Patent Publication Number: US-8978282-B2

Title: Lever for ambidextrous magazine releases for firearms

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to firearm components and, more particularly, to an improved lever for ambidextrous magazine releases for firearms to prevent inadvertent release of the magazine. 
     Existing magazine release mechanisms are prone to inadvertent release due to the absence of a fence on the receiver to protect the levers from impact by equipment. 
     Existing ambidextrous magazine releases have a lever which cams on a self-contained “pivot-point” or “cam” off the side of the receiver to pull the catch away from engagement with the magazine. Most firearms in which these ambidextrous releases operate are not equipped with a “fence” to protect the lever from inadvertent release on the catch side of the firearm. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved lever for ambidextrous magazine releases for firearms that can prevent the inadvertent release of the magazine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a lever for releasing a magazine from a firearm comprises a tooth for engaging the magazine; a pin hole operable to receive a pin to permit the lever to pivot thereupon; a depression surface operable to pivot the tooth away from the magazine; a rear angled surface extending adjacent to the depression surface; and a front angled surface extending along an upper surface of the lever. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a lever for releasing a magazine from a firearm comprises a tooth for engaging the magazine; a pin hole operable to receive a pin to permit the lever to pivot thereupon; a depression surface operable to pivot the tooth away from the magazine; a rear angled surface extending adjacent to the depression surface, the rear angled surface forming a first angle from about 92 to about 130 degrees relative to a plane of the depression surface; a front angled surface extending along an upper surface of the lever, the front angled surface forming a second angle from about 185 to about 225 degrees relative to the depression surface; and an elevated boss disposed between the rear angled surface and front angled surface. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lever for ambidextrous magazine release for a firearm, disposed in a firearm, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the lever of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the lever of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the lever of  FIG. 1 , showing the lever pivoted to a disengaged position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the lever of  FIG. 1 , showing the lever pivoted to a disengaged position; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, showing a slidable lever portion in a disengaged position relative to the receiver body; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the slidable lever of  FIG. 6 , in an engaged position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a lever to protect against inadvertent release of a magazine of a firearm if its ambidextrous release is hit by equipment when the firearm is carried. The lever is made from a projection, above the pivot point, having two opposing angles forward of the depression surface. The projection impacts the equipment before the depression surface is impacted (straight-on impact), which protects the assembly from inadvertent release of the magazine. An impact to the rear angle of the projection (a rear impact) increases the engagement of the lever with the magazine. An impact along the forward angle (from the front or straight-on) of the projection also serves to increase engagement of the lever with the magazine. The lever, with its projection having opposing angles, is specifically designed to protect the lever of an ambidextrous magazine catch from inadvertent release by impact/snag in the field. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a receiver body of a firearm  10  can include a lever  14  that, when actuated, can remove a magazine  12  from a firearm  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the lever  14  has a tooth  16  for engagement with the magazine  12  of a firearm, holding the magazine  12  within the firearm. The lever  14  can include a depression surface  18  which can be depressed by a user to actuate the release of the tooth  16  from the magazine  12 , allowing for release of the magazine  12  from the firearm  10 . 
     A pin hole  20  is provided to allow for insertion of a pin  30  to pivotally attach the lever  14  to a base  32 . A pin head recess  28  may be optionally provided about the pin hole  20  to permit the head of the pin  30  to sit flush or nearly flush with the side of the lever  14 . 
     An elevated boss  22  of the lever  14  includes a rear angled surface  24  and a front angled surface  26 . The rear angled surface  24  and front angled surface  26  can act individually or together to protect the depression surface  18  from inadvertent actuation. The rear angled surface  24  can form an angle from about 92 to about 130 degrees, typically from about 95 degrees to about 120 degrees, relative to the plane of the depression surface  18 . The front angled surface  26  can form an angle from about 185 degrees to about 225 degrees, typically from about 190 degrees to about 220 degrees, relative to the plane of the depression surface  18 . 
     An impact to the rear angled surface  24  can rotate the lever  14  towards the firearm  10  which acts to positively engage the tooth  16  with the magazine  12 , securing the magazine  12  in the firearm  10 . An impact straight-on to the front angled surface  26  also rotates the lever  14  toward the firearm  10  which acts to positively engage the tooth  16  with the magazine  12 , securing the magazine  12  in the firearm  10 . An impact to the front angled surface  26  from the front of the lever  14  towards the depression surface  18  deflects the firearm  10  away from the equipment/obstacle simultaneously rotating the lever  14  toward the firearm  10  which acts to positively engage the tooth  16  with the magazine  12 , securing the magazine  12  in the firearm  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a slidable lever portion  34  can be slidably attached to the lever  14 . The slidable lever portion  34  can include a resilient means and a stop to station slidable lever portion  34  and lever  14  as shown in  FIG. 6  such that when the depression surface  18  is moved in direction “B”, slidable lever portion  34  does not impact the receiver body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the slidable lever portion  34 , when impacted along the front angled surface  26  in direction “C”, the slidable lever portion  34  moves over the receiver body  10 , limiting movement of the lever  14  in direction “B”, maintaining engagement of the tooth  16  with the magazine  12 , holding the magazine  12  in the firearm. An included resilient means and stop can return the slidable lever portion  34  in direction “A” until the slidable lever portion  34  is stationed over lever  14  as shown in  FIG. 6 , allowing the depression surface  18  to be rotated in direction “B” without impacting the receiver body  10 , moving tooth  16  out of engagement with the magazine  12 , allowing for the intentional removal of the magazine  12  from the firearm. 
     The lever  14  of the present invention can be made from various methods and materials. Typically, the lever  14  can be machined from steel or other material using CAD/CAM or molded using the MIM process or investment casting/secondary machining. 
     The height of the elevated boss  22  can be increased or decreased to provide more protection or more clearance. Rear angled surface  24  and front angled surface  26  could be adjusted to provide better protection. 
     A detachable enlarged depression surface  18  could be added to provide more surface area for depression. This may be useful, for example, if the user is wearing gloves or mittens. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.