Slide takedown and magazine disconnect assembly for firearms

Abstract

A firearm comprises a frame which detachably receives a magazine, trigger, and a reciprocating slide moveable between a forward position and rearward removal position. A pivotable takedown lever is selectively engageable with the slide between blocking and non-blocking positions. A magazine disconnect member movably responsive to inserting the magazine into or removing the magazine from the firearm is alterable between a rearward locked position which prevents movement of the trigger to disable the firing mechanism, and a forward unlocked position which allows movement of the trigger and concurrently engages the takedown lever to prevent the takedown lever from leaving the blocking position associated with the ready-to-fire condition of the firearm. The slide is removable from the firearm when the takedown lever is in the non-blocking position. Engagement between the magazine disconnect member and takedown lever prevents full insertion of the magazine if the lever is left in the non-blocking position.

1 . A firearm with slide takedown and magazine disconnect assembly comprising:
 a frame configured to detachably receive an ammunition magazine;   a barrel defining a longitudinal axis of the firearm;   a trigger for discharging the firearm;   a reciprocating slide slidably engaged with the firearm, the slide moveable between a forward position and a rearward removal position;   a takedown lever pivotably mounted to the firearm and engageable with the slide, the lever being pivotable in a lateral direction about the longitudinal axis between a blocking position in which the slide is not movable from the forward position to the rearward removal position, and a non-blocking position in which the slide is movable to the rearward removal position to disengage the frame;   a magazine disconnect member engageable with and movably responsive to inserting the magazine into or removing the magazine from the firearm;   wherein the magazine disconnect member is movable between a rearward locked position which blocks movement of the trigger to prevent firing the firearm, and a forward unlocked position which allows movement of the trigger and concurrently engages the takedown lever to prevent moving the takedown lever from the blocking position to the non-blocking position.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm according to  claim 1 , wherein inserting the magazine into the frame engages and moves the magazine disconnect member from the rearward locked position to the forward unlocked position, and removing the magazine from the frame disengages and moves the magazine disconnect member from the forward unlocked position to the rearward locked position under biasing action of a magazine disconnect spring. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm according to  claim 2 , wherein the magazine disconnect member is slideably and axially movable along the longitudinal axis between the rearward locked position and forward unlocked position. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm according to  claim 3 , wherein magazine disconnect member includes a front end engageable with the takedown lever and a rear end engageable with the magazine when inserted into the frame 
     
     
         5 . The firearm according to  claim 4 , wherein the magazine disconnect member further comprises an upturned trigger locking protrusion which engages a locking surface on the trigger when the magazine disconnect member is in the rearward locked position to prevent movement of the trigger. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm according to  claim 4 , wherein the magazine disconnect member comprises a substantially flat plate including a takedown lever engagement protrusion on the front end, and an actuating protrusion on the rear end configured to slideably engage the magazine when inserted into the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm according to  claim 6 , wherein the plate comprises a central trigger opening through which the trigger protrudes downwards into a trigger guard of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm according to  claim 4 , wherein the blocking position of the takedown lever is an upward position and the non-blocking position is a downward position. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm according to  claim 8 , wherein the takedown lever is mounted about a pivot axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firearm. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm according to  claim 5 , wherein the takedown lever comprises a laterally facing engagement surface which is engageable with the takedown lever engagement protrusion on the front end of the magazine disconnect member which prevents moving the takedown lever from the blocking position to the non-blocking position when the magazine disconnect member is in the forward unlocked position. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm according to  claim 10 , wherein the front end of the magazine disconnect member comprises a stepped shoulder which defines the takedown lever engagement protrusion. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm according to  claim 11 , wherein the engagement surface of takedown lever engages a lateral inward facing side surface on the takedown lever engagement protrusion of the magazine disconnect member. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm according to  claim 12 , wherein the engagement surface is formed within a recessed pocket on the takedown lever to allow the takedown lever engagement protrusion of the magazine disconnect member to move past the rear side of takedown lever so that the side surface of the takedown lever engagement protrusion can engage the engagement surface on the takedown lever. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm according to  claim 4 , wherein the takedown lever further comprises a rear facing abutment surface which engages and prevents the magazine disconnect member from moving from the rearward locked position to the forward unlocked position when the takedown lever is in the non-blocking position and the magazine is attempted to be inserted into the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm according to  claim 1 , further comprising a magazine disconnect spring which biases the magazine disconnect member towards the rearward locked position. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm according to  claim 4 , wherein the takedown lever comprises a laterally facing engagement surface which is engageable with a takedown lever engagement protrusion on the front end of the magazine disconnect member which prevents moving the takedown lever from the blocking position to the non-blocking position when the magazine disconnect member is in the forward unlocked position. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm according to  claim 16 , wherein the engagement surface of takedown lever engages a lateral inward facing side surface on the takedown lever engagement protrusion of the magazine disconnect member. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm according to  claim 17 , wherein the takedown lever engagement protrusion has a narrower width than a main body of the magazine disconnect member behind the engagement protrusion. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm according to  claim 17 , wherein the engagement surface of the takedown lever is formed within a recessed pocket on the takedown lever to allow the takedown lever engagement protrusion of the magazine disconnect member to move past a rear side of takedown lever so that the side surface of the takedown lever engagement protrusion can engage the engagement surface on the takedown lever. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm according to  claim 1 , wherein the firearm is a semiautomatic pistol. 
     
     
         21 . The firearm according to  claim 6 , wherein the rear actuating protrusion has a recurvant shape defining an arcuately curved contact surface which slideably engages the magazine when inserted into the frame. 
     
     
         22 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the takedown lever includes a mounting end pivotably coupled to the firearm, an opposite free end defining a grasping portion, and a blocking surface interposed between the mounting and free ends. 
     
     
         23 - 34 . (canceled)