Magazine release for use with pistol

Abstract

A magazine release assembly for use with a pistol is disclosed. The magazine release assembly has a pin configured to be positioned through an end of a pistol trigger guard. There is a magazine release arm pivotally mounted to the pin. A magazine catch is also pivotally mounted to the pin. The magazine catch is configured to be positioned between a wall of the pistol handle and a wall of the magazine inserted into the pistol handle cavity in use. The magazine catch has a ledge which engages a notch on the magazine wall when the release arm is pivoted to an engaged position and which pivots away from the notch when the release arm is disengaged. In an embodiment, there are two magazine release arms, making the magazine release assembly ambidextrous.

1 . A pistol, comprising:
 a. a body including (i) a handle having a cavity that defines a longitudinal axis and configured for accepting a magazine through a first wall thereof and a second wall defining a width and (ii) a trigger guard having an end positioned adjacent to the second wall;   b. a barrel configured to engage a frame assembly that mounts to the body and to receive shells from the magazine and fire bullets;   c. a trigger that releases a hammer to strike a rear of a firing pin that strikes a shell in the barrel to eject the bullet therefrom; and   d. a magazine release assembly, comprising:
 i. a pin positioned through the end of the trigger guard along the width of the second wall in a direction perpendicular to the axis; 
 ii a magazine release arm pivotally mounted to the pin and positioned lateral to the trigger guard; and 
 iii. a magazine catch pivotally mounted to the pin and positioned between the second wall of the handle and a magazine wall and having a ledge which engages a notch on the magazine wall when the release arm is pivoted to an engaged position and which pivots away from the notch when the release arm is in a disengaged position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pistol of  claim 1 , wherein the pistol is sub-compact. 
     
     
         3 . The pistol of  claim 1 , further comprising a second magazine release arm. 
     
     
         4 . The pistol of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine release assembly is ambidextrous. 
     
     
         5 . The pistol of  claim 1 , the magazine catch further comprising a spring positioned to contact the second wall of the handle when the magazine is substantially inserted into the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The pistol of  claim 5 , wherein the spring is conical. 
     
     
         7 . The pistol of  claim 1 , the magazine catch further comprising a springable clip member having first and second regions that substantially align, wherein the second region contacts the second wall of the handle when the magazine is substantially inserted into the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The pistol of  claim 1 , the magazine catch further comprising a protrusion that mates with a pocket on the release arm. 
     
     
         9 . The pistol of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is a negative shape of the pocket. 
     
     
         10 . A magazine release assembly, comprising:
 a. a pin configured to be positioned through an end of a pistol trigger guard;   b. a magazine release arm pivotally mounted to the pin; and   c. a magazine catch pivotally mounted to the pin and configured to be positioned between a wall of a pistol handle and a wall of a magazine inserted into a cavity of the pistol handle in use and having a ledge which engages a notch on the magazine wall when the release arm is pivoted to an engaged position and which pivots away from the notch when the release arm is in a disengaged position.   
     
     
         11 . The magazine release assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a second magazine release arm. 
     
     
         12 . The magazine release assembly of  claim 10 , the magazine catch further comprising a spring positioned to contact the handle wall when the magazine is substantially inserted into the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The magazine release assembly of  claim 10 , the magazine catch further comprising a springable clip member having first and second regions that substantially align, wherein second region contacts the handle wall when the magazine is substantially inserted into the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The magazine release assembly of  claim 10 , the magazine catch further comprising a protrusion that mates with a pocket on the release arm. 
     
     
         15 . A pistol in combination with a magazine having a notch on a wall, comprising:
 a. a body including (i) a handle having a cavity that defines a longitudinal axis and that is configured for accepting the magazine through an opening in a first wall and further having a second wall defining a width and (ii) a trigger guard having an end positioned adjacent to the second wall;   b. a barrel configured to engage a frame assembly that mounts to the body and to receive shells from the magazine and fire bullets;   c. a trigger that releases a hammer to strike a rear of a firing pin that strikes a shell in the barrel to eject the bullet therefrom; and   d. a magazine release assembly, comprising:
 i. a pin positioned through the end of the trigger guard along the width of the second wall in a direction perpendicular to the axis; 
 ii. a magazine release arm pivotally mounted to the pin and positioned lateral to the trigger guard; and 
 iii. a magazine catch pivotally mounted to the pin and positioned between the second wall of the handle and the magazine wall and having a ledge that engages the notch when the release arm is pivoted to an engaged position and that pivots away from the notch when the release arm is pivoted to a disengaged position. 
   
     
     
         16 . The pistol of  claim 15  further comprising a removable rear sight mounted on the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The pistol of  claim 15  further comprising an extended accessory barrel connected to an end of the barrel. 
     
     
         18 . The pistol of  claim 15  wherein the firing pin is fluted. 
     
     
         19 . The pistol of  claim 15 , the magazine further comprising an extended bottom configured to facilitate grip of the pistol. 
     
     
         20 . The pistol of  claim 15 , further comprising an accessory rail mounted on the body.