Abstract:
Improved safety selectors for firearms, which are ambidextrous and come in a plurality of interchangeable lengths and thicknesses to enable a user to select those that they feel are most desirable.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/338,541, filed Feb. 19, 2010 and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/400,643, filed Jul. 31, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of firearms and is particularly directed to improved ambidextrous safety selectors for firearms, such as the M-16 and the like. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is well known that all modern firearms are provided with a safety selector, which includes a lock member mounted within the breech portion of the firearm and movable between a “SAFE” position, in which the lock member blocks movement of a portion of the weapon&#39;s firing mechanism, such as the hammer, and a “FIRE” position, which allows firing of the weapon. The lock member is actuated by a safety selector, mounted on the outside of the weapon, and connected to the lock member to move the lock member between the “SAFE” and “FIRE” positions. As manufactured, modern weapons are provided with a safety selector on the right side of the weapon, since most people are right-handed. 
     However, this is extremely inconvenient for left-handed people to operate. Also, the standard size of the safety selector for the M-16 is about one inch in length and about ¼ inch in width and thickness. While this size makes the safety selector easy to locate and move, it, unfortunately, makes it very easy for the selector to catch the web of skin between the user&#39;s thumb and forefinger, which is painful and can interfere with actuation of the selector. Also, due to the size and bulk of the safety selector, many right-handed users find it annoying, since it underlies the trigger finger and can be uncomfortable. 
     Modifications have been proposed for replacing the manufacturer&#39;s safety mechanism with an ambidextrous device having safety selectors provided on both sides of the weapon to accommodate both left- and right-handed people. However, the modifications of the prior art have usually provided safety selectors on both sides of the weapon, but of the same dimensions as the manufacturer&#39;s safety selector. This merely multiplies the disadvantages mentioned above. 
     It has also been proposed to provide a shortened safety selector of approximately ½ inch. This reduces the likelihood of catching the user&#39;s skin, but does little to improve the bulkiness of the safety selector. Thus, none of the prior art safety selectors have been entirely satisfactory. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION 
     These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and ambidextrous safety selectors are provide, which allow the user to choose a safety selector that they feel is comfortable and convenient, yet is easy to identify and use. 
     These advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing a plurality of interchangeable ambidextrous safety selectors in a variety of lengths and thicknesses, which allow the user to select and install the ones that they feel are most desirable. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved safety selectors for firearms. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide improved safety selectors for firearms, which selectors are ambidextrous. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide improved safety selectors for firearms, which selectors are ambidextrous and interchangeable. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide improved safety selectors for firearms, which selectors are ambidextrous and come in a plurality of interchangeable sizes to enable the user to select those that they feel are most desirable. 
     A specific object of the present invention is to provide improved safety selectors for firearms, which selectors are ambidextrous and come in a plurality of interchangeable lengths and thicknesses to enable the user to select those that they feel are most desirable. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a safety selector for an M16 rifle embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the breech section of an M-16 showing the standard issue safety selector in the “FIRE” position; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the safety selector of  FIG. 2  shown in the “SAFE” position; 
         FIG. 4  is aside view of an alternative form of the safety selector of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of another alternative for of the safety selector of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration,  FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a safety selector, indicated generally at  10  removed from a rifle and comprising a lock member  12  and a pair of lever members  14  and  16  secured to opposing ends of the lock member  12  by suitable means, such as screws  18 . The lock member  12  is formed with a solid portion  24  and a central recess  20 . The safety selector  10  is mounted in a rifle  22 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , and is rotatable between a “FIRE” position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , and a “SAFE” position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . When the safety selector  10  is in the “SAFE” position, the solid portion  24  of the lock member protrudes into the path of a movable member of the rifle&#39;s firing mechanism, such as the hammer, not shown. However, when the safety selector  10  is rotated to the “FIRE” position, the recess  20  is positioned to allow free movement of the firing mechanism. Also, as seen at  26  in  FIG. 1 , the lock member  12  has projections  26  formed in each end of the lock member  12  and the lever members  14  and  16  are formed with recesses  28 , which mate with the projections  26  to ensure that the lock member  12  is rotated with the lever member  14  or  16 . 
     Prior art safety selectors have been attached solely by screws. However, repeated movement of the safety selectors applies torque and sheering forces to the screws, which tends to strip the screws, allowing the safety selector to detach or fall off, rendering the safety inoperable and useless. The recessed design of the present invention provides a very solid attachment in which the screws  18  simply prevent the levers  14  and  16  from sliding along the recesses  26  and are subject to no additional stress as the levers  14  and  16  are moved. 
     As issued, the safety selector  10  has a lever member, such as lever member  14 , located only on the left side of the rifle, which is inconvenient for left-handed shooters. Also, the standard lever member is approximately 1 inch in length and approximately ¼ inch in thickness. Unfortunately, this thickness can bear against the shooter&#39;s flesh and can be quite uncomfortable. Also, this length makes it quite easy for the lever member to snag the web of skin between the shooter&#39;s thumb and forefinger, which is extremely painful and, under combat conditions, can easily become infected, which can lead to serious or even fatal consequences. On the other hand, some shooters prefer a lever member of this length as being easy to locate and rotate. 
     To overcome these difficulties, the present invention proposes to provide lever members on each side of the rifle, as seen at  14  and  16  in  FIG. 1 . This makes the safety selector  10  conveniently operable by both right- and left-handed shooters. Furthermore, it is proposed to provide a plurality of interchangeable lever members  14  and  16  of different lengths and thicknesses to allow the shooter to select lever members  14  and  16 , which are most satisfactory to the shooter. 
     Thus,  FIG. 4  shows a lever member  16 , which has a thickness of only approximately 118 inch. This thinner lever member is much more comfortable when underlying the shooter&#39;s skin and yet is equally easy to locate to arm or disarm the weapon. Similarly,  FIG. 5  shows a lever member  16 A, which is only approximately ½ inch in length. This significantly reduces the likelihood of snagging the shooter&#39;s skin, which avoids the hazards associated with this problem. As noted above, the lever members  14 ,  16  and  16 A may be mounted on each end of the lock member  12  and the lever members  14 ,  16  and  16 A on one end of the lock member  12  may or may not match the lever member  14 ,  16  or  16 A on the opposite end of the lock member  12 . 
     It should also be noted that the levers  14 ,  16  and  16 A are formed with a plurality of diagonal grooves  30 . These grooves serve to prevent the user&#39;s finger from slipping off the lever  14 ,  16  or  16 A and also serve to hold paint, which may be applied to the levers  14 ,  16  or  16 A as is often done in training. 
     Obviously, numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.