Patent ID: 8438768

Claim:
An auto-loading firearm with magazine disconnect mechanism cornprising: a frame defining a longitudinal axis; a magazine removably disposed in the frame and adapted for holding a plurality of cartridges; a hammer pivotably mounted in the frame; a trigger pivotably movable in the frame via a transverse trigger pin and operable to cock and release the hammer for discharging the firearm; a substantially planar magazine disconnect member mounted below the trigger pin and comprising a horizontally oriented plate having a flat longitudinally elongated body, a front end, a rear end, and central opening between the ends which receives at least part of the trigger therethrough, the plate selectively engageable with the trigger in response to removing and inserting the magazine, the magazine disconnect member movable between a blocking position in which the disconnect member engages the trigger when pulled and a non-blocking position in which the disconnect member does not engage the trigger when pulled; and a biasing member urging the magazine disconnect member into the blocking position, the biasing member acting directly on an upward extending sensing protrusion disposed on the rear end of the plate proximate to the magazine; wherein inserting the magazine into the frame moves the magazine disconnect member from the blocking position to the non-blocking position; and wherein removing the magazine from the frame moves the disconnect member from the non-blocking position to the blocking position in which movement of the trigger is restricted to prevent cocking the hammer.