IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,421,954
Granted Patent B2
US 11,421,954 · App. 16/920,258 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Firearm operating system

Inventors: James Matthew Underwood (Kennesaw, GA); Larry Cullen Underwood (Canton, GA)
F41A19/10F41A9/59F41A17/28F41A17/56F41A17/72F41A19/11F41A19/30F41A19/43F41C3/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,421,954
App. No.
16/920,258
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A firearm operating system includes a housing, a central pivoting member disposed within the housing, a trigger including a portion disposed within the housing and a portion extending outside the housing such that the portion of the trigger within the housing includes a hole and at least one finger that extends in a first direction from the hole. Due to movement of the trigger, the at least one finger presses against the central pivoting member to cause the central pivoting member to rotate.

Claims (78)

1. A firearm operating system comprising:

a trigger comprising a trigger rotation hole;

a hammer;

a lever arm;

a sliding arm comprising a sliding arm hole;

a first configuration where a rotation of the sliding arm causes the lever arm to pivot; and

a second configuration where rotation of the sliding arm does not affect the lever arm,

wherein the sliding arm hole is at least partially coaxial with the trigger rotation hole.

2. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein the trigger, the hammer, the lever arm, and the sliding arm are all at least partially disposed within an AR-15 lower receiver.

3. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein pivoting motion of the lever arm causes a bolt release to move.

4. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein:

in the first configuration, the sliding arm comprises a first position;

in the second configuration, the sliding arm comprises a second position; and

the second position is located forward relative to the first position.

5. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein the sliding arm and the lever arm are each designed to rotate.

6. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein the sliding arm hole is a slotted hole.

7. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein:

the sliding arm comprises a notch that engages the trigger when the firearm operating system is in the first configuration; and

the notch does not engage the trigger when the firearm operating system is in the second configuration.

8. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein:

the sliding arm comprises an upper protrusion;

the lever arm comprises a lever protrusion and a recess;

in the first configuration, the upper protrusion is aligned with the lever protrusion; and

in the second configuration, the upper protrusion is aligned with the recess.

9. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein:

the lever arm comprises a pivot hole; and

the pivot hole is disposed rearward of the sliding arm hole.

10. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , wherein:

the sliding arm comprises a forward portion;

the hammer comprises a hammer pin; and

rotation of the hammer causes the hammer pin to press against the forward portion.

11. The firearm operating system of claim 10 , wherein the hammer pin is parallel to an axis of rotation of the hammer.

12. The firearm operating system of claim 1 , further comprising a magazine release, wherein:

the sliding arm comprises a forward portion;

the magazine release comprises a contact surface; and

actuation of the magazine release causes the contact surface to press against the forward portion.

13. A firearm operating system comprising:

a receiver;

a trigger within the receiver, the trigger comprising a trigger rotation hole;

a hammer within the receiver;

a magazine release comprising a contact surface;

a bolt release;

a lever arm within the receiver; and

a sliding arm within the receiver, the sliding arm comprising a sliding arm hole and a forward portion, wherein:

pivoting motion of the lever arm causes the bolt release to move; and

actuation of the magazine release causes the contact surface to press against the forward portion.

14. The firearm operating system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first configuration where a rotation of the sliding arm causes the lever arm to pivot; and

a second configuration where rotation of the sliding arm does not affect the lever arm.

15. The firearm operating system of claim 14 , wherein:

the sliding arm comprises a notch that engages the trigger when the firearm operating system is in the first configuration; and

the notch does not engage the trigger when the firearm operating system is in the second configuration.

16. The firearm operating system of claim 14 , wherein:

the sliding arm comprises an upper protrusion;

the lever arm comprises a lever protrusion and a recess;

in the first configuration, the upper protrusion is aligned with the lever protrusion; and

in the second configuration, the upper protrusion is aligned with the recess.

17. The firearm operating system of claim 13 , wherein the receiver is a receiver of an AR-15.

18. The firearm operating system of claim 13 , wherein the bolt release comprises (i) an external portion that extends outside of the receiver and (ii) a pin that interfaces with an engaging portion of the lever arm within the receiver.

19. The firearm operating system of claim 13 , further comprising a spring connecting the sliding arm and the trigger.

20. The firearm operating system of claim 13 , wherein the sliding arm hole is a slotted hole such that the sliding arm can rotate and translate.

21. A firearm operating system comprising:

a trigger comprising a trigger rotation hole;

a hammer;

a lever arm;

a sliding arm comprising a sliding arm hole and a notch;

a first configuration where a rotation of the sliding arm causes the lever arm to pivot; and

a second configuration where rotation of the sliding arm does not affect the lever arm, wherein:

the notch engages the trigger when the firearm operating system is in the first configuration; and

the notch does not engage the trigger when the firearm operating system is in the second configuration.

22. A firearm operating system comprising:

a trigger comprising a trigger rotation hole;

a hammer;

a rotating lever arm;

a sliding arm comprising a sliding arm hole;

a first configuration where a rotation of the sliding arm causes the rotating lever arm to pivot; and

a second configuration where rotation of the sliding arm does not affect the rotating lever arm,

wherein the trigger, the hammer, the rotating lever arm, and the sliding arm are all at least partially disposed within an AR-15 lower receiver.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2026
From: UNDERWOOD, JAMES MATTHEW; UNDERWOOD, LARRY CULLEN
To: MEAN LLC
Reel/Frame 075728/0686 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15365523 · Nov 30, 2016
Provisional Application 62261566 · Dec 1, 2015
Related Publication 20200340769A1 · Oct 29, 2020
Cited By (5)
US 12,241,703 US 12,305,943 US 12,584,701 US 12,710,241 US 12,736,294