Ambidextrous firearm controls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11913746-B2
Application number	US-202218058645-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2022
Priority date	Dec 3, 2021
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to ambidextrous firearm controls, including an ambidextrous bolt control assembly and/or ambidextrous magazine release and associated methods. The ambidextrous bolt control assembly may include a bolt catch configured to hingedly connect to a firearm to rotate between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the bolt catch may include a first bolt catch engagement button operable from a first side of the firearm and a first bolt catch release button operable from the first side of the firearm; an ambidextrous bolt catch engagement button operable from a second side of the firearm; and an ambidextrous bolt catch release button operable from the second side of the firearm; wherein the ambidextrous bolt catch engagement button and the ambidextrous bolt catch release button may each be separately movable relative to the firearm. The ambidextrous bolt catch assembly may further include an ambidextrous magazine release assembly.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. An assembly for a firearm, the assembly comprising:
a bolt catch assembly comprising a bolt catch configured to hingedly connect to a firearm to rotate between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the bolt catch assembly comprising a bolt catch button configured to, upon actuation thereof, actuate the bolt catch towards the disengaged position or the engaged position; and
a dust cover connected to a side of the firearm to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the dust cover is configured such that, in an instance in which the dust cover is moved in an opening direction towards the open position, at least a portion of an exterior surface of the dust cover engages the bolt catch button to facilitate actuation of the bolt catch button.

2. The bolt catch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dust cover is hingedly connected to the side of the firearm to rotate between the open position and the closed position.

3. The bolt catch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the dust cover is configured to rotate about a hinge axis oriented in an at least substantially longitudinal direction.

4. The bolt catch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second bolt catch button associated with the bolt catch assembly, the second bolt catch button being configured to actuate the bolt catch towards the disengaged position or the engaged position, the second bolt catch button being operable from the side of the firearm; wherein the dust cover is positioned to be movable from the closed position towards the open position without engaging the second bolt catch button.

5. The bolt catch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bolt catch button is configured to, upon actuation thereof, cause the bolt catch to rotate in a first rotational direction towards the engaged position.

6. The ambidextrous bolt catch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bolt catch button and the second bolt catch button are each hinged about a common axis oriented in an at least substantially vertical direction.

7. The ambidextrous bolt catch assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second bolt catch button is configured to, upon actuation thereof, cause the bolt catch to rotate in the first rotational direction towards a second engaged position.

8. The bolt catch assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a third bolt catch button associated with the bolt catch assembly, the third bolt catch button being operable from a second side of the firearm.

9. The bolt catch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the dust cover is arranged along the side of the firearm in the vertically stacked configuration above both the bolt catch button and the second bolt catch button.

10. The bolt catch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second bolt catch button defines a top arm comprising a recess in which the bolt catch button is disposed.

11. The bolt catch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bolt catch button defines a bolt catch engagement button configured to actuate the bolt catch towards the engaged position, and the second bolt catch button defines a bolt catch release button configured to actuate the bolt catch towards the disengaged position.

12. The bolt catch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dust cover is configured to, in the instance in which the dust cover is in the open position, facilitate an ejection of one or more cartridge casings from an upper receiver during a cycling operation.

13. The bolt catch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dust cover is arranged along the side of the firearm in a vertically stacked configuration above the bolt catch button.

14. The bolt catch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dust cover comprises an internal dust cover surface and an external dust cover surface; and wherein in a second instance in which the dust cover is in the closed position, the external dust cover surface faces outwards from the side of the firearm.

15. The bolt catch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dust cover is configured such that, in the open position, the external dust cover surface engages the bolt catch button.

16. The bolt catch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dust cover defines a spring loaded configuration.

17. A firearm comprising the bolt catch assembly of claim 1 .

18. The firearm of claim 17 , further comprising an ambidextrous magazine release assembly.

19. The firearm of claim 18 , wherein the ambidextrous magazine release assembly comprises:
a rod extending from a first rod end to a second rod end, wherein the rod is positioned in an at least substantially lateral direction, the second rod end being defined by a rod base;
a lever arm extending from a first arm end to a second arm end and being positioned in an at least substantially longitudinal direction along a first lateral side of the firearm, wherein the lever arm is configured to hingedly connect to the rod base at a vertical hinge pivot positioned along the lever arm, the lever arm comprising:
a magazine engagement protrusion extending from the second arm end, the magazine engagement protrusion being configured to engage a magazine in an engaged position; and
an ambidextrous magazine release button positioned at the first arm end, the ambidextrous magazine release button being operable from the first lateral side of the firearm and configured to, upon actuation thereof, cause the magazine engagement protrusion to move in a rotational magazine release direction; and
a first magazine release button connected to the first rod end, the first magazine release button being operable from a second lateral side of the firearm and configured to, upon actuation thereof, cause the magazine engagement protrusion to move in a lateral magazine release direction.

20. A method of operating an assembly for a firearm, the assembly comprising:
a bolt catch assembly comprising a bolt catch configured to hingedly connect to a firearm to rotate between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the bolt catch assembly comprising a bolt catch button configured to, upon actuation thereof, actuate the bolt catch towards the disengaged position or the engaged position; and
a dust cover connected to a side of the firearm to move between an open position and a closed position;
the method comprising moving the dust cover in an opening direction towards the open position such that at least a portion of an exterior surface of the dust cover engages the bolt catch button to facilitate actuation of the bolt catch button.

Assignees

• Whg Properties Llc

Inventors

• Geissele William
• Robinson Frank

Classifications

• F41A17/38

  {Magazine mountings, e.g. for} locking the magazine in the gun · CPC title

• F41A35/06 Primary

  Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use · CPC title

• F41A3/68

  Bolt stops, i.e. means for limiting bolt opening movement · CPC title

• F41A17/42

  Safeties for locking the breech-block or bolt in a safety position (F41A17/32, F41A17/36, F41A17/40 take precedence {; anti-rebound arrangements F41A3/70}) · CPC title

• F41A35/02

  Dust- or weather-protection caps or covers (protecting-caps for trigger guards F41A17/54) · CPC title