Rifle detachable box magazine release locking mechanism

Abstract

A locking mechanism for restricting the actuation of a magazine release lever of a firearm can have a lock that is operable between a locked position for restricting the actuation of the magazine release lever and an unlocked position for permitting the actuation of the magazine release lever. The lock pin can comprise a lock pin having a recessed portion and a locking portion, wherein when a stop latch is aligned with the recessed portion, the locking mechanism allows the magazine release lever to be actuated and when the stop latch is aligned with the locking portion, the locking portion interferes with a rotation of the stop latch, restricting the actuation of the magazine release lever.

Description

FIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the invention generally relate to box magazine release latch mechanisms for rifles, and more specifically related to box magazine release latch mechanisms having a locking system to prevent the accidental actuation of the release latch.BACKGROUND

[0002] A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm, either integral within the gun (internal / fixed magazine) or externally attached (detachable magazine). The magazine functions by holding several cartridges within itself and sequentially pushing each one into a position where it may be readily loaded into the barrel chamber by the firearm's moving action.

[0003] There are several different ways to store ammunition for repeating firearms, such as clips, tubular magazines, integral box magazines, and detachable box magazines.

[0004] In modern firearms, the detachable box magazine is now a common feature. It is a convenient way to load, unload and feed ammunition into a rifle action, while providing modularity and access for cleaning when required.

[0005] Firearms using detachable magazines are made with an opening known as a magazine well into which the detachable magazine is inserted. The magazine well interacts with the magazine to hold the magazine within the magazine well, in position for feeding cartridges stored in the magazine into the chamber of the firearm. In order to remove or separate the magazine from the firearm, a magazine release is actuated to drop the magazine from the magazine well.

[0006] By virtue of being removable however, magazines can be lost or damaged when detached, either accidentally or otherwise. In such cases, this may render a firearm almost unusable if a replacement magazine is not on hand.

[0007] It is for this reason that a sizable portion of shooters, particularly those who use their firearms far from a source of replacement parts (such as hunters in the wilderness) still opt for more traditionally fed systems, such as versions of internal box magazine, such as a blind magazine.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a locking mechanism for a magazine release and also illustrating a magazine secured within a magazine well;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded side perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention in accordance to FIG. 1, illustrating the individual components of the locking mechanism;

[0010] FIG. 3 is close up side perspective view of the locking mechanism, illustrating a lock pin having a locking portion, a recessed portion, and two grooves;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a close up side cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism in accordance to FIG. 1, illustrating the locking mechanism in the unlocked position; and

[0012] FIG. 5 is a close up side cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism in accordance to FIG. 1, illustrating the locking mechanism in the locked position;SUMMARY

[0013] To prevent the unintentional actuation of the magazine release lever which can cause a magazine to detach and separate from a magazine well and a firearm, a lock, operable between a locked position and an unlocked position, has been incorporated. When the lock is in its locked position, the lock interferes with a rotation of a stop latch which prevents the actuation of the magazine release lever, preventing the magazine from being detached from the firearm.

[0014] In a broad aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism for restricting the actuation of the magazine release lever of a firearm comprises a lock operable between a locked position for restricting the actuation thereof, and an unlocked position for permitting the actuation thereof.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] With reference to FIG. 1, in embodiments, a lower assembly of a firearm, comprising a bottom metal 10, can operatively be connected to an upper assembly (not shown) containing a firing mechanism (not shown), such as a bolt assembly. Further, the lower assembly can comprise a trigger well 20 for receiving a portion of a trigger assembly (not shown) therein to operate the bolt assembly and functionally permit the firearm to discharge a projectile through a barrel (not shown) that is operatively connected to the upper assembly. In embodiments, the bottom metal 10 can be interchangeable with a stock, or chassis, and can be integral therewith.

[0016] As shown, the bottom metal 10 can further comprise a magazine well 30 for accepting and temporarily securing a magazine 40 therein to permit cartridges from the magazine to be fed into a breech or chamber (not shown) of the barrel.

[0017] More specifically, and as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom metal 10 can further comprise a magazine release lever 50 that can be manually actuated between two operating positions, a first locking position and a second release position. Although not shown, it is generally known in the art that the magazine release lever 50 can be biased by a pretensioned biasing mechanism, such as a spring, to bias the lever in its first locking position. As this is already well-known in the common art, the Applicant has not shown the pretensioned biasing mechanism for the magazine release lever 50.

[0018] To transition or actuate the magazine release lever 50 from its locked position to its release position, an external force, such as applied by an operator of the firearm, must manually be applied to overcome the tension provided by the pretensioned biasing mechanism. The application of the external force must be sufficient enough to allow the magazine release lever 50 to be positioned into its release position and permit a magazine to be disengaged from the magazine well 30.

[0019] The Applicant notes that while the magazine release lever 50 is shown as a lever type release, the embodiments of the invention are not limited to a lever type magazine release and can be applied to magazine releases of any type. The embodiment shown in the figures is just one embodiment and application of the embodiment invention.

[0020] As shown, the magazine release lever 50 can have a means or mechanism, such as a locking mechanism 60, for preventing or otherwise restricting the actuation or movement of the magazine release lever 50. This restriction results in the inability of an operator to remove or detach a magazine secured within the magazine well, unless the operator has intent on carrying out such action. That is, the locking mechanism 60 functions to prevent unintentional actuation of the magazine release lever 50, thus reducing the likelihood of the accidental release of the magazine 40 from the magazine well 30 and the firearm.

[0021] With specific reference to FIG. 2, in embodiments, the locking mechanism 60 can be a locking button mechanism which can restrict any movement of the magazine release lever 50 on a firearm assembly. The locking mechanism 60 can be operable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and can be operated or actuated manually by the operator. In its locked position, the locking mechanism 60 restricts the movement of the magazine release lever 50, while when the locking mechanism 60 is in its unlocked position, it allows for full range of motion of the magazine release lever 50. In other embodiments, the locking mechanism can be a toggle switch type locking mechanism. The Applicant notes that the locking mechanism need not be limited to the specific types of mechanisms disclosed herein.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, and in embodiments, the locking mechanism 60 can further comprise a lock pin 70. With specific reference to FIG. 3 and as shown, in embodiments, the lock pin 70 can comprise a cylindrical lock pin having an exterior surface 80 with a locking portion 90 and a recessed portion 100 adjacent a distal end 110 of the cylindrical lock pin. Applicant notes that the lock pin 70, while shown as being cylindrical is not limited to this specific shape or profile, and can include a rectilinear bar, other appropriate shapes.

[0023] Referring back to FIG. 2, in embodiments, the locking mechanism 60 can further comprise a stop latch 120 which is operatively connected to the magazine release lever 50 by way of a retaining pin 130. The stop latch 120 being operatively connected to the magazine release lever 50 by way of the retaining pin 130 permits the stop latch 120 to rotate cooperatively with the magazine release lever 50 when the magazine release lever 50 is actuated by an operator. This cooperative rotation of the stop latch 120 and the magazine release lever 50 can be restricted or interfered with by the lock pin 70, when the lock pin 70 is positioned in its locked position.

[0024] In embodiments, the stop latch 120 can be integral with the magazine release lever 50.

[0025] In operation and with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, when the lock pin 70 is in its unlocked position, the recessed portion 100 is substantially aligned with the stop latch 120. The recessed portion 100 provides additional clearance for a stop 140 of the stop latch 120 to rotate into. That is, as the magazine release lever 50 is actuated, the cooperative movement of the stop latch 120 causes a rotation thereof, such that the stop 140 enters into the additional clearance provided by the recessed portion 100.

[0026] This entry of the stop 140 into the recessed portion 100 permits the complete rotation of the stop latch 120 and the complete cooperative actuation of the magazine release lever 50.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, when the lock pin 70 is actuated into its locked position, the lock pin 70 is displaced or otherwise moved laterally such that the recessed portion 100 of the lock pin 70 is no longer aligned with the stop latch 120, instead, the stop latch 120 becoming aligned with the locking portion 90 of the exterior surface 80 of the lock pin 70. As shown, the locking portion 90 of the lock pin 70 has a diameter sufficient and is sized sufficiently to interfere with the rotation of the stop latch 120, such that the stop 140 engages the locking portion 90 of the lock pin 70, interfering with the rotation of the stop latch 120, and thereby restricting the complete cooperative actuation of the magazine release lever 30.

[0028] Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lock pin 70 can have a length sufficient to extend a width of the bottom metal 10 (or in embodiments, the lower assembly and / or stock of the firearm) and protrude from each side of the bottom metal 10. In embodiments, the lock pin 70 protrudes sufficiently from either side of the bottom metal 10 to allow the operator easy access to the lock pin 70.

[0029] With specific reference to FIG. 2, the lock pin 70 can have a threaded fastener, such as a set screw 150, adjacent the distal end 110 of the lock pin 70 to secure the lock pin 70 within a channel 160 of the bottom metal 10. The channel 160 extends the width of the bottom metal 10, and is of a sufficient diameter to accept the lock pin 70 therethrough and allow the lock pin 70 to freely travel laterally therein.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the exterior surface 80 of the lock pin 70 further comprises at least one groove 150 thereon. To prevent the free lateral travel of the lock pin 70 within the channel 160 of the bottom metal 10, at least one pin retaining mechanism comprising a ball 180, a compression spring 190 and a fastener, such as a retention set screw 200 cooperatively engages the at least one groove 170 on the exterior surface 80 of the lock pin 70. As shown in FIG. 3, the lock pin 70 can have two grooves, but in embodiments, the lock pin 70 can have one or more grooves to accept the retention set screw.

[0031] In operation, the ball 180 is biased to engage at least one of the grooves 170 by the compression spring 190. The retention set screw 200 can be used to set an appropriate amount of tension force applied to the compression spring 190 to apply to the ball 180. As shown, the retention set screw 200 can be threadably secured to the bottom metal 10.

[0032] In embodiments, the ball 180 can be any tapered retaining device, such as a tapered nipple.

[0033] To actuate the lock pin 70 from its locked position to its unlocked position or vice versa, an external force, such as manual actuation of the lock pin 70 by an operator, can be applied to the lock pin 70. The lateral external force applied to the lock pin 70 can be is transferred to the ball 180, causing the ball 180 to travel along a tapered surface of the groove 170 and causing the compression spring 190 to compress even further. As the lock pin 70 travels further laterally, the ball 180 is positioned about an adjacent subsequent groove 170 on the exterior surface of the pin 80, and falls into the subsequent groove by the biasing force of the compression spring 190. The lock pin 70 is now in a second desired position.

[0034] In embodiments, the lock pin 70 can be removed (by removing the set screw 150) and installed in the reverse orientation, depending on the hand dominance of the operator and their preference. That is, in embodiments, the magazine release locking mechanism can be ambidextrous.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for restricting the actuation of a magazine release lever of a firearm comprising:a lock operable between a locked position for restricting the actuation of the magazine release lever and an unlocked position for permitting the actuation of the magazine release lever.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lock further comprises a lock pin and a stop latch operatively connected to the magazine release lever, wherein the stop latch rotates cooperatively with an actuation of the magazine release lever.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the stop latch is integral with the magazine release lever.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 2 or 3, wherein the stop latch further comprises a stop.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the lock pin further comprises an exterior surface having a locking portion, wherein the locking portion is sized sufficiently to interfere with a rotation of the stop latch when the lock pin is positioned in its locked position.

6. The locking mechanism of any one of claims 3, 4, or 5, wherein the lock pin further comprises a recessed portion for accepting the stop therein to permit rotation of the stop latch and the actuation of the magazine release lever when the locking pin is in its unlocked position.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 5 or 6, wherein the exterior surface of the lock pin further comprises at least one groove for interacting with a pin retaining mechanism.

8. The locking mechanism of claim 7, wherein the pin retaining mechanism further comprises a ball, a compression spring, and a set screw.

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