Ambidextrous push-button magazine release for side-locking ammunition magazines

• US 7,921,587 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magpul Industries
• Original Assignee: Magpul Industries
• Inventors: Mayberry, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US12/013,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 42/490.1, 42/50, 42/491, 42/7, 89/331, 891/95, 891/97
• US Class Current: 42/6
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/481 using partial or interrupted threads, e.g. bayonet-type mountings

Abstract

An ambidextrous magazine release for a firearm is provided for a firearm having a magazine well configured to operatively receive a magazine having a side-locking recess received within the well. The ambidextrous magazine release comprises a linkage moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position having a lock pin configured to be received in a side-locking recess of a magazine operatively received in the magazine well with the linkage in the engaged position and to clear the side-locking recess with the linkage in the disengaged position. An actuator is provided on the firearm comprising a bar having a opposing push surfaces extending between a right and left side of the firearm. An interface is provided between the linkage and actuator with the interface being configured so that as either of the opposing push surfaces of the bar is pushed by a user, the linkage is moved between the engaged and the disengaged position.

Claims

1. An ambidextrous magazine release for a firearm, the firearm having a magazine well configured to operatively receive a magazine, the magazine having a side locking recess within the magazine well when operatively received therein, the ambidextrous magazine release comprising:

a linkage movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position having a lock pin configured to be received in a side-locking recess of a magazine operatively received in the magazine well with the linkage in the engaged position and to clear the side-locking recess with the linkage in the disengaged position;

a one piece actuator on the firearm, the actuator comprising a bar having opposing push surfaces extending between a right and a left side of the firearm; and

an interface between the linkage and the actuator, the interface being configured so that as the either of the opposing push surfaces of the bar is pushed by a user, the linkage is moved between the engaged and the disengaged position;

wherein the linkage interface comprises a recess in the bar defining a pair of converging cam surfaces and a cam rider extending from the linkage into contact with the cam surfaces, the linkage being in the engaged position with the cam rider at the convergence of the cam surfaces.

2. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 1 further comprising means biasing the linkage in the engaged position.

3. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 1 further comprising the linkage interface being configured so that as either of the opposing push surfaces is pushed by a user, the type of motion and amount of force applied to the actuator by a user is essentially the same.

4. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 1 further comprising the biasing means biasing the cam rider into the convergence of the cam surfaces.

5. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 4 wherein the biasing means comprises a torsional spring operatively associated with the linkage.

6. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 1 wherein the linkage is L-shaped, the lock pin extending inward from one leg of the L and the cam rider extending outward from the other leg of the L.

7. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 6 further comprising a pivotal connection between the firearm and the L-shaped linkage at the intersection of the legs of the L.

8. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 7 further comprising the leg of the L having a cam rider residing juxtaposed to the bar with one cam surface distal of the cam rider and the other cam surface proximal of the cam rider with the cam rider at the convergence of the cam surfaces, the incline of the cam surfaces being different.

9. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 8 wherein the proximal cam surface has a steeper incline than the distal cam surface.

10. The ambidextrous magazine release of claim 9 wherein the inclines of the proximal and distal cam surfaces are selected to provide essentially the same type of motion and amount of force when actuated from either of the left and right sides.

11. A firearm for use with a magazine having a side-locking recess, the firearm comprising:

a body having a magazine well configured to operatively receive a magazine, having a side-locking recess with the side-locking recess within the magazine well with the magazine operatively received therein; and

an ambidextrous magazine release comprising;

a linkage movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position having a lock pin configured to be received in a side-locking recess of a magazine operatively received in the magazine well with the linkage in the engaged position and to clear the side-locking recess with the linkage in the disengaged position;

a one-piece actuator on the firearm, the actuator comprising a bar having opposing push surfaces extending between a right and a left side of the firearm; and

an interface between the linkage and the actuator, the interface being configured so that as the either of the opposing push surfaces of the bar is pushed by a user, the linkage is moved between the engaged and the disengaged position;

wherein the linkage interface comprises a recess in the bar defining a pair of converging cam surfaces and a cam rider extending from the linkage into contact with the cam surfaces, the linkage being in the engaged position with the cam rider at the convergence of the cam surfaces.

12. The firearm of claim 11 further comprising means biasing the linkage in the engaged position.

13. The firearm of claim 11 further comprising the linkage interface being configured so that as either of the opposing push surfaces is pushed by a user, the type of motion and amount of force applied to the actuator by a user is essentially the same.

14. The firearm of claim 11 further comprising the biasing means biasing the cam rider into the convergence of the cam surfaces.

15. The firearm of claim 11 wherein the linkage is L-shaped, the lock pin extending inward from one leg of the L and the cam rider extending outward from the other leg of the L.

16. The firearm of claim 15 further comprising a pivotal connection between the firearm and the L-shaped linkage at the intersection of the legs of the L.

17. The firearm of claim 16 further comprising the leg of the L having a cam rider residing juxtaposed to the bar with one cam surface distal of the cam rider and the other cam surface proximal of the cam rider with the cam rider at the convergence of the cam surfaces, the incline of the cam surfaces being different.

18. The firearm of claim 17 wherein the proximal cam surface has a steeper incline than the distal cam surface to provide essentially the same type of motion and amount of force when either actuator push surface is used to move the linkage to the disengaged position.