Abstract:
A folding pistol is balanced so that it is held making three points of contact with the user&#39;s hand, resulting in more stability when discharged. When held by a user, the invention puts the gun bore axis in close alignment to the center axis of the user&#39;s forearm; reducing barrel jump and improving accuracy. A folding rear activation arm when in the closed position mechanically blocks the hammers preventing unintentional discharge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/934,054, filed Jan. 31, 2014. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention is in the technical field of firearms; more particularly a personal defense handgun that is foldable and easily concealable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventional compact handguns do not collapse and may be hard to carry concealed on a person&#39;s body because of their larger size. In many cases, the only safeties these pistols have are a heavier pull trigger. The very small compact handguns that use center fire ammunition, which is more effective for self defense, can be difficult to control during shooting because of their small hand grip size, heavy pull triggers, and the typical above-center barrel designs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    As used herein, “pistol” is used interchangeably with the term “handgun,” even though the present invention is not a self-loading, semiautomatic handgun is the strictest definition of a “pistol.” 
         [0005]    The invention provides a lightweight, small, collapsible, easily concealed pistol which can hold two cartridges. It can also include folding blast shields in front of the user&#39;s fingers to absorb recoil, improve grip and protect the user&#39;s hand from muzzle blast. The pistol is balanced so that the majority of the weight is concentrated behind the blast shields, resulting in more stability when discharged. It provides a triangulated grip pattern, with one finger above and at least two fingers below the bore of the barrel(s) and against the palm or heel of the user&#39;s hand. Additionally, when the pistol is held by a user, the gun bore axis is in close alignment to the center axis of the user&#39;s forearm; reducing barrel jump and improving accuracy. The invention&#39;s rear activation arm allows the pistol to be fired only when indexed to the full upright position. When the arms are in the folded closed position, the pistol is compact, safe and cannot be discharged. Additionally, the pistol is designed to be operated either with passive aiming or active aiming systems, depending on the user&#39;s preference and circumstances. The pistol of this invention is ambidextrous and can be used equally in either the right or left hand. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawing, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a collapsible pistol according to one embodiment of the invention in the closed position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus in the closed position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the apparatus with front arms deployed; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view with the apparatus&#39;s front arm deployed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the apparatus fully deployed and armed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the apparatus fully deployed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the apparatus with the lower grip deployed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the apparatus with the activation arm in its safe position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the barrel portion; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the barrel portion; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the barrel portion; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a top section view of the barrel portion; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is side section view of the barrel portion; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is an isometric view of the receiver portion; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the receiver portion; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a bottom view of the receiver portion; 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a front view of the receiver portion; 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a top section view of the receiver portion; 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is an isometric exploded view of the pistol; 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a pictorial view of the pistol as held in an in-use position by a user; 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention in a closed position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is a side view thereof in a closed position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is an isometric view thereof in a deployed position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  is a side view thereof in a deployed position; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 25  is an isometric exploded view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring now to the various figures of the drawing and first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , therein is shown at  10  a compact pistol according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the pistol  10  in a folded, closed position that would be used for storage or while being carried on a person. In this position, the pistol  10  is in a safe mode and cannot be fired.  FIGS. 3 and 4  show the pistol  10  in a partially open position, but still in a safe mode, as the rear activation arm  58  is still in the closed position.  FIGS. 5 and 6  show the pistol  10  in a fully deployed and ready to fire mode. 
         [0033]    A barrel portion  50 , which holds two center fire or rim fire cartridges, is attached to the receiver  52  by a lug  12  that interlocks with a socket  14  in the receiver  52  (shown in  FIG. 17 ). In this embodiment, an optional upper blast shield  54  and optional lower blast shield  56  are rotatably attached to the barrel portion  50  on trunnion lugs  16 . The upper and lower blast shields  54 ,  56  can rotate from a closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to an open position (shown in  FIG. 3 ). After opening the pistol  10  to the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the user would slide an index finger above the barrel portion  50 , behind the upper blast shield  54 , and simultaneously slide a middle finger under barrel portion  50  and behind the lower blast shield  56 . In this position, the pistol  10  is still in a safe mode, as the rear activation arm  58  is still in the closed position. To bring the pistol  10  to a ready to fire position, the user would raise the rear activation arm  58 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , so that an index finger is between the upper blast shield  54  and the rear activation arm  58 . In this position, the pistol  10  is ready to fire. 
         [0034]    When the pistol  10  is in its fully deployed position, the left trigger  62  may be pushed downward by the user&#39;s thumb and the left hammer  70  will be released and driven by spring force to discharge an ammunition cartridge (not shown) in the left chamber/bore  20  of the barrel portion  50 . When the right trigger  60  is pushed downward by the user&#39;s thumb, it will release the right hammer  68  to discharge an ammunition cartridge (not shown) in the right chamber/bore  18  of the barrel portion  50 . The upper blast shield  54  and the lower blast shield  56 , in combination with the back of the receiver  52 , which is resting on the large thumb muscle group (known as the thenar eminence), transfers the recoil of the pistol  10  when fired, thus allowing a larger caliber bullet (in the illustrated embodiment, a .380 ACP caliber) to be fired out of a small compact gun. This is illustrated in  FIG. 20 . If the pistol  10  is held without resting the receiver  52  on the large thumb muscle group (known as the thenar eminence), the upper blast shield  54  and lower blast shields  56  would transfer all of the recoil to the user&#39;s fingers when discharged. 
         [0035]    More specifically, the upper blast shield  54  and lower blast shields  56  are released from their closed position (as in  FIG. 1 ) to the open position (as in  FIG. 3 ) by pushing either of the release buttons  64 ,  66 . Alternatively, the pistol  10  could be configured to require the user to push both the right release button  64  and left release button  66  simultaneously. If desired, the upper blast shield  54 , lower blast shield  56 , and/or back of the receiver  52  could have a pad of elastomeric material (not shown) installed or inserted on the areas that touch the user&#39;s fingers and hand to soften the felt recoil from the pistol  10 . 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 3 , the rear activation arm  58  in the closed position and mechanically blocks the right hammer  68  and the left hammer  70  from striking the firing pins  80  and  82 . By blocking the hammers  68 ,  70  in a cocked position, accidental discharge of the pistol  10  is prevented. Because of the aforementioned mechicanical safeties, the right trigger  60  and the left trigger  62  could be actuated with very light pressure, possibly 1-3 pounds, instead of the more typical 5-12 pounds found in many revolvers or traditional pistol. The reduced force that is needed to push the trigger  60  or  62  would allow for more accurate shooting, as the pistol is less likely to move off target. 
         [0037]    The rear activation arm  58  could be spring loaded and have a mechanical release push-button (not shown) that would prevent the activation arm  58  from opening without the operator pushing the mechanical release push button. When the rear activation arm  58  is in the open position (as in  FIG. 5 ), it can be secured in the full open position by a mechanical lock, such as the rear activation arm lock  84 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the lower grip  78  can have an extension spring (not shown) attached to it that would force the lower grip  78  to automatically deploy or drop down when the upper blast shield  54  and the lower blast shield  56  are opened. The lower grip  78  allows the user to pull the pistol tight against the large thumb muscle group (the thenar eminence). When the upper blast shield  54  and the lower blast shield  56  are closed, the lower grip  78  is automatically recessed back into the barrel portion  50 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    Referring now also to  FIG. 19 , to reload the pistol  10  after a discharge, the user would raise or cock the right hammer  68  (if it was discharged), which would lock in the cocked position by right shear pin  72  (or sear) and raise or cock the left hammer  70  (if it was discharged), which would lock in the cocked position by left shear pin  74  (or sear). The user would then lower the activation arm  58 , then release anti-rotate pin  76 , which would allow the receiver  52  to be rotated 90 degrees, which would then allow the receiver  52  to be pulled away and/or separated from the barrel portion  50 . In this condition, the user can remove the spent shell casing (not shown) and reload. To reassemble, the user would then push the receiver  52  back onto the barrel portion  50  and rotate it back until the anti-rotate pin  76  engages and locks the receiver  52  and the barrel portion  50  into the correct alignment. 
         [0040]    If desired, a laser aiming device  22  (see  FIG. 20 ) can be housed in the barrel portion  50  between the right and left bores  18 ,  20 . This space may also house a forwardly-directed light (not shown), if desired. As shown in  FIG. 20 , the pistol is held with a triangulated grip: fingers above and below the barrel/receiver  50 / 52  and firmly against the user&#39;s palm. Moreover, the barrel bores  18 ,  20  are substantially axially aligned with the user&#39;s extended forearm, as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0041]    The barrel portion  50  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including resin/fiber composites. The receiver  52  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including composites. The blast shields  54  and  56  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including composites or a polymer, such as glass filled nylon, so they could more easily be covered in an elastomeric material or made by a multishot injection molding process. The activation arm  58  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including composites. The triggers  60  and  62  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including composites. The hammers  68  and  70  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including composites. The shear pins  72  and  74  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including composites. The remaining parts may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, in combination with any other suitable material, including composites. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIGS. 21-25 , therein is shown at  88  a folding pistol according to an alternate embodiment of the invention. This embodiment omits the optional blast shields  54 ,  64  (and trunnion lugs  16 ) shown in the pistol  10  of  FIGS. 1-20 , but otherwise operates in much the same way as the pistol  10  described above. The barrel  50  is rotatably and removably attached to the receiver  52  by a lug  12 . Upper and lower covers  90 ,  92  attach to the barrel  50  to enclose a laser sighting device and/or forward light source (not shown) and battery  94  between the bores  18 ,  20  of the barrel  50 . 
         [0043]    In this embodiment, the lower grip  78  is extended in length to provide additional stability and contact with an additional finger of the user&#39;s hand. The pistol  88  is deployed ( FIGS. 23 and 24 ), folded ( FIGS. 21 and 22 ), loaded, and fired in a similar manner to the first embodiment  10 . The receiver  52  may include left and right side covers  96 ,  98  and a rear cover  100 . A latch  104  is displaced to allow the activation arm  58  and lower grip  78  to deploy. Mounted in the rear receiver cover  100  may a cushion or pad  102  positioned to bear against the user&#39;s palm, as described below. 
         [0044]    The pistol  88  includes similar safety features that block the hammers  68 ,  70  and/or sear pins  76  to render the triggers  60 ,  62  inoperable. The pistol  88  may include an optional grip safety. Depressing the pad  102  by pressing the pistol  88  against the palm can pivotally displace a lever arm  106  mounted in a secondary receiver member  108 . Pivotal displacement of the lever arm  106 , in turn, causes a sear block  110  associated with each sear pin  76  to move out of blocking interference with movement of the sear pins  76  and/or hammers  68 ,  70 . Thus, not only do the activation arm  58  and lower grip  78  have to be deployed before the pistol  88  can be fired, optionally the pad  102  must be depressed by properly and securely gripping the pistol  88  against the palm. 
         [0045]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the preferred mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in any claim or claim issuing herefrom.