Abstract:
A magazine loading assembly consists of telescoping segments that pull down a magazine spring plate, but leave the magazine follower in place, to release the spring pressure and allow for ease in loading.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/279,084 filed Jan. 15, 2016, and U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/225,975 filed Aug. 2, 2016, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to cartridge magazines for firearms, and more specifically to an easy-load ammunition magazine or clip for use in magazine fed firearms. 
       II. Description of the Prior Art 
       [0003]    Conventional firearm cartridge clips require that the ammunition shells be manually loaded one at a time through an upper opening into the magazine overcoming the progressively increasing resistance of a magazine spring. In general, each shell, as it is being loaded, is pressed against a previously loaded shell requiring considerable finger dexterity and strength. Indeed, this loading operation requires increasing force as more rounds of ammunition are loaded into the magazine and the magazine spring is progressively compressed. This loading operation thus requires the firearm user to apply progressively increasing loading forces with their finger, which in turn progressively increases the fatigue on the finger, which in turn may cause pain and possible injury. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, many people do not have the prerequisite finger strength or dexterity to manually load a firearm cartridge clip. Others are only able to partially load the clip, as the dexterity and strength required to fully load the clip exceeds their capabilities. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, even those who are able to load the magazine to its full capacity are typically unable to load the last several ammunition rounds as quickly as the first several ammunition rounds were loaded. Indeed, resistance of the clip spring can slow the speed with which a clip is loaded, as well as tire an individual that has to load multiple clips. 
         [0006]    A plethora of attempts have been made to provide clips or devices to be used with clips to facilitate the loading of the ammunition shells into the magazine. Most of these attempts focus on drawing down the clip spring and follower, in one form or another, to reduce the loading resistance. Some of these designs have proven to be overly complex while others simply do not work for their intended purpose. The overly complex designs tend to be rather cumbersome and time consuming. And, the simpler designs increase the likelihood that the ammunition shells will fall into the clip in the vertical or diagonal orientation, requiring that the clip be emptied and reloaded. As such, there is currently nothing available to the firearm user that adequately addresses the aforementioned problems. 
         [0007]    The present disclosure overcomes the problems associated with the loading of ammunition into conventional magazine clips. Accordingly, it is a general object of this disclosure to provide an improved magazine loading assembly for automatic and semi-automatic firearms. 
         [0008]    It is another general object of the present disclosure to provide a magazine loading assembly that releases spring pressure to enable ease and efficiency of loading ammunition. 
         [0009]    It is a more specific object of the present disclosure to provide a magazine loading assembly follower that maintains appropriate resistance, without spring pressure, to enable proper alignment and positioning of loaded ammunition. 
         [0010]    It is another more specific object of the present disclosure to provide a self-contained telescoping assembly within the magazine for releasing clip spring pressure. 
         [0011]    These and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a firearm magazine loading assembly having a housing, a telescoping assembly within the housing including a bottom end and a plurality of tubing segments having smaller top ends and larger bottom ends such that each smaller segment fits within an adjacent segment wherein the bottom segment extends through the bottom of the housing. A magazine spring within the housing is biased against the spring plate at one end and against housing bottom at the other. A follower is positioned within the housing between the open top end and the spring plate whereby when the telescoping assembly is in a retracted and firing mode the spring urges the follower against a flange on the top end of the housing and when the telescoping assembly is in an extended and loading mode the spring does not urge the follower. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a firearm magazine loading assembly having a housing, a telescoping assembly within the housing including a bottom end with a handle and a plurality of tubing segments having smaller top ends and larger bottom ends such that each smaller segment fits within an adjacent segment wherein the bottom segment extends through the bottom of the housing. A spring plate having front and rear legs for aligning a spring. A magazine spring within the housing is biased against the spring plate at one end and against housing bottom at the other. A follower having an angled front leg and a back leg including resistive bars is positioned within the housing between the open top end and the spring plate whereby when the telescoping assembly is in a retracted and firing mode the spring urges the follower against a flange on the top end of the housing and when the telescoping assembly is in an extended and loading mode the spring does not urge the follower. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present disclosure will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views and in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the component parts of a conventional prior art semi-automatic pistol. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2 a    is a cross-sectional is the side view of a conventional prior art gun magazine without ammunition rounds loaded. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2 b    is the diagram of  FIG. 2 a    with ammunition rounds loaded. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3 a    is a cross-sectional side view of the magazine loading assembly according to the principles of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3 b    is a rear view of the follower and spring plate components of  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the magazine loading assembly of  FIG. 3 a    in the locked and loading mode position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the magazine loading assembly of  FIG. 3 a    in the retracted and ready for use firing mode position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the floor plate component of  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the magazine loading assembly in the locked and loaded position according to the principles of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 7  in the retracted position loaded with rounds of ammunition. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9 a    is an enlarged side view of the follower component according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9 b    is an enlarged top view of the follower of  FIG. 9   a.    
           [0027]      FIG. 9 c    is an enlarged rear view of the follower of  FIG. 9   a.    
           [0028]      FIG. 10 a    is an enlarged side view of the spring plate component according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10 b    is an enlarged top view of the spring plate of  FIG. 10   a.    
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged side view of the handle component according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a magazine loading assembly in the locked and loading mode position according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of the magazine loading assembly of  FIG. 12  in the loaded mode position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of the magazine loading assembly of  FIG. 12  in the operating position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    One or more embodiments of the subject disclosure will now be described with the aid of numerous drawings. Unless otherwise indicated, use of specific terms will be understood to include multiple versions and forms thereof. 
         [0035]    In any event, turning now to the Figures, and in particular  FIG. 1 , the component parts  10  of a conventional prior art semi-automatic pistol are shown. Specific to the present disclosure are the parts of the magazine assembly  12  including the magazine tube  14 , the follower  16 , the magazine spring  18 , the magazine insert  20  and the magazine floorplate  22 . Such a magazine assembly  12  is also illustrated in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   .  FIG. 2 a    illustrates magazine spring  18  and magazine follower  16 , which are located inside cavity (or chamber)  24  of the magazine frame  26 . The upper end of the spring element  18  engages the underside of magazine follower  16 , and the lower end of spring element  18  engages magazine base  28  (which is held in place by magazine end cap  30 ). Spring element  18  typically has a coiled (spiral) configuration within cavity  24 . 
         [0036]    Spring element  18  is under compression such that magazine follower  16  is forced upward into contact with flange  32 . A shell is manually loaded into gun magazine  12  by pressing the cylindrical shaped sidewall of the shell down onto magazine follower  16 . The shell and magazine follower  16  are moved downward against the force induced by spring element  18  until the shell is located substantially within cavity  24  and a gap exists between the upper surface of the shell and the lower surfaces of flanges  32 . The shell is slid back into the gap while maintaining downward pressure on the shell. The downward pressure on the shell may be released such that the spring element  18  forces magazine follower  16  and the shell upward, thereby forcing the shell into engagement with flange  32 . The next shell is manually loaded on top of the first shell in the same manner. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2 b    illustrates eight shells  34  of ammunition loaded in gun magazine  12 . As illustrated, spring element  18  is forced into a state of high compression by shells  24 . The conventional method for loading gun magazine  12  is both difficult and time consuming. A person loading gun magazine  12  will typically experience tired and/or cramped fingers after repeated loading operations. 
         [0038]    Indeed, some people find it difficult to manually load a firearm magazine due to the bias necessary within the magazine to keep the ammunition rounds in correct alignment both prior and after positioning within the firing chamber. The bias typically increases as more rounds are loaded into the magazine clip. 
         [0039]    Accordingly, the present disclosure was conceived to eliminate this long existing difficulty of loading rounds into a magazine. In particular, the self contained unit relieves the spring pressure in the magazine and allows the rounds to be effectively loaded in the proper alignment. This assembly has been designed in a cost effective manner and can be incorporated into any magazine regardless of caliber or capacity for automatic and semi-automatic pistols and rifles. 
         [0040]    An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be illustrated through the remaining Figures. It will be understood that many of the main parts of a typical magazine (as shown in  FIGS. 1-2   b ) remain. In any event, turning first to  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , the main magazine loading assembly  36  is shown, save for the spring element (shown later) to aid in the illustration. Inside the magazine assembly frame (or housing)  38  is the magazine follower (or cartridge support seat)  40 , the magazine spring plate  42 , the magazine telescoping assembly  44 , the magazine floor plate  46 . The telescoping assembly holder (or perhaps magnet)  48  and handle  50  are positioned outside of the magazine assembly frame  38 .  FIG. 3 b    illustrates both the spring detents  52  on the back plate of the follower  40  as well as the wire guide holes  54  on the underside of the spring plate  42  and the end of the first length of telescoping assembly  44 . 
         [0041]    The telescoping assembly comprises a number of segments (dependent upon magazine length) of tubing that are crimped smaller on one end and extruded larger on the other end such that each smaller segment fits within its adjacent segment. For example, segment  44   a  fits within segment  44   b , which fits within segment  44   c , which fits within segment  44   d  which then fits within segment  44   e . The top end of the first segment  44   a  is coupled to the magazine spring plate  42  via wire (not shown) and wire guide holes  54 . The bottom end of the last segment  44   e  is user graspable and may be coupled to holder  48  which in turn is coupled to handle  50 . The magazine spring  56  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) may be simply biased against the spring plate and floor plate and/or may also be coupled on one end to the spring plate via guide holes  54  via crimping or welded and then similarly coupled to the top of the floor plate  46 . While the magazine spring  56  of the disclosure may be a custom spring and accordingly customly attached, it may also be of conventional design and therefore affixed (or simply biased against) in any conventional manner. 
         [0042]    During the loading procedure, and turning now to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the handle  50  is pulled down and the telescoping assembly  44  is positioned away from the telescoping assembly hole  58  of the floor plate  46 , and off of the central axis  59  of the housing  38 , and into the locking hole  60 . These holes together comprise a coined keyhole  62 . This releases the spring pressure and readies the magazine for loading. While the spring plate  42  is pulled down the assembly frame  38 , the follower  40  remains positioned and aligned within the frame due to the frictional forces of the spring detents  52  against the inside wall of the frame  38 . In other words, the follower  40  does not fall when the spring  56  is compressed. This is due to the fact that the follower  40  and the unique spring plate  42  are separate component parts and not otherwise coupled together. Indeed, there is no spring plate  42  in conventional magazines. As such, when the telescoping assembly  44  is pulled down and locked into the keyhole  62 , there is space  64  between the follower  40  and the spring plate  42 . As each round  66  of ammunition is loaded, this space  64  narrows, but remains aligned along the central axis  59  via detents  52 , until the user has completed loading. 
         [0043]    Once loading is complete, and referring now to  FIG. 5 , the telescoping assembly is unlocked from the keyhole  62 , positioned along the central axis  59 , retracted together, and the handle  50  is fastened to the bottom of the floor plate  46 . The spring  56  then pushes the spring plate  42  against the follower  40  with the correct amount of pressure, and the magazine is ready to be inserted into the firearm and used. 
         [0044]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the magazine assembly frame  38  is typically a metal structure that includes a cavity  24 , which is dimensioned to closely receive a plurality of cartridges. As known to those of ordinary skill, a cartridge typically includes a bullet (or slug), a casing, and gunpowder. The cavity  24  is defined by a right side wall  66 , a left sidewall  68 , a back wall  70 , rounded front wall  72  and a magazine base or floor plate  46 . That said, in the loading mode of  FIG. 7 , the telescoping assembly  44  is pulled out and locked in place within the keyhole. While the spring plate has been pulled down, the follower  40  remains in place and ready to receive cartridges. The round counting apertures  74  reveal only space  64  in the cavity  24  between the follower  40  and the floorplate. When the magazine has been loaded and is in the firing mode of  FIG. 8 , the telescoping assembly  44  is retracted and fastened to the base. The round counting apertures  74  reveal no space between the follower  40  and the floorplate and the cartridge now has the correct spring pressure to be fired from the firearm. 
         [0045]    It will be understood and appreciated that while the present disclosure has been shown and described as a single stack pistol magazine, the disclosure is in no way limited thereto. Indeed, this subject magazine loading assembly is also ideal for multiple stacks and any make and caliber. Additionally, while the telescoping segments were described as temper stainless steel surgical tubes, machined stainless segments or plastic may be used. Similarly, the follower may be made of plastic with dimples (detents) or leaf springs or any other element to obtain the correct amount of frictional resistance. 
         [0046]    One alternate embodiment of the magazine assembly frame  38  is to taper one or more of the walls inward as they progress towards the floor plate  46 . This may be beneficial in a double stack magazine when the weight of the rounds may cause the follower to fall too freely. A tapered chamber would allow for the correct resistance for the entire length of rounds without decreasing the main spring to push the rounds up to the firearm feed lips. 
         [0047]    One alternate embodiment of the follower component of the magazine assembly is shown in  FIGS. 9 a -9 c   . In particular, the follower  80  includes a front leg  82  and a rear leg  84 . The front leg  82  is angled  86  relative the vertical such that when the follower  80  is positioned within the chamber  24  it keeps rounds aligned and maintains a bias against the front wall  72 . The back leg  84  includes one or more resistance bars  88  to aid in follower  80  alignment within the chamber  24  as well as resistance against the back wall  70 . A gusset  90  provides rigidity and strengthens the back leg  84 . This follower embodiment provides for an optimal amount of resistance to maintain correct orientation of ammunition. 
         [0048]    One alternate component of the spring plate component of the magazine assembly is shown in  FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b   . In particular, the spring plate  92  includes a front leg  94  and a rear leg  96 . The top  98  of the spring plate  92  includes an aperture (hole)  100  to attach the telescope tubing. Each leg is flared  102  to better lead in the coiled spring and long enough to contact the floor plate  46  and level the spring plate  92  during loading. The elongated legs contain the spring with all coils in alignment and correct size when fully collapsed. The spring is essentially immobilized and unable to move from one side or the other of the chamber. Accordingly, when loading, the follower  80  does not hit the spring and does not increase difficulty of final round loading. The follower is positioned over and around the spring plate and there is no interference of any rounds of ammunition. 
         [0049]    One alternate component of the handle component of the magazine assembly is shown in  FIG. 11 . In particular, the handle  104  is coupled to the bottom end of the last telescoping segment. This may be accomplished via cavity  106  engagement or otherwise. As such, when the handle  104  is pulled it extends the telescoping unit down to enable locking within the floor plate  46  for round loading. When the magazine is loaded, the handle is recessed with a cavity  108  and lightly snaps onto the floor plate to keep it in place. The handle also acts as a bump plate to push the magazine into the firearm. 
         [0050]    The alternate component parts will now be shown incorporated within a magazine during loading, loaded and operating positions,  FIGS. 12-14  respectively. During the loading procedure of  FIG. 12 , the handle  104  is pulled down and the telescoping assembly  44  is positioned away from the telescoping assembly hole and into the locking hole of the floor plate as described in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . This releases the spring pressure and readies the magazine for loading. While the spring plate  92  is pulled down, the follower  80  remains positioned and aligned within the frame due to the frictional forces of both the front leg  82  and the resistance bars  88  on the back leg. The spring plate  92  houses and aligns the spring between the spring plate legs as well as the top of the spring plate and the floor plate  46 . As before, when the telescoping assembly is pulled down and locked, there exists space  110  between the follower  80  and the spring plate  92 . As each round of ammunition is loaded, this space  110  narrows, but remains aligned until loading is complete. 
         [0051]    Once loading is complete, and referring now to  FIG. 13 , the telescoping assembly is unlocked and the handle  104  is snapped into position about the floor plate. The spring then pushes the spring plate  92  against the follower  80  with the correct amount of pressure, and the magazine is ready to be inserted into the firearm and used. In use, as shown in  FIG. 14 , when a round is fired the spring plate  92  pushes up the follower  80  as well as the telescoping tubes and feeds the next round. 
         [0052]    The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom. Accordingly, while one or more particular embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention if its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.