Ambidextrous Firearm Receiver Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many firearms are not ambidextrously operable, leading to awkward or difficult interaction with controls for shooters of the opposite hand, and there is a risk of inadvertent actuation of controls, which can be critical in combat situations.
Innovation Solution
A firearm receiver assembly with ambidextrous operation of magazine release, bolt release, safety switch, and charging handle, allowing operation from both right and left sides, featuring dual operators for each control to prevent interference and inadvertent activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If firearms are provided in right-hand and left-hand models to accommodate different shooters, then ease of operation for each hand is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The firearm receiver assembly is designed with controls that can be operated from both the right and left sides. The magazine release assembly includes operators on both sides of the receiver body, allowing either hand to access and operate the control. This universal design eliminates the need for separate right-hand and left-hand models while maintaining ease of operation for all shooters.
2Ease of operation
If controls are positioned for right-handed operation, then ease of operation is improved for right-handed shooters, but ease of operation deteriorates for left-handed shooters
Solution Approach 1:
The control arrangement uses asymmetric positioning of operators on the receiver body. The magazine release assembly has a first operator positioned on one side and a second operator positioned on the opposite side, allowing left-handed and right-handed shooters to access controls from their dominant hand side without interference from the other hand or arm.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ambidextrous controls are provided on both sides, then adaptability is improved, but risk of inadvertent actuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine release assembly is segmented into separate operators positioned on opposite sides of the receiver body. Each operator is independently positioned and structured, so that actuation of one operator does not inadvertently trigger the other. This segmentation maintains reliability by preventing accidental dual-activation while preserving adaptability for both-handed operation.
4Device complexity
If controls are positioned close together for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to hand interference
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning controls close together in a single plane, the magazine release assembly distributes operators across different spatial locations on the receiver body, including opposite sides and different elevations. This dimensional distribution allows compact overall design while preventing hand interference during operation, as each operator is accessible from a different approach direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A firearm receiver assembly that includes a magazine release assembly, a bolt release assembly, a safety switch assembly, and a charging handle assembly and wherein at least one of the magazine release assembly, the bolt release assembly, the safety switch assembly, and the charging handle assembly are ambidextrously operable from each of a right hand side and a left hand side of the resultant firearm.