Rotational safety device for firearm

Abstract

A rotational safety device for a firearm is provided that replaces a traditional cross bar safety device and is installed within a trigger mechanism to rotate about an axis. The safety device may include a recessed portion that may be rotationally positioned to face a trigger to allow the trigger to be completely depressed. The safety device also includes one or more locking positions in a range of rotation to be engaged by a guide pin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm safety apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical safety member, the cylindrical safety is adapted to rotate between at least a first position and a second position within a hole disposed in a trigger housing of a firearm and includes a notched region, an unnotched region, and a plurality of positioning apertures positioned in a bore in the unnotched region,   wherein the notched region is adapted to receive a rear portion of a trigger of the firearm with respect to a firing direction of the firearm when the first cylindrical portion is in the first position and the notched region is adapted to not receive the rear portion of the trigger when the first cylindrical portion is in the second position,   wherein the unnotched region is adapted to face and abuttedly engage the rear portion of the trigger when the first cylindrical portion is in the second position and the unnotched region is adapted to not face the rear portion of the trigger when the first cylindrical portion is in the first position, and   wherein the positioning apertures are each adapted to successively engage a guide pin of the trigger housing of the firearm when the first cylindrical portion is rotated within the hole between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lever coupled to the cylindrical safety member of the rotational replacement trigger safety. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bore comprises a guide wall adapted to maintain the guide pin in alignment with the positioning apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the positioning apertures has a slanted sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first positioning aperture of the one or more of the positioning apertures abuttedly engages the guide pin when the first cylindrical safety member is in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a second positioning aperture of the one or more of the positioning apertures abuttedly engages the guide pin when the cylindrical safety member is in the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the guide pin has a slanted nose portion and a cylindrical portion for engaging the guide wall of the bore. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guide pin has a spring engagement portion for receipt for an end of a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the spring engagement portion is a post. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the spring engagement portion is a cylindrical portion having a bore. 
     
     
         11 . A firearm safety apparatus, the safety apparatus comprising:
 a rotational replacement trigger safety adapted to replace a safety of a firearm, the rotational replacement trigger safety having a safety member, the safety member comprising a cylindrical member adapted to rotate between at least a first position and a second position within a hole disposed in a trigger housing of the firearm,   wherein the cylindrical member includes a notched region, an unnotched region, and a plurality of positioning apertures,   wherein the notched region is adapted to receive a rear portion of a trigger of the firearm with respect to a firing direction of the firearm when the cylindrical member is in the first position and the notched region is adapted to not receive the rear portion of the trigger when the cylindrical member is in the second position,   wherein the unnotched region is adapted to face and abuttedly engage the rear portion of the trigger when the cylindrical member is in the second position and the unnotched region is adapted to not face the rear portion of the trigger when the cylindrical member is in the first position,   wherein the positioning apertures are adapted to successively engage a guide pin of the trigger housing of the firearm when the cylindrical member is rotated within the hole, and   wherein the cylindrical member has a bore with a guide wall that engages the guide pin to maintain the guide pin in the positioning apertures positioned in a base of the bore.   
     
     
         12 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a lever coupled to the cylindrical member of the rotational replacement trigger safety. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the positioning apertures has a slanted sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a groove is positioned in the base of the bore between the positioning apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a first positioning aperture of the one or more of the positioning apertures abuttedly engages the guide pin when the cylindrical member is in the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a second positioning aperture of the one or more of the positioning apertures abuttedly engages the guide pin when the cylindrical member is in the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the guide pin has a slanted nose portion and a cylindrical portion for engaging the guide wall of the bore. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the guide pin has a spring engagement portion for receipt for an end of a spring. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the spring engagement portion is a post. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm safety apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the spring engagement portion is a cylindrical portion having a bore.