Abstract:
A firearm has ambidextrously actuatable safety levers with the connection between the levers being effected within the frame and offset from the frame centerline to mitigate lost motion between the levers and prevent yielding of the shaft connecting them. The levers have raised surface portions which are hidden behind a plate. The raised surface portions contact the frame and, because they are hidden behind the plate, leave no visible marks on the finish due to rotation of the levers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to firearms, such as semi-automatic pistols, having safety mechanisms conveniently actuatable when the firearm is held in either hand. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Ambidextrously actuatable safety levers are desirable, especially on single action, self-loading or semi-automatic pistols such as the Model 1911 which are carried “cocked and locked”, that is, cocked and ready to fire but with the sear and slide locked by a safety mechanism. There are, however, many design challenges to the ambidextrous safety. For example, in some prior art designs, the left safety lever directly actuates the safety mechanism between the safe and fire positions when it is rotated, while the right safety lever must rotate the left safety lever in order to actuate the safety between the safe and fire positions, only the left safety lever being directly engaged with the safety mechanism. Thus, the connection between the right and left safety levers must transmit significant torque without significant lost motion or “play”. In prior art designs, engagement between the right and left levers is often afforded by shafts extending from each lever and joined internal to the firearm via a tongue and groove at the ends of each shaft. However, the limited amount of space within the firearm results in a shaft that is too small in diameter to take the required torque without exceeding the yield stress of the material forming the shaft. Thus with each operation of the safety some yielding occurs, which, in turn, leads to increased lost motion and eventually, unreliable safety operation. There is clearly a need for an improvement in ambidextrous safeties for firearms. 
         [0003]    A common problem shared by safety levers in general, is that they tend to scratch the frame of the firearm over repeated actuations and mar the finish. Such scratches are unsightly and tend to reduce the value of used firearms. It would be advantageous if actuation of a safety lever left no visible marks on the firearm. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The invention concerns a firearm. In one example embodiment the firearm comprises a frame having a centerline and a safety mechanism having a first lever mounted on a first side of the frame and a second lever mounted on a second side of the frame opposite to the first side thereof. Each of the levers is rotatable between a safe position, preventing firearm discharge, and a fire position, permitting firearm discharge. A shaft extends between the first and second levers transversely to the centerline through an opening in the frame. A first coupling connects the shaft to the first lever. The first coupling is located within the opening in the frame and is offset from the frame centerline. 
         [0005]    In one example embodiment, the first coupling comprises a collar attached to the first lever. The collar projects from the first lever transversely to the frame centerline. The collar is received within the opening and has a bore that receives the shaft. In a particular example embodiment, the first coupling may further comprise a threaded fastener positioned within the bore of the collar for securing the shaft to the lever. By way of example, the threaded fastener may comprise an externally threaded shank located on an end of the shaft and an internally threaded nut engaged with the shank within the bore of the collar. 
         [0006]    In another example embodiment, the first coupling further comprises at least one key positioned within the bore of the collar. The shaft has at least one keyway receiving the at least one key and prevents relative rotation between the first lever and the shaft. By way of example, the at least one key may be integrally formed with the collar. 
         [0007]    In another example embodiment, the first coupling further comprises at least one key projecting outwardly from the shaft. The collar has at least one keyway positioned within its bore which receives the at least one key and prevents relative rotation between the first lever and the shaft. 
         [0008]    In another example embodiment, the first coupling further comprises a pair of keys positioned within the bore of the collar. The shaft has a pair of keyways which receive the pair of keys within the bore of the collar. 
         [0009]    In a particular example embodiment, the shaft is integrally formed with the second lever. 
         [0010]    By way of further example, the firearm comprises a second coupling connecting the shaft to the second lever. In this example the second coupling is located within the opening in the frame and offset from the frame centerline oppositely disposed to the first coupling. 
         [0011]    The invention further encompasses a pistol. In one example embodiment, the pistol comprises a frame having a centerline. A slide is mounted on the frame and is movable between a battery position and an open position. The slide has a notch positioned on one side thereof. The pistol includes a safety mechanism having a first lever mounted on a first side of the frame and a second lever mounted on a second side of the frame opposite to the first side thereof. Each of the levers is rotatable between a safe position, wherein at least one of the levers engages the notch when the slide is in the battery position, and a fire position, wherein the at least one lever is not in engagement with the notch when the slide is in the battery position. A shaft extends between the first and second levers transversely to the centerline through an opening in the frame. A first coupling connects the shaft to the first lever. The first coupling is located within the opening in the frame and offset from the frame centerline. 
         [0012]    In an example embodiment, the first coupling comprises a collar attached to the first lever which projects therefrom transversely to the frame centerline. The collar is received within the opening and has a bore receiving the shaft. By way of example the first coupling may further comprise a threaded fastener positioned within the bore of the collar for securing the shaft to the lever. In a particular example embodiment, the threaded fastener comprises an externally threaded shank located on an end of the shaft and an internally threaded nut engaged with the shank within the bore of the collar. 
         [0013]    In another example embodiment, the first coupling may further comprise at least one key positioned within the bore of the collar. The shaft has at least one keyway which receives the at least one key and prevents relative rotation between the first lever and the shaft. 
         [0014]    Again by way of example, the first coupling may further comprise at least one key projecting outwardly from the shaft. The collar has at least one keyway positioned within the bore which receives the at least one key and prevents relative rotation between the first lever and the shaft. 
         [0015]    In another example embodiment, the first coupling may further comprise a pair of keys positioned within the bore of the collar. The shaft has a pair of keyways which receive the pair of keys within the bore of the collar. In this example the keys may be integrally formed with the collar. Also by way of example, the shaft may be integrally formed with the second lever. 
         [0016]    The invention also encompasses a lever for actuating a safety mechanism of a firearm. In one example embodiment the lever comprises a plate having a first surface positionable in facing relation with the firearm and a second surface disposed oppositely thereto. A projection is mounted on and extends outwardly from the second surface. A portion of the first surface comprises a raised surface portion. The raised surface portion contacts the firearm when the lever is mounted thereon and prevents a remaining surface of the first surface from contacting the firearm. 
         [0017]    In a particular example embodiment, the lever comprises a trunnion mounted on the plate. The trunnion projects transversely to the plate and the lever is pivotably movable on the trunnion when mounted on the firearm. 
         [0018]    By way of further example, the lever comprises an actuating finger mounted on the plate. The actuating finger projects transversely to the plate and is engageable with a safety mechanism of the firearm when the lever is mounted thereon. 
         [0019]    The invention also encompasses a firearm having a safety mechanism and a lever for actuating the safety mechanism. In an example embodiment the firearm comprises a plate movably mounted on the firearm. The plate has a first surface positioned in facing relation with the firearm and a second surface disposed oppositely thereto. A projection is mounted on and extends outwardly from the second surface. A portion of the first surface comprises a raised surface portion. The raised surface portion contacts the firearm and prevents a remaining surface of the first surface from contacting the firearm. 
         [0020]    In another example embodiment of a firearm according to the invention, the lever further comprises a trunnion mounted on the plate. The trunnion projects transversely to the plate and is received within an opening in the firearm. The lever is pivotably movable on the trunnion relatively to the firearm for actuating the safety mechanism. By way of example the lever further comprises an actuating finger mounted on the first surface and projecting transversely thereto. The actuating finger is received within an opening in the firearm and is engageable with the safety mechanism. In a particular example embodiment, the firearm comprises a pistol. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a firearm, in this example, a semi-automatic pistol, according to the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a partial isometric view of a portion of the firearm shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of an example safety mechanism; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken at line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view of an example safety mechanism; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view of an example safety mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  depicts a firearm  10 , in this example a self-loading pistol, having a frame  12 , the frame having a centerline  14 . A slide  16  is mounted on frame  12 . Slide  16  is movable on frame  12  between a battery position (shown) and an open position and has at least one notch  18  positioned on one side of the slide  16 . Firearm  10  also has a safety mechanism  20 , which, as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes first and second levers  22  and  24  mounted on respective opposite sides of the frame  12 . Levers  22  and  24  are rotatable about a pivot axis  26  between a safe position and a fire position. In the safe position (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), the first lever  22  engages the notch  18  in slide  16 . In the fire position (not shown) the levers are rotated about axis  26  so that lever  22  does not engage notch  18  in the slide  16 . Note also, as shown in  FIG. 3 , that the first lever  22 , which a right handed shooter would actuate with his or her right thumb, has a projection  28  which engages an internal safety mechanism (not shown) of the firearm. The internal safety mechanism could be, for example, one which blocks the hammer, or the sear, or disengages the trigger from the sear. Regardless of the type of internal safety mechanism, it is clear from consideration of  FIG. 3  that lever  22  directly actuates the internal safety mechanism of the firearm and that lever  24  actuates the internal safety mechanism by rotating lever  22 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , torque from lever  24  is transmitted to lever  22  through a shaft  30  which defines the pivot axis  26  of the levers. Shaft  30  extends between the levers  22  and  24  transversely to the centerline  14  through openings  32  in the frame (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). In the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , shaft  30  is integrally formed with the second lever  24  and is connected with the first lever  22  by a coupling  34 . In the depicted example embodiment, coupling  34  comprises a collar  36  attached to lever  22 . The collar  36  projects transversely to the centerline  14  and is received within the opening  32  in the frame  12 . Collar  36  has a bore  38  that receives the shaft  30 . The end  40  of shaft  30  comprises an externally threaded shank  42  that engages an internally threaded nut  44 . Together the nut and shank form a threaded fastener positioned within the bore  38  of the collar  36  for securing the shaft  30  to lever  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , positive mechanical engagement between the collar  36  and the shaft  30  is afforded by keys  46  and keyways  48 . In this example embodiment, keys  46  are integrally formed with the collar  36  and positioned within the bore  38 . Keyways  48  (only one of which is shown) are positioned diametrically opposite to one another on the shaft  30 . Advantageously, the keys  46  and keyways  48  are tapered. Tapered keys and keyways reduce the tolerance requirements between the collar  36  and the shaft  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the coupling  32 , comprising the collar  36 , threaded shank  42  and nut  44  are located within opening  32  of the frame  12  and offset from the centerline  14 . This arrangement allows torque to be transmitted between the levers  22  and  24  reliably, without significant lost motion or yielding of the shaft  30  or its surfaces contacting the collar  36 . 
         [0029]    In another example embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , the keys  46  project outwardly from the shaft  30  and the keyways  48  are positioned within the bore  38  of the collar  36 . Similar to the previously described embodiment, the shaft  30  is integrally formed with lever  24  and connected to lever  22  via the coupling  34 .  FIG. 6  shows yet another example embodiment, wherein each end of shaft  30  is connected to a respective lever  22  and  24  by a coupling  34 . In this example, both couplings are located within the frame of the firearm and offset from the centerline. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  5  and  6  also illustrate an improved safety lever which does not leave visible marks or scratches on the frame  12  of the firearm  10 . Prior art levers have a tendency to leave arc-shaped scratches on the frame resulting from their pivoting travel when the safety is actuated either on or off. To avoid this problem, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the levers  22  and  24  each comprise a plate  50  having a first surface  52  positioned in facing relation with the firearm  10 , and a second surface  54  (see  FIG. 1 ) disposed oppositely thereto and facing away from the firearm. A projection  56  is mounted on the second surface  54 . The projection extends outwardly and provides purchase for manual actuation of the safety, for example by the thumb of a shooter. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a portion of the first surface  52  comprises a raised surface portion  58 . Raised surface portion  58  contacts the firearm, for example, the frame  12  shown in  FIG. 1 , and prevents the remaining surface  60  of the first surface  52  from contacting the frame. Although the raised surface portions  58  will bear against the frame and remove the surface finish when the levers  22  and  24  are moved relatively to the firearm, by positioning the raised surface portions  58  on the first surfaces  52  of the plates  50  facing the firearm, any marks on the frame cause by contact between it and the raised surface portions  58  will be hidden by the plate  50 . 
         [0031]    In the examples shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , the levers  22  and  24  are pivoting type levers and therefore comprise trunnions  62  on which the levers pivot. The trunnions  62  are mounted on the plate  50  and project transversely thereto. The trunnions are received within openings in the frame  12  of the firearm  10 , the frame supporting the trunnions in their pivoting motion. Note for example, collar  36  comprises the trunnion for lever  22  and shaft  30  fulfills this role for lever  24 . At least one of the levers, in this example  22 , will also have an actuating finger  64 , here in the form of projection  28 , which is mounted on the plate  50  and projects transversely thereto. Actuating finger  64  extends through an opening in the frame  12  of the firearm  10  and engages the safety mechanism therewithin.