Manual Bolt Action Latch Mechanism

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a firearm and a bolt latch mechanism coupled to the firearm. The bolt latch mechanism may be configured to capture a bolt of the firearm after each discharge of the firearm. Further, the bolt latch mechanism may include a latch release button accessible by a user to release the bolt to chamber a next round.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a firearm;   a magazine including a plurality of rounds of ammunition; and   a bolt latch mechanism coupled to the firearm and configured to capture a bolt of the firearm after each discharge of the firearm, the bolt latch mechanism including a latch release button accessible by a user to release the bolt to chamber a next round of ammunition.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism includes:
 a spring configured to engage a spring interface portion of the bolt latch mechanism; and   a fastener configured to couple the bolt latch mechanism to a housing, the fastener defining a pivot point about which the spring biases the bolt latch into a path along which the bolt moves after each discharge of the firearm.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism further includes a latch stop configured to engage a lower surface of the housing to limit a distance the bolt latch mechanism extends into the path of the bolt. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism includes a first side having a slope defining an obtuse angle relative to a path traveled by the bolt of the firearm after each discharge of the firearm. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the slope translates a force from movement of the bolt into a downward force applied to the bolt latch mechanism to cause the bolt latch to retract. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism includes a second side extending in a direction that is substantially normal relative to the path traveled by the bolt of the firearm after each discharge of the firearm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second side is configured to engage and secure the bolt in a disengaged state. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a firearm;   a magazine including a plurality of rounds of ammunition; and   a bolt latch mechanism between a trigger assembly and a buffer tube of the firearm, the bolt latch mechanism configured to automatically capture a bolt after each discharge of the firearm to prevent the bolt from automatically chambering a next round of ammunition.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism further includes a latch release button accessible by a user to release the bolt to chamber the next round of ammunition. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism includes a bolt latch having a chamber side and a bolt stop side, the chamber side having a slope configured to translate a force from movement of the bolt into a downward force on the bolt latch to cause the bolt latch to retract into a housing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring configured to apply a spring force to the bolt latch to push the bolt latch into a path of the bolt. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the force applied by the bolt is greater than a force applied by the spring when the bolt travels toward the chamber side of the bolt latch. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the spring is configured to advance the bolt latch into a bolt catch state and the bolt stop side of the bolt latch is configured to automatically engage and secure the bolt in a disengaged state after each discharge of the firearm. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism includes:
 a spring configured to engage a spring interface portion of the bolt latch mechanism; and   a fastener configured to couple the bolt latch mechanism to a housing, the fastener defining a pivot point about which the spring biases the bolt latch mechanism into a path along which the bolt moves after each discharge of the firearm.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the bolt latch mechanism further includes a latch stop configured to engage a lower surface of the housing to limit a distance the bolt latch mechanism extends into the path of the bolt. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a bolt latch mechanism including a bolt latch extending into a path along which a bolt travels after each discharge of a firearm;   securing the bolt in a disengaged state after each discharge of the firearm; and   automatically advancing a next round of ammunition from a magazine including a plurality of rounds of ammunition into the path along which the bolt travels.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising releasing the bolt in response to a manual selection of a latch release button associated with the bolt latch to chamber the next round of ammunition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the bolt latch mechanism comprises:
 biasing the bolt latch to extend into the path using a spring; and   stopping the bolt latch from extending beyond a desired extent using a latch stop configured to contact a lower surface of a housing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 automatically retracting the bolt latch from the path in response to movement of the bolt after each discharge of the firearm; and   automatically extending the bolt latch into the path after the bolt moves past the bolt latch toward a stock of the firearm using a spring.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein automatically retracting the bolt latch comprises translating a force supplied by the bolt into a downward force on the bolt latch.