Bolt Catch for a Rifle

Abstract

An improved bolt catch assembly for a rifle, the assembly comprising a magazine actuator arm having a protrusion operable to engage a follower of an ammunition magazine; a bolt catch having a bolt contact surface operable to engage a bolt on the rifle; and an elongated bar having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the magazine actuator arm and the second end attached to the bolt catch.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A bolt catch assembly for a rifle, the assembly comprising:
 a magazine actuator arm having a protrusion operable to engage a follower of an ammunition magazine;   a bolt catch having a bolt contact surface operable to engage a bolt on the rifle; and   an elongated bar having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the magazine actuator arm and the second end attached to the bolt catch.   
     
     
         2 . The bolt catch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine actuator arm, bolt catch, and bar rotate in unison around a longitudinal axis of the bar. 
     
     
         3 . The bolt catch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion of the magazine actuator arm is operable to engage the follower of the ammunition magazine at a front end of the magazine. 
     
     
         4 . The bolt catch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine actuator arm further comprises an over-travel arm. 
     
     
         5 . The bolt catch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the over-travel arm is operable to engage an over-travel contact surface on the rifle. 
     
     
         6 . The bolt catch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt catch further comprises a release lever. 
     
     
         7 . The bolt catch assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a cover plate having a channel sized to accept the bar.