Firearm magazine adapter and release assembly

Abstract

An exemplary firearm includes a magazine well including an adapter-receiving portion defining an adapter receiving-recess and a magazine adapter removably coupled to the adapter-receiving portion of the magazine well. The magazine adapter includes a magazine catch assembly configured to move between a magazine-engaging state and a magazine disengaging state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm, comprising:
 a magazine well including an adapter-receiving portion defining an adapter receiving-recess; and   a magazine adapter removably coupled to the adapter-receiving portion of the magazine well, the magazine adapter including a magazine, catch assembly configured to move between a magazine-engaging state and as magazine-disengaging state.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine well includes a front portion, a rear portion, and first and second opposing side portions, the front portion, the rear portion, and the first and the second opposing side portions forming a first portion of a magazine receiving enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 2 , wherein the magazine adapter further includes a magwell adapter housing coupled to the magazine catch assembly, the magwell adapter housing forming a second portion of the magazine receiving enclosure when the magazine adapter is coupled to the magazine well. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the magwell adapter housing is at least partially received within the adapter-receiving recess defined by the adapter-receiving portion. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the magazine receiving enclosure and the second portion of the magazine receiving enclosure comprise a first magazine receiving enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the magwell adapter housing further includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the magazine receiving enclosure comprises a first magazine receiving enclosure including the first portion of the magwell adapter housing, and wherein the second portion of the magwell adapter housing comprises a second magazine receiving enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 6 , wherein the second magazine enclosure is contained within the first magazine enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 6 , wherein at least part of the magazine adapter is at least partially received within the adapter-receiving recess defined by the adapter-receiving portion. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine adapter includes a magazine catch body, a magazine catch arm pivotingly coupled to the magazine catch body, and a magazine catch release hook coupled to the magazine catch body and the magazine catch arm, wherein translation of the magazine catch release hook causes the magazine catch arm to pivot relative to the magazine catch body, wherein such pivoting moves the magazine catch assembly being between the magazine-engaging state and the magazine-disengaging state. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the magazine adapter further is received within the adapter-receiving recess defined by the adapter-receiving portion. 
     
     
         11 . A firearm, comprising:
 a magazine release/retention assembly, including:
 a first magazine release mechanism including:
 a first release lever having a first end and a second end; 
 a first transfer link coupled to the second end of the first release lever, the first transfer link being configured to removably couple to a magazine catch assembly, the magazine catch assembly being configured to move between a magazine-engaging state and a magazine-disengaging state, wherein actuation of the first release lever moves the magazine catch assembly toward the magazine-disengaging state and wherein release of the first release lever returns the magazine catch assembly to the magazine-engaging state; and 
 
   a second magazine release mechanism, including an ambidextrous transfer link, an ambidextrous release bar coupled to ambidextrous transfer link, and a second transfer link coupling the ambidextrous transfer link to the first transfer link and the first release lever such that actuation of the ambidextrous release bar moves the magazine catch assembly toward the magazine-disengaging state and wherein release of the ambidextrous release bar returns the magazine catch assembly to the magazine-engaging state.   
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the first magazine release mechanism is a rear magazine release mechanism and the second magazine release mechanism is a forward release mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the first release lever is actuated by pivoting the first release lever about a pivot between a first end of the first release lever and a second end of the first release lever. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 13 , wherein pivoting the first release lever results in axial movement of the first transfer link. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 14 , wherein actuating the ambidextrous release bar includes laterally moving the ambidextrous release bar. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein lateral movement of the ambidextrous release bar results in axial movement of the second transfer link. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the ambidextrous release bar includes a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface, the first and second ramped surfaces defining a slot and wherein the ambidextrous transfer link is at least partially received within the slot. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the magazine catch assembly includes a magazine catch hook configured to at least partially receive a post coupled to the first release lever. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 18 , wherein the magazine catch release hook is part of a magazine adapter and wherein the magazine adapter further includes a magazine catch body, and a magazine catch arm pivotingly coupled to the magazine catch body, wherein the magazine catch release hook coupled to the magazine catch body and the magazine catch arm such that axial translation of the magazine catch release hook causes the magazine catch arm to pivot relative to the magazine catch body, wherein such pivoting moves the magazine catch assembly between the magazine-engaging state and the magazine-disengaging state. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm of  claim 19 , further comprising a magazine well, wherein the magazine adapter is removably coupled to the magazine well. 
     
     
         21 . A firearm, comprising:
 a magazine well including an adapter-receiving portion defining an adapter receiving-recess; and   a magazine adapter configured to selectively retain a type of magazine in the magazine well, including a magazine catch assembly removably coupled to the adapter-receiving portion of the magazine well, the magazine catch assembly being configured to move between a magazine-engaging state and a magazine-disengaging state; and   a magazine release/retention assembly, including:
 a first magazine release mechanism including:
 a first release lever having a first end and a second end; 
 a first transfer link coupled to the second end of the first release lever, the first transfer link being configured to removably couple to the magazine catch assembly, wherein actuation of the first release lever moves the magazine catch assembly toward the magazine-disengaging state and wherein release of the first release lever returns the magazine catch assembly to the magazine-engaging state; and 
 a second magazine release, mechanism, including an ambidextrous transfer link, an ambidextrous release bar coupled to ambidextrous transfer link, and a second transfer link coupling the ambidextrous transfer link to the first transfer link and the first release lever such that actuation of the ambidextrous release bar moves the magazine catch assembly toward the magazine-disengaging state and wherein release of the ambidextrous release bar returns the magazine catch assembly to the magazine-engaging state. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The firearm of  claim 20 , wherein the magazine well includes a front portion, a rear portion, and first and second opposing side portions, the front portion, the rear portion, and the first and the second opposing side portions forming a first portion of a magazine receiving enclosure, and wherein magazine adapter further includes a magwell adapter housing coupled to the magazine catch assembly, the magwell adapter housing forming a second portion of the magazine receiving enclosure when the magazine adapter is coupled to the magazine well.