Patent Publication Number: US-2023137635-A1

Title: Modular firearm control unit

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The first firearms use began in the 14 th  century and essentially were small enough cannons to be held by a man. These firearms required a match, spark, or ember light a flash pan that held primer powder to be able to fire these primitive firearms. In time, a matchlock mechanism was developed which lowered a match to the flash pan of the firearm when a trigger was pulled. This allowed the user to hold and aim a gun while waiting for it to fire. Even though the matchlock mechanism allowed the user to aim the firearm, an external fire source to light the matchlock was still necessary to ignite gunpowder when the trigger was pulled. The flintlock mechanism improved upon the matchlock because the flintlock mechanism created a spark, on demand, when the trigger was pulled to ignite the primer powder in the flash pan. The problem with the flintlock mechanism is that the mechanism often misfired in inclement weather and failed to ignite wet powder making the reliability of firearms with a flintlock mechanism questionable. This prompted the creation of a percussion cap. Percussion caps contained a dry mixture of chemicals which were explosively sensitive to shock (e.g., from a falling hammer on a firearm) and allowed a user to fire reliable regardless of the weather. Percussion caps, containing a shock-sensitive explosive, ignited upon the impact of a hammer that was released when the trigger was pulled which allowed fire created by the explosion to ignite gunpowder within the firearm and fire a bullet. 
     As firearms improved so did the ammunition used with the firearms. Ammunition like that used in a cannon was round (e.g., a ball) and advanced from stone to iron and later to lead. Cannon balls were installed in a barrel and rammed into a seated position on top of gunpowder in the cannon, or on a wad between the gunpowder and the cannon ball. These cannon balls were wildly inaccurate because of an unpredictable spin that occurred when the cannon balls were fired. Firearms of the era were also “smoothbore” (e.g., lacking grooves) which caused unpredictable spin on a lead ball or cannon ball. To improve accuracy, helical rifle grooves were machined into the inside of barrels in both cannons and firearms. Machining these grooves was called rifling and was not initially popular because rifling made rifle cleaning a substantially more difficult task. Refinements in gunpowder technology and the development of ammunition cartridges increased the popularity of rifled barrels because shooters benefited from the accuracy improvements while also reducing the work associated with cleaning a firearm barrel. 
     The development of an ammunition cartridge, which contained all the components necessary to fire a projectile from a firearm in one object, revolutionized firearms technology. Ammunition cartridges include a metallic case, preferably brass, fitted to accept a primer, gunpowder, and a projectile. More commonly, an ammunition cartridge is referred to as a “bullet” even though the projectile, the bullet, is but one element of an ammunition cartridge. One of the reasons for this clarification is that ammunition cartridges are made in different sizes. The sizes are often labeled by the diameter of the bullet also referred to as a caliber. Caliber was originally used to define the diameter of a barrel bore and now it is often used to describe bullets corresponding to the bore diameter. For example, a brass case may be a particular size, provide a primer pocket for receiving a primer of a particular size, have an internal volume of a specific size to receive gun powder, and may further accept a bullet of a particular caliber typically measured in tenths or thousandths of an inch in the United States and using metric diameter measurements in countries that use metric measurements. 
     The development of ammunition cartridges further improved the moving of ammunition into a chamber of a firearm and the speed of firing. Two devices were created to hold ammunition in a usable position within a firearm, a clip, and a magazine. A clip groups ammunition cartridges together, but has no moving parts. Firearms that use clips contain mechanisms to move the ammunition cartridge from the clip and inserts the round into a firing position in the chamber. The magazine, often mistakenly identified as a clip, aids in not only storing rounds but also moving the round into firing position by use of spring tension pushing magazines towards a top of the magazines. The dimensions of magazines depend on many ammunition cartridge and firearm characteristics, including the caliber of bullet, the length of the firearm frame, the angle of magazine port, the number of ammunition rounds, the firearm retrieval site, the type of bolt or slide, the size and shape of the magazine port, the weight preferences, and etc. The dimensional specifications of magazines make modularity extremely difficult in that a magazine designed for a particular firearm will only operate within that particular firearm model. Any seemingly minor change in the dimensions of a magazine from one model to another renders such magazine useless to any other firearm model even if it contains ammunition of the same caliber. 
     To accommodate for different dimensional specifications for magazines, firearms manufacturers have created different models of firearms that are designed for shooters with different grip preferences or hand sizes. For example, a user may prefer a wider grip, while another likes a longer grip, another may wish to conceal a handgun and desire a smaller grip profile, while others may desire a magazine that holds a desired number of ammunition cartridges. All of these alterations change the dimension of the firearm magazine and in so doing changes the mechanisms for receiving the cartridges stored in the magazine. 
     To further explain using an automatic pistol, a pistol can be grouped into two major parts an upper portion referred to herein as an upper or slide portion and a lower or frame portion. In some embodiments, the slide portion may include parts such as a slide, barrel, guide rod, recoil spring, firing pin, ammunition receiving port, receiver rail, and ammunition ejector port and others that are all appropriately sized for a certain caliber of ammunition. In some embodiments, the frame portion may include trigger group, grip, magazine receiver port, magazine, magazine ejector button, ejector button, connector rail, disassembly pin, and lever which are largely sized for function and comfort independent of caliber, with the exception of the magazine and magazine receiver port in this example. Both the slide portion and frame portions are interconnected and interrelated. A receiver rail in the frame and a connector rail in the slide must both be aligned, or a slider portion cannot connect with a frame portion. If a slide removal pin is not aligned correctly, the pistol cannot be taken apart (field stripped) to allow for a more thorough cleaning. A trigger assembly in the frame portion does not work if it does not interact with the firing pin in the slide portion. Finally, the ammunition feed port where a magazine offloads a bullet into a receiving chamber of the firearm cannot function properly if not aligned correctly. In other words, if a magazine is not precisely positioned within a firearm, the firearm will not successfully load an ammunition cartridge to be fired. Further, magazines with dimensional specifications that include even very minor differences cannot be used in a firearm for which the magazine is not intended because ammunition cartridges will not properly exit the ammunition feed port in the magazine into the chamber of the firearm due to misalignment of the magazine and the firearm. Any of these misalignments may not only keep the pistol from firing properly but may also cause misfires or cause ammunition cartridges to detonate at an improper location putting both the user and any bystanders in mortal danger. 
     It is therefore on object of the disclosure to provide an improved fire control unit which reduces the number of parts required to operate a firearm. It is another object of this disclosure to provide a fire control unit that correctly meets all caliber specific dimensions for a particular firearm. It is another object of this disclosure to provide a fire control unit which is easily removable from a grip or frame of a firearm. It is another object of this disclosure to provide a fire control unit that functionally corresponds with a slide of a firearm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed herein is a modular firearm control unit that allows the lower portion of a first firearm to become compatible with an upper portion of a second firearm that are not normally compatible while providing satisfactory operation of the firearm. 
     Further disclosed herein is a rigid insert of a modular firearm control unit. The rigid insert of the modular firearm control unit includes a first set of slide rails and an aperture. The aperture is compatible with a frame aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive implementations of the disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Advantages of the disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a left-sided perspective view of an embodiment of a modular firearm control unit. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a right-sided perspective view of an embodiment of a modular firearm control unit. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a left-sided view of an embodiment of a rigid insert for a modular firearm control unit. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of a rigid insert for modular firearm control unit. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of modular firearm control unit. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of modular firearm control unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure provides novel modular firearm frames which may be used with various types of firearms including semi-automatic pistols, modern sporting rifles, automatic rifles, semi-automatic rifles, and other firearms. 
     In the following description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific implementations in which the disclosure is may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific techniques and embodiments are set forth, such as particular techniques and configurations, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the device disclosed herein. While the techniques and embodiments will primarily be described in context with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the techniques and embodiments may also be practiced in other similar devices. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. It is further noted that elements disclosed with respect to particular embodiments are not restricted to only those embodiments in which they are described. For example, an element described in reference to one embodiment or figure, may be alternatively included in another embodiment or figure regardless of whether or not those elements are displayed or described in another embodiment or figure. In other words, elements in the figures may be interchangeable between various embodiments disclosed herein, whether shown or not. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a left-side view of a modular firearm control unit  100 . Modular firearm control unit  100  includes frame  150  that may incorporate rigid insert  105 . Frame  150  may envelop rigid insert  105  integrating then rigid insert into the modular frame (e.g., an over mold of rigid insert  105  into frame  150 ). Frame  150  may be made of various combination of materials that may include metal (i.e., steel, bronze, copper, tin, zinc, metals, metal alloys, and the like according to particular applications), thermoplastics (i.e., polyamide polyphthalamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketones and other polymers) or other synthetic or natural materials. Further a portion of rigid insert  105  may be exposed and interact with a firearm slide and/or the lower portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may also be manufactured using various materials and combinations of synthetic or natural materials and need not be specifically metal. Moreover, rigid insert  105  may be more rigid than frame  150  though it is possible that both frame  150  and rigid insert  105  may be composed of the same materials. Rigid insert  105  may include distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may include proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include a bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Below distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B is located distal pin apertures  110 A shown in  FIG.  2    because of view angle) and  110 B. Distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B may be used in accommodate a pin. This pin may be an internal pin not extending to the outside of a firearm. Runners  135 A and  135 B may be connected to a lower plate not enveloped by frame  150 . Further, this plate may extend proximally and include proximal apertures  145 A and  145 B that may be included to reduce weight or may be used to receive a pin connecting the modular firearm control unit  100  to a portion of a firearm. 
     Rigid insert  105  may include runners  135 A and  135 B that are located closer to the proximal end of rigid insert  105  than the distal end of rigid insert  105 . Runners  135 A and  135 B may include distinct shapes and sizes. For instance, runner  135 B may include a notch where runner  135 A may not. Further runners  135 A and  135 B may be partially exposed, or rather, not completely enveloped by frame  150 . Alternatively, runners  135 A and  135 B may be completely enveloped in frame  150  such that no portion of runners  135 A and  135 B are exposed. 
     Modular firearm control unit  100  may further include slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B. Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B extend through both frame  150  and rigid insert  105 . Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B are positioned to accommodate a slide stop that may extend from the left side of frame  150  to the right side of frame  150 . Modular firearm control unit  100  may also include housing apertures  125 A and  125 B positioned to accommodate a trigger housing pin. The trigger housing pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  through the right and left side of rigid insert  105  and then through the left side of frame  150 . Locking block pin aperture  130 A and  130 B are located above and proximally to housing pin aperture  125 A and  125 B are positioned to receive a housing pin. Frame  150  includes an aperture on both the left and the right side of the frame  150  allowing a housing pin to extend from one side of frame  150  to another. 
     Frame  150  may further include trigger housing aperture  165  that is located on a trigger mechanism housing  160  which is a downward extending portion of frame  150 . trigger housing aperture  165  may open on a right side of frame  150  and a left side of frame  150  to accommodate a pin that would run perpendicularly to the length of frame  150 . Frame  150  further includes recoil spring housing  155  that may include a curved bottom sized to accommodate a recoil spring from a firearm. Distal plate  170  sections off the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. Further, distal plate  170  may be shaped to follow the angle of the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. At the same time, proximal plate  175  sections off the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160  and follows the curvature of the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. 
     Each firearm intrinsically has advantages and disadvantages. The firearm control unit is intended to exploit the advantages of two different firearms not normally compatible. For example, the firearm control unit may be used as an intermediary between an upper portion of a first firearm (e.g., a slide) and a lower portion of a second firearm (e.g., a grip module), creating a single functional firearm from different models, for example, of firearms. Non-serialized parts may be further provided as aftermarket parts so that a slide from a first firearm may be connectable to the disclosed firearm control unit, which may be connectable to grip modules with different features, such as being smaller for concealment, tactical for attaching lights, or sighting equipment by use of picatinny rails, or handles that are larger for more comfortable shooting, for example. Further, the firearm control unit modifies and consolidates individual parts found in the lower and or upper portion of the different firearms to create the firearm control unit. The firearm control unit renders unnecessary one or more parts in a particular firearm model for ease and convenience of use while also making replacement of other parts, such as trigger components, a simple matter. Combining parts to create a firearm control unit not only creates stability but also allows a user to have a single unit that is easily stored, located, installed, and modified by other modular parts provided by aftermarket manufacturers. As a result, the firearm control unit is able to exploit advantages of two different firearms (or aftermarket parts), not normally compatible with the firearm as originally manufactured, to be used together in a single functional firearm. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a right-side view of a modular firearm control unit  200  which is similar in many cases to modular firearm control unit  100 , shown in  FIG.  1   . Modular firearm control unit  200  includes frame  150  that may incorporate rigid insert  105 . Frame  150  may envelop rigid insert  105  integrating then rigid insert into the modular frame (e.g., an overmold of rigid insert  105  into frame  150 ). Frame  150  may be made of various combination of materials that may include metal (i.e., steel, bronze, copper, tin, zinc, metals, metal alloys, and the like according to particular applications), thermoplastics (i.e., polyamide polyphthalamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketones and other polymers) or other synthetic or natural materials. Further a portion of rigid insert  105  may be exposed and interact with the slide and/or the lower portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may also be manufactured using various materials and combinations of synthetic or natural materials and need not be specifically metal. Moreover, rigid insert  105  may be more rigid than frame  150  though it is possible that both frame  150  and rigid insert  105  may be composed of the same materials. Rigid insert  105  may include distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may include proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include a bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Below distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B are located distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B (shown in  FIG.  1   , due to the angle of view of  FIG.  2   ). Distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B may be used to accommodate a pin disposed between distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B. This pin may be an internal pin not extending to the outside of a firearm. Runners  135 A and  135 B may be connected to a lower plate of rigid insert  105  not enveloped by frame  150 . Further this plate may extend proximally and include proximal apertures  145 A and  145 B that may be included to reduce weight or may be used to receive a pin connecting the modular firearm control unit  200  to a portion of a firearm. 
     Rigid insert  105  may include runners  135 A and  135 B that are located closer to the proximal end of rigid insert  105  than the distal end of rigid insert  105 . Runners  135 A and  135 B may include distinct shapes and sizes. For instance, runner  135 B may include a notch where runner  135 A may not. Additionally, runners  135 A may include a position for a firearm serial number located an outside portion of the flat surface of one of runners  135 A, as required by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives. Alternatively, runners  135 A and  135 B may be identically shaped. One or more portions of runners  135 A and  135 B may be exposed. Alternatively, runners  135 A and  135 B may be completely enveloped in frame  150  such that no portion of runners  135 A and  135 B are exposed. 
     Modular firearm control unit  200  may further include slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B. Both frame  150  and rigid insert  105  may include slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B. Further, slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B may be positioned to accommodate a slide stop that may extend from the left side of frame  150  to the right side of frame  150 . Modular firearm control unit  200  may also include trigger housing apertures  125 A and  125 B positioned to accommodate a trigger housing pin. The trigger housing pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  through the right and left side of rigid insert  105  and then through the left side of frame  150  requiring housing apertures  125  on both the left and the right sides. Locking block pin aperture  130 A and  130 B ( 130 B shown in  FIG.  1   ) are located above and proximally to housing pin aperture  125 A and  125 B are positioned to receive a housing pin. Frame  150  includes an aperture on both the left and the right side of the frame  150  allowing a housing pin to extend from one side of frame  150  to another. 
     Frame  150  may further include trigger housing aperture  165  that is located on a trigger mechanism housing  160  which is a downward extending portion of frame  150 . trigger housing aperture  165  may open on a right side of frame  150  and a left side of frame  150  to accommodate a pin that runs perpendicularly to the length of frame  150 . Frame  150  further includes recoil spring housing  155  that may include a curved bottom sized to accommodate a recoil spring from a firearm. Distal plate  170  sections off the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing and follows the angle of the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. At the same time, proximal plate  175  sections off the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing and follows the curvature of the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a left-sided view  300  of an embodiment of rigid insert  305  for a modular firearm control unit (shown in part as rigid insert  105  in  FIGS.  1  and  2    due to over molding). Rigid insert  305  may be comprised of a right side and a left side and may include distal cross brace  350  and proximal cross brace  355  to provide stability between the left and right side of rigid insert  305  which may be necessary to maintain structural cohesion when forces from firing a projectile are applied to frame  150  in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , for example). Distal cross brace  350  may be located below distal slide rails  315 A and  315 B while proximal cross brace  355  may be located proximal slide rails  340 A and  340 B. Distal slide rails  315 A and  315 B may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  305  may include proximal slide rails  340 A and  340 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may bend towards the outside of frame  150  (not depicted in  FIG.  3   ). In an alternative embodiment, proximal slide rails  340 A and  340 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. 
     Other apertures in rigid insert  305  include distal pin apertures  310 A and  310 B that may be located above distal cross brace  350  and below distal slide rails  315 A and  315 B. Distal pin apertures  310 A and  310 B may accommodate a pin. This pin may be an internal pin and therefore may not extend to the outside of a firearm. Proximally to distal pin apertures  310 A and  310 B are slide stop slots  320 A and  320 B. Slide stop slots  320 A and  320 B are positioned to accommodate a slide stop that may extend from the left side of rigid insert  305  to the right side of rigid insert  305 . Proximally to slide stop slots  320 A and  320 B are trigger housing apertures  325 A and  325 B. Housing pin apertures  325 A and  325 B are located on both the right and left sides of rigid insert  305  respectively ( 325 A being hidden from view due to perspective). Above housing pin apertures  325 A and  325 B are locking block notches  330 A and  330 B. Locking block notches  330 A and  330 B correspond with locking block apertures  130 A and  130 B (not shown in  FIG.  3   ). Further, locking block notches  330 A and  330 B may be located on both the right and left sides of rigid insert  305 . 
     Rigid insert  305  may include runners  335 A and  335 B that are located proximally to, locking block notches  330 A and  330 B. Runners  335 A and  335 B may include distinct shapes and sizes. For instance, runner  135 B may include a notch where runner  135 A may not. Additionally, runner  135 A may include serial number located an outside portion of the flat surface of one of runners  135 A, as required by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives. Alternatively, runners  335 A and  335 B may be identically shaped. One or more portions of runners  335 A and  335 B may be exposed. Alternatively, runners  335 A and  335 B may be completely enveloped in Frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   ) such that no portion of runners  335 A and  335 B are exposed. Runners  335 A and  335 B may include apertures to aid in attaching rigid insert  305  to frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   ) and may also be used to reduce the overall weight of modular firearm control unit  100  (shown and discussed above with respect to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   ). Near the most proximal portion of rigid insert  305  proximal apertures  345 A and  345 B may be included to accommodate a pin to further secure modular firearm control unit to a firearm (not depicted in its entirety). 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a top perspective view  400  of an embodiment of a rigid insert  105  for modular firearm control unit  100  (shown, for example, in  FIG.  1   , above). Rigid insert  105  may include a right side and a left side and may include distal cross brace  350  and proximal cross brace  355  to provide stability between the left and right side of rigid insert  305 . Distal cross brace  350  may be located below distal slide rails  315 A and  315 B while proximal cross brace  355  may be located below proximal slide rails  340 A and  340 B. 
     Distal cross brace  350  may extend towards the proximal end the same distance as distal slide rails  315 A and  315 B. At the same time, distal slide rails  340 A and  340 B may extend proximally more than proximal cross brace  355  to accommodate the curvature of the trigger mechanism housing  160  (shown in  FIG.  1   , above). In an alternative embodiment the sizes on the two bridges may vary or may include additional connections between the left and right sides for strength, rigidity, or functional reasons. Locking block notches  330 A and  330 B are located proximally to distal slide rails  315 A and  315 B and distally to runners  335 A and  335 B. Locking block notches  330 A and  330 B corresponds with locking block pin apertures  130 A and  130 B (shown in  FIG.  1   ). Further, locking block notches  330 A and  330 B may be located on both the right and left sides of rigid insert  305 . Runners  335 A and  335 B are located distally to proximal slide rails  340 A and  340 B and both the right and the left runners  335 A and  335 B bends outward on the distal end then bends inward on the proximal end. These bends allow the modular control unit  100  (as shown in  FIG.  1   ) to properly mate with one or more components of another firearm. 
     Proximal slide rails  340  may be located distally to runners  335 A and  335 B. Proximal slide rails  340  are located to be able to accommodate a slide of a firearm (not shown). Proximal slide rails  340 A and  340 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include bend towards the outside of frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  1   ). Alternatively, proximal slide rails  340 A and  340 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Runners  335 A and  335 B may be connected to a lower plate not enveloped by frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  1   , for example). 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of modular firearm control unit  500 . Frame  150  may envelop rigid insert  105  integrating then rigid insert  105  into the modular frame. Frame  150  may be made of various combination of materials that may include metal (i.e., steel, bronze, copper, tin, zinc, metals, metal alloys, and the like according to particular applications), thermoplastics (i.e., polyamide polyphthalamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketones and other polymers) or other synthetic or natural materials. Further a portion of rigid insert  105  may be exposed and interact with the slied and/or the lower portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may also be composed using various materials and combinations of synthetic or natural materials and need not be specifically metal. Moreover, rigid insert  105  may be more rigid than frame  150  though it is possible that both frame  150  and rigid insert  105  may be composed of the same materials. Rigid insert  105  may include distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may include proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include a bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Below distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B is located distal pin apertures  110 A (as shown in  FIG.  1   ) and  110 B (as shown in  FIG.  1   ). Distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B may be used in accommodate a pin. This pin may be an internal pin not extending to the outside of a firearm. Runners  135 A and  135 B may be connected to a lower plate not enveloped by frame  150 . Further, this plate may extend proximally and include proximal apertures  145 A and  145 B that may be included to reduce weight or may be used to receive a pin connecting the modular firearm control unit  100  to a portion of a firearm. 
     Frame  150  further includes recoil spring housing  155  that may include a concave arcuate shaped bottom sized to accommodate a recoil spring from a firearm (e.g., having a profile that is opposite of a cylinder or a tapered cylinder). Recoil spring housing  155  may further include ribs  180 A and  180 B and stringers  185 A and  185 B. Ribs  180 A and  180 B may be shaped as a concave arcuate profile and run orthogonally to the length of frame  150 . Stringers  185 A and  185 B, alternatively, may run parallel to the length of frame  150 . Exemplary ribs  180 A and  180 B and stringers  185 A and  185 B may provide a structural framework without adding weight and may include a single or a plurality of ribs  180 A and  108 B and stringers  185 A and  185 B. In an alternative embodiment, recoil spring housing  155  may be shaped in a solid inverted arch without ribs  180 A and  180 B and stringers  185 A and  180 B. Distal plate  170  sections off the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160  and follows the angle of the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160 . At the same time, proximal plate  175  sections off the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160  and follows the curvature of the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of modular firearm control unit  600 . Frame  150  may envelop at least portions of rigid insert  105  integrating rigid insert  105  into the modular frame. Frame  150  may be made of various combination of materials that may include metal (i.e., steel, bronze, copper, tin, zinc, metals, metal alloys, and the like according to particular applications), thermoplastics (i.e., polyamide polyphthalamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketones and other polymers) or other synthetic or natural materials. Further a portion of rigid insert  105  may be exposed and interact with the slide and/or the lower portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may also be composed using various materials and combinations of synthetic or natural materials and need not be specifically metal. Moreover, rigid insert  105  may be more rigid than frame  150  though it is possible that both frame  150  and rigid insert  105  may be composed of the same materials. Rigid insert  105  may include distal slide rails  115  A and  115 B ( 115 B shown in  FIG.  5   ) that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may include proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B (shown in  FIG.  5   ) that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include a bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Below distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B are located distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B (shown in  FIG.  1   , for example). Distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B may be used in accommodate a pin. This pin may be an internal pin not extending to the outside of a firearm. Runners  135 A and  135 B may be connected to a lower plate not enveloped by frame  150 . Further, this plate may extend proximally and include proximal apertures  145 A and  145 B that may be included to reduce weight or may be used to receive a pin connecting the modular firearm control unit  600  to a portion of a firearm. 
     Rigid insert  105  may include runners  135 A and  135 B that are located closer to the proximal end of rigid insert  105  than the distal end of rigid insert  105 . Runners  135 A and  135 B may include distinct shapes and sizes. For instance, one side may include a notch where the other does not. One or more portions of runners  135 A and  135 B may be exposed. Alternatively, runners  135 A and  135 B may be completely enveloped in frame  150  such that no portion of runners  135 A and  135 B are exposed. Moreover, bridge  195  of rigid insert  105  may be exposed on the bottom portion of frame  150  opposite distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B. 
     Modular firearm control unit  600  may further include slide stop slots  120  A and B. Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B extend through both frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  5   ) and rigid insert  105 . Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B are positioned to accommodate a slide stop that may extend from the left side of frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  5   ) to the right side of frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  5   ). Modular firearm control unit  100  may also include trigger housing apertures  125 A and  125 B positioned to accommodate a trigger housing pin. The trigger housing pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  through the right and left side of rigid insert  105  and then through the left side of frame  150 . Locking block pin aperture  130 A and  130 B ( 130 B not shown due to view angle) are located above and proximally to housing pin apertures  125 A and  125 B ( 125 B not shown due to view angle) are positioned to receive a housing pin. 
     Frame  150  may further include trigger housing aperture  165  that is located on a trigger mechanism housing  160  which is a downward extending portion of frame  150 . Trigger housing apertures  165 A and  165 B ( 165 B not shown due to view angle) such that an inserted pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  to a left side of frame  150  perpendicularly to the length of frame  150 . Frame  150  further includes proximal plate  175  sections off the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160  and follows the curvature of the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160 . Firearm control unit further displays the outside portion of distal cross brace  190  located below slide rails  115 A and  115 B. 
     Modular firearm control unit  600  may further include slide stop slots  120  A and B. Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B extend through both frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  5   ) and rigid insert  105 . Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B are positioned to accommodate a slide stop that may extend from the left side of frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  5   ) to the right side of frame  150  (shown in  FIG.  5   ). Modular firearm control unit  100  may also include trigger housing apertures  125 A and  125 B positioned to accommodate a trigger housing pin. The trigger housing pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  through the right and left side of rigid insert  105  and then through the left side of frame  150 . Locking block pin aperture  130 A and  130 B ( 130 B not shown due to view angle) are located above and proximally to housing pin apertures  125 A and  125 B ( 125 B not shown due to view angle) are positioned to receive a housing pin. 
     Frame  150  may further include trigger housing aperture  165  that is located on a trigger mechanism housing  160  which is a downward extending portion of frame  150 . Trigger housing apertures  165 A and  165 B ( 165 B not shown due to view angle) such that an inserted pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  to a left side of frame  150  perpendicularly to the length of frame  150 . Frame  150  further includes proximal plate  175  sections off the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160  and follows the curvature of the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160 . Firearm control unit further displays the outside portion of distal cross brace  190  located below slide rails  115 A and  115 B. 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a left-side view of a modular firearm control unit  700 . Modular firearm control unit  700  includes frame  150  that may incorporate rigid insert  105 . Frame  150  may envelop rigid insert  105  integrating then rigid insert into the modular frame (e.g., an over mold of rigid insert  105  into frame  150 ). Frame  150  may be made of various combination of materials that may include metal (i.e., steel, bronze, copper, tin, zinc, metals, metal alloys, and the like according to particular applications), thermoplastics (i.e., polyamide polyphthalamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketones and other polymers) or other synthetic or natural materials. Further a portion of rigid insert  105  may be exposed and interact with a firearm slide and/or the lower portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may also be manufactured using various materials and combinations of synthetic or natural materials and need not be specifically metal. Moreover, rigid insert  105  may be more rigid than frame  150  though it is possible that both frame  150  and rigid insert  105  may be composed of the same materials. Rigid insert  105  may include distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Rigid insert  105  may include proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B that may extend upward from the main part of the frame and may further include a bend towards the outside of frame  150 . Alternatively, proximal slide rails  140 A and  140 B may include different bends in one or more directions to accommodate a slide or an upper portion of a firearm. Below distal slide rails  115 A and  115 B is located distal pin apertures  110 A (shown in  FIG.  2    because of view angle) and  110 B. Distal pin apertures  110 A and  110 B may be used in accommodate a pin. This pin may be an internal pin not extending to the outside of a firearm. Runners  135 A and  135 B may be connected to a lower plate not enveloped by frame  150 . Further, this plate may extend proximally and include proximal apertures  145 A and  145 B that may be included to reduce weight or may be used to receive a pin connecting the modular firearm control unit  100  to a portion of a firearm. 
     Rigid insert  105  may include runners  135 A and  135 B that are located closer to the proximal end of rigid insert  105  than the distal end of rigid insert  105 . Runners  135 A and  135 B may include distinct shapes and sizes. For instance, runner  135 B may include a notch where runner  135 A may not. Further runners  135 A and  135 B may be partially exposed, or rather, not completely enveloped by frame  150 . Alternatively, runners  135 A and  135 B may be completely enveloped in frame  150  such that no portion of runners  135 A and  135 B are exposed. 
     Modular firearm control unit  700  may further include slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B. Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B extend through both frame  150  and rigid insert  105 . Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B are positioned to accommodate a slide stop that may extend from the left side of frame  150  to the right side of frame  150 . Modular firearm control unit  100  may also include housing apertures  125 A and  125 B positioned to accommodate a trigger housing pin. The trigger housing pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  through the right and left side of rigid insert  105  and then through the left side of frame  150 . Locking block pin aperture  130 A and  130 B are located above and proximally to housing pin aperture  125 A and  125 B are positioned to receive a housing pin. Frame  150  includes apertures  125 A and  125 B on both the left and the right side of the frame  150  allowing a housing pin to extend from one side of frame  150  to another. 
     Frame  150  may further include trigger housing aperture  165  that is located on a trigger mechanism housing  160  which is a downward extending portion of frame  150 . trigger housing aperture  165  may open on a right side of frame  150  and a left side of frame  150  to accommodate a pin that would run perpendicularly to the length of frame  150 . Frame  150  further includes recoil spring housing  155  that may include a curved bottom sized to accommodate a recoil spring from a firearm. Distal plate  170  sections off the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. Further, distal plate  170  may be shaped to follow the angle of the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. At the same time, proximal plate  175  sections off the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160  and follows the curvature of the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates a left-sided perspective view of an embodiment of frame  150  in a modular firearm control unit  800 . Frame  150  may be made of various combination of materials that may include metal (i.e., steel, bronze, copper, tin, zinc, metals, metal alloys, and the like according to particular applications), thermoplastics (i.e., polyamide polyphthalamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketones and other polymers) or other synthetic or natural materials. 
     Frame  150  may include slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B. Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B extend through both frame  150  and rigid insert  105 . Slide stop slots  120 A and  120 B are positioned to accommodate a slide stop that may extend from the left side of frame  150  to the right side of frame  150 . Modular firearm control unit  100  may also include housing apertures  125 A and  125 B positioned to accommodate a trigger housing pin. The trigger housing pin may extend from a right side of frame  150  through the right and left side of rigid insert  105  and then through the left side of frame  150 . Locking block pin aperture  130 A and  130 B are located above and proximally to housing pin aperture  125 A and  125 B are positioned to receive a housing pin. Frame  150  includes an aperture on both the left and the right side of the frame  150  allowing a housing pin to extend from one side of frame  150  to another. 
     Frame  150  may further include trigger housing aperture  165  that is located on a trigger mechanism housing  160  which is a downward extending portion of frame  150 . trigger housing aperture  165  may open on a right side of frame  150  and a left side of frame  150  to accommodate a pin that would run perpendicularly to the length of frame  150 . Frame  150  further includes recoil spring housing  155  that may include a curved bottom sized to accommodate a recoil spring from a firearm. Distal plate  170  sections off the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. Further, distal plate  170  may be shaped to follow the angle of the distal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. At the same time, proximal plate  175  sections off the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing  160  and follows the curvature of the proximal portion of the trigger mechanism housing. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the invention to the precise forms or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. For example, components described herein may be removed and other components added without departing from the scope or spirit of the embodiments disclosed herein or the appended claims. 
     Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.