Combined single and double action firing mechanisms for pistols and kits for converting single-action pistols

Claim 2

In a semi-automatic pistol, a firing mechanism for firing the pistol in both single and double action comprising in combination a pivoted hammer having provision for being manually cocked and for movement between a cocked position and a fired position, a trigger pivotally mounted for movement about a fixed pivot, single-action sear means for releasably retaining said hammer in a sear-cocked position including a sear movably mounted for cocked engagement with said hammer upon pivotal movement of said hammer into a sear-cocked position, and also including a sear-actuator separate from said trigger but mounted for engagement thereby, said trigger having limited travel between a double-action position adjacent one of its extremities of travel, a hammerrelease position adjacent its other and an intermediate singleaction position at which it engages said sear-actuator and is poised for release of said sear from cocking engagement with said hammer, said trigger having a finger portion and a cocking portion disposed on the opposite side of its pivot from said finger portion, a cocking link pivotally connected to said cocking portion of said trigger for movement completely separate from said sear for pivoting said hammer to a cocked positiOn approximately coinciding with its said sear-cocked position upon retraction of said trigger from its double-action position, a cocking lug rigidly mounted on and forming part of said hammer for operative engagement by said cocking link, said cocking link having a cocking surface disposed for engagement with said cocking lug when said hammer is uncocked for pivoting said hammer toward its cocked position upon movement of said cocking link in one direction during such retraction of said trigger and for releasing said hammer when it reaches said cocked position, said cocking link also having a trigger-positioning surface for engagement by said hammer as it is cocked other than by means of said trigger in order to move said cocking link in said one direction and to locate said trigger in its said single-action position.

Claim 3

A firing mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said sear-actuator comprises a trigger bar separate from said trigger and mounted for limited movement sufficient to pivot said sear out of cocking engagement with said hammer, said trigger being out of engagement with said trigger bar when in its said double-action position and being retractible into engagement with said trigger bar when in its said single-action position, spring means for resiliently moving said trigger towards said double-action position, said trigger-positioning surface on said cocking link being engageable by said cocking lug on said hammer for moving said cocking link against the action of said spring means as said trigger is moved by said cocking link into its single-action position.

Claim 4

A firing mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said cocking link is also mounted for pivotal movement about said cocking portion of said trigger and said cocking surface on said cocking link is disposed on a hook portion of said cocking link for operative engagement with said cocking lug on said hammer on pivotal movement of said cocking link in one direction of rotation, a cocking-link spring urging said cocking link in said one direction of rotation, and means for limiting the movement of said cocking link in said one direction of rotation in order to effect release of said cocking lug when said hammer is pivoted to its cocked position by retraction of said trigger.

Claim 5

A firing mechanism defined in claim 2, wherein said sear is moved out of cocking engagement with said hammer substantially simultaneously with release of said cocking lug by said cocking link during double-action actuation of said firing mechanism.

Claim 6

A double-action conversion kit for a semi-automatic pistol having a firing mechanism originally designed with a single-action trigger only and having a frame for mounting a pivoted hammer, single-action sear means including a sear normally urged into cocked engagement with the hammer and a sear actuator on the trigger for releasing said sear, the frame having guide means on which the sear actuator is supported, said kit comprising a replacement trigger having a depending finger portion, a hammer-cocking portion and means located between said portions for pivotal mounting in the pistol, a replacement hammer identical in all respects to the original hammer but having a cocking lug rigidly mounted thereon, a replacement frame formed in all respects identical to the original frame for holding and assembling all the original parts of the pistol expect the hammer and trigger, but having means for pivotally mounting said replacement trigger and an elongated recess in one side between the trigger and hammer including access thereto, said replacement frame having a guide-way for a sear actuator similar to the guide means in the original frame, said replacement trigger being pivotally movable on said replacement frame between a double-action position at one of its limits of travel, a hammer-release position at its other and an intermediate single-action position at which it is poised for release of said sear, a trigger spring fitting witHin a portion of said recess in said replacement frame adjacent said trigger for continuously urging said trigger toward its double-action position, a trigger bar similar to the sear actuator of the original pistol but separate from said replacement trigger and movable within said guide-way in said replacement frame between said replacement trigger and said sear, said trigger bar being adapted for engagement by said replacement trigger when the latter is in its single-action position such that upon retraction of said replacement trigger from said single-action position to its sear-release position said sear is disengaged from said hammer, said trigger being movable independently of said trigger bar between its double-action and single-action positions, a cocking link pivotally connected to said cocking portion of said replacement trigger for both pivotal and longitudinal movement within said recess in said replacement frame, said cocking link being completely separate from said single-action sear and having a cocking surface disposed for engagement with said cocking lug on said replacement hammer when said hammer is uncocked and for pivoting said hammer toward its cocked position upon movement of said cocking link in one direction during retraction of said trigger from its double-action position and for releasing said hammer when it reaches said cocked position, said cocking link also having a trigger-positioning surface for engagement by said replacement hammer as it is cocked other than by means of said replacement trigger in order to move said cocking link in said one direction and to locate said replacement trigger in its said single-action position.

Claim 7

A double-action conversion kit for a semi-automatic pistol having a firing mechanism originally designed with a single-action trigger only and having a frame for mounting a pivoted hammer, single-action sear means including a sear normally urged into cocked engagement with the hammer and a sear actuator on the trigger for releasing said sear, the frame having guide means on which the sear actuator is supported, said kit comprising a replacement trigger having a depending finger portion, a hammer-cocking portion and means located between said portions for pivotal mounting in the pistol, a replacement hammer identical in all respects to the original hammer but having a cocking lug rigidly mounted thereon, a replacement frame formed in all respects identical to the original frame for holding and assembling all the original parts of the pistol expect the hammer and trigger, but having means for pivotally mounting said replacement trigger and an elongated recess in one side between the trigger and hammer including access thereto, said replacement frame having a guide-way for a sear actuator similar to the guide means in the original frame, said replacement trigger being pivotally movable on said replacement frame between a double-action position at one of its limits of travel, a hammer-release position at its other and an intermediate single-action position at which it is poised for release of said sear, a trigger spring fitting witHin a portion of said recess in said replacement frame adjacent said trigger for continuously urging said trigger toward its double-action position, a trigger bar similar to the sear actuator of the original pistol but separate from said replacement trigger and movable within said guide-way in said replacement frame between said replacement trigger and said sear, said trigger bar being adapted for engagement by said replacement trigger when the latter is in its single-action position such that upon retraction of said replacement trigger from said single-action position to its sear-release position said sear is disengaged from said hammer, said trigger being movable independently of said trigger bar between its double-action and single-action positions, a cocking link pivotally connected to said cocking portion of said replacement trigger for both pivotal and longitudinal movement within said recess in said replacement frame, said cocking link being completely separate from said single-action sear and having a cocking surface disposed for engagement with said cocking lug on said replacement hammer when said hammer is uncocked and for pivoting said hammer toward its cocked position upon movement of said cocking link in one direction during retraction of said trigger from its double-action position and for releasing said hammer when it reaches said cocked position, said cocking link also having a trigger-positioning surface for engagement by said replacement hammer as it is cocked other than by means of said replacement trigger in order to move said cocking link in said one direction and to locate said replacement trigger in its said single-action position.