System and method for loading and feeding a shotgun

Abstract

A trigger group assembly for a semi-automatic shotgun includes a follower pin that is slideably attached to a sliding track assembly. The follower pin engages a pair of tracks to facilitate cooperation the sliding track assembly's carrier with the shell retainer of a detachable magazine in such a way that when the bolt is propelled rearward, a cartridge is released from the magazine, and when the bolt is propelled forward, the cartridge is lifted by the carrier into the path of the bolt and loaded into the chamber of the firearm.

1 . A trigger group assembly for a semi-automatic shotgun having a high-capacity magazine including a retainer for retaining cartridges therein, the trigger group assembly comprising:
 a follower pin operatively connected to a carrier, wherein the follower pin is capable of engaging a feeding track and a loading track of a slidable track assembly, the slidable track assembly being operatively connected to a bolt of the shotgun, wherein the carrier cooperates with an actuator and the retainer of shotgun's magazine, the actuator being responsive to movement of the carrier in such a way that when the bolt is propelled rearward, the cartridge is released from the magazine and when the bolt is propelled forward, the cartridge is lifted by the carrier into the path of the bolt and loaded into the chamber of the shotgun.   
   
   
       2 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 1  wherein the feeding track is in a first plane and the loading track is in a second plane, and the first and second planes are substantially parallel. 
   
   
       3 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 1  wherein the actuator includes a spring-biased trip that slides in an inclined track and impinges on the retainer of the magazine such that when the actuator is forced downward by the carrier, the trip remains in the path of the emerging cartridge until the cartridge forces the trip backward along its inclined track such that it disengages from the retainer, wherein the retainer returns to its normal position to block the release of another cartridge. 
   
   
       4 . The slidable track assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the feeding track and the loading track each having a first terminus and a second terminus; the slidable track assembly further comprising:
 a first deflector extending from the slidable track assembly proximate a first end of the slidable track assembly; and,   a second deflector extending from the slidable track assembly proximate a second end of the slidable track assembly, wherein during movement of the slidable track assembly, the first and second deflectors facilitate coupling transition of the follower pin between the feeding and loading tracks.   
   
   
       5 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a trigger frame assembly supporting the slidably track assembly, the carrier being pivotally attached to the trigger frame assembly; and,   a spool operatively connected to the follower pin, wherein movement of the spool in response to engagement between the follower pin with the feeding and loading tracks results in a feeding and loading cycle of the carrier, respectively.   
   
   
       6 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a lever operatively connected to the actuator, the lever being accessible external to the semi-automatic shotgun and capable of being manually operated, wherein manual actuation of the lever facilitates release of a cartridge from the magazine.   
   
   
       7 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a trigger frame assembly supporting the slidable track assembly, the trigger frame assembly including a rail; and,   a means for reducing recoil.   
   
   
       8 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 7  wherein the means for reducing recoil comprises:
 a link operatively connected to the slidable track assembly and removably engaged to the bolt, the link being capable of sliding along the rail of the trigger frame assembly wherein as the link slides off the rail during rearward movement of the slidable track assembly, the bolt disengages from the slidable track assembly until forward movement of the bolt whereupon the link slides back onto the rail and reengages the bolt to the slidable track assembly.   
   
   
       9 . A semi-automatic shotgun having a high capacity magazine including a retainer for retaining cartridges therein, the semi-automatic shotgun comprising:
 a trigger group assembly including a slidable track assembly and a trigger frame assembly;   a bolt slidably coupled to the slidable track assembly, the slidable track assembly including a feeding track and a loading track;   a carrier pivotally connected to the trigger frame assembly; and,   a follower pin affixed to the carrier and capable of being transitionally coupled between the feeding track and the loading track of the slidable track assembly, wherein during movement of the slidable track assembly, the follower pin travels along the feeding track and/or the loading track and moves the carrier to facilitate the feeding and/or loading of the cartridges from the magazine.   
   
   
       10 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 9  further comprising an actuator responsive to movement of the carrier and capable of engaging the retainer of the high-capacity magazine. 
   
   
       11 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 10  wherein the actuator includes a spring-biased trip that slides in an inclined track and impinges on the retainer of the magazine such that when the actuator is forced downward by the carrier, the trip remains in the path of the emerging cartridge until the cartridge forces the trip backward along its inclined track such that it disengages from the retainer, wherein the retainer returns to its normal position to block the release of another cartridge. 
   
   
       12 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a lever operatively connected to the actuator, the lever being accessible external to the semi-automatic shotgun and capable of being manually operated, wherein manual actuation of the lever facilitates release of a cartridge from the magazine. 
   
   
       13 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the trigger frame assembly including a rail; and,   a means for reducing recoil.   
   
   
       14 . The trigger group assembly of  claim 13  wherein the means for reducing recoil comprises:
 a link operatively connected to the slidable track assembly and removably engaged to the bolt, the link being capable of sliding along the rail of the trigger frame assembly wherein as the link slides off the rail during rearward movement of the slidable track assembly, the bolt disengages from the slidable track assembly until forward movement of the bolt whereupon the link slides back onto the rail and reengages the bolt to the slidable track assembly.   
   
   
       15 . The slidable track assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the feeding track and the loading track each include a first terminus and a second terminus, the slidable track assembly further including:
 a first deflector extending from the slidable track assembly proximate a first end of the slidable track assembly; and,   a second deflector extending from the slidable track assembly proximate a second end of the slidable track assembly,   wherein during movement of the slidable track assembly, the first and second deflectors facilitate coupling transition of the follower pin between the feeding and loading tracks.   
   
   
       16 . For a semi-automatic shotgun including a trigger group assembly and a high-capacity magazine, a method comprising the steps of:
 utilizing the force of a fired cartridge to move a slidable track assembly in a loading direction, the slidable track assembly including a feeding track and a loading track;   utilizing the loading track to move a carrier in a loading cycle; and,   utilizing the feeding track to move the carrier in a feeding cycle.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including the step of providing a means for reducing recoil. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including:
 disengaging the shotgun's bolt with slidable track assembly; and,   reengaging the shotgun's bolt with the slidable track assembly.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the means for reducing recoil comprises:
 a link operatively connected to the slidable track assembly and removably engaged to the bolt, the link being capable of sliding along the rail of the trigger frame assembly wherein as the link slides off the rail during rearward movement of the slidable track assembly, the bolt disengages from the slidable track assembly until forward movement of the bolt whereupon the link slides back onto the rail and reengages the bolt to the slidable track assembly.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further including the step of transitioning the carrier from the loading track to the feeding track. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , further including the step of releasing a cartridge from a magazine. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including the step of:
 providing an actuator coupled between the trigger frame assembly and the high-capacity magazine, the actuator being responsive to movement of the carrier, wherein the actuator cooperates with the high-capacity magazine to facilitate release of the cartridges from the high-capacity magazine.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further including the step of:
 providing a lever, the lever being connected to an actuator and further being accessible external to the semi-automatic shotgun and capable of being manually operated to facilitate release of the cartridges from the high-capacity magazine.