Patent Publication Number: US-2011047849-A1

Title: Trigger shrouding apparatus for firearms

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosures made herein relate generally to firearms and, more particularly, to structures and apparatuses mountable on a firearm and configured for limiting the potential for unintended actuation of a trigger of the firearm by an object other than a finger of a person carrying the firearm. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In many situations, it is necessary and/or desirable to carry a firearm with the safety in the fire position. For example, in certain law enforcement and military situations, there is the need and/or desire to perform certain duties with the safety of a firearm in the “fire” position as opposed to the “safe” position. The reason for this is that the time and attention it takes to move the safety from the safe position to the fire position, albeit typically fractions of a second, can sometimes be critical. 
     Even in the hands of the exceptionally well-trained professional, adverse situations can arise when carrying a firearm with the safety in the fire position. For example, it is common for a firearm such as an assault rifle to be held by a shooter across the shooter&#39;s chest. As such, objects carried by the shooter on or near the chest of the shooter can accidentally engage and actuate the trigger of the firearm thereby causing the firearm to be unintentionally fired. Similarly, in outdoor situations, an object such as a tree branch or the like can accidentally engage and actuate the trigger of the firearm thereby causing the firearm to be unintentionally fired. 
     Therefore, an apparatus mountable on a firearm and configured for limiting the potential for unintended actuation of a trigger of the firearm by an object other than a finger of a person carrying the firearm would be advantageous, desirable and useful. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatuses configured for limiting the potential for unintended actuation of a trigger of a firearm by an object other than a finger of a person carrying the firearm. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are trigger shrouding apparatuses that shroud (i.e., protect) a trigger of a firearm from foreign objects while allowing immediate access to the trigger by a finger of a person carrying the firearm. Advantageously, a trigger shrouding apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention includes no moving parts and is mounted on or integral with a component of the firearm (e.g., a pistol grip, butt stock grip, magazine well, trigger guard, etc). 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a trigger shrouding apparatus for a firearm comprises a firearm component and a trigger shrouding structure attached to the firearm component. The firearm component is configured for being detachably attached to a grip mounting portion of a receiver body of a firearm or magazine well mounting portion of the receiver body. The trigger shrouding structure includes a trigger shrouding side wall that extends longitudinally away from the firearm component. The trigger shrouding side wall is outwardly protruding with respect to a longitudinal reference axis extending through the firearm operating structure such that an inwardly facing side of the trigger shrouding side wall defines a finger receiving space. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a trigger shrouding apparatus for a firearm comprises a hand gripping structure (e.g., a pistol grip, butt stock grip, magazine well, trigger guard, etc) and a trigger shrouding structure attached to the hand gripping structure. The hand gripping structure has a receiver mounting portion configured for being mounted on a mating portion of a receiver body of a firearm. The trigger shrouding structure includes two opposing side walls that each extend forward of the hand gripping structure with respect to an orientation of the hand gripping structure when the hand gripping structure is mounted on the mating portion of the receiver body. A first one of the side walls includes a protruding portion that protrudes outwardly away from a second one of the side walls such that a finger receiving space is defined by an inwardly facing side of the first one of the side walls. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a firearm comprises a receiver body assembly, a hand gripping structure and a trigger shrouding structure. The receiver body assembly includes a receiver body, a magazine well structure and a trigger. The receiver body has a front portion and rear portions. The trigger extends from a lower edge portion of the receiver body between the front and rear portions of the receiver body. The magazine well structure is attached to the receiver body at a location between the trigger and the front portion of the receiver body. The hand gripping structure is attached to the receiver body at a location between the trigger and the rear portion of the receiver body such that a trigger accessing space is defined between the hand gripping structure and the magazine well structure. The trigger shrouding structure is attached to the hand gripping structure and/or the receiver assembly. The trigger shrouding structure includes a first side wall that extends over the trigger accessing space on a first side of the receiver body. The first side wall includes a protruding portion that protrudes outwardly away from the trigger accessing space such that a finger receiving space is defined by an inwardly facing side of the first side wall. The first side wall intersects a trigger access opening of the trigger shrouding structure adjacent the hand gripping structure such that a trigger actuating finger of a hand can extend into engagement with the trigger through the trigger access opening while other fingers of a hand comprising the trigger actuating finger are wrapped around the hand gripping structure. 
     These and other objects, embodiments, advantages and/or distinctions of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification, associated drawings and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial fragmentary view showing a firearm having the pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus of  FIG. 1  in combination therewith. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial fragmentary view showing a firearm having the magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus of  FIG. 5  in combination therewith. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus with a selectively detachable trigger shrouding structure. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a single-sided trigger shrouding apparatus that is configured for being detachably attached to a firearm exclusively through engagement with a trigger guard of the firearm. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a trigger shrouding apparatus having an integral trigger guard. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a dual-sided trigger shrouding apparatus that is configured for being detachably attached to a firearm exclusively through engagement with a trigger guard of the firearm. 
         FIG. 12  is an end view of the dual-sided trigger shrouding apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  100  is shown. The pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  100  includes a pistol grip  102  and a trigger shrouding structure  104  attached to the pistol grip  102 . The pistol grip  102  is one example of a hand gripping structure of a firearm to which a trigger shrouding apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention can be attached. Furthermore, the pistol grip  102  (i.e., rear hand gripping structure) is one example of a firearm component to which a trigger shrouding structure configured in accordance with the present invention can be attached. Thus, the pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  100  is one example of a firearm component integrated trigger shrouding apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention. 
     The pistol grip  102  includes a receiver mounting portion  106  configured for being mounted on a mating portion of a receiver body of a firearm. A skilled person will appreciate approaches by which a hand gripping structure can be attached to a mating portion of a receiver body of an associated firearm. Accordingly, it will be understood from the disclosures herein that trigger shrouding apparatuses configured in accordance with present invention are not limited to any particular approach for being mounted on a grip mounting portion of a firearm. 
     The trigger shrouding structure  104  includes two opposing side walls (i.e., a first side wall  108  and a second side wall  110 ) that each extend forward of the pistol grip  102  with respect to an orientation of the pistol grip  102  when the pistol grip  102  is mounted on the mating portion of the receiver body. A trigger receiving space  111  is defined between the two opposing side walls  108 ,  110 . In this manner, when the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  is mounted on a mating firearm, a trigger of the firearm is positioned within the trigger receiving space  111 . 
     The first side wall  108  includes a protruding portion  112  that protrudes outwardly away from the second side wall  110  such that a finger receiving space  114  is defined by an inwardly facing side  116  of the first side wall  108 . The second side wall  110  includes a protruding portion  118  that protrudes outwardly away from the first side wall  108  such that a finger receiving space  120  is defined by an inwardly facing side  122  of the second side wall  110 . The protruding portion  118  of the second side wall  110  terminates at (i.e., intersects with) a trigger access opening  124  of the trigger shrouding structure  104 . The trigger access opening serves as an entrance into the protruding portion  118  of the second side wall  110 . Preferably, a location of the trigger access opening  124  is positioned such that the entrance into the trigger access opening  124  faces in a direction toward the pistol grip  102 . As shown, the trigger access opening  124  is jointly defined between the protruding portion and non-protruding portion (i.e., generally flat portion) of the second side wall  110 . In other embodiments, the trigger access opening  124  can be defined solely within the protruding portion  118  of the second side wall  110 . 
     The trigger access opening  124  is adjacent the pistol grip  102  such that a trigger actuating finger can extend into engagement with a trigger positioned within the trigger receiving space  111  through the trigger access opening  124  of the protruding portion  118  of the second side wall  110  while other fingers of a hand comprising the trigger actuating finger are wrapped around the pistol grip. The finger receiving space  114  (i.e., swelled portion) of the first side wall  108  provides space for being occupied by a portion of the trigger actuating finger that extends beyond the trigger. In this manner, the pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  100  limits the potential for unintended actuation of the trigger of the firearm by an object other than the trigger actuating finger of the person carrying the firearm. 
     Depending on specific needs and requirements, the trigger shrouding structure  104  and the pistol grip  102  can jointly define a one-piece structure. For example, the trigger shrouding structure  104  and the pistol grip  102  can be machined from a single piece of material, molded as a single piece of material or the like. Similarly, the trigger shrouding structure  104  is preferably a one-piece structure such that the trigger shrouding structure  104  is essentially immovable with respect to the pistol grip  102 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  100  is shown mounted on a firearm  150 . The firearm  150  includes a receiver body  152 , a magazine well structure  154 , a trigger  156  and a trigger guard  158 . The receiver body  152 , the magazine well structure  154 , the trigger  156 , and the trigger guard  158  jointly define a receiver body assembly. The receiver body  152  has a front portion  160  and rear portion  162 . The trigger  156  extends from a lower edge portion  164  of the receiver body  152  between the front and rear portions  160 ,  162  of the receiver body  152 . The magazine well structure  154  is integral with the receiver body  152  at a location between the trigger  156  and the front portion  160  of the receiver body  152 . The pistol grip  102  of the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  is attached to the receiver body  152  at a location between the trigger  156  and the rear portion  162  of the receiver body  152  (i.e., pistol grip mounting portion of the receiver body  152 ) such that a trigger accessing space is defined between the pistol grip  102  and the magazine well structure  154 . The trigger  156  is located within the trigger accessing space. The two opposing side walls  108 ,  110  of the trigger shrouding structure  104  extends over the trigger accessing space on opposing sides of the receiver body  152 . The protruding portion of each one of the side walls  108 ,  110  protrude outwardly away from the trigger accessing space  111 . As disclosed above in reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , access to the trigger  156  is provided through the trigger access opening  124 . 
     A skilled person will be familiar with various types and configurations of firearms configured in a manner compatible with a pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Examples of such firearms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,019 to Schuetz, U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,775 to Schuetz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,066 to Stoner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,224 to Morris, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,534 to Lambie, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  200  is shown. The magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  200  includes a magazine well  202  and a trigger shrouding structure  204  attached to the magazine well  202 . The magazine well  202  is one example of a firearm component to which a trigger shrouding structure configured in accordance with the present invention can be attached. Thus, the magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  200  is one example of a firearm component integrated trigger shrouding apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention. 
     The magazine well  202  includes receiver mounting portions  206 ,  207  configured for being engaged with (i.e., mounted on) mating portions of a receiver body of a firearm. A skilled person will appreciate approaches by which a magazine well can be engaged with mating portions of a receiver body of an associated firearm. Accordingly, it will be understood from the disclosures herein that trigger shrouding apparatuses configured in accordance with present invention are not limited to any particular approach for being mounted on magazine well mounting portion of a firearm. 
     The trigger shrouding structure  204  includes two opposing side walls (i.e., a first side wall  208  and a second side wall  210 ) that each extend rearward of the magazine well  202  with respect to an orientation of the magazine well  202  when the magazine well  202  is mounted on the mating portion of the receiver body. A trigger receiving space  211  is defined between the two opposing side walls  208 ,  210 . In this manner, when the trigger shrouding apparatus  200  is mounted on a mating firearm, a trigger of the firearm is positioned within the trigger receiving space  211 . 
     The first side wall  208  includes a protruding portion  212  that protrudes outwardly away from the second side wall  210  such that a finger receiving space  214  is defined by an inwardly facing side  216  ( FIG. 5 ) of the first side wall  208 . The second side wall  210  includes a protruding portion  218  that protrudes outwardly away from the first side wall  208  such that a finger receiving space  220  is defined by an inwardly facing side  222  of the second side wall  210 . The protruding portion  218  of the second side wall  210  terminates at (i.e., intersects with) a trigger access opening  224  of the trigger shrouding structure  204 . The trigger access opening  224  serves as an entrance into the protruding portion  218  of the second side wall  210 . As shown, the trigger access opening  224  is defined by a rear edge portion of the second side wall  210 . 
     The trigger access opening  224  is configured such, when the magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  200  is mounted on an associated firearm, the trigger access opening  224  is adjacent a rear portion of a receiver body of the firearm. In this manner, a trigger actuating finger can extend into engagement with a trigger positioned within the trigger receiving space through the trigger access opening  224  of the protruding portion  218  of the second side wall  210  while other fingers of a hand comprising the trigger actuating finger are wrapped around a rear hand gripping structure of the firearm. The finger receiving space  214  (i.e., swelled portion) of the first side wall  208  provides space for being occupied by a portion of the trigger actuating finger that extends beyond the trigger. In this manner, the magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  200  limits the potential for unintended actuation of the trigger of the firearm by an object other than the trigger actuating finger of the person carrying the firearm. 
     Depending on specific needs and requirements, the trigger shrouding structure  204  and the magazine well  202  can jointly define a one-piece structure. For example, the trigger shrouding structure  204  and the magazine well  202  can be machined from a single piece of material, molded as a single piece of material or the like. Similarly, the trigger shrouding structure  204  is preferably a one-piece structure such that the trigger shrouding structure  20  is essentially immovable with respect to the magazine well  202 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  200  is shown mounted on a firearm  250 . The firearm  250  includes a receiver body  252 , a trigger  256  and a trigger guard  258 . The receiver body  252 , the trigger  256  and the trigger guard  258  jointly define a receiver body assembly. The receiver body  252  has a front portion  260  and rear portion  262 . The trigger  256  extends from a lower edge portion  264  of the receiver body  252  between the front and rear portions  260 ,  262  of the receiver body  252 . The receiver body  252  includes magazine well mounting portions  265  (e.g., mounting pins or the like). The magazine well  202  of the magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  200  is secured to the lower edge portion  264  of the receiver body  252  by the magazine well mounting portions  265  at a location between the front portion  260  of the receiver body  252  and the trigger  256 . A trigger accessing space is defined between the magazine well  202  and the rear portion  262  of the receiver body  252 . The trigger  256  is located within the trigger accessing space. The two opposing side walls  208 ,  210  of the trigger shrouding structure  204  extends over the trigger accessing space on opposing sides of the receiver body  252  and terminates at or near a rear hand gripping structure  267  (e.g., butt stick, pistol grip of the like) of the firearm  250 . The protruding portions  212 ,  218  of the side walls  208 ,  210  protrude outwardly away from the trigger accessing space. As disclosed above in reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , access to the trigger  256  is provided through the trigger access opening  224 . 
     A skilled person will be familiar with various types and configurations of firearms configured in a manner compatible with a magazine well integrated trigger shrouding apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Examples of such firearms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,228 to Hochstrate et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,708 to Kim et al., both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
       FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of a pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  300  having a pistol grip  302  and a trigger shrouding structure  304  detachably attached to the pistol grip  302 . The trigger shrouding structure  304  includes a single side wall  308  having a plurality of interlock features  307  that engage mating interlock features  309  of the pistol grip  302  for detachably attaching the trigger shrouding structure  304  to the pistol grip  302 . The trigger shrouding structure  304  also includes a trigger guard engaging member  313  (e.g., a trigger guard clip) configured for being detachably attached to a trigger guard of a firearm. Accordingly, the trigger shrouding structure  304  is secured to a firearm through the pistol grip  302  and through a trigger guard of the firearm. 
     The pistol grip  302  can be configured in substantially the same manner as that discussed above in reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . The trigger shrouding structure  304  includes a protruding portion  312  that can be configured substantially the same as either protruding portion of the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  (i.e., protruding portion  112  or protruding portion  118 ). As shown, the protruding portion  312  of the trigger shrouding structure  304  is configured in a similar manner to the protruding portion  112  of the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  shown in.  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     Detachability of a side wall not having a trigger access opening is beneficial in that it allows the side wall to be removed so that the trigger can be readily actuated from either side of the firearm. 
     This is beneficial if a firearm for a person having opposite dexterity (e.g., left handed as opposed to right handed) of a primary user of a firearm has a need to use the firearm. For example, with respect to the pistol grip integrated trigger shrouding apparatus  300 , the sidewall  310  can be detached from an attached firearm by applying sufficient force on the side wall  310  in a direction away from the trigger until the plurality of interlock features  307  disengage from the mating interlock features  309  of the pistol grip  302  and the trigger guard engaging member  313  disengages from the trigger guard. In one embodiment, such force can be applied to a release tab  315  of the side wall  310 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of a single-sided trigger shrouding apparatus  400  that is configured for being detachably attached to a firearm exclusively through engagement with a trigger guard of the firearm. The trigger shrouding apparatus  400  includes a trigger shrouding structure  404  and a trigger guard engaging member  413  (e.g., a trigger guard clip) attached to the trigger shrouding structure  404 . Preferably, but not necessarily, the trigger guard engaging member  413  is attached to a lower edge portion  417  of the trigger shrouding structure  404 . The trigger guard engaging member  413  is configured for being detachably attached to a trigger guard of a firearm such that the trigger guard shrouding apparatus  400  can be secured to a firearm through only the trigger guard of the firearm. The trigger shrouding structure  404  includes a protruding portion  412  that can be configured substantially the same as either protruding portion of the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  (i.e., protruding portion  112  or protruding portion  118 ). As shown, the protruding portion  412  of the trigger shrouding structure  404  is configured in a similar manner to the protruding portion  112  of the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of a trigger shrouding apparatus  500  having trigger shrouding structure  504  and a trigger guard  505  integrally attached to the trigger shrouding structure  504 . 
     Preferably, but not necessarily, the trigger guard  505  is attached to a lower edge portion  517  of the trigger shrouding structure  504 . The trigger guard can be configured in the same configured as a known prior art for trigger guard. The trigger shrouding structure  504  includes a protruding portion  512  that can be configured substantially the same as either protruding portion of the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  (i.e., protruding portion  112  or protruding portion  118 ). 
     As shown, the protruding portion  512  of the trigger shrouding structure  404  is configured in a similar manner to the protruding portion  112  of the trigger shrouding apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show an embodiment of a dual-sided trigger shrouding apparatus  600  that is configured for being detachably attached to a firearm exclusively through engagement with a trigger guard of the firearm. The trigger shrouding apparatus  600  includes a trigger shrouding structure  604  and a trigger guard engaging member  613  (e.g., a trigger guard clip) attached to the trigger shrouding structure  604 . The trigger shrouding structure  604  includes two opposing side walls (i.e., a first side wall  608  and a second side wall  610 ) and a bottom wall  617  extending between the side walls  608 ,  610 . A trigger receiving space  611  is defined between the two opposing side walls  608 ,  610 . In this manner, when the trigger shrouding apparatus  600  is mounted on a mating firearm, a trigger of the firearm is positioned within the trigger receiving space  611 . The trigger guard engaging member  613  is attached to the bottom wall  617 . The trigger guard engaging member  613  is configured for being detachably attached to a trigger guard of a firearm such that the trigger guard shrouding apparatus  600  can be secured to a firearm through only the trigger guard of the firearm. 
     The first side wall  608  includes a protruding portion  612  that protrudes outwardly away from the second side wall  610  such that a finger receiving space  614  is defined by an inwardly facing side  616  of the first side wall. The second side wall  610  includes a protruding portion  618  that protrudes outwardly away from the first side wall  108  such that a finger receiving space  620  is defined by an inwardly facing side  622  of the second side wall  610 . The protruding portion  618  of the second side wall  610  terminates at (i.e., intersects with) a trigger access opening  624  of the trigger shrouding structure  604 . The trigger access opening serves as an entrance into the protruding portion  618  of the second side wall  610 . Preferably, a location of the trigger access opening  624  is positioned such that the entrance into the trigger access opening  624  faces in a direction toward a rear portion of a firearm on which the trigger shrouding apparatus  600  is mounted. As shown, the trigger access opening  624  is jointly defined between the protruding portion and non-protruding portion (i.e., generally flat portion) of the second side wall  610 . In other embodiments, the trigger access opening  624  can be defined solely within the protruding portion  618  of the second side wall  610 . 
     A skilled person will appreciate that various structural and/or functional aspects of one disclosed embodiment can be integrated and/or exchanged with another one of the embodiments. Examples of such structural and/or functional aspects include, but are not limited to, a protruding portion of a trigger shrouding side wall terminating at a trigger access opening, a trigger access opening facing in a direction toward a rear portion (e.g., rear hand gripping structure) of a firearm on which a trigger shrouding apparatus is mounted, a trigger shrouding side wall being essentially immovable with respect to a remaining portion of the trigger shrouding structure, a trigger shrouding Structure being one-piece structure, and a side wall of a trigger shrouding structure being detachably attached to firearm component. Accordingly, it is disclosed herein that embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein may incorporate features of another disclosed embodiment. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, chemical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of such inventive disclosures. To avoid unnecessary detail, the description omits certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.