Semi-automatic handgun apparatus and method

Abstract

A handgun is provided with a frame including a magazine receiver and trigger guard. A breech-slide is slidably coupled with the frame. A magazine safety assembly includes a safety tab that engages a trigger assembly, when a cartridge magazine is not seated within the magazine receiver, and prevents actuation of the trigger assembly. The safety tab engages the cartridge magazine when it is seated within the magazine receiver, which displaces the safety tab from within the trigger assembly and allows the trigger assembly to actuate. Embodiments of the handgun are provided in a compact size. A finger recess in the trigger guard increases available surface area along a grip portion despite the overall compact size.

1 . A handgun, comprising:
 a frame having a grip portion that surrounds a magazine receiver; the magazine receiver having an open interior; the frame having a safety aperture that penetrates the grip portion of the frame;   a cartridge magazine, shaped to approximate the open interior of the magazine receiver such that the cartridge magazine is movable between an installed position, wherein the cartridge magazine is seated in the magazine receiver, and a released position, wherein the cartridge magazine is unseated and at least partially withdrawn from the magazine receiver;   a trigger assembly, including a trigger and a trigger bow; the trigger assembly being selectively movable within a trigger plane between an extended position and a retracted position; and   a deformably resilient safety tab, having an anchor end portion and an opposite free end portion; the safety tab extending from the frame such that the free end portion of the safety tab extends at least partially into the safety aperture of the frame to a location that:
 (i) when the cartridge magazine is in the released position, positions the free end portion of the safety tab within the trigger plane, adjacent the trigger bow, whereby the free end portion of the safety obstructs the trigger assembly from moving fully between the extended position and retracted position; and 
 (ii) when the cartridge magazine is in the installed position, engages the free end portion of the safety tab with a portion of the cartridge magazine, deflecting the free end portion of the safety tab away from the trigger plane, whereby the trigger assembly is free to move between the extended position and retracted position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The handgun of  claim 1  wherein the anchor end portion of the safety tab is disposed within a safety tab recess formed in the grip portion of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The handgun of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a grip plate, removably secured to the grip portion of the frame, whereby an underside of the grip plate is positioned closely adjacent the anchor end portion of the safety tab, securing the anchor end portion of the safety tab within the safety recess. 
 
     
     
         4 . The handgun of  claim 1  wherein the trigger bow is formed to include a safety notch along a length of the trigger bow, adjacent the location of the free end portion of the safety tab, whereby: (i) moving the cartridge magazine to the released position causes the free end of the safety tab to reside within the notch and engage the trigger bow when the trigger assembly is moved toward the retracted position; (ii) moving the cartridge magazine to the installed position causes the free end portion of the safety tab to move clear of the notch and allow movement of the trigger bow toward the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The handgun of  claim 4  wherein the safety tab is at least partially formed from a leaf spring. 
     
     
         6 . The handgun of  claim 5  wherein the free end portion of the safety tab is formed to have a finger that bends away from a long axis of the safety tab; the finger presenting a length that engages the notch of the trigger bow when the trigger assembly is moved toward the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . A handgun frame, comprising:
 an elongated upper end portion, having a forward end portion and an opposite, rearward end portion;   a grip depending from the rearward end portion of the elongated upper end portion, the grip including opposite sides, a forward edge, and a rearward edge;   a trigger guard having a forward leg, depending from the upper end portion of the frame and spaced forwardly from the forward edge portion of the grip, and a bottom leg, extending from the forward leg to the forward edge portion of the grip; at least a portion of a lower surface of the bottom leg residing within a guard plane that is parallel with the upper end portion of the frame;   an end portion of the bottom leg of the trigger guard and the forward edge of the grip portion of the frame meeting at a finger recess that extends above the guard plane.   
     
     
         8 . The handgun frame of  claim 7  wherein the finger recess is arcuately shaped; an apex of the arcuately shaped finger recess extending above the guard plane. 
     
     
         9 . A handgun, comprising:
 an elongated upper end portion, having a forward end portion and an opposite, rearward end portion; a grip depending from the rearward end portion of the elongated upper end portion to a butt portion of the frame; the grip including opposite sides, a forward edge, and a rearward edge; and   a trigger guard depending from the upper end portion of the frame to the forward edge portion of the grip, forming a loop in which a trigger may be reciprocally disposed; a lower surface of the trigger guard being recessed toward the upper end portion of the frame, adjacent an engagement point between the trigger guard and the grip.   
     
     
         10 . A handgun, comprising:
 a frame including an upper end portion, extending between forward and rearward end portions of the frame, and a grip portion having opposite sides, a forward edge, a rearward edge, and a butt; the frame having a height extending between the upper end portion and the butt of the grip; the frame having a length extending between its forward and rearward end portions;   a breech-slide, having opposite end portions and opposite sides, operatively coupled with the upper end portion of the frame; the breech-slide having a height extending between an upper surface of the breech-slide and the bottom of an abutment that depends from the breech-slide; the breech-slide having a length extending between its opposite end portions;   a trigger guard depending from the upper end portion of the frame to the forward edge portion of the grip, forming a loop in which a trigger may be reciprocally disposed; the trigger guard having a height extending between the frame and a bottom leg of the trigger guard; the trigger guard having a length extending between a forward leg of the trigger guard and the grip; the forward edge of the grip having a height that extends between the butt end of the grip and the bottom leg of the trigger guard; and   a barrel coupled with the upper end portion of the frame, at a lug that depends from a rearward end portion of the barrel; the barrel positioned at least partially within the breech-slide;   the barrel having a height extending between a top portion of the barrel to a bottom portion of the lug; the barrel having a length extending between a forward end portion and the rearward end portion of the barrel;   the trigger guard height being 25% to 30% as long as the frame height.   
     
     
         11 . The handgun of  claim 10  wherein the barrel is sized to receive and fire .22 Long Rifle cartridges. 
     
     
         12 . The handgun of  claim 10  wherein the trigger guard length is 25% to 30% as long as the frame length. 
     
     
         13 . The handgun of  claim 10  wherein a length of the forward edge of the grip is 50% to 60% as long as the frame height. 
     
     
         14 . The handgun of  claim 10  wherein the trigger guard height is 40% to 50% as long as a length of the forward edge of the grip. 
     
     
         15 . The handgun of  claim 10  wherein:
 the trigger guard includes a forward leg, depending from the upper end portion of the frame and spaced forwardly from the forward edge portion of the grip, and a bottom leg, extending from the forward leg to the forward edge portion of the grip; 
 at least a portion of a lower surface of the bottom leg residing within a guard plane that is parallel with the upper end portion of the frame; 
 an end portion of the bottom leg of the trigger guard and the forward edge of the grip portion of the frame meeting at an arcuate finger recess that extends above the guard plane. 
 
     
     
         16 . A handgun, comprising:
 a frame including an upper end portion, extending between forward and rearward end portions of the frame, and a grip portion having opposite sides, a forward edge, a rearward edge, and a butt;   a breech-slide, having opposite end portions and opposite sides, operatively coupled with the upper end portion of the frame; and   a trigger guard depending from the upper end portion of the frame to the forward edge portion of the grip, forming a loop in which a trigger may be reciprocally disposed;   the trigger guard having a height that is 25% to 30% as long as the frame height;   the trigger guard having a length that is 25% to 30% as long as the frame length;   the grip having a forward edge length that is 50% to 60% as long as the frame height;   the trigger guard having a height that is 40% to 50% as long as the forward edge length of the grip.   
     
     
         17 . The handgun of  claim 16  wherein:
 the trigger guard includes a forward leg, depending from the upper end portion of the frame and spaced forwardly from the forward edge portion of the grip, and a bottom leg, extending from the forward leg to the forward edge portion of the grip; 
 at least a portion of a lower surface of the bottom leg residing within a guard plane that is parallel with the upper end portion of the frame; 
 an end portion of the bottom leg of the trigger guard and the forward edge of the grip portion of the frame meeting at an arcuate finger recess that extends above the guard plane. 
 
     
     
         18 . The handgun of  claim 17  wherein the barrel is sized to receive and fire .22 Long Rifle cartridges.