Abstract:
The present invention relates to a gun trigger actuator which converts a manual trigger to an optionally mechanical trigger in lever action rifles, such as the Winchester Model 94 lever action rifle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fulcrum which is pivotably mounted on a pivot pin to the trigger guard portion of the rifle lever just below and forwardly of the tip of the trigger. The fulcrum pivots on the trigger guard from a passive off position to an active firing position and can optionally be employed to mechanically fire the gun by exerting force on the trigger, thereby actuating the trigger, when the lever is rotated to a closed position. The present invention may also includes a trigger shim which is installed in the receiver in front of the trigger to eliminate slack in the trigger and properly fix the trigger in position in relation to the fulcrum. The present invention may also include an enlarged finger opening in the lever in order to accept a user&#39;s wrist or arm. This allows the gun to be employed by a person with limited or no use of their fingers or hands.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a gun trigger actuator which converts a manual trigger to an optionally mechanical trigger in lever action rifles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fulcrum which is pivotably mounted on a pivot pin to the trigger guard portion of the rifle lever just below and forwardly of the tip of the trigger. The fulcrum pivots on the trigger guard from a passive off position to an active firing position and can optionally be employed to mechanically fire the gun by exerting force on the trigger, thereby actuating the trigger, when the lever is rotated to a closed position. The present invention may also includes a trigger shim which is installed in the receiver in front of the trigger to eliminate slack in the trigger and properly fix the trigger in position in relation to the fulcrum and may also include an enlarged finger opening in the lever for accepting a user&#39;s wrist or arm.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,413 to Marhefka et al. teaches an “Arctic trigger” comprised in part of a pair of clamp locks adapted to be fitted about a trigger, a clip slide to provide an extension to the trigger consisting in part of a pair of elongated members which are rigidly connected by a rod. The clamp locks are attached to an operating bar, which substantially simulates the contour of the trigger guard. A flat spring is positioned between the trigger guard and the operating bar. To fire the gun, the operator grasps the stock and bar with one hand and squeezes, whereby the trigger is moved rearwardly to fire the gun.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 1,837,093 to Andrews teaches a gun trigger actuating device comprising a bell crank lever mounted on the stock of the gun, one arm of the lever extending downwardly to a point below the trigger guard of the gun, a lever mounted on the bell crank lever and extended upwardly to engage the lower end of the trigger of the gun, and the opposite end of the bell crank lever adapted to be forced downwardly to operate the lever and trigger.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 1,513,654 to Thompson teaches a spring-actuated plunger slidably mounted in a bar or hollow barrel, which is secured within the trigger guard. When the plunger is released, the plunger strikes the trigger with sufficient impact to discharge the firearm.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 477,764 to Mercer teaches a self-acting, breech-loading, and hammerless gun. An oscillating hand-lever is connected to a link, which is connected to a movable block which forms both an abutment and a cartridge extracting and loading device. By pushing the hand-hold e′ of lever E down and forward, the block is retracted and the firing-pin or hammer cocked. A cartridge can then be inserted by hand into the breech of the barrel and the lever E retracted, throwing the block forward, causing the block to firmly hold the cartridge in place and to act as the abutment for receiving the shock of the explosion. Lever E may have a cam E 4  formed on it in such a position that it will engage the trigger and release the firing pin just after the block has reached the limit of its forward movement and been locked with the cartridge in the barrel.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 181,855 to Leonard teaches a trigger having a set-screw in the finger-lever of a rifle, in such a position as to engage with the back of the trigger and push the trigger forward, setting the set-trigger, when the finger-lever is moved up or down.  
         [0009]     The television series “The Rifleman” made known a lever action rifle with a fixed screw incorporated into the trigger guard which tripped the trigger every time the lever was closed, thus firing the gun.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention relates to a gun trigger actuator for activating a trigger to fire a rifle and converts a manual trigger to an optionally mechanical trigger in lever action rifles, such as the Winchester Model 94 lever action rifle. While the invention can be modified to fit a multitude of different rifles, this invention is described herein for use with post 1990 manufactured Winchester Model 94 lever action rifles in the calibers of .38, .357, .44 Magnum, and .45 Long Colt and any versions of the low pressure low velocity calibers introduced for the Model 94 lever action rifle. The invention may also be used with rifles employed for target practice and marksmanship competitions.  
         [0011]     In the field of lever action and rapid fire rifles, the typical lever action rifle will fire a single round when the trigger is squeezed if there is one round in the chamber and the hammer is cocked. If the magazine contains one or more cartridges, another round may be chambered after a cartridge is fired by rotating the lever down through a short arc until the lever is fully forward, which extracts and ejects the empty cartridge case from the chamber, cocks the hammer and chambers a fresh round. The closing of the lever, which positions the lever parallel to the grip stock, will transfer a new cartridge from the magazine to the chamber, leaving the hammer in a cocked ready to fire position. The user must then manually pull the trigger to fire the rifle. This sequence of operation may be followed until both the magazine and chamber are empty. Handicapped users and users having a temporary or permanent impairment of their fingers or hands often have difficulty firing a standard lever action rifle due to difficulty working the trigger and sometimes difficulty working the standard sized finger opening portion of the rifle lever.  
         [0012]     In a rifle having the gun trigger actuator of the present invention, the rifle may optionally be fired by closing the lever rather than manually pulling the trigger. To accomplish this, a fulcrum is pivoted into its active firing position so that the trigger is actuated and the rifle fires when the lever is closed. Firing of a lever action rifle by handicapped users and users having a temporary or permanent impairment of their fingers or hands has often presented problems due to difficulty working the trigger and sometimes also difficulty working the standard sized finger opening portion of the rifle lever. This invention provides a convenient, fast and simple apparatus for firing a rifle by actuating the trigger by closing the rifle lever. The invention may also include an enlarged finger opening in the lever in order to accept a user&#39;s wrist or arm. These improvements allow the rifle to be fired by a person with less than full use of their fingers or hands.  
         [0013]     The gun trigger actuator of the present invention comprises a fulcrum which is rotatably mounted to a rifle lever, a pivot pin for mounting the fulcrum and which acts as a pivot point for the fulcrum, and a shim positioned in the receiver directly in front of the trigger to reduce slack in the trigger and hold the trigger in a more rearward position when at rest. The fulcrum is rotatably mounted to the inside of the lever&#39;s trigger guard at a pivot point adjacent to and forward of the bottom end of the trigger. The fulcrum rotates on a pin and may be placed in an active firing position or an passive off position. When in the active firing position, the fulcrum is rotated upward and forward of the trigger. The fulcrum exerts pressure on the trigger front face when the lever is closed, pushing the trigger rearward, actuating the trigger and thereby firing the rifle. When the fulcrum is in the active firing position, the rifle can be rapidly fired with the rifle positioned at the user&#39;s shoulder, body mid-section or hip by repeatedly opening and closing the lever. The rifle can also be fired by cocking the rifle and just squeezing the lever with the palm of the hand or part of a limb.  
         [0014]     The fulcrum may be rotated downward and rearward to its passive off position flush against the trigger guard, so that the fulcrum makes no contact with the trigger when the lever is closed. This off position allows the user to use the rifle lever to chamber another round and then close the lever without firing the rifle. Additionally, when the fulcrum is in the passive off position, the trigger can be used manually and there is ample space for the user to insert a finger in front of the trigger for manual operation. The rifle remains in its manual mode until such time as the user rotates the fulcrum from the passive off position to the active firing position.  
         [0015]     The present invention provides distinct advantages over the prior art structures, in that it allows a rifle to optionally be fired singly, or to be fired in a rapid fire method by the closing and opening of the lever alone which does not require manually pulling the trigger. The mechanical firing feature is optional and may be turned off by simply rotating the fulcrum into its passive position.  
         [0016]     An additional advantage is that the fulcrum may be mounted to a standard factory rifle lever and the shim is installed in an existing space in the receiver in front of the trigger. All parts of the present invention are inexpensive, easily installed, and easy to use, and the invention can be easily removed and the rifle easily converted back to its original factory form.  
         [0017]     An additional advantage is that the trigger actuation by the present invention requires indirect mechanical force on the trigger rather than direct force to be exerted manually on the trigger to push or pull the trigger directly rearward. In order to pull the trigger of a rifle, exertion on the trigger of a force of three to five pounds is generally required. When the force required to pull the trigger is less than approximately two and one half pounds, the gun may become very dangerous. The present invention does not alter or modify the manufacturer&#39;s trigger pull requirements. Instead, the fulcrum translates the rotational motion of the lever into mechanical rearward pressure against the trigger, allowing for the utilization of the lever itself to exert the force needed to fire the rifle without requiring the user to manually pull the trigger.  
         [0018]     The present invention was designed for use by marksmen, sportsmen, Cowboy Action enthusiasts, users wearing mittens, partial amputees or other physically impaired people. An additional advantage of the invention is that the invention improves the ability of users having temporary or permanent impairments to their fingers or hands to fire a lever action rifle by eliminating the need to manually pull the trigger. The invention may also include an enlarged finger opening in the lever in order to accept a user&#39;s wrist or arm, allowing the rifle to be fired by a person with limited or no use of their fingers or hands.  
         [0019]     An additional advantage of the invention is that the installed trigger shim eliminates slack in the trigger and holds the trigger in its most stationary position, which reduces the possibility of injury to the shooter, trigger over travel and premature tripping of the hammer.  
         [0020]     Even more particularly, the preferred embodiment of the gun trigger actuator of the present invention for a lever action rifle having a trigger having a trigger bottom end a lever having a trigger guard and a finger portion, and a receiver, comprises: a fulcrum having a front end, a back end, a top face, a bottom face, a left side, at least one aperture toward the front end, the at least one aperture comprising a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture located on the fulcrum left side, the second aperture located on the fulcrum right side, and at least one tab extending outwardly at an angle towards the fulcrum back end; at least one pivot pin, where the at least one pivot pin extends completely through the lever through the trigger guard portion of the lever and is received by the first aperture and the second aperture and rotatably secures the fulcrum to the trigger guard portion; a trigger shim, where the trigger shim is installed in the rifle receiver immediately adjacent and forward of the trigger; where the fulcrum is shaped to allow rotation of the fulcrum on the trigger guard and the fulcrum is rotatable between a trigger engaging position and a passive position; where the fulcrum has a longitudinal slot in the top face, the longitudinal slot extending towards the front end and the back end and the longitudinal slot is sized to allow the trigger bottom end to easily travel through the longitudinal slot when rearward pressure is applied to the trigger; where the trigger bottom end is spaced above the fulcrum and travels over the fulcrum when rearward pressure is applied to the trigger; where the trigger shim minimizes unnecessary forward movement of the trigger and holds the trigger in a rearward position; where the fulcrum is mounted on the trigger guard below the trigger bottom end in a passive position, the front end rotatably secured by the pivot pin forward of the trigger bottom end, and the back end extending rearwardly along and above the trigger guard; where when the fulcrum is in the passive position, the rifle may be fired by manually applying rearward pressure to the trigger; where the fulcrum rotates on the pivot pin to an active position where the fulcrum back end extends upward at an angle forward of the trigger bottom end; where when the fulcrum is in the active position and the lever is in a closed position, the bottom face is in contact with the trigger and the fulcrum exerts rearward pressure on the trigger; where when the fulcrum is in the active position, the rearward pressure on the trigger exerted by the fulcrum causes the rifle to fire; and where when the fulcrum is in the active position, the rifle may be fired by closing the lever.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a right side view of a prior art Winchester lever action rifle;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a receiver, trigger and rifle lever having the gun trigger actuator of the present invention installed, where a shim is installed in the receiver in front of the trigger and a fulcrum is installed on the trigger guard portion of the rifle lever at a point below and slightly forward of the trigger, the fulcrum being in the passive off position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fulcrum of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the fulcrum of  FIG. 3 , having two tabs;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is the back end view of the fulcrum of  FIG. 4 , having a curved bottom face;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the trigger shim of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a left side view of a prior art standard factory hammer and trigger mechanism which does not have the trigger shim of the present invention installed;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a left side view of the hammer and trigger mechanism of  FIG. 7  with the trigger shim of the present invention installed;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a comparison left side view of the hammer and trigger mechanism of  FIG. 7  showing trigger placement difference due to trigger shim installation;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a partial side view of the gun trigger actuator of  FIG. 2 , with the lever in the forward open position and the fulcrum rotated into the active firing position;  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a partial side view of the gun trigger actuator of  FIG. 2 , with the lever in the closed position, the fulcrum in the active firing position, and the trigger pushed back by the fulcrum;  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  is a partial side view of a receiver, trigger and rifle lever having an alternate embodiment of the gun trigger actuator of the present invention installed, where no shim is installed in the receiver and a fulcrum is installed on the trigger guard portion of the rifle lever at a point below and slightly forward of the trigger, the fulcrum being in the passive off position;  
         [0034]      FIG. 13  is a partial side view of the gun trigger actuator of  FIG. 2 , where the lever has an enlarged finger hole which is sized to accept the limb of an adult person; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 14  is a partial side view of the gun trigger actuator of  FIG. 12 , where the lever has an enlarged finger hole which is sized to accept the limb of an adult person. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0036]     With reference to the Figures,  FIG. 1  shows a prior art Winchester lever action rifle  1 , having a barrel  2 , a stock  4 , a receiver  6 , a trigger  8 , a lever  10  having a trigger guard  12  towards the lever  10  front end and a finger lever  18  comprising the back portion of the lever  10 , a hammer  20 , a magazine  22 , and an ejection port  24 . When a live cartridge is in the chamber, the rifle  1  may be fired by cocking the hammer  20  and manually pulling or exerting rearward pressure on the trigger  8 . If the magazine  22  contains one or more cartridges, another cartridge may be chambered after a cartridge is fired by rotating the lever  10  down through a short arc until the lever  10  is fully forward or open. This action of the lever  10  extracts the empty cartridge case from the chamber and ejects the empty cartridge through the ejection port  24 , cocks the hammer  20  and chambers a fresh cartridge. Closing the lever  10 , which positions the lever  10  close to and generally parallel with the stock  4 , will transfer a new cartridge from the magazine  22  to the chamber, while leaving the hammer  20  in a cocked ready to fire position. The user must then manually pull or exert rearward pressure on the trigger  8  to fire the rifle  1 . This sequence of operation may be followed until both the magazine  22  and chamber are empty.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows the preferred embodiment of the gun trigger actuator  130  of the present invention installed on a lever action rifle  101  such as the prior art Winchester lever action rifle  1  of  FIG. 1 , or other similar rifle. The gun trigger actuator  130  is comprised of a trigger shim  140  installed in the receiver  106 , a fulcrum  150  and a pivot pin  180  which secures the fulcrum  150  to the lever  110  and acts as a pivot point for the fulcrum  150 .  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fulcrum  150  has at least one aperture  164 ,  166  for accepting a pivot pin  180 , and preferably has two such apertures comprising a left aperture  164  and right aperture  166  ( FIG. 3 ). The fulcrum  150  is pivotably secured by the pivot pin  180  to the trigger guard  112  portion of the lever  110 . A hole for insertion of the pivot pin  180  and mounting of the fulcrum  150  may be drilled or tapped in or through the trigger guard  112 . The pivot pin  180  is inserted through at least one of said apertures  164 ,  166  and secured at least partially through the trigger guard  112  portion of the lever  110  at a position on the lever  110  just below and forward of the bottom end  111  of the trigger  108 . If the pivot pin  180  does not extend completely through said trigger guard  112 , then both of said apertures  164 ,  166  are required for pivotably securing the fulcrum  150  to the trigger guard  112 , with a pivot pin  180  inserted through each aperture  164 ,  166  and into opposed sides of the trigger guard  112 . In the preferred embodiment ( FIGS. 2, 10  and  11 ), the pivot pin  180  extends completely through the trigger guard  112  and both apertures  164 ,  166  are employed to secure the fulcrum  150  to the trigger guard  112 .  FIGS. 2, 10  and  11  also depicts the stock  4 , finger lever  18 , hammer  20  and standard hammer spring  22  of the lever action rifle  1 ,  101  which acts to return hammer  20  to its initial resting position.  
         [0039]     The fulcrum  150  is preferably made out of low carbon ductile metal, but may be made of any suitable metal or plastic material. The pivot pin  180  may consist of at least one of a suitable variety of rivets, staid pins, bolts or screws, possibly used in combination with at least one nut, wing nut, lock washer, or cap as needed. Preferably, the pivot pin  180  selected for use will allow for adjustment of the tension of the fulcrum  150  to allow regulation of the ease of rotating the fulcrum in and out of its active firing position. Depending upon the pivot pin  180  chosen for attachment, it is possible that tension may be set and reset by the use of thumbscrew heads, allen wrenches or screw drivers.  
         [0040]     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the preferred embodiment of the fulcrum  150  has a front end  152 ; a back end  154 ; a top face  156 ; a bottom face  158 ; a left side  160 ; a right side  162  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ); a left aperture  164  for accepting a pivot pin  180  located on said left side  160  towards said front end  152 ; and a right aperture  166  for accepting a pivot pin  180  located on said right side  162  towards said front end  152 . The fulcrum  150  also preferably has a recessed area  168  in the upper portion of the front end  152  to allow the fulcrum  150  to pivot easily about a pivot pin  180 . The fulcrum  150  preferably also has a longitudinal slot  170  located in said top face  156 , which extends through said fulcrum top face  156  to said bottom face  158 . The longitudinal slot  170  extends towards said fulcrum front end  152  and towards said fulcrum back end  154  and is preferably sized to allow the bottom end  111  ( FIGS. 2, 10  and  11 ) of the trigger  108  to travel through the longitudinal slot  170  without modification of the trigger  108  and without engaging the fulcrum  150  when the fulcrum is positioned in the passive off position (as best shown in  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0041]     However, a longitudinal slot  170  is not required if adequate space exists between the trigger bottom end  111  and the fulcrum  150  to allow the trigger bottom end  111  to avoid engagement of the fulcrum  150  as it travels over the fulcrum  150  when the fulcrum  150  is positioned in the passive off position. In order to ensure adequate space exists, it is permissible to modify the lever  110  by enlarging the trigger guard  112  and spacing the trigger guard farther away from the trigger  108 , to shorten the trigger  108 , or both. The fulcrum  150  may be shaped in any shape which allows for mounting on the trigger guard  112  ( FIGS. 2-6 , and  10 - 12 ), rotation of the fulcrum  150 , positioning of the fulcrum  150  in the passive off and active firing positions, and engagement of the fulcrum  150  with the trigger  108  when the fulcrum  150  is in the active firing position and the lever  110  is placed in the closed position. For instance, the fulcrum  150  may be shaped such that, if the fulcrum top face  156  has a curved shape which closely approximates the curved arc of the trigger guard  112 , then longitudinal slot  170  would not be required. The fulcrum  150  preferably also has a left tab  172  extending outwardly at an angle from the lower portion of said left side  160  at said fulcrum back end  154 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of fulcrum  250 , of an alternate embodiment of the fulcrum  150  of  FIG. 3 . Fulcrum  250  has a top face  156 , front end  152 , back end  254 , recessed area  168 , longitudinal slot  170  located on said top face  156  and extending completely through said fulcrum top face  156 , a left side  160 , a left tab  172 , a right side  262 , a and right tab  274 .  
         [0043]     The left tab  172  and right tab  274  of fulcrum  250  extend outwardly at an angle from the lower portion of said left side  160  and said right side  262 , respectively, at said fulcrum back end  254 . The fulcrum  150 ,  250  may have only a left tab  172  as shown in  FIG. 3 , both a left tab  172  and a right tab  274  ( FIG. 4 ), or only a right tab  274  extending outwardly at an angle from the lower portion of said fulcrum right side  262  at said fulcrum back end  254 . Alternatively, the fulcrum  150 ,  250  may have no tab. The tabs  172 ,  274  assist the user in rotating the fulcrum  150 ,  250  from a passive off position to an active firing position by providing the user with a surface on which to put pressure to rotate the fulcrum  150 ,  250  upward. The tabs  172 ,  274  preferably extend outward at a sixty degree angle from said fulcrum sides  160 ,  262 , although any angle which assists the user in rotating the fulcrum  150 ,  250  may be used. Additionally, one or both of tabs  172 ,  274  may be placed in any position which will assist the user to rotate the fulcrum  150 ,  250  which do not interfere with travel of the trigger  108  or movement of the lever  110 . The selection of a left tab  172  and/or a right tab  274  for use may be influenced by the desire to facilitate use of the present invention by a left handed or a right handed shooter.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a back end view of the fulcrum  250  of  FIG. 4 , showing the back end  254 , a top face  156 , a curved bottom face  258 , left side  160 , left tab  172 , right side  262  and right tab  274 . The curved bottom face  258  shown is an alternate shape than the flat bottom face  158  of  FIG. 3  and may better accommodate the shape of various shaped trigger guards  112 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows the trigger shim  140 . The shim  140  may be machined or stamped to a shape, preferably rectangular, which will fit securely into a space in the receiver  6  directly in front of the trigger  108 . The trigger shim  140  is preferably made of low carbon ductile metal, but may be made from any suitable metal or plastic. As depicted in  FIGS. 2, 10  and  12 , the trigger shim  140 , where required for proper functioning of the invention, may be installed in an existing space in the receiver  6 ,  106  immediately forward of and adjacent to the trigger assembly  109  without modification to the trigger  108  or trigger assembly.  FIGS. 13 and 14  depict the invention installed on the rifle  101  which does not require a trigger shim  140  for proper positioning of the trigger  108 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows a left side view of a prior art standard factory hammer  20 , hammer spring  26 , trigger  8  mechanism, and receiver  6  for a lever action rifle  1 .  FIG. 8  shows a left side view of a prior art standard factory hammer  20 , hammer spring  26 , trigger  108  mechanism and receiver  106  for a lever action rifle  101  in which the trigger shim  140  of the present invention has been installed in the receiver  106  in an existing space in the receiver  106  directly in front of the trigger  108 . The trigger shim  140  is used when there is existing slack in the trigger  108 . Placement of the trigger shim  140  in front of the trigger  108  reduces existing slack in the trigger  108 . The trigger shim  140  minimizes unnecessary forward movement of the trigger  108  and holds the trigger  108  in a position rearward of its most forward position when the shim  140  is not present. This trigger shim  140  placement also properly fixes the trigger  108  in relation to the fulcrum  150  in the position required for proper functioning of the gun trigger actuator  130  of the present invention; however, such trigger shim  140  placement does not interfere with full functionality of said trigger  108 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 9  is a comparison left side view of the hammer  20  and trigger  8 ,  108  mechanism of  FIGS. 7 and 8  comparing placement of the trigger  8 ,  108  before and after installation of the trigger shim  140  in the receiver  6 ,  106 . As clearly shown in  FIG. 9 , when the trigger shim  140  is positioned in the receiver  106  the trigger  108  is held in a position rearward of its customary position.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 2, 10  and  11  demonstrate the preferred embodiment of the gun trigger actuator  130  of the present invention installed on a lever action rifle  101 . The shim  140  is positioned in the receiver  106  directly in front of the trigger  108  to reduce slack in the trigger  108  and holds the trigger  108  in a position rearward of its most forward position when the shim  140  is not present. The fulcrum  150  is affixed to the inside of the trigger guard  112  and is mounted over a portion of the trigger guard  112  at a position just below the bottom end  111  of the trigger  108 , with the front end  152  of the fulcrum  150  pivotably installed below and forward of the trigger bottom end  111 . The fulcrum  150  rotates on a pivot pin  180  into a passive off position ( FIG. 2 ), where the fulcrum back end  154  is rotated back and extending rearwardly along and above said trigger guard  112  with the fulcrum  150  parallel to and in contact with the trigger guard  112  along the fulcrum  150  left side  160  and right side  262 . The fulcrum  150  also rotates into an active firing position, where the fulcrum  150  is rotated forward with the fulcrum  150  at an angle to the trigger guard  112  and the fulcrum  150  back end  154  rotated upward at an angle forward of the trigger bottom end  111  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ). In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2, 10  and  11 , the fulcrum  150  has a longitudinal slot  170  (see  FIG. 4 ) to allow passage of the bottom end  111  of the trigger  108  past the fulcrum  150  and through the longitudinal slot  170  when the fulcrum  150  is in the passive off position, without modification of the trigger  108  or trigger bottom end  111  (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0049]      FIG. 2  shows the lever  110  in closed position and the fulcrum rotated into the passive off position, with the fulcrum  150  back end  154  rotated back with the fulcrum  150  above, parallel to and in contact with the trigger guard  112  along the fulcrum  150  left side  160  and right side  162 . With the fulcrum  150  in this passive position, the rifle  101  can be manually fired by the user by pulling back on or exerting rearward force on the trigger front face  109  until the hammer  20  is tripped and the rifle  101  fires.  
         [0050]      FIG. 10  shows the lever  110  rotated forward into an open position and the fulcrum rotated into the active firing position. The fulcrum  150  is rotated upward at an angle to the trigger guard  112  and the fulcrum  150  back end  154  is forward of the trigger  108 . The fulcrum bottom face  158  (see  FIG. 3 ) is in contact with the front face  109  of the trigger  108 , with the fulcrum  150  left side  160  and right side  162  (see  FIG. 3 ) aligned on opposing sides of the trigger  108 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 11  shows the lever  110  rotated back into a closed position and the fulcrum  150  still positioned in the active firing position shown in  FIG. 10 . The fulcrum  150  is rotated forward at an angle to the trigger guard  112  and the fulcrum  150  back end  154  is forward of and embracing the trigger  108 . The fulcrum bottom face  158  (also see  FIG. 3 ) is in contact with the front face  109  of the trigger  108 , with the fulcrum  150  left side  160  and right side  162  aligned on opposing sides of the trigger  108 . The closing of the lever  110  from the open position of  FIG. 10  forces the fulcrum back end  154  and bottom face  158  to exert rearward pressure against the trigger front face  109 , pushing the trigger  108  rearward, thereby actuating the trigger  108 , tripping the hammer  20  and causing the rifle  101  to mechanically fire. The fulcrum  150  in the active firing position translates the rotational motion of the lever  110  into mechanical rearward pressure against the trigger  108 , allowing for the utilization of the lever  110  itself to exert the force needed to mechanically fire the rifle  101  without requiring the user to manually pull the trigger  108 .  
         [0052]     If the fulcrum  150  is left in the forward rotated position as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the rifle  101  may be mechanically fired again by rotating the lever  110  down and fully forward, thereby extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge case from the chamber, cocking the hammer  20  and chambering a fresh round, and then closing the lever  110 , thereby transferring a new cartridge from the magazine  22  to the chamber and actuating the trigger  108 , which fires the rifle  101 . This sequence of operation may be followed until both the magazine  22  and chamber are empty.  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the fulcrum  150  is rotated upward and forward of the trigger  108  when in the active firing position. The fulcrum  150  exerts pressure on the trigger front face when the lever  110  is closed, pushing the trigger  108  rearward, actuating the trigger  108  and thereby firing the rifle. As shown in  FIG. 3 , fulcrum back end  154  is preferably shaped to embrace the front face of the trigger  108  when fulcrum  150  is positioned in the active firing position and may have a curved portion towards the center of back end  154  for embracing the trigger  108 . Such a fulcrum shape provides stability and limits sideways motion when pressure is placed by the actively positioned fulcrum  150  on the trigger  108  as lever  110  is closed, pushing the trigger  108  rearward and actuating the trigger  108 .  
         [0054]     If the rifle  101  has a cross-bolt safety, and the cross-bolt safety is placed in a non-firing position, the rifle  101  will not fire when the trigger  108  is pulled manually or actuated by the gun trigger actuator  130  of the present invention. Therefore, the rifle  101  can be cocked repeatedly, safely emptying the magazine  22  without firing the rifle  101 , even if the gun trigger actuator  130  is in the active firing mode.  
         [0055]      FIG. 12  shows an alternate embodiment  230  of the gun trigger actuator  130  installed on a lever action rifle  201 , such as the prior art Winchester lever action rifle  1  of  FIG. 1  or other similar rifle. The gun trigger actuator  230  comprises each of the features of the gun trigger actuator  130  embodiment except that gun trigger actuator  230  has no trigger shim is installed in the receiver. Gun trigger actuator  230  has the fulcrum  150  pivotably secured by the pivot pin  180  to the trigger guard  112  portion of the rifle lever  110  at a point below and slightly forward of the trigger  108  as depicted in  FIG. 12  and a pivot pin  180  which secures the fulcrum  150  to the lever  110  and acts as a pivot point for the fulcrum  150 . This alternate embodiment of the gun trigger actuator  230  functions and is similarly shaped and made in the same manner as the gun trigger actuator  130  depicted in the previous  FIGS. 2-5 ,  10  and  11 , except that a shim is not required to be placed in the receiver  6  (see also  FIG. 7 ). This gun trigger actuator  230  embodiment would be employed in cases where the trigger  108  has an acceptable lack of play; therefore no shim would be required.  FIG. 12  depicts the fulcrum  150  in the passive off position.  
         [0056]      FIG. 13  is a side view of an alternate version of a rifle lever  210  installed on a lever action rifle  301  and shows the rifle lever  210  employed with the gun trigger actuator  130  of the present invention, where the lever  210  has an enlarged finger hole  118  which is sized to accept the limb of an adult person.  
         [0057]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the rifle lever  210  installed on a lever action rifle  401  and shows the rifle lever  210  employed with the gun trigger actuator  230 , where no shim is required in the receiver  6  because the trigger  108  has an acceptable lack of play, and the lever  210  has an enlarged finger hole  118  which is sized to accept the limb of an adult person.  
         [0058]     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications can be made by those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.