Firearm trigger mechanism

Abstract

A trigger mechanism that can be used in AR-pattern firearms has a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a locking member, and a 'three position' safety selector having safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions. In the standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer such that the disconnector hook catches the hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release the trigger member to free the hammer from the disconnector to permit the hammer and trigger member to pivot to the set positions so that the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm. In the forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer causing the trigger member to be forced to the set position, the safety selector preventing the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing the trigger member. The locking member is pivotable between a first position at which the locking member mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to the released position and a second position at which the locking member does not mechanically block the trigger member allowing the trigger member to be moved to the released position. The locking member is spring biased toward the first position and moved against the spring bias to the second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position.