# US 12,181,237 B2 · Trigger return and safety mechanism

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- Number: US 12,181,237 B2
- Document ID: US12181237B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/159,717
- Filed: 2023-01-26
- Published: 2023-07-27
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2022-01-27
- Assignees: Smith & Wesson Corp.
- Applicants: Smith & Wesson Inc.
- Inventors: Simon M. Muska
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181237B2

## CPC

- F41A 19/10: Triggers; Trigger mountings
- F41A 17/46: Trigger safeties, i.e. means for preventing trigger movement (F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence)
- F41A: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE

## Abstract

A trigger return and safety mechanism are mountable on a frame of a firearm. The trigger is mountable on the frame and pivotable about a trigger pivot axis. A strut is pivotably attached to the trigger at a strut pivot axis oriented parallel to and offset from the trigger pivot axis. The strut comprises a spring bearing surface and a safety bearing surface. A spring acts between the spring bearing surface and the frame for biasing the trigger into a reset position after the trigger has been pulled. A body is mountable on the frame, the body being movable between a first position wherein the body is not engageable with the safety bearing surface, thereby allowing pivoting motion of the trigger, and a second position wherein the body is engageable with the safety bearing surface thereby limiting pivoting motion of the trigger.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In combination, a trigger return and safety mechanism mountable on a frame of a firearm, said combination comprising:
a trigger mountable on said frame and pivotable about a trigger pivot axis;
a strut positionable on said frame and pivotably attached to said trigger at a strut pivot axis oriented parallel to and offset from said trigger pivot axis, wherein said strut comprises a spring bearing surface and a safety bearing surface;
a spring acting between said spring bearing surface and said frame for biasing said trigger into a reset position after said trigger has been pulled; and
a body mountable on said frame, said body being movable between a first position wherein said body is not engageable with said safety bearing surface, thereby allowing pivoting motion of said trigger, and a second position wherein said body is engageable with said safety bearing surface thereby limiting pivoting motion of said trigger.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The combination according to claim 1, wherein said spring, said safety bearing surface and said body are positionable within said frame between said trigger and a muzzle end of said firearm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A firearm, said firearm comprising:
a frame; and
said combination of said trigger return and said safety mechanism as recited in claim 1 mounted on said frame, wherein:
said trigger is mounted on said frame and pivotable about said trigger pivot axis;
said strut is pivotably attached to said trigger at said strut pivot axis;
said spring is acting between said spring bearing surface and said frame for biasing said trigger into said reset position after said trigger has been pulled; and
said body is mounted on said frame, said body being movable between said first position and said second position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The firearm according to claim 3, wherein said spring, said safety bearing surface and said body are positioned within said frame between said trigger and a muzzle end of said firearm.

### Claim 5

A trigger return mechanism mountable on a frame of a firearm, said mechanism comprising:
a trigger mountable on said frame and pivotable about a trigger pivot axis;
a strut pivotably attached to said trigger at a strut pivot axis oriented parallel to and offset from said trigger pivot axis, wherein said strut comprises a spring bearing surface and a safety bearing surface, wherein the trigger defines a forward surface that is configured to contact a finger as the trigger is being pulled and an opposite rear surface, wherein the forward surface is spaced forwardly from the rear surface along a longitudinal axis, wherein the strut extends forwardly from the trigger along the longitudinal axis;
a spring acting between said spring bearing surface and said frame for biasing said trigger into a reset position after said trigger has been pulled and
a body mountable on said frame, said body being movable between a first position wherein said body is not engageable with said safety bearing surface, thereby allowing pivoting motion of said trigger, and a second position wherein said body is engageable with said safety bearing surface thereby limiting pivoting motion of said trigger.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A firearm, said firearm comprising:
a frame; and
said trigger return mechanism of claim 5 mounted on said frame, wherein:
said trigger is mounted on said frame and pivotable about said trigger pivot axis;
said strut is pivotably attached to said trigger at said strut pivot axis oriented parallel to and offset from said trigger pivot axis; and
said spring is acting between said spring bearing surface and said frame for biasing said trigger into a reset position after said trigger has been pulled.

### Claim 7

A trigger safety mechanism mountable on a frame of a firearm, said mechanism comprising:
a trigger mountable on said frame and pivotable about a trigger pivot axis;
a strut pivotably attached to said trigger at a strut pivot axis oriented parallel to and offset from said trigger pivot axis, wherein said strut comprises a safety bearing surface;
and
a body mountable on said frame, said body being movable between a first position wherein said body is not engageable with said safety bearing surface, thereby allowing pivoting motion of said trigger, and a second position wherein said body is engageable with said safety bearing surface thereby limiting pivoting motion of said trigger.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said strut comprises a spring bearing surface, wherein said mechanism further comprises:
a spring acting between said spring bearing surface and said frame for biasing said trigger into a reset position after said trigger has been pulled.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A firearm, said firearm comprising:
a frame;
said trigger safety mechanism of claim 7 mounted on said frame, wherein:
said trigger is mounted on said frame and pivotable about said trigger pivot axis;
said strut is pivotably attached to said trigger at said strut pivot axis oriented parallel to and offset from said trigger pivot axis; and
said body is mounted on said frame, said body being movable between said first position and said second position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The firearm according to claim 9, wherein said strut comprises a spring bearing surface, wherein said firearm further comprises:
a spring acting between said spring bearing surface and said frame for biasing said trigger into a reset position after said trigger has been pulled.