Model 1911 type firearm safety lock

Abstract

A firearm safety lock for an automatic pistol such as the Model 1911 firearm is disclosed. The safety lock includes a means of arresting the operation of the main trigger or hammer spring in the pistol grip of the firearm to prevent movement of the hammer, thereby locking the gun in a safe condition. A means and a method is disclosed for locking a pistol in a sale condition by arresting the movement of the hammer spring buffer through insertion of a locking shaft through the pistol grip housing which can be keyed to prevent unauthorized removal of the locking shaft. The disclosed invention may be used on newly manufactured firearms or provides a method to easily convert an existing firearm without permanent modification or damage to the firearm.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for firing a cartridge, comprising: 
 a firearm including a hammer movable between a cocked position and an uncocked position;    a trigger assembly connected with said hammer for releasing said hammer from the cocked position upon actuation of said trigger assembly;    a hammer spring assembly connected with said hammer, said hammer spring assembly including a spring tensioned upon cocking of said hammer to thereafter cause said hammer to fire the cartridge upon actuation of said trigger assembly, a hammer strut pivotally connected at one end with said hammer and having a length extending to an opposite end, and a spring cap having a head portion positioned on said spring, the opposite end of said hammer strut abutting said spring cap; and    a disablement mechanism positionable with respect to said hammer spring assembly to prevent said hammer from being cocked if in the uncocked position and from being trigger-actuated if in the cocked position.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said disablement mechanism is positionable to contact said spring cap to prevent said hammer from being cocked or actuated from the cocked position to fire the cartridge.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said head portion includes a top surface abutting said opposite end of said hammer strut, an opposite shoulder abutting said spring, and a groove between said top surface and said shoulder.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said disablement mechanism is positionable within said groove to contact said spring cap when said hammer is in the uncocked position and said disablement mechanism is positionable to contact said top surface of said spring cap when said hammer in the said cocked position.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said groove extends around the entire perimeter of said second spring cap.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said spring cap includes a tail having a hole formed therein, said hole for accommodating a portion of said disablement mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said disablement mechanism includes a lock.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said disablement mechanism includes a shaft.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said firearm includes a housing for said hammer spring assembly, and said shaft is flush with said housing.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said shaft is threaded.  
   
   
       16 . A method for retrofitting a firearm, comprising: 
 providing a firearm having a hammer movable between a cocked position and an uncocked position, and a hammer spring assembly connected with the hammer, the hammer spring assembly including a spring and a first spring cap positioned on the spring within a well of a first spring housing;    disassembling the hammer spring assembly from the firearm;    providing a second spring housing having a well and a bore formed through the housing communicating with the well;    providing a disablement mechanism positionable within the bore;    providing a second spring cap having a head portion configured for contact with the disablement mechanism to disable the firearm when the hammer is in either the cocked position or the uncocked position;    reassembling the firearm with the second spring cap positioned within the second spring housing.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said disassembling step includes removing one or more grip panels from the firearm.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said second spring cap includes a head portion, said head portion having a top surface for abutting a portion of said hammer, an opposite shoulder for abutting said spring, and a groove between said top surface and said shoulder.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of replacing said spring with a second spring, said second spring being shorter than said spring, and wherein said second spring cap is longer than said first spring cap.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of replacing said spring with a second spring having a length different from the length of said spring, and wherein said second spring cap has a length different from the length of said first spring cap, and the difference in lengths of said spring caps is approximately the same as the difference in lengths of said springs.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said disablement mechanism is positioned in said bore prior to said reassembling step.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said disablement mechanism includes at least one of the group consisting of a shaft and a lock.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for firing a cartridge, comprising: 
 a firearm including a hammer movable between a cocked position and an uncocked position;    a trigger assembly connected with said hammer for releasing said hammer from the cocked position upon actuation of said trigger assembly;    a hammer spring assembly connected with said hammer, said hammer spring assembly including a spring tensioned upon cocking of said hammer to thereafter cause said hammer to fire the cartridge upon actuation of said trigger assembly; and    a disablement mechanism positionable with respect to said hammer spring assembly to prevent said hammer from being cocked if in the uncocked position and from being trigger-actuated if in the cocked position.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said disablement mechanism includes a lock.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said disablement mechanism includes a shaft.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said firearm includes a housing for said hammer spring assembly, and said shaft is flush with said housing.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said shaft is threaded.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said hammer spring assembly includes a spring cap, said spring cap having a groove extending around its entire perimeter.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said hammer spring assembly includes a spring cap, said spring cap having a tail with a hole formed therein, said hole for accommodating a portion of said disablement mechanism.