Abstract:
A firearm utilizing a ratcheting system to rotate a cylinder containing ammunition is disclosed. The ratchet system is designed to accommodate the cylinder being in an initial safe (without a chamber centered over the barrel and hammer) and subsequent active positions. A ratchet arm protrudes through the breach plate and is supported thereon as it pushes ratchet pads on the cylinder from a starting point in either position to the next active position. Numerous designs for the ratchet pads and the ratchet arm are disclosed, as is a stepped drawbar to accommodate the workings of the firearm and a locking bar that interfaces with both the hammer and locking notches in the circumference of the cylinder so as to release and secure the cylinder in appropriate positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority as a continuation-in-part of prior filed U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/968,179 filed Aug. 15, 2013 which in turn claims priority on prior filed U.S. Provisional application No. 61/691,229, filed Aug. 20, 2012 and incorporates both of these applications herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of firearms and more particularly relates to a ratcheting mechanism for the advancement of a revolver&#39;s cylinder. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Personal defense is a matter of choice for individuals. Some choose to not have any, others prefer training in martial arts, some choose a weapon. Often times, that weapon is a firearm such as a small handgun, so the use of a firearm for personal defense is well known. Users of firearms tend to conceal them in their clothing or other objects. Law enforcement and military personnel often conceal them on their persons as a “back-up” weapon, in case their primary weapon fails or situations become dire. As such, the ideal back-up weapon is ideally small and easily concealable. Their positioning is not to hinder the movement of the carrier. They tend to carry a few rounds of ammunition and maybe have some container or magazine to carry spare rounds. They tend not to be very accurate at a distance. 
         [0004]    In conjunction with the development of multi-cartridge magazines, the revolver was one of the greatest advancements in firearm technology in the nineteenth century. With either of these systems, a weapon could be loaded at one convenient time and store multiple shots of ammunition for when they were needed. The revolver became the “go-to” personal weapon of the western US territories as they we easily carried on the person, easily used, and carried a number of cartridges for multiple firings. 
         [0005]    The traditional revolver may be either single or double action mechanism with a hammer or striker located rearward of an ammunition storing cylinder. When firing, the hammer is released and it impinges a firing pin, which in turn impinges the ammunition cartridge, firing it. Before firing again, the cylinder must rotate to position the next cartridge. The most common method of rotating the cylinder is a ratchet mechanism. The most common ratchet mechanisms are typically keyed to either the trigger or the hammer. Double action revolvers are keyed to the trigger so that as the trigger is pulled, a ratchet arm pushes the cylinder so that it rotates and positions the next occupied chamber for firing. As the trigger returns to its ready-to-fire position, it draws the ratchet arm down and resets it for the next firing. Single action revolvers are typically keyed to the hammer. In order for either system to work, then, a ratchet gear or ratchet pad must be positioned on the cylinder. 
         [0006]    When designing a smaller revolver, such as one to serve as a back-up personal defense weapon, the size of the cylinder and the associated weapon become a limiting factor. Any ratchet system must be durable enough to withstand repeated use but yet be effective. Unfortunately, as the cylinder becomes smaller, it becomes more and more difficult to position a ratchet pad on the cylinder. 
         [0007]    The present invention is a compact ratcheting system for such a revolver that utilizes an otherwise freely movable ratchet arm that is arrested in its forward motion by the structure of the firearm itself so as to prevent excessive contact of the ratchet arm with the cylinder or binding on the cartridges contained in the cylinder chambers. 
         [0008]    The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the firearm of the present invention allows for a ratcheting mechanism coupled with a small-scale design suitable for a personal back-up weapon. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of firearms, this invention provides a ratchet system for a smaller revolver. As such, the present invention&#39;s general purpose is to provide a new and improved back-up revolver that is easily concealed, readily drawn and reliably deployed. 
         [0010]    To accomplish these objectives, the firearm comprises ratchet mechanism that is sufficiently small for use in a small revolver. However, as the design for a smaller system is made, care must be taken for the ratchet arm to not over engage the cylinder or cartridges. The drawbar of the firearm must also be redesigned to fit the system and the timing of the cylinder rotation mechanism must be precise in order to prevent binding of the system—all difficulties inherent in reducing the size of a ratchet system as a whole. 
         [0011]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0012]    Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
         [0013]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0014]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation of one embodiment of a revolver. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1  in a stowed orientation. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1 , in the process of cocking. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1 , fully cocked. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the revolver of  FIG. 1 , firing. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a revolver according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is side elevation view of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with a side plate and grip removed to display the internal mechanism of the revolver. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in a stowed position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with the hammer pawl contacting the locking bar plate. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with the locking bar key disengaging from the cylinder safety lock groove. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with the hand contacting the ratchet pads. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with the hand rotating the cylinder safety lock groove past the locking bar key. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , fully cocked. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with hammer beginning to fall. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with the hammer pawl rotating against locking bar plate. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in a fired position, but with the trigger not reset. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a side elevation view of the mechanism utilized in the revolver of  FIG. 6 , with the locking bar key again disengaged, preparing for a second firing. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a rear elevation view of the cylinder and hand of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in a stowed position, corresponding to  FIG. 8 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  is a rear elevation view of the cylinder and hand of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in a stowed position, with the hand contacting the ratchet pads, corresponding to  FIG. 11 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  is a rear elevation view of the cylinder and hand of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , fully cocked, corresponding to  FIG. 13 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 21  is a rear elevation view of the cylinder and hand of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in the fired position, corresponding to  FIG. 16 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 22  is a rear elevation view of the cylinder and hand of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in a fired position, with the hand contacting the ratchet pads, corresponding to  FIG. 17 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the drawbar used in the revolver of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the ratchet arm used in the revolver of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 25  is a front elevation view of the breech plate of the revolver of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 26  is a rear elevation view of the breech plate of the revolver of  FIG. 6   
           [0041]      FIG. 27  is a rear perspective view of the hammer, ratchet arm and breach plate of the revolver of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 28  is a partial sectional view of the breech plate and ratchet pads of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in a stowed position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 29  is a partial sectional view of the breech plate and ratchet pads of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , in a fired position. 
           [0044]      FIG. 30  is a partial sectional view of the breech plate and ratchet pads of the revolver of  FIG. 6 , as the cylinder is removed from the revolver. 
           [0045]      FIG. 31  is a partial sectional view of the breech plate and a cartridge for the revolver of  FIG. 6 , showing the ability of the breach plate to support the cartridge. 
           [0046]      FIG. 32  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a ratchet arm of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a ratchet arm of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 34  is a perspective view of a forth embodiment of a ratchet arm of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 35  is a rear elevation view of a fifth embodiment of a ratchet arm connected to an alternate embodiment of a hammer for the revolver of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 36  is a rear elevation view of an alternative embodiment of ratchet pads of revolver of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 37  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of ratchet pads of revolver of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0052]    With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the firearm is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Reference numerals indicated in the specification are consistent through all drawing sheets and indicate the following items: 
         [0053]      100 —a revolver embodying the primary aspects of the parent invention; 
         [0054]      110 —original barrel; 
         [0055]      112 —original cylinder spring; 
         [0056]      114 —original cylinder locking bar; 
         [0057]      116 —original locking bar key; 
         [0058]      120 —original revolver cylinder; 
         [0059]      126 —original cylinder position lock grooves; 
         [0060]      130 —original hammer; 
         [0061]      132 —original hammer pawl; 
         [0062]      134 —original locking bar plate; 
         [0063]      140 —original trigger; 
         [0064]      150 —original handgrip; 
         [0065]      200 —a revolver embodying the primary aspects described in the present application; 
         [0066]      202 —barrel; 
         [0067]      204 —exemplary cartridge; 
         [0068]      206 —chamber; 
         [0069]      210 —trigger; 
         [0070]      220 —drawbar; 
         [0071]      230 —hammer; 
         [0072]      232 —hammer pawl; 
         [0073]      235 —sear groove; 
         [0074]      240 —locking bar; 
         [0075]      242 —locking bar plate; 
         [0076]      244 —locking bar key; 
         [0077]      250 —ratchet arm; 
         [0078]      251 —alternate ratchet arm with two hands; 
         [0079]      252 —ratchet arm pivot bore; 
         [0080]      253 —alternate ratchet arm with two shoulders; 
         [0081]      254 —ratchet arm hand; 
         [0082]      255 —alternate ratchet arm with roller; 
         [0083]      256 —ratchet arm shoulder 
         [0084]      257 —roller; 
         [0085]      259 —ratchet arm embodiment linked to alternate hammer; 
         [0086]      260 —cylinder; 
         [0087]      262 —active locking notches; 
         [0088]      263 —individual ratchet pads; 
         [0089]      264 —safety notch; 
         [0090]      265 —removable ratchet pad; 
         [0091]      266 —ratchet pad; 
         [0092]      267 —shaft; 
         [0093]      268 —flat side of shaft; 
         [0094]      269 —alternate hammer with ratchet arm; 
         [0095]      270 —breach plate; 
         [0096]      272 —breach plate slot; 
         [0097]      274 —breach plate trough; 
         [0098]      276 —breach plate spur. 
         [0099]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary revolver  100  has the main components expected of a revolver, that is to say it has a barrel  110 , cylinder  120 , hammer  130 , trigger  140  and grip  150  all mounted upon a frame or receiver. Its internal workings, however, shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , however, reveal a different sort of weapon. First, the cylinder  120  is powered by a torsion-type cylinder spring  112  mounted beneath the barrel  110 . A pivoting locking bar  114  maintains the cylinder  120  against the spring pressure. The forward end of the locking bar  114  is a locking bar key  116  designed to interface with specifically positioned lock grooves  126  on a forward end of the cylinder  120 . The end opposite the key features a locking bar plate  134  which interfaces with a pawl  132  pivotably mounted upon the hammer  130 . 
         [0100]    In an alternate embodiment  200 , shown in the figures starting with  FIG. 6 , a ratchet is used to rotate the cylinder. Given the complexity of a ratchet embodiment, numerous adjustments need be made to accommodate a working ratchet in such a small space as is afforded by the intended weapon design specifications. Of particular note, in  FIG. 7 , trigger  210  is directly connected to a drawbar  220  such that drawbar  220  is pulled forward when trigger  210  is actuated. Hammer  230  has a sear groove  235  which interacts with the drawbar  220  and is pivoted so that forward motion of the drawbar  220  rotates the hammer  230  backward until the sear groove  235  disengages from the drawbar  220 , releasing the hammer  230  to strike the ammunition (not shown). The hammer  230 , in turn, actuates the ratchet arm  250  and locking bar  240 , enabling the rotation of the cylinder  260 . 
         [0101]    An initial firing cycle is depicted successively in  FIGS. 8-17 . In  FIG. 8 , the firearm is in a stowed positon. Specifically, cylinder  260  is rotated such that no chamber  206  is centered under the hammer  230  ( FIGS. 7 and 18 ) of the weapon. Unless the barrel is integrated with the chamber (such as a pepperbox design) no chamber will likewise be over the barrel  202  ( FIG.6 ). It is to be understood for purposes of this application and the appended claims that the term “barrel” includes those structures where a cylinder chamber serves as a barrel. In either event, the cylinder  260  has a series of locking notches  262  around its circumference with which the locking bar  240  interfaces. At least one safety position is achieved by a notch  264  centered between two notches  262  corresponding to a ready to fire paradigm. As the trigger  210  is pulled, it pulls on the drawbar  220  which rotates the hammer  230  ( FIG. 9 ). The hammer features a pawl  232  which initially contacts a plate  242  of the locking bar  240  and begins to rotate said locking bar  240  until the locking bar key  244  is removed from the safety notch  264  ( FIG. 10 ), freeing the cylinder  260  for rotation ( FIG. 10 ). 
         [0102]    The cylinder  260  is rotated by a ratcheting mechanism. The ratchet arm  250  is connected, ideally, to the hammer  230  and is moved into position as the hammer  230  is rotated backwards. After the cylinder  260  is free for rotation, and as the trigger pull progresses, ratchet arm  250  engages a ratchet pad  266  on the rear of the cylinder  260  ( FIG. 11 ). At this time, the hammer pawl  232  is still engaged with the locking bar plate  242 , keeping the locking bar  240  rotated and the locking bar key  244  away from the cylinder  260  so that it will not re-engage any safety notches  264  and still be able to rotate ( FIG. 12 ). Eventually, as the trigger pull continues, the hammer  230  reaches a fully cocked stage ( FIG. 13 ). The hammer pawl  232  has released the locking arm plate  242 , and the locking bar key has engaged an active notch  262  in the circumference of the cylinder  260  which has been rotated into that position by the rising of the ratchet arm  250 . 
         [0103]    When pulled sufficiently by the trigger, the drawbar  220  and the sear groove  235  will disconnect and release the hammer  230  ( FIG. 14 ). As the hammer  230  falls, the hammer pawl  232  will again engage the locking bar plate  242 , but will fold so as to pass by the plate ( FIG. 15 ) and regain its initial position relative to the plate i.e. underneath the plate ( FIG. 16 ). When firing has been completed ( FIG. 16 ) the hammer pawl  232  and ratchet arm  250  have returned to their original position, but cylinder  260  is set with an ideally no longer loaded chamber  206  under the hammer  230  ( FIG. 17 ). This causes a slight change in the system for when the trigger  210  is released and the drawbar returned into engagement with the sear groove  235 . However, whether starting in a “half” position, such as when stowed, or in a “full” position, such as after firing, the ratchet arm  250  starts beneath the ratchet pad  266  and pushes the cylinder  260  until the next chamber  206  is in position. The movement of the ratchet arm  250  and the corresponding position and movement of the cylinder  260  are best seen in  FIGS. 18-22 . A unique aspect of the ratchet arm  250  is that it is unsupported by the ratchet pads  266  and, initially, starts over a chamber  206  ( FIG. 18 ). After the system is then reset for firing a second time, with the cylinder  260  no longer in the stowed position, the ratchet arm  250  does make contact with the ratchet pad  266  ( FIG. 22 ). Since the ratchet arm  250  makes contact with the ratchet pad  266  at this stage, it is important that the locking bar key  244  be clear of any active locking notch  262 . Otherwise, the ratchet arm  250  may push the cylinder  260  before the locking bar key  244  is disengaged and the system will bind. Care must also be taken that the ratchet arm  250  does not interfere with the ratchet pad  266  as the ratchet arm  250  pushes the cylinder  260  into an operable position as it will pass over the next arm of the ratchet pad  266  ( FIG. 20 ) as it advances and will pass over the ratchet pad again as it returns to position ( FIG. 21 ). Ratchet pad  266  is ideally four arms positioned at 90° increments around the cylinder  260  ( FIG. 18 ). The arms are thin and pass between the chambers  206  in the cylinder and do not impinge on them, or otherwise cover the chamber and any associated ammunition, in any way. The arms do cross the circumference of a circle R, the inner circle of two that are tangent to all four cylinders, as they must extend sufficiently to interact with the ratchet arm  250  when the cylinder has a chamber in the firing position and the ratchet arm  250  has returned to its original position. This angle would be about 45° offset from the original safety position of the cylinder  260 . 
         [0104]    Another feature of the firearm is the stepped shape of the drawbar  220  ( FIG. 23 ). The stepped shape (one step down, one step up) allows for clearance for other components of the mechanism, thus giving them room to move and perform their functions. The stepped design allows for a low bore height (relative to the user&#39;s hand) in the overall firearm design, which diminishes the occurrence of muzzle rise when firing. Ideally, though not necessarily, the step down and step up should approximate one another so that the drawbar steps down to a second “level” and returns to the original “level” when it steps up. 
         [0105]    The ratchet arm  250  is a simple construction ( FIG. 24 ). It features a pivot bore at its base  252  and a hand  254  protruding outward at its top. It also features a shoulder  256 . Since the ratchet arm  250  has little support in the system from the ratchet pad  266  and must freely move, the ratchet arm  250  is mostly supported, in an ideal embodiment, by the breach plate  270  ( FIGS. 25 and 26 ). A slot  272  is provided in one side of the breach plate  270  through which the ratchet arm  250  projects. A slight trench  274  is provided on the rear side for clearance and support of the ratchet arm  250 . Since the ratchet arm  250  has limited support in the direction of the cylinder  260  axis, means need to be provided to limit penetration significantly beyond the breach plate  270 . Otherwise, the ratchet arm  250  may bind the system by over-engaging the cylinder or cartridges it contains. Shoulder  256  is too wide to fit through slot  272  and therefore prevents the ratchet arm  250  from protruding through the breach plate  270  too far and interfering with the cylinder  260  or cartridges. The interaction of the ratchet arm  250  and breach plate  270  is best seen in  FIG. 27 , where the ratchet arm  250  is shown to bear on the breach plate  270  and interface the slot  272  so that it may then interact with the ratchet pad  266 . Shoulder  256  is clearly seen to be preventing ratchet arm  250  from falling through the slot  272 . 
         [0106]    The breach plate  270  also provides securement for the cylinder. As can be seen in  FIG. 25 , the front face of the breach place is hollowed. This hollow accommodates the ratchet pads  266  as the cylinder rotates between its various positions, whether stowed ( FIG. 28 ) or active ( FIG. 29 ). As can be seen in  FIGS. 28 and 29 , arms of the ratchet pad  266  extend over the slot  272  regardless of position. A spur  276  is provided adjacent this hollow. In order to remove the cylinder  260 , it is released and then rotated out of the breach plate  270 , as shown in  FIG. 30 , with arms of the ratchet pad  266  fitting around the spur  276 . A cartridge  204  is positioned next to the breach plate  270  and its opening in  FIG. 31 . At no time would a cartridge  204  be in a position that is not supported by the breach plate  270  in its travel in the cylinder  260 , so a cartridge  204  will not be able to slip rearward into the breach plate hollow. 
         [0107]    Alternate ratchet arm designs are also possible ( FIGS. 32-35 ). In  FIG. 32 , the ratchet arm  251  uses a two-staged hand and shoulder to limit depth while ratchet arm  253  ( FIG. 33 ) utilizes a second shoulder. Ratchet arm  255  ( FIG. 34 ) reduces sliding friction by utilizing a roller  257  instead of a static shoulder. The ratchet arm embodiment  259  in  FIG. 35  is hingedly connected to the hammer  269  and interaction with the hammer  269  is then used to limit depth of the ratchet arm  259 . 
         [0108]    Likewise, alternate constructions of the ratchet pads are also possible.  FIG. 36  depicts segmented, individual ratchet pads  263  for each chamber  206  while  FIG. 37  depicts a removable ratchet pad  265 , mounted upon a shaft  267  that slides within the cylinder  260 . The shaft  267  may be rotationally secured against the cylinder by either the use of pins (not shown) or by a keying structure such as the flat  268  shown in the figure, either of which is well known in the art. 
         [0109]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.