Safety selector

Abstract

A safety selector for a firearm includes a shaft configured to rotate within the firearm and a selector lever coupled to the shaft. A first selector slot is provided in the shaft, and a rotational constraint device is configured to restrict a rotational movement of the shaft as a function of the first selector slot in response to actuation of the selector lever. Additionally, a second selector slot is provided in the shaft, and the second selector slot is configured to provide a different rotational movement of the shaft as compared to the first selector slot when the rotational constraint device is engaged with the second selector slot.

1 . A safety selector for a firearm, comprising:
 a shaft configured to rotate within the firearm;   a selector lever coupled to the shaft;   a first selector slot provided in one end of the shaft;   a rotational constraint device configured to restrict a rotational movement of the shaft as a function of the first selector slot in response to actuation of the selector lever; and   a second selector slot provided in the end of the shaft, wherein the second selector slot is configured to provide a different rotational movement of the shaft as compared to the first selector slot when the rotational constraint device is engaged with the second selector slot.   
     
     
         2 . The safety selector of  claim 1 , wherein the selector lever is configured to indicate two modes of operation of the firearm, wherein the rotational movement of the shaft associated with the first selector slot corresponds to a rotation of the selector level between the two modes of operation, and wherein the different rotational movement of the shaft associated with the second selector slot also corresponds to a rotation of the selector level between the two modes of operation. 
     
     
         3 . The safety selector of  claim 1 , wherein the first selector slot includes a length, wherein the rotational constraint device is configured to traverse the length of the first selector slot in restricting the rotational movement of the shaft, and wherein a length of the second selector slot is different length than the length of the first selector slot. 
     
     
         4 . The safety selector of  claim 3 , wherein the second selector slot is longer than the first selector slot, and wherein the second selector slot is configured to provide a greater amount of rotational movement of the shaft as compared to the first selector slot. 
     
     
         5 . The safety selector of  claim 3 , wherein the first selector slot is configured to provide a maximum amount of rotational movement of the shaft of approximately forty-five degrees, and wherein the second selector slot is configured to provide a maximum amount of rotational movement of the shaft of approximately ninety degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The safety selector of  claim 1 , wherein the selector lever is coupled to the shaft by a retention device, and wherein the retention device may be configured to allow for a change in relative rotational position of the selector lever with respect to the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The safety selector of  claim 6 , wherein the retention device comprises a spring-loaded stud configured to engage an attachment hole located in the selector lever, and wherein the spring-loaded stud is further configured to be depressed into a receiving hole of the shaft in order to change the relative rotational position of the selector lever. 
     
     
         8 . The safety selector of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a first end a second end, and wherein both the first selector slot and the second selector slot are located in the first end of the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The safety selector of  claim 8 , wherein the second selector slot is located on an approximately opposite side of the first end of the shaft as the first selector slot. 
     
     
         10 . The safety selector of  claim 8 , wherein the selector lever is coupled to the first end of the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling a safety selector on a firearm, comprising:
 disengaging a rotational constraint device from a first selector slot provided on a shaft of the safety selector, wherein the shaft is located internal to the firearm, and wherein the first selector slot is associated with a first rotational orientation of a selector lever coupled to the shaft;   rotating the safety selector relative to the firearm until a second selector slot is aligned with the rotational constraint device;   engaging the rotational constraint device with the second selector slot;   disengaging a retention device from the selector lever;   repositioning the selector lever in a second rotational orientation; and   engaging the retention device with the repositioned selector lever.   
     
     
         12 . The method of assembly of  claim 11 , wherein disengaging the rotational constraint device from the first selector slot comprises loosening a handgrip from the firearm, and wherein engaging the rotational constraint device with the second selector slot comprises tightening the handgrip to the firearm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of assembly of  claim 11 , wherein rotating the safety selector comprises rotating the shaft approximately one hundred and eighty degrees relative to the firearm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft is rotated relative to the firearm without removing the safety selector from the firearm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second selector slot is approximately located on an opposite side of the shaft as the first selector slot. 
     
     
         16 . The method of assembly of  claim 13 , wherein repositioning the selector lever comprises rotating the selector lever by approximately one hundred and eighty degrees relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The method of assembly of  claim 11 , wherein disengaging the retention device from the selector lever comprises depressing the retention device at least partially within a hole of the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a safety selector on a firearm, comprising:
 inserting a shaft of a safety selector within the firearm;   positioning the shaft relative to the firearm in order to orient one or more selector slots that correspond to a range of rotation of the safety selector;   engaging a rotational constraint device with one of the selector slots;   positioning a selector lever on the shaft; and   engaging a retention device with the selector lever to operably couple the selector lever to the shaft.   
     
     
         19 . The method of assembly of  claim 18 , wherein two selector slots are associated with two different maximum amounts of angular rotation of the safety selector. 
     
     
         20 . The method of assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting the retention device in the shaft, wherein the retention device comprises a spring-loaded retention stud that is inserted into a receiving hole located in an end of the shaft, and wherein engaging the retention device comprises rigidly locking the selector lever to the shaft, such that the selector lever and shaft rotate in unison as a unitary component. 
     
     
         21 . The method of assembly of  claim 18 , wherein positioning the selector lever on the shaft comprises rotating the selector lever relative to the shaft prior to engaging the retention device, so that the selector lever indicates a safety mode of operation.