Patent Publication Number: US-10330415-B2

Title: Trigger bar for a firearm

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/483,928, filed Apr. 10, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates to firearms, and more particularly relates to a trigger bar configured to reduce or eliminate trigger slack. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Trigger slack is any “positive” movement of the trigger (i.e., pulling of the trigger) that does not cause the sear to move and does not engage the mainspring. In this manner, trigger slack is the initial movement from a resting position of the trigger up to the point where the shooter feels resistance. In some instances, trigger slack may be undesirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the systems and methods for reducing or removing trigger slack in a firearm disclosed herein. In some instances, a method comprises positioning a plunger safety tab to a front end of a body of a trigger bar. The plunger safety is positioned more forward on the body relative to an OEM plunger safety tab. The method also includes positioning a cruciform coupled to the rear end of the body. The cruciform is positioned more forward on the body relative to an OEM cruciform. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably. 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a trigger bar for reducing or removing the trigger slack of a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts a trigger bar for reducing or removing the trigger slack of a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2( a )  depicts a trigger bar for reducing or removing the trigger slack of a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2( b )  depicts a trigger bar for reducing or removing the trigger slack of a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  depicts a trigger bar before a trigger is engaged in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  depicts the trigger bar during the trigger engagement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3C  depicts the trigger bar after the trigger has been fully engaged in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a trigger shoe, a trigger, and a lateral extending leg of the trigger bar in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  depicts the trigger bar engaged with the trigger shoe in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure provides systems and methods for safely and easily reducing or removing trigger slack from pistols (such as Glock® pistols) without circumventing the mechanical safeties of the firearm. For example, in one embodiment, one or more portions of the trigger bar are reconfigured within the trigger shoe such that trigger slack is reduced or removed without compromising any of the mechanical safeties of the pistol safety system. In some instances, the pistol may be a Glock® pistol or the like. Any suitable pistol may be used. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict an OEM trigger bar  100  with the repositioned components of the trigger bar shown in solid lines and the original positioned components shown in dashed lines to illustrate the relative repositioning of the repositioned components relative to the OEM position of the components. As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the OEM trigger bar  100  may include a body  102 , a lateral extending leg  104 , a plunger safety tab  106 , and a cruciform  108 . The lateral extending leg  104  is configured to engage a trigger shoe. The plunger safety tab  106  is configured to engage a striker safety pin. The cruciform  108  is configured to engage a firing pin lug on a striker assembly. The trigger bar  100  may include a front end  105 , a rear end  107 , a top portion  109 , and a bottom portion  111 . 
       FIG. 1A  shows a top view of the repositioned cruciform  208  (shown by solid lines) relative to the OEM cruciform  108  (shown by dashed lines) on the OEM trigger bar  100 . For example, the repositioned cruciform  208  may be moved forward about 0.040″ about the body  102  of the trigger bar  100  towards the front end  105  of the trigger bar  100 . The repositioned cruciform  208  may be moved any suitable distance forward on the body  102  of the trigger bar  100 . In some instances, a front portion of the repositioned cruciform  208  may be attached to the body  102  of the trigger bar  100  at or near the start of a lateral bend about the rear end  107  of the body  102  of the trigger bar  100 . In this manner, the repositioned cruciform  208  may be generally forward of the OEM cruciform  108 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows a side view of the repositioned plunger safety tab  206  and sear  212  relative to the OEM plunger safety tab  106  and sear  112  on the OEM trigger bar  100 . For example, the repositioned plunger safety tab  206  may be moved forward about 0.040″ towards the front end  105  of the trigger bar  100 . The repositioned plunger safety tab  206  may be moved any suitable distance forward on the body  102  of the trigger bar  100 . In some instances, a front portion of the repositioned plunger safety tab  206  may be attached at or near the start of a lateral bend about the front end  105  of the body  102  of the trigger bar  100 . In other instances, a top portion of the repositioned plunger safety tab  206  may extend forward further than the OEM plunger safety tab  106 . In this manner, the repositioned plunger safety tab  206  may be generally forward of the OEM plunger safety tab  106 . 
     In some embodiments, the front end  105  of the trigger bar  100  rests on the front edge of a trigger bar pocket within a trigger shoe (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The positioning of the front end  105  of the trigger bar within the trigger bar pocket may contribute to how much slack (or take-up) is in a trigger. For example, if the walls of the trigger bar pocket within the trigger shoe are narrowed, then the slack in the trigger is removed. When one or more walls of the trigger bar pocket are adjusted, the trigger bar  100  components may also be adjusted to ensure the firearm properly functions without accidental discharge. For example, the repositioned plunger safety tab  206  extends further forward than the OEM plunger safety tab  106  to ensure the safety features of the firearm function properly. 
     In addition, the repositioned sear  212  may be angled upward  109  about 15 degrees relative to the OEM sear  112 . The repositioned sear  212  may be angled upward  109  between 0 and 90 degrees, and preferable between 10 and 20 degrees+/−5 degrees. The repositioned sear  212  may be angled upward  109  any suitable angle. In some instances, the repositioned sear  212  may be angled upward and form part of the repositioned cruciform  208 . 
       FIGS. 2( a ) and 2( b )  depict a trigger bar design  200  with the repositioned components and with illustrative dimensions suitable for most 9 mm Glock® handguns. The dimensions are for illustrative purposes only. The dimensions may vary depending on the style of handgun. For example, any suitable dimensions may be used.  FIG. 2( a )  depicts a top view, whereas  FIG. 2( b )  depicts a side view. As shown in  FIGS. 2( a ) and 2( b ) , the trigger bar  200  may include a body  202 , a lateral extending leg  204 , a plunger safety tab  206 , and a cruciform  208 . The lateral extending leg  204  is configured to engage a trigger shoe. The plunger safety tab  206  is configured to engage a striker safety pin. The cruciform  208  is configured to engage a firing pin lug on a striker assembly. The cruciform  208  comprises the cruciform arms  210  and the sear  212 . 
     The laterally extending leg  204  and the trigger shoe may be dimensioned and configured such that, when the trigger bar  200  is properly assembled within a pistol, it will reposition the trigger to remove or substantially reduce any slack in the trigger. Such rearward trigger repositioning in the absence of the present disclosure would result in impairment of the striker safety and the drop safety of the pistol safety system because the plunger safety tab  206  and cruciform  208  would not be properly positioned. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the trigger bar  200 , the plunger safety tab  206  and the cruciform  208  may be moved forward closer to the lateral extending leg  204  (e.g., by about 0.040 inches), as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  relative to an OEM Glock® trigger bar, to ensure proper alignment and engagement with the striker safety pin and the slot in the trigger housing (and thus the firing pin lug on the striker assembly). The plunger safety tab  206  and the cruciform  208  may be moved forward closer to the lateral extending leg  204  any suitable distance between about 0 to 0.10 inches, which distance may vary based on the particular handgun model. For instance, the distance on a Glock® G21 may be different than that of a Glock® G19. The distance the plunger safety tab  206  and the cruciform  208  are moved forward may be dependent on the configuration of the laterally extending leg  204  with respect to the trigger shoe, as well as the configuration of the leg  204  with respect to the body  202  of the trigger bar  200 . 
     In other embodiments, the sear  212  may be angled upward between 0° and 20° from the plane defined by the cruciform arms  210  to more positively engage the firing pin lug as the cruciform arm  210  slideably moves within the slot of the trigger housing, being moved up and down by the ledge formed in the slot. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a trigger bar  300  at rest within a firearm. In this position, the trigger bar  100  has a firing pin safety  314  resting on the plunger safety tab  306 . As the trigger bar  300  is engaged via a trigger (not shown) attached to the lateral extending leg  304 , the firing pin safety  314  moves traverse to the direction of the trigger bar (e.g., vertically) to move from the path of the firing pin (not shown). The firing pin safety  314  moves along the angled surface of the plunger safety tab  306 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the plunger safety tab  106  was moved 0.040 inches from the OEM&#39;s original placement to engage the firing pin safety. In other embodiments, the plunger safety tab  106  could move more or less than 0.040 inches in either direction along the trigger bar  100 . Further, in  FIG. 3A , the sear  312  is engaged with a striker  316 . In some embodiments, as in  FIG. 1A , the sear  112  is planer with the cruciform  108  or is angled 15 degrees+/−5 degrees away from the cruciform  108 . The angled sear  312 , as seen in  FIG. 3A , fully engages with the striker  316 . In some embodiments, as the trigger bar  300  moves in a rearward direction within the firearm, the sear holds the striker  316  in place. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3A-3C , in one embodiment, as the rear end  307  of the trigger bar slides along the connector  318  within the firearm, the trigger bar  300  slides at a downward angle within the firearm. In some embodiments, since the plunger safety tab  314  and the cruciform  308  are moved at least 0.040 inches towards the lateral extending leg  304 , the firearm engages the connector much quicker than the OEM provides within the firearm. One benefit to the trigger bar  300  being closer or touching the connector  318  is a faster trigger pull. In some embodiments, the trigger bar  300  rear end  307  touches the connector  318  before the trigger is engaged by a user. In other embodiments, the trigger bar  300  is 0.01 inches to 0.05 inches closer to the connector without touching the connector. After the trigger has been fully engaged, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the firing pin safety  314  is resting on top of the plunger safety tab  306  and the sear  312  disengages the striker  316 . Once the sear  312  disengages the striker, the firing pin (not shown) within the firearm strikes the primer of a bullet within the firearm. A benefit to the displacement of the plunger safety tab  306  and the cruciform is faster engagement between the trigger and the connector  318  and thus faster firing of the firearm. 
     In some embodiments, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the lateral extending leg  404  (represented by dashed lines) extends into the trigger shoe  420  of a firearm. For example, the lateral extending leg  404  slides into a trigger bar pocket  422  of the trigger shoe  420 . In some instances, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the walls of the trigger bar pocket  422  are spaced apart from the lateral extending leg  404  when in a repose position. In other instances, as seen in  FIG. 5 , the lateral extending leg  504  fits snuggly against the walls of the trigger bar pocket  522  of the trigger shoe  520  when in the repose position. The further the forward wall in the trigger pocket is spaced apart from the forward wall of the laterally extending leg  404 , the larger the trigger slack. That is, trigger slack is the delay between movement of the trigger and engagement of the trigger bar. 
     In some embodiments, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the front wall  426  of the trigger bar pocket  422  within the trigger shoe  420  is moved in a rearward direction. As used herein, “rearward direction” means towards the butt of a firearm. The front wall  426  may be moved in the rearward direction between 0.01 inch-1 inch. The front wall  426  may be moved closer to the front side  428  of the lateral extending leg  404 . In some embodiments, the front wall  426  may abut the front side  428  of the lateral extending leg  404 . In some instances, the lateral extending leg  404  may be moved rearward so the trigger bar  404  will start in the position as seen in  FIG. 3B . In other instances, the lateral extending leg  404  is pushed rearward and the plunger safety tab  306  is moved away from the rearward position to configure the trigger bar  300  to start in the position as seen in  FIG. 3A . A benefit to the front wall  426  of the trigger bar pocket  422  being moved in a rearward direction is less trigger slack between engagement of the trigger and the lateral extending leg  404 . In turn, reducing trigger slack between the engagement of the trigger and the lateral extending leg  404 , results in the trigger bar disengaging the firing pin assembly and safety pin assembly quicker, as seen sequentially in  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , the trigger bar  500  is engaged with the trigger shoe  520  where the trigger bar  500  is configured to move as soon as the trigger shoe  520  moves in either direction. The lateral extending leg  504  connects to the trigger shoe  520  by abutting the forward wall of the trigger bar pocket  522 . In some instances, the trigger bar pocket  522  matches a portion of the lateral extending leg  504 . In other instances, the wall distance between the trigger bar pocket  522  and a part of the lateral extending leg  504  are different. When one or more walls of the trigger bar pocket  422 / 522  is adjusted, the plunger safety tab  506  and the cruciform  510  can be adjusted to allow the firearm to still function properly. For example, if the walls of the trigger bar pocket  422 / 522  are adjusted 0.04 inches, then the plunger safety tab  506  and the cruciform  510  may also be adjusted 0.04 inches to ensure the firearm safety mechanisms still function properly. The adjustment within the trigger bar pocket  522  and components of the trigger bar can vary between 0.01 inch and 1 inch. 
     In this manner, when in battery, the front edge of the trigger bar comes to rest on the front edge of the trigger bar pocket machine into the trigger shoe. The position of the inner wall of the shoe dictates the amount of trigger take up that can be removed. The further back the position the wall, the more take-up that can be removed. The more take-up that is removed, the more unsafe the trigger may become. The further back the trigger bar is positioned, the further away, or off, the safety ledge of the trigger block of the cruciform on the trigger bar. Also, the portion of the trigger bar that depresses the plunger safety on the slide starts to engage the further back the trigger bar is positioned, effectively disengaging the primary safety of the firearm (e.g., Glock®) fire control system. 
     To prevent disengaging both safeties, and to create a better, safer trigger, the cruciforms and the plunger safety tab on the trigger bar are moved back to, or as close to OEM location as possible, which are more forward on the trigger bar. 
     Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.