Patent ID: 8910621

Claim:
A spring-loaded rifle comprising: a trigger; a firing mechanism an interconnection piece; a counter-ratchet; and a spring-driven piston comprising a spring-loaded configuration held in place by the counter-ratchet; the trigger configured to activate the firing mechanism, which is configured to act upon the interconnection piece, causing the interconnection piece to exert a force upon the counter-ratchet, which causes the counter-ratchet to release the piston from the spring-loaded configuration; the firing mechanism comprising an electronic firing mechanism comprising a flexible rod, an electromechanical actuator, and a switch, the flexible rod mechanically coupled to the trigger, the electromechanical actuator operable by the switch, the switch positioned to be activated by the flexible rod, the flexible rod configured to move in response to a first trigger force until the flexible rod contacts a stop, after which a second, relatively greater, trigger force is required to move the trigger to bend the flexible rod to activate the switch.