Electronic trigger assemblies, systems, lower receivers and firearms including the same

Abstract

An electronic trigger assembly for a firearm includes a firearm control mechanism, a safety actuator and a firing actuator. The firing control mechanism is configured to operate in a safe mode or a shot mode. The safety actuator is configured to actuate a safety rod linearly in a first direction to switch the firing control mechanism between the safe mode and the shot mode. The firing actuator is configured to actuate a firing plunger linearly in a second direction to actuate the firing control mechanism in the shot mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic trigger assembly for a firearm, the electronic trigger assembly comprising:
 a firing control mechanism configured to operate in a safe mode or a shot mode;   a safety actuator configured to actuate a safety rod linearly in a first direction to switch the firing control mechanism between the safe mode and the shot mode; and   a firing actuator configured to actuate a firing plunger linearly in a second direction to actuate the firing control mechanism in the shot mode.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic trigger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the safety actuator is configured to actuate the safety rod in response to an electrical signal. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the safety actuator comprises:
 a safety solenoid configured to actuate the safety rod in response to an electrical signal.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the safety solenoid is a linear pull-type solenoid configured to push the safety rod in the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the safety rod comprises:
 a safety plunger portion,   an operational rod portion, and   a solenoid plunger portion having a backplate portion, wherein
 the safety plunger portion, the operational rod portion and the solenoid plunger portion are arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction of the safety rod, and 
 the solenoid plunger portion is configured to function as a moveable plunger of the safety solenoid. 
   
     
     
         7 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 6 , wherein
 the firing control mechanism includes a trigger and sear assembly and a disconnector, the disconnector being secured in a groove of a trigger frame by a trigger pin, and the trigger and sear assembly configured to move in the second direction and rotate about the trigger pin, and   in the safe mode, the safety plunger portion is positioned to prevent movement of the trigger and sear assembly in the second direction.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the firing actuator is configured to actuate the firing plunger in response to an electrical signal. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the firing actuator comprises:
 a firing solenoid configured to actuate the firing plunger in response to an electrical signal.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the firing solenoid is a linear push-type solenoid. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the firing control mechanism does not include one or more of a trigger bow or a thumb paddle for a safety mechanism of the firearm. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the firing control mechanism includes a trigger and sear assembly and a disconnector, the disconnector being secured in a groove of a trigger frame by a trigger pin, and the trigger and sear assembly configured to rotate about the trigger pin,   a surface of the firing plunger contacts a surface of the trigger and sear assembly, and   the firing actuator is configured to actuate the firing plunger linearly in the second direction to rotate the trigger and sear assembly to actuate the firing control mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . An electronic trigger system comprising:
 the electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 ; and   control circuitry configured to output electrical signals to control the safety actuator and the firing actuator.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic trigger system of  claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the safety actuator and the firing actuator based on wired or wireless signals from a remote control device. 
     
     
         15 . A lower receiver for a firearm, the lower receiver comprising:
 a housing; and   the electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the firing control mechanism is arranged within the housing, 
 the safety actuator is fixed to a lateral side of the housing, and 
 the firing actuator is fixed to a lower surface of the housing. 
   
     
     
         16 . A lower receiver for a firearm, the lower receiver comprising:
 a housing;   a firing control mechanism arranged within the housing, the firing control mechanism configured to operate in a safe mode or a shot mode;   a safety rod assembly arranged at least partially within the housing, the safety rod assembly including a safety rod and a safety spring, the safety rod extending across the housing of the lower receiver and the safety spring arranged between an end of the safety rod and a sidewall of the housing;   a safety actuator configured to actuate the safety rod in a first direction against the bias of the safety spring to switch the firing control mechanism from the safe mode to the shot mode; and   a firing actuator configured to actuate a firing plunger linearly in a second direction to actuate the firing control mechanism in the shot mode.   
     
     
         17 . The lower receiver of  claim 16 , wherein
 the safety actuator is fixed to a lateral side of the housing, and   the firing actuator is fixed to a lower surface of the housing.   
     
     
         18 . The lower receiver of  claim 16 , wherein the safety actuator is configured to actuate the safety rod in response to an electrical signal. 
     
     
         19 . The lower receiver of  claim 18 , wherein the safety actuator comprises:
 a safety solenoid configured to actuate the safety rod in response to the electrical signal.   
     
     
         20 . The lower receiver of  claim 19 , wherein the safety rod comprises:
 a safety plunger portion,   an operational rod portion, and   a solenoid plunger portion having a backplate portion, wherein
 the safety plunger portion, the operational rod portion and the solenoid plunger portion are arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction of the safety rod, and 
 the solenoid plunger portion is configured to function as a moveable plunger of the safety solenoid. 
   
     
     
         21 . The lower receiver of  claim 20 , wherein
 the firing control mechanism includes a trigger and sear assembly and a disconnector, the disconnector being secured in a groove of a trigger frame by a trigger pin, and the trigger and sear assembly being configured to move in the second direction and rotate about the trigger pin, and   in the safe mode, the safety plunger portion is positioned to prevent movement of the trigger and sear assembly in the second direction.   
     
     
         22 . The lower receiver of  claim 16 , wherein the firing actuator is configured to actuate the firing plunger in response to an electrical signal. 
     
     
         23 . The lower receiver of  claim 22 , wherein the firing actuator comprises:
 a firing solenoid configured to actuate the firing plunger in response to the electrical signal.   
     
     
         24 . The lower receiver of  claim 16 , wherein the firing control mechanism does not include one or more of a trigger bow or a thumb paddle for a safety mechanism of the firearm. 
     
     
         25 . The lower receiver of  claim 16 , wherein
 the firing control mechanism includes a trigger and sear assembly and a disconnector, the disconnector being secured in a groove of a trigger frame by a trigger pin, and the trigger and sear assembly being configured to rotate about the trigger pin,   a surface of the firing plunger contacts a surface of the trigger and sear assembly, and   the firing actuator is configured to actuate the firing plunger linearly in the second direction to rotate the trigger and sear assembly to actuate the firing control mechanism.   
     
     
         26 . A firearm comprising:
 a lower receiver including the electronic trigger assembly of  claim 1 ;   an upper receiver attached to the lower receiver; and   a barrel attached to the upper receiver.   
     
     
         27 . The firearm of  claim 26 , wherein
 the lower receiver includes a housing,   the firing control mechanism is arranged within the housing,   the safety actuator is fixed to a lateral side of the housing, and   the firing actuator is fixed to a lower surface of the housing.   
     
     
         28 . The firearm of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the safety actuator and the firing actuator is configured to be actuated in response to one or more electrical signals. 
     
     
         29 . The firearm of  claim 26 , wherein the firing control mechanism does not include one or more of a trigger bow or a thumb paddle for a safety mechanism of the firearm. 
     
     
         30 . A firearm comprising:
 the lower receiver of  claim 16 ;   an upper receiver attached to the lower receiver; and   a barrel attached to the upper receiver.