Abstract:
A smart magazine adapted to be releasably engaged with a simulated weapon is provided, the magazine comprising a housing, a valving mechanism disposed within the housing and a data module including an electronic storage medium for storing information concerning an amount of simulated ammunition “shots” present in the magazine, and a connection member operably connected to the data module and adapted to be operably connected to a control module in the weapon to transmit and receive signals in response to the firing of the weapon to adjust the number of “shots” stored in the storage medium. The magazine utilizes a compressed gas cartridge that releases gas to produce an audible “pop” when the weapon is fired and to reset the “shot” count for the magazine when the canister is replaced.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/414,721, filed on Nov. 17, 2010, the entirety of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a weapon simulation system having simulated weapons with simulated ammunition magazines, and, more particularly, to a magazine for use with a simulated weapon system that will keep track of the number of simulated rounds of ammunition that have been expended from the magazine, which also provides an easy mechanism for replacing a compressed gas cartridge within the magazine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    When military and/or police personnel or other individuals are engaged in tactical training situations, or playing games to simulate these types of situations, they use simulated weapons that are designed to imitate the size and feel of the actual firearms that are used in the field. Such firearms frequently use detachable magazines, which typically require that the operator carry a number of magazines loaded with ammunition so that they can rapidly re-load their weapon as needed. 
         [0004]    To provide a realistic experience when individuals use weapon simulator systems incorporating simulated weapons with simulated detachable magazines, weapon simulator systems have been designed so that the trainee or individual is able to carry a number of simulated magazines to be used with the simulated weapon. By using various different magazines, the operator is able to interchange these magazines with the simulated weapon, as required with actual firearms. 
         [0005]    Further, the magazine includes a mechanism capable of storing information on the number of “shots” available within the magazine, such as the electronic counter mechanism disclosed in UK Published Patent Application No. GB 2,259,559A, or the wireless module disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,014, which are each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Through various types connections formed between the mechanism in the magazine and the weapon, as the weapon tracks the number of shots fired from the weapon, the weapon can supply this information to the magazine to correspondingly adjust the available number of “shots” in the magazine until the available number of “shots” reaches zero. At that point the magazine becomes empty or depleted and the mechanism in the magazine prevents further operation of the weapon. This information can be retained in the mechanism by the magazine, such that the magazine cannot simply be removed and reinserted into the same or another weapon. Once depleted, the magazine must be recharged by connecting the magazine to a suitable charger. Other examples of magazines and weapons of this type are also shown in US Patent Application Publication No. US2008/0127538, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0006]    However, while electronic-only weapon simulator systems of this type force the individual to exchange magazines during a training simulation or game environment based on criteria similar to that present when using real weapons (i.e., the limited number of rounds present in a given magazine), the simulated weapons suffer from certain drawbacks. First, the chargers required to recharge depleted magazines require an individual to remove themselves from the simulation to access a charger, which is necessarily connected to a power source, such as an electric outlet, outside of the simulation environment. Further, the weapons of this type do not provide any feedback to the individual in the manner of real weapons, or other simulated weapons designed to fire paintballs or other similar projectiles. Consequently, when the simulated weapons of the above types are fired, only electronically-generated sounds or movement, i.e., vibration, if any, are generated by the weapon as an indication of the simulated firing of the projectile. As a result of these issues, the realism of using the simulated weapon in these simulations is diminished. 
         [0007]    To provide more realistic action to the individual using the simulated weapon, there are a number of prior art simulated weapons that include a supply of compressed gas, air or carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) within the weapon. The compressed gas supply can be externally connected to the simulated weapon, disposed directly within the simulated weapon as a simulated round to be fired, or a container held a compartment in the weapon, or within a magazine designed to be removably engaged with the weapon. In each case, the compressed gas supply is present to provide a recoil effect to the simulated weapon via a recoil mechanism operated by the compressed gas supply in response to the operation of a trigger on the weapon. Examples of weapons of this type include those disclosed in: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,947,738; 6,146,141; 6,682,350; 6,869,285; and 7,306,462; US Patent Application Publication No. US 2008/0187888 and PCT Published Application No. WO 2010/065124 A1, each of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0008]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,285 a retrofit pistol is disclosed in which the compressed gas supply is provided by a canister that is positioned directly within the handle for the pistol. The canister is positioned within a housing located in the magazine well in the handle and held therein by a threaded clamp that is turned with respect to the handle to secure or disengage the canister from the recoil mechanism. 
         [0009]    In each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,141 and 6,682,350, weapons are disclosed in which the supply of compressed gas is held within a magazine engaged with the weapon. However, in each of these references the canister is omitted and the compressed gas is stored directly within a compartment of the magazine. When depleted, the magazine is removed from the weapon and connected to a separate gas supply in order to recharge the canister with the compressed gas used to operate the recoil mechanism. 
         [0010]    While each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,141; 6,682,350 and 6,869,285 provides more realistic feedback to the individual as a result of the recoil provided by the compressed gas supply and recoil mechanism, each of these references omits any mechanism where the number of shots fired by the weapon can be recorded and retained in a storage mechanism within the magazine. Further, similar to the electronic-only weapons discussed previously, when the compressed gas supply for each of these references is depleted, the construction of the weapon does not allow for a ready resupply of the compressed gas to the weapon. 
         [0011]    In PCT Published Application No. WO 2010/065124, the disclosure shows a simulated weapon with a compressed gas canister positioned within a magazine that is removable from the magazine well. To hold the canister within the magazine, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,285, a cartridge engagement means including a threaded clamp is provided to secure or disengage the canister from a valve mechanism operated when the trigger of the weapon is depressed to supply gas from the canister to the recoil mechanism. Further, the magazine in this reference also includes a mechanism within the magazine that counts the number of “shots” fired by the weapon, and can operate to lock the weapon in an inoperable state when a predetermined number of “shots” has been reached. The magazine must then be removed from the weapon to reset the counting mechanism by depressing a switch on the magazine, such that the magazine can be returned to the weapon for continued use. 
         [0012]    However, in this reference, similar to U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,285, the construction of the cartridge engagement means prevents the magazine from being readily recharged with compressed gas. Therefore, with regard to each of prior art simulated weapons discussed here, the individual is limited to the simulated ammunition supply held within the total number of magazines that are carried by the individual. 
         [0013]    Therefore, it is desirable to develop a detachable simulated magazine for use in connection with a simulated weapon for use in various combat simulations that provides a realistic look, sound and feel to the operation of the magazine and weapon, as well as providing a more efficient and realistic manner for reloading the simulated magazine with simulated ammunition. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a simulated magazine for a simulated weapon is provided that includes a compartment therein for a compressed gas canister. The canister is operably and releasably interconnected to a memory module contained within the magazine that stores information relating to the simulated ammunition supplied by the canister present in the magazine. The memory module includes a reset switch that can be selectively operated by the replacement of the compressed gas canister to enable the memory module and magazine to be reset for additional use. The memory module is additionally operably connected to a control module within the simulated weapon when the magazine is engaged with the weapon in order to receive signals from the control module regarding the simulated shots fired, to correspondingly update the information in the memory module concerning the amount of simulated ammunition remaining in the magazine. 
         [0015]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the simulated magazine includes a valving mechanism operably connected to the compressed gas canister. When the magazine is engaged with the weapon the valving mechanism is engaged with an operating mechanism for the weapon, including the trigger. As the trigger is operated and the simulated weapon is fired, the movement of the trigger operates the valving mechanism to dispense an amount of the gas from the canister to provide a popping sound corresponding to the firing of the weapon, similar to the sounds created by the firing of a conventional paintball marker or gun. In addition, the control module for the weapon transmits a signal to the memory module in the magazine to change the count of ammunition remaining in the magazine. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the magazine includes a lever connected to the magazine that functions to both enclose the compressed gas cartridge within the magazine and to quickly engage/disengage the cartridge from the valving mechanism within the magazine in order to replace an empty cartridge with a full cartridge. 
         [0017]    Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawings figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the invention embodied by the present disclosure. 
           [0019]    In the drawings: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a simulated magazine constructed according to the present disclosure engaged with a simulated weapon; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the magazine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the magazine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the magazine of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the magazine of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, in  FIG. 1  a simulated magazine  10  is shown engaged with a simulated weapon  100 . The weapon  100  can have any shape desired to simulate an actual weapon, and the magazine  10  can have a corresponding shape for use with the particular weapon  100 . 
         [0028]    In the illustrated embodiment, the weapon  100  includes a body  102 , a barrel or muzzle  104  extending outwardly from one end of the body  102  and a handle  106  disposed on the body  102  generally opposite the barrel  104 . Adjacent the handle  106  is a trigger  108  used to operate the weapon  100 . The weapon  100  can be configured to fire any type of simulated or non-lethal ammunition, such as a line-of-sight signal, e.g., an infrared, LED or laser light beam, or a paintball, among other types of simulated ammunition. 
         [0029]    The trigger  108  is operably connected to a control module  110  disposed within the body  102  that monitors the operation of the weapon  100  in order to provide signals of any suitable type to the user, optionally such as visual signals via a display  109  on the body  102 , and to other individuals or systems regarding the status of the weapon  100 , such as wireless signals sent to a remote CPU, among others. The control module  110  also is connected to a firing mechanism  112  located within the body  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the firing mechanism  112  operates the control module  110  when the trigger  108  is operated to “fire” a round of simulated ammunition from the weapon  100  through the barrel  104 . The firing mechanism  112  can be formed as desired, and in the illustrated embodiment includes a sear  111  connected to the trigger  108 , and a hammer  113  engaged with the sear  111 . In operation, the activation of the trigger  108  causes the sear  111  and hammer  113  to move and operate the control module  110 . When operated by the trigger  108 , the control module  110  consequently and simultaneously sends out signals to a valve  116  having a stem  118  that extends outwardly from the valve  116  into a magazine sleeve or well  120  formed on the body  102  for interconnection with the magazine  10 , and to a firing mechanism (not shown) of the weapon  100 , which causes the line-of-sight signal or other simulated round to be “fired” out of the weapon  100 . The sleeve  120  is shaped to correspond to the configuration for the magazine  10  to enable a secure fit between the sleeve  120  and the magazine  10 . The sleeve  120  can also include a suitable locking mechanism (not shown) that is operable to lock the magazine  10  in place within the sleeve  120  until manually disengaged by the user when it is desired to remove the magazine  10  from the sleeve  120 . 
         [0030]    Looking now at  FIGS. 1-6 , in the illustrated embodiment the magazine  10  is constructed as a housing or shell  13  formed with a pair of halves  12  and  14  formed with apertures  15  therein, such as within channels  17  integrally formed on each half  12  and  14 . The halves  12  and  14  can be formed from any suitable material, such as a metal or hard plastic, in order to withstand the repeated uses, similar to actual weapon magazines. To secure the halves  12  and  14  together to form the shell  13 , the halves  12  and  14  can be positioned with the apertures  15  and channels  17  in each half  12  and  14  aligned with one another. In this position a number of fasteners  16  can be inserted through the apertures  15  and engaged with suitable engaging structures (not shown) located within the channels  17  in the halves  12  and  14  in any suitable manner. Alternatively, the shell  13  for the magazine  10  can be formed from a single component formed into the desired shape for the magazine  10  in any suitable manner. 
         [0031]    One or both of the halves  12  and  14  may also include a display  30 . The display  30  is operably connected to a data module  22  disposed within the magazine  10  and is operable to visually display the amount of simulated ammunition remaining within the magazine  10 . While the display  30  can be disposed where desired on the magazine  10 , in the illustrated embodiment the display  30  is located in a recessed position adjacent an engagement end  31  of the magazine  10  that is configured to be inserted within the sleeve  120  on the body  102  of the weapon  100 . In this position, prior to insertion of the engagement end  31  within the magazine sleeve  120 , the display  30  can illustrate to the user the amount of simulated ammunition remaining within the magazine  10 . Once inserted within the sleeve  120 , the display  30  is covered by the sleeve  120 , preventing the display  30  from indicating the location of the weapon  100  and the user. Alternatively, the display  30  can be position where it is visible regardless of the engagement of the magazine  10  within the weapon  100 , or the sleeve  120  can include a window (not shown) allowing the user to view the display  30  through the sleeve  120 . 
         [0032]    When assembled to form the magazine  10 , the halves  12  and  14  define an interior  18  within which is disposed a compressed gas canister  20 , and the data module  22 . The canister  20 , in one embodiment, is a standard carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) canister utilized in conventional paintball markers or guns. Different sized magazines  10  for different weapons  110  will allow the loading of between one (1) to four (4) standard twelve (12) gram canisters  20  containing liquefied CO 2  at a pressure of 600 psi to 1200 psi. The canister  20  includes a spout  60  at one end that can be punctured to enable the compressed gas in the canister  20  to exit the canister  20 . 
         [0033]    The data module  22  is formed in any desired manner and in any suitable configuration, and includes a circuit board  24  containing the operating circuitry for the module  22  that interconnects a suitable electronic memory or storage medium  25 , such as a flash drive, a replaceable power supply  26 , a reset switch  28  and a data connector  30 . The board  24  is secured within the interior  18  of the magazine  10  by engaging opposed ends and sides of the board  24  within slots  32  formed on the interior portions of each half  12  and  14 . When inserted within the slots  32 , the switch  28  is positioned within an opening  33  in a peripheral wall  34  of the magazine  10  formed by the halves  12  and  14 . The switch  28  includes a base  35  positioned on and operably connected to the circuitry on the board  24  and an arm  36  that extend though the opening  33  into a canister compartment  38 . The remainder of the module  22  is maintained within the peripheral wall  34 , such that the module  22  is protected from the elements within which the magazine  10  can be used. 
         [0034]    The arm  36  of the reset switch  28  is physically contacted and activated by the removal and/or insertion of a compressed gas canister  20  into the compartment  38 . When a new canister  20  is inserted into the compartment  38 , the canister  20  engages the arm  36  of the switch  28 , which sends a signal to the storage medium  25  on the data module  22 . This signal indicates the presence of a new canister  20 , which causes the storage medium  25  to reset to the maximum number of simulated “shots” allowed for the magazine  10 . However, the reset switch  28  can alternatively be activated by other means, such as an electronic signal (wired or wireless) received by the data module  22  and storage medium  25  or the engagement of a special key (not shown) with the switch  28  among others. 
         [0035]    The storage medium  25  is capable of storing and rewriting the number of simulated “shots” remaining in the magazine  10  during usage of the magazine  10 . The storage medium  25  is formed from any suitable type of high usage, durable memory device, such as inexpensive devices that can powered by a separate power source or that do not require a separate power source, including, but not limited to flash memory devices, EEPORM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) devices or FRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) devices, among others. The storage medium  25  can be set each game to have a certain maximum amount of shots per full magazine  10 , e.g., an M-16 would have a maximum of thirty (30) simulated shots in the full magazine  10 . Every time the simulated weapon  100  utilizing the magazine  10  fires a simulated “shot”, the storage medium  25  subtracts one “shot” from this maximum amount. The storage medium  25  is also capable of maintain the stored data on the number of simulated “shots” fired from the magazine  10  when the magazine  10  is taken out of one weapon and put into another to use the remaining ammunition, as in a real life situation. 
         [0036]    The data coupling or connector  30  is positioned within the magazine  10  adjacent the engagement end  31  and serves to relay signals between the storage medium  25  on the data module  22  and the control module  110  of the weapon  100 . The connector  30  can take any suitable form, but in the illustrated embodiment is formed as a magnetic connector, capable of creating an electronic connection for transferring data between the data module  22  and the control module  110 . The use of the magnetic data connector  30  enables the connector  30  to be housed entirely within the peripheral wall  34  of the magazine  10 , preventing damage to the connector  30  by the elements or by the repeated engagement of the magazine  10  with the weapon  100 . Signals identifying the number of simulated “shots” fired from the weapon  100  are transmitted from the control module  110  to the storage medium  25  on the data module  22  via the connector  30 . The connector  30  is disposed adjacent the engagement end  31  of the magazine  10  that is inserted into the magazine sleeve  120  of the associated weapon  100 , and is capable of transmitting and receiving signals from the control module  110  disposed within the weapon  100  that is used to monitor and control operation of the simulated weapon  100 . For example, among other connections, the control module  110  is in communication with the trigger  108  to determine when the operator has attempted to fire the simulated weapon  100 , as well as other electronics that may be used on or with the weapon  100 , such as a laser emitter (not shown), a display (not shown) and a signal transceiver (not shown), among others. As a result, when the simulated magazine  10  is inserted into the weapon  100 , the storage medium  25  and the data module  22  will be in electrical communication with the control module  110  in the simulated weapon  110  via the connector  30 . The connector  30  is selected to be a very high use connection that will allow information to be read and written from the control module  110  to the storage medium  25  and vice versa. In addition, the magazines  10 , in their intended usage, are often slammed into the weapon sleeve  120 , so the magazines  10  and the components of the magazines  10  need to be very durable. In one embodiment, to provide enhanced durability, the connector  30  is formed as a magnetic connector so there is essentially no wear or tear on the connector  30  as it does not need to be in physical contact to operate, and thus does not need to be exposed in a potentially damaging position. 
         [0037]    To provide power to the data module  22  and electronic storage medium  25 , in the illustrated embodiment the power supply  26  for the board  24  is formed with a receptacle  40  for receiving a battery  42  therein. The battery  42  can be any suitable type of battery capable of providing the necessary voltage to the board  24 , and can be selected to be easily replaceable when necessary. Further, the battery  42  supplies power to the data module  22  only when the magazine  10  is not connected with any weapon  100 , as power can be supplied to the data module  22  from the weapon  100  via the connector  30  when the magazine  10  is engaged with the weapon  100 . Thus, the effective useful life of the battery  42  is greatly extended. Additionally, other types of power supplied  26  can be used, such as by using supercapacitors or radio frequency induction processes and associated power storage mechanisms (not shown), among others. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 - 6 , the canister compartment  38  is selectively opened and closed by the operation of a pivoting cover  44  attached to the peripheral wall  34  of the magazine  10 . The cover  44  has a first end  46  including an aperture  48  formed therein in which a pivot pin  50  is disposed. Opposite ends of the pin  50  are engaged within aligned apertures (not shown) in the compartment  38  to secure the pin  50  to the magazine  10 . 
         [0039]    The first end  46  is formed with a cam  52  adjacent the pin  50 . The cam  52  in the illustrated embodiment is formed as a wheel  54  pivotally disposed within a slot  56  formed in the first end  46  above the aperture  48 , as best shown in  FIG. 5 , but could be formed as a static member, or as a curved portion of the cover  44  adjacent the first end  46 . The wheel  54  is rotatably mounted on a shaft  58  extending across the slot  56 , such that the wheel  54  can rotate freely within the slot  56 . In the open position shown in  FIG. 6 , the compressed gas canister  20  can be positioned within the compartment  38  and engaged with the arm  36  of the reset switch  28 . When the cover  44  is pivoted to the closed position shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the wheel  54  is urged upwardly into contact with the bottom of the cartridge  20 . Continued movement of the cover  44  towards the magazine  10  simultaneously presses the canister  20  against the arm  36  of the switch  28  and moves the spout  60  of the canister  20  into engagement with a valve mechanism  62  disposed within the compartment  38 . In the closed position for the cover  44  shown in  FIG. 5 , a locking arm  64  on the cover  44  spaced near a second end  47  engages a complementary structure disposed within the compartment  38  in order to hold the cover  44  securely over the compartment  38 , and the wheel  54  functions to maintain the canister  20  in secure engagement with the valve mechanism  62  and the arm  36  during use of the magazine  10 , whether engaged with a weapon  100  or not. 
         [0040]    As the cover  44  is closed over the compartment  38 , the spout  60  of the canister  20  is urged into the inlet  61  of a housing  63  for the valve mechanism  62  for engagement with a piercing device  64  and a surrounding seal  66  to open the canister  20  and prevent gas from escaping out of the valve mechanism  62 . Above the piercing device  64 , the valve mechanism  62  includes shuttle valve  68  that can move along a channel  70  formed in the housing  63  between the piercing device  64  and an outlet  72  located opposite the inlet  61 . The outlet  72  includes a pair of sealing members  73  therein which are engaged by the valve stem  118  of the weapon  100  when the magazine  10  is engaged within the sleeve  120  of the weapon  100 . When the stem  118  is inserted into the outlet  72 , the stem  118  is sealingly engaged with the sealing members  73  and presses the shuttle valve  68  towards the canister  20  against the pressure of the gas in the canister  20  to fluidly connect the canister  20  to the valve  116  in the weapon  100 . 
         [0041]    To hold the housing  63  in position within the compartment  38 , the housing  63  includes a wide lower section  74  in which the inlet  61  is located, and a narrow upper section  76  that seats within an opening  77  formed in the compartment  38  at the engagement end  31  of the magazine  10 . The upper section  76  includes a peripheral flange  78  that is positioned against the exterior of the magazine  10  to align the housing  63  within the compartment  38 . 
         [0042]    When the weapon  100  is fired, the actuation of the trigger  108  causes the control module  110  to operate the valve  116  to release an amount of the compressed gas from the canister  20  through the valve  116 , providing an audible “pop” to signal the firing of the simulated ammunition round. The activation of the valve  116  can be done in a single shot, semi-automatic or fully automatic manner, depending upon the type of simulated weapon  100  being used. In an alternative embodiment for the magazine  10 , the “pops” from the release of the compressed gas from the canister  20  can be generated directly by the valve mechanism  62  in the magazine  10 , as opposed to by the mechanism  116  in the weapon  100 , such that the mechanism  116  is not required and can be omitted. 
         [0043]    In use, during assembly of the magazine  10 , the storage medium  25  is formatted for use with a particular type of weapon  100 , such that upon any reset of the data module  22 , the storage medium  25  will be reset to the selected value for the maximum number of “shots” available in the magazine  10 . Power to enable the storage medium  25  to store and retain this information when the magazine  30  is not connected to the weapon  100  is provided by the battery  42  engaged with the storage medium  25  via the board  24 . The magazine  10  can then be loaded with the cartridge  20 . To do so, the cover  44  is pivoted away from the magazine  10  to expose the compartment  38 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The cartridge  20  is subsequently positioned within the compartment  38  with the spout  60  adjacent the valve mechanism  62  and the cover  44  is moved to the closed position, as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         [0044]    In closing the cover  44  over the cartridge  20 , the wheel  54  engages the cartridge  20  opposite the spout  60  and presses the cartridge both upwardly into the inlet  61  of the valve mechanism  62  and inwardly against the arm  36  of the reset switch  28 . By depressing the arm  36 , the data module  22  and storage medium  25  are reset/activated to indicate that the magazine  10  has a full amount of “shots” corresponding to the value written to the storage medium  25 . This amount can be viewed on the display  30  on the magazine  10 . When the cover  44  is locked into engagement with the compartment  38  via the arm  64 , the canister  20  is fully compressed against the switch arm  36  and inserted into the valve mechanism inlet  61 . In this position, the compressed gas in the canister  20  urges the shuttle valve  68  upwardly to close the mechanism  62  and prevent gas from escaping the magazine  10 . 
         [0045]    After loading the cartridge  20 , the magazine  10  can be inserted within the sleeve  120  of the weapon  100 . When inserted, the stem  118  of the valve mechanism  116  in the weapon  100  enters the outlet  72  to move the shuttle valve  68  against the pressure of the compressed gas to enable the gas to flow past the shuttle valve  68  and into the mechanism  116 . Additionally, the connector  30  is positioned in magnetic connection with a suitable member (not shown) in the sleeve  120  to operably connect the connector  30  and data module  20  with the control module  110  within the weapon  100 . The magazine  10  can be held in the engaged position within the sleeve  120  by the locking mechanism (not shown) disposed on the sleeve  120  that releasably engages the magazine  10 . 
         [0046]    When the weapon  100  is in use, the individual depresses the trigger  108  to fire one or more “shots” from the weapon  100 . In doing so, the individual operates the control module  110  which send a signal to the data module  22  via the magnetic connector  30 . This signal modifies the storage medium  25  to change the number of remaining “shots” in the magazine in accordance with the number of “shots” that have been fired. As the storage medium  25  is rewritten with the “shots” that have been fired by the weapon  100 , the data module  22  sends return signals to the control module  110  such that the control module  110  can illustrate the number of “shots” remaining in the magazine  10  on a suitable display (not shown) on the weapon  100 . If the number of “shots” remaining within the magazine  10  as stored in the storage medium reaches zero, then the control module  110  in the weapon  100  receives a corresponding signal from the data module  22  that causes the control module  110  to prevent further operation of the weapon  100 . 
         [0047]    Once empty, the magazine  10  needs to be removed from the weapon  100  and either replaced with another magazine  10  or by removing and replacing the canister  20  in the empty magazine  10 . To do so, the cover  44  is pivoted away from the compartment  38  to enable the empty canister  20  to be pulled out of the valve mechanism  62  and removed from the compartment  38  in order to be replaced by a fresh or full cartridge  20 . Once the empty cartridge  20  is removed, the arm  36  of the reset switch  28  is allowed to extend away from the switch  28 . The switch  28  can be reset when the full cartridge  20  is placed within the compartment  38  and engaged by the cover  44  as described previously. This sends a signal to the data module  22  to reset the value of the number of “shots” remaining in the magazine to the full predetermined amount for the magazine  10  as contained in the storage medium  25 , thereby rendering the magazine  10  fully loaded. 
         [0048]    Further, if the magazine  10  is removed from the weapon  100  prior to having all of the “shots” fired, the number of “shots” remaining in the magazine  10  is maintained on the storage medium  25  as a result of the power supplied by the battery  42  to the data module  22 . Therefore, the magazine  10  can be reinserted into the weapon  100  or into another weapon  100  and provide the same number of “shots” that remained when the magazine  10  was initially removed from the weapon  100 . 
         [0049]    As the weapon  100  is fired using the trigger  108 , the control module  110  operates the valve mechanism  116  in the weapon  100 . The mechanism  116  allows for an amount of compressed gas to escape the magazine  10  in a manner that produces an audible “pop” corresponding to the “shot” that was fired. In one embodiment of the magazine  10 , the maximum number of “shots” contained in the magazine  10  is less than the number of “pops” that can be obtained from the cartridge  20 . In this manner, the magazine  10  ensures a full number of “pops” to accompany each “shot” that is taken. 
         [0050]    In still another embodiment, the magazine  10  can be constructed to accommodate multiple cartridges  20  within one or more compartments  38  having one or more switches  28  and valve mechanisms  62  therein to be engaged by the cartridges  20  for use with weapons  100  having larger ammunition capacities. 
         [0051]    Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.