Bolt catch engagement/magazine release system
View Patent ↗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.
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.