Muzzle-loading firearm with pivoting block action

Abstract

A muzzle-loading firearm having a barrel and a pivoting firing mechanism. The barrel has a breech plug, a pivoting junction axle, and a blocking axle, and the firing mechanism has a trigger, hammer, striker and notch. The firing mechanism is pivotally attached to the barrel at the pivoting junction axle and the blocking axle is movably aligned in the notch. When the firing mechanism is pivoted, it is guided by the blocking axle in the notch ensuring sufficient clearance between said firing mechanism for easy placement of a percussion cap.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A muzzle-loading firearm comprising: 
 a barrel having:    a breech plug;    a pivoting junction axle; and    a blocking axle;    a pivoting firing mechanism having:    a trigger;    a hammer;    a striker; and    a notch;    wherein the pivoting firing mechanism is pivotally attached to the barrel at the pivoting junction axle;    wherein the blocking axle is slidably positioned in the notch; and    wherein pivoting of the firing mechanism to an unblocked position is guided by the blocking axle in the notch and provides substantial clearance to the breach plug for the placement of a percussion cap.    
   
   
       18 . The firearm of  claim 17  wherein pivoting of the firing mechanism to the unblocked position provides sufficient clearance for the cleaning of the striker.  
   
   
       19 . The firearm of  claim 17  wherein the notch is substantially “L”-shaped.  
   
   
       20 . The firearm of  claim 17  wherein the pivoting firing mechanism further comprises a trigger spring associated with the trigger, a hammer spring associated with the hammer, and a striker spring associated with the striker.  
   
   
       21 . The firearm of  claim 17  wherein the notch is substantially “L”-shaped.  
   
   
       22 . A muzzle-loading firearm comprising: 
 a barrel having:    a breach plug inserted substantially at the back end of the barrel;    a trigger guard blocking axle; and    a pivoting junction axle;    a pivoting firing mechanism having:    a lineal striker which is substantially in line with the breach plug and substantially at the rear end of said barrel;    a lineal striker spring substantially between the striker and the breach plug;    a hammer having:    a strike end, which is substantially behind the lineal striker and rotationally in line with the striker;    a middle portion having:    a hammer protuberance; and    a set back uncocking support;    a hammer lever portion having:    a hammer safety notch; and    a hammer cocked notch    a hammer spring, wherein a first end of the spring is in contact with the hammer protuberance;    a trigger having:    a trigger uncocked lever;    a trigger shooting lever; and    a trigger safety lever;    a trigger spring; and    a trigger guard having:    a pivot-guiding notch, wherein the trigger guard blocking axle is slidingly positioned within the pivot-guiding notch; and    wherein the combination of the pivot-guiding notch and the trigger guard blocking axle directs the pivoting of said firing mechanism in respect to said barrel.    
   
   
       23 . The firearm of  claim 22  wherein the pivot-guiding notch is substantially “L”-shaped.  
   
   
       24 . The firearm of  claim 22  wherein the pivoting of the firing mechanism allows the firing mechanism to pivot away from the barrel to such a degree to allow for clearance for insertion of a percussion cap without the aid of any tool.  
   
   
       25 . The firearm of  claim 22  wherein the trigger guard further has a trigger guard safety lever; and wherein when the firing mechanism pivots away from the barrel, the trigger guard safety lever is aligned with the trigger safety lever, thereby preventing substantial movement of the trigger.  
   
   
       26 . The firearm of  claim 22  wherein when the trigger uncocked lever is substantially contacting the hammer, the trigger spring is pre-loaded.  
   
   
       27 . The firearm of  claim 22  wherein when the trigger shooting lever is substantially in contact with the hammer cocked notch the firearm may be shot by pulling on the trigger.  
   
   
       28 . The firearm of  claim 22  wherein following shooting the firearm, the firearm is in a post-shooting position where the hammer strike portion remains substantially in contact with the lineal striker.  
   
   
       29 . The firearm of  claim 22  wherein when the firearm is in the post-shooting position, the trigger guard safety lever is positioned in a manner in relation to the trigger safety lever to substantially prevent the rotation of the firing mechanism.  
   
   
       30 . A muzzle-loading firearm comprising: 
 a barrel having:    a breach plug inserted substantially at the back end of the barrel;    a blocking axle; and    a pivoting axle;    a pivoting firing mechanism having:    a trigger;    a trigger spring;    a hammer;    a hammer spring    a lineal striker; and    a striker spring;    a trigger guard having a guiding notch;    wherein the firing mechanism is pivotally attached the pivoting axle; and    wherein the firing mechanism slides within the guiding notch at the blocking axle.    
   
   
       31 . The firearm of  claim 30  wherein: 
 the notch comprises an “L”-shaped notch, wherein the “L-“shaped notch has a first portion and a second portion;    wherein when the firing mechanism slides along the first portion of the notch, the firing mechanism is unblocked; and    wherein when the firing mechanism slides along second portion of the notch the lineal striker of the firing mechanism moves away from the barrel of the firearm to provide sufficient clearance for easy insertion of a percussion cap between the striker and the barrel without the help of any tool.    
   
   
       32 . The firearm of  claim 30  wherein the firing mechanism further comprises: 
 a base having:    a base-hammer protuberance;    where the hammer further comprises a:    a hammer protuberance;    a hammer safety notch;    where the trigger further comprises a:    trigger safety lever; and    wherein when the hammer is uncocked, the hammer spring is preloaded between the protuberances and the hammer is separated from the striker due to contact between the hammer safety notch and the trigger safety lever.    
   
   
       33 . The firearm of  claim 30 , wherein when the hammer is in a post-shooting position, the hammer is in contact with the striker and the trigger spring is loaded with sufficient force to return the trigger safety lever to the hammer safety notch, thereby returning the hammer to the un-cocked position.  
   
   
       34 . A firearm comprising: 
 a barrel having a pivot axle and a blocking axle;    a firing mechanism having a guiding notch wherein the firing mechanism is pivotally affixed to said barrel about the pivot axle; and    wherein the guiding notch directs the pivoting action of the firing mechanism.    
   
   
       35 . The firearm of  claim 34  where the guiding notch is substantially “L”-shaped.  
   
   
       36 . The firearm of  claim 34  where the firing mechanism further comprises: 
 a trigger having a trigger safety notch;    a trigger guard having a trigger safety lever;    wherein the L-shaped notch has a first portion and a second portion; and    wherein when the firing mechanism pivots from the first portion to the second portion, the trigger safety notch and the trigger safety lever substantially align and substantially prevent the pulling of the trigger.    
   
   
       37 . The firearm of  claim 34  where the barrel has a open end and a substantially closed end; 
 the firing mechanism further comprises a lineal striker;    the “L”-shaped notch has a first portion and a second portion;    when the firing mechanism is in the first portion, the linear striker and the closed end of the barrel are substantially aligned; and    when the firing mechanism is in the second open position, there is clearance between the striker and the closed end of the barrel to allow for easy insertion of a percussion cap between the striker and the closed end of the barrel without the help of any tool.    
   
   
       38 - 39 . (canceled)