Abstract:
The invention pertains to a trigger mechanism for handguns, particularly pistols, with a striking lever ( 2 ), a first striking spring ( 3 ) that is assigned to the striking lever ( 2 ) and serves for acting upon the striking lever ( 2 ) in the firing direction, a trigger ( 12 ) and a trigger rod ( 13 ) that is connected to the trigger ( 12 ) and releases the striking lever ( 2 ) in a tensioned position in order to fire a shot. In order to generate a constant firing energy with variable trigger resistances and trigger paths, the striking lever ( 2 ) is acted upon in the firing direction by a second striking spring ( 5 ) that is arranged parallel to the first striking spring ( 3 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to European Patent Application No. 06 014 336.9 filed Jul. 11, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention pertains to a trigger mechanism for handguns, particularly pistols. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A trigger mechanism of this type is known from US 2003/0070342. The trigger mechanism disclosed in this publication also features a striking lever, two parallel striking springs that are assigned to the striking lever and act upon the striking lever in the firing direction, a trigger, a trigger rod that is connected to the trigger and a control element that is rotatably arranged in the striking lever and features a control element detent for engaging with a trigger rod detent of the trigger rod. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention is based on the objective of developing a trigger mechanism of the initially cited type in which a constant firing energy can be realized with variable trigger resistances and trigger paths. 
         [0005]    This objective is realized with a trigger mechanism as set forth in the claims. Effective developments and advantageous additional refinements of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. 
         [0006]    In the inventive trigger mechanism, the required firing energy is generated by two separate striking springs that can be individually adapted to one another. One of the two striking springs can be used for storing pre-tensioning energy while the second striking spring is tensioned by means of the trigger and defines the trigger force or the trigger resistance. The pre-tensioning of one striking spring can be realized, e.g., by manually actuating the striking lever or with the breech lock that automatically returns clue to the recoil when a shot is fired. The second striking spring is tensioned by the shooter with the aid of the trigger and generates the actual trigger force. The total energy required for firing a cartridge is generated by both striking springs such that the trigger resistance can be adjusted and easily adapted to the different requirements of the shooter. The striking lever features an integral control element with a control element detent for engaging with a trigger rod detent of the trigger rod. The trigger characteristic can be easily adjusted with this control element. A pre-tensioned trigger mechanism can be realized, e.g., by rotatably arranging the control element in the striking lever so that it cooperates with a drive element that makes it possible to pre-tension or release the second striking spring. The control element that can be turned by means of the trigger rod makes it possible to actuate the drive element, e.g., in such a way that, when the trigger is pulled back, it releases the second striking spring that was previously pro-tensioned by manually actuating the striking lever or by the return movement of the breech lock, and the striking lever is acted upon by both striking springs. A catch is not required if the pro-tensioned trigger mechanism is intended only for double-action mode. However, a catch is required for a pre-tensioned single-action mode. 
         [0007]    If no pro-tensioned trigger mechanism is needed, the control element can also be arranged in the striking level so that it does not turn relative to it. This may be realized, e.g., by connecting the control element to the striking lever without rotational play with an additional pin. The control element may, however, also be replaced with a control element that is arranged in the striking lever with a positive fit. This makes it possible to eliminate the drive element and to realize a single-action-only mode, a double-action-only mode or a single-action/double-action mode. For the double-action-only mode, only a safety lever and at least one striking spring are required in addition to the control element, whereas for the single-action-only mode and for the single-action/double-action mode, in addition to the control element, safety lever and at least one striking spring, a catch is also required. 
         [0008]    In the inventive trigger mechanism, the trigger characteristic and operation can be modified simply and without problem by exchanging individual elements. The modifications can be easily carried out and realized without added costs. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Other particularities and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1 , a trigger mechanism of a pistol that is situated in an initial position in the form of a perspective representation viewed from the rear; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2 , the trigger mechanism in the initial position according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation viewed from the front; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3 , a striking lever of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4 , the control element of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5 , a safety lever of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6 , a drive element of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7 , a catch of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8 , a striking spring rod of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9 , a trigger rod of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a perspective representation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10 , the trigger mechanism in the initial position according to  FIG. 1  in the form of a side view; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11 , a perspective representation of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in a partially pre-tensioned position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12 , a perspective representation of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  during the actuation of the trigger; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13 , a side view of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  in the position shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14 , a side view of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  shortly before the release of the striking lever; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15 , a side view of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  curing the striking movement of the striking lever, and 
           [0025]      FIG. 16 , a side view of the trigger mechanism according to  FIG. 1  when a shot is fired. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1 and 2  respectively show a trigger mechanism of a pistol in an initial position, namely in the form of perspective representations viewed from the rear and from the front, wherein said trigger mechanism comprises a striking lever  2  that is rotatably supported on a striking lever axis  1 , a first striking spring rod  4  that is acted upon by a first striking spring  3 , a second striking spring rod  6  that is acted upon by a second of striking spring  5 , a control element  7  that is assigned to the striking lever  2 , a lever-shaped drive element  8 , a spring  9 , a catch  10 , a safety lever  11 , a trigger  12  and a trigger rod  13  that is articulately connected to the trigger  12  on its front end and cooperates with the control element  7  on its rear end. The two striking springs  3  and  5  cause the two striking spring rods  4  and  6  to act upon the striking lever  2  in the firing direction so as to actuate a not-shown striking pin. The two striking springs  3  and  5  are supported on a striking spring abutment  14  with their lower ends. The drive element  8  and the catch  10  are arranged so that they can be pivoted about a transverse shaft  15 . The spring  9  features a lower leg  16  that is in contact with the drive element  8  and a rear leg  17  that is illustrated in  FIG. 2  and presses the catch  10  against the striking lever  2 . The trigger  12  is pivotably arranged in a carrier or grip section of the pistol by means of bores  18  and a not-shown transverse pin. The trigger  12  is articulately connected to the trigger rod  13  by means of a pin  19  that is laterally formed onto the trigger  12  and a corresponding oblong hole  20  on the front end of the trigger rod  13 . The trigger rod  13  is pressed rearward and upward with the aid of a not-shown trigger rod spring. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3 , in particular, shows the striking lever  2  that is rotatably Mounted on the striking lever axis  1  within the carrier or grip section of the pistol, wherein said striking lever features a firing detent  21  on its front side and a safety detent  22  that is arranged above the firing detent and serves for engaging with the catch  10  illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The striking lever  2  furthermore features a lateral recess  23  and a bore  24  for supporting the control element  7  shown in  FIG. 4 . The bore  24  for the control element  7  is arranged beneath a through-hole  25  for the striking lever axis  1 . Another transverse bore  26  located behind the through-hole  25  is provided for a not-shown transverse pin, on which the two striking spring rods  4  and  6  are supported with their upper ends. The striking lever  2  furthermore contains a lateral bearing stud  27  that is arranged concentric to the through-hole  25  and serves for rotatably supporting the safety lever  11  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows the control element  7  that is arranged between the striking lever  2  and the safety lever  11 . It features a laterally protruding pin  28  for inserting the control element  7  into the bore  24  of the striking lever  2  that is laterally offset relative to the through-hole  25  for the striking lever axis  1 , as well as for rotatably supporting the control element  7  in the striking lever  2 . The control element  7  furthermore features a control element detent  29  in the form of a lateral groove that serves for engaging with a trigger rod detent  30  shown in  FIG. 9 . The control element  7  also features a first rear control surface  31  for engaging with a contact surface  46  on the drive element  8  shown in  FIG. 6  and a second front control surface  32  that cooperates with the trigger rod detent  30  in order to turn the control element  7 . 
         [0029]    The safety lever  11  shown in  FIG. 5  is pivotably arranged on the hearing stud  27  of the striking lever  2  with the aid of a bore  33 . On its underside, it features a safety lever detent  34  and a safety lever cam  35  that is arranged in front of the safety lever detent and cooperates with the catch  10 . 
         [0030]    According to  FIG. 6 , the lever-shaped drive element  8  contains a bore  36  for the transverse shaft  15  and two parallel lever arms  37  and  38  with forward projections  39  and two rearward extensions  40  and  41 , respectively. The front lever arm  38  in  FIG. 6  furthermore features a downward projection  42 . A drive detent  43  that engages with a striking spring rod detent  44  on the second striking spring rod  6  shown in  FIG. 8  is located on the lower end of the downward projection  42 . The rearward extension  40  of the rear lever arm  37  in  FIG. 6  features an upwardly projecting control cam  45  with a contact surface  46  that engages with the control surface  31  of the control element  7 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows an enlarged representation of the catch  10  that features two parallel arms with transverse bores  47  for the transverse shaft  15  on its underside and a catch detent  48  for engaging with the safety detent  22  on the front side of the striking lever  2  shown in  FIG. 2  on its upper side. The front side of the catch  10  furthermore contains a groove  49 , into which the front leg  17  of the pressure spring  9  engages. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  shows the second striking spring rod  6  with the striking spring rod detent  44  for engaging with the drive detent  43  arranged on its front side. The striking spring rod  6  features front and rear abutments  50  for the upper end of the second striking spring  5  underneath the drive detent  43 . The upper end of the striking spring rod  6  is provided with a contact surface  51  that serves for supporting the striking spring rod  6  on a transverse pin that is inserted into a transverse bore  26  of the striking lever  2  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]    According to  FIG. 9 , the trigger rod  13  features an oblong hole  20  for the pin  19  provided on the trigger  12  according to  FIG. 1  on its front end that is bent inwardly. On its rear end, the trigger rod  13  features an upwardly projecting bracket  52  with an oblong hole  53 , on which the control bevel  54  is realized the cooperates with the striking lever axis  1 . On its rear end, the trigger rod  13  also features an inwardly bent arm  55  with the trigger rod detent  30  for engaging with the control element detent  29  of the control element  7 . 
         [0034]    The operation of the above-described trigger mechanism is explained below with reference to  FIGS. 1-16 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  10  show the trigger mechanism in a completely untensioned initial position. In this position, the catch detent  48  of the catch  10  according to  FIGS. 2 and 10  is engaged with the safety detent  22  of the striking lever  2 . Consequently, the striking lever  2  is held in a front initial position by the catch  10 . In this position, the downward projection  42  of the drive element  8  is spaced apart from the striking spring rods  4  and  6 , and both striking springs  3  and  5  are completely relaxed. 
         [0036]    If the striking lever  2  is pivoted rearward either manually or due to the repeating process of the not-shown breech lock or slide in the initial position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  10 , the rearward movement of the striking lever  2  initially presses both striking spring rods  4  and  6  downward and forward against the force of the respective striking springs  3  and  5 . During this process, the drive detent  43  and the striking spring rod detent  44  of the second striking spring rod  6  according to  FIG. 11  are engaged such that the second striking spring  5  is held in a pre-tensioned position. The pre-tensioned state of the trigger mechanism shown in  FIG. 11  can be realized by tensioning only the second striking spring  5 . The first striking spring  3 , in contrast, is relaxed once again when the striking lever  2  is pivoted forward until the safety detent  22  of the striking lever  2  engages with the catch detent  48  of the catch  10 . 
         [0037]    The trigger rod  13  is moved forward (toward the right in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) if the trigger  12  is actuated in the pre-tensioned position shown in  FIG. 11 , wherein the striking lever  2  is pivoted rearwards as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  by the control element  7  and the trigger rod  13 , the trigger rod detent  30  of which is engaged with the control element detent  29 , such that the first striking spring  3  is also tensioned by means of the first striking spring rod  4 . 
         [0038]    If the trigger  12  is also actuated, the safety lever detent  34  of the safety lever  11  according to  FIG. 14  is engaged with the trigger rod detent  30  such that the safety lever  11  is turned in the counterclockwise direction by the trigger rod  13 . During this process, the font safety lever cam  35  of the safety lever  11  shown in  FIG. 5  comes in contact with the catch surface  56  of the catch  10  shown in  FIG. 7  such that the safety lever  11  presses the catch  10  into a position in which the catch detent  48  can no longer engage with the firing detent  21  of the striking lever  2 . The trigger rod  13  is moved downwards by the control bevel  54  of the trigger rod  13  that is in contact with the striking lever axis  1 , i.e., into a position in which the trigger rod detent  30  is disengaged from the control element detent  29  of the control element  7  and thus releases the striking lever  2  from the tensioned position shown in  FIG. 14  in order to fire a shot. 
         [0039]    During the firing caused by the first striking spring  3 , the control element  7  is also displaced during the forward movement of the striking lever  2 . This causes the front control surface  32  of the control element  7  to engage with the trigger rod detent  30 . The control element  7  is turned in the counterclockwise direction relative to the striking lever  2  due to a rolling motion between the control surface  32  and the trigger rod detent  30  such that the rear control surface  31  of the control element  7  is pivoted downward and engages with the contact surface  46  of the drive element  8  during the additional forward movement of the striking lever  2 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . During this process, the drive element  8  is turned in the counterclockwise direction such that the lower leg  42  moves forward and the drive detent  43  is disengaged from the striking spring rod detent  44 . The second striking spring rod  6  is therefore released and the second striking spring  5  becomes effective from its pre-tensioned position. 
         [0040]    The striking lever  2  is then moved forward into the position shown in  FIG. 16  by the two striking springs  3  and  5  that now act in parallel and the corresponding striking spring rods  4  and  6 , respectively, wherein the striking lever is then able to actuate a not-shown striking pin in order to fire a shot. 
         [0041]    The operation of the above-described trigger mechanism essentially corresponds to that of a pre-tensioned single-action/double-action trigger mechanism with the option of varying the function and the characteristic of the trigger mechanism by exchanging or adapting the control element.