Magazine disconnect mechanism

Abstract

A magazine disconnect is operable to prevent firing the gun by trigger pull when a magazine is not present in the magazine well. The magazine disconnect includes a blocking component that is movable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position. In one example, the blocking component is a lever located rearward of the magazine well and arranged so that installing a magazine into the magazine well causes the lever to rotate the non-blocking position. In absence of the magazine, the lever is biased to the blocking position where it blocks firing the handgun by trigger pull. The blocking component can engage trigger bar, sear, or other component of the fire control assembly.

1 . A magazine disconnect for a firearm having a magazine well, fire control components, and
 a trigger operably coupled to the fire control components, the magazine disconnect comprising:   a blocking component movable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position;   wherein when a magazine is seated in the magazine well of the firearm, the blocking component is in the non-blocking position and allows firing of the firearm by pulling the trigger, and when no magazine is present in the magazine well, the blocking component is biased to the blocking position and positioned to contact one or more of the fire control components to obstruct firing the firearm by pulling the trigger.   
     
     
         2 . The magazine disconnect of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking component comprises a lever that is rotatable between the blocking position and the non-blocking position, and wherein the lever is biased to the blocking position by a spring. 
     
     
         3 . The magazine disconnect of  claim 2 , wherein the lever is located rearward of the magazine well when the lever is in the non-blocking position. 
     
     
         4 . The magazine disconnect of  claim 3 , wherein installing the magazine in the magazine well rotates the lever against spring bias to the blocking position. 
     
     
         5 . The magazine disconnect of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking component is movable laterally between the blocking position and the non-blocking position. 
     
     
         6 . The magazine disconnect of  claim 1 , wherein the fire control components include a sear operable between a cocked position and a fire position, and wherein the blocking component obstructs moving the sear to the fire position when the blocking component is in the blocking position. 
     
     
         7 . The magazine disconnect of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fire control components include a trigger bar operably connected to the trigger and movable longitudinally in response to pulling the trigger;   the fire control components include a sear operable between a cocked position and a fire position;   the trigger bar is configured to move longitudinally to contact and move the sear to the fire position; and   wherein the blocking component obstructs moving the trigger bar into contact with the sear when the blocking component is in the blocking position.   
     
     
         8 . A firearm, comprising:
 a receiver defining at least part of a magazine well and including fire control components operably coupled to a trigger; and   a blocking component coupled to the receiver adjacent the magazine well and movable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position;   wherein the blocking component occupies the non-blocking position when a magazine is in the magazine well; and   wherein the blocking component is biased to the blocking position when the magazine is absent from the magazine well and prevents firing the handgun via trigger pull.   
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the blocking component is a lever that is rotatable between the blocking position and the non-blocking position. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 9 , wherein the fire control components include a sear and the lever is positioned to block movement of a sear to a fire position when the lever is in the blocking position. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 9 , wherein the fire control components include a sear, a trigger, and a trigger bar operatively connected to the trigger, and wherein the lever is located rearward of the magazine well. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the fire control components include a trigger bar operatively coupled to a trigger, and wherein the blocking component is arranged to block longitudinal movement of the trigger bar when in the blocking position. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the trigger bar is configured to move longitudinally and engage the sear in response to pulling the trigger, and wherein the blocking component is positioned to contact the trigger bar when the blocking component is in the blocking position, thereby preventing the trigger bar from contacting the sear. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the blocking component blocks the trigger bar from moving forward to contact the sear. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the fire control components include a striker block actuator, and wherein the lever is positioned to block movement of the striker block actuator when the lever is in the blocking position. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm of  claim 8 , comprising a sear housing attached to the receiver, wherein the blocking component is coupled to the sear housing. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a bracket attached to the sear housing and having a pin extending laterally;   wherein the blocking component is configured as a lever configured to rotate about the pin between the blocking position and the non-blocking position.   
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 17 , further comprising a torsion spring configured and arranged to bias the lever to the blocking position. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 18 , wherein a first end of the lever is arranged to stop on the sear housing when the lever is in the blocking position. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm of  claim 19 , wherein the firearm is a semiautomatic handgun comprising:
 a grip module configured to house the receiver; and   a slide assembly configured to be mounted to the receiver;   wherein the grip module contains a magazine catch configured to retain and selectively release a detachable magazine.