Mechanism for selectively preventing cycling of a semiautomatic handgun

Provided is a mechanism for selectively preventing cycling of a semiautomatic handgun having a frame and a longitudinally reciprocating slide. The device includes a pivotal blocking lever on one of the slice or frame. The blocking lever is selectively movable between a first position that allows the slide to cycle when the handgun is fired and a second position in which a blocking member mechanically bridges between the frame and slide to block cycling movement of the slide when the handgun is fired.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This Invention relates to a mechanism that may be adapted to a semiautomatic handgun that allows the user to selectively prevent cycling of the slide when fired, causing it to operate as a single-shot firearm.

BACKGROUND

The function and operation of semiautomatic handguns are well known to those skilled in the art. When the trigger is pulled, a striker or firing pin is caused to impact the primer of an ammunition cartridge, firing a bullet from the barrel. Part of the propellant pressure that launches the projectile also causes the slide to cycle rearwardly, extracting and ejecting the spent casing. As the slide returns forward by spring force, a fresh cartridge is fed from a magazine and pushed into the chamber of the barrel automatically. Pulling the trigger again causes the cycle to repeat.

A significant amount of the propellant blast exits the muzzle of the barrel behind the projectile and the rapid release of the expanding gases creates a loud report. This sound can be reduced considerably by effective noise suppressor devices, or silencers, which has become increasingly popular. Typically, a suppressor is a device attached to the muzzle of the barrel providing a housing with its interior space divided into multiple chambers by baffles. Such a noise suppressor delays and prolongs the release of the expanding propellant gases which create a shockwave in the air to produces soundwaves.

Other sources of sound, however, also contribute to the report. When a projectile is fired at a speed greater than the speed of sound traveling through air, it creates a small “sonic boom” that is perceived as a loud “crack.” Using “subsonic” ammunition, which propels the projectile at a speed slower than that of sound through air, will eliminate this portion of the report. Some pistol calibers of ammunition, such as .45ACP, are almost always subsonic. Other calibers of pistol ammunition that are typically supersonic may be available in subsonic loads.

A third source of sound is produced by various parts of the slide mechanism contacting other parts as it cycles to the rear and returns forward into battery. The sound of this mechanical action may be considered by some to be relatively insignificant when firing an unsuppressed handgun in a center-fire caliber. Using an effective suppressor with subsonic center-fire or rimfire (such as .22LR) caliber ammunition can almost completely eliminate the sound of the muzzle blast, reducing it to the sound level of an air gun. In this example, the sound produced by the cycling mechanism becomes significant and may be greater than that of the propellant blast.

If one prevents the slide of a semiautomatic handgun from cycling when fired, effectively turning it into a single-shot firearm, the sound produced by the cycling mechanism can be completely eliminated. It can be dangerous, however, to attempt blocking movement of the slide with one's hand, for example. In the past, a device has been used that hinged to a forward part of the dust cover or frame, under the barrel, and could be lifted to engage a notch formed in the slide to prevent cycling. This device, however, would cover any accessory rail, making the rail unusable. It also was a bulky, external mechanism that was prone to inadvertent actuation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a mechanism for selectively preventing cycling of a semiautomatic handgun, thereby effectively making it a single-shot firearm and eliminating the sound produced by cycling of the slide. It may include a blocking lever or member that is movable to a blocked position in which it mechanically interlocks the frame and slide to prevent cycling. The blocking lever may be independent of any external manual safety lever on the handgun.

It may, for example, be located opposite to a thumb safety lever on the frame, or it may be located on the slide, in either case moving a blocking member into blocking interference between the frame and slide.

Other aspects, features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person of skill in the art from the detailed description of various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, all of which comprise part of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawing figures, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments. “Forward” will indicate the direction of the muzzle and the direction in which projectiles are fired, while “rearward” will indicate the opposite direction. “Lateral” or “transverse” indicates a side-to-side direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the barrel. Although firearms may be used in any orientation, “left” and “right” will generally indicate the sides according to the user's orientation, “top” or “up” will be the upward direction when the firearm is gripped in the ordinary manner.

Referring first toFIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown a semiautomatic handgun10with a mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention installed thereon for selectively preventing cycling of the slide. The handgun10includes a frame12with a grip portion14and trigger guard16. As is typical of semiautomatic handguns, an ammunition magazine may be inserted into the grip portion14of the frame12. A slide18is mounted on the frame12to reciprocate rearwardly and forwardly thereon relative to the frame12and barrel20. The handgun10illustrated inFIGS. 1-13is a 1911-pattern (M1911A1) handgun that is hammer-fired. Other embodiments of the present invention may be adapted to other handgun models, including striker-fired handguns.

The illustrated handgun10includes a manual safety lever22in the common position on the left side of the frame12(FIG. 2). On the opposite side, there is a slide blocking lever24(shown inFIG. 1). Referring now also toFIGS. 3-6, in this embodiment, the manual safety lever22and slide blocking lever24may be mounted on a frame12for independent pivotal movement about coaxially aligned axle portions26,28. Unlike an ambidextrous safety lever in which opposite side levers move in unison, the slide blocking lever24of the present invention operates independently of any manual safety device.

As shown inFIG. 1, the slide18may include a safety engagement notch30configured to receive an upper portion31of the manual safety lever22when rotated upwardly to the “safe” position. In this position, in a 1911-pattern handgun, a blocking portion32of the manual safety lever22mechanically interferes with displacement of the sear and hammer (not shown) in a well-known manner. The upper portion31of the manual safety lever22engages the safety notch30to prevent the slide18from being displaced from its in-battery position. Because the handgun10cannot be fired when the manual safety lever22is in the “safe” position, it is not intended to block the slide18from movement resulting from the blow-back recoil force of firing the handgun10. Any forces of the slide18against the manual safety lever22are transferred to the frame12solely through the axle portion26.

In contrast, the slide blocking lever24is not a “safety” switch and the handgun10may be fired while it is in either position. In this embodiment, the slide blocking lever24includes an abutment portion34that slidably fits into an arcuate pocket36formed in the frame12. The depth and position of the pocket36can be such that it extends into a portion of the guide rail38and spans the guide channel40on which the slide18reciprocates. The slide18may include a locking notch42positioned to correspond to the pocket36when the slide18is in its forward, in-battery position. The abutment portion34is sized such that it extends into the pocket36in a first position where the abutment portion34is clear of the locking notch42of the slide18and clear of the channel40and guide rail38of the frame12. The slide blocking lever22can be pivoted about its axle portion28to move the abutment portion34into engagement with the locking notch42and an upper portion of the pocket36that extends through the guide channel40and may extend into the guide rail38of the frame12. As viewed inFIG. 7, the engagement of the abutment portion34of the slide locking lever24may be compared to that of the manual safety lever22, both being shown in the engaged position.

Unlike in the case of an ambidextrous manual safety lever (not shown) in which opposite side levers are mechanically interconnected to move in unison, the axle portions26,28of the manual safety lever22and slide blocking lever24can fit together coaxially, allowing them to move independently of each other. A tubular axle (illustrated at28on the slide blocking lever24) may have an outer diameter sized to be received by aligned openings44at the rear of the frame12and a tubular bore26athat receives the axle26of the safety lever22. The tubular axle28may extend from either of the levers22,24. A rod-like member (shown at26on manual safety lever22) may extend from the opposite lever and be received within an opening26adefining an axial bore of the tubular axle portion28.

As is well-known in the art, a spring detent assembly48may be provided on the frame12to releasably hold the manual safety lever22in either the “safe” or “fire” position. In a 1911-pattern handgun, this spring detent assembly48may also engage a slide lock-back lever50. A similar spring detent assembly52may be provided on the opposite side of the frame12to releasably hold the slide blocking lever24in either a locked (engaged) or unlocked (disengaged) position. The slide blocking lever24may also include a forward flange portion54that is received within an inlet pocket56of the removeable grip58to prevent axial displacement of the slide blocking lever24. Alternatively, detent(s) for the slide blocking lever24may be mounted in the frame12or grip58to engage notch(s) on the flange54or elsewhere on the slide blocking lever24.

FIGS. 8-11show rear views of a semiautomatic handgun10, illustrating independent movement of the manual safety lever22and slide blocking lever24. InFIG. 8, the manual safety lever22is in a “fire” position and the slide blocking lever24is in an unlocked position. InFIG. 9, the manual safety lever22is in a “safe” position and the slide blocking lever24is in a locked position. InFIG. 10, the manual safety lever22is in “safe” position and the slide blocking lever24is in the unlocked position. InFIG. 11, the manual safety lever22is in the “fire” position and the slide blocking lever24is in the locked position.

As shown inFIG. 3, indicia60in the form of a word or symbol may be applied on or near the slide blocking lever24to indicate its function. In the illustrated embodiment, indicia60representing a firearm noise suppressor is applied to the slide18adjacent the position of the slide blocking lever24.

Although the embodiments heretofore illustrated have been shown in the context of the well-known 1911-pattern handgun, the invention may be modified or adapted for use on other styles of semiautomatic handguns.

Referring now toFIGS. 12-21, therein is shown a slide-mounted blocking mechanism76, illustrated on a Glock-pattern handgun62. This embodiment of the mechanism76includes a rack-and-pinion arrangement of a rotating lever member78and vertically movable blocking bar80mounted in/on the slide70. A reinforcing frame insert82may be used to provide a socket84that receives the blocking bar80when in the engaged position.

The slide-mounted mechanism76may be positioned on the slide70at a location similar to that of the selector switch on a Glock 18, used to select either semiautomatic or fully automatic fire. For the present invention, the rotating lever member78includes coarse gear teeth that engage teeth on the blocking bar80. The lever member78is rotatable between first and second positions in which the blocking bar80is either engaged or disengaged from the socket84of the frame insert82. Discrete rotational positions may be provided by a detent member86contacting recesses88formed on the rotating lever member78at preselected positions, such as to provide, for example, about 100° of rotation. The detent member86may be guided in a detent channel90that receives a detent spring92. The detent spring92can be held in place by a spring retainer94that is, in turn, held in place by engagement of the slide cover plate96within an annular grove98. The spring-biased detent member86also retains the rotating lever member78in the body of the slide70. The blocking bar80slides vertically in a channel100formed in the body of the slide70. External indicia60on the slide70may be used to indicate the blocked position at which the slide70will not cycle when fired, further reducing the noise produced when used in combination with a muzzle-mounted suppressor.

The frame insert82may be sized to fit within a void102that is part of the design of a standard fifth generation (Gen5) Glock-pattern frame66, including the Glock 19X. This may vary in other Glock-pattern generations. To retain the frame insert82in place in this void102, the frame insert82may include a boss or projection104sized to be received in a recess106of the trigger mechanism housing108(best illustrated inFIGS. 15 and 16). For installation, the frame insert82may be positioned against the trigger mechanism housing108with the projection104in the recess106and then inserted into the frame66as a combined unit. After placement, the trigger mechanism housing108and, thus, the frame insert82, are secured to the frame66with an assembly pin109in the standard and well-known manner.

In other embodiments, a blocking member could be mounted elsewhere on the slide or frame and movable to slide a member to engage a notch/socket in the other part or against a guide rail on the frame/slide to block movement of the slide while allowing the handgun to be fired.

Referring now toFIGS. 22-26, 27A, and 27B, therein is shown an alternate design for use with other handgun design, such as a 1911-pattern handgun. A slide blocking lever124may be mounted on the frame12to pivot coaxially with, but independently of, the manual safety lever22, as in a previously described embodiment. In this embodiment, the pivoting lever124does not directly engage the slide18. Instead, it moves a blocking member130vertically in a slide channel136formed in the frame12. When retracted into the frame12(shown inFIGS. 23 and 27B), the blocking member130does not interfere with movement of the slide18on the guide channel40or rails38. When lifted to an engaged position (shown inFIGS. 24, 25, and 27A), it seats in an unexposed recess (not shown) of the slide18to block sliding movement.

The lever124can engage the blocking member130by way of a dog or pin134that slides in a horizontally elongated slot132in the blocking member130, for example. The elongation of the slot132allows pivotal movement of the lever124to translate into the linear (vertical) movement of the blocking member130. The blocking member130and its channel136are not exposed and no exposed notch (shown at42in the first embodiment) on the slide18is needed. A detent mechanism52, as previously described, may be used for the manual blocking lever124of this embodiment.

While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing is intended only to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be included and considered to fall within the scope of the invention, defined by the following claim or claims.