# US 11,906,263 B2 · Folding stock assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,263 B2 - Document ID: US11906263B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/391,728 - Filed: 2021-08-02 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31 - Applicants: James Matthew Underwood; Larry Cullen Underwood - Inventors: James Matthew Underwood; Larry Cullen Underwood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906263B2 ## CPC - F41C 23/04: Folding or telescopic stocks or stock parts (articulated or collapsible guns F41A11/04) - F41A 35/06: Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use - F41C: SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR - F41A: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE ## Abstract An ambidextrous folding stock assembly for a firearm includes a forward hinge fitting attached to the firearm, a central assembly disposed on a rear side of the forward hinge fitting, and a rear hinge fitting disposed on a rear side of the central assembly. The central assembly includes at least one hinge body, an actuation portion including a lower portion disposed below the at least one hinge body, and at least one latch portion disposed below the at least one hinge body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ambidextrous folding stock assembly for a firearm comprising: a forward hinge fitting attached to a firearm; a central assembly disposed on a rear side of the forward hinge fitting; a rear hinge fitting disposed on a rear side of the central assembly; and a forward hinge axis extending through the forward hinge fitting and the central assembly such that the forward hinge fitting and the central assembly can rotate relative to one another, wherein: the forward hinge axis is laterally aligned with a center of the firearm such that the forward hinge axis is equidistant between a left side of the firearm and a right side of the firearm; the central assembly comprises: at least one hinge body; an actuation portion comprising a lower portion disposed below the at least one hinge body; and at least one latch portion disposed below the at least one hinge body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stock extending from the rear hinge fitting, wherein: the rear hinge fitting and the stock are configured to pivot relative to the central assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a rearward configuration wherein the stock extends rearward from the firearm; a left side folded configuration wherein the stock is folded adjacent to the left side of the firearm; and a right side folded configuration wherein the stock is folded adjacent to the right side of the firearm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a rear hinge axis extending through the rear hinge fitting and the central assembly, wherein; the forward hinge axis has a vertical axial direction; and the rear hinge axis has a vertical axial direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one spring for biasing the actuation portion in a vertical direction relative to the at least one hinge body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch portion comprises at least one protrusion that engages a portion of the folding stock assembly to prevent movement of the folding stock assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one protrusion extends upward from the at least one latch portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 6, wherein: the at least one latch portion comprises a forward latch portion and a rear latch portion; the forward latch portion comprises a protrusion that engages a notch of the forward hinge fitting; and the rear latch portion comprises a protrusion that engages a notch of the rear hinge fitting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 1, wherein: the forward hinge fitting comprises a plurality of notches for engaging the at least one latch portion in various configurations; and the rear hinge fitting comprises a plurality of notches for engaging the at least one latch portion in various configurations. ### Claim 10 An ambidextrous folding stock assembly for a firearm comprising: a forward hinge fitting configured to attach to a firearm receiver; a hinge body pivotably attached to a rear side of the forward hinge fitting; a rear hinge fitting attached to a rear side of the hinge body; an actuation portion movable relative to the hinge body; at least one latch portion; and a forward hinge axis extending through the forward hinge fitting and the hinge body, wherein: the hinge body comprises: a first configuration where the hinge body is folded about the forward hinge axis relative to the forward hinge fitting toward a left side of the firearm receiver; and a second configuration where the hinge body is folded about the forward hinge axis relative to the forward hinge fitting toward a right side of the firearm receiver. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuation portion is movable in a vertical direction relative to the hinge body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuation portion comprises: at least one side member that interfaces with the hinge body; and a lower portion disposed below the hinge body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 10, further comprising a stock extending from the rear hinge fitting, wherein: the central assembly is configured to pivot relative to the forward hinge fitting; and the rear hinge fitting and the stock are configured to pivot relative to the central assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a rearward configuration wherein the stock extends rearward from the firearm receiver; a left side folded configuration wherein the stock is folded adjacent to the left side of the firearm receiver; and a right side folded configuration wherein the stock is folded adjacent to the right side of the firearm receiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one latch portion comprises at least one protrusion that engages a portion of the folding stock assembly to prevent movement of the folding stock assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one protrusion extends upward from the at least one latch portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 15, wherein: the at least one latch portion comprises a forward latch portion and a rear latch portion; the forward latch portion comprises a protrusion that engages a notch of the forward hinge fitting; and the rear latch portion comprises a protrusion that engages a notch of the rear hinge fitting. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 10, wherein: the forward hinge fitting comprises a plurality of notches for engaging the at least one latch portion in various configurations; and the rear hinge fitting comprises a plurality of notches for engaging the at least one latch portion in various configurations. ### Claim 19 An ambidextrous folding stock assembly for a firearm comprising: a forward hinge fitting attached to a firearm; a central assembly disposed on a rear side of the forward hinge fitting; a rear hinge fitting disposed on a rear side of the central assembly; a forward hinge axis extending through the forward hinge fitting and the central assembly such that the forward hinge fitting and the central assembly can rotate relative to one another; and a rear hinge axis extending through the central assembly and the rear hinge fitting such that the central assembly and the rear hinge fitting can rotate relative to one another, wherein: the ambidextrous folding stock assembly is configured to simultaneously (i) pivot about the forward hinge axis and (ii) pivot about the rear hinge axis; the central assembly comprises: at least one hinge body; an actuation portion comprising a lower portion disposed below the at least one hinge body; and at least one latch portion disposed below the at least one hinge body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 19, wherein rotation about the forward hinge axis and the rear hinge axis occurs in the same direction such that (i) counter-clockwise rotation when viewed from above causes a stock attached to the rear hinge fitting to rotate to a right side of the firearm and (ii) clockwise rotation when viewed from above causes a stock attached to the rear hinge fitting to rotate to a left side of the firearm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The ambidextrous folding stock assembly of claim 19, wherein rotation about the forward hinge axis and the rear hinge axis occurs in opposite directions such that a stock attached to the rear hinge fitting extends rearward but is offset laterally from a centerline of the firearm.