Rotary magazine and bolt catch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10345064-B2
Application number	US-201715787797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2017
Priority date	Oct 19, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A rotary ammunition magazine cooperates with a bolt catch to hold the bolt of a firearm out of battery in an open position after the last round has been fired. A cam mounted on the rotor of the magazine actuates a movable body on the magazine housing as the cam rotates to feed ammunition to the action. The body moves to an extended position and engages a bolt catch pivotably mounted in the firearm receiver. The bolt catch is pivoted by the body into a position where it will engage the bolt and prevent it from returning to battery after the last round has been fired.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A firearm, comprising:
a receiver;
a bolt mounted within said receiver for reciprocal motion relatively thereto between and open and a closed position;
a finger extending from said bolt;
a magazine well positioned within said receiver;
an ammunition magazine positioned within said well, said magazine comprising:
a housing for receiving said ammunition;
a cartridge rotor mounted within said housing, said cartridge rotor being rotatable relatively to said housing about an axis for advancing said ammunition through said housing;
a spring positioned within said housing for rotating said cartridge rotor about said axis;
a cam attached to said cartridge rotor and rotating therewith about said axis;
a body mounted on said housing proximate to said cam, said body being slidably movable into an extended position wherein a portion of said body projects from said housing;
a cam follower mounted on said body, said cam follower being engageable with said cam, rotation of said cam sliding said body into said extended position upon engagement of said cam and said cam follower;
said firearm further comprising a bolt catch movably mounted within said receiver, said bolt catch comprising:
a first surface engageable with said portion of said body;
a second surface engageable with said bolt, said second surface comprising a hook; wherein
when said body moves into said extended position, said bolt catch is moved into a position wherein said second surface engages said bolt such that said hook captures said finger, the hook and finger having non-parallel engagement surfaces that prevent movement of the bolt catch away from the bolt to allow release of said bolt into said closed position until said bolt is moved toward said open position away from said hook.

2. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein said bolt catch is pivotably mounted within said receiver.

3. The firearm according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring acting between said receiver and said bolt catch, said spring biasing said bolt catch into a position wherein said second surface is not engageable with said bolt.

4. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein said cam comprises:
a disk attached to said cartridge rotor;
a projection extending from said disk, said projection being engageable with said cam follower.

5. The firearm according to claim 4 , wherein said projection extends in a direction parallel to said axis.

6. The firearm according to claim 4 , wherein said axis passes through a center of said disk.

7. The firearm according to claim 4 , wherein said projection is positioned proximate to an edge of said disk.

8. The firearm according to claim 1 , wherein said body comprises an elongated stem.

9. The firearm according to claim 8 , wherein said portion of said body is positioned at an end of said stem.

10. The firearm according to claim 9 , wherein said portion of said body further comprises a tab positioned on said end of said stem, said tab being oriented transversely to said stem.

11. The firearm according to claim 8 , wherein said stem is slidable lengthwise into said extended position in a direction transverse to said axis.

12. The firearm according to claim 8 , wherein said cam follower comprises a surface projecting from said stem, said cam engaging said surface for moving said stem into said extended position.

Assignees

• Smith & Wesson Corp

Inventors

• Laney Mark C
• Viviano Matteo V

Classifications

• F41A9/73 Primary

  Drum magazines · CPC title

• F41A17/36

  locking the gun {automatically} in a safety condition when the magazine is empty or removed {(F41A17/44 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F41A9/74 Primary

  with radially disposed cartridges · CPC title