Abstract:
A trigger mechanism that gives a shooter a durable, adjustable, soft and gentle pull. In this design, the sear block remains, but the trigger mechanism is replaced with a new, softer action mechanism. This mechanism uses a tripper that attaches to a trip. The trip is a formed body that has a lower frame and a top bearing that sits against the bottom of the seer. When the trigger is pulled, it rotates the tripper forward, which causes the trip to rotate backwards. The backward movement of the trip causes the top bearing to roll off the bottom of the seer, causing the gun to fire. The rotation of the trip is smooth compared to the snapping action of the seer in the prior art designs. This smooth movement does not jar the action, making for a better shot.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of Provisional application 62/198,858 filed Jul. 30, 2015. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to trigger mechanisms and particularly to trigger mechanisms having a soft pull. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In competitive target shooting, accuracy is paramount. Competitors work to ensure that their guns are tuned as precisely as possible. However, despite all of the work done to improve the accuracy of the gun, the final aiming and execution of the shot is literally in the hands of the shooter. A conventional trigger, with a harder pull, can affect the accuracy of the gun simply in the act of firing it. For example, referring now to  FIG. 1  a conventional trigger mechanism is shown as prior art. In this view, a trigger  100  is shown in the firing position (cocked). To fire the gun, the trigger  100  is shown rotating about a trigger pin  101 . Note the arrows indicate a movement of the trigger  100  to the right, which causes the trigger to rotate so that the front of the trigger drops down, as indicated by the arrow. When the trigger  100  rotates, the claw  102  releases the sear block  103 , which then rotates down around pin  104 . The movement down (see arrow) drops the firing pin retainer  107 , which releases the firing pin  105 . When this occurs, the snapping action can jar the rifle just enough that the shooter loses accuracy in the shot. At high levels of competition, only a small movement of the rifle can result in lower scores. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention overcomes this difficulty. Thus, the object of this invention is to provide a trigger mechanism that gives a shooter a durable, adjustable, soft and gentle pull for the improvement of rifle scores. It is also available with a side-to-side movement of the trigger as an option, if desired. In the instant invention, the sear block remains, but the trigger mechanism is replaced with a new, softer action mechanism. This mechanism uses a tripper that attaches to a trip. The trip is a formed body that has a lower frame and a top bearing that sits against the bottom of the sear. When the trigger is pulled, it rotates the tripper forward, which causes the trip to rotate backwards. The backward movement of the trip causes the top bearing to roll off the bottom of the sear, causing the gun to fire. The rotation of the trip is smooth compared to the snapping action of the ee sear in the prior art designs. This smooth movement does not jar the action, making for a better shot. Because this softer action mechanism is so sensitive, a safety mechanism is added to protect the users when preparing to fire. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side detail view of a conventional trigger as prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a detail parts view showing the parts of my new firing mechanism. 
         FIG. 3  is a detail view of the invention in the cocked position. 
         FIG. 4  is a detail view of the invention showing the trigger in mid-pull. 
         FIG. 5  a detail view of the invention after firing in an uncocked position. 
         FIG. 6  is a detail view of the invention in the cocked position showing the invention in relation to Winchester type a sear block. 
         FIG. 7  a detail view of the invention after firing in an uncocked position showing the invention in relation to a Winchester type sear block. 
         FIG. 8  is a detail view of the invention in the cocked position mounted in a rifle with the stock removed. 
         FIG. 9  is a detail view of the invention in the uncocked position mounted in a rifle with the stock removed. 
         FIG. 10  is a detail view of the action, as mounted in a gun showing the trigger guard and the safety mechanism. In this view, the gun is cocked and the safety is on. 
         FIG. 11  is a detail view of the action, as mounted in a gun showing the trigger guard and the safety mechanism. In this view, the gun has been fired and the safety is off. 
         FIG. 12  is a detail view of the assembled safety mechanism removed from the gun action. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     My current invention is a soft trigger mechanism that allows a gentler pull to fire the gun, which can improve the accuracy of the shot. It does this by replacing the conventional trigger to produce a trigger action that is softer and allows a gentler pull when used with a conventional sear block. Note that the terms forward or rearward when used herein refer to the orientation of the gun action with respect to the rifle in which it is installed. The term forward refers to the front or barrel of the rifle and reward to the stock. 
     Referring now to the figures and particularly to  FIG. 2  the parts of my new firing mechanism is shown. The parts of the new device  10  include a trigger  11  that is attached to encasement  20  at hole  12  in the trigger, which aligns with hole  21  in the encasement. Pin or other fastener  13  (see,  FIG. 3 , e. g.) holds the parts together, so the trigger can pivot on the encasement, as discussed below. The encasement has a screw and nut combination  22 , located in the upper portion of the encasement, as shown, that is a down pressure adjustment. The encasement  20  also has a slot  23  formed in it, which has a pin  23   a  in it to hold the trip spring  30  (see e. g.,  FIG. 3 ). The encasement also has a pin  24  that holds the trigger return spring  25 , which connects to the trigger at pin  14 . Other components include the tripper  40 , which has a hole  41  that attaches to the encasement at pin  26  and a hole  42  that attaches to the trip  50  at pin  51 . The trip  50  is a formed body that has a lower frame  52  a top bearing  53 . A trigger free play adjustment mechanism is also provided. This is installed in a channel  56  in the encasement below the trip spring  30 , which receives a pin  57 , a setscrew  58 , and a lock nut  59 . 
       FIGS. 3-5  show the action going from the cocked position to the fully uncocked (fired) position.  FIG. 3  is a detail view of the invention in the cocked position. In this figure, the device  10  is shown fully assembled. As show, the trigger  11  is in a forward angle (as shown by the first dashed line a) with respect to the encasement  20 . Note that the trip spring  30  is fully compressed with the slot  23 . The tripper  40  is rearward against the encasement  20  and is in vertical alignment with the trip  50  as shown. The setscrew  58 , and a lock nut  59  of the trigger free play adjustment mechanism are shown in place. This mechanism adjusts the sensitivity of the tripper by applying pressure on the tripper as shown. In practice, the setscrew is tightened down until the mechanism will not cock. Then, the setscrew is backed off until the gun can just be cocked. This is the most sensitive for the mechanism. In this position, only a minor movement of the trigger is enough to fire the gun. As discussed below, a safety mechanism is incorporated that allows the gun to be cocked in this most sensitive position and still be safe in that the trigger cannot be pulled. The  FIGS. 3-5  do not show the safety mechanism, however. 
       FIG. 4  is a detail view of the invention showing the trigger in mid-pull. As the trigger  11  is pulled, it rotates rearward as shown in  FIG. 4 . Note the difference in position between the first dashed line a, and the second line b. Note too that the trigger return spring  25  is extended. Finally note that the top  11   a  of the trigger  11  is resting against the trip  40  and that, at this point, the tripper is still aligned with the trip  50 . 
       FIG. 5  a detail view of the invention after firing in an uncocked position. In this picture, the gun has been fired. Note the position of the trigger  11  is in position c with respect to the other two positions (as indicated by the dashed lines a and b). Note that the trigger return spring  25  is fully extended. When the trigger has been fully pulled, the top of the trigger  11  pushes the trip  40  to the left, which causes the trip  50  to rotate to the right, as shown. The trip spring  30  is shown extended and is used to control the movement of the trip  50 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show this action with the addition of a sear block and firing pin. In this way, the actual performance of the device is shown.  FIG. 6  shows the position of the invention  10  with respect to a sear block  103  and a firing pin  105 , when cocked. The invention is shown in the same position of  FIG. 3 . Note how the top bearing  53  of the trip  50  rests in a recess  106  of the sear block  103 . This allows the sear block to remain in a horizontal position and to allow the firing pin retainer  107  to retain the firing pin  105 . Note too that the blocking element  62  of the safety mechanism is also shown. In this position, the blocking element  62  is in the safe mode. In this position, the blocking element  62  is positioned between the tripper and the sear block. In this position, the trigger cannot be pulled and the tripper cannot be pushed to the left. 
       FIG. 7  shows the trigger  11  fully pulled as shown in  FIG. 5 . Note how the bearing  53  on the trip has rotated back, which allows the sear block  103  to drop slightly, rotating on pin  104 . When the sear block drops, it releases the firing pin  105 , which is shown moved forward. This causes the gun to be fired. Note the difference between this motion and that of the prior art as shown in  FIG. 1 . Instead of a snap when the sear block is released in  FIG. 1 , the invention produces a smoother action when firing. This reduces any jerking motion on firing and makes for a more certain shot. As before, this figure also shows the safety mechanism&#39;s blocking element  62  rotated into the safety off position. Here, the blocking element has moved and the trigger can be pulled and the gun fired. 
       FIG. 8  is a detail view of the invention in the cocked position mounted in a rifle with the stock removed. Here, the rifle body  110  is shown with my new action in place. Note the sear block  103  is shown partially within the rifle. As noted above, it is held in place by pin “and by the bearing  53  on the trip. The action is secured in the rifle by a screw  111 , which holds the encasement  20  at hole  27  (note the position of the down pressure adjustment screw  22 . Note too, the position of the blocking element  62 . Here, the gun is cocked but the safety is “off”, so that the gun can be fired. 
       FIG. 9  is a detail view of the invention in the uncocked position mounted in a rifle with the stock removed and the safety “off”. All of the components are shown as before, including the blocking element  62 , the setscrew  58 , and the lock nut  59 . Note how the bearing  53  on the trip has rotated back, allowing the sear block to fall just enough to release the firing pin (not shown). 
       FIG. 10  is a detail view of the action, as mounted in a gun showing the trigger guard  110  and the safety mechanism. In this view, the gun is cocked and the safety is on. Note that the trigger  11  passes through a slot in the trigger guard  110  as shown. The safety is actuated by a switch  65 , which is secured by pin  68  that allows the switch to rotate about the pin. The switch  65  is attached to a link  67  that attaches to the blocking element  62 . With the switch in the on position, the switch is pushed up as shown. This causes the link  67  to rise vertically and to push the blocking element  62  up between the sear and the toggle  40 . As noted above, when the blocking element  62  is in this position, the trigger cannot be pulled and the gun cannot fire. 
       FIG. 11  is a detail view of the action, showing the gun has been fired and the safety is off. Here, the switch  65  is rotated downward to the position shown, the support  67  is slid forward and down, the blocking element  62  has moved down and the toggle  40  has pivoted forward, resulting in the gun being fired with minimal movement. 
       FIG. 12  is a detail view of the assembled safety mechanism removed from the gun action. In this figure, the switch  65  the link  67  and the blocking element  62  are shown. The switch  65  is shown having an upper portion that has a pair of detents  65   a  that hold the switch  65  in either the on or off position. A hole  65   b  is formed in the center to pin the switch in the action at pin  68  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ). A hole  65   c  is used to secure the link  67  to the switch  65 . As shown, the link  67  is a U clip that passes through the hole  65   c  and is secured onto the blocking element  62  that has two holes (not shown) to receive the link. The link  67  is then soft soldered to the blocking element  62  for use. 
     The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.