Method and apparatus for decocking M1911 style pistol

A system and method for providing true decocking mechanism into a 1911-style firearm is provided. A decocking lever, when pushed in one forward motion, automatically returns a cocked hammer to its resting position. The decocking lever initially pushes the firing pin forward, out of reach of the hammer, and then pushes against the sear to release the hammer in its typical fashion.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a safety feature for a semi-automatic pistol and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for safely decocking a 1911-style pistol (also referred to as “M1911”, “1911A1”, or just “1911”).

2. Description of the Related Art

The “1911 style” pistol is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed recoil operated pistol chambered for the 0.45 ACP cartridge. Later adaptations were developed using alternate ammunition, including 0.22, 0.38 Super, 9×19 mm Parabellum, 0.40 S&W, 10 mm Auto, 0.400 Corbon, 0.460 Rowland, 0.22 LR, 0.50 GI, 0.455 Webley, 9×23 mm Winchester, and others, with the most popular alternative versions being 9×19 mm Parabellum, 0.38 Super and 10 mm Auto. Originally designed by John Browning in the late 1890s as a replacement for the revolvers then used, the “1911 style” firearm has become a widely used style of sidearm, both within the military and law enforcement, as well as in civilian use.

As shown according to the PRIOR ART in conjunction withFIG. 1, the pistol's basic principal of operation utilizes the expanding combustion gasses that force the bullet (not shown) down the barrel1to provide a reverse momentum to the slide47and barrel1(which are locked together during this portion of the firing cycle). After the bullet has left the barrel1, the slide47and barrel1continue rearward a short distance. At this point, a barrel link3pivots about a barrel link pin4to rotate the rear of the barrel47downward, out of locking recesses formed within the slide. This stops the barrel47from making contact between the lower barrel lugs and a vertical impact surface of the frame39. As the slide47continues rearward, a claw extractor8urges a spent casing from the firing chamber. A ejector6strikes the rear of the spent casing, pivoting it out and away from the pistol. The slide47stops and is then propelled forward by a recoil spring41to strip a fresh cartridge (not shown) from the magazine21and feed it into the firing chamber. At the forward end of its travel, the slide47locks into the barrel1and is ready to fire again.

Various improvements have occurred since the basic operational mechanism was developed. A grip safety14is an automatic safety feature and allows operation only when the grip13is grasped. A thumb safety50is provided as an additional manual safety feature operated by the user. A disconnector5impinges the sear44to prevent firing out of battery. A slide stop48is further provided on most standard 1911's.

The same basic design has been offered commercially and in widespread use. However, the design of a single action semiautomatic pistols such as 1911-style firearms allow the hammer17can be cocked by a user's thumb or by sliding back the slide47either manually or due to a shot. In both cases, the hammer17always stands in the same cocked position. While this allows only some pressure of the forefinger on the trigger to fire the weapon, in the event the user dies not wish to fire the weapon the hammer remains in the cocked position and must somehow be safely decocked. While guns of this kind may be locked with the hammer in the cocked position, the only way to decock the gun after its unlocking is to thumb the hammer and lead it down, little by little, after pull the trigger.

The risk of accidental shots due to the trigger sensitivity when the gun is unlocked requires its carrying inside a holster always locked or with the hammer down and unlocked. In both cases, a sudden draw out of the pistol requires a conscious act to either unlock or to cock it with the thumb.

Some methods and devices are known that incorporate various mechanisms for providing prevention from unintended operation of the firearm. For example:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,127,481, issued in the name of Rozum et al., discloses a 1911-style semiautomatic pistol thumb safety or decocking lever adapted to be coupled to a model 1911 receiver. The thumb safety has a selector pivotally coupled about an axis of rotation to a side of the model 1911 receiver the selector having a flat surface portion offset from the axis of rotation and contacting the side. The selector has a raised surface portion offset from the axis of rotation and facing the side. The safety is adapted to be selectable from a first position to a second position. The flat surface portion covers a swept area when the safety is rotated from the first position to the second position. The swept area is covered by the raised surface portion in either the first position or the second position.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,702, issued in the name of Szabo et al, discloses a double action semi-automatic 1911-style handgun that includes a double action trigger assembly. The hammer of the handgun is cocked and released by a drawbar mounted internally to the frame. The handgun also includes a grip mounted safety device to prevent accidental discharging of the handgun and a device to de-cock the handgun without discharging a chambered round.

Several companies have developed a firing pin block safety. Colt's 80 series uses a trigger operated one and several other manufacturers, including Kimber and Smith & Wesson, use a Swartz firing-pin safety, which is operated by the grip safety.

Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which disables and decocks a 1911-style semi-automatic handgun in addition to the use of the conventional grip safety and thumb safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method of decocking a 1911-style firearm.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device within a 1911-style firearm for enabling a method of decocking.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a 1911-style firearm incorporating a decocking lever that automatically decocks a cocked hammer.

Briefly described according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a true decocking apparatus is adapted into a 1911-style firearm. A decocking lever, when pushed in one forward motion, automatically returns a cocked hammer to its resting position. The decocking lever initially pushes the firing pin forward, out of reach of the hammer, and then pushes against the sear to release the hammer in its typical fashion.

Further object, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1. Detailed Description of the Figures

Referring now toFIG. 2throughFIG. 6, wherein like reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views, a decocking lever100is located on the left side of the receiver or frame39. As configured for a right-handed user, the user's right thumb (not shown) is used to push the decocking lever100from the 12 o'clock position to its full travel at 10 o'clock position. In this position the decocking lever100is unable to move forward when the hammer17is decocked or in half cock position. As the decocking lever100is pushed forward, the lever's eccentric linkage connection102on the inside of the frame39pushes the linkage104rearward.

As the linkage104moves rearward, it pushes against the bottom of the pivot lever110which consists of two nubs112,114. The first pivot lever nub112located at the bottom of the pivot lever110is to activate the sear44and the second pivot lever nub114is located on the top of the pivot lever110is to create an interference or stop to the hammer17. When the bottom of the pivot lever110is pushed rearward, the second nub114moves forward, out of the channel106which is machined around the pin hole of the hammer17. The channel106gives clearance to the hammer stop nub114under normal firing operation. When hammer stop nub114is moved/pushed outside of channel106, it is aligned with the stop base116of the hammer17.

As the top hammer stop nubb114is aligned with the stop base116of the hammer17, the bottom sear nubb112activates the sear44which allows the fully cocked hammer17to be released and the hammer17thereafter being stopped when stop base116on hammer17makes contact with the stop nubb114on the pivot lever110. At this time, the hammer has decocked to a position approximately 70% from its full throw.

As the decocking lever100is released, the stop nubb114on pivot lever110is forced to return into the channel106of the hammer17because of the contact angles of the hammer stop base116and hammer stop nub114on pivot lever110. As the hammer stop nubb114is returning into the channel106of the hammer17, the hammer17continues to decock and the sear nub112on the pivot lever110is allowing the sear44to return to its non-activating position and thus stopping the hammer17to its “half cocked” position (which is actually only cocked approximately 5% from its full throw). At the half cocked position, (approximately 5%), the trigger17may be pulled to decock the hammer to its full decocked position, if desired.

In light of the above teachings, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the specific details of the construction illustrated and the steps described herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

In operation, several variations should be pointed out that may or may not be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art in light of the present invention. First, a majority (i.e. estimate over 95%) of all pistols with external hammers, including 1911-style pistol, revolvers and other semi automatics, have a half cocked position (5% cocked) as a safety feature. Such a feature provides security in the event that the hammer gets unintentionally caught/pulled and then released accidentally. This can happen from a foreign object or when intentionally cocking the hammer with one's thumb and accidentally allowing it to slip before engaging the hammer to the fully cocked position.

Second, the present innovations may be incorporated into new 1911-style weapons, or may be retrofit to existing handguns. When retrofitting, machining on the inside of the frame must be performed to accommodate the decocking lever, linkage and pivot lever. In such retrofitting, the pivot lever110may be supported from the same disconnector pin51that supports the existing sear44.

Finally, according to the present invention the decocking lever, linkage and pivot lever will automatically return to the rest position by means of the sear leaf spring being divided into two. The addition of a return spring may be added to the decocking lever under the left side hand grip in order to increase the return urging force.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that a scope of the invention be defined broadly by the Drawings and Specification appended hereto and to their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is in no way to be limited only by any adverse inference under the rulings ofWarner-Jenkinson Company, v.Hilton Davis Chemical,520 US 17 (1997) orFesto Corp. v.Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Co.,535 U.S. 722 (2002), or other similar caselaw or subsequent precedent should not be made if any future claims are added or amended subsequent to this Patent Application.