US 9151557

Analysis of U.S. Patent 9,151,557

Title: Automatic sear assembly for a rifle

Assignee: Sig Sauer Inc.

Inventors: William C. Daley, Jr.

Filing Date: May 13, 2014

Issue Date: October 6, 2015

Abstract:
An automatic sear assembly for providing a large-bore rifle with full-automatic firing and/or burst firing capabilities is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed assembly includes an automatic sear operatively configured with a sear lever which is provided with bidirectional articulation for selectively imparting torque on the automatic sear to cause tripping thereof. For example, the disclosed assembly can be configured such that rotational deflection of the sear lever away from the automatic sear imparts no rotation thereto, whereas rotational deflection of the sear lever toward the automatic sear imparts rotation thereto. Thus, and in accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed sear assembly can be used in a rifle, for example, to utilize the force of a moving bolt carrier during a given firing cycle to initiate a subsequent firing cycle without need to release and once again operate the trigger of the rifle.

Independent Claims in Plain Language:

U.S. Patent 9,151,557 has three independent claims. Here is a simplified explanation of each:

• Claim 1: Describes an automatic sear assembly for a rifle that includes an automatic sear, a sear lever, a first spring, and a second spring, all of which share a common rotational axis. The first spring keeps the sear lever in contact with the automatic sear. The second spring connects to the rifle's safe/fire selector switch. When the sear lever is rotationally deflected in one direction, it moves away from the automatic sear without causing it to rotate. When deflected in the other direction, it causes the automatic sear to rotate and engage with the hammer, thus firing the rifle.

• Claim 16: This claim details an automatic sear assembly with a rotationally mounted automatic sear and a sear lever that can rotate independently around the same axis. The sear lever is longer than the actuating portion of the automatic sear. A first spring pushes the sear lever against the automatic sear, and a second spring provides an angular bias to the automatic sear and is connected to the safe/fire selector switch.

• Claim 20: This claim outlines a more specific version of the automatic sear assembly. It includes an automatic sear, a sear lever, a helical torsion spring (the first spring), and a helical double-torsion spring (the second spring), all sharing a rotational axis. It also describes a bushing with a slot and a pin with a groove that are used to mount the assembly and interact with the second spring. This assembly allows for rotational deflection of the sear lever to either move away from the automatic sear or cause it to engage with the hammer for firing.

A search of the CAFC dockets for 2026 did not reveal any litigation or appeals related to this patent.

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Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For a complete understanding of the patent, please refer to the full patent document.