LEVER-ACTION FIREARM AND KIT FOR CONSTRUCTING THE SAME

Abstract

A receiver system comprises upper and lower receiver bodies, a lower receiver body, a bolt carrier, and an action-control lever. The upper receiver body is a semi-automatic firearm upper receiver body. The lower receiver body includes a stock mounting flange having a stock receptacle that is matingly engageable with a receiver engaging portion of a stock. The bolt carrier is slidably disposed within a bolt carrier receiving bore of the upper receiver body. The action-control lever has a hand loop and a first attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop. The first attachment arm is pivotably attached at a distal end thereof to the lower receiver body for being pivoted between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position relative to the lower receiver body. The action-control lever is attached to the bolt carrier through an articulating coupling assembly.

Claims

1. A firearm, comprising: a receiver body system including an upper receiver body, a lower receiver body detachably attached to the upper receiver body, and a trigger assembly mounted on the lower receiver body, wherein the upper receiver body is an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body having a bolt carrier receiving bore therein, and wherein the trigger assembly and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that a trigger of the trigger assembly is located under an accessory mounting flange of the lower receiver body; a bolt carrier slidably disposed within the bolt carrier receiving bore; a linkage member having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotably attached to the bolt carrier; and an action-control lever having a first attachment arm and a second attachment arm, wherein a proximate end portion of the first attachment arm is attached to a proximate end portion of the second attachment arm, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm is pivotably attached to the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position, wherein the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position, and wherein a distal end portion of the second attachment arm is attached to the second end portion of the linkage member.

2. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising: an accessory securement body engaged with the accessory mounting flange.

3. The firearm of claim 2 wherein: the accessory securement body has spaced-apart engagement shoulders; the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof; and the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.

4. The firearm of claim 2, further comprising: an accessory engaged attached to the accessory securement body and the accessory mounting flange.

5. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

6. The firearm of claim 5, further comprising: an accessory securement body engaged with the accessory mounting flange.

7. The firearm of claim 6, further comprising: an accessory engaged attached to the accessory securement body and the accessory mounting flange.

8. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising: an accessory fixedly attached to the lower receiver body; wherein the accessory includes a receiver engaging portion at an end thereof; and wherein the receiver engaging portion of the accessory is engaged with an accessory receptacle of the accessory mounting flange.

9. The firearm of claim 8, wherein: the accessory includes an attachment arm passage within a bottom surface of the receiver engaging portion; and the second attachment arm of the action-control lever extends through the attachment arm passage of the accessory and through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position.

10. A firearm, comprising: a receiver body system including an upper receiver body, a lower receiver body detachably attached to the upper receiver body, and a trigger assembly mounted on the lower receiver body, wherein the upper receiver body has a bolt carrier receiving bore therein, and wherein the trigger assembly and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that a trigger of the trigger assembly is located under an accessory mounting flange of the lower receiver body; a bolt carrier slidably disposed within the bolt carrier receiving bore; a bolt carried by the bolt carrier; a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt; a linkage member having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotably attached to the bolt carrier, wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein, and wherein a head of the firing pin is located below the hammer-receiving space; and an action-control lever having a first attachment arm and a second attachment arm, wherein a proximate end portion of the first attachment arm is attached to a proximate end portion of the second attachment arm, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm is pivotably attached to the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position, wherein the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position, and wherein a distal end portion of the second attachment arm is attached to the second end portion of the linkage member.

11. The firearm of claim 10 wherein the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member.

12. The firearm of claim 10, further comprising: an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange.

13. The firearm of claim 12, further comprising: an accessory engaged with the accessory securement body and the accessory mounting flange; wherein the accessory includes a receiver engaging portion at an end thereof; and wherein the receiver engaging portion of the accessory is engaged with the accessory mounting flange.

14. The firearm of claim 13 wherein the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

15. The firearm of claim 10 wherein: the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot axis about which the action-control lever pivots between the battery-ready position and the cartridge-ejecting position.

16. The firearm of claim 15 wherein the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member.

17. The firearm of claim 10 wherein: the upper receiver body is an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body; and the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

18. The firearm of claim 17 wherein the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member.

19. The firearm of claim 17, further comprising: an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange; wherein the accessory securement body has spaced-apart engagement shoulders; wherein the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof; and wherein the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.

20. The firearm of claim 17 wherein: the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot axis about which the action-control lever pivots between the battery-ready position and the cartridge-ejecting position.

21. A firearm, comprising: at least one receiver body, wherein the at least one receiver body includes a bolt carrier receiving bore and a trigger assembly, wherein the trigger assembly and the at least one receiver body are jointly configured such that a trigger of the trigger assembly is located under an accessory mounting flange of the at least one receiver body; a bolt carrier slidably disposed within the bolt carrier receiving bore; a linkage member having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotably attached to the bolt carrier, wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; and an action-control lever having a first attachment arm and a second attachment arm, wherein a proximate end portion of the first attachment arm is attached to a proximate end portion of the second attachment arm, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm is pivotably attached to the at least one receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position, wherein the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position, and wherein a distal end portion of the second attachment arm is attached to the second end portion of the linkage member.

22. The firearm of claim 21, further comprising: a bolt carried by the bolt carrier; and a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt; wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; and wherein a head of the firing pin is located below the hammer-receiving space.

23. The firearm of claim 22 wherein the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member.

24. The firearm of claim 21, further comprising: an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange.

25. The firearm of claim 24, further comprising: an accessory engaged with the accessory securement body and the accessory mounting flange; wherein the accessory includes a receiver engaging portion at an end thereof; and wherein the receiver engaging portion of the accessory is engaged with the accessory mounting flange.

26. The firearm of claim 21 wherein: the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot axis about which the action-control lever pivots between the battery-ready position and the cartridge-ejecting position.

27. The firearm of claim 26, further comprising: a bolt carried by the bolt carrier; a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt; wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; wherein a head of the firing pin is located below the hammer-receiving space; and wherein the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member.

28. The firearm of claim 21 wherein: the at least one receiver body includes an upper receiver body and a lower receiver body; the upper receiver body is an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body; the bolt carrier receiving bore is within the upper receiver body; the trigger assembly is integral with the lower receiver body; and the trigger assembly and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that a trigger of the trigger assembly is located under an accessory mounting flange of the lower receiver body.

29. The firearm of claim 28, further comprising: a bolt carried by the bolt carrier; and a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt; wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; wherein a head of the firing pin is located below the hammer-receiving space.

30. The firearm of claim 29, further comprising: an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange; wherein the accessory securement body has spaced-apart engagement shoulders; wherein the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof; and wherein the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.

31. A firearm, comprising: a receiver body system including an upper receiver body, a lower receiver body detachably attached to the upper receiver body, and a trigger assembly mounted on the lower receiver body, wherein the upper receiver body is an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body having a bolt carrier receiving bore therein, and wherein the trigger assembly and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that a trigger of the trigger assembly is located directly beneath an accessory mounting flange of the lower receiver body; a bolt carrier slidably disposed within the bolt carrier receiving bore; a linkage member having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotably attached to the bolt carrier; an action-control lever having a hand loop, a first attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, and a second attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm is pivotably attached to the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position, wherein the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position, and wherein a distal end portion of the second attachment arm is pivotably attached to the second end portion of the linkage member; and at least one of: an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange; and a bolt carried by the bolt carrier in combination with a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt.

32. The firearm of claim 31 wherein: the accessory includes a receiver engaging portion at an end thereof; and the receiver engaging portion of the accessory is engaged with the accessory mounting flange.

33. The firearm of claim 31 wherein the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

34. The firearm of claim 32 wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein.

35. The firearm of claim 34 wherein the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

36. The firearm of claim 34 wherein: the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment between the distal end portion thereof and the hand loop; the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot axis about which the action-control lever pivots between the battery-ready position and the cartridge-ejecting position.

37. The firearm of claim 36 wherein the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

38. The firearm of claim 37, further comprising: an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange.

39. The firearm of claim 38, further comprising: an accessory engaged with the accessory securement body; wherein the accessory includes a receiver engaging portion at an end thereof; and wherein the receiver engaging portion of the accessory is engaged with the accessory mounting flange.

40. A firearm, comprising: a receiver body system including an upper receiver body, a lower receiver body detachably attached to the upper receiver body, and a trigger assembly mounted on the lower receiver body, wherein the upper receiver body is an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body having a bolt carrier receiving bore therein, and wherein the trigger assembly and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that a trigger of the trigger assembly is located directly beneath an accessory mounting flange of the lower receiver body; a bolt carrier slidably disposed within the bolt carrier receiving bore; a linkage member having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotably attached to the bolt carrier and wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; an action-control lever having a hand loop, a first attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, and a second attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm is pivotably attached to the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position, wherein the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position, and wherein a distal end portion of the second attachment arm is pivotably attached to the second end portion of the linkage member; an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange; an accessory engaged with the accessory securement body and the accessory mounting flange; a bolt carried by the bolt carrier; and a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt, wherein a head of the firing pin is located below the hammer-receiving space.

41. The firearm of claim 40 wherein: the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof; and the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.

42. The firearm of claim 41 wherein: the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body; and the lower receiver includes a magazine well that defines a frontal end portion thereof.

43. The firearm of claim 41 wherein: the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment between the distal end portion thereof and the hand loop; the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot axis about which the action-control lever pivots between the battery-ready position and the cartridge-ejecting position.

44. The firearm of claim 43 wherein: the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body; and the lower receiver includes a magazine well that defines a frontal end portion thereof.

45. The firearm of claim 40 wherein: the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment between the distal end portion thereof and the hand loop; the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot axis about which the action-control lever pivots between the battery-ready position and the cartridge-ejecting position.

46. The firearm of claim 45 wherein: the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof, and the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.

47. A firearm, comprising: a receiver body system including an upper receiver body, a lower receiver body detachably attached to the upper receiver body, and a trigger assembly mounted on the lower receiver body, wherein the upper receiver body is an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body having a bolt carrier receiving bore therein, and wherein the trigger assembly and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that a trigger of the trigger assembly is located directly beneath an accessory mounting flange of the lower receiver body; a bolt carrier slidably disposed within the bolt carrier receiving bore; a linkage member having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotably attached to the bolt carrier; and an action-control lever having a hand loop, a first attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, and a second attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm is pivotably attached to the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position, wherein the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position, wherein a distal end portion of the second attachment arm is pivotably attached to the second end portion of the linkage member, wherein the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment between the distal end portion thereof and the hand loop, wherein the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis, and a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot axis about which the action-control lever pivots between the battery-ready position and the cartridge-ejecting position.

48. The firearm of claim 47, further comprising: an accessory securement body attached to the accessory mounting flange.

49. The firearm of claim 48, further comprising: an accessory engaged with the accessory securement body; wherein the accessory includes a receiver engaging portion at an end thereof; and wherein the receiver engaging portion of the accessory is engaged with the accessory mounting flange and the accessory securement body.

50. The firearm of claim 49 wherein the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

51. The firearm of claim 50, further comprising: a bolt carried by the bolt carrier; and a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt; wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein.

52. The firearm of claim 47, further comprising: a bolt carried by the bolt carrier; and a firing pin slidably disposed within a mating passage of the bolt; wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein.

53. The firearm of claim 52 wherein the lower receiver body has engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a side view of a lever-action rifle configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosures made herein, with an action-control lever thereof in a battery-ready position.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a first perspective view of the rifle of FIG. 1, with the action-control lever thereof in the battery-ready position.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a second perspective view of the rifle of FIG. 1, with the action-control lever thereof in the battery-ready position.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a third perspective view of the rifle of FIG. 1, with the action-control lever thereof in a cartridge-ejecting position.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a receiver system and accessory mounting components of the rifle of FIG. 1, with an action-control lever thereof in the battery-ready position.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a first perspective view showing aspects of a lower receiver body, carrier group, linkage member, action-control lever arm and trigger assembly of the rifle of FIG. 1, with an action-control lever thereof in the battery-ready position.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a second perspective view showing aspects of a lower receiver body, carrier group, linkage member, action-control lever arm and trigger assembly of the rifle of FIG. 1, with an action-control lever thereof in the battery-ready position.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a third perspective view showing aspects of a lower receiver body, carrier group, linkage member, action-control lever arm and trigger assembly of the rifle of FIG. 1, with the action-control lever thereof in the cartridge-ejecting position.

[0043] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the rifle of FIG. 1, with the action-control lever thereof in the cartridge-ejecting position.

[0044] FIG. 10 is a first perspective view showing the receiver system of the rifle of FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an upper receiver body of the receiver system shown in FIG. 10.

[0046] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a lower receiver body of the receiver system shown in FIG. 10.

[0047] FIG. 13 is a first perspective view showing the hand lever and a linkage member of the rifle of FIG. 1.

[0048] FIG. 14 is a second perspective view showing the hand lever and the linkage member of the rifle of FIG. 1.

[0049] FIG. 15 is a first perspective view showing an accessory securement body of the rifle of FIG. 1.

[0050] FIG. 16 is a second perspective view showing the accessory securement body of the rifle of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Drawing FIGS. 1-16 depict various structural and functional aspects of lever-action firearms in accordance with embodiments of the disclosures made. These structural and functional aspects are advantageous in that they overcome shortcomings associated with conventional lever-action firearms. Structural aspects of such firearms may include a receiver system characterized as having one or more of a bolt carrier group arrangement, a magazine arrangement, an ammunition feed arrangement, and a trigger assembly arrangement typical of a firearm (e.g., a rifle) capable of operating in semi-automatic mode, automatic mode, or both (e.g., AR-15 platform rifles, M16 platform carbines, and the like). Structural aspects of such firearms may also include a receiver system characterized as being configured for having an accessory (e.g., a shotgun stock) mounted thereon. As set forth herein, such structural aspects may be implemented in respective manners that beneficially impact various functional characteristics of a lever action firearm. Examples of these characteristics include, but may not be limited to, operational efficiency and reliability, structural reliability, structural and operational simplicity, physical and aesthetic durability, chambering convertibility, and combinations thereof.

[0052] FIGS. 1-4 show a lever-action firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosures made herein (i.e., rifle 100). The rifle 100 includes a receiver system 102, a barrel 104, a handguard 106, a stock 108 (i.e., an accessory), and an action-control lever 110. While a stock is one example of an accessory engageable with a rear portion of a receiver body of a firearm, other examples of such an accessory include, but are not limited to, grips, pistol grips, stocks, stabilizing braces, and other accessories that enable stabilization at the rear end of the receiver body system. The barrel 104 and the handguard 106 are attached to a front end portion 102A of the receiver system 102. The stock 108 is attached to a rearend portion 102B of the receiver system 102. The action-control lever 110 is attached to the receiver system 102 at a lever pivot point LPP in a manner allowing the action-control lever 110 to be pivoted between a battery-ready position LP1 and a cartridge-ejecting position LP2 relative to the receiver system 102. As best shown in FIG. 3, the lever pivot point PP1 defines a pivot axis PA1 about which the action-control lever 110 is constrained to pivot. Various components of the receiver system 102 (as well as components other than those of the receiver system 102) may be offered in kit form for enabling assembly of a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosures made herein.

[0053] Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, the receiver system 102 includes a lower receiver body 112, an upper receiver body 114, a bolt carrier 116 and a trigger assembly 118. The lower receiver body 112 and the upper receiver body 114 are operably attached to each other by a means that is well known in the art. The trigger assembly 118 is attached to the lower receiver body 112. The bolt carrier 116 is slidably disposed within a bolt carrier receiving bore 119 of the upper receiver body 114. As shown in FIG. 6, a firing pin 117 is slidably disposed within a mating passage of a bolt 115 carried by the bolt carrier 116. The lower receiver body 112 and the trigger assembly 118 are jointly configured such that a trigger 118A of the trigger assembly 118 is located directly (vertically) beneath a stock mounting flange 120 of the lower receiver body 112, thereby allowing the trigger 118A to be in a suitable position relative to the stock 108 of a shotgun.

[0054] As best shown in FIGS. 5-12, in preferred embodiments, the lower receiver body 112 and the upper receiver body 114 may be configured in accordance with the AR-15 platform. In some embodiments, the upper receiver body 114 is an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD and the lower receiver body 112 is an AR-15 platform compatible lower receiver that is lever-action specific in accordance with the disclosures made herein. As is well known in the art, when configured in accordance with the AR-15 platform, the lower receiver body 112 has spaced-apart front lugs 112A and spaced-apart rear lugs 112B and the upper receiver body 114 has a front lug 114A and rear lugs 114B. The front and rear lugs 114A, 114B of the upper receiver body 114 matingly and respectively engage the front and rear lugs 112A, 112B of the lower receiver body 112. The front and rear lugs 112A, 112B of the lower receiver body 112 and the front and a rear lug 114A, 114B of the upper receiver body 114 carry respective takedown pin bores (square, round, oval, squared-oval cross-sectional profiles or otherwise) for receiving a respective takedown pin. Additionally, the lower receiver body 112 has upper and rear surfaces that matingly and respectively engage lower and rear surfaces of the upper receiver body 114 whereby such engagement surfaces are each an engagement surface of a respective receiver body (e.g., the lower receiver body 112) that engage a respective and mating engagement surface of the other receiver body (e.g., the upper receiver body 114). The upper engagement surfaces of the lower receiver body 112 are defined by a trigger assembly well 121 (i.e., a rearend portion of the lower receiver body 112) and magazine well 122 (i.e., a frontend portion of the lower receiver body 112). The rear engagement surfaces of the lower receiver body 112 are defined by the stock mounting flange 120.

[0055] As best shown in FIGS. 5-9, the action-control lever 110 has a hand loop 130, a first attachment arm 132, and a second attachment arm 134. The first attachment arm 132 has a proximate end portion 132A fixedly attached to (e.g., unitary formed with) the hand loop 130. The second attachment arm 134 has a proximate end portion 134A fixedly attached to the hand loop 130. A distal end portion 132B of the first attachment arm 132 and a lever mounting portion 136 (e.g., a mounting flange) of the lower receiver body 112 are jointly configured to permit the distal end portion 132B of the first attachment arm 132 to be pivotably attached to the lever mounting portion 136 of the lower receiver body 112. Such pivotal attachment enables the hand loop (i.e., the action-control member 110) to pivot between the battery-ready position LP1 and the cartridge-ejecting position LP2. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the action-control lever 110 and the lower receiver body 112 jointly define a fully-enclosed trigger finger window (i.e., space in which the tripper 118A is located) with the action-control lever 110 in the battery-ready position LP1.

[0056] The action-control lever 110 is coupled to the bolt carrier 116 through the second attachment arm 134 and, as most completely shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a linkage member 140. The linkage member 140 has a first end portion 140A and a second end portion 140B. The first end portion 140A of the linkage member 140 is pivotably attached to a rear end portion 116A of the bolt carrier 116. A distal end portion 134B of the second attachment arm 134 is pivotably attached to the second end portion 140B of the linkage 140. A pin or other suitable type fastening member may be used for providing pivotable connections with the first and second end portions 140A, 140B and respective attached structure. The second attachment arm 134 and the linkage member 140 may thus jointly define a coupling assembly through which the hand loop 130 is coupled to the bolt carrier 116. In these regards, the action-control lever 110 and the linkage member 140 are jointly configured such that pivoting of the hand loop (e.g., the entire action-control member 110) between the battery-ready position LP1 and the cartridge-ejecting position LP2 causes the bolt carrier 116 to correspondingly slide within the bolt carrier receiving bore 119 between a battery position BP and an ejection position EP. The lower receiver body 112 may have a retention member 141 (FIGS. 8 and 9) mounted thereon that is forcibly biased (e.g., spring-biased) into engagement with a mating structure 110A (FIGS. 8 and 14) of the action-control lever 110 (e.g., detent, groove, channel, or the like) for selectively retaining the action-control lever 110 in the battery-ready position LP1 to inhibit the action-control lever 110 from unintentional pivoting away from the battery-ready position LP1.

[0057] As best shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 14, the linkage member 140 includes a hammer-receiving space 140D within a central portion 140C between its first and second end portions 140A, 140B. A head 117A of the firing pin 117 (FIG. 6) is located below the hammer-receiving space 140D. The hammer-receiving space 140D may be any suitable configuration for having an end portion of a hammer 118B (FIGS. 6 and 7) of the trigger assembly 118 disposed therein when the hammer 118B is released to discharge a round of ammunition. Examples of the hammer-receiving space 140D include, but are not limited to, a channel within a lower surface of the linkage member 140 and a passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member 140.

[0058] The second attachment arm 134 and the lower receiver body 112 are jointly configured such that the second attachment arm 134 extends through a passage 142 of the stock mounting flange 120 with the action-control lever 110 in the battery-ready position LP1. The passage 142 is within a central area of the stock flange 120 and is encompassed by a stock receptacle 120A of the stock mounting flange 120. The stock receptacle 120A receives a receiver engaging portion of a stock. In some embodiments, the stock receptacle 120A is compatible for being matingly engaged with the receiver engaging portion of a stock that is directly mountable on a shotgun (e.g., Remington brand, Winchester brand or Mossberg brand) that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD.

[0059] Preferably, the second attachment arm 134 includes an arcuate segment 134C between the distal end portion 134B and the hand loop 130 with the arcuate segment 134C extending along an arcuate axis AA (FIG. 9). All points along the arcuate axis AA are equidistant (approximately or substantially) from the pivot axis PA1 about which the action-control lever 110 pivots between the battery-ready position LP1 and the cartridge-ejecting position LP2. With the hand loop 110 sufficiently moved from the battery-ready position LP1 to the cartridge-ejecting position LP2, the second attachment arm 134 moves out of the passage 142 and the linkage member 140 moves into the passage 142.

[0060] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, the stock 108 may include an attachment arm passage 108A within a bottom surface of its receiver engaging portion 108B. The second attachment arm 134 of the action-control lever 110 extends through the attachment arm passage 108A and through the stock mounting flange 120 with the action-control lever 110 in the battery-ready position LP1. The linkage member 140 may extend through the attachment arm passage 108A and through the stock mounting flange 120 with the action-control lever 110 sufficiently displaced from the battery-ready position LP1 toward the cartridge-ejecting position LP2, with the action-control lever 110 in the cartridge-ejecting position LP2, or both.

[0061] Physical and dimensional characteristics of the second attachment arm 134 and the linkage member 140 jointly permit sufficient translation of the bolt carrier 116 between the battery position BP and the ejection position EP for an associated respective amount of pivotal movement of the action-control lever 110 between the battery-ready position LP1 and the cartridge-ejecting position LP2. During such movements of the action-control lever 110 and the carrier 116, the second attachment arm 134 and the linkage member 140 are limited to doing so within the confines of available amount of space within the upper receiver body 114 and within the passage 142 of the stock mounting flange 120. For example, respective lengths, respective curvatures, respective cross-sectional dimensions, or combinations of the second attachment arm 134, the linkage member 140, or both may be specified to achieve a resulting movement characteristic (e.g., displacement magnitude, rate of displacement, etc.) of the carrier 116 for a given amount of pivotal movement of the action-control lever 110 and to correspondingly achieve required spatial positioning of the second attachment arm 134 and the linkage member 140 within the upper receiver body 114 and stock flange 120 during the aforementioned movements of the action-control lever 110 and the carrier 116.

[0062] Attachment of the linkage member 140 to the distal end portion 134B of the second attachment arm 134 provides a structure that enables detachment of the lower receiver body 112 and all associated components carried thereby from the upper receiver body 114 and all associated components carried thereby. For example, a pin 144 that pivotably adjoins the second end portion 140B of the linkage member 140 and the distal end portion 134B of the second attachment arm 134 may be removed from (e.g., pressed out of) engagement therewith for permitting separation of the linkage member 140 and the second attachment arm 134. Such separation decouples the only components of the receiver system 102 that connectedly span between the upper and lower receiver bodies 112, 114.

[0063] As disclosed above, in some embodiments, the upper receiver body 114 may be an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD and the lower receiver body 112 is an AR-15 platform compatible lower receiver that is lever-action specific in accordance with the disclosures made herein. A skilled person will understand that the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body has a charging handle in place when used in semi-automatic firearm applications and that the charging handle is used for cycling the bolt of such a semi-automatic firearm from the battery position to the ejection position (i.e., the position causing a chambered cartridge to be ejected). As best seen in FIGS. 9-11, an AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body includes a charging handle pocket 150 in which a head portion of the charging handle resides and a charging handle passage 152 in which an elongated member portion of the charging handle resides.

[0064] When used with a lower receiver body that is lever-action specific in accordance with the disclosures made herein, the aforementioned charging handle may be omitted from the firearm construct. Thus, there is no head portion of the charging handle to reside within the charging handle pocket 150 and no elongated member portion of the charging handle to reside within the charging handle passage 152. In preferred embodiments, a charging handle plug 154 (which may be part of the disclosed receiver system) is secured within the charging handle pocket 150 as a result of the lower and upper receivers 112, 114 being attached to (i.e., engaged with) each other, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. The charging handle plug 154 serves the valuable purposes of limiting external contaminants from entering the firearm through the charging handle passage 152 and limiting gunshot residue during cartridge discharge from escaping to the atmosphere through the charging handle passage 152. The lower receiver body 112 may include a plug engagement body 156 having an engagement surface that engages a mating engagement surface of the charging handle plug 154 to bias the charging handle plug 154 into constrained engagement within the charging handle pocket 150 as a result of the lower and upper receivers 112, 114 being attached to each other. The plug engagement body 156 is preferably integral with the stock mounting flange 120.

[0065] Referring now to FIGS. 5, 12, 15, and 16, the receiver system 102 may further include a stock securement body 160. The stock securement body 160 serves to provide a mounting structure attached to the lower receiver body 112 to which a stock fastener 162 may attach for enabling the stock 108 to be fixedly secured to the lower receiver body 112. The stock securement body 160 is preferably attached to the stock mounting flange 120 in a selectively detachable manner, but in a manner in which it is fixedly secured when the stock 108 is fixedly secured to the lower receiver body 112.

[0066] The stock securement body 160 includes a first end portion 160A and a second end portion 160B. The first end portion 160A is configured for having the stock fastener 162 engaged therewith and the second end portion 160B is configured for engagement with the stock flange 120. In preferred embodiments, the first end portion 160A has an interlock (e.g., threaded) interface 164 that may be engaged with a mating interlock interface 166 of a stock fastener 162. The second end portion 160B has spaced-apart engagement shoulders 168. The stock mounting flange 120 includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 formed by spaced apart wall segments of the stock mounting flange 120 within its central passage 142.

[0067] The spaced-apart engagement shoulders 168 and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders 168 to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the stock securement body 160 relative to the stock mounting flange 120. For example, the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 have entry recesses that permit each engagement shoulders 168 to be engaged within the respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 by placing each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders 168 into the respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 and then being moved vertically into a slotted portion of the respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 to thereby inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the stock securement body 160 relative to the stock mounting flange 120.

[0068] The receiver engaging portion 108B of the stock 108 includes a stub 108C that has a mating fit within the stock receptacle 120A of the stock mounting flange 120. This mating fit (e.g., slip fit) fixedly positions the receiver engaging portion 108B of the stock 108 relative to the stock mounting flange 120 (i.e., limits up/down and side-to-side movement of the stub 108C within the stock receptacle 120A). The stock 108 preferably includes a passage in the receiver engaging portion 108B that receives the first end portion 160A of the stock securement body 160 (e.g., an elongated round bore having an inside diameter with a close-tolerance fit (e.g., not more than 0.050) with the outside diameter of the first end portion 160A of the stock securement body 160). Thus, fixed positioning of the receiver engaging portion 108B of the stock 108 relative to the stock receptacle 120A via engagement of the stock fastener 162 with the stock 108 and the stock securement body 160 limits vertical movement of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders 168 relative to the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170 to thereby maintain each spaced-apart engagement shoulder 168 in engagement with the respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles 170.

[0069] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the stock securement body 160 may include an attachment arm passage 160C. The second attachment arm 134 of the action-control lever 110 extends through the attachment arm passage 160C and through the stock mounting flange 120 with the action-control lever 110 in the battery-ready position LP1. The linkage member 140 may extend through the attachment arm passage 160C and through the stock mounting flange 120 with the action-control lever 110 sufficiently displaced from the battery-ready position LP1 toward the cartridge-ejecting position LP2, with the action-control lever 110 in the cartridge-ejecting position LP2, or both.

Although the invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in all its aspects. Although the invention has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent technologies, structures, methods and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.