Removable trigger guard

Abstract

A removable trigger guard for a rifle. The removable trigger guard includes a first arm that is disposed between a magazine and a grip of the firearm, a body portion disposed along an upper portion of the grip, and a second arm portion that is disposed along a lower surface of the rifle and between the grip and the magazine. The first arm includes a ball bearing and a detent pin that engage a yoke of the magazine. The body portion includes another ball bearing that snap fits into engagement with a yoke formed in the magazine. The second arm includes an opening that receives a trigger that protrudes from the lower surface. The removable trigger guard can be installed by hand without tools and can be removed with the use of the tip of an ammunition cartridge.

1 . A firearm apparatus comprising:
 a receiver with a grip and a magazine well extending from a lower surface of the receiver and defining therebetween a trigger space adjacent to the lower surface of the receiver.   
       a trigger mechanism housed in said receiver with a trigger extending from the trigger mechanism into the trigger space via a trigger opening formed in the lower surface of said receiver; and
 a trigger guard removably clipped between the grip and the magazine well of said receiver, said trigger guard substantially covering the trigger opening of said receiver. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said trigger guard includes:
 a first arm substantially covering said trigger opening; and   a second arm carrying in at least one end thereof at least one resiliently actuable fastener engaged with one of said grip and said magazine well.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one resiliently actuable fastener of said trigger guard is engaged with a yoke formed on one of said grip or said magazine well. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first arm of said trigger guard includes a slot, and the trigger of said trigger mechanism protrudes into the trigger space of said receiver through the slot. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a movable barrier mounted on the first arm of said trigger guard adjacent to the slot to follow movement of the trigger for further covering the trigger opening of said receiver.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said movable barrier includes a flexible elastic membrane entirely covering the trigger slot. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the slot is formed through a flexible elastic membrane mounted on the first arm of said trigger guard. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a movable barrier mounted on the first arm of said trigger guard to follow movement of the trigger for further covering the trigger opening of said receiver.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said trigger guard further includes a body portion joining an end of the first arm to an end of the second arm, the body portion of said trigger guard includes an outer surface matingly aligned with a corresponding surface formed on said receiver, and when said trigger guard is clipped to said receiver, the second arm substantially encloses the trigger space. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger opening of said receiver is substantially larger than required for movement of the trigger within the trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A removable trigger guard apparatus for assembly to a lower surface of a firearm receiver having a grip and a magazine well fastened thereto, the grip and the magazine well defining a trigger space adjacent to said lower surface, said firearm receiver containing a trigger mechanism from which a trigger protrudes through a trigger opening of said lower surface into said trigger space, said apparatus comprising:
 a first arm shaped to substantially close off said trigger opening.   
       a second arm carrying in at least one end thereof at least one resiliently actuable fastener for engagement with one of said grip and said magazine well; and 
       a body portion joining an end of said first arm to an end of said second arm, and having an outer surface shaped to align with a corresponding surface formed on one of said grip and said magazine well, 
       wherein, when the outer surface of said body portion is aligned with the corresponding surface formed on said grip or said magazine well, said first arm substantially covers the trigger opening of said receiver and said second arm substantially encloses the trigger space of said receiver. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of said body portion includes a convex cylindrical surface extending from said second arm toward said first arm. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said first arm includes a slot extending along said first arm. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a movable barrier mounted on said first arm to follow movement of a trigger within the slot.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said movable barrier is a flexible elastic member mounted adjacent to the slot. 
     
     
         16 . A method for restoring proper operation of a trigger mechanism of a firearm, comprising:
 rendering said firearm safe and unloaded;   removing a trigger guard from said firearm to expose a trigger opening; and   cleaning said trigger mechanism via said trigger opening.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein cleaning said trigger mechanism includes forcing air through said trigger opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 subsequent to cleaning said trigger mechanism, clipping said trigger guard to said firearm to substantially cover said trigger opening.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein cleaning said trigger mechanism includes mechanically agitating said firearm. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 loading and locking said firearm; and   actuating said trigger mechanism.