Selectable release trigger with reset

Abstract

A trigger assembly includes a trigger housing body, a firing pin retainer, a first trigger sear, a twisting switch housing and a twisting switch. The firing pin retainer is mounted to the trigger housing body near a top thereof so as to pivot about a transverse axis. The first trigger sear is mounted to the trigger housing body so as to pivot about a transverse axis and is configured to selectively support the firing pin retainer to retain a firing pin. The twisting switch housing is at least partially contained by the trigger housing body. The twisting switch has proximal and distal ends and is mounted within the twisting switch housing. The twisting switch is configured to, at a first twist angle, set a first firing mode for the trigger assembly and, at a second twist angle, set a second firing mode for the trigger assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trigger assembly, comprising:
 a trigger housing body;   mounted to the trigger housing body near a top thereof so as to pivot about a transverse axis, a firing pin retainer;   mounted to the trigger housing body so as to pivot about a transverse axis, a first trigger sear configured to selectively support the firing pin retainer to retain a firing pin;   a twisting switch housing at least partially contained by the trigger housing body; and   mounted within the twisting switch housing, a twisting switch having proximal and distal ends and being configured to, at a first twist angle, set a first firing mode for the trigger assembly and, at a second twist angle, set a second firing mode for the trigger assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the firing pin retainer releases the firing pin in the first firing mode when the distal end of the twisting switch is pivoted forward after being pivoted rearward and, releases the firing pin in the second firing mode when the distal end of the twisting switch is pivoted rearward. 
     
     
         3 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the twisting switch includes a firing mode indicator at a distal/external end. 
     
     
         4 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the twisting switch is configured to, at the first twist angle, direct a concave surface of the twisting switch towards the first trigger sear and, at a second twist angle, direct a convex surface of the twisting switch towards the first trigger sear. 
     
     
         5 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the twisting switch is configured to assume a retracted position in which it is permitted twisting to change between the first and second firing modes and an extended position in which it is prohibited from twisting to change between the first and second firing modes. 
     
     
         6 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising a spring pushing the twisting switch into the extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the twisting switch further comprises a pin projecting therefrom and configured to engage a slot of the twisting switch housing with the twisting switch in the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein in the first firing mode, at a first angle of rearward pivot of the twisting switch distal end, the twisting switch disengages the first trigger sear from the firing pin retainer and, at a second angle of rearward pivot of the twisting switch distal end, the twisting switch elevates the firing pin retainer to a height sufficient to accommodate support by a second trigger sear pivotably coupled with the twisting switch housing. 
     
     
         9 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein in the second firing mode, at a first angle of rearward pivot of the twisting switch distal end, the twisting switch disengages the first trigger sear from the firing pin retainer. 
     
     
         10 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the twisting switch housing is configured for pivoting relative to the trigger housing body about a transverse axis. 
     
     
         11 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a second trigger sear pivotably coupled with the trigger housing body and configured to support the firing pin retainer when the distal end of the twisting switch is pivoted rearward in the first firing mode. 
     
     
         12 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a second trigger sear pivotably coupled with the trigger housing body and configured to selectively support the firing pin retainer wherein the first trigger sear is permitted reset under the firing pin retainer with the second trigger sear supporting the firing pin retainer and prohibited from reset under the firing pin retainer with the second trigger sear disengaged from the firing pin retainer. 
     
     
         13 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a second trigger sear configured to hold the firing pin retainer in an upward position until the first sear is reset. 
     
     
         14 . A trigger assembly, comprising:
 a trigger housing body;   a firing pin retainer pivotably mounted to the trigger housing body near a top thereof;   a first trigger sear mounted to the trigger housing body so as to pivot about a transverse axis and configured to selectively support the firing pin retainer to retain the firing pin;   a twisting switch housing at least partially contained by the trigger housing body; and   mounted within the twisting switch housing, a twisting switch configured to, at a first twist angle, disengage the first trigger sear from the firing pin retainer at a first angle of pivot of the twisting switch distal end and, at a second twist angle, disengage the first trigger sear from the firing pin retainer at a second angle of pivot of the twisting switch distal end less than the first angle of pivot.   
     
     
         15 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the twisting switch is further configured to, at the first twist angle, support the firing pin retainer at the first angle of pivot of the distal end. 
     
     
         16 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the twisting switch is further configured to, at the first twist angle, disengage from the firing pin retainer at a third angle of pivot of the distal end less than the first angle of pivot. 
     
     
         17 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the twisting switch is further configured to, at the first twist angle, elevate the firing pin retainer at a fourth angle of pivot of the distal end greater than the first angel of pivot. 
     
     
         18 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising, mounted to the trigger housing body so as to pivot about a transverse axis, a second trigger sear configured to support the firing pin retainer with the twisting switch at the first twist angle and fourth angle of pivot. 
     
     
         19 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the twisting switch is further configured to, at the second twist angle, avoid contact with the firing pin retainer at the second angle of pivot. 
     
     
         20 . A trigger assembly, comprising:
 a twisting switch housing including, extending along a length between open top and bottom ends, an interior space having an internal step and at least first and second diametrically opposed channels aligned with the length; and   rotatably/twistably mounted within the twisting switch housing, a switch including:
 a sear engagement end protruding from the interior space at the top and having a side surface concavity; 
 a trigger end protruding from the interior space at the bottom end; 
 an external step between the sear engagement end and the trigger end; and 
 a pin projecting from a surface of the switch configured for receipt in the channel; and 
   a spring provided between the internal and external steps and configured to urge the external step away from the internal step and the pin into the one of the first and second channels; and   wherein upon compression of the spring sufficient to liberate the pin from the first channel, the switch is configured for twisting between a first switch orientation with the surface concavity facing a first direction and a second switch orientation with the surface concavity facing a first direction and in which the compression spring will urge the pin into the second channel.   
     
     
         21 . The trigger assembly as set forth in  claim 20 , further comprising, mounted to the trigger housing body so as to pivot about a transverse axis, a second trigger sear configured to selectively support the firing pin retainer to retain a firing pin with the twisting switch at the first twist angle.