Locking levers for removable ammunition magazines for firearms and methods of operating the same

Abstract

A locking lever for spring loaded retainment of a removable ammunition magazine on a firearm and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example locking lever includes a locking end that engages the ammunition magazine in a locked position and retains the magazine. The example locking lever also includes an operating end for rotation of the locking end to an unlocked position in which the locking end releases the magazine. The operating end is provided with at least a first operative control and a differently oriented second operative control at least one of which can be actuated to rotate the locking end into the unlocked position.

1 . A locking lever for spring loaded retainment of a removable ammunition magazine, the locking lever comprising: 
 a locking end that engages the ammunition magazine in a locked position and retains the magazine;    an operating end for rotation of the locking end to an unlocked position in which the locking end releases the magazine; and    wherein the operating end is provided with at least a first operative control and a differently oriented second operative control at least one of which can be actuated to rotate the locking end into the unlocked position.    
   
   
       2 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an axis of rotation that extends transversely to a principal axis that extends in a shooting direction.  
   
   
       3 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the axis of rotation intersects the locking lever between the locking end and the operating end.  
   
   
       4 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first operative controls extends approximately perpendicular to the principal axis and the second operative control extends parallel to the principal axis and the axis of rotation.  
   
   
       5 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the second operative control extends into a front area of a trigger guard and includes two control flaps, one of which extends to the right of the trigger guard, the other of which extends to the left of the trigger guard.  
   
   
       6 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the control flaps are can be operated with a finger of a hand that grasps a handle of a weapon.  
   
   
       7 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 6 , wherein a region that connects the two control flaps extends under the trigger guard.  
   
   
       8 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the locking lever is spring-loaded by a spring element.  
   
   
       9 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the spring element is a leg spring.  
   
   
       10 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger guard comprises a recess in which the second operative control extends.  
   
   
       11 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first operative control can be operated with the thumb of the operating hand that surrounds the magazine.  
   
   
       12 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second operative controls have surfaces that include a structure or layering that facilitates operation of the first and second operative controls.  
   
   
       13 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the structure or layering is at least one of ridges, knurls, naps, or dents, and/or handgrip troughs and/or elastomeric inlays.  
   
   
       14 . A locking lever as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the lever is constructed as a single piece.  
   
   
       15 . A firearm comprising: 
 a locking lever for spring loaded retainment of a removable ammunition magazine, the locking lever comprising:    a locking end that engages the ammunition magazine in a locked position and retains the magazine;    an operating end for rotation of the locking end to an unlocked position in which the locking end releases the magazine; and    wherein the operating end is provided with at least a first operative control and a differently oriented second operative control at least one of which can be actuated to rotate the locking end into the unlocked position.    
   
   
       16 . A firearm as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a trigger mechanism;    a spring-loaded breechblock stop that is operable between a resting position and an operative position, wherein the breechblock stop includes a slider control that has a control extension in the trigger guard;    an ammunition magazine that includes a follower;    wherein the breechblock stop may be moved between an operative position and a resting position by one of engagement with the follower of the magazine or actuation of the slider;    wherein the breechblock is unlocked in a released position when the breechblock stop is in the resting position, and the breechblock is locked in an open position when the breechblock stop is in the operative position; and    wherein the slider protrudes downwards into a first recess in the trigger guard and a region of the second operative control that connects two control flaps comprises a corresponding second recess.    
   
   
       17 . A method of releasing a magazine from a firearm comprising: 
 grasping the magazine with one hand and grasping a handle of the firearm with the other hand;    exercising an unlocking force on at least one of a first operative control of a lever or a second operative control of the lever, wherein the unlocking force on the first operative control is exercised with the thumb on the hand grasping the magazine and the unlocking force on the second operative control is exercised with the hand grasping the handle; and    wherein the lever includes a locking end that is engages with a lip on the magazine and the unlocking force causes the locking end to move out of engagement with a lip on the magazine allowing the magazine to be released from the firearm.    
   
   
       18 . A method of releasing a magazine from a firearm as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the first operative control and the second operative control are variably oriented to receive differently directed unlocking forces to unlock the magazine.