Patent ID: 8245427

Claim:
A safety device for use with a firearm comprising: an M16 type bolt carrier group including a bolt having a first longitudinal bore housed within a bolt carrier having a second longitudinal bore for receiving the bolt, the first longitudinal bore being generally surrounded by the second longitudinal bore and the bolt being rotatable within said bolt carrier; a firing pin positioned for reciprocating movement within the first longitudinal bore between a first position, where the tip of the firing pin is protruding from the face of the bolt of the bolt carrier group, and a second position wherein the firing pin is restrained, a proximal end of the firing pin including a catch surface; a hammer translatable from a cocked position through a travel path; a firing pin spring cooperating with the firing pin and a proximal end of the bolt to bias the firing pin toward the second position; and a safety catch mechanism housed within a guide groove formed as an opening through an exterior side wall of said bolt carrier group and located adjacent to the second longitudinal bore, the safety catch mechanism having a safety catch arm with a distal end which biases against a safety catch spring disposed within the bolt carrier, a proximal end of the safety catch arm including a safety catch positioned to selectively engage the catch surface of the firing pin to selectively secure the firing pin in the second position, the safety catch spring biasing the safety catch into engagement with the catch surface, the proximal end of the safety catch mechanism including a camming surface disposed within the travel path of the hammer so that the hammer applies force against the camming surface as the hammer moves from the cocked position through the travel path to rotate the safety catch mechanism to disengage the safety catch from the firing pin catch surface to thereby release the firing pin for movement from the second position to the first position.