Abstract:
The present invention is directed to semiautomatic pistols with partially internalized recoil. In an aspect of the invention, the semiautomatic pistol allows for the shooter&#39;s grip to be aligned closer to the center-axis of the barrel so that the recoil force is substantially in line with the shooter&#39;s grip, thereby reducing and/or preventing muzzle flip. In another aspect of the invention, the semiautomatic pistol is configured to translate the linear recoil movement into rotational movement, which allows internalized recoil.

Description:
[0001]    This is a Continuation Application of PCT/US13/075938 filed Dec. 18, 2013, which application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. application Ser. No. 61/738,494 filed Dec. 18, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to semiautomatic pistols, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to internalized recoil, safety mechanisms, magazine releases, and take-down mechanisms for use with firearms. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A semiautomatic pistol is a handgun that harnesses the power of a previous discharge to load a new cartridge. It typically includes a single barrel, a magazine, a slide, and a firing mechanism, which includes a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism usually includes a trigger, sear, hammer, and firing pin. In some semiautomatic pistols, a sear assembly is the mechanism that facilitates movement of the hammer and firing pin to discharge the ammunition cartridge. In such semiautomatic pistols, when the safety is disengaged, movement of the trigger causes the trigger bar to move within the frame and actuate the sear assembly out of engagement with the hammer, thereby allowing the firing pin to contact an ammunition cartridge loaded in the firing chamber. This causes discharge of the ammunition round. Discharge of the ammunition results in recoil, which typically occurs through the rearward movement of the barrel and/or slide. When the slide has moved to the fullest rearward extent, springs thrust the slide forward to its original position. The slide&#39;s rearward and subsequent forward movement is in communication with an upward movement of an ammunition cartridge such that the subsequent cartridge is loaded into the firing chamber by the slide&#39;s movement. This results in the discharge of single ammunition round every time the trigger is pulled. 
         [0004]    Recoil is a reactive force equal and opposite in energy to the force propelling the ammunition round. The force is longitudinal and in line with the barrel of the gun. The design of semiautomatic pistols places the grip of the shooter&#39;s hand below the recoil axis, which results in an upward and rearward rotation of the gun in the hand of the shooter upon firing of the firearm, sometimes referred to as “muzzle flip.” The shooter has less control of the direction of firing due to muzzle flip. The muzzle flip also requires significant realignment of the gun after each shot and can increase the amount of time before the shooter is able to accurately discharge the pistol. This result is counter to the chief purpose of the semiautomatic pistol, which is to provide an ability to rapidly and accurately fire individual shots. 
         [0005]    It is particularly important in target shooting applications, where the shooter is judged on the number of shots and accuracy of those shots within a specified time period. Thus, there is a need to provide a semiautomatic pistol structure allowing the shooter to align the upper part of their grip with the center-line axis of the barrel, in order to limit or even prevent upward rotation of the pistol after each discharge so as to facilitate more rapid and accurate discharge of the semiautomatic pistol. 
         [0006]    Other attempts to prevent the upward rotation of the pistol during and after recoil have been unsuccessful. One such attempt is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,680, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety, where the semiautomatic pistol was designed so that the shooter&#39;s grip was raised on the vertical axis of the gun, but the slide still extended over the shooter&#39;s hand during recoil. However, this design has many problems, including the following examples: safety concerns due to the slide moving over the shooter&#39;s hand toward their arm during recoil movement; continual movement of external parts creates greater concern for break down or wear on those parts; and the sight base is positioned so that it is subject to movement from the slide and thereby loses alignment more quickly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to overcome deficiencies in the art. 
         [0008]    It is yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a semiautomatic pistol where the upper portion of the shooter&#39;s grip is aligned closer to the center-axis of the barrel. 
         [0009]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a semiautomatic pistol that is capable of more rapid and accurate shooting. 
         [0010]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a semiautomatic pistol wherein the rearward movement of components due to recoil does not extend beyond the rear of the pistol. 
         [0011]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a semiautomatic pistol wherein the barrel and slide are operably connected and their movement due to recoil takes place internally. 
         [0012]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a triple-point sliding safety that simultaneously locks the trigger, sear, and hammer 
         [0013]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a sliding safety that can be operated ambidextrously by the hand gripping the gun or the thumb of the free hand while in a supportive grip position. 
         [0014]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a magazine release that is pivotally connected to the frame and grip to compliment a shooter&#39;s grip placed higher on the vertical axis of the pistol. 
         [0015]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a pivot block that physically restrains rearward movement of the barrel during recoil and can be vertically pivoted to effectively take apart the pistol for cleaning, inspection, and repair. 
         [0016]    It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a configuration that translates linear movement of the barrel and slide due to recoil into rotational movement of a cam around a pin. 
         [0017]    These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features, and advantages. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the semiautomatic pistol of the type embodying the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a side elevation view of the semiautomatic pistol of the type embodying the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a side elevation view of the semiautomatic pistol of the type embodying the present invention in full recoil position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the semiautomatic pistol of  FIG. 1  embodying the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of an embodiment of a safety of the type embodying the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the safety of  FIG. 4A  embodying the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4C  is an exploded perspective view of the safety of  FIG. 4A  embodying the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the magazine release embodying the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a slide release lever embodying the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a hammer embodying the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7B  is an exploded view of the hammer of  FIG. 7A  embodying the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the slide embodying the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9A  is a side elevation view of the semiautomatic pistol of the type embodying the present invention with some internal components showing. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9B  is a side elevation view of the semiautomatic pistol of the type embodying the present invention with some internal components showing. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9C  is an exploded perspective view of the semiautomatic pistol of the type embodying the present invention with some internal components showing. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9D  is a side elevation view of an upper portion of the frame embodying the present invention with internal components showing. 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation perspective view of the frame without the handle embodying the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the pivot block embodying the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a trigger mechanism and disconnector embodying the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    The embodiments of this invention are not limited to particular semiautomatic pistols, their components, and methods of use thereof, which can vary and are understood by skilled artisans. It is further to be understood that all terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting in any manner or scope. For example, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” can include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0038]    The Figures show a semiautomatic pistol  10 , in particular, a locked breech, short recoil, center-fire action semiautomatic pistol  10  with a structure exhibiting internal recoil and permitting a high hand hold on the vertical axis of the pistol  10  so that the upper part of the hand is equal or near equal to the center-line of the barrel  14 .  FIGS. 1-2B  and  9 B- 10  show this uppermost grip contour  40 . The design is one that provides better accuracy and control for a shooter, as it reduces and/or prevents upward rotation of the pistol  10  due to recoil. Thus, the shooter is able to shoot more rapidly and accurately, as the upward rotation is reduced and thereby the movement and readjusting required for retargeting is lessened, if not completely reduced. 
         [0039]    Internal recoil is achieved by use of a translating pin  38  and a cam  48 . The cam  48  is operably connected to the barrel  14 , which is operably connected to the frame  12 . The barrel  14  and slide  16  are operably connected to the frame  12  and move in communication with one another. The barrel  14  is rounded and the slide  16  has a complimentary concave cutout, such that the barrel  14  can travel under the slide  16  and such that the slide  16  can travel over the barrel  14  without the need for rails, internal notches, or other known methods of accomplishing slide or barrel movement. Furthermore, the slide  16  contains a cam cutout  82 , for which an embodiment is exemplified in  FIG. 8 . The cam cutout  82  compliments the shape of the upper part of the cam  48 . The translating pin  38  is removable and horizontally pierces the frame  12  through the translating pinholes  62  transverse to the barrel  14  and slide  16 . The translating pin  38  is designed with a width and length in relation to the translating pinholes  62 , such that the pin is fixed and free from movement. Alternatively, the translating pin  38  may be non-removable and permanently fixed to the frame  12 . 
         [0040]    During recoil, the barrel  14  and slide  16  move rearward in a longitudinal and linear motion. The cam  48 , which is operably connected to the barrel  14 , contacts the translating pin  38 , whereby the cam  48  translates the linear longitudinal motion due to recoil into rotational movement around the translating pin  38 . 
         [0041]    According to another aspect of the invention, a pivot block  46  is positioned at the front of the frame  12 . The frame  12  contains a forward pivot block pinhole  58  and a rear pivot block pinhole  60 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The pivot block  46  contains complimentary pinholes such that a forward pivot block pin  34  and rear pivot block pin  36  may horizontally pierce the frame  12  and pivot block  46  transverse to the barrel  14  and slide  16  as exemplified in  FIG. 9C . An embodiment of the pivot block  46  is also illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The pivot block  46  stops rearward and forward movement of the barrel  14  due to recoil and recoil spring  56  extension. Thus, the pivot block  46  takes the force of these movements away from the cam  48  and translating pin  38 . 
         [0042]    According to another aspect of the invention, the rotational movement of the cam  48  around the translating pin  38  unlatches the slide  16  so that it can continue in linear rearward recoil movement and as the slide  16  continues in rearward recoil movement the case ejection port  28  passes over the firing chamber  84 . 
         [0043]    The slide  16  contains upper slide cutouts  76 , lateral slide cutouts  78 , and lower slide cutouts  80 , which are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 . During rearward movement of the slide  16  due to recoil, the slide  16  is able to move within the frame casing  13 . Thus, rearward movement due to recoil is internal and there is no extension beyond the rear end or surface of the pistol  10 . The top of the slide  16  also contains a case ejection port  28 , which can be best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  8 . As the slide  16  moves rearwardly during recoil, the case ejection port  28  passes over the firing chamber  84  and the ammunition cartridge is ejected vertically through the case ejection port  28 . The slide  16  contains a small tapered projection at the rear center of the slide protruding from the concave cutout. This small tapered projection supports the bottom rim of the cartridge casing thereby holding the casing firmly against the spring loaded extractor  27  until the cartridge is expelled through the case ejection port  28 . In an embodiment of the invention, dual ejectors can be timed to eject the casing straight up through the case ejection port  28  so that no part of the casing contacts any part of the slide  16 . This embodiment reduces and/or even prevents damage to the empty casing, so that it is in a condition for reuse. 
         [0044]    Within the frame casing  13  are two recoil springs  56 , shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C , one on each lateral side of the pistol, which extend longitudinally and linearly to the rear of the pistol  10  in alignment with the sides of the slide  16 . The recoil springs  56  are held in place by guide rods  74 . A non-limiting example of the guide rods  74  and the recoil springs  56  can be seen in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . Alternatively, other methods of holding the springs in place may be used and are known to those skilled in the art. In an embodiment of the invention, as the slide  16  moves rearwardly during recoil, the rearward movement can be stopped by a vertical slide stop  55  connected to the frame  12  or the frame casing  13 . In an embodiment, the slide stop  55  is comprised of nylon. When the pistol  10  is in full recoil (see  FIG. 2B ), that is, when the barrel  14  and slide  16  have full rearward extension, the recoil springs  56 , are compressed and necessarily extend thereby forcing the slide  16  forward to the position it was in prior to discharge of the pistol  10 . As the slide  16  moves in communication with the barrel  14 , the barrel  14  also moves forward during the extension of the recoil springs  56 . The magazine  108  is housed within the handle  44  of the frame  12  as understood by those of skill in the art. As well-known by those of skill in the art, the magazine  108  contains a spring, which exerts an upward vertical force on the cartridges such that one is pushed up into the firing chamber  84  after rearward recoil movement. In an embodiment, the slide  16  catches the cartridge being pushed up by the magazine spring and is pushed into the firing chamber  84 . The tapering projection  114  serves to push the cartridges into a horizontal position parallel to the barrel  14  while being loaded. 
         [0045]    In an embodiment of the invention, the slide  16  is angled to taper toward the front of the slide  16  on both forward lateral sides of the slide  16 . The tapering is exemplified at least in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  8 , and  9 C. This tapering permits the shooter to grip the slide  16  so that it can be manually drawn into full recoil position with ease, by necessitating less grip strength. Manual recoil is particularly useful for initially loading a cartridge into the firing chamber  84  before the first discharge. In another aspect of the invention, the slide  16  has forward slide texturing  42  on both forward lateral sides of the slide  16 . The forward slide texturing  42  is exemplified at least in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  8 , and  9 A. Texturing may be achieved by any method known to those of skill in the art, including, but not limited to, the addition of grooves, bumps, teeth, notches, or serrations. This forward slide texturing  42  increases the friction between the shooter&#39;s hand and the slide  16  so that it can be manually drawn into full recoil position. The pistol  10  may be designed to contain both forward slide texturing  42  and angled tapering toward the front of the slide  16 , or either feature individually, so that manual recoil can be accomplished with ease. 
         [0046]    According to an aspect of the invention, the pistol  10  includes a slidable two-thumb piece safety  18 , which can be operated ambidextrously, and also which can be located on either side of the pistol  10 . The safety is a triple-point safety simultaneously locking the hammer  52 , sear  50 , and trigger  26 . The triple-point safety  18 , exemplified in  FIGS. 4A-4C , is comprised of a trigger and sear block  90  and a hammer block  92 . Thus, the lateral interior of the safety  18  is comprised of these protruding blocks  90  and  92  and further comprises a rear safety slide block  106  at the rear. The frame  12  contains three safety mechanism cutouts  64 ,  66 ,  68 , which correspond to the trigger and sear block  90 , hammer block  92 , and rear safety slide block  106 . These three safety mechanism cutouts  64 ,  66 ,  68  are large enough to accommodate the corresponding rear safety slide block  106 , hammer block  92 , and the trigger and sear block  90 , and allow the sliding of these blocks  90 ,  92 ,  106  between two slidable positions. When moved forward, the safety  18  is in an unlocked position and the pistol  10  is capable of discharge. When the trigger is pulled, the disconnector  72  pulls the sear  50 . When moved rearward, the safety  18  is in a locked position and the pistol  10  is incapable of discharge. When in a locked position, the trigger and sear block  90  locks the trigger  26  by preventing it from moving enough to cause release of the hammer  52  and thereby discharge of the pistol  10  by positioning the trigger and sear block  90  against the safety locking surface  70 . The sear  50  is positioned against the trigger  26 , thus when the trigger  26  is locked by the trigger and sear block  90  against the safety locking surface  70 , the sear  50  is also locked; and the hammer block  92  is positioned so as to prevent the hammer  52  from moving and contacting the firing pin  54 . In an embodiment, when in a locked position the hammer lock notch  86  interlocks with the hammer lock  92  so as to prevent movement of the hammer  52 . In many semiautomatic pistols, the trigger still has a minimal amount of residual movement; however, in an embodiment of the present invention, the trigger  26  is completely unable to move when the safety  18  is in a locked position. 
         [0047]    An embodiment of the hammer  52  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . The hammer  52  has holes  51  transverse through the hammer  52  body so that a hammer strut pivot pin  49  can pierce the hammer  52 . The hammer struts  53  have complimentary holes  51  so that the hammer strut pivot pin  49  can pierce the hammer struts  53  such that the hammer  52  and hammer struts  53  are operably connected. In an embodiment, the hammer  52  also has hammer pivot pin holes  47  that transversely pierce the hammer  52  so that a hammer pivot pin  45  can pierce the hammer  52 , while extending from the sides of the hammer  52 , which can allow the hammer  52  to rotate within the pistol  10 . 
         [0048]    The external lateral surface of the safety  18  can have two raised and textured parts  96 ,  98 . These two raised textured parts  96 ,  98  can be a first and second thumb piece, of the two-thumb piece slidable safety. The forward-most part of the safety  18  contains the front textured surface  96 . Near the rear of the safety  18  is a raised rear textured surface  98 . Texturing of the front and rear textured surfaces  96 ,  98  may be achieved by any method known to those of skill in the art, including, but not limited to, the addition of grooves, bumps, teeth, notches, or serrations. According to an embodiment, the texturing of the front textured surface  96  is different from the texturing of the rear textured surface  98 . For example, the front textured surface  96  may be textured by bumps, while the rear textured surface  98  may be textured by vertical grooves. The forward and rear textured surfaces  96 ,  98  are raised and textured so as to permit ambidextrous use of the safety  18  with the thumb of either the left or right hand. For example, when the pistol  10  is held and discharged using one hand, the shooter can manipulate the safety  18  with the thumb of the grip hand; but the shooter can also attain a firm grip on the pistol  10  with the grip hand in a manner that said grip hand does not touch the safety  18  and the shooter can use their free hand in a supportive grip position and then when aimed toward the target can manipulate the safety  18  to the forward unlocked position with the thumb of the free hand or the shooter can manipulate the safety  18  to the rear locked position with the thumb of the free hand by pushing rearward against the rear textured surface  98 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the two-thumb piece slidable safety  18  can be designed to require substantial force to move the safety  18  to an unlocked position, such as requiring the strength of either thumb, or it can be designed to require less force so that the safety  18  can be operated by the shooter&#39;s trigger finger or other non-thumb finger. 
         [0049]    According to another aspect of the invention, the safety  18  additionally comprises a locking lever  100 , which is horizontally pivotable about a vertical locking lever pin  104 , and is horizontally extended from the lateral surface of the safety  18  when the safety is in an unlocked position. On the interior lateral surface of the safety  18  is a spring loaded detent  102 . This spring loaded detent  102  is directly opposite to and connected with the locking lever  100 . Between the frame  12  and safety  18  is a slide release lever  19 , which is in the slidable path of the safety  18  corresponding to the path that the spring loaded detent  102  travels. The slide release lever  19  contains a recess  103 , which is designed so that the spring loaded detent  102  extends into the recess  103  while in the locked position. The slide release lever  19  and recess  103  for the spring loaded detent  102  are exemplified in  FIG. 6 . When in an unlocked position the locking lever  100  is horizontally pivoted outward from the rear of the safety  18 . This helps ensure that during recoil movement the safety  18  does not slide into the locked position, which would prevent subsequent rapid discharge of the pistol  10 . Extension of the locking lever  100  can be best seen in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The rear safety slide block  106  supports the slide release lever  19  mounted between the safety  18  and the frame  12 . The rear safety mechanism cutout  68  allows the slide release lever  19  to protrude through the frame  12 . In an embodiment of the invention, when the magazine is empty the magazine follower pushes upward and engages the slide release lever  19 , which causes the slide release lever  19  to pivot into a slide stop notch  83  on the slide  16 , so as to lock the slide  16  in a full recoil position, thereby indicating that the magazine is empty. In this aspect of the invention, the hammer  52 , trigger  26 , and slide release lever  19  all pivot on the same pin. 
         [0050]    In another aspect of the invention, the frame  12  contains a magazine release  20 , which resembles a push button style release, which can be located on either side of the pistol  10 . The magazine release  20  is connected to a horizontal pin  21 , which is embedded in the handle  44  and protrudes through the grip  22 . The horizontal pin  21  permits pivoting of the magazine release  20  about a generally horizontal axis by the application of pressure on the bottom part of the magazine release  20 . When pressed, the magazine release  20  releases the magazine  108  from within the handle  44 . The magazine release  20  can have a surface that contacts a notched surface  110  of the magazine such that the magazine  108  is held in place in the handle of the pistol  10  until released. 
         [0051]    In another aspect of the invention, the pivot block  46  can be vertically pivoted around the forward pivot block pin  34  to remove the barrel  14  and slide  16  from the front of the pistol  10  and subsequently remove the recoil springs  56  and frame casing  13 . This process is generally referred to as field stripping or “take-down” and is used to clean, inspect, and/or repair the pistol or its components. 
         [0052]    In a further aspect of the invention, atop the frame casing  13  an optional sight base  30  may be placed. This sight base  30  is attached so as to align with the barrel sight  32 , which is positioned atop the barrel  14  in a manner known to those of skill in the art. In an additional aspect of the invention, part of the frame  12  is an optional trigger guard  24 , for which an embodiment is exemplified in  FIGS. 1-2B  and  9 A- 9 C. 
         [0053]    In a further aspect of the invention, the firing pin retainer  88  is attached to the pistol  10  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The firing pin retainer  88  keeps the firing pin  54  in place within the slide  16 . The firing pin retainer  88  can also serve as a lateral guide for the firing pin  54  when the firing pin  54  is in movement related to discharge of the pistol  10 . In an embodiment of the invention, a dust cover  89  can serve to hold the firing pin retainer  88  in place. 
         [0054]    The invention has been shown and described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention.