Firearm pin retainer plate and pivot pins

Abstract

Firearm pin retainer plates and pins have a frame defining an internal space, a moving action part defining a bore and connected to the frame within the space, a pivot pin connected to the frame and to the action part such that the action part pivots with respect to the frame, the pivot pin having a cylindrical body portion closely received in the bore and defining a pin axis, the pivot pin having a first flat surface portion, a retention element connected to the frame within the space and having a first retention facility adapted to engage the first flat surface portion to prevent rotation of the pin with respect to the frame. The pin may have a second flat surface portion opposed to the first flat surface portion. The first retention facility may define a slot having opposed edges operable to engage the first and second flat surface portions.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A firearm comprising:
 a frame defining an internal space;   a moving action part defining a bore and connected to the frame within the space;   a pivot pin connected to the frame and to the action part such that the action part pivots with respect to the frame;   the pivot pin having a cylindrical body portion closely received in the bore and defining a pin axis;   the pivot pin having a first flat surface portion; and   a retention element connected to the frame within the space and having a first retention facility adapted to engage the first flat surface portion to prevent rotation of the pin with respect to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the pin has a second flat surface portion opposed to the first flat surface portion and the first retention facility defines a slot having opposed edges operable to engage the first and second flat surface portions. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 2  wherein the opposed flat surface portions are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 3  wherein the opposed flat surface portions are perpendicular to the pin axis. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the retention element is a flat planar member. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the retention element has a second retention facility spaced apart from the first retention facility and adapted to engage a second pin to prevent rotation of the retention facility with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 6  wherein the first retention facility has opposed side edges parallel to a first axis, and the second retention facility has opposed side edges parallel to a different second axis angularly offset from the first axis. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 6  wherein the first retention facility has a slot open in a direction away from the second retention facility 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 8  wherein the second retention facility has a slot open in a direction lateral to a line connecting the first retention facility and second retention facility. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the frame includes a planar portion and the retention facility has a flat body portion overlaying the planar portion of the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the retention facility has a resilient latch portion adapted to releasable engage a fixed element on the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 11  wherein retention element is an elongated member, and the resilient latch portion is on an end of the retention element opposite the first retention facility. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the pivot pin has an enlarged end portion adjacent to the cylindrical body portion and defining the first flat surface portion. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 13  wherein the enlarged end portion defines a second flat surface portion spaced apart from the first flat surface portion by a spacing greater than a diameter of the cylindrical body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 2  including third and fourth flat surface portion spaced apart from each other, rotationally offset from the first and second flat surface portions, and linearly offset along the length of the pivot pin from the first and second flat surface portions. 
     
     
         16 . A pivot pin for a firearm having a frame comprising:
 a first elongated cylindrical portion adapted to receive a pivoting firearm part;   the elongated cylindrical portion defining a pin axis;   the pin having a first retention portion adjacent to the elongated cylindrical portion;   the retention portion having a first surface portion adapted for engagement by a retention element connected to the frame;   the first surface portion being non-concentric with the pin axis such that the pin is prevented from rotating about the pin axis with respect to the frame;   the pin having a second cylindrical portion adapted to be received in an aperture defined by the frame; and   the first retention portion being positioned between the first and second cylindrical portions.   
     
     
         17 . The pivot pin of  claim 16  wherein the first surface portion is a flat surface. 
     
     
         18 . The pivot pin of  claim 16  wherein the pivot pin has an enlarged end portion adjacent to the second cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         19 . The pivot pin of  claim 16  including a second retention portion between the first and second cylindrical portions, the second retention portion having a second surface portion being non-concentric with the pin axis, the second retention portion having a different location along the length of the pin from the first retention portion. 
     
     
         20 . The pivot pin of  claim 19  wherein the second surface portion is angularly offset from the first surface portion.