemplary embodiment of a firearm incorporating the present invention is shown generally at10and is hereinafter referred to as “firearm10.” The firearm10is preferably a revolver (as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,330,761, 6,523,294, 7,059,075, 7,254,913 and 7,263,795 and provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/141,715, which are incorporated herein by reference) that includes a frame, a cylinder20, a barrel22, and a firing mechanism.

The frame is generally comprised of two main parts, an upper frame portion24and a lower frame portion26. The lower frame portion26contains a back strap, a main spring housing and a grip28, as well as space for a portion of the firing mechanism.

The upper frame portion24contains the barrel22and the sight30, as well as space for another portion of the firing mechanism. The upper frame portion24also contains: a rectangular aperture32for mounting the cylinder20, a locking bolt recess34for slidably receiving a locking bolt36, a yoke stud recess38for securing a yoke stud40and a yoke carve out42for pivotally mounting the yoke44on the yoke stud40.

A forward end46of the lower frame portion26is shaped so as to accept a corresponding rearward end48of the upper frame portion24. These upper and lower frame portions24,26are joined together via pins to create a structurally rigid frame.

The frame portions24,26are comprised of metal stampings or inserts having a polymer over-molding on top of the inserts. However, other metallic and nonmetallic materials may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. While many prior art revolvers need to be bent to ensure that the barrel, the cylinder, the firing mechanism and the locking mechanism all come into registration within prescribed tolerances so that the revolver operates properly, such bending is not required with the polymer frame firearm10of the present invention.

The frame also includes a trigger50that is pivotally attached to the upper frame portion24and a separate trigger guard52that is releasably attached to both the upper and lower frame portions24,26.

The cylinder20is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical portion (seeFIGS. 3 and 4) of the yoke44. In other words, the cylinder20may be pivoted into and out of the rectangular aperture32in the upper frame portion24along the pivot path defined by the yoke44and/or rotated relative to the yoke44.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, the firearm10is shown with the cylinder removed to illustrate the rectangular aperture32. Typically, as is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the cylinder20of an assembled firearm10would be rotatably mounted axially on a cylindrical portion54of the yoke44with a front face of the cylinder20substantially abutting the rear-facing inner surface of the frame and the rear face of the cylinder substantially abutting a front-facing breach surface56of the frame. However, with the cylinder20removed, it should be appreciated that the cylinder20actually abuts the rear surface of the barrel22and an enlarged portion58of the yoke44on the front side of the firearm10, and an extractor60on rear side of the firearm10. In particular, the front face of the cylinder20presses flush against the rear opening of the barrel22such that the barrel-cylinder gap is minimized.

Referring now toFIG. 5, the firearm10is shown with the cylinder20and the extractor60removed. As shown, an annular opening62is provided in the breach surface56of the rectangular aperture32, coaxial with the cylindrical portion54. Slidably and rotatably mounted in the annular opening62is a ratchet hub driver64having a star-shaped configuration of ridges66on its front facing surface.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a side view of a cross section of a fully assembled firearm10is shown. The rearward face of the body portion68of the extractor60rests flush against the breach surface56and engages the ratchet hub driver64with a complimentary star-shaped configuration of grooves70. The rearward face of the extractor60also has an annular ring71that is fitted to the annular opening62and, in the cylinder-closed position, is inserted therein.

Referring toFIGS. 7-11, the extractor60and the locking bolt36assembly is shown in a number of views including a side cross sectional view (FIG. 8) and a side exploded view (FIG. 9). A frontward extractor shaft portion72of the extractor60connects to the locking bolt36via an extractor spring retainer74. The extractor spring retainer74is mounted in a cylindrical recess76in the end of the extractor shaft portion72by means of a complimentary threaded screw and threaded groove engagement78. The extractor spring retainer74includes a cylindrical extension80, which is fitted to an opposing recess82in the locking bolt36, and a coaxial recess84in the cylindrical extension80, which receives the rearward end of an extractor rod spring86. The opposing recess82in the locking bolt36receives the frontward end of the extractor rod spring86.

When compressed (e.g., in the cylinder-closed position), the extractor rod spring86presses the locking bolt36against the locking bolt recess34and the rear face of the body portion68of the extractor60against the breach face56.

In particular, referring now toFIGS. 12-14, the locking bolt36has a narrow cylindrical rod portion88with a conical front taper90on the frontward side and a conical rear taper92on the rearward side. When the extractor rod spring86is compressed, the rear taper92engages rounded grooves94positioned on the upper and lower walls of the locking bolt recess34. The laterally outward portions of the rounded grooves94are angled slightly rearwards from a horizontal lateral axis such that the distance between the rearward surface of the rounded grooves94and the breach face56decreases as the rounded grooves94approaches the center of the firearm10. However, at a position substantially adjacent to the resting position of the locking bolt36in the cylinder-closed position (i.e., near the center of the firearm), the rounded grooves94angle slightly frontward to culminate in a concave recess96that engages the rear taper92. Thus, when the firearm is in the cylinder-closed position, the locking bolt36and locking bolt recess34engagement will retain the cylinder20in the cylinder-closed position until a sufficient amount of lateral pressure is applied to the cylinder20to displace the rear taper92across the rearward threshold of the concave recess96.

The end of the locking bolt36includes a knob98. When the firearm is in the cylinder-closed position, a knob98is suspended away from the walls of the locking bolt recess34. In such an arrangement, it is possible to gain access to the knob98if desired (e.g., to actuate the locking bolt36rearward to overcome the rear threshold of the concave recess96or to apply a lateral force to release the cylinder20from the cylinder-closed position). However, without a corresponding actuation of the cylinder release mechanism (as discussed below), it is difficult to release the cylinder20from the upper portion of the frame24.

Referring toFIG. 6, the extractor spring retainer74, the extractor rod spring86, part of the extractor shaft portion72and part of the locking bolt36are removably and rotatably mounted inside the cylindrical portion54. However, referring now toFIG. 15, a flattened surface100of the arcuate extractor shaft portion72engages a complimentary arcuate cylinder bore102positioned rearward on the cylinder20, proximate to the body portion68when the cylinder20and extractor60are assembled. The coupling of arcuate extractor shaft portion72and arcuate cylinder bore102creates a rotationally fixed engagement between the cylinder20and the extractor60.

As shown inFIG. 6, the cylinder20includes chambers104that are configured to receive and align ammunition cartridges106with the barrel22. When the ammunition cartridge106is aligned with the barrel22, the cylinder stop108is pressed into an outer recess110in the cylinder20by the compressive force of a cylinder stop spring112placed on the distal end of a central pivot114of the cylinder stop108. However, when the trigger50is actuated rearward (i.e., to discharge the chambered ammunition cartridge106), a reset plunger116that is attached to the trigger50actuates the cylinder stop108downward causing a cylinder stop108to disengage the outer recess110thereby allowing the cylinder20to rotate.

Referring now toFIG. 15, the extractor60is shown with the cylinder20such that the extractor60and cylinder20are slightly displaced from the assembled configuration. The body portion68of the extractor60has two layers: a frontward layer118and a rearward layer120.

Referring now toFIGS. 15-19, the frontward layer118(i.e., the layer closest to the extractor shaft portion72) has a number of prongs122fitted to an extractor recess124in the rearward face of the cylinder20and includes notches126for receiving a section of the shaft128of ammunition cartridges106. In the assembled position, the frontward face of the frontward layer118lies flush against the rearward face of the extractor recess124and the rearward face of the frontward layer118lies flush against the rearward face of the cylinder20.

The rearward layer120has a similar geometry to the frontward layer118but includes larger notches130for receiving the rearmost ridge132of ammunition cartridges106, which is larger than the cylindrical shaft thereof. In the assembled position, the rearward face of the rearward layer120lies flush with the inserted ammunition cartridges106, both of which lie flush with the breach surface in the cylinder-closed position.

Referring now toFIGS. 16-19, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder20, the extractor60and the locking bolt36assembly for facilitating ejection of the ammunition cartridges106is provided. As shown inFIGS. 16-17, the extractor60and the cylinder20are assembled with ammunition cartridges106loaded in the chambers104. To remove the ammunition cartridges106while the firearm is in the cylinder-open position, the knob98is actuated rearward. As shown inFIGS. 18-19, the rearward actuation of the knob98causes a rearward actuation of the extractor60and, in particular, the frontward layer118. As the frontward layer118moves rearward, the frontward layer118presses against the rearmost ridge132of the ammunition cartridges106and drives the ammunition cartridge106rearward in the chambers104, which dislodges the ammunition cartridges106slightly. The dislodgment is sufficient to facilitate the removal of an entire ammunition cartridge106from a chamber104, for example, by rotating the assembly so that the knob98points upward and the body portion68is positioned downward.

Referring now toFIGS. 20 and 21, a drive mechanism of the firearm is shown at134. The drive mechanism134functions to rotate the cylinder20about the cylindrical portion54of the yoke44upon an actuation of the trigger50in order to place the next ammunition cartridge106into alignment with the barrel22. In addition to arming and releasing the firing mechanism as described in provisional U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,715, which is incorporated herein by reference, the actuation of the trigger50simultaneously causes an upward movement of a hand136, which is pivotally mounted to the rear of the trigger50. The hand136, in turn, rotates the ratchet hub driver64by engaging and actuating annular-lobed ridges138provided at intervals around the circumference of the rear of the ratchet hub driver64, with uniform radius cylindrical surfaces140positioned between each annular-lobed ridge138. Each annular-lobed ridge138is a substantially semicircular cylindrical body. However, the annular-lobed ridges138can be made up of cylindrical bodies having in excess of 180 degrees of circumferential surface. In other words, the axial center of each annular-lobed ridge138can be positioned proximate to and even outside of the circumference of the uniform radius cylindrical surface140between each annular-lobed ridge138. There are as many annular-lobed ridges138as there are chambers104in the cylinder, whereby each actuation of the trigger50corresponds to the amount of rotation required to align the next chamber104with the barrel22.

The ratchet hub driver64is mounted to a front cylindrical portion142of a hub drive center pin144as shown inFIG. 6. Referring now toFIGS. 22-24, the hub drive assembly is shown exploded at146.

To the rear of the front cylindrical portion142, the hub drive center pin144also includes an intermediate cylindrical portion148, an enlarged cylindrical portion150, a narrow cylindrical portion152, and an enlarged nub154, respectively.

The hub drive center pin144is a substantially hollow annular member that is rotatably mounted to the frame. For instance, a pin recess156is provided axially through substantially the entirety of the hub drive center pin144with the mouth of the pin recess156being located on the rear face of the enlarged nub154. Inside the pin recess156, a ratchet drive spring158is housed, which, when compressed, exerts a resistive force on the hub drive center pin144that translates to the ratchet hub driver64causing the ratchet hub driver64to protrude from the annular opening62across the breach face56and, if the cylinder20is in the cylinder-closed position, into engagement with the extractor60.

A center pin plate160abuts the rear annular face of the hub drive center pin144. The center pin plate160is a substantially flat disk mounted in the frame at the rear of the annular opening62and provides an opposing surface against which the ratchet drive spring158is compressed. In particular, a central indentation162of the center pin plate160receives the rearward end of the ratchet drive spring158.

Also, as discussed above and as shown in greater detail inFIGS. 22-24, the front face of the ratchet hub drive64includes the configuration of star-shaped ridges66for engaging the corresponding grooves70of the body portion68of the extractor60and the rear face of the ratchet hub drive64includes annular lobed ridges138and uniform radius cylindrical sections140.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a cylinder retaining mechanism164, such as a yoke lockup mechanism, is provided to retain the cylinder20within the rectangular aperture32, especially subsequent to firing. Referring now toFIG. 25, the cylinder retaining mechanism164includes the extractor60and the ratchet hub driver64in locking engagement. In the cylinder-closed position, the ratchet hub driver64is pressed forward by the resistive force of the compressed ratchet drive spring158. Accordingly, the extractor60and the ratchet hub driver64are biased into a locking engagement with one another. The locking engagement is enhanced by the complimentary star-shaped configuration of grooves70and ridges66provided on the extractor60and ratchet hub driver64, respectively, ensuring proper alignment and improving tolerance characteristics.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder retaining mechanism164includes the rear taper92and concave recess96in locking engagement. In the cylinder-closed position, the rear taper92is pressed forward into engagement with the concave recess96under the resistive force of the compressed extractor rod spring86. The engagement acts to prevent the cylinder20from rotating out of the rectangular aperture32.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder retaining mechanism164is provided to facilitate and hasten retention of the cylinder20in the rectangular aperture32. As an initial matter, the cylinder retaining mechanism164, which includes the extractor60and the locking bolt36assembly (seeFIGS. 7-11), the ratchet hub driver53and the hub drive center pin144assembly (seeFIGS. 22-23), and the yoke44and the cylinder20assembly, is designed to ensure the close fit of the cylinder20within the various elements contained in the upper frame portion24, particularly regarding the barrel-cylinder gap. In addition, the cylinder retaining mechanism164promotes the closing of the cylinder20.

To exemplify the cylinder-closing process, if the cylinder20is in the cylinder-open position (e.g., to replenish the ammunition cartridges106in the chambers104) and it is desired to have the cylinder20in the cylinder-closed position, the cylinder20need only be pressed along the pivot path of the yoke44and into the rectangular aperture32. As the cylinder20approaches the cylinder-closed position, the rear taper92of the locking bolt36slides along the rounded grooves94of the narrow section of the locking bolt recess34and is forced rearward into a secured position, which causes the extractor60to press against the breach face56and the extractor rod spring86to compress. As the cylinder20draws still closer to the cylinder-closed position, the extractor60and ratchet hub driver64make contact and the ratchet hub driver64is forced away from the extractor60by said contact, which causes the ratchet drive spring158to compress. Eventually, the rear taper92crosses the threshold of the concave groove96at substantially the same time that a groove70of the star-shaped configuration of the extractor60comes into contact with a vertex of the ridges66of the star-shaped configuration of the ratchet hub driver64. In response, the extractor60and ratchet hub driver64snap into engagement with one another as the stored energy of the compressed extractor rod spring86and ratchet drive spring158is partially released. At which point, the cylinder20is in the cylinder-closed position.

It should be appreciated that the cylinder retaining mechanism164of the present invention includes four coupled engagements: the rear taper92and concave recess96engagement; the extractor60and ratchet hub drive64engagement; the ridge66and groove70engagement; and the annular ring71and the annular opening62engagement. Each engagement acts to retain the cylinder20in the rectangular aperture and each of which readily aligns and snaps into the respective cylinder-closed positions.

It should also be appreciated that in any of the above-discussed cylinder retaining mechanism, the amount of force applied required to move the cylinder to the cylinder-closed position is substantially related to the characteristics of the springs86,158and the geometry and placement of the rounded grooves96and rear taper92, the extractor60and the ratchet hub driver64, the star-shaped grooves70and ridges66as well as the annular ring71and annular opening62.

For example, referring now toFIG. 26, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the firearm10defines the locking bolt recess34that is provided with the locking bolt36that has a removable, honey spoon-shaped knob98a. The honey spoon-shaped knob98apromotes traction and manipulation by the user while reducing the potential for debris to be trapped behind the locking bolt36.