Trigger Assembly
Patent No. US11287205 (titled "Trigger Assembly") was filed by Cmc Triggers Corp on Jan 18, 2021.
What is this patent about?
’205 is related to the field of semi-automatic firearm trigger assemblies, specifically improvements to the trigger/sear/disconnector mechanism, bolt hold-open mechanism, and magazine release user interface, particularly for firearms patterned after the Ruger™ Model 10-22™.
The underlying idea behind ’205 is to enhance the functionality and user experience of a firearm trigger assembly by integrating an improved trigger mechanism with a disconnector that pivots on the same axis as the trigger , a more reliable bolt hold-open, and a user-configurable magazine release.
The claims of ’205 focus on a trigger mechanism comprising a housing, a trigger member with a sear and a finger portion, a hammer with a tooth, a disconnector with a hook portion pivotably mounted on the trigger member, and a safety selector. The claims further cover the interaction of these components during firing and cycling, as well as a bolt hold-open mechanism and a user-configurable magazine release.
In operation, when the trigger is pulled, the sear releases the hammer, firing the weapon. The cycling action then pivots the hammer back, where the disconnector's hook catches a tooth on the hammer. Releasing the trigger allows the sear to re-engage the hammer, resetting the mechanism. The bolt hold-open is manually activated via a plunger, engaging a crank arm to block the bolt in the open position. The magazine release is actuated by a lever that can be mounted on either side of the housing for ambidextrous use.
This design differentiates itself from prior solutions by offering a more refined trigger feel through the co-axial disconnector pivot, a more robust bolt hold-open mechanism that positively locks the bolt back, and a magazine release that can be easily adapted for left- or right-handed users. The co-axial pivot simplifies the trigger mechanism, potentially leading to smoother operation and improved reliability. The positive bolt lock ensures the bolt remains open when desired, and the ambidextrous magazine release enhances user ergonomics.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’205 was filed, at a time when firearm trigger assemblies were typically implemented using discrete mechanical components within a housing. When designing such systems, hardware constraints made miniaturization and integration of multiple functions into a single component non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the patent because the claims patentably distinguish from the prior art. Specifically, the examiner noted that the term "forward" is clearly defined in the specification. The prior art (Downey) does not disclose a hook portion of the disconnector engaging a tooth of the hammer to hold the hammer until the trigger is released, as required by the claim.
Claims
The patent includes 8 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 3, and 4. The independent claims generally focus on a firearm trigger mechanism comprising a housing, trigger member, hammer, disconnector, and safety selector. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the features and configurations of the independent claims.
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US11287205
- Application Number
- US17151283
- Filing Date
- Jan 18, 2021
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jan 18, 2041
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents