Abstract:
The invention provides a sealed ammunition storage box that loads stored ammunition into a firearms magazine. The box includes a hollow interior channel configured to host ammunition cartridges, an opening leading into the channel configured to facilitate the positioning cartridges into the channel and another opening leading into the channel configured to dispense cartridges hosted within the channel into a magazine that is interfaced with the box. The box also includes a handle with a pressing block, the pressing block positioned within the channel through an opening in the box and configured to traverse within the channel to urge cartridges positioned within the channel into a magazine that is interfaced with the box. The box also includes a cover that is selectively engaged and disengaged with the box to encapsulate the openings of the box so as to prevent the movement of objects into and out of the channel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to ammunition cartridge storing and loading tools for firearms magazines. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Despite the advancements in ammunition magazine technology, many contemporary magazine designs are still prone to having their components worn down and soiled from usage and exposure to an outdoors environment. A worn down and soiled magazine can cause malfunctions within firearms. 
     One problem with many contemporary magazine builds that lead to firearm malfunctions is porous design. Openings within a magazine often allow dirt and moisture from an outdoors environment access to ammunition stored within the magazine. Dirt and moisture that clings to ammunition can eventually be transferred to a firearm&#39;s action, where it has the potential to delay or jam the firearm&#39;s operational cycling, consequently causing a malfunction. 
     Though the issue of porous design has been remedied with certain newer magazine designs, older legacy designs still suffer from this issue. For this reason, storing ammunition cartridges within porous magazines that are regularly exposed to outdoors environments is a potential liability to the proper functioning of a firearm. 
     Another problem with many contemporary magazine builds that leads to firearm malfunctions is weakened magazine spring tension caused by the long term compression of a magazine&#39;s spring. Magazine springs are commonly subjected to long term compression when magazines are stored with cartridges for an indefinite period of time. Long term compression can cause a magazine&#39;s spring to partially set in a compressed state, reducing its responsiveness and the return force by which it can convey its cartridges to a magazine&#39;s feed opening for loading into a firearm&#39;s chamber. A spring&#39;s reduced response in conveying cartridges to a magazine feed opening can cause a firearm to fail in acquiring a cartridge from the magazine during its chambering cycling, producing a feed malfunction. Therefore, storing cartridges within a magazine for an extended period can be a liability to the proper functioning of a firearm. 
     One alternative to storing cartridges within a magazine, so as to maintain them from dirt and moisture and prevent reduced magazine spring responsiveness, is to store them in a magazine speed loader; loading the cartridges from the speed loader into a magazine when they are needed for use in a magazine. Unfortunately, the problem with this alternative is that current speed loading tool designs are porous and do not maintain cartridges from dirt and moisture, as they are not designed to store ammunition cartridges for indefinite periods of time in non-sterile environments. 
     Another alternative to storing cartridges within a magazine, so as to maintain them from dirt and moisture and prevent reduced magazine spring responsiveness, is to store them in a watertight box and transfer them from the box into a magazine when they are needed for use in a magazine. Unfortunately, the problem with this alternative is that if the transfer of cartridges from a watertight box into a magazine were to take place in an outdoors environment, dirt and moisture from the environment or from an operator&#39;s hands can bond to cartridges as the cartridges are transferred into the magazine. 
     At the moment, there are no practical prior art means for sterilely and indefinitely storing ammunition cartridges in an outdoor environment that allows for the reliable and dirt free transfer of cartridges to a firearm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the limitations of current ammunition box, speed loader and magazine designs to reliably and sterilely transfer ammunition cartridges to a firearm in an outdoor environment, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can reliably and sterilely store, maintain and directly transfer cartridges into a magazine in an outdoor environment, prior to the use of the magazine in a firearm. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for storing and loading ammunition cartridges comprises a box that defines a first side, a second side and a tangent side that is tangent with the first and second sides. The box also defines a narrow channel that is configured to host ammunition cartridges and a wide channel that is configured to host a feed opening end of a magazine. The narrow channel and the wide channel converge with one another within the box and collectively define their area of convergence as a cartridge dispensing opening. The first side comprises a receiving opening that converges with the narrow channel and is configured to facilitate the passage of cartridges into the narrow channel. The second side comprises a second opening that likewise converges with the narrow channel, but is sized to prevent the passage of cartridges to and from the narrow channel through the second side opening. The tangent side comprises a magazine interface opening that converges with the wide channel and is configured to facilitate the passage of a feed opening end of a firearms magazine into the wide channel. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for storing and loading ammunition cartridges comprises an elongated rectangular block, comprising a proximal broad side. According to an embodiment of the invention, the proximal broad side slideably engages with the box second side and perpendicularly extends a pressing block that engages and traverses within the box narrow channel through the second side opening. 
     In order to prepare the apparatus for storing or loading ammunition cartridges, cartridges are positioned into the apparatus through the receiving opening, between the pressing block and the cartridge dispensing opening. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for storing and loading ammunition cartridges comprises a cover that defines a first and second leg. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for storing and loading ammunition cartridges is configured to store and maintain cartridges, that have been positioned within the apparatus, from the dirt and moisture of an outdoor environment with the engagement of the cover to the apparatus box in the following manner: 
     a first leg of the cover is engaged with the box receiving opening in such a manner as to encapsulate the receiving opening with the first leg, and 
     the second leg of the cover is engaged with the box cartridge dispensing opening in such a manner as to encapsulate the cartridge dispensing opening with the second leg. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for storing and loading ammunition cartridges is configured to load cartridges that have been positioned within the apparatus into a magazine with the interfacing of a magazine&#39;s feed opening to the apparatus box&#39;s cartridge dispensing opening. A feed opening of a magazine is interfaced with the cartridge dispensing opening in such a manner that once interfaced, the orientation of the magazine feed opening relative to the narrow channel allows for cartridges positioned within the narrow channel to translate linearly from the narrow channel through the cartridge dispensing opening into the magazine feed opening in the same angular orientation by which the magazine feed opening, in accordance with its design, dispenses cartridges into a firearm. Following the interfacing of a magazine, the elongated rectangular block is urged in the direction of the magazine feed opening, causing the pressing block to displace cartridges from the narrow channel, through the cartridge dispensing opening into the interfaced magazine feed opening and the magazine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top-down angled side view of the preferred embodiment rectangular box. 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom-up angled side view of the preferred embodiment rectangular box. 
         FIG. 1C  is an angled side view of an ammunition magazine. 
         FIG. 1D  is an angled side view of an ammunition cartridge. 
         FIG. 2  is an angled side view of the preferred embodiment U-shaped pressing handle bar. 
         FIG. 3  is an angled side view of the preferred embodiment L-shaped cover. 
         FIG. 4A  is an angled side view of the preferred embodiment rectangular box engaged with the preferred embodiment U-shaped pressing handle bar. 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of the preferred embodiment rectangular box engaged with the preferred embodiment U-shaped pressing handle bar. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the aggregated preferred embodiment rectangular box and U-shaped pressing handle bar with ammunition cartridges positioned within the rectangular box. 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross-section view of the aggregated preferred embodiment rectangular box and U-shaped pressing handle, with ammunition cartridges, engaged with the preferred embodiment L-shaped cover. 
         FIG. 7A  is a side view of the aggregated preferred embodiment rectangular box and U-shaped pressing handle bar, engaged with the preferred embodiment L-shaped cover, in the process of being interfaced with an ammunition magazine. 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the aggregated preferred embodiment rectangular box and U-shaped pressing handle bar, interfaced with an ammunition magazine, being disengaged with the preferred embodiment L-shaped cover. 
         FIG. 8  is a side cross-section view of cartridges being urged from the rectangular box into an interfaced magazine. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     If reference to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D an apparatus for storing and loading ammunition, in its preferred embodiment, comprises an elongated rectangular box  100 . The rectangular box  100  comprises a proximal short side  104  and distal short side  105  on two opposing short sides of the rectangular box  100 , a proximal narrow long side  101  and distal narrow long side  102  on two opposing long sides of the rectangular box  100  and two wide long sides  103  on two opposing long sides of the rectangular box  100  that are not occupied by the two narrow long sides  101 ,  102 . 
     The rectangular box  100  further comprises a wide rectangular magazine channel  113  that runs internally within the rectangular box  100 . The magazine channel  113  initiates at the proximal short side  104  and runs toward the distal short side  105  until terminating within the rectangular box  100  after running a limited portion of the length of the rectangular box  100 . The magazine channel  113  is exposed out from within the rectangular box  100  through the proximal short side  104  by means of a proximal magazine opening  117 . The magazine channel  113  is configured to host a firearms magazine  400  that it receives through the proximal magazine opening  117 . 
     In one embodiment, the magazine channel  113  is also exposed out from within the rectangular box  100  through the proximal narrow long side  101  by means of an adjacent magazine opening  116  that is convergent with the proximal magazine opening  117 . In one embodiment, the magazine channel  113  is configured to receive a firearms magazine  400  through the adjacent magazine opening  116  simultaneous to receiving the magazine  400  through the proximal magazine opening  117 . 
     In one embodiment, the width of the magazine channel  113  runs parallel with the width of the rectangular box  100 . In one embodiment, the width of the magazine channel  113  is equal to the width of an ammunition magazine  400 . 
     The rectangular box  100  further comprises an internally running narrow rectangular cartridge channel  107 . The cartridge channel  107  initiates where the magazine channel  113  terminates within the rectangular box  100  and runs toward the distal short side  105  for a limited portion of the rectangular box  100  length. The cartridge channel  107  is convergent with the magazine channel  113  and the area at which they converge is defined as a cartridge dispensing opening  106 . The cartridge dispensing opening  106  is configured to interface with the feed opening  401  of a magazine  400  that is hosted within the magazine channel  113 . The cartridge channel  107  is configured to receive, host and store ammunition cartridges  500 , as well as guide ammunition cartridges  500  to the cartridge dispensing opening  106  for loading into a magazine feed opening  401  that is interfaced with the cartridge dispensing opening  106 . 
     In one embodiment, the length of the cartridge channel  107  runs parallel with the length of the rectangular box  100 . In one embodiment, the height of the cartridge channel  107  is equal to the length of an ammunition cartridge  500 . In one embodiment, the height of the cartridge channel  107  runs parallel with the height of the rectangular box  100 . In one embodiment, the width of the cartridge channel  107  is equal to the width of an ammunition cartridge  500 . In one embodiment, the width of the cartridge channel  107  runs parallel with the width of the rectangular box  100 . In one embodiment, the cartridge channel  107  hosts cartridges  500  in a single file that initiates at the cartridge dispensing opening  106  and terminates at the end of the cartridge channel  107  that leads foremost toward the distal short side  105 . In one embodiment, the cartridge channel  107  hosts cartridges  500  in a multiple file configuration. In one embodiment, the cartridge channel  107  is of sufficient length to accommodate the width of ten ammunition cartridges  500 . 
     The magazine channel  113  defines two parallel interior inward facing walls  114  on two opposite interior sides of the magazine channel  113  that are not occupied by the proximal magazine opening  117 , the adjacent magazine opening  116  or the cartridge dispensing opening  106 . 
     The two inward facing walls  114  each extend a rib  115  that runs parallel with the length of the rectangular box  100 . Each rib  115  initiates at the proximal magazine opening  117  and runs to where the magazine channel  113  terminates within the rectangular box  100 . The ribs  115  run parallel to one another and are configured to engage within retention grooves  403  found on the exterior facets of ammunition magazines  400 . The ribs  115  are positioned on the inward facing walls  114  in such a manner as to engage within the retention grooves  403  of a magazine  400  received into the magazine channel  113  and orient the feed opening  401  of the magazine  400 , relative to the cartridge channel  107 , in such a manner that cartridges  500  positioned within the cartridge channel  107  are allowed to translate linearly from the cartridge channel  107  through the cartridge dispensing opening  106  into the magazine feed opening  401  in the same angular orientation by which the magazine feed opening  401 , in accordance with its design, dispenses cartridges  500  into a firearm. The side of each rib  115  that faces foremost toward the adjacent magazine opening  116  is sloped in such a manner as to create a gradual incline between each inward facing wall  114  and the apex of the rib  115  that is extended by each inward facing wall  114 . 
     The rectangular box proximal narrow long side  101  comprises a proximal channel opening  108  that opens into the cartridge channel  107  and is configured to facilitate the passage of ammunition cartridges  500  into the cartridge channel  107 . The rectangular box distal narrow long side  102  comprises a distal channel opening  109  that opens into the cartridge channel  107  and is configured with a width that is sized to prevent the passage of cartridges  500  into and out of the cartridge channel  107  through the distal channel opening  109 . 
     In one embodiment, the width of the distal channel opening  109  is narrower than the width of an ammunition cartridge  500 . In one embodiment, the lengths and of the proximal channel opening  108  and distal channel opening  109  correspond with the length of cartridge channel  107 . 
     The two wide long sides  103  of the rectangular box  100  each define guide channels  110  that are recessed into the wide long sides  103 . The guide channels  110  run parallel to one another and concurrently run parallel with the length of the cartridge channel  107 . In one embodiment, the guide channels  110  initiate at the proximal short side  104  and terminate at the distal short side  105 . 
     If reference to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus for storing and loading ammunition further comprises an elongated U-shaped pressing handle bar  200 . The pressing handle bar  200  defines an elongated base wall  201  comprised of a proximal broad side  202  and a distal broad side  210  that lies opposite to the proximal broad side  202  on the elongated base wall  201 . The proximal broad side  202  defines with two long edges  203  at which it perpendicularly extends two parallel legs  204  that run the length of the elongated base wall  201 . The distal broad side  210 , in conjunction with the parallel legs  204 , is configured to provide a grip by which an operator of the apparatus of the present invention may manipulate the disposition of the pressing handle bar  200 . 
     In one embodiment, the length of the pressing handle bar  200  is equal to the length of the rectangular box distal channel opening  109 . In one embodiment, the length of the pressing handle bar  200  is equal to the length of the rectangular box  100 . 
     The elongated base wall  201  perpendicularly extends a rectangular pressing block  205  at the proximal broad side  202 . The pressing block  205  is configured with a width that is sized to fit through the rectangular box distal channel opening  109  and a length that runs parallel with the length of the elongated base wall  201 . 
     In one embodiment, the length of the pressing block  205  initiates at a first short edge  206  of the proximal broad side  202  and runs toward an opposite short edge  207  of the proximal broad side  202  for a limited portion of the length of the elongated base wall  201 . In one embodiment, the length of the pressing block  205  initiates at a location on the proximal broad side  202  that is staggered a span of distance away from the first short edge  206  and runs toward the opposite short edge  207  for a limited portion of the length of the elongated base wall  201 . 
     The pressing block  205  is configured to interface with cartridges  500  by means of a pressing surface  208 , located on a side of the pressing block  205  that faces foremost towards the opposite short edge  207 . 
     Two sides of the pressing handle bar parallel legs  204  that face inward toward one another each perpendicularly extend feet  209 . The feet  209  are configured with lengths that run parallel to the length of the elongated base wall  201 . Furthermore, the feet  209  are sized and configured to engage within the guide channels  110  of the rectangular box broad sides  103 . In one embodiment, the lengths of the feet  209  span the lengths of the parallel legs  204 . 
     If reference to  FIG. 3 , the apparatus for storing and loading ammunition further comprises an L-shaped cover  300  composed of a short leg  302  and a long leg  301  coupled to one another in such a manner as to form a perpendicular L-shape. In one embodiment, the length of the short leg  302  is equal to the height of the cartridge channel  107 , the length of the long leg  301  is equal to the length of the proximal channel opening  108  and the width of the short leg  302  and the long leg  301  are equal to the width of the cartridge channel  107 . 
     In reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the pressing block  205  of the pressing handle bar  200  is positioned within the cartridge channel  107  of the rectangular box  100 , through the distal channel opening  109 , in such a manner as to allow it to traverse within the cartridge channel  107  along the axis of the length of the cartridge channel  107 . The pressing surface  208  of the pressing block  205  is positioned within the cartridge channel  107  in such a manner that it faces foremost toward the cartridge dispensing opening  106 . Simultaneous to the positioning of the pressing block  205  within the cartridge channel  107 , the feet  209  of the pressing handle bar  200  are slideably engaged within the rectangular box guide channels  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the pressing block  205  is slideably engaged with the distal channel opening  109  as it traverses within the cartridge channel  107 . In one embodiment, the pressing handle bar proximal broad side  202  is slideably engaged with the distal narrow long side  102 . In one embodiment, the pressing block  205  is positioned within the cartridge channel  107  through the proximal channel opening  108 . 
     In one embodiment, the pressing block  205  is positioned within the cartridge channel  107  in such a manner as to allow the maximum amount of spacing  111  between the pressing surface  208  and the cartridge dispensing opening  106  within the cartridge channel  107 . While the pressing block  205  is positioned within the cartridge channel  107  in this manner, the distal channel opening  109  is completely encapsulated by the proximal broad side  202 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 5 , ammunition cartridges  500  are inserted through the proximal channel opening  108  into the spacing  111  in the cartridge channel  107  between the pressing block  205  and the cartridge dispensing opening  106 . Cartridges  500  positioned into the spacing  111  are obstructed from moving out from the cartridge channel  107  through the distal channel opening  109  by the narrow sizing of the distal channel opening  109 . 
     In one embodiment, cartridges  500  are positioned within the spacing  111  with the bullet tips  501  of the cartridges  500  pointing toward the proximal channel opening  108  and the base primer sides  502  of cartridges  500  facing foremost toward the distal channel opening  109 . In one embodiment, cartridges  500  are positioned within the spacing  111  with the bullet tips  501  of the cartridges  500  pointing toward the distal channel opening  109  and the base primer sides  502  of cartridges  500  facing foremost toward the proximal channel opening  108 . In one embodiment, the cartridges  500  positioned within the spacing  111  are aligned from the pressing surface  208  to the cartridge dispensing opening  106  in a single file row. 
     Following the positioning of cartridges  500  into the spacing  111 , a gap of reserved space  112  between the cartridges  500  and the cartridge dispensing opening  106  is left unoccupied by the cartridges  500 . In one embodiment, the width of this reserved space  112  is equal in size to the thickness of the L-shaped cover short leg  302 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus for storing and loading ammunition is set to a configuration for storing ammunition via the engagement of the L-shaped cover  300  with the rectangular box  100 . The L-shaped cover is engaged with the rectangular box  100  via engaging the L-shaped cover short leg  302  within the reserved space  112  of the cartridge channel  107  in such a manner that the short leg  302  encapsulates the reserved space  112  and obstructs the passage of objects into and out of the cartridge channel  107  through the cartridge dispensing opening  106 . Simultaneously, the L-shaped cover long leg  301  is engaged with the proximal channel opening  108  in such a manner that the long leg  301  encapsulates the proximal channel opening  108  and obstructs the passage of objects into and out of the cartridge channel  107  through the proximal channel opening  108 . 
     In reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the apparatus for storing and loading ammunition is set to a configuration for loading ammunition cartridges  500  into a magazine  400  with the engagement of a magazine  400  into the magazine channel  113  and the disengagement of the L-shaped cover  300  from the rectangular box  100 . 
     A magazine  400  is engaged into the magazine channel  113  via slideably engaging the sides of the magazine  400  that contain retention grooves  403  with the magazine channel inward facing walls  114  through the adjacent magazine opening  116 . Simultaneously, the magazine feed opening  401  is set into tangency with the cartridge dispensing opening  106  and the magazine  400  is urged in the direction of the ribs  115 . Upon coming into contact with the ribs  115 , the magazine  400 , with the assistance of the sloping of the ribs  115 , pushes and widens the spacing between the two ribs  115  until the spacing between the ribs  115  becomes of sufficient size to allow the width of the magazine  400  passage between the ribs  115 . The elasticity of the material of the ribs  115  allows for the ribs  115  to flex in order to accommodate this widening in spacing. Upon passing between the ribs  115 , the magazine  400  continues to move in its original direction of travel until its retention grooves  403  coincide with the ribs  115 . At this point, the elasticity of the material of the ribs  115  forces the ribs  115  to flex back to their original dispositions and narrow the spacing between the ribs  115  around the retention grooves  403 . Consequently, this causes the ribs  115  to engage within the retention grooves  403  and prevent the magazine  400  from moving laterally to the lengths of the ribs  115 , locking the magazine  400 , in place within the magazine channel  113 . Subsequently, the magazine feed opening  401  and the cartridge dispensing opening  106  become locked in tangency with one another. 
     The L-shaped cover  300  is disengaged from the rectangular box  100  by urging the short leg  302  and long leg  301  of the L-shaped cover  300  out through the proximal channel  108  in a direction that leads it away from the cartridge channel  107 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 8 , the pressing handle bar  200  is gripped by an operator&#39;s palm and fingers at the distal broad side  210  and parallel legs  204  in such a manner that the operator&#39;s hand cups the pressing handle bar  200  by the convex contour of its U-shape. Simultaneously, the magazine  400  is gripped by the operator&#39;s unoccupied palm at a magazine base plate  402 , which lies opposite to the magazine feed opening  401  on the magazine  400 . 
     By urging of the operator&#39;s tangent palm and fingers, the pressing handle bar  200  is translated along the axis of the length of the cartridge channel  107  in the direction of the engaged magazine feed opening  401 . This movement, guided by the interlocked sliding engagement of the rectangular box guide channels  110  with the pressing handle bar feet  209 , causes the pressing block  205 , via the pressing surface  208 , to urge an end cartridge  503  of the row of cartridges  500  positioned within the cartridge channel  107  toward the cartridge dispensing opening  106 . Subsequently, this forces all of the other cartridges  500  in the row to likewise translate toward the cartridge dispensing opening  106 , where they pass through the cartridge dispensing opening  106  and are displaced from the cartridge channel  107 . Upon displacement from the cartridge channel  107 , the cartridges  500  pass through the interfaced magazine feed opening  401  and are loaded into the magazine  400 . 
     Simultaneous to the urging of the pressing handle bar  200 , the magazine base plate  402 , by urging of the operator&#39;s other palm, is translated along the axis of the length of the cartridge channel  107  in the direction of the cartridge channel  107 . As a result, the magazine  400  is urged against the rectangular box  100 , causing the magazine feed opening  401  and the cartridge channel  107  to translate in a direction opposite to that being traversed by the pressing surface  208  and the cartridges  500 . Consequently, the magazine  400  is translated toward the cartridges  500  simultaneous to the cartridges  500  being urged toward the magazine  400 , effectively facilitating the transfer of cartridges  500  from the cartridge channel  107  to the magazine  400  by distributing the amount of force required to urge the cartridges  500  into the magazine  400  between the pressing handle bar  200  and the magazine base plate  402 .