Drop-In Ambidextrous Magazine Catch Assembly With Release Lever Protection Guide

Abstract

A drop-in ambidextrous magazine catch assembly with release lever protection guide is described. The assembly may be implementable on a lower receiver of a firearm, and may include a magazine catch, a protection guide and a release lever. The magazine catch may be configured to, in a first position when installed in the lower receiver, latch onto a magazine inserted into the lower receiver to prevent the magazine from moving out of the lower receiver and, in a second position when installed in the lower receiver, unlatch the magazine to allow the magazine to move out of the lower receiver. The release lever may be pivotably mounted on the protection guide and connected to the magazine catch, the release lever configured to be in a pressed position or a non-depressed position such that, when in the pressed position, the magazine catch is moved to the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device implementable on a lower receiver of a firearm, comprising:
 a magazine catch configured to, in a first position when installed in the lower receiver, latch onto a magazine inserted into the lower receiver to prevent the magazine from moving out of the lower receiver and, in a second position when installed in the lower receiver, unlatch the magazine to allow the magazine to move out of the lower receiver;   a protection guide; and   a release lever pivotably mounted on the protection guide and connected to the magazine catch, the release lever configured to be in a pressed position or a non-depressed position such that, when in the pressed position, the magazine catch is moved to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the protection guide comprises one or more pads or cushions in contact with the lower receiver when the protection guide is installed on the lower receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more pads or cushions are made of an elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the protection guide is designed with a height measured from a surface of the lower receiver on which the protection guide is installed such that the protection guide surrounds and is flush with the release lever when the release lever is in the non-depressed position. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the protection guide and the release lever are installed on a left side of the lower receiver when a magazine release button is installed on a right side of the lower receiver, and wherein the magazine is released from the lower receiver by pressing the magazine release button on the right side of the lower receiver or by pressing the release lever on the left side of the lower receiver. 
     
     
         6 . A firearm, comprising:
 a lower receiver;   a magazine catch configured to, in a first position when installed in the lower receiver, latch onto a magazine inserted into the lower receiver to prevent the magazine from moving out of the lower receiver and, in a second position when installed in the lower receiver, unlatch the magazine to allow the magazine to move out of the lower receiver;   a protection guide; and   a release lever pivotably mounted on the protection guide and connected to the magazine catch, the release lever configured to be in a pressed position or a non-depressed position such that, when in the pressed position, the magazine catch is moved to the second position.   
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 6 , wherein the protection guide comprises one or more pads or cushions in contact with the lower receiver when the protection guide is installed on the lower receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more pads or cushions are made of an elastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 6 , wherein the protection guide is designed with a height measured from a surface of the lower receiver on which the protection guide is installed such that the protection guide surrounds and is flush with the release lever when the release lever is in the non-depressed position. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 6 , wherein the protection guide and the release lever are installed on a left side of the lower receiver when a magazine release button is installed on a right side of the lower receiver, and wherein the magazine is released from the lower receiver by pressing the magazine release button on the right side of the lower receiver or by pressing the release lever on the left side of the lower receiver.