Abstract:
A combination magazine and outer skin for a firearm including a magazine core adapted to releasably engage a firearm in communication with an action assembly associated with the firearm. Multiple cores are stackable end-to-end to define a continuous interior, with an end cap engaging an open bottom of a lowermost core. A design indicia exhibits an interior recess and is assembled around the stacked cores. A dual use follower is in use with an uppermost located magazine and maintains the assembly bolt in an open position and following the last cartridge being fired until such time as the magazine is removed. In the further variant, with a BHOA installed in place, the follower activates the BHOA and the bolt to remain in the retracted/open position, following magazine removal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/415,556 filed on Nov. 19, 2010. This Application is a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/986,454 filed on Jan. 7, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,296, which in turns claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/321,942 filed on Apr. 8, 2010. This Application is also a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/987,653 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,479,635 filed on Jan. 10, 2011, which in turns claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/321,951 filed on Apr. 8, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a combination of ammunition holding cores, including stackable high and low capacity cores, in use with an outer assembleable skin for binding the core or cores in end-to-end stacked fashion and for adapting to different stylings. The invention further includes a dual use follower in use with an uppermost located magazine and which maintains the associated action assembly bolt in an open position, even with a corresponding bolt hold open action (BHOA) assembly removed following the last cartridge being fired, and until the magazine is removed. In the further instance of a BHOA in place, the follower activates the BHOA and the bolt to remain in the retracted/open position, following magazine removal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cartridge supporting magazines are known, such as for use with a number of firearms. By definition a magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines may be integral to the firearm (fixed) or removable (detachable and function by moving the cartridges (ammunition or bullets) stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the firearm chamber by the action (reciprocating bolt or otherwise) of the firearm. Magazines come in many shapes and sizes, from bolt action, express rifles that hold only a few rounds to semi-automatic and fully automatic machine guns that hold hundreds of rounds. 
     The most popular type of magazine in modern rifles and handguns, a box magazine stores cartridges in a column, either one above the other or staggered zigzag fashion. As the firearm cycles, cartridges are moved to the top of the magazine by a follower driven by spring compression to either a single feed position or side-by-side feed positions. Box magazines may be integral to the firearm or detachable. 
     In the latter instance, a detachable box magazine is a self-contained mechanism capable of being loaded or unloaded while detached from the host firearm and which is attached via a slot in the firearm receiver, usually below the action but occasionally to the side (Sten, FG42, Johnson LMG) or on top (Madsen machine guns, Bren gun, FN P90). When the magazine is empty, it can be detached from the firearm and replaced by another full magazine. This significantly speeds the process of reloading, allowing the operator quick access to ammunition. This type of magazine may be straight or curved, the curve being necessary if the rifle uses rimmed ammunition or ammunition with a tapered case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a combination magazine and outer skin for use with a firearm including an inner magazine core supporting a volume of cartridges and adapted to releasably engage a firearm in communication with an action assembly associated with the firearm. An outer skin is applied around the inner core and depicts a design indicia. 
     Additional variants include a first magazine core and a second magazine core arranged in end-to-end stacked fashion and defining a continuous and open interior volume, an end cap engaging an open bottom of a lower positioned magazine core. First and second assembleable skins can also be provided, each defining an interior recess and which, upon assembly, seat therebetween at least one magazine core. 
     The skins may further exhibit enlarged notches in communication with the interior recesses for seating expanded lip edges of the magazine cores. A lower pair of opposing notches are defined in the aligning skins for both aligning and restraining a corresponding pair of expanded lip edges associated with the magazine cores. 
     A plurality of fasteners are inserted through opposite edge locations of the outer aligning and assembling skins and between which seats said magazine core. The outer skin design can further include, without limitation, a waffle style skin. 
     A dual use follower in use with an uppermost located magazine and which maintains the associated action assembly bolt in an open position, even with a corresponding bolt hold open action (BHOA) assembly removed following the last cartridge being fired, and until the magazine is removed. In the further instance of a BHOA in place, the follower activates the BHOA and the bolt to remain in the retracted/open position, following magazine removal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective of dual stackable high capacity magazine cores in combination with a two piece waffle type assembleable skin according to a first variant; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the variant of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled perspective of a single high capacity magazine core in combination with the two piece waffle type skin according to a further variant; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the variant of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective of a single low capacity magazine core in combination with the two piece waffle type skin according to a further variant; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the variant of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective of a both low and high capacity magazine cores in combination with the two piece waffle type skin according to a further variant; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the variant of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an assembled perspective of a single high capacity magazine core in combination with a minimal dimensioned waffle type skin in combination; 
         FIG. 10  is side partial cutaway view of an upper magazine with upwardly biasing follower element in a first operative variant without a bolt hold open action (BHOA) installed and which will maintain the reciprocating bolt in a rearwardly retracted/open position until such time as the magazine is removed; and 
         FIG. 11  is a slightly modified illustration with respect to what is shown in  FIG. 10  and including the installation of a BHOA by which the associated action assembly bolt is maintained in the retracted/open position following magazine removal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention discloses a combination of ammunition holding cores, including stackable high and low capacity cores, in use with an outer assembleable skin for binding the core or cores in end-to-end stacked fashion and for adapting to different stylings, this in comparison to traditional magazines which are limited in both styling and capacity. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an assembled perspective is illustrated at  10  of dual stackable high capacity magazine cores in combination with a two piece waffle type assembleable skin according to a first variant. These are further shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 2  and include a pair of inner core ammunition holding magazines  12  and  14 . 
     The core ammunition magazines  12  and  14  are arranged in stacked fashion so as to define a continuous and open interior volume, with each exhibiting an elongate extending, arcuate and rectangular open interior with opposite open upper and lower ends. As shown, a bottom closing cap  16  is attached to the open bottom of the lower positioned magazine  14 . 
     At the opposite upper end of the upper positioned magazine  12 , additional cartridge feed components are provided and include an upper housing  18  which assembles with an upper end of the core ammunition magazine  12  as shown in order to facilitate installation into the receiving chamber associated with the upper receiver of the rifle. A version of a dual action follower is further depicted at  20  (with more particular variants of followers integrated with first and second applications being subsequently described in reference to  FIGS. 10-11 ). Such arrangement of components interface the magazine with the firearm and permit the cartridges to be advanced in sequential and orderly fashion within the firearm. 
     The magazines  12  and  14  are constructed of a suitable metal or heavy duty polymeric material and each can further include, at opposite ends, a projecting lip or ledge, see at  22  and  24  for upper positioned magazine  12  and further at  26  and  28  for lower positioned magazine  14 . This shaping of the magazines  12  and  14  facilitates both end to end stacking in a fashion which aligns the inner defined cartridge supporting volume, as well as providing for secure engagement upon application of the outer skin which is further depicted by first assembleable half  30  and second assembleable half  32 . 
     The skins  30  and  32  are each generally elongated and mating in configuration, with each exhibiting an outer design surface, such as a waffle, honeycomb or other suitable pattern to enhance gripping, and which can be constructed of a suitable semi-rigid or rigid polymeric or like material. The inner opposing surfaces of the skins  30  and  32 , as best depicted by selected skin  32  in  FIG. 2 , each exhibit a recessed configuration such as is referenced at  34  for skin  32  and which matches one side of the profile established by the magazine  12 . Enlarged notches are also configured within each of the opposing and matingly aligning surfaces of each skin in communication with the inner recessed configurations (e.g. again at  34 ) and include such as that shown at  36  for seating upper lip edge  22  of magazine  12  as well as at  38  for likewise seating opposing and aligning lip edges  24  and  26  of end to end stacked magazines  12  and  14 . 
     In this fashion, the skins  30  and  32  are assembled such that they surround and encase the magazines  12  and  14  in the manner depicted in  FIG. 1 , the result of which being that an overall magazine of maximized cartridge supporting capacity is created from any number of end-to-end stackable magazines  12 ,  14 , et seq. Further, and given the supporting and retaining configuration of the assembled skins  30  and  32 , the lower magazine  14  is prevented from become disengaged or otherwise misaligned from the upper magazine  12 , this again due to the restraining and locating aspects of the enlarged seating notches and including those depicted at  38  which seat the aligning lip edges  24  and  26  of the magazines so as to maintain the integrity of the overall inner cartridge supporting volume. 
     The outer assembling skins  30  and  32  can be secured together in a number of differing fashions, such as employing clips and the like. However, and as is further depicted, one engagement scheme can include a first plurality of screws  40  which assemble (from exterior of skin  30 ) through aligning apertures formed through both of the skins  30  and  32  upon assembly around the magazine(s) and exhibited on outer perimeter locations between which the profile of the magazine  12  seats. A corresponding plurality of nuts  42  engage projecting ends of the screws  40  from an opposite face of the skins (skin  32 ) to bind the skins in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring both to the assembled view of  FIG. 3  and the exploded view of  FIG. 4 , shown at  44  is a further variant of a single high capacity magazine core  12  in combination with the two piece waffle type skins  30  and  32 . The skins  30  and  32  are identical to that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , such that a repetitive description is unnecessary. Further, the second magazine  14  in the variant of  FIG. 1  is removed with the assembled combination  44  being limited to a single cartridge supporting magazine  14  with the end closing cap  16  secured in place (and further in this variant being restrained within the enlarged and seating notch such as is again representatively shown at  38  in selected skin  32 ). 
     Proceeding to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , successive assembled perspective and exploded views are shown at  46  of a further variant exhibiting a single low capacity magazine core, see as shown at  48  and as compared to the higher capacity magazines  12  and  14 . The core  48  is provided in combination again with the two piece waffle type skin  30  and  32  as previously described and further such that the skins  30  and  32 , upon alignment, exhibit a further intermediate positioned and aligning/enlarged notch in communication with its recessed and magazine seating interior (see notch  50  for selected skin  32  and which is also evident in each of the illustrations of  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). End cap  16  is again shown, in this instance closing off the open bottom of reduced sized magazine core  48 . 
       FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective and  FIG. 8  a corresponding exploded view of a further arrangement  52  depicting both low  48  and high  14  capacity magazine cores depicted in end-to-end stacked fashion in combination with the two piece waffle type skin  12  and  14  according to a further and intermediate capacity variant between that disclosed in the variants of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The variant  52  again employs all previously described components according to a yet further inter-changeable combination. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates at  54  an assembled perspective of a single high capacity magazine core, such as previously described at  12  with end cap  16  affixed, in combination with a minimal dimensioned waffle type skin similar to that previously described and as is illustrated in assembled fashion by skin halves  56  and  58 . Although not shown, the binding halves  56  and  58  exhibit the same interior configuration as associated with the skins  30  and  32  and are configured to assemble about any suitable magazine core such as at  12  or  48 . Further, the design profile is again shown by a waffle type or honeycomb pattern but can again be changed to any other suitable textured and/or designed pattern as desired. 
     As depicted throughout the several embodiments described herein, the present inventions disclose a variety interchangeable skin designs in combination with varying combinations of differently sized and end-to-end stacked magazine cores in order to provide a maximum of design customization and cartridge capacity. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a side partial cutaway view is generally shown at  60  of an uppermost installatable magazine  62  (such as exhibiting a surrounding assembleable skin as previously described), and which is arranged in relation to selectively illustrated portions of an upper receiver of the rifle which are represented by action assembly bolt  64  and a forward positioned chamber adaptor  66 . An upwardly biasing follower element  68  is depicted in a first operative variant without a bolt hold open action (BHOA) installed (see further as partially represented at  70  in  FIG. 11  over an open magazine well defined within the upper receiver) and which will maintain the reciprocating bolt  64  in a rearwardly retracted/open position until such time as the magazine is removed or the follower  68  otherwise retracted downwardly, at which point an engaging ledge  72  of the follower is withdrawn from a first position in engagement with an opposing location  74  of the bolt  64 , with the result being the forward closing of the bolt in a direction toward the chamber adaptor  66 . 
     Referring finally to  FIG. 11 , a similar magazine  62  is again illustrated with respect to what is shown in  FIG. 10 , and again includes the uppermost displaceable follower  68  in an alternate application to that previously described in  FIG. 10 . For purposes of  FIG. 11 , the follower  68  is arranged in concert with the BHOA (bolt hold open) element  70 , and by which the associated action assembly and bolt  64  is maintained in the retracted/open position both prior to and following removal of the magazine  62  and follower  68 . The bolt hold open  70  is similar in construction to those previously disclosed in copending applications U.S. Ser. No. 12/986,454 filed Jan. 7, 2011 and Ser. No. 12/987,653 filed Jan. 10, 2011 and includes a catch actuator  76  which is supported in elevatable fashion relative to an end of the actuator housing. 
     The follower component, upon contacting and upwardly displacing a catch actuator  76  incorporated into the BHOA  72 , engages the bolt location  74  in a retracted/opened maintained position again as shown. Following retraction of the magazine and associated follower, the bolt  64  is maintained in its retracted position until such time as the catch actuator  76  is downwardly displaced a limited distance relative to the BHOA  70  frame for releasing the bolt  64  for forward travel. 
     Having described our invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims: