Magazine release assist tool

A magazine release assist tool is described comprising of a generally U-shaped clip having an integrated arm extension. The tool is used to assist in the release of a magazine from a firearm that is equipped with a magazine release blocking mechanism. The clip is removably secured to the lower receiver of a firearm and the arm extension is provided to form a resilient flat spring having a pivot at its proximate end and a push pin at its distal end. When attached to the firearm, a user can depress the flat spring such that the push pin will engage the magazine release button of the firearm allowing quick removal of the magazine.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to a firearm with a non-removable magazine. More specifically, the invention relates to a magazine release device for a firearm with a non removable magazine

BACKGROUND ART

Gun laws regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the United States. In addition to federal gun laws, most states and some local jurisdictions have additionally imposed their own firearms restrictions. California gun laws are known to be some of the strictest in the United States. For example, California put many restrictions on semi-automatic firearms. Essentially, California state laws banned certain firearms by name and characteristics. One of the provisions relates to the detachability of the magazine. Broadly speaking, certain firearms including many semi-automatic rifles that has a detachable magazine are prohibited

One method to comply with this legal provision is achieved by the use of a magazine release blocking mechanism or a magazine lock such as a bullet Button®. The bullet Button® modifies a rifle so that the magazine is not removable without the use of a tool i.e. a bullet, a small screwdriver or other tools, which presses the magazine release button that is no longer accessible by a finger. The bullet Button® is a device that is attached to the firearm to replace the standard magazine release button. It is a two piece assembly with an inner button and an outer button. The outer button replaces the standard magazine release button. However, it is stationary and will no longer actuate the spring to allow magazine removal. The inner button sits recessed within the outer button and becomes the actual magazine release button. This configuration does not allow the use of a finger to depress the button. Instead, the use of a tool is required to depress the recessed inner button. The most common tool utilized is a bullet tip, hence the term bullet Button®. Firearms with this feature no longer possess a “detachable magazine” characteristics, and therefore may be exempt depending on the other requirements.

Basically the magazine lock makes it more difficult or slow down the process of changing magazine to conform to certain states and federal law. However this creates a problem in certain occasions where the use of firearm with detachable magazine is legal or when the quick release of the magazine is desired such as in shooting competition as it would be inconvenient to disassemble and reassemble the magazine lock.

Hence, many tools have been devised to make it easier and faster to drop and swap the magazine from a firearm equipped with a magazine lock. Some of the prior art tools include a magnetic button that can be attached to the magazine lock or a wrench that can be screwed in to the magazine lock and many others that do not offer the option to be attached to the magazine lock or the firearm itself. A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that possess the novelty of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a tool that is used to facilitate quick and easy removal of a magazine from a firearm that is equipped with a magazine release blocking mechanism or a magazine lock. The magazine blocking mechanism or magazine lock is used to modify a firearm such that the magazine release button can no longer be accessible by using a finger. This creates a firearm with a non-detachable magazine to comply with certain laws and regulations. A typical magazine lock comprises of a stationary outer button and a recessed inner button which when depressed will release the magazine.

The tool disclosed in the present invention comprises of a generally U-shaped spring clip with an integrated arm extension. The clip is removably secured to the lower receiver of the firearm and is positioned adjacent to the magazine release button. The arm extension protrudes from the clip to form a resilient flat spring with a pivot at its proximate end and a push pin at its distal end. The clip and the arm extension are preferably made of a unitary piece of metal such as for example steel or aluminum.

Once attached on the firearm, the tool can be used to release a magazine from a modified firearm that is equipped with a magazine lock as if one was to use his or her own finger. This is accomplished by simply applying force on the arm extension to allow the push pin to depress the recessed inner button to release the magazine. The tool according to an embodiment of the present invention can be adapted for use on various types of modified firearms that are equipped with a magazine lock including modified firearms with ambidextrous magazine release.

In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to provide a magazine release tool that is easy to use, convenient to carry and economical to produce.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magazine release tool that can be adapted for use on various types of firearms.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a magazine release tool that can be adapted for both left handed and right handed individuals.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode of carrying out the invention is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment of a magazine release assist tool10herein after referred to as “tool”10. The tool10according to the present invention is used to assist in the release of a magazine60from a firearm40that is equipped with a magazine release blocking mechanism or a magazine lock50. Basically, the blocking mechanism50is a device that is attached to the firearm40to block or to replace the standard magazine release button such that it can only be accessible using a tool instead of a finger. One popular example of a magazine release blocking mechanism50is a bullet Button®.

It is to be understood that while the present invention as discussed herein relates in particular to an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle, it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the present invention solely to this type of firearm. The present invention may find application with many other type of firearms that are equipped with a magazine release blocking mechanism50resulting in a modified firearm40with a fixed or non-detachable magazine. The orientation of the tool10described in the present invention, i.e. left, right, front, rear, top and bottom will follow the orientation of a firearm40when held by a user in a shooting position.

The preferred embodiment of the tool10comprises of a clip20with an integrated arm extension30as shown inFIG. 4-11. The tool10according to the present invention is formed of a thin strip of metal, such as for example steel or aluminum, bent in substantially perpendicular fashion to form a pair of flat side walls22,24and a base member26connecting the two side walls22,24forming a generally U-shaped spring clip20. The left side wall22and the right side wall24of the clip20are generally square or rectangular in shape and have a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a rear edge. The top edge of the side walls22and24has a raised lip28to facilitate ease of attaching and removing the clip20from the firearm40.

The arm extension30is made of the same material as the clip20and protrudes from the rear edge of the side wall24and is immediately bent to form a curve at its proximate end that serves as a pivot. This configuration results in the arm30to form a resilient flat spring32that extend generally outwardly in a longitudinal direction towards the magazine release button52when the tool10is attached on the firearm40. The arm30has a push pin34at its distal end that protrudes inwardly facing the firearm40and is designed to engage the magazine release button52when depressed as shown inFIG. 3and spring back into the resting position when not in use as shown inFIG. 2.

The tool10can be used for a broad range of firearms and in particular the AR-15 or other AR-series assault rifle that are equipped with a magazine release blocking mechanism50. The arm extension30according to the preferred embodiment and as shown inFIGS. 4-11is disposed on the right side wall24of the clip20. However, according to the alternative embodiment, the arm extension30can be configured to be on the left side or on both sides of the clip20depending on where the magazine release button52is located on a specific modified firearm. It is to be noted that the specific dimension of the clip20and the arm extension30will depends on the particular firearm that the tool10is used on. In general, the clip20has a dimension that will result in a snug fit when attached on the lower receiver42of a firearm40and the arm extension30is of a dimension sufficient to provide a spring action and to allow the push pin34to engage the magazine release button52of a firearm40.

The spring force provided by the side walls22and24of the clip20causes the clip20to be removably secured to the lower receiver42of the firearm40as shown inFIGS. 1-3. The clip20is attached to the lower receiver42within the trigger guard46immediately in front of the trigger48as shown inFIG. 2. This will position the tool10adjacent to the magazine release button52. To secure the clip20, one needs to position the clip20at the appropriate position and push the clip20upward towards the lower receiver42of the firearm40, similar to the motion when one is to load a magazine60into the firearm magazine receiver44. Once attached to the firearm40, a user can utilize the tool10to quickly unload an empty magazine60and replace it with a new loaded magazine60as if one was to use his or her own finger. This is accomplished by simply pressing the arm extension30inward towards the magazine blocking mechanism50as shown inFIG. 3. The push pin34is configured such that when the arm extension30is depressed against the magazine blocking mechanism50, the push pin34will penetrate and engage the magazine release button52that sits recessed within the magazine blocking mechanism50.

The tool10can easily be removed from the firearm40by simply pushing the clip20downward to let it slide from the bottom end of the lower receiver42. The prior art tools either do not have the option of being attached to the firearm40, or when they do, they typically touches the magazine release button52that sits recessed within the magazine blocking mechanism50when left on the firearm40. The tool10according to the present invention does not touch the inner magazine release button52or the outer magazine lock button50when left on the firearm40. It is lightweight, economical, and practical. It can be adapted for use with various types of firearms and can also be configured for use on a modified firearm with ambidextrous magazine release.

While the invention has been described in complete detail, it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms, which may come within the language and scope of the appended claims.