Dust cover for a firearm

An apparatus for use in a firearm, the firearm being operable for firing a cartridge having a projectile and having a receiver portion including an elongated passageway having a first portion, a firing mechanism having a magnetic portion and operable to fire the cartridge and being adapted for rearward movement with respect to the receiver portion upon the firing of the cartridge and subsequent forward movement, a charging handle connected to the firing mechanism and adapted to move in the passageway, and a barrel adapted to receive the projectile after the cartridge is fired, the apparatus comprising:

• the receiver portion defining at least one interior track;
• a cover adapted for movement and to substantially cover the first portion of the passageway;
• at least one magnet connected to the cover and adapted to be magnetically attracted to the magnetic portion of the firing mechanism such that the cover is drawn towards and substantially follows the firing mechanism during forward movement;
• wherein the cover is adapted to move to and fro within the interior track as the firing mechanism moves with respect to the receiver portion;
• and
• wherein the cover is adapted to intermittently substantially cover and uncover the first portion of the passageway as the firing mechanism moves.

A firearm for firing a cartridge having a projectile, the firearm comprising:

• a receiver portion adapted to receive the cartridge:
• the receiver portion including an elongated passageway having a first portion;
• a firing mechanism having a magnetic portion and a firing device operable to fire the cartridge;
• a charging handle connected to the firing mechanism and adapted to move in the passageway;
• a barrel adapted to receive the projectile after the cartridge is fired;
• the firing mechanism being adapted for rearward movement with respect to the receiver portion upon the firing of the cartridge and subsequent forward movement;
• a cover adapted for movement and to selectively cover a portion of the passageway;
• at least one magnet connected to the cover and adapted to be magnetically attracted to the magnetic portion of the firing mechanism such that the cover is drawn towards and substantially follows the firing mechanism during forward movement of the firing mechanism;
• and
• wherein the cover is adapted to intermittently substantially cover and uncover the first portion of the passageway as the firing mechanism moves.