Automatic pistol ejector mounted in frame and interlocking with hammer pivot pin

Abstract: An ejector mounting arrangement in a pistol frame cavity readily disassembled in which a pivot pin unit includes spring loaded detents engageable in holes in the cavity walls. The holes communicate with the exterior of the pistol so the detents can be pushed into the cavity to allow the ejector and pin unit to drop out. The ejector may also hold the hammer pin in place.

Description: The invention relates to an automatic pistol of the kind having a grip frame with left and right spaced apart frame walls with aligned pin passageway holes therein, a frame cavity between said walls, a cartridge ejector having a cartridge engagement portion. Such an automatic pistol is known from US-A-4,627,184. The known pistol has a pistol cartridge ejector pivotal about a pivot pin. Furthermore, it is known from US-A-4,575,963 that a hammer pivot pin may have a holding groove. An object of the invention is to provide an automatic pistol of the kind referred to, which pistol is easier to disassemble. According to the invention, an automatic pistol of the kind referred to has a transverse cylindrical opening in the cartridge ejector; a pin unit for releasably mounting the cartridge ejector in the cavity and said aligned passageway holes in said walls in turn comprising: a body in said cylindrical opening which body has two ends and defines a housing; pin projection means projecting from each end of said body into said aligned holes; spring means in the housing urging the pin projection means into said holes. Thus, the ejector is mounted in a frame handle cavity for rotation around a pin unit having spring loaded projections which project from such cavity into spaced apart passageways. Each passageway communicates with the exterior of the frame to permit insertion of a tool to push a projection back into the recess for disassembly. It is a further feature of the invention that the ejector also includes a portion which engages the hammer pin. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a right side elevational view of the pistol of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ejector and its spring and pivot unit; Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Fig. 2. In Figs. 1 and 5, pistol 10 includes a molded plastic frame 11 including left frame side lla, right frame side 11b and a frame cavity 12 between walls 11a, 11b. Frame cavity 12 includes magazine recess portion 12a and adjacent rear cavity portion 12b. Frame 11 has horizontal grooves 13a,b,c on the exterior of each side wall lla, 11b and no separate grip panels. Pistol 10 has slide 14, trigger guard 15, trigger 16 and hammer 17. Also shown are magazine 18, a round transverse cylindrical passageway 19 consisting of two (2) aligned spaced-apart passageway sections 19a, 19b, each of sections 19a, 19b both communicating with the exterior of frame 11 and frame cavity 12. Above passageway 19a is hammer pivot pin 21 in transverse hole 22 (Figs. 2 and 6). Pin 21 has head 21a. Turning to Figs. 2-6, ejector 23 includes body 23a, cartridge engager portion 23b, hammer pin; engaging arm 23c, C-shaped pivot unit receiver portion 24 with bearing portions 24a, 24b and spring seat surface 24c. Torsion spring 26 includes coil portions 26a, 26b, cross piece 26c and legs 26d, 26e. Legs 26d and 26e are limited in backward movement by frame 11 (Fig. 2). When ejector 23 is pushed forward, spring seat surface 24c engages and moves spring cross piece 26c forward further tensioning coil portions 26a, 26b and upon release of ejector 23, the spring 26 urges ejector 23 rearwardly back to its rest position as shown in Fig. 2. Ejector 23, in addition to functioning as a cartridge ejector, engages hammer pivot pin 21 to prevent its transverse movement in pin hole 22. Pin 21 has a slot 21g in it for receiving hammer pin-engaging ejector arm 23c (Fig. 6). Turning back to Fig. 5, pivot pin unit 28 include cylindrical body 28a, plunger portions 28b, 28c mounted within body 28a, projectable plungers 28d, 28e reciprocal in plunger body 28a and a coil spring 28s for biasing plungers 28d, 28e outwardly. Outward movement of plungers 28d, 28e is limited by step surfaces (not shown) on plungers 28d, 28e and on sleeve portions 28b, 28c. Unit 28 is mounted in frame cavity 12 having cavity walls 30a, 30b. In disassembly of pistol 10, magazine 18 is removed and a tool is inserted from the pistol exterior into passageway 19a or 19b to push and depress plunger 28d or 28e until it passes wall 30a or 30b permitting ejector 23 and unit 28 to drop out of pistol 10. Finally, in Figs. 1 and 6, it is seen that hammer pin head 21a fits in recess 36 in the exterior of right frame side 11b which recess 36 has the same configuration as head 21a to prevent turning of hammer pin 21 which assists in preventing transverse movement of pin 21.

Claims: An automatic pistol (10) having a grip frame (11) with left and right spaced apart frame walls (11a, 11b) with aligned pin passageway holes (19a, 19b) therein, a frame cavity (12) between said walls (11a, 11b), a cartridge ejector (23) having a cartridge engagement portion (23b), characterized by: a transverse cylindrical opening (24) in the cartridge ejector (23); a pin unit (28) for releasably mounting the cartridge ejector (23) in the cavity (12) and said aligned passageway holes (19a, 19b) in said walls (11a, 11b) in turn comprising: a body (28a) in said cylindrical opening (24) which body (28a) has two ends and defines a housing; pin projection means (28d, 28e) projecting from each end of said body (28a) into said aligned holes (19a, 19b); spring means (28g) in the housing urging the pin projection means (28d, 28e) into said holes (19a, 19b). An automatic pistol according to claim 1 and including further a hammer pin (21), the cartridge ejector (23) including hammer pin engagement means (23c) which engage the hammer pin (21) to prevent its transverse movement.

Inventors: MCGARRY JAMES, RUGER WILLIAM B, MCGARRY, JAMES, RUGER, WILLIAM B.
Applicants: STURM RUGER & CO, STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F41A11
IPC codes: F41A15