Modular trigger control unit for firearms

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a trigger mechanism housing removably received in a grip frame of a semi-automatic firearm such that, when received in the grip frame, a serial number of the firearm displayed on the trigger mechanism housing faces a back side of the grip frame;

wherein the trigger mechanism housing forms part of a trigger control unit of the firearm with the trigger control unit configured to be removably installed on the grip frame of the firearm and installed between the grip frame and a slide assembly of the firearm, wherein, when activated, the trigger control unit causes firing of one or more rounds of ammunition, and wherein the trigger control unit further comprises:

a trigger pin;

a trigger pivotable around the trigger pin when pulled;

a trigger bar coupled between the trigger and the trigger mechanism housing;

a locking block; and

a support frame having a first distal end and a second distal end opposite the first distal end such that the first distal end faces a front side of the grip frame and the second distal end faces the back side of the grip frame when the trigger control unit is installed on the grip frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the trigger mechanism housing is configured to be removably received in each of a plurality of grip frames and installed between each of the plurality of grip frames and each of a plurality of slide assemblies such that:

at least two of the plurality of grip frames have different sizes, different colors, or different sizes and colors, or

at least two of the plurality of slide assemblies have different sizes, different colors, or different calibers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

responsive to the trigger being pulled by a user when the trigger control unit is installed between the grip frame and the slide assembly, a firing pin lug of a striker-firing mechanism in the slide assembly is released thereby allowing a striker of the striker-firing mechanism to move forward with respect to the slide assembly,

the trigger control unit is secured to the grip frame at least by the trigger pin such that removal of the trigger control unit from the grip frame requires removal of the trigger pin,

responsive to the trigger being pulled by the user when the trigger control unit is installed between the grip frame and the slide assembly, the trigger bar causes a sear in the trigger mechanism housing to lower relative to the slide assembly such that the firing pin lug is released,

the trigger is pivotably coupled to the first distal end of the support frame with the trigger pin traversing through the trigger and the first distal end of the support frame, and wherein the trigger mechanism housing is coupled to the second distal end of the support frame, and

the locking block comprises a pair of slide rails extending forward from the support frame with respect to the firearm, and wherein, when the trigger control unit is installed between the grip frame and the slide assembly, the slide assembly is movable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the grip frame on the slide rails.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support frame is made of a polymeric material, metal or a composite of metal and polymer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the trigger mechanism housing is configured with a left indentation on a left side thereof and a right indentation on a right side thereof, wherein the support frame is configured with a left protrusion on a left inner surface near the second distal end and a right protrusion on a right inner surface near the second distal end, and wherein the support frame is coupled to the trigger mechanism housing by the left protrusion received in the left indentation and the right protrusion received in the right indentation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

the grip frame having an opening on the back side thereof and aligned with the serial number of the firearm when the trigger mechanism housing is received in the grip frame such that the serial number is visible through the opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:

a slide assembly containing the striker-firing mechanism and longitudinally movable on the grip frame when the slide assembly is installed on the grip frame with the trigger mechanism housing installed between the slide assembly and the grip frame.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a grip frame of a striker-fired firearm, the grip frame configured with an opening on a back side thereof; and

a trigger mechanism housing removably received in the grip frame such that, when received in the grip frame, a serial number of the firearm displayed on the trigger mechanism housing is visible through the opening on the back side of the grip frame,

wherein the trigger mechanism housing forms part of a trigger control unit of the firearm with the trigger control unit configured to be removably installed on the grip frame of the firearm and installed between the grip frame and the slide assembly, and wherein the trigger control unit further comprises:

a trigger pin;

a trigger pivotable around the trigger pin when pulled;

a trigger bar coupled between the trigger and the trigger mechanism housing;

a locking block; and

a support frame having a first distal end and a second distal end opposite the first distal end such that the first distal end faces a front side of the grip frame and the second distal end faces the back side of the grip frame when the trigger control unit is installed on the grip frame,

wherein:

responsive to the trigger being pulled by a user when the trigger control unit is installed between the grip frame and the slide assembly, a firing pin lug of a striker-firing mechanism in the slide assembly is released thereby allowing a striker of the striker-firing mechanism to move forward with respect to the slide assembly,

the trigger control unit is secured to the grip frame at least by the trigger pin such that removal of the trigger control unit from the grip frame requires removal of the trigger pin,

responsive to the trigger being pulled by the user when the trigger control unit is installed between the grip frame and the slide assembly, the trigger bar causes a sear in the trigger mechanism housing to lower relative to the slide assembly such that the firing pin lug is released,

the trigger is pivotably coupled to the first distal end of the support frame with the trigger pin traversing through the trigger and the first distal end of the support frame, and wherein the trigger mechanism housing is coupled to the second distal end of the support frame, and

the locking block comprises a pair of slide rails extending forward from the support frame with respect to the firearm, and wherein, when the trigger control unit is installed between the grip frame and the slide assembly, the slide assembly is movable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the grip frame on the slide rails.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the trigger mechanism housing is configured to be removably received in each of a plurality of grip frames and installed between each of the plurality of grip frames and each of a plurality of slide assemblies such that:

at least two of the plurality of grip frames have different sizes, different colors, or different sizes and colors, or

at least two of the plurality of slide assemblies have different sizes, different colors, or different calibers.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

a slide assembly containing the striker-firing mechanism therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the trigger mechanism housing is configured with a left indentation on a left side thereof and a right indentation on a right side thereof, wherein the support frame is configured with a left protrusion on a left inner surface near the second distal end and a right protrusion on a right inner surface near the second distal end, and wherein the support frame is coupled to the trigger mechanism housing by the left protrusion received in the left indentation and the right protrusion received in the right indentation.