U.S. patent application number 11/008317 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for ambidextrous magazine catch for firearms.
Invention is credited to Robert Hudson Garrett, Sandy Alexander JR. Garrett.
Application Number | 20060123683 11/008317 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36582165 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060123683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Garrett; Robert Hudson ; et
al. |
June 15, 2006 |
Ambidextrous magazine catch for firearms
Abstract
The present invention relates to a retaining and release
mechanism for the magazines of automatic and/or semi-automatic
firearms, in particular to a type of magazine which is provided
with a lateral securing slot. A tooth (52) of lever (54) is
designed to engage lateral securing slot (34) of magazine (30).
Said lever (54) is pivotally connected to a shaft (36), located
transversely in body (16) of the firearm, by means of a pin (58)
and attached at its opposite end to an operating push button (44).
A lever seat (60) of said lever (54) is urged towards said body
(16) of the firearm and firmly abuts a seat (50) of a magazine
catch slot (28) by energy exerted through a spring (42) against
said operating push button (44) and a spring cavity (74). The tooth
(52) can be disengaged from lateral securing slot (34) by
depressing either operating push button (44) or a depression
extension (66) of said lever (54). The magazine (30) can thus be
released from both sides of the rifle.
Inventors: |
Garrett; Robert Hudson;
(Manassas, VA) ; Garrett; Sandy Alexander JR.;
(Manassas, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert H. Garrett
7518 K Fullerton Road
Springfield
VA
22153
US
|
Family ID: |
36582165 |
Appl. No.: |
11/008317 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 35/06 20130101;
F41A 17/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/006 |
International
Class: |
F41A 35/06 20060101
F41A035/06 |
Claims
1. An ambidextrous magazine release and retaining mechanism for use
with a gun, comprising: a rod having first and second ends
transversely and slidably mounted within the gun; a spring for
biasing the rod towards the first end thereof; a pushbutton
connected to the first end of the rod for pushing the rod against
the bias of the spring; a lever pivotally connected to the second
end of the rod; said lever having first and second ends; the first
end of the lever for engaging with the magazine and the second end
of the lever including a pressing surface which when pressed
towards the gun moves the first end of the lever away from the
magazine, the pressing surface of the second end of the lever
disposed exterior to the gun and directly pressable by a user.
2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rod and lever are
arranged such that when the push button is pressed towards the gun,
the lever moves away from the gun without the lever pivoting.
3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the lever has a
rounded surface on the first end thereof, the rounded surface
facing away from the gun.
4. A gun having an ambidextrous magazine release and retaining
mechanism, comprising: a gun body for accepting a magazine; a rod
having first and second ends transversely and slidably mounted
within the gun; a spring for biasing the rod towards the first end
thereof; a pushbutton connected to the first end of the rod for
pushing the rod against the bias of the spring; a lever pivotally
connected to the second end of the rod; said lever having first and
second ends; the first end of the lever for engaging with the
magazine and the second end of the lever including a pressing
surface which when pressed towards the gun moves the first end of
the lever away from the magazine, the pressing surface of the
second end of the lever disposed exterior to the gun and directly
pressable by a user.
5. A gun according to claim 4, wherein the rod and lever are
arranged such that when the push button is pressed towards the gun,
the lever moves away from the gun without the lever pivoting.
6. A gun according to claim 4, wherein: the lever has a rounded
surface on the first end thereof, the rounded surface facing away
from the gun.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to improvements of mechanisms
used to retain or release magazines of automatic and/or
semi-automatic firearms.
[0003] The use of a catch or latch to retain and/or release a
magazine with a lateral securing slot in automatic and/or
semi-automatic firearms, such as the "standard NATO 5.56 mm", is
known. Many firearms already incorporate the use of a hook or catch
which operates in a recess allowing for its engagement into the
magazine thereby securing the magazine in the firearm.
[0004] The hook or catch is typically attached to a rod or shaft
which is guided transversely through the body of the weapon and
secured to a push-button. A spring, located around the shaft, is
used to hold an engagement tooth of the hook in a position that
secures the magazine. Depressing of the push-button towards the
body of the rifle forces the hook or catch away from the lateral
securing slot, releasing the magazine from the firearm. This
push-button is usually located on the right side of the firearm and
is, in some circumstances, difficult to operate by "left-handed"
shooters.
[0005] There are several accepted methods of removal and
replacement of magazines. The "European Method" stresses the need
to maintain the expended magazine on one's person. European
firearms have a magazine release that is located conveniently close
to the magazine well. The "European" soldier, therefore, is trained
to cradle the weapon with his "non-firing" hand, remove his
"firing-hand" from the pistol grip, place his "firing-hand" around
the magazine body and use the thumb of the "firing-hand" to actuate
a magazine release button. The soldier then places the spent
magazine in a magazine pouch and uses this same "firing-hand" to
retrieve a loaded magazine. The "firing-hand" is again used to
insert the loaded magazine into the weapon. Then, the "firing-hand"
is placed back on the pistol grip, the bolt is released and the
soldier is free to re-acquire and engage targets.
[0006] The "American Method" stresses the importance of speed
during a magazine change. The M16 and AR-15 rifles are provided
with a magazine release that is situated so that the soldier can
readily depress it with the index finger of his "firing-hand" while
in its normal position on the pistol grip. In this manner, the
soldier has the ability to release a magazine with the index finger
of his "firing-hand", allowing the spent magazine to fall away,
while simultaneously retrieving a loaded magazine with his
"non-firing" hand. This "non-firing" hand inserts the loaded
magazine, releases the bolt and the shooter need only move his
index finger back to the trigger to re-engage targets. It is
obvious that this method of changing a magazine requires much less
time to execute than the "European Method" described above.
[0007] Both of the methods described above were developed for a
"right-handed" shooter firing a weapon designed for a
"right-handed" shooter. The "left-handed" shooter, using a firearm
designed for a "right-handed" shooter, must use his "non-firing"
hand to change magazines while his "firing-hand" is maintained on
the pistol grip. In doing so, he must first depress the existing
magazine release with the thumb of his "non-firing" hand and remove
the spent magazine before he can use the same "non-firing" hand to
retrieve and insert a loaded magazine. As you can see, the
"American Method" for the "right-handed" shooter is, again, much
more expedient. It is, therefore, important to provide a firearm
with a magazine release mechanism that is operable in a like manner
for both "left-handed" and "right-handed" shooters. This
ambidextrous release mechanism must also be constructed so that it
is easily depressed by the index finger of the "firing-hand" while
in its normal position on the pistol grip.
[0008] The need for an ambidextrous magazine release is not limited
to the "left-handed" shooter alone. Often times, in a combat
situation, a soldier is forced to switch from his dominant shooting
posture to take advantage of cover and concealment. The act of
changing a magazine in this less familiar posture can cost the
soldier valuable time when trying to reload his weapon.
[0009] An injury sustained by a soldier could also change his
dominant shooting posture. The loss of a dominant eye or digits of
his "firing-hand" may force him to use a weaker position. A wounded
hand could still be used to steady the weapon and perform the less
complicated task of replacing a magazine.
[0010] When a shooter uses a sling to better stabilize his
position, the "non-firing" hand is physically "bound" to the
forearm by the sling. The "right-handed" shooter must use his
"firing-hand" to remove and replace an expended magazine. The
"left-handed" shooter, using a firearm designed for a
"right-handed" shooter, is forced to assume an extremely awkward
position, often times having to reach over the entire weapon to
release and remove a spent magazine. This excess movement takes
valuable time and reduces the "left-handed" shooter's ability to
re-engage targets at the same speed as his "right-handed"
counterpart.
[0011] It should be clear to the reader that an ambidextrous
magazine release mechanism must not only be easily accessible by
the index finger of either "firing" hand while that "firing-hand"
is maintained on the pistol grip, but it must also be equally
accessible to the thumb of the "firing" or "non-firing" hand that
is used to both remove and replace a magazine.
[0012] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0013] Inventors have created several types of ambidextrous
magazine release/retaining mechanisms to enable "left-handed"
shooters to use the same firearm as "right-handed" shooters.
[0014] One invention, U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,479 to Johnson, seeks to
provide rifles, like the Heckler and Koch Models 91 and 93, with a
mechanism that enables a "right-handed" shooter to release and
remove a magazine with the "non-firing" hand. A pivotal assembly,
with a depressable extension, is attached to the transversely
located shaft of the existing magazine release. When depressed, the
pivotal assembly "cams" against an inside "stamped metal" wall of
the firearm, causing the shaft to move in the direction necessary
to disengage the hook from the lateral securing slot of the
magazine. The extension is designed to be depressed with the thumb
of the "non-firing" hand while it is positioned around the
magazine. This requires the extension to be located conveniently
close to the magazine well. The operation of this invention depends
on the extension being located behind the magazine and under the
firearm. A "left-handed" shooter can change magazines in a similar
manner. The "left-handed" shooter simply depresses the existing
operating push button, located near the magazine well, with the
thumb of his "non-firing" hand. This invention does provide an
ambidextrous means of magazine removal. It still fails, however, to
provide the shooter access to the magazine release with the index
finger of the "firing-hand" while in its normal position on the
pistol grip. The shooter is still required to use his "non-firing"
hand to remove and secure the magazine before he can use the same
"non-firing hand" to retrieve and install the fresh magazine into
the firearm. It is obviously faster to release the magazine with
the finger of the "firing-hand", allowing the magazine to fall
away, while simultaneously retrieving and installing a loaded
magazine with the "non-firing" hand. As stated, this invention
requires a portion of the assembly to "pivot" against a inside wall
of a "stamped metal" body. Since the majority of the firearms using
the "standard NATO 5.56 mm" magazine are machined from a block of
aluminum alloy, it is clear that there is no cavity in which to
house or operate this invention. The installation or
"retro-fitting" of this assembly would be complicated, requiring
tools and a limited amount of expertise.
[0015] Another invention, U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,134 to Beretta, was
designed to enable a "right-handed" shooter to release a magazine
when a buttstock is folded against the body of a receiver, blocking
a "right-hand" biased magazine release button. A rocking lever,
located on the left side of the firearm, is pivotally connected to
the magazine catch. When a pressable portion, located on the
forward end of the rocking lever, is depressed, the assembly "cams"
against the body of the firearm lifting the catch away from the
magazine. The major disadvantage of this mechanism is the location
of the pressable portion forward and away from the pistol grip.
This configuration cannot be operated by the index finger of the
"firing-hand" while in its normal position on the pistol grip. As
previously discussed, the shooter must be able to depress the
magazine release with the index finger of his "firing-hand", while
in its normal position on the pistol grip, in order to execute the
fastest possible magazine change. The lever is not protected and is
susceptible to accidental release by laying the firearm on its side
or by being struck with equipment that is worn by a soldier.
Another disadvantage of the forward location of the lever is that
it creates a "fork" which will be prone to snagging by foliage and
equipment.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,954 discloses an invention which
addresses the shortcomings of the patents previously discussed. The
self-contained assembly uses a second spring to apply force to the
engagement tooth of a lever and incorporates several "bosses" and a
low profile to reduce the possibility of accidental release of the
magazine. The only shortcoming of this design is that it may not
readily adapt to a few of the weapon designs that use stamped metal
construction of the receiver in which the standard magazine catch
operates.
[0017] Advances in metallurgy and coatings of weapons has reduced
the possibility of wear from an ambidextrous magazine release
assembly that "cams" on the outer surface of the weapon. Some
weapons that are constructed of stamped metal also incorporate a
folding stock to reduce he weapon's overall length for close
quarters battle. These designs still require some type of
ambidextrous magazine release for the reasons previously
discussed.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0018] Accordingly, one of the objects of my ambidextrous magazine
release mechanism is to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above
and to provide a mechanism that can be easily manipulated by
"left-handed" or "right-handed" shooters employing all of the
methods of changing a magazine previously discussed. Another object
of the invention is to provide an improved magazine retaining and
release mechanism that is readily adaptable to existing assemblies
without the need for alteration of the firearm. My invention's
"simplified" design makes installation quick and easy, requiring
only a simple tool and no expertise. Yet another object of my
invention is to provide an ambidextrous release that "cams" on the
outer surface of the weapon but provides access to the shooter's
trigger finger while the firing hand is placed around the pistol
grip. The location of the depression portion of my invention is
located to the rear making it less susceptible to snagging by
foliage and battlefield obstacles. The design is such that the
pivot location acts to reduce the possibility of accidental release
much like the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,954.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention will now be described further by way
of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of a rifle;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross-section view taken
along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing my magazine release engaged with
a magazine;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a similar partial longitudinal cross-section view
taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the
magazine is released by pushing on an operating push-button;
[0023] FIG. 4 is another partial longitudinal cross-section view
taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the
magazine is released by depressing an extension of my magazine
release.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.
1, showing my magazine release with the lever "at rest";
[0025] FIG. 6 is a similar sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
FIG. 1, showing my magazine release with the extension of the lever
"depressed";
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
[0026] 16 body [0027] 18 buttstock [0028] 20 pistol grip [0029] 22
trigger [0030] 24 magazine well [0031] 26 alignment recess [0032]
28 magazine catch slot [0033] 30 magazine [0034] 32 cavity [0035]
34 lateral securing slot [0036] 36 shaft [0037] 38 cam edge [0038]
40 orifice [0039] 42 spring [0040] 44 operating push button [0041]
46 threaded portion [0042] 48 threaded hole [0043] 50 seat [0044]
52 tooth [0045] 54 lever [0046] 56 engagement stop [0047] 58 pin
[0048] 60 lever seat [0049] 66 depression extension [0050] 68 pivot
stop [0051] 72 elongated recess [0052] 74 spring cavity [0053] 75
bevel [0054] 76a feed lip (left) [0055] 76b feed lip (right)
Description of the Preferred Embodiment--FIG. 1
[0056] In FIG. 1 a lower receiver or body 16 of an automatic or
semi-automatic rifle is shown including a buttstock 18, a pistol
grip 20, a trigger 22, and a magazine well 24. Within magazine well
24 is an alignment recess 26 and an adjacent magazine catch slot
28. A magazine 30 is inserted into magazine well 24. When magazine
30 is fully seated in magazine well 24, a lateral securing slot 34
coincides with magazine catch slot 28. A shaft or rod 36, which is
pivotally attached to lever 54 by means of a pin 58, is guided
transversely through an orifice 40, a spring 42, and is connected
to an operating push button 44 by means of a threaded portion 46
which is screwed into a threaded hole 48 extending through
operating push button 44. Spring 42, acting against operating push
button 44 and spring cavity 74, urges lever 54 towards body 16
within magazine catch slot 28. Lever seat 60 of lever 54 comes to
rest on a seat 50 allowing for the engagement of a tooth 52, of
lever 54, with lateral securing slot 34 (not shown) of magazine 30.
A pair of feeding lips 76a and 76b are formed in the construction
of magazine 30. The outer radius of feeding lip 76a contacts a
bevel 75 of tooth 52 allowing tooth 52 to "ride-over" magazine 30
pushing tooth 52 out of magazine well 24 when magazine 30 is
inserted into magazine well 24. Tooth 52 slides along the outside
of magazine 30 until lateral securing slot 34 coincides with
magazine catch slot 28. Energy from spring 42 acts against
operating push button 44, which is connected to shaft 36 by
threaded portion 46 and threaded hole 48, and spring cavity 74
pulling shaft 36 which firmly seats lever seat 60 against seat 50
of magazine catch slot 28 urging tooth 52 of lever 54 into the
aligned lateral securing slot 34 of magazine 30.
[0057] FIG. 1 shows clearly a spring cavity 74 for alignment of
spring 42. An elongated recess 72 allows for sufficient depression
of operating push button 44 into body 16 to accommodate the
rotation of lever 54 when connecting threaded portion 46 of shaft
36 to threaded hole 48 of operating push button 44 (this connection
could also be achieved by pinning shaft 36 to operating push button
44). When a sufficient number of rotations of lever 54 are achieved
to completely engage threaded portion 46 within threaded hole 48,
lever 54 is aligned with magazine catch slot 28 and operating push
button 44 is released. The elongated shape of recess 72 also acts
to restrict radial movement and rotation of operating push button
44 eliminating the need for hardware to fix operating push button
44 to shaft 36.
Operation--FIGS. 2-4
[0058] In FIG. 2 (rest position) lever 54 is shown with lever seat
60 firmly contacting seat 50 of magazine catch slot 28 with tooth
52 positively engaging magazine catch slot 34. Cam edge 38 is shown
disengaged. Cam edge 38 can be solid or skeletonized as depicted in
FIG. 1. Depression extension 66 is located to the rear allowing the
"left-handed" shooter to access it with the index finger of his
"firing-hand" while in its normal position on the pistol grip. The
existing operating push button 44 is already accessible to the
index finger of the "firing-hand", of a "right-handed" shooter,
while in its normal position on the pistol grip. The removal of
magazine 30 may be brought about by depressing either operating
push button 44 or depression extension 66. In the first case, it is
sufficient to press operating push button 44 in the direction of
arrow B in FIG. 3. In the second case, it is sufficient to depress
depression extension 66 in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 4. The
depression of depression extension 66 rocks lever 54 on cam edge 38
drawing tooth 52 out of engagement with magazine catch slot 34
drawing operating push button 44 into elongated recess 72 slightly
due to the pivotal connection of shaft 36 to lever 54. This camming
action can take place on the exterior of the weapon or within a
recess used to house an existing non-ambidextrous magazine
catch.
Internal Detail--FIGS. 5-6
[0059] FIG. 5 shows the minimum clearance necessary for function of
the assembly in which cavity 32 is provided for free movement of
shaft 36 during operation. At rest, engagement stop 56 abuts shaft
36 limiting engagement of tooth 52 and acts to "station" lever 54
so it can be drawn out of engagement with lateral securing slot 34
of magazine 30 when operating push button 44 is used to release the
magazine (primary method). FIG. 5 also shows a pivot stop 68 which
limits travel of lever 54 to eliminate the possibility of
depression extension 66 making contact with the outer surface of
the weapon. FIG. 6 shows lever 54 depressed and in contact with
pivot stop 68. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the pivotal end of shaft 36
radiused. The pivotal end could be simply beveled as long as there
is sufficient space provided by cavity 32 for operation. Impact to
lever 54 forward of depression extension 66 forces lever seat 60
against seat 50 of magazine catch slot 28 preventing tooth 52 of
lever 54 from disengaging from lateral securing slot 34 of magazine
30 holding magazine 30 securely in the weapon.
[0060] Thus the reader will see that my ambidextrous magazine
release can be easily operated from either side of a firearm by
both "right-handed" and "left handed" shooters, in a similar
manner. The reader will also note that my magazine release
incorporates design features that reduce the possibility of
accidental release of a magazine and snags from foliage and
equipment. My magazine release is readily adaptable to existing
firearms and enhances a "left-handed" or "right-handed" shooter's
ability to execute a magazine change.
[0061] While the description above contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred
embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible.
[0062] Accordingly, the scope of my invention should be determined
not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents.
Summary
[0063] It should, therefore, be clear to the reader that the
structure of my invention will enable "left-handed" and
"right-handed" shooters to release and retain magazines in the
fastest possible manner, by reducing the excess movements required
to change a magazine with existing release mechanisms. Furthermore,
the structure of my invention has additional advantages in that
[0064] it requires no special tools or expertise to install;
[0065] it is readily adaptable to a wide range of "NATO" firearms
currently in production;
[0066] the pressable portion is accessible by the index finger of
the "firing-hand" while in its normal position on the pistol grip,
for both "left-handed" and "right-handed" shooters;
[0067] it can also be manipulated by the thumb of the hand used to
remove the magazine;
[0068] it overcomes the disadvantages associated with the use of a
folding stock;
[0069] it provides a "left-handed" shooter, using a sling, with the
same ability to change magazines as his "right-handed"
counterpart;
[0070] it contains elements that protect the assembly from
accidental depression;
[0071] it incorporates design features that make the assembly less
prone to snagging from foliage and equipment.
* * * * *