Integral butt plate with latch and catch mechanisms for pistol magazine

摘要

Unitary polymeric butt plate with an integral latch and catch mechanism is used for a magazine of a semi-automatic pistol. A frame of the pistol includes a handgrip defined by a backstrap, a front strap and laterally spaced side walls and a downwardly opening magazine chamber within the handgrip. A downwardly open slot provided through opposed side wall portions of said frame, one portion of a catch disposed within said frame and interengageable with another portion of said catch mechanism. The latch mechanism is adapted to interlock with a slot through opposed wall portions adjacent the lower end of the magazine. The catch includes a pair of spaced, opposed and resiliently flexible arms extending upwardly and outwardly in divergent relation from opposite side portions of the butt plate portion. Each of the arms includes one portion of a catch mechanism adjacent its upper end which is adapted to interengage releasably with another portion of the catch located within a magazine chamber provided within the handgrip of the pistol so that upon insertion of the magazine into such chamber, the arms will be deflected inwardly with resultant interengagement of the two portions of the catch mechanism.