Bolt catch engagement/magazine release system

Abstract

A firearm has a first side, a second side, a forward section with a barrel, and a rearward section with a stock. The firearm has a central section with an actuation button on the first side and a bolt catch and bolt catch linkage on the second side. A magazine and magazine release are between the actuation button and the bolt catch linkage. An actuation pin extends through the central section from the actuation button to both the bolt catch linkage and the magazine release. A coil spring urges the actuation button outwardly to an inoperative extended orientation. The actuation button is adapted to be depressed for both releasing the magazine and engaging the bolt catch.

Claims

1. A bolt catch engagement/magazine releasing system comprising: a firearm having a first side and a second side and a forward section with a barrel and a rearward section with a stock, the firearm having a bolt catch and a magazine, the firearm having a central section with an actuation button on the first side and bolt catch linkage on the second side and with a magazine release there between; an actuation pin extending through the central section from the actuation button to both the bolt catch linkage and the magazine release, a coil spring urging the actuation button outwardly to an inoperative extended orientation, the actuation button adapted to be depressed for both releasing the magazine and engaging the bolt catch.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the firearm is a rifle.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including a bolt catch linkage having a shiftable component and a pivotable component, the shiftable component having a lower element extending horizontally with a forward end coupled to the shiftable pin and a rearward end and a central region, the shiftable component also having an upper element extending horizontally, the shiftable component also having a middle element extending vertically between the upper element and the central region of the lower element, the pivotable component having an L-shaped link, the L-shaped link having an input leg and an output leg and a pivot pin there between, the input leg in response to pressing the actuation button adapted to be contacted by the upper element and move downwardly to thereby pivot the output leg downwardly away from the bolt catch to engage the bolt catch.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including a secondary button positioned on the left side of the firearm, the side opposite from the actuation button, the actuation button being more readily accessible to a right handed shooter, the secondary button being more accessible to a left handed shooter, the system thus being considered an ambidextrous system, a pivot pin operatively coupling the secondary button to the bottom of the middle element whereby pressing the secondary button pulls the actuation pin as if the actuation button were depressed.

5. The system (100) as set forth in claim 1 and further including: a bolt catch linkage (126) having a shiftable component (138) and a pivotable component (140), the shiftable component having a lower element (142) extending horizontally with a forward end (144) coupled to the shiftable pin (132) and a rearward end and a central region there between, the shiftable component also having an upper element (150) extending horizontally, the shiftable component also having a middle element (152) extending vertically between the upper element and the central region of the lower element, the pivotable component (140) having an L-shaped link adapted to move the output leg downwardly away from the bolt catch to engage the bolt catch.

6. A rifle (10) with a bolt catch engagement/magazine releasing system (12), both releasing a magazine 14 and engaging a bolt catch (16) being done with a single movement, the system comprising, in combination: a rifle having a forward section (18) with a barrel and a rearward section (20) with a stock, the rifle having a bolt catch and a magazine, the rifle having a central section (22) with an actuation button (25) on the right side and bolt catch linkage (26) on the left side and with a magazine release (28) there between; an actuation pin (32) extending through the central section from the actuation button to both the bolt catch linkage and the magazine release, a spacer (24) and a coil spring (34) on the actuation pin urging the actuation button outwardly to an inoperative extended orientation, the actuation button adapted to be depressed for both releasing the magazine and engaging the bolt catch; the bolt catch linkage (26) having a shiftable component (38) and a pivotable component (40), the shiftable component having a lower element (42) extending horizontally with a forward end (44) coupled to the shiftable pin and a rearward end (46) and a central region there between, the shiftable component also having an upper element (50) extending horizontally, the shiftable component also having a middle element (52) extending vertically between the upper element and the central region of the lower element, the pivotable component (40) having an L-shaped link (56), the L-shaped link having an input leg (58) and an output leg (60) and a pivot pin (62) there between, the input leg in response to pressing the actuation button adapted to be contacted by the upper element and move downwardly to thereby pivot the output leg downwardly away from the bolt catch to engage the bolt catch; and a secondary button (64) positioned on the left side of the firearm, the side opposite from the actuation button (25), the actuation button being more readily accessible to a right-handed shooter, the secondary button being more accessible to a left-handed shooter, the system thus being an ambidextrous system, a pivot pin (66) operatively coupling the secondary button to the bottom of the middle element (52) whereby pressing the secondary button pulls the actuation pin (32) as if the actuation button (25) were depressed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of a rifle with a bolt catch engagement/magazine release system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged left side elevational view of the receiver with its bolt catch shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged right side elevational view of the receiver with its magazine release shown in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the shiftable linkage for the bolt catch.

(7) FIG. 6 is a plan view of the shiftable linkage for the bolt catch taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is an exploded plan view of the shiftable linkage for the bolt catch taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

(9) FIG. 8 is an enlarged showing of the secondary button and pivot pin illustrated in FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 9 is an enlarged left side elevational view of the receiver similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention with the secondary button removed.

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged showing of the shiftable component utilized in the FIG. 9 embodiment.

(12) FIG. 11 is an enlarged showing of the bolt catch linkage of FIGS. 9 and 10.

(13) The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(14) With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved bolt catch engagement/magazine release system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

(15) The present invention, the bolt catch engagement/magazine release system 10 is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a firearm and an actuation pin. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

(16) A rifle 10 with a bolt catch engagement/magazine releasing system 12 is provided. Both releasing a magazine 14 and engaging a bolt catch 16 are done with a single movement. The single movement with the releasing and the engagement is done in a safe, convenient, and convenient manner.

(17) First provided in the preferred embodiment is the rifle 10. The rifle has a forward section 18 with a barrel and a rearward section 20 with a stock. The rifle has a central section 22 with an actuation button 25 on the right side and bolt catch linkage 26 on the left side. A magazine release 28 is between the actuation button and the bolt catch linkage.

(18) Next provided is an actuation pin 32 extending through the central section from the actuation button to both the bolt catch linkage and the magazine release. A spacer 24 and a coil spring 34 urges the actuation button outwardly to an inoperative extended orientation. The actuation button is adapted to be depressed for both releasing the magazine and engaging the bolt catch.

(19) A bolt catch and bolt catch linkage 26 are provided next. The bolt catch linkage has a shiftable component 38 and a pivotable component 40. The shiftable component has a lower element 42 extending horizontally with a forward end 44 coupled to the shiftable pin. The lower element also has a rearward end 46. The lower element has a central region 38, the shiftable component, between the forward end and the rearward end. The shiftable component also has an upper element 50 extending horizontally. The shiftable component also has a middle element 52 extending vertically between the upper element and the central region of the lower element. The pivotable component 40 has an L-shaped link 56. The L-shaped link has an input leg 58 and an output leg 60 with a pivot pin 62 there between. The input leg in response to pressing the actuation button is adapted to be contacted by the upper element and move downwardly to thereby pivot the output leg downwardly away from the bolt catch to engage the bolt catch.

(20) Lastly, a secondary button 64 is provided. The secondary button is positioned on the left side of the firearm, the side opposite from the actuation button 24. The actuation button is more readily accessible to a right-handed shooters. The secondary button is more accessible to a left-handed shooter. The system may thus be considered an ambidextrous system. A pivote pin 66 operatively couples the secondary button to the bottom of the middle element 52. In this manner, pressing the secondary button pulls the actuation pin 32 as if the actuation button 24 were depressed.

(21) Reference is now made to the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 9-11. This embodiment is with a bolt catch linkage devoid of a secondary button, but with a bolt catch linkage interchangeable with a bolt catch linkage of the primary embodiment having a secondary button. In this embodiment of the system 100, included is a bolt catch linkage 126 having a shiftable component 138 and a pivotable component 140. The shiftable component has a lower element 142 extending horizontally with a forward end 144 coupled to the shiftable pin 132. The shiftable component also has a rearward end and a central region between the forward end and the rearward end. The shiftable component also has an upper element 150 extending horizontally. The shiftable component also has a middle element 152 extending vertically between the upper element and the central region of the lower element. The pivotable component 140 has an L-shaped link adapted to move the output leg downwardly away from the bolt catch to engage the bolt catch.

(22) As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

(23) With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(24) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.