Lever-action firearm and kit for constructing the same

Abstract

A receiver system comprises upper and lower receiver bodies, a lower receiver body, a bolt carrier, and an action-control lever. The upper receiver body is a semi-automatic firearm upper receiver body. The lower receiver body includes a stock mounting flange having a stock receptacle that is matingly engageable with a receiver engaging portion of a stock. The bolt carrier is slidably disposed within a bolt carrier receiving bore of the upper receiver body. The action-control lever has a hand loop and a first attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop. The first attachment arm is pivotably attached at a distal end thereof to the lower receiver body for being pivoted between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position relative to the lower receiver body. The action-control lever is attached to the bolt carrier through an articulating coupling assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for assembling a firearm, comprising:
 a linkage member including a bolt carrier engaging end portion and an action-control lever engaging end portion;   a bolt carrier having a linkage member structure engaging portion at a rear end portion thereof, wherein the linkage member structure engaging portion of the bolt carrier and the bolt carrier engaging end portion of the linkage member are jointly configured to permit the bolt carrier engaging end portion of the linkage member to be pivotably attached to the linkage member structure engaging portion of the bolt carrier;   a lower receiver body having engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body, wherein a rear end portion of the lower receiver body includes an accessory mounting flange; and   an action-control lever having a hand loop, a first attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, and a second attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm and a lever mounting portion of the lower receiver body are jointly configured to permit the distal end portion of the first attachment arm to be pivotably attached to the lever mounting portion of the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position relative to the lower receiver body, wherein the second attachment arm and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accessory securement body having spaced-apart engagement shoulders;   wherein the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof; and   wherein the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment between the distal end portion thereof and the hand loop; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 all points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein:
 a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; and 
 the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         6 . A kit for assembling a firearm, comprising:
 a linkage member including a bolt carrier engaging end portion and an action-control lever engaging end portion;   a bolt carrier having a linkage member structure engaging portion at a rear end portion thereof, wherein the linkage member structure engaging portion of the bolt carrier is configured to permit the bolt carrier engaging end portion of the linkage member to be moveably coupled thereto;   a lower receiver body having engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body, wherein a rear end portion of the lower receiver body includes an accessory mounting flange; and   an action-control lever including a first attachment arm and a second attachment arm, wherein a proximate end portion of the first attachment arm is attached to a proximate end portion of the second attachment arm, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm and a lever mounting portion of the lower receiver body are jointly configured to permit the distal end portion of the first attachment arm to be pivotably attached to the lever mounting portion of the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position relative to the lower receiver body and a cartridge-ejecting position relative to the lower receiver body, wherein the second attachment arm and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position.   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an accessory securement body having spaced-apart engagement shoulders;   wherein the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof; and   wherein the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.   
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8  wherein:
 a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; and 
 the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member. 
 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein:
 a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; and 
 the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member. 
 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein:
 a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein; and 
 the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member. 
 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an accessory securement body engageable with the accessory mounting flange in a manner inhibiting unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof; and   the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles.   
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         22 . A kit for assembling a firearm, comprising:
 a linkage member including a bolt carrier engaging end portion and an action-control lever engaging end portion, wherein a central portion of the linkage member between the first and second end portions thereof has a hammer-receiving space therein and wherein the hammer-receiving space is one of a hammer-receiving channel within a lower surface of the linkage member and a hammer-receiving passage extending through upper and lower surfaces of the linkage member;   a bolt carrier having a linkage member structure engaging portion at a rear end portion thereof, wherein the linkage member structure engaging portion of the bolt carrier and the bolt carrier engaging end portion of the linkage member are jointly configured to permit the bolt carrier engaging end portion of the linkage member to be pivotably attached to the linkage member structure engaging portion of the bolt carrier;   a lower receiver body having engagement surfaces and at least a rear takedown pin bore enabling the lower receiver body to be matingly attached to the AR-15 platform compatible upper receiver body, wherein a rear end portion of the lower receiver body includes an accessory mounting flange;   an action-control lever having a hand loop, a first attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, and a second attachment arm having a proximate end portion thereof attached to the hand loop, wherein a distal end portion of the first attachment arm and a lever mounting portion of the lower receiver body are jointly configured to permit the distal end portion of the first attachment arm to be pivotably attached to the lever mounting portion of the lower receiver body for enabling the action-control lever to pivot between a battery-ready position and a cartridge-ejecting position relative to the lower receiver body, wherein the second attachment arm and the lower receiver body are jointly configured such that the second attachment arm extends through the accessory mounting flange with the action-control lever in the battery-ready position; and   an accessory securement body engageable with the accessory mounting flange, wherein the accessory securement body has spaced-apart engagement shoulders, wherein the accessory mounting flange includes opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles within a central passage thereof, and wherein the spaced-apart engagement shoulders and the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles are jointly configured for permitting each of the spaced-apart engagement shoulders to be engaged within a respective one of the opposing shoulder-receiving receptacles to inhibit unrestricted fore and aft movement of the accessory securement body relative to the lower receiver body.   
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD.   
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 24  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD.   
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 27  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm. 
 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 27  wherein the accessory mounting flange includes an accessory receptacle that is compatible for being matingly engaged with a receiver engaging portion of a stock directly mountable on a shotgun that was commercially-available prior to the year 2022 AD. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 29  wherein:
 the second attachment arm includes an arcuate segment; 
 the arcuate segment extends along an arcuate axis; and 
 a plurality of points along the arcuate axis are equidistant from a pivot pin hole within a distal end portion of the second attachment arm.