AK Fire Control Mechanism

This application claims the benefit and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/702,354, filed Mar. 23, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/165,110, filed Mar. 23, 2021, the entire content of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to fire control mechanisms, for example as may be included in rifles and other firearms.

Precision, accuracy and controllability are desirable in a fire control mechanism. Higher quality fire control systems allow a shooter to better engage a target.

There remains a need for novel fire control arrangements that provide benefits over prior fire control mechanisms.

All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.

A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

In some embodiments, a fire control mechanism comprises a hammer, a trigger and a safety. The hammer is rotatable about a hammer axis. The trigger is rotatable about a trigger axis and arranged to contact the hammer. The safety is arranged to interfere with rotation of the trigger. The safety comprises a second portion moveable with respect to a first portion.

In some embodiments, the safety is arranged to rotate about a safety axis.

In some embodiments, a distance between the safety axis and the second portion changes as the second portion is moved with respect to the first portion.

In some embodiments, the second portion comprises screw threads. In some embodiments, the first portion comprises a threaded cavity. In some embodiments, the second portion comprises a set screw.

In some embodiments, the first portion comprises a bore providing access to the second portion.

In some embodiments, a fire control mechanism comprises a hammer, a trigger and a safety. The hammer is rotatable about a hammer axis. The trigger is rotatable about a trigger axis and arranged to contact the hammer. The safety is arranged to interfere with rotation of the trigger. The safety comprises a supported portion and a bevel adjacent to the supported portion.

In some embodiments, the bevel comprises a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of the supported portion.

In some embodiments, the supported portion and the bevel share an edge.

In some embodiments, the safety comprises a flange adjacent to the supported portion. In some embodiments, the flange comprises a cross-section larger than a cross-section of the supported portion. In some embodiments, the bevel and the flange are located on opposite sides of the supported portion.

In some embodiments, the supported portion comprises a first supported portion, and the safety comprises a second supported portion and a second bevel adjacent to the second supported portion.

In some embodiments, a housing is arranged to support the first supported portion and the second supported portion. In some embodiments, the second bevel is oriented outside the housing.

In some embodiments, fire control mechanism comprises a hammer, a trigger, a disconnector and a trigger pin. The hammer is rotatable about a hammer axis. The trigger is rotatable about a trigger axis and arranged to contact the hammer. The disconnector is rotatable about the trigger axis. The trigger pin is arranged to support the trigger and the disconnector. The trigger pin comprises a bevel.

In some embodiments, the bevel is located at an end of the trigger pin. In some embodiments, the trigger pin is supported by a housing and the bevel extends outside of the housing.

In some embodiments, the trigger pin contacts the trigger. In some embodiments, the trigger pin contacts the disconnector.

In some embodiments, the trigger comprises a bevel.

In some embodiments, the disconnector comprises a bevel.

In some embodiments, a fire control mechanism comprises a hammer rotatable about a hammer axis and a trigger rotatable about a trigger axis. The trigger is arranged to contact the hammer. The trigger comprises a trigger sear and a ramp adjacent to the trigger sear. An angle between the ramp and the trigger sear is less than 120 degrees.

In some embodiments, the angle is less than 115 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle is less than 110 degrees.

In some embodiments, the trigger sear is flat and the ramp is flat.

These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference can be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described various embodiments of the invention.

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

shows an embodiment of a fire control mechanism. In some embodiments, a fire control mechanismcomprises a portion of a firearm. In some embodiments, a fire control mechanismis contained in a housingof a firearm, such as a receiver. In some embodiments, a fire control mechanismis arranged for use in an AK-style firearm, such as an AK-47, and is configured to be received in an AK receiver.

In some embodiments, a fire control mechanismcomprises a triggerand a hammer. In some embodiments, a fire control mechanismcomprises a disconnector. In some embodiments, a fire control mechanismcomprises a safety mechanism.

In some embodiments, the triggeris arranged to rotate about a trigger axisand is biased in a first rotational direction (e.g. clockwise) by a trigger spring (not shown). In some embodiments, the triggercomprises a finger bowand a force applied to the finger bowcan bias the triggerin a second rotational direction (e.g. counter-clockwise), opposite that of the trigger spring.

In some embodiments, the hammeris arranged to rotate about a hammer axisand is biased in a second rotational direction (e.g. counter-clockwise) by a hammer spring (not shown). In some embodiments, the hammerand the triggercontact one another and the triggeris arranged to prevent the hammerfrom moving. In some embodiments, the hammercomprises a hammer searand the triggercomprises a trigger sear. In some embodiments, the trigger searcontacts the hammer sear, wherein the triggerprevents the hammerfrom “falling.” As a shooter applies a force to the finger bowof the trigger, the triggeris rotated in the second rotational direction (e.g. counter-clockwise), causing the trigger searto slide against the hammer sear. This sliding engagement between the sears,is generally referred to as “creep.” When the triggerhas rotated enough that the trigger searclears the hammer sear, the hammerfalls—this is generally referred to as “break.” The hammerthen falls, typically striking a firing pin and firing a round.

In some embodiments, the fire control mechanismcomprises a disconnector. In some embodiments, a disconnectoris arranged to engage the hammeras the hammeris being reset subsequent to a firing sequence, and the disconnectorprevents the firearm from firing a subsequent round. In some embodiments, a disconnectoris arranged to pivot about the trigger axisand is also moveable with respect to the trigger. In some embodiments, the disconnectorcomprises an engaging portionand the hammercomprises a catch. In some embodiments, the engaging portionengages the catchand the disconnectorprevents movement of the hammeruntil the engaging portionis released from the catch.

In some embodiments, the safety mechanismis moveable with respect to the housing. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismcomprises a portion oriented outside of the housing, such as a safety lever, which can be operated by a user to engage or disengage the safety mechanism. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismis moveable with respect to a portion of the fire control mechanism, such as the trigger. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismis arranged to move about a safety axis. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismcomprises an interference portionarranged to prevent operation of the fire control mechanism. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismis moveable between a first position and a second position. In some embodiments, in the first position, the safety mechanismprevents operation of the fire control mechanism. In some embodiments, in the second position, the safety mechanism does not impede operation of the fire control mechanism. In some embodiments, the triggercomprises a safety interface portionarranged to contact the safety mechanism. In some embodiments, in the first position, the interference potionof the safety mechanismcontacts the safety interface portionof the triggerand prevents operation of the trigger.

In some embodiments, a size of the interference portionof the safety mechanismis adjustable. In some embodiments, a radial distance that the interference portionextends from the safety axisis adjustable.

shows an embodiment of a safety mechanism. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismis arranged to rotate about the safety axis. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismcomprises a first supported portionand a second supported portion. In some embodiments, the first supported portionis supported by a first portion of the housing(see) and the second supported portionis supported by a second portion of the housing. In some embodiments, the safety mechanismis rotatably supported by the housingat the first supported portionand the second supported portion.

In some embodiments, the safety mechanismcomprises a second portionmoveable with respect to a first portion. In some embodiments, the first portioncomprises the supported portion(s),and the second portioncomprises the interference portion. In some embodiments, movement of the second portionwith respect to the first portionchanges a specific location of the interfering portion. In some embodiments, movement of the second portionwith respect to the first portionadjusts a radial distance from the safety axisto the interference portion.

In some embodiments, the second portionand/or the interference portioncomprises a threaded portion. In some embodiments, the first portioncomprises a cavityarranged to receive the second portion. In some embodiments, the cavitycomprises complimentary threads arranged to engage the threaded portion. In some embodiments, the second portioncomprises a tool interfaceto allow the second portionto be manipulated by a drive tool. In some embodiments, a tool interfacecomprises any suitable known drive tool interface such as Allen screw, Philips, Torx, ect. In some embodiments, the first portioncomprises a borein fluid communication with the cavity. In some embodiments, the boreallows the second portionto be adjusted with respect to the first portionusing a drive tool that extends through the first portionand engages the second portion. This allows the second portionto be manipulated while the fire control mechanismis installed in a housing.

shows an embodiment of a safety mechanismin a first position and arranged to impede operation of the trigger. The specific position of the interference portionis adjustable to improve fitment of the components.

show another embodiment of a safety mechanism. In some embodiments, a safety mechanismcomprises a bevellocated adjacent to a supported portion. In some embodiments, a bevelcomprises a surface oriented at a non-orthogonal angle to the safety axis. In some embodiments, a bevelcomprises a conical surface. In some embodiments, a bevelcomprises a smaller cross-sectional size than the supported portion.

In some embodiments, a safety mechanismcomprises a first bevellocated adjacent to a first supported portionand a second bevellocated adjacent to a second supported portion.

In some embodiments, a safety mechanismcomprises a flangelocated adjacent to the first supported portion. In some embodiments, a beveland a flangeare located on opposite sides of a supported portion.

show an embodiment of a safety mechanismduring installation. In some embodiments, a housingcomprises a first apertureand a second aperture. In some embodiments, the first aperturecomprises a first support for the safety mechanismand the second aperturecomprises a second support for the safety mechanism. In some embodiments, the first bevelcomprises a smaller size than the first apertureand the second bevelcomprises a smaller size than the second aperture. In some embodiments, the first beveland the second bevelencourage supported portions,of the safety mechanismto self-align with the support apertures,.

show an embodiment of a safety mechanismin an installed configuration. In some embodiments, the flangeabuts a sidewall of the housingwhen the safety mechanismis installed in a housing.

In some embodiments, a bevel,protrudes from a sidewall of the housingwhen the safety mechanismis installed in the housing. In some embodiments, the first bevelis located within an interior cavity of the housing. In some embodiments, the second bevelprotrudes from an external surface of a sidewall of the housing. In some embodiments, the second bevelis located outside of the housing

show components of another embodiment of a fire control mechanism. In some embodiments, a triggerand a disconnectorare supported by a trigger pin. In some embodiments, the trigger pinis supported by the housing. In some embodiments, the housingcomprises a first apertureand a second aperturearranged to receive and support the trigger pin.

In some embodiments, the trigger pinextends through and supports the trigger. In some embodiments, the trigger pinextends through and supports the disconnector.

In some embodiments, the trigger pincomprises a bevel. In some embodiments, the bevelis located at an end of the trigger pin.

In some embodiments, the triggercomprises a bevellocated adjacent to an aperturearranged to receive the trigger pin. In some embodiments, the bevelin the triggerand the bevelon the trigger pinencourage the trigger pinto self-align with the aperturein the trigger.