Patent Description:
It is not always possible to simply replace an iron sight with a different type of sight. For example, certain types of optical sights are manufactured with a standard profile that can be connected to the top of a firearm. This standard profile, however, may not fit every type of firearm. For example, some handguns manufactured prior to the broad use of optical sights may have a profile that cannot be easily adapted to mount an optical sight due to the narrowness or roundness of an uppermost surface of the slide mechanism of the firearm. Adapters for the slide mechanism have attempted to allow optical sights to be used with these types of firearms but suffer from various drawbacks such as not being sufficiently strong enough to endure the recoil forces on the slide mechanism when the firearm is fired.

<CIT> relates to a pistol adapted to provide selective double action.

The invention is a slide according to claim <NUM>, a kit according to claim <NUM> and a method according to claim <NUM>. Further embodiments are in the dependent claims.

A more complete understanding of the present technology may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in a different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present technology.

The present technology may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the present technology may employ various materials, finishes, dimensions, and geometries, which may carry out a variety of operations suited to a specified application or environment. In addition, the present technology may be practiced in conjunction with any number of systems configured for operation with firearms, and the system described is merely one exemplary application for the technology. Further, the present technology may employ any number of conventional techniques for machining, metalworking, and gunsmithing.

Methods and apparatus for an optical adapter for a firearm slide according to various aspects of the present technology may operate in conjunction with any type of handgun or various slide mechanisms used in firearms. Various representative implementations of the present technology may be applied to retrofitting an existing semi-automatic handgun, modifying a new firearm, or manufacturing a new firearm. For example, the described technology may be used to replace or modify an original factory installed slide mechanism and one or more internal components of a Beretta® model <NUM> pistol, and other like models such as: the Taurus® PT92, Girsan® Regard MC, Helwan <NUM>, Vektor Z88, SP1, and SP2, Yavuz <NUM>, and the AT92, to provide a suitable surface for mounting an optical sight on the pistol when the slide mechanism as originally manufactured is not suitable for receiving a mounted optical sight.

For example, and referring to <FIG>, a prior art unmodified slide mechanism <NUM> may comprise an upper surface <NUM>, a lower portion <NUM>, a selector switch or safety lever <NUM>, and an open barrel portion <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> may be unsuitable for mounting an optical sight because the upper surface <NUM> is either too narrow or too round to provide an adequate surface capable of receiving an optical sight and holding it in position during use. Further, a top surface of firing pin block <NUM> may sit generally flush with the upper surface <NUM> prior to and after firing but may moves upwards and extend above the upper surface <NUM> by small amount, such as by about <NUM>-<NUM> millimeters, when the trigger is pulled.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, a modified slide mechanism <NUM> may comprise a body having a flat upper surface <NUM> that is recessed below a top most surface <NUM> of the body located aft of an open barrel portion <NUM>, and a lower portion <NUM>. A first set of mounting holes <NUM> may be created in the flat upper surface <NUM> and used to connect to an adapter plate <NUM>. A forward end <NUM> of the flat upper surface <NUM> may be angled, beveled, notched, or otherwise configured to create a more secure connection between the modified slide mechanism <NUM> and the adapter plate <NUM>.

The recessed flat upper surface <NUM> may be formed by modifying an existing stock slide mechanism. For example, an upper surface of a factory manufactured stock slide mechanism may be machined to form the recessed the flat upper surface <NUM>. This modified slide mechanism may then be used in place of the original stock slide mechanism. Alternatively, the flat upper surface <NUM> may be formed as part of a replacement slide mechanism that was manufactured as a direct replacement for a stock slide mechanism.

Whether by modifying a stock slide mechanism or replacing a stock slide mechanism with a replacement, the flat upper surface <NUM> may expose interior components of the slide mechanism or render existing stock internal components nonfunctional. For example, if the prior art unmodified slide mechanism <NUM> is modified according to the present technology, the recessed flat upper surface <NUM> may extend downwards into the upper surface of the unmodified slide mechanism <NUM> such that a first opening <NUM> for a standard firing pin block <NUM> (See <FIG>), a recess <NUM> for a standard retention pin for the firing pin block <NUM>, and a second opening <NUM> for a standard extractor pin <NUM> (See <FIG>) may be exposed. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the first and second openings <NUM>, <NUM> and recess <NUM> indicate areas within the unmodified slide mechanism <NUM> where the standard firing pin block <NUM>, extractor pin <NUM>, and retention pin were located prior to the removal of a portion of the upper surface <NUM>. With the portion of the upper surface <NUM> removed, the standard firing pin block <NUM>, extractor pin <NUM>, and retention pin no longer function as intended and must be replaced with modified components configured to fit within the smaller profile of the modified slide mechanism <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, when the modified slide mechanism <NUM> is assembled, a modified extractor pin <NUM> (See also <FIG>) may be installed such that it does not extend above the flat upper surface <NUM>. A modified selector switch or safety lever <NUM> may also be installed within modified slide mechanism <NUM>, wherein the safety lever <NUM> may also be configured to function within the smaller profile by having a reduced radius on an upper surface that does not extend above the flat upper surface <NUM>. For example, referring now to <FIG>, a prior art safety lever <NUM> may comprise an upper radius <NUM> that is significantly larger than the upper radius <NUM> of the modified safety lever <NUM>. Similarly, with particular reference to <FIG>, a standard safety plunger <NUM> may be replaced with a modified safety plunger <NUM> that has a smaller length to accommodate the smaller radius of the modified safety lever <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an adapter plate <NUM> may be connected to the flat upper surface <NUM> to provide a secure mounting location for an optics assembly <NUM> such as a reflex sight or red dot optic sight. The adapter plate <NUM> may comprise any suitable components configured to connect the adapter plate <NUM> to the flat upper surface <NUM> and the optics assembly <NUM>.

The adapter plate <NUM> may comprise a substantially flat top surface <NUM> and an underside surface <NUM> that may at least partially conform to the top surface of the slide mechanism <NUM>. Alternatively, the underside surface <NUM> may be flat and configured to mate up against the flat upper surface <NUM> of the modified slide mechanism <NUM>. A second set of mounting holes <NUM> may be positioned on the adapter plate <NUM> to allow the adapter plate <NUM> to be coupled to the mating first set of mounting holes <NUM> on the flat upper surface <NUM> of the slide mechanism <NUM>. Any suitable type of fastener such as a screw or bolt may be used to couple the adapter mounting holes <NUM>, <NUM> together.

The adapter plate <NUM> may further comprise one or more mounting busses <NUM> disposed along the top surface <NUM> that are configured to couple to a pair of mating bosses in the optics assembly <NUM>. A third set of mounting holes or receiving ports <NUM> may also be located on the top surface <NUM> and may be used to couple the adapter plate <NUM> to the optics assembly <NUM>. A sighting element <NUM> may be positioned along a rearmost edge of the adapter plate <NUM>. A forward section of the adapter plate <NUM> may comprise a lip <NUM> configured to be positioned along the top most surface <NUM> of the slide mechanism <NUM> when an angled forward edge <NUM> is positioned in the forward end <NUM> of the flat upper surface <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, as described above, an unmodified slide mechanism <NUM> may utilize a standard firing pin block <NUM> that has an opening <NUM> for a retention pin. The top of the standard firing pin block <NUM>, however, may extend above the top upper surface <NUM> when the trigger is pulled and prevent the adapter plate <NUM> from mating flush with the flat upper surface <NUM>. Further, because there is no room for a retention pin the standard firing pin block <NUM> may no longer be able to be coupled to the firing pin causing the firearm to not function.

To solve this issue, and referring now to <FIG>, a modified firing pin block <NUM> may be used in place of the standard firing pin block <NUM>. The modified firing pin block <NUM> may require a lower profile that does not extend above the flat upper surface <NUM> when the trigger is pulled. The modified firing pin block <NUM> may not include an opening for a retention pin and may be configured to couple to the firing pin by another method.

In one embodiment, the modified firing pin block <NUM> may comprise a body having a central body having a pair of opposing ends. Each of the opposing ends may comprise an edge section <NUM>, <NUM> that extends perpendicularly away from the ends of the central body. A center catch <NUM> may extend perpendicularly away from a center portion <NUM> of the central body in a direction opposite that of the edge sections <NUM>, <NUM>. The center catch <NUM> may comprise a lip <NUM> and is angled perpendicular to the direction of the center catch <NUM> and is parallel to the central body. A recessed detent <NUM> may be disposed in a surface of the center catch <NUM> that is opposite that of the lip <NUM>.

To accommodate the modified firing pin block <NUM>, the firing pin may also need to be modified. For example, referring now to <FIG>, a standard firing pin <NUM> may comprise a first cut out <NUM> that would engage the standard firing pin block <NUM> and a second cut out <NUM> to allow the extractor (not shown) fit in position. Referring now to <FIG>, because the standard firing pin block <NUM> and associated retention pin cannot be used, a modified firing pin <NUM> may be used in place of the standard firing pin <NUM>. The modified firing pin <NUM> may include a first cut out section <NUM> configured to receive and engage with the modified firing pin block <NUM>. The first cut out section <NUM> may comprise a flattened section along a rear portion of the modified firing pin <NUM> that is rotated approximately <NUM> degrees along a longitudinal axis of the modified firing pin <NUM> relative to the first cut out <NUM> of the standard firing pin <NUM>. The first cut out section <NUM> of the modified firing pin <NUM> may also have a shallower depth relative to the first cut out <NUM> of the standard firing pin <NUM> in that it does not extend as deep towards the longitudinal axis from the outermost surface of the firing pin <NUM>. This provides for more material in the location of the first cut out section <NUM> increasing an overall strength of the firing pin <NUM> and reducing a likelihood of failure over time.

The modified firing pin <NUM> may further comprise a relief cut <NUM> that may extend from a section proximate and end of the modified firing pin <NUM> to the second cut out <NUM>. The relief cut <NUM> may provide an improved fit when positioned within the modified slide mechanism <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the relief cut <NUM> may be configured to engage and abut a space extending between the first and second edge sections <NUM>, <NUM> of the modified firing pin block <NUM>. During operation, when the trigger is pulled, the modified firing pin block <NUM> may move upwardly such that a first edge section <NUM> moves upward and away from the first cut out section <NUM> allowing the modified firing pin <NUM> to move forward slightly to strike the primer of the chambered cartridge. After striking the primer, the modified firing pin <NUM> will return to its original position such that the first edge section 1202of the modified firing pin block <NUM> slides back into the first cut out section <NUM> locking the modified firing pin <NUM> in position until the trigger is pulled again.

These and other embodiments for methods of modifying a slide mechanism may incorporate concepts, embodiments, and configurations as described above. The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of the technology and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present technology in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the system may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

Claim 1:
A slide for a firearm adapted to receive an optical sight, comprising:
a slide having a flat rear section recessed into a top portion of the slide, wherein the flat rear section:
comprises a first set of mounting holes (<NUM>); and
is positioned below a topmost surface of the slide;
an adapter plate (<NUM>) configured to be mounted within the recessed flat rear section by the first set of mounting holes (<NUM>), wherein the adapter plate (<NUM>) comprises:
a second set of mounting holes (<NUM>) aligned with the first set of mounting holes (<NUM>);
at least one mounting bus (<NUM>) disposed along a top surface that is configured to align the optical sight with the adapter plate (<NUM>); and
at least one receiving port (<NUM>) disposed along a top surface that is configured to connect the optical sight to the adapter plate (<NUM>); and
a safety lever (<NUM>) configured to:
be installed below the adapter plate (<NUM>); and
rotate without impacting the adapter plate (<NUM>).