Ambidextrous magazine release for a firearm

The device (8) allows the release of a detachable magazine from the left and right side of the trigger housing of a firearm, and includes a left lever arm (6) pivotable about a left pivot pin (15) and a right lever arm (7) pivotable about a right pivot pin (14). The right lever arm includes a catch (9) to retain a magazine. The left lever arm (6) includes a left lever extension (12), and the right lever arm (7) includes a right lever extension (13), and these lever extensions are coupled together. When the right lever arm (7), together with its push-button (11), is pivoted to the right, the catch disengages and releases the magazine whilst the left lever arm (6) remains immobile. When the push-button (13) of the left lever arm (6) is pressed to the left, the left lever arm (6) and its left lever extension (12) pivot to the left causing said left lever extension (12) to push the right lever extension (13), and thus the right lever arm (7), to the right, which in turn causes the catch (9) to disengage and release the magazine.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The following documents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth: Swiss Patent Application No. 01614/16, filed Dec. 7, 2016.

BACKGROUND

The present invention concerns a device to release a magazine latched into the receiver of a firearm from the left or right side of the firearm.

Known firearm magazines are retained in the receiver by a catch connected to a push-button mechanism. The push-button is located on the right side of the receiver and serves to release the magazine. This placement is ideal for changing magazines for a right-handed user, but it is complicated, inconvenient and disadvantageous for a left-handed user.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide means to easily change magazines for both left-handed and right-handed users.

This object is achieved by a device having one or more features of the invention, which preferably comprises a left lever arm and right lever arm, which are coupled by respective lever extensions. Preferred embodiments are disclosed below and in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance withFIGS. 1 and 2, the left and right sides of a firearm receiver1are shown with a firing direction2. The receiver1includes a pistol grip3and a trigger housing4with an inserted magazine5. InFIG. 1, the left lever arm6is partially visible and inFIG. 2the right lever arm7is partially visible.

InFIG. 3, the component parts of the device8are shown extracted from the trigger housing4. The component parts are comprised of a right lever arm7, which includes: a catch9for the magazine, a right lever extension10, and a push-button11; and a left lever arm6which includes a left extension lever12, and a push-button13; as well as a right pivot pin14, a left pivot pin15, a strong right spring16, and a weaker left spring17.

FIGS. 4 and 5show the component parts inFIG. 3in their assembled position, with the omission of the supports for the springs16and17.FIG. 5shows the distance x, which is the distance between the left pivot pin15and the point of contact between the lever extensions10and12, and the distance y, which is the distance between the right pivot pin14and the point of contact between the lever extensions10and12. Due to the relative weakness of the left spring17, a ratio x:y of2:3allows the actuation pressure required on the push-buttons11and12to be the same.

InFIG. 6, the device8is shown installed in the trigger housing4. InFIG. 7, both lever arms6and7are in a rest position and the magazine is retained by the catch9. When, as inFIG. 8, the right push-button11is pressed, the right lever arm7pivots to the right such that the catch9releases the magazine. When, as inFIG. 9, the left push-button13is pressed, the left lever arm6pivots to the left. This causes the left lever extension12to press on the right lever extension10which in turn causes the right pivoting lever to pivot to the right, again causing the catch9to disengage the magazine.

FIG. 10shows a variant of the device8wherein the left lever extension12of the left lever arm6includes a fork19into which the right lever extension extends, such that pressing the right lever arm7to the right to release the magazine also causes the left lever arm6to pivot to the left. Pressure on the left lever arm6to the left causes the fork19to pivot the right lever extension10, and thus the right lever arm7to the right, which moves the catch9out of engagement with the magazine. This variant requires only a single spring.