Safety system for handguns

Abstract

There is disclosed a handgun intended for one-time use for launching a projectile. The gun is stored in a condition wherein a handle of the gun is folded to cover the trigger. A releasable locking member locks the handle in its folded position. In its folded position, the handle biases a pair of knobs inwardly to prevent actuation of the trigger, while a portion of the trigger engages the firing pin to prevent movement of the firing pin. In the stored condition of the handgun, the firing pin is uncocked and is unable to be moved into a cocked position. The locking member has a guide portion which is slidable within a bore containing the firing pin and its biasing spring. The guide portion acts as an abutment and a guide for the rear end of the spring. In one embodiment of the invention, the locking member is cammed inwardly by the handle as the handle is unfolded, to automatically cock the firing pin spring. In another embodiment of the invention, the spring is cocked during actuation of the trigger, with the firing pin being automatically released after a predetermined movement of the trigger. A separate safety member can be provided to secure the firing pin against cocking movement even when the handle is unfolded. This safety member can comprise a rotatable bolt which is held against rotation by the handle when the handle is in a folded position. Alternatively, this safety member can comprise a slide which is held by a leaf spring in its safety and released positions, and which can be cammed to its safety position by the handle if the handle is shifted from an unfolded to a folded position.