IP Library Granted Patent US 12,025,389
Granted Patent B2
US 12,025,389 · App. 18/160,500 · Granted Jul 2, 2024

Two-stage, drop-in trigger assembly

Inventors: Douglas Dean Olson (Huntsville, AR); Joe Beitelspacher (Grand Mound, IA)
Assignee: KRL Holding Company, Inc.
F41A19/44F41A19/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,025,389
App. No.
18/160,500
Granted
Jul 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trigger assembly for a firearm is disclosed wherein the firearm includes a receiver, a safety selector and a hammer. The trigger assembly includes a trigger having a pivot axis, a front hook which is constructed and arranged to move with trigger rotation, a rear hook which is cooperatively arranged with the front hook and a spring which is positioned between the front hook and the rear hook. The front hook and the trigger are constructed and arranged relative to the safety selector and relative to the hammer in order to allow the hammer to be recocked from an upright position with the safety selector in a “SAFE” position. This particular construction provides a trigger assembly which is constructed and arranged as a two-stage, drop-in trigger assembly which is compliant with the European Standard for an M4/M16 (AR) platform.

Claims (114)

1. A trigger assembly for a firearm that includes a hammer, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger having a pivot axis and a pulling surface for an operator to pull the trigger rearward in a triggering direction;

a front hook that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the front hook comprises a sear surface adapted to selectively hold the hammer in a cocked position until the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction;

a disconnector that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the disconnector comprises a rear hook that is spaced apart from and positioned behind the pivot axis, wherein the rear hook is adapted to hold the hammer in a cocked position after the firearm is fired until the trigger is released from being pulled in the triggering direction; and

a disconnector spring that biases the disconnector relative to the front hook, wherein the front hook defines a slot that the disconnector passes through.

2. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the disconnector spring is radially closer to the pivot axis than the rear hook.

3. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front hook selectively abuts the trigger so that the front hook selectively rotates with the trigger when the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction.

4. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector selectively rotates with the trigger.

5. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the disconnector spring is spaced apart from and positioned in front of the pivot axis, on the opposite side of the pivot axis relative to the rear hook.

6. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trigger assembly is configured as a drop-in trigger assembly for an M4/M16(AR) platform.

7. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot bushing that extend through the trigger, the disconnector and the front hook, wherein the pivot pushing defines the pivot axis of the trigger, the disconnector and the front hook.

8. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a trigger spring that resists pulling the trigger in the triggering direction.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein releasing the sear surface from the hammer by pulling the trigger in the triggering direction requires pulling against the combined biasing force of both the trigger spring and the disconnector spring.

10. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trigger defines a trough that houses a portion of the disconnector.

11. The trigger assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least a part of the disconnector spring extends outside of the trough.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the disconnector defines a seat that selectively abuts the trigger in the trough.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein seat is approximately 1.16 inches (29.5 cm) from the pivot axis and wherein the sear surface is approximately 0.38 inches (9.65 cm) from the pivot axis.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein seat is approximately three times further away from the pivot axis than the sear surface is from the pivot axis.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector can selectively rotate away from the trigger.

16. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trigger, the front hook and the disconnector are constructed and arranged such that a hammer generates insignificant trigger slap during re-cocking of the hammer after firing.

17. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trigger defines a recess such that a hammer, in an un-cocked position, does not abut the assembly with a safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

18. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trigger and a hammer are constructed and arranged relative to a safety selector and to the hammer to allow the hammer to be recocked from an upright position with the safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

19. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the disconnector and the front hook both rotate about the pivot axis of the trigger.

20. A trigger assembly for a firearm that includes a hammer, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger having a pivot axis and a pulling surface for an operator to pull the trigger rearward in a triggering direction;

a front hook that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the front hook comprises a sear surface adapted to selectively hold the hammer in a cocked position until the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction;

a disconnector that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the disconnector comprises a rear hook that is spaced apart from and positioned behind the pivot axis, wherein the rear hook is adapted to hold the hammer in a cocked position after the firearm is fired until the trigger is released from being pulled in the triggering direction;

a disconnector spring that biases the disconnector relative to the front hook; and

a pivot bushing that extend through the trigger, the disconnector and the front hook, wherein the pivot pushing defines the pivot axis of the trigger, the disconnector and the front hook.

21. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , wherein the disconnector spring is radially closer to the pivot axis than the rear hook.

22. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , wherein the front hook selectively abuts the trigger so that the front hook selectively rotates with the trigger when the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction.

23. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector selectively rotates with the trigger.

24. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , wherein the disconnector spring is spaced apart from and positioned in front of the pivot axis, on the opposite side of the pivot axis relative to the rear hook.

25. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , wherein the trigger assembly is configured as a drop-in trigger assembly for an M4/M16(AR) platform.

26. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a trigger spring that resists pulling the trigger in the triggering direction.

27. The assembly of claim 26 , wherein releasing the sear surface from the hammer by pulling the trigger in the triggering direction requires pulling against the combined biasing force of both the trigger spring and the disconnector spring.

28. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , wherein the trigger defines a trough that houses a portion of the disconnector.

29. The trigger assembly of claim 28 , wherein at least a part of the disconnector spring extends outside of the trough.

30. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the disconnector defines a seat that selectively abuts the trigger in the trough.

31. The assembly of claim 30 , wherein seat is approximately 1.16 inches (29.5 cm) from the pivot axis and wherein the sear surface is approximately 0.38 inches (9.65 cm) from the pivot axis.

32. The assembly of claim 20 , wherein the trigger defines a recess such that a hammer, in an un-cocked position, does not abut the assembly with a safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

33. The assembly of claim 20 , wherein the trigger and a hammer are constructed and arranged relative to a safety selector and to the hammer to allow the hammer to be recocked from an upright position with the safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

34. A trigger assembly for a firearm that includes a hammer, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger having a pivot axis and a pulling surface for an operator to pull the trigger rearward in a triggering direction;

a front hook that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the front hook comprises a sear surface adapted to selectively hold the hammer in a cocked position until the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction;

a disconnector that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the disconnector comprises a rear hook that is spaced apart from and positioned behind the pivot axis, wherein the rear hook is adapted to hold the hammer in a cocked position after the firearm is fired until the trigger is released from being pulled in the triggering direction, wherein the disconnector defines a seat that selectively abuts the trigger in the trough, and wherein seat is approximately three times further away from the pivot axis than the sear surface is from the pivot axis; and

a disconnector spring that biases the disconnector relative to the front hook.

35. The trigger assembly of claim 34 , wherein the disconnector spring is radially closer to the pivot axis than the rear hook.

36. The trigger assembly of claim 34 , wherein the front hook selectively abuts the trigger so that the front hook selectively rotates with the trigger when the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction.

37. The trigger assembly of claim 34 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector selectively rotates with the trigger.

38. The trigger assembly of claim 34 , wherein the disconnector spring is spaced apart from and positioned in front of the pivot axis, on the opposite side of the pivot axis relative to the rear hook.

39. The trigger assembly of claim 34 , wherein the trigger assembly is configured as a drop-in trigger assembly for an M4/M16(AR) platform.

40. The trigger assembly of claim 34 , further comprising a trigger spring that resists pulling the trigger in the triggering direction.

41. The assembly of claim 40 , wherein releasing the sear surface from the hammer by pulling the trigger in the triggering direction requires pulling against the combined biasing force of both the trigger spring and the disconnector spring.

42. The trigger assembly of claim 34 , wherein the trigger defines a trough that houses a portion of the disconnector.

43. The trigger assembly of claim 42 , wherein at least a part of the disconnector spring extends outside of the trough.

44. The assembly of claim 34 , wherein seat is approximately 1.16 inches (29.5 cm) from the pivot axis and wherein the sear surface is approximately 0.38 inches (9.65 cm) from the pivot axis.

45. The assembly of claim 34 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector can selectively rotate away from the trigger.

46. The assembly of claim 34 , wherein the trigger defines a recess such that a hammer, in an un-cocked position, does not abut the assembly with a safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

47. The assembly of claim 34 , wherein the trigger and a hammer are constructed and arranged relative to a safety selector and to the hammer to allow the hammer to be recocked from an upright position with the safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

48. A trigger assembly for a firearm that includes a hammer, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger having a pivot axis and a pulling surface for an operator to pull the trigger rearward in a triggering direction;

a front hook that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the front hook comprises a sear surface adapted to selectively hold the hammer in a cocked position until the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction;

a disconnector that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the disconnector comprises a rear hook that is spaced apart from and positioned behind the pivot axis, wherein the rear hook is adapted to hold the hammer in a cocked position after the firearm is fired until the trigger is released from being pulled in the triggering direction, wherein the disconnector defines a seat that selectively abuts the trigger in the trough, wherein seat is approximately three times further away from the pivot axis than the sear surface is from the pivot axis; and

a disconnector spring that biases the disconnector relative to the front hook, wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector can selectively rotate away from the trigger.

49. The trigger assembly of claim 48 , wherein the disconnector spring is radially closer to the pivot axis than the rear hook.

50. The trigger assembly of claim 48 , wherein the front hook selectively abuts the trigger so that the front hook selectively rotates with the trigger when the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction.

51. The trigger assembly of claim 48 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector selectively rotates with the trigger.

52. The trigger assembly of claim 48 , wherein the disconnector spring is spaced apart from and positioned in front of the pivot axis, on the opposite side of the pivot axis relative to the rear hook.

53. The trigger assembly of claim 48 , wherein the trigger assembly is configured as a drop-in trigger assembly for an M4/M16(AR) platform.

54. The trigger assembly of claim 48 , further comprising a trigger spring that resists pulling the trigger in the triggering direction.

55. The assembly of claim 54 , wherein releasing the sear surface from the hammer by pulling the trigger in the triggering direction requires pulling against the combined biasing force of both the trigger spring and the disconnector spring.

56. The trigger assembly of claim 48 , wherein the trigger defines a trough that houses a portion of the disconnector.

57. The trigger assembly of claim 56 , wherein at least a part of the disconnector spring extends outside of the trough.

58. The assembly of claim 48 , wherein seat is approximately 1.16 inches (29.5 cm) from the pivot axis and wherein the sear surface is approximately 0.38 inches (9.65 cm) from the pivot axis.

59. The assembly of claim 48 , wherein the trigger defines a recess such that a hammer, in an un-cocked position, does not abut the assembly with a safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

60. The assembly of claim 48 , wherein the trigger and a hammer are constructed and arranged relative to a safety selector and to the hammer to allow the hammer to be recocked from an upright position with the safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

61. A trigger assembly for a firearm that includes a hammer, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger having a pivot axis and a pulling surface for an operator to pull the trigger rearward in a triggering direction;

a front hook that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the front hook comprises a sear surface adapted to selectively hold the hammer in a cocked position until the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction;

a disconnector that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the disconnector comprises a rear hook that is spaced apart from and positioned behind the pivot axis, wherein the rear hook is adapted to hold the hammer in a cocked position after the firearm is fired until the trigger is released from being pulled in the triggering direction; and

a disconnector spring that biases the disconnector relative to the front hook;

wherein the trigger, the front hook and the disconnector are constructed and arranged such that a hammer generates insignificant trigger slap during re-cocking of the hammer after firing.

62. The trigger assembly of claim 61 , wherein the disconnector spring is radially closer to the pivot axis than the rear hook.

63. The trigger assembly of claim 61 , wherein the front hook selectively abuts the trigger so that the front hook selectively rotates with the trigger when the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction.

64. The trigger assembly of claim 61 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector selectively rotates with the trigger.

65. The trigger assembly of claim 61 , wherein the disconnector spring is spaced apart from and positioned in front of the pivot axis, on the opposite side of the pivot axis relative to the rear hook.

66. The trigger assembly of claim 61 , wherein the trigger assembly is configured as a drop-in trigger assembly for an M4/M16(AR) platform.

67. The trigger assembly of claim 61 , further comprising a trigger spring that resists pulling the trigger in the triggering direction.

68. The assembly of claim 67 , wherein releasing the sear surface from the hammer by pulling the trigger in the triggering direction requires pulling against the combined biasing force of both the trigger spring and the disconnector spring.

69. The trigger assembly of claim 61 , wherein the trigger defines a trough that houses a portion of the disconnector.

70. The trigger assembly of claim 69 , wherein at least a part of the disconnector spring extends outside of the trough.

71. The assembly of claim 69 , wherein the disconnector defines a seat that selectively abuts the trigger in the trough.

72. The assembly of claim 71 , wherein seat is approximately 1.16 inches (29.5 cm) from the pivot axis and wherein the sear surface is approximately 0.38 inches (9.65 cm) from the pivot axis.

73. The assembly of claim 61 , wherein the trigger defines a recess such that a hammer, in an un-cocked position, does not abut the assembly with a safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

74. The assembly of claim 61 , wherein the trigger and a hammer are constructed and arranged relative to a safety selector and to the hammer to allow the hammer to be recocked from an upright position with the safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

75. A trigger assembly for a firearm that includes a hammer, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger having a pivot axis and a pulling surface for an operator to pull the trigger rearward in a triggering direction;

a front hook that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the front hook comprises a sear surface adapted to selectively hold the hammer in a cocked position until the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction;

a disconnector that is rotatable relative to the trigger, wherein the disconnector comprises a rear hook that is spaced apart from and positioned behind the pivot axis, wherein the rear hook is adapted to hold the hammer in a cocked position after the firearm is fired until the trigger is released from being pulled in the triggering direction; and

a disconnector spring that biases the disconnector relative to the front hook, wherein the disconnector and the front hook both rotate about the pivot axis of the trigger.

76. The trigger assembly of claim 75 , wherein the disconnector spring is radially closer to the pivot axis than the rear hook.

77. The trigger assembly of claim 75 , wherein the front hook selectively abuts the trigger so that the front hook selectively rotates with the trigger when the trigger is pulled in the trigger direction.

78. The trigger assembly of claim 75 , wherein the disconnector selectively abuts the trigger so that the disconnector selectively rotates with the trigger.

79. The trigger assembly of claim 75 , wherein the disconnector spring is spaced apart from and positioned in front of the pivot axis, on the opposite side of the pivot axis relative to the rear hook.

80. The trigger assembly of claim 75 , wherein the trigger assembly is configured as a drop-in trigger assembly for an M4/M16(AR) platform.

81. The trigger assembly of claim 75 , further comprising a trigger spring that resists pulling the trigger in the triggering direction.

82. The assembly of claim 81 , wherein releasing the sear surface from the hammer by pulling the trigger in the triggering direction requires pulling against the combined biasing force of both the trigger spring and the disconnector spring.

83. The trigger assembly of claim 75 , wherein the trigger defines a trough that houses a portion of the disconnector.

84. The trigger assembly of claim 83 , wherein at least a part of the disconnector spring extends outside of the trough.

85. The assembly of claim 83 , wherein the disconnector defines a seat that selectively abuts the trigger in the trough.

86. The assembly of claim 85 , wherein seat is approximately 1.16 inches (29.5 cm) from the pivot axis and wherein the sear surface is approximately 0.38 inches (9.65 cm) from the pivot axis.

87. The assembly of claim 75 , wherein the trigger defines a recess such that a hammer, in an un-cocked position, does not abut the assembly with a safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

88. The assembly of claim 75 , wherein the trigger and a hammer are constructed and arranged relative to a safety selector and to the hammer to allow the hammer to be recocked from an upright position with the safety selector in a “SAFE” position.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: OLSON, DOUGLAS DEAN; BEITELSPACHER, JOE
To: KRL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064635/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: OLSON, DOUGLAS DEAN
To: KRL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064636/0078 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: BEITELSPACHER, JOE
To: KRL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064636/0082 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17096997 · Nov 13, 2020
Continuation 16683542 · Nov 14, 2019
Continuation In Part 16280574 · Feb 20, 2019
Provisional Application 62632590 · Feb 20, 2018
Related Publication 20230375299A1 · Nov 23, 2023