Patent Publication Number: US-11656055-B2

Title: Slide cover plate for the slide of a striker-fired hand gun

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT/HU2020/050003, filed Jan. 23, 2020, which claims priority to Hungarian Patent Application No. U1900011 filed Jan. 28, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a slide cover plate for the slide of a striker-fired hand gun. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Striker-fired hand guns with a slide comprising firing structure and other spring elements and having at the back end of the slide a planar slide cover plate are known. The slide can be pushed into a groove provided at the back end of the side. The slide cover plate constitutes a base support for a spring striker unit and for a spring extractor unit or other spring elements when pushed to the end position. 
     Among such striker-fired hand guns having a slide cover plate is the Glock family of hand guns (and their clones) as one of the most common examples. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An improved slide cover plate of increased size, but interchangeable with a standard slide cover plate, fits in the standard groove of the slide of a hand gun and provides additional functions. When the slide cover plate of the present invention is introduced into the standard groove, it can be received in its terminal or final position in the same manner as a standard cover plate. For this purpose, a special feature is provided which allows pushing the spring elements, and especially the end of the spring striker unit, by a tool while the cover plate is positioned on the slide. Without this feature, the spring elements in the slide would prevent the slide cover plate to be fixed in its terminal position. 
     The slide cover plate comprises a backwardly protruding part having larger face area than the cross sectioned area of the slide at its end, and the slide cover plate comprises a hollow section, which forms a recess configured for reaching the end of the spring striker unit and/or the end of the spring extractor unit by a tool when the slide cover plate is pushed into the groove but is in an intermediate position different from the terminal position. The hollow section and recess is provided facing the slide of the hand gun, i.e., on the side opposite the larger face area. 
     The improved slide cover plate according to the present invention is preferably of a single piece—i.e. metal, cast technology—and provides a surface suitable for different purposes. Such as, among others, for bearing subtitles, logos, or as small light emission devices. The side wings may promote or ease the grip of the slide, essentially when performed by thumb and index finger. The upward protruding area size enhancement will not cause a problem with wearing and getting out, the overall measures will not increase. The increased area under some circumstances will facilitate single hand loading. 
     The slide cover plate according to the present invention is preferably of the kind containing a striker pin indicator. This can be a borehole and a pin movable in the borehole. In this way the user can easily determine the state of the gun. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a known striker-fired hand gun and an original slide cover plate in a spaced relationship to the hand gun. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the hand gun of  FIG.  1    with the slide cover plate embodying the present invention spaced from the hand gun. 
         FIG.  3    is an end view of the hand gun of  FIG.  1    and an original slide cover plate spaced from the hand gun. 
         FIG.  4    is an end view of the hand gun of  FIG.  1    and a slide cover plate embodying the present invention spaced from the hand gun. 
         FIG.  5    is an end view of the hand gun of  FIG.  1    showing an original slide cover plate partially pushed in place. 
         FIG.  6    is an end view of the hand gun of  FIG.  1    showing an original slide cover plate pushed in place. 
         FIG.  7    is a partial perspective view of the slide of a hand gun with a slide cover plate embodying the present invention partially pushed in place and having a portion thereof broken away to show interior detail. 
         FIG.  8    is a partial perspective view of the slide of a hand gun with a slide cover plate embodying the present invention and having a different portion thereof broken away to show interior detail. 
         FIG.  9    is a bottom view of the slide of a hand gun, viewed from below, with a slide cover plate embodying the present invention in place. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1    shows a known striker-fired hand gun with an original slide cover plate, in perspective view, according to the state of the art. In the slide  2  the closing the end portion  4  of slide  2 , opposite to the muzzle  3 , is closed by an original slide cover plate  1 ST. This at the same time provides support for an end portion  11  of a spring striker unit  5  and/or an end portion  21  of a spring extractor unit  15  inside of the slide  2 . The original slide cover plate  1 ST is pushed from below into a groove  7  situated in a cross direction to the longitudinal axis of the slide  2 . For this operation, an appropriate tool is necessary to compress the spring(s), preferably on the end portions  11  and/or  21 , and then keep pushing the end portions  11  and/or  21 . 
       FIG.  2    shows the same hand gun as seen in  FIG.  1   , but with the original slide cover plate  1 ST replaced by a new slide cover plate  1  embodying the present invention. In this case, the end portion  11  and/or end portion  21  cannot be reached because the slide cover plate  1  is larger in the direction of push. The reach by tool would be impossible. 
     The above-mentioned facts are illustrated in  FIGS.  3 - 6    from a different view. 
       FIG.  3    shows end portion  4  of slide  2  and the original slide cover plate  1 ST in back view. 
       FIG.  4    shows in similar back view the end portion  4  of the slide  2  and end of the slide cover plate  1  of the present invention to be pushed. Here the new slide cover plate  1  comprises a backwardly protruding part  9  having larger face area  17  than the cross sectioned area of the slide  2  at its end portion  4 . The backwardly protruding part  9  further may comprise an upright protruding elevated rim  16 , and two side wings  14  for enhanced grip. In this embodiment, the wings together with the upright protruding elevated rim  16  form together a rounded corner square as the face area  17 . The face area  17  of backwardly protruding part  9  may bear text and/or logo, if desired. 
       FIG.  5    shows the original slide cover plate  1 ST which is in an intermediate position  10 . To move further a tool is necessary to push end portion  11  and then end portion  21 . 
       FIG.  6    shows the original slide cover plate  1 ST is in at final position  8  after the push movement has been finished. 
       FIG.  7    shows the slide  2  with half pushed slide cover plate. A recess  13  can be seen, through which the end portions  11  and  21  can be pushed inwardly. In  FIG.  8    the slide cover plate  1  is in its final position  8 . 
       FIG.  9    shows the slide  2  with fully pushed slide cover plate  1 . The backwardly protruding part  9  comprises a larger face area than the cross sectioned area of the slide  2  at its end portion  4 . It also shows that the slide cover plate  1  comprises a hollow part  12 , which forms a recess for reaching the end of the spring striker unit and/or the end portion  21  of the spring extractor unit by a tool when the slide cover plate  1  is pushed into the groove but is in an intermediate position different from the terminal position. Hollow section  12  and recess extend on opposite side of the face area  17  of the backwardly protruding part  9  in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the slide  2 . 
     The slide cover plate  1  of the present invention can be made in one single piece for example by moulding or casting. In another embodiment, the backwardly protruding part  9  is carrying on its face area  17  a light emitting display means. 
     In an embodiment the backwardly protruding part  9  may include a striker pin indicator. The striker pin indicator can be a borehole  18  and a pin  19  movable in the borehole. The pin  19  can be protruding and/or conspicuous in its colour. 
     The slide cover plate  1  of the present invention can be used in certain airsoft guns and airguns, if the respective parts are removable in those guns. The existence, location, and function of the mentioned spring elements may be different from that of the corresponding ones in real firearms. 
     The slide cover plate  1  of the present invention can include a dedicated electronic RFID identification tag for promoting quick and easy identification of guns, or any other kind of dedicated electronic chip with an electric power source. In this latter case different goals can also be achieved, such as, for e.g., logging number and time of shots. This can be realised using integrated accelerometer and clock. These features may be advantageous among others in case of duty pistols where the identification is necessary before and after duty, and logging during duty. The corresponding RFID identification tag or the dedicated electronic chip with electric power source may be moulded inside, glued or mechanically attached to the slide cover plate  1 . The RFID identification tag in one embodiment is comprising a programmable RFID identification chip. 
     The advantage of the present invention is a simple and easily manufactured element, which is quickly rechargeable and reliably placed instead of the original one. Furthermore, it provides usable space for special clips, e.g. pockets or belts.