Trigger Guard Magazine Latch for Ambidextrous Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art firearms' magazine release latches are inconveniently located, requiring shooters to use their left hand and thumb to operate, making it awkward to eject and replace magazines while holding the stock with their right hand.
Innovation Solution
A magazine release latch and trigger guard combination that allows operation with the trigger finger, enabling easy access and use by either hand without releasing the stock grip, featuring a pivotally mounted latch with spring-urged portions that can be actuated by the trigger finger to eject and insert magazines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the magazine release latch is located in front of and below the trigger guard, then the latch structure is simple and conventional, but the latch becomes too far forward for the shooter to actuate with their right hand while holding the stock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the magazine release latch from a horizontal position (in front of the trigger guard) to a vertical position (along the rear edge of the trigger guard). This dimensional repositioning allows the shooter's thumb, which naturally contacts the rear edge of the trigger guard, to easily access and actuate the latch without requiring the hand to reach forward or release the stock grip.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the magazine release latch is positioned for right-hand operation, then right-handed shooters can easily access it, but left-handed shooters cannot operate it while holding the stock with their left hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the magazine release latch to be universally accessible to both right-handed and left-handed shooters. By positioning the latch along the rear edge of the trigger guard where both thumbs naturally contact when gripping the stock, the mechanism serves multiple user groups equally. The latch structure and actuation point are designed to accommodate bidirectional thumb pressure from either hand, making the system universal rather than hand-specific.
3Productivity
If the shooter uses their left hand and thumb to operate the magazine release latch, then the latch can be actuated, but the shooter must release the stock grip or use the other hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the magazine release latch to be pre-accessible to the shooter's thumb during normal stock gripping. The latch is located at the rear edge of the trigger guard, which is already in contact with the shooter's thumb when properly holding the stock. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for additional hand movements or releasing the grip before magazine replacement, allowing immediate and convenient operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates quick and convenient magazine changes with either hand while maintaining a secure grip on the stock, enhancing operational efficiency and usability for both right- and left-handed shooters.
Implementation Method 1
a magazine release latch (24) pivotally mounted between the projections (20) and having a latch portion (28) which is normally urged by spring (30) to project slightly forwardly of end (22) of the magazine chute (12)
Data Source
AI summary
An improved magazine release latch and trigger guard combination which is operable by the shooter's trigger finger while holding the rifle stock in the same hand.