An Automatic Safety Device for Fire Arms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Safety Device for Fire Arms.
We, LOUIS MENESTRE and PIERRE PASQUIER, of 21, Rue Nysten, Liége,
Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an automatic safety device for fire arms, and is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings as applied to a sporting gun.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the heel-plate hereinafter referred to, in the position
it occupies before the gun is brought up to the shoulder for firing.
Fig. 2 is a similar view shewing the heel-plate in the position it is caused to
assume when the gun is brought up to the shoulder to be discharged.
Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections between the triggers shewing the automatic
safety device in positions corresponding to the positions of the heel-plate in Figs. 1
and 2.
Figs. 5 and 6 are sections of Figs. 3 and 4 parallel to the lower guard plate and
immediately above the safety device, the latter being shewn in plan.
The heel plate 6 of the gun Figs. 1 and 2, is arranged in a frame a fixed to the
stock of the gun.
It projects beyond the frame a, as shewn in Fig. 1, or is
considerably bowed or curved outwardly, and it is capable of pivoting about the
pin c.
A spring d which may be of any suitable kind has a constant tendency to press
the plate in an outward direction, in such a manner as to cause that plate when in
its normal position to project beyond the frame a.
To the plate is jointed a rod f which extends, through a corresponding cavity
in the butt of the gun, to the triggers, where it terminates in a plate, shaped
as shewn, guided by slots i and by screws screwed into the lower guard plate m.
The plate (Figs. 3 to 6), passes through the triggers g, in suitable recesses
the front part n of which is of greater height than that of the part n¹.
While the gun is in its normal condition the spring d presses the heel-plate into
the position shewn in Fig. 1; the plate pulling with it the rod f, Figs. 3 and 5,
and the plate being situated in the recesses n' of the triggers. As these
recesses are of a height merely sufficient to allow of the easy entry of the plate h,
the triggers are thereby locked so that they cannot operate, and the gun is thus at
safety.
When the gun is brought to the shoulder, then by pressing the butt against the
shoulder, the plate is pressed into the position shewn in Fig. 2; the rod fis
moved forward (Figs. 4 and 6), and the plate / passes into the higher recesses n of
the triggers. These recesses n are of a height sufficient to allow of the triggers
moving freely.
In order to allow of the operation of the automatic safety device, even when the
cel plate is resting on the ground or on any object, and when the gun is in a
vertical or in an inclined position, a small cylinder p is fixed at an acute angle to
the lower part of the frame a. The cylinder is arranged within the stock in such
a manner as to have a downward inclination when the gun is held horizontally, and
the said cylinder contains a small ball 7 which is capable of moving freely within
the cylinder p by the action of gravity according to the position of the gun. As
will be seen on reference to Fig. 1, the ball y is prevented from passing out of the
cylinder p by the nose of the heel-plate 6 and by a pin s.
When the gun is held horizontally (Fig. 2), the ball is situated at the bottom
of the cylinder p, and the plate with its nose is able to operate freely. But
when the gun is held vertically or at an inclination, with the butt downwards
(Fig. 1), the ball g will roll towards the other end of the cylinder p, and when the

page_text: plate is placed upon any object, the plate 6 cannot move into the frame a; it is
locked, because its nose comes into contact with the ball g, whereby the triggers
remain locked by the plate h.
By this means the gun when it is not brought up to the shoulder is constantly
and immediately at safety; as soon as the gun is removed from the shoulder, the
spring d acts, and places 'the triggers at safety. If the gun is placed upon any
object, the ball 7 immédiately assumes a position in front of the nose r, and the
plate is locked.
It is evident that by slight modification, the invention can be applied to any kind
of portable fire arm.
Dated this 10th day of December 1890.
L. MENESTRE,
By L. W., per F. B.
P. PASQUIER,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Safety Device for Fire Arms.
We, LOUIS MENESTRE and PIERRE PASQUIER, of 21, Rue Nysten, Léige,
Belgium, Manufacturers of Fire-arms, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an automatic safety device for fire arms and is illustrated
in the drawings filed with our Provisional Specification as applied to a sporting gun.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section shewing the heel-plate hereinafter referred to, in the
position it occupies before the gun is brought up to the shoulder for firing;
Fig. 2 is a similar view shewing the heel-plate in the position it is caused to
assume when the gun is brought up to the shoulder to be discharged.
Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections between the triggers shewing the automatic
safety device in positions corresponding to the positions of the heel plate in
Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 5 and 6 are sections of Figs. 3 and 4 parallel to the lower guard plate and
immediately above the safety device, the latter being shewn in plan.
The heel plate 6 of the gun Figs. 1 and 2, is arranged in a frame a fixed to the
stock of the gun. It projects beyond the frame a, as shewn in Fig. 1, or is
considerably bowed or curved outwardly, and it is capable of pivoting about the
pin c.
A spring d which may be of any suitable kind has a constant tendency to press
the plate b in an outward direction, in such a manner as to cause that plate when in
its normal position to project beyond the frame a.
as
To the plate b is jointed a rod f which extends; through a corresponding cavity in
the butt of the gun, to the triggers g, g, where it terminates in a plate h, shaped
shewn, and guided by slots i and by screws I screwed into the lower guard plate m.
The plate h (Figs. 3 to 6), passes through the triggers g, in suitable recesses
the front part of which is of greater height than that of the part n¹.
While the gun is in its normal condition the spring d presses the heel-plate.b into
the position shewn in Fig. 1; the plate & pulling with it the rod f, Figs. 3 and 5,
and the plate being situated in the recesses n' of the triggers. As these recesses n¹
are of a height merely sufficient to allow of the easy entry of the plate 1, the triggers
are thereby locked so that they cannot operate, and the gun is thus at safety.
When the gun is brought to the shoulder, then by pressing the butt against the
shoulder, the plate bis pressed into the position shewn in Fig. 2; the rod f is moved
forward (Figs. 4 and 6), and the plate h passes into the higher recesses n of the
triggers. These recesses n are of a height sufficient to allow of the triggers moving
freely.

page_text: In order to allow of the operation of the automatic safety device, even when the
heel plate is resting on the ground or on any object, and when the gun is in a vertical
or in an inclined position, a small tube p is fixed at an acute angle to the lower part
of the frame a. This tube p is arranged within the stock in such a manner as to have
a downward inclination when the gun is held horizontally, and the said tube contains
a small ball g which is capable of moving freely within the tube p by the action of
gravity according to the position of the gun. As will be seen on reference to Fig. 1,
the ball is prevented from passing out of the tube p by the nose of the
When the gun is held horizontally (Fig. 2), the ball g is situated at the bottom of
the tube P, and the plate b with its nose r is able to operate freely. But when the gun
is held vertically or at an inclination, with the butt downwards (Fig. 1) the ball
will roll towards the other end of the tube p, and when the plate is placed upon
any object it cannot move into the frame a; it is locked, because its nose r comes
into contact with the ball 7, whereby the triggers remain locked by the plate h.
heel plate band by a pin.
By this means the gun when it is not brought up to the shoulder is constantly and
immediately at safety; as soon as the gun is removed from the shoulder, the spring d
acts, and places the triggers at safety. If the gun is placed upon any object the
ball g immediately assumes a position in front of the nose and the plate bis
locked.
It is evident, that by slight modifications, the invention can be applied to any
kind of portable firearm.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In a small arm or shoulder gun, an automatic safety device, consisting of a pivoted
heel plate b which is caused by the action of a spring, to normally project beyond
the butt of the gun, the said plate being jointed to a rod f whose bent end passes
through the triggers and locks them, by passing into recesses n, when the gun
removed from the shoulder, in combination with a tube p containing a ball which
assumes a position in front of a nose of the heel plate b, and locks that plate, when
the gun is in a vertical position or at an inclination with the butt downwards.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1890.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1890.
L. MENESTRE,
By L.W., per F. B.
P. PASQUIER,
By L. W., per F. B.