Firing Pin Block

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/743,695, filed January 10, 2025, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

[0002]This disclosure relates to components and assemblies for inhibiting inadvertent discharge of a firearm.

BACKGROUND

[0003]When dropped, firearms can inadvertently discharge due to momentum of the firing pin striking the primer of a cartridge. Some systems have been developed for preventing inadvertent discharge of firearms. For example, a conventional firing pin block safety can provide a stop between the firing pin and the cartridge. However, the conventional firing pin block safety is actuated upon a trigger pull and, therefore, changes the amount of force that must be applied to the trigger to fire the firearm, which can be undesirable.

[0004]Other solutions, such as reduced mass titanium firing pins or grip safety deactivated firing pin blocks come with tradeoffs in reliability, durability, or ease of assembly that may not be desirable in some applications.

[0005]Accordingly, an improved system is desirable.

SUMMARY

[0006]A firing pin block for inhibiting unintended firing of a firearm is disclosed. A first end portion of the firing pin block is configured to couple to a slide of a firearm. An arm extends from the first end portion along a longitudinal axis. The arm has a distal end portion. The arm is resiliently flexible to permit displacement (e.g., upward, vertical displacement) of the distal end portion along a second axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The distal end portion has a hammer engagement surface. The hammer engagement surface is configured to contact a hammer to effect displacement of the distal end portion. The firing pin block has a protrusion extending downwardly from the arm along the second axis. The protrusion is positioned between the first end portion and the hammer engagement surface along the longitudinal axis.

[0007]In some examples, the first end portion comprises a flange defining a plurality of openings configured to receive respective fasteners therethrough. The arm can have a pair of lateral edges spaced along a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal and second axes. In these aspects, the protrusion can be positioned between the pair of lateral edges.

[0008]In some aspects, the firing pin block is unitarily formed from sheet metal. In various embodiments, the hammer engagement surface has a planar surface that extends obliquely (i.e., not parallel or perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis. In additional embodiments, the hammer engagement surface is curved so that a plane tangent to the hammer engagement surface is oblique to the longitudinal axis.

[0009]An exemplary firearm comprises a slide and a firing pin block as disclosed. The firing pin block is coupled to the slide. The distal end portion of the firing pin block is displaceable from a first position to a second position. The protrusion comprises a rear surface. A firing pin is movable relative to the slide along the longitudinal axis. The firing pin defines a radially extending surface that is configured to contact the protrusion when the distal end portion of the firing pin block is in the first position. A hammer is configured to contact the hammer engagement surface of the distal end portion to bias the distal end portion toward the second position. When the distal end portion is in the second position, the protrusion is spaced from the radially extending surface along the second axis to permit movement of the firing pin so that the radially extending surface passes the rear surface of the protrusion along the longitudinal axis.

[0010]In some aspects, the slide defines a recess, and the firing pin block is at least partly received within the recess of the slide.

[0011]The firearm can comprise at least one fastener that secures the firing pin block to the slide. For example, the at least one fastener can comprise a plurality of screws.

[0012]In some embodiments, the firing pin has an annular ridge. In these aspects, the annular ridge can define the radially extending surface.

[0013]In an aspect, a firing pin stop is coupled to the slide. The firing pin stop comprises a stop surface that is configured to contact the firing pin to inhibit further rearward movement of the firing pin. In additional aspects, the firing pin comprises an annular ridge and a rear end portion that extends rearwardly from the annular ridge. The annular ridge is configured to contact the stop surface of the firing pin stop. The firing pin stop defines an opening that is configured to receive the rear end portion of the firing pin therethrough.

[0014]The firearm has a spring that is configured to apply a torque to the hammer to effect rotational movement of the hammer into contact with the firing pin. Optionally, the arm can be sufficiently rigid that, absent momentum of the hammer, the force applied by the hammer due to the torque applied by the spring is insufficient to displace the distal end portion of the firing pin block from the first position to the second position.

[0015]In additional embodiments a firing pin block comprises a first end portion configured to couple to a slide of a firearm. The firing pin block has an arm extending from the first end portion along a longitudinal axis. The arm comprises a distal end portion. The arm is resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the distal end portion along a second axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. For example, the displacement of the distal end portion along the second axis can be upward, vertical displacement when the pistol 10 is in the standard firing position shown in the Figures. The distal end portion comprises a hammer engagement surface. The hammer engagement surface extends obliquely from the longitudinal axis or is curved so that a plane tangent to the hammer engagement surface is oblique to the longitudinal axis. The firing pin block further comprises a protrusion extending downwardly from the arm along the second axis. The protrusion is positioned between the first end portion and the hammer engagement surface along the longitudinal axis.

[0016]In further embodiments, a firearm comprises a slide and a firing pin block that is coupled to the slide. The firing pin block comprises a first end portion configured to couple to a slide of a firearm. The firing pin block has an arm extending from the first end portion along a longitudinal axis. The arm comprises a distal end portion. The arm is resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the distal end portion along a second axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The distal end portion comprises a hammer engagement surface. The hammer engagement surface extends obliquely from the longitudinal axis or is curved so that a plane tangent to the hammer engagement surface is oblique to the longitudinal axis. The firing pin block further comprises a protrusion extending downwardly from the arm along the second axis. The protrusion is positioned between the first end portion and the hammer engagement surface along the longitudinal axis. The distal end portion of the firing pin block is displaceable from a first position to a second position. The protrusion comprises a rear surface. A firing pin is movable relative to the slide along the longitudinal axis. The firing pin defines a radially extending surface that is configured to contact the protrusion when the distal end portion of the firing pin block is in the first position. A hammer is configured to contact the hammer engagement surface of the distal end portion to bias the distal end portion toward the second position. When the distal end portion is in the second position, the protrusion is spaced from the radially extending surface along the second axis to permit movement of the firing pin so that the radially extending surface passes the rear surface of the protrusion along the longitudinal axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary firing pin block according to the disclosure;

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a portion of a firearm, illustrating the example firing pin block of FIG. 1 in a blocking position;

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the portion of a firearm of FIG. 2 with the example firing pin block moved away from the blocking position;

[0020]FIG. 4 is perspective view of a firing pin stop of the firearm of FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a side view of a firing pin of the firearm of FIG. 2;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a side view of a hammer of the firearm of FIG. 2;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a side view of a slide of the firearm of FIG. 2; and

[0024]FIG. 8 is a side view of another exemplary firing pin block according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025]Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a firing pin block 20 is installed into a clearance cut 52 of a pistol slide 50 of a pistol 10. As further described herein, the pistol 10 has a hammer 30. As shown, the firing pin block 20 is unitarily formed from sheet metal. Although the illustrated embodiment is a pistol, the disclosed firing pin block can be used in other firearms, such as rifles or other handguns.

[0026]A first end 21 of the firing pin block 20 is affixed to the slide 50, for example, by at least one screw 54 (optionally, two or more screws). Each screw of the at least one screw extends through a respective opening 29 in the firing pin block and into a respective threaded opening 56 of the slide 50. In additional aspects, the firing pin block 20 can be affixed to the slide 50 by a pin or other fastener(s) or securing means. The firing pin block 20 has an arm that extends rearwardly form the first end 21 in a cantilevered fashion. A rear surface 22 of the firing pin block 20 blocks the forward movement of a firing pin 60 when the pistol 10 is at rest in a hammer cocked state, as the pistol 10 would be carried. The rear surface 22 of the illustrated firing pin block 20 is provided on a tab 25 extending downwardly from the arm 26. In additional aspects, the rear surface 22 can be provided on a projection, such as a projection that fills an entirety of a bore of the slide through which the firing pin 60 travels. The arm 30 is resiliently flexible to permit displacement (e.g., upward, vertical displacement) of a distal end portion 28 along a second axis 4 that is transverse to (e.g., perpendicular to) a longitudinal axis 2 of the firing pin block 20. (As used herein, movement of a particular element “along” a certain axis need not require that the element follow the path of the axis, but rather that a vector component of movement of the element move parallel to said axis.) For example, the second axis 4 can be a vertical axis when the pistol 10 is positioned in a standard firing position as shown in the Figures. Although the second axis 4 is also referred to herein as a “vertical” axis, it is understood that the second axis may not always be vertically oriented during operation. However, when the pistol 10 is positioned in a standard firing position as shown in the Figures, it is understood that the second axis 4 will be vertically oriented. More generally, in various aspects, the second axis 4 can be a top-to-bottom axis (an axis extending in a direction from the top of the firearm to the bottom of the firearm) that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular (e.g., within 10 degrees of perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis 2 of the firing pin block 20 as further disclosed herein.

[0027]The hammer 30 of the pistol 10 is rotationally biased about a central bore 36 by a spring 80 to strike the firing pin, which, in turn, strikes a primer of a cartridge. When the hammer 30 is released (e.g., moving from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3), a top radius 32 of the hammer 30 contacts a hammer engagement surface 24 on the distal end portion 28 of the arm 26 before a contact pad 34 of the hammer contacts the rear of the firing pin 60. Upon contact between the hammer 30 and the firing pin block 20, the arm 26 of the firing pin block 20 acts as a spring, bending upwardly and moving the rear surface 22 above a radially extending surface 64 of an annular ridge 62 of the firing pin 60. As the hammer 30 continues forward rotation, the hammer strikes the firing pin 60. The firing pin 60 is thereby unimpeded by the firing pin block 20 and is able to move forward under the transferred inertia to strike the primer, firing the pistol. However, when the firearm is dropped or struck causing the firing pin to move forward relative to the slide under its own inertia, the radially extending surface 64 of the firing pin 60 contacts the stop surface 22 of the firing pin block 20, preventing the firing pin from moving forward of the firearm’s breech face and, therefore, also preventing detonation of the primer of the cartridge. In some optional aspects, the force applied by the hammer due to the torque applied by the spring (absent momentum of the hammer) can be insufficient to displace the distal end portion 28 of the firing pin block 20 from the first position to the second position. Therefore, in these aspects, the hammer has to be released from a cocked state to achieve momentum sufficient to displace the distal end portion 28 of the firing pin block to permit the hammer to strike the firing pin. In other aspects, the force applied by the hammer due to the torque applied by the spring (absent momentum of the hammer) can be sufficient to displace the distal end portion 28 of the firing pin block 20 from the first position to the second position.

[0028]In some aspects, the hammer engagement surface 24 can extend obliquely from the longitudinal axis 2 of the firing pin block. For example, the hammer engagement surface 24 can be planar. Alternatively, in other aspects, and with reference to FIG. 8, the hammer engagement surface 24 can be curved. In these aspects, a plane 40 tangent to the hammer engagement surface extends obliquely from the longitudinal axis 2 of the firing pin block 20 and the pistol 10. More generally, the hammer engagement surface can be a ramped surface. In exemplary, optional aspects, the planar hammer engagement surface 24 or the plane 40 can extend from the longitudinal axis 2 at an angle from about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees. For example, the planar hammer engagement surface 24 or the plane 40 can extend from the longitudinal axis 2 at an angle from about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees, or from 20 degrees to about 45 degrees. In additional aspects, the planar hammer engagement surface 24 or the plane 40 can extend from the longitudinal axis 2 at an angle from about 45 degrees to about 60 degrees. It is contemplated that a shallower angle can require a lower force to activate and, therefore, have a lesser effect on firing pin momentum. A steeper angle can be advantageous for maximizing displacement relative to an amount of rotation of the hammer, which can be beneficial for minimizing usage of confined space of a pistol slide.

[0029]As shown, the firing pin block 20 has a flange 23 at the first end 21 that defines the pair of openings 29 for receiving the screws 54. The arm 26 has a pair of lateral edges 27 spaced along a transverse axis 6 that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular (e.g., within 10 degrees of perpendicular) to the longitudinal and second axes 2, 4. The tab 25 (or other projection) can be positioned between the pair of lateral edges 27.

[0030]The pistol 10 has a firing pin stop 70 coupled to the slide 50. The firing pin stop 70 comprises a stop surface 72 that is configured to contact the firing pin 60 to inhibit further rearward movement of the firing pin. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the stop surface 72 contacts a rear surface of the annular ridge 62. The firing pin stop further defines an opening 76 for a portion of the firing pin 60 to extend through to contact the hammer 30. The firing pin stop defines a cutout 74 to receive the distal end portion 28 of the firing pin block 20 therethrough. Accordingly, the hammer engagement surface 24 is visible at the rear of the pistol 10.

[0031]The disclosed system provides a solution for preventing unintentional discharge due to firing pin inertia without the tradeoffs found in the alternative solutions mentioned herein. By having the firing pin block remain engaged until contacted by the already falling hammer, there is no feedback from the safety to the shooter that may impact practical accuracy, and no sacrifices need be made to the design of the firing pin to reduce its inertia in a drop scenario. 

[0032]All of the embodiments of the claimed invention described herein are provided expressly by way of example only. Innumerable variations and modifications may be made to the example embodiments described herein without departing from the concept of this disclosure. Additionally, the scope of this disclosure is intended to encompass any and all modifications and combinations of all elements, features, and aspects described in the specification and claims, and shown in the drawings. Any and all such modifications and combinations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.