Abstract:
An ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm generally includes a first bolt stop element having a bolt stop finger and a first release lever operatively connected to a left side of a receiver of the firearm and a second bolt stop element having a second release lever operatively connected to a right side of the firearm. The second bolt stop element engages the first bolt stop element via a yoke and pin type configuration interior to the receiver of the firearm. The first and second release levers include first and second buttons located exterior to the receiver on respective sides thereof to actuate the bolt stop.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/174,035, filed on Apr. 30, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to firearms and, more particularly, to an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many firearms typically include an ammunition magazine disposed somewhere within the frame of the firearm. Rounds of ammunition stored in the magazine are individually fed from the magazine into a barrel or firing chamber, where each round is fired. With a semi-automatic firearm, such as the Smith &amp; Wesson model M&amp;P  15  for example, the bolt, a mechanical part of the firearm that forms the rear of the chamber as the propellant burns, cycles back and forward between each shot, propelled by recoil or expanding gas (back) or the recoil spring (forward). When the bolt moves forward, it strips a cartridge from the magazine and pushes it into the chamber. When the bolt moves back, an extractor pulls the spent casing from the chamber. Once the case is clear of the chamber, the ejector ejects the casing out of the firearm so that a new round may be chambered. 
         [0004]    After the firing of the last round in the magazine, a “bolt stop,” also known as a “bolt catch,” holds the bolt in a rearwards position, as discussed below. Bolt stop devices for hand-held firearms are known in the art, especially in handgun and combat rifles. The purpose of the bolt stop device is to retain the principal members of the bolt or bolt carrier mechanism in a rearward position. Retaining the bolt or bolt carrier mechanism in this rearward position is desirable as a safety measure to allow unobstructed view of the chamber of a firearm, to provide access to the chamber area for cleaning or other maintenance, to signal to the operator that the magazine is empty, and to provide a means for rapid reloading. With respect to the last advantage, when the bolt group is held rearward upon discharge of the last round in a magazine, an operator may eject the empty magazine, insert a fresh one, and then press a button on the side of the firearm to release the bolt and resume firing rounds. The bolt stop and bolt release button save an operator time from having to rack the bolt back to load a new round, and is standard on almost all semi-automatic rifles. 
         [0005]    Know bolt stops typically include a bolt stop release button located on one side of the firearm. The Smith &amp; Wesson model M&amp;P  15 , for example, has a bolt stop having a bolt stop release button located on the left side of the firearm. In this and similar firearms, the bolt stop is a pivoted part on the outside of the lower receiver and is spring biased at the bottom of the part by a plunger and a spring in the receiver. The bolt stop further has a projection that stops the rotation of the bolt stop at the rear of the magazine well of the lower receiver. This projection is also contacted by the magazine follower once the magazine box is empty of rounds. As alluded to above, the magazine spring overcomes the bolt stop spring and plunger and rotates the bolt stop upward high enough to stop the forward motion of the bolt and hold the bolt in the open position. Pushing on the bolt stop release button of the bolt stop releases the bolt to chamber a round. 
         [0006]    For the right-handed shooter, the bolt stop release button is easily accessible, for example, with a shooter&#39;s thumb or index finger. For a left handed shooter, however, the bolt stop release button is generally not accessible without a shooter having to release his grip on the firearm. Such action may be inconvenient. Moreover, in combat situations, even right-handed shooters are sometimes forced to switch from his/her dominant shooting posture to take advantage of cover and concealment. A right-handed shooter may not be accustomed to releasing and replacing a magazine and depressing the bolt stop release button in this position, thereby costing a shooter valuable time. 
         [0007]    An ambidextrous bolt stop would thus allow a shooter, regardless of whether he/she is right handed or left handed, and regardless of shooting posture, to quickly and easily activate the bolt stop release button to chamber a new round from either the left side or the right side of the firearm. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that can be operated from both the left and right sides of a firearm. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that can be actuated with one hand. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide and ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm for easy use by either a right-handed shooter or a left-handed shooter. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide and ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that permits unobstructed access to the chamber area for cleaning or clearing and obstruction. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that provides a signal to the operator that the magazine is empty. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that facilitates rapid reloading by holding the bolt group to the rear while an empty magazine is removed and a new magazine is inserted. 
         [0014]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that is essentially identical in terms of appearance and tactile feel on both sides of the firearm. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that provides the same type of button release to close the bolt using the index finger of the operator&#39;s firing hand or support hand. 
         [0016]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm that is substantially similar to the existing Smith &amp; Wesson model M&amp;P  15  bolt stop in terms of appearance, relative position on the firearm, activation method and relative button size. 
         [0017]    According to the present invention, an ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm having a receiver, a magazine well, a magazine and a firing mechanism is provided. The ambidextrous bolt stop includes a left bolt stop portion having a left side bolt stop release button and a right side bolt stop portion having a right side bolt stop release button. The right side bolt stop release button is operatively connected to the left side bolt stop release button by a yoke and pin arrangement. The lower receiver of the firearm is provided with modified receiver cuts to accommodate both the left side and right side bolt stop release buttons, so that an operator may release the bolt from either side of the firearm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a right side view of a prior art firearm; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the left side of a prior art firearm having a prior art bolt stop and left side bolt stop release button; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the right side of a prior art firearm having a prior art bolt stop and left side bolt stop release button; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the right side of a firearm having an ambidextrous bolt stop in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the firearm of  FIG. 3  having an ambidextrous bolt stop in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a lower receiver of a firearm configured to accommodate the ambidextrous bolt stop in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a right side elevational view of the lower receiver of  FIG. 6  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the lower receiver of  FIG. 6  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the lower receiver of  FIG. 6  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the lower receiver of  FIG. 6  taken along line A-A in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of area X of  FIG. 10  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the left bolt stop portion of the ambidextrous bolt stop in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a front elevational of the left bolt stop portion of  FIG. 12  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the left bolt stop portion of  FIG. 12  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a right side elevational view of the left bolt stop portion of  FIG. 12  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the right bolt stop portion of the ambidextrous bolt stop in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  is a front elevational view of the right bolt stop portion of  FIG. 16  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the right bolt stop portion of  FIG. 16  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  is a right side elevational view of the right bolt stop portion of  FIG. 16  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the right bolt stop portion of  FIG. 16  taken along line A-A in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 21  is a left side view of the right bolt stop portion of  FIG. 16  in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 22  is an enlarged view of area Z of  FIG. 21  in accordance with the present invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]    As used herein, the directional terms “front,” “forward,” “rear,” “rearward,” “upward,” “downward,” “right,” “left,” “top” and “bottom” refer to the firearm when held in the normal firing position, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art firearm  1 , specifically a Smith &amp; Wesson model M&amp;P 15, having an upper receiver  2  and a lower receiver  4 . More particularly,  FIG. 1  is a right side view of such firearm.  FIGS. 2 and 3  are left and right side views, respectively of the firearm of  FIG. 1  having a bolt stop  6  and bolt stop release button  8  located on the left side thereof. As will be readily appreciated, the bolt stop release button  8  of the prior art firearm  1  may only be accessed from the left side of the firearm, leading to difficulty for left-handed shooters and confusion for right-handed shooters shooting in abnormal or non-customary positions. 
         [0043]    The ambidextrous bolt stop of the present invention solves these problems by providing a mechanism that can be actuated from either side of the firearm, lending to ease of use by right-handed and left-handed shooters alike. In  FIGS. 4 and 5  a lower receiver  12  of a firearm is shown including a trigger  14 , a magazine well  16  and an ambidextrous bolt stop  20 . As shown therein, the ambidextrous bolt stop according to the present invention includes a left bolt stop portion  22  and a right bolt stop portion  24 . 
         [0044]    As best shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  12 - 15 , the left bolt stop portion  22  is substantially similar to the prior art bolt stop described above. As shown therein, the left side bolt stop portion  22  includes a bolt stop finger  28  in communication with the magazine well  16  for detecting when a magazine is empty and for retaining the bolt in a rearward position, as discussed below, a release lever integral with the bolt stop finger  28 , and left side bolt stop release button  26  integral with the release lever. The left side bolt stop portion  22  is pivotally connected to the left side of the receiver  12  via horizontal pivot pin  30  such that it may rotate relative to the receiver  12  about pin  30 . Importantly, the left bolt stop portion  22  also includes a pin  32  provided on a rearward facing surface thereof for cooperation with a complimentary yoke  38  on the right bolt stop portion  24 , as discussed below. Bolt stop finger or projection  28  stops the rotation of the bolt stop at the rear of the magazine well of the lower receiver  12 . A plunger and spring (not show) interior of the lower receiver  12  spring biases the left side bolt stop portion  22  at a bottom portion thereof such that the finger portion  28  is held in a downward, unblocked position. 
         [0045]    As best shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  16 - 22 , the right bolt stop portion  24  is similar to the left bolt stop portion  22  described above. As shown therein, the right side bolt stop portion  24  includes a release lever having a right side bolt stop release button  36  integral with the lever. The right side bolt stop portion  24  is pivotally connected to the right side of the receiver  12  via horizontal pivot pin  34  such that it may rotate relative to the receiver  12  about pin  34 . The right side bolt stop release button  36  is substantially identical to the left side bolt stop release button  26 . Preferably, both the left and right side release buttons  26 ,  36  are knurled pads providing a gripping surface for a user&#39;s finger. The right side bolt stop portion  24  also includes a yoke  38  formed on an end of bolt stop portion  24  opposite the release button  36  for engaging the rearwards facing pin  32  of the left bolt stop portion  22 . 
         [0046]    In operation, the right bolt stop portion  24  senses the position of the left bolt stop portion  22  through the yoke  38  and pin  32  arrangement. In the preferred embodiment, the rearwards facing pivot pin  32  of the left bolt stop portion  22  indexes into the yoke  38  of the right bolt stop portion  24 . This forces both bolt stop portions  22 . 24  to move in unison and to exhibit the same relative positions at all times. For example, if one bolt stop portion is pivoted outward, such as when the last round in a magazine is fired and the bolt stop finger  28  is moved upwards by the magazine follower, then so is the bolt stop portion on the other side, and vice versa; if one portion is vertical, so is the other. Importantly, the left bolt stop portion  22  is the portion of the ambidextrous bolt stop  20  that stops the bolt, just like the current Smith &amp; Wesson model M&amp;P  15  design as discussed above. As such, with the ambidextrous bolt stop of the present invention, releasing the bolt can now occur using either side button release that the shooter chooses. 
         [0047]    When all components are assembled in the lower receiver  12  of the firearm, and there is a magazine removably attached to the lower receiver  12  and in communication with the magazine well  16 , the ambidextrous bolt stop  20  functions as follows. First, the bolt of the firearm travels past the bolt stop finger  28  when the final round of ammunition is fired or when the shooter pulls release buttons  26  or  36  laterally away from the side of the lower receiver causing the bolt stop finger  28  to rotate upward and stop the bolt from traveling forward. 
         [0048]    When the bolt moves rearward over an empty magazine cartridge, the magazine spring pushes the magazine follower (not shown) against the bolt stop finger  28 , which mechanically creates a rotational action that causes the bolt stop finger  28  to rotate upward, block the forward movement of the bolt and signal to the shooter that the magazine is empty and needs to be replaced or refilled. When the next ammunition round is placed into the firearm, the bolt must be released from the bolt stop finger  28  to allow the bolt to push the ammunition into the chamber of the firearm. In particular, when a magazine is empty of rounds, the magazine spring overcomes the bolt stop spring and plunger (not shown), and pushes bolt stop finger  28  upwards in the direction of arrow A to a point high enough to stop the forward motion of the bolt and hold the bolt in an open or rearward position. This upwards movement of finger  28  also causes left bolt stop portion  22 , including release button  26 , to rotate away from the receiver  12  about pin  30  in the direction of arrow W. As a result of the engagement of the left and right bolt stop portions  22 . 24  through the yoke and pin connection, right side bolt stop portion  24  and release button  36  is similarly caused to rotate away from the receiver about pin  34  in the direction of arrow Y. 
         [0049]    A shooter would then insert a new magazine and depress the left side release button  26  or right side release button  36  towards the receiver to release the bolt and/or bolt carrier for firing. Pushing on the left side bolt stop release button  26  causes the left side bolt stop portion  22  to rotate in the direction of arrow X about pivot pin  30  such that the bolt stop finger  28  is rotated downwards and out of engagement with the bolt, thereby releasing the bolt so that a new round may be stripped from the new magazine and chambered. Pushing on the left side release button  26  also causes the right side bolt stop portion  24  to rotate about pivot pin  34  in the direction of arrow Z as a result of the yoke and pin connection. 
         [0050]    Similarly, pushing on the right side bolt stop release button  36  causes the right side bolt stop portion  24  to rotate in the direction of arrow Z about pivot pin  34  such that the left side bolt stop portion  22 , including bolt stop finger portion  28 , is rotated downwards and out of engagement with the bolt in the direction of arrow X, thereby releasing the bolt so that a new round may be stripped from the new magazine and chambered. As will be readily appreciated, complimentary rotation of the left side bolt portion  22 , and thus downward, unblocking movement of the bolt stop finger  28 , is achieved by the pin and yoke connection, as discussed above. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-10 , the receiver of the firearm of the present invention has cut-outs or relieved clearance portions to accommodate the left bolt stop portion  22  and right bolt stop portion  24 , and respective left and right bolt stop release buttons  26 . 36 . 
         [0052]    One advantage of this design is that it provides the same type of button release to close the bolt using the index finger of the shooter&#39;s firing hand or support hand. The ambidextrous bolt stop is the same as the prior art design discussed above in terms of appearance, position on the firearm, activation method (pushing a button inward) and relative button size. These advantages eliminate operator confusion in times of stress and provide similarity in training the operator in the ambidextrous bolt stop&#39;s use. 
         [0053]    Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.