Patent Publication Number: US-11644273-B1

Title: Pistol slide racking tool

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tool which assists in racking the slide of an automatic pistol. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Semi-automatic weapons, such as the High Standard pistol, utilize slides in the bullet loading and firing process. In loading a bullet from the pistol&#39;s magazine into its firing chamber, the slide must be pulled back to allow the uppermost bullet in the magazine to be forced into the chamber. This “racking” process is essential in the operation of a semi-automatic weapon like the High Standard and similar pistols. 
     However, racking the slide of a pistol requires a great deal of manual pulling force. Aged, arthritic, disabled, weaker users, or even those with small hands may not have enough strength to rack the slide. For these individuals, grasping the sides of a slide may not be sufficient to pull it back. And an improperly racked slide could be dangerous, causing the pistol to unilaterally and accidentally discharge. 
     Many different types of pistol attachments and devices have been proposed to assist an individual in racking the slide of a semi-automatic pistol. However, most of these prior slide assistance means comprise extraneous components which must be attached to the slide or other parts of the pistol. These still often require a certain amount of pulling force to rack the slide. In addition, such components positioned on the weapon itself, create weapon instability, making it difficult to accurately aim and shoot. Attachments also increase the overall size of the weapon, which may not allow it to fit into its holster. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a pistol slide racking tool which can be simply positioned on the slide of a semi-automatic pistol in order to allow a user to easily rack the weapon. 
     These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a pistol slide racking tool having a main body with a threaded passageway through the upper section of the main body. Two lateral arm members extend from the upper section, the inside surfaces of the arm members being tapered inward towards the end of the arm members. A tapered attachment pad is positioned adjacent to the inside surface of each arm member for placement adjacent to opposite sides of a pistol slide. A cross brace extends between the arm members. A mid-linkage member is connected to the cross brace and extends into the passageway. A shaft threadably engages the passageway through the main body and into an opening between the arm members, the shaft being connected to a handle at one end of the shaft and in contact with the mid-linkage member at the opposite end of the shaft. In order to rack the slide, the attachment pads are positioned adjacent to the sides of the slide. The shaft is rotated causing a mid-linkage member connected to the attachment pads to move the pads forward such that they are tight against the slide. Movement of the handle in the direction away from the pistol racks the slide. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  is a top view of the pistol slide racking tool of the present invention in its retracted position. 
         FIG.  1 B  is an elevation view of the pistol slide racking tool of the present invention in its retracted position. 
         FIG.  2 A  is a top view of the pistol slide racking tool of the present invention in its extended position. 
         FIG.  2 B  is an elevation view of the pistol slide racking tool of the present invention in its extended position. 
         FIG.  3    is an elevation view illustrating the positioning of the pistol slide racking tool of the present invention placed on the sides of a pistol slide, prior to racking a pistol. 
         FIG.  4    is an elevation view illustrating the pistol slide racking tool of the present invention accomplishing the racking of a pistol. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The pistol slide racking tool of the present invention  1  comprises main body  2  having first lateral arm member  3  with linear inside surface  4  and linear outside surface  6  and second lateral arm member  8  with linear inside surface  10  and linear outside surface  12 . Inside surfaces  4  and  10  are tapered towards the end of their respective arm members  2  and  8 . Lateral arm member  3  and lateral arm member  8  extend from upper section  9  of main body  2 . Threaded passageway  11  is located through upper section  9 . 
     First tapered attachment pad  14  has inside surface  16  and linear outside surface  18  positioned adjacent to inside surface  4  of arm member  3 . An extended screw or like tab member  20  extends outward from tapered attachment pad  14  into slot  22  of first arm member  3 . Second tapered attachment pad  24  has linear inside surface  26  and linear outside surface  28  positioned adjacent to inside surface  10  of arm member  8 . An extended screw or like tab member  30  extends outward from tapered attachment pad  24  into slot  25  of second arm member  8 . Cross brace  34  extends between and is connected at its ends to first attachment pad  14  and second tapered attachment pad  24 . Mid-linkage member  35  is connected to cross brace  34  and extends into passageway  11 . 
     Opening  38  is located between first arm member  3  and second arm member  8 . First attachment pad  14 , second attachment pad  24 , cross brace  34 , and mid-linkage member are located within opening  38 . 
     Threaded shaft  40  extends into passageway  11  in upper section  9  of main body  2  where it is threadably engaged into the passageway. Shaft  40  has handle  42  at one of its ends and it contacts mid-linkage member  35  at its opposite end  37  as best seen in  FIGS.  1 B and  2 B . 
     In order to rack slide  52  on semi-automatic pistol  50 , racking tool  1  is positioned on the slide such that tapered attachment pads  14  and  24  are placed alongside of the slide, as seen in  FIG.  3   . Rotating handle  42  causes threaded shaft  40  to be screwed into threaded passageway  11 . When end  37  of shaft  40  contacts mid-linkage member  35 , the mid-linkage member is pushed forward, which in turn pushes cross brace  34  and hence attachment pads  14  and  24  toward slide  52 . Tab members  20  and  30  in their respective slots assist in the straight and linear movement of attachment pads  14  and  24  within opening  38 . Given the tapered shape of attachment pads  14  and  24 , when the attachment pads are compelled forward they become tight against the sides of slide  52 . This allows handle  42  to be pulled in the direction away from pistol  50  thus racking slide  52 . 
     Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.