IP Library Granted Patent US 10,871,338
Granted Patent B2
US 10,871,338 · App. 16/416,311 · Granted Dec 22, 2020

Half-cock trigger safety assembly

Inventors: Charles David Williams (Geneseo, IL); Thomas E. Long (Downers Grove, IL)
Assignee: Springfield, Inc.
F41A17/74F41A17/48F41A19/10F41A19/42F41A19/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,871,338
App. No.
16/416,311
Granted
Dec 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Trigger assemblies that preserve the integrity of the trigger sear surface when the trigger assembly enters a “half-cocked”, safety configuration are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a trigger safety engagement surface engages a hammer safety engagement surface in the safety configuration, preventing the hammer from rotating into contact with a firing pin. In some instances, the trigger sear surface is suspended within a safety recess (e.g., a notch) of the hammer and free of contact with the hammer when the trigger assembly is in the safety configuration.

Claims (28)

1. A trigger assembly for striking a firing pin of a firearm, the trigger assembly comprising:

a hammer having a stable cocked position, a stable safety position, and a stable uncocked position;

the hammer having a hammer sear surface and a hammer safety engagement surface different from the hammer sear surface;

a trigger having a forward portion with a first area and a second area different from the first area;

wherein in the stable cocked position a first area of the forward portion of the trigger contacts the hammer sear surface;

wherein in the stable safety position the second area of the forward portion of the trigger contacts the hammer safety engagement surface and the first area is not in contact with the hammer.

2. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second area of the forward portion of the trigger is adjacent to the first area.

3. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second area is parallel to the first area.

4. The trigger assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second area is located closer to a rearward portion of the trigger than the first area.

5. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein in the stable safety position the second area is parallel to the hammer safety engagement surface.

6. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hammer defines a recess adjacent to the hammer safety engagement surface; and

wherein in the stable safety position the hammer sear surface faces said recess.

7. The trigger assembly of claim 6 , wherein the hammer sear surface is received within the recess defined by the hammer when in the stable safety position.

8. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second area is positioned radially outward from the first area relative to a rotation axis of the hammer.

9. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly is a drop-in trigger module comprising a housing that retains the trigger and hammer in relation to one another.

10. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hammer includes a disconnector engaging surface opposing a firing pin striking surface of the hammer.

11. The trigger assembly of claim 10 , wherein the trigger defines a pin opening for pivotally connecting a disconnector thereto.

12. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hammer is rotatable a first angular distance from the stable cocked position to the stable safety position;

wherein the hammer is rotatable a second angular distance from the stable cocked position to the stable uncocked position; and

wherein the first angular distance is at least half of the second angular distance.

13. The trigger assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first angular distance is at least 60% of the second angular distance.

14. The trigger assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first angular distance is at least 70% of the second angular distance.

15. The trigger assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first angular distance is at least 30°.

16. The trigger assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first angular distance is at least 40°.

17. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trigger assembly is a single stage trigger assembly.

18. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein in the stable safety position a trigger release barrier surface of the trigger is arranged to engage a hammer release barrier surface of the hammer to prevent movement of the trigger from releasing the hammer and allowing the hammer to rotate into contact with the firing pin.

19. The trigger assembly of claim 18 , wherein the hammer release barrier surface is transverse to a hammer safety engagement surface that engages a trigger safety engagement surface when in the stable safety position.

20. A firearm comprising the trigger assembly of claim 1 .

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: SPRINGFIELD, INC.
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 073934/0648 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2025
From: SPRINGFIELD, INC.
To: GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073947/0735 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2022
From: SPRINGFIELD, INC.
To: GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058725/0328 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2020
From: SPRINGFIELD, INC.
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054720/0557 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2019
From: WILLIAMS, CHARLES DAVID; LONG, THOMAS E.
To: SPRINGFIELD, INC.
Reel/Frame 050059/0769 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15674932 · Aug 11, 2017
Provisional Application 62373680 · Aug 11, 2016
Related Publication 20190301825A1 · Oct 3, 2019