US917045A - Safety device for firearms. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. GATE S.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.20. 1908.

917,045, Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

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III lilTiED @TATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. GATES, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOPKINS & ALLEN ARMS COMPANY, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed March 20, 1908. Serial No. 422,345.

.tate of Connecticut, have invented a newand useful Safety Device for Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to fire arms and especially to an improved safety means for preventing the accidental discharge thereof.

The principal objects of this invention are to construct a device for the above mentioned purpose in such a manner that it can be made by the addition of only one element to those ordinarily employed in a certain type of firearms, whereby the device will be of an exceedingly simple and inexpensive character; to provide the frame itself with a guide for the safety device in such position that its operation may be seen from the outside so that the party using the firearm may see whether the protector is working properly or not; and generally to simplify and improve the construction of devices of this character. 7

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation partly in section of a revolver showing one form of the invention applied thereto; Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views of portions of the same showing two positions of the safety device. Fig. at is an elevation of the safety device and the slide upon which it works, and Fig. 5 is a plan thereof.

The invention is shown as applied to a wellknown type of firearm having a frame 10 provided with a hammer slot 11 for the hammer 12, and having a trigger 13 connected with the hammer in any desired way. At the front. of the hammer-slot vertical ways or guides 1d are located in which reciprocates a slide 15. These ways are shown as of dove-tail shape, and the slide of corresponding shape to fit them. The slide is provided with a protecting plate 16 for the firing pin 17 having a space 18 under it, so that the slide may move down into the position shown in Fig. 2 with the plate over the firing-pin. The slide extends down on one side to form a connection with the trigger. It will be seen that by this construction the safety-device is so located that it may be i l l seen from the outside and no mistake will be made as to whether it is operating or not. Moreover, by the location of the ways at the end of the hammer slot the manufacture of the device is rendered very simple, and the modification of the frame is so slight that it can practically be neglected in figuring the cost of the firearm. In addition to this the safety device itself is exceedingly simple and operates simply by a sliding motion on the frame, being entirely unconnected with the hammer. Moreover the guides 20 of the slide extend down below the bottom of the plate 16 so that it is accurately guided even when raised so as to let the hammer strike the pin through the recess 21 between the guides. I/Vhen the trigger is pulled back the slide moves up in an obvious manner and uncovers the firing pin so as to allow the hammer to strike it. If the hammer should be pulled partly back and let go, the slide would cover thefiring pin before the hammer could hit it, and thus take the blow and prevent accidental discharge.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, I am aware that modifications may be made therein by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction shown, but

What I do claim is 1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having guides, of a firing pin, a trigger, and a safety device working in said guides and connected with said trigger at a point at the rear of the aXis about which it swings, whereby the safety device will be moved to cover the firing pin when the trigger moves forward and will expose it when the trigger is pulled back to firing position.

2. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a hammer slot and vertical ways at the front end thereof, of a firing pin located between said ways, a trigger, and a slide working in said ways independent of the hammer, held by the ways against lateral motion in all directions, and connected with the trigger, and having a plate adapted to cover the firing pin in one position of the slide.

8. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a hammer slot provided with I I l 1 firing pin when the slide is in its lowermost position, and avertical guide for the slide extending above the top of the hammer and visible froin the top of the firezirm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. H. GATES.

\Yitnesses:

EDWARD E. PERRY, F. L. lVADsxvonm-L

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