Abstract:
Several examples of a cartridge magazine system are shown each arranged to hold a plurality of cartridge magazines adjacent to a magazine well of a weapon. The system including several interoperating components, for example: a rigid cylindrical shaft having a center axis aligned with an insert axis of the magazine well, a cartridge magazine holder assembly, and a stop cap at a lower end of the shaft to maintain position of the cartridge magazine holder assembly upon the shaft. One example of the magazine holder assembly including: a collar in contact with the shaft so as to freely reposition along the shaft wherein the collar is rotatable about the shaft. At least one fork extends radially from the collar. Wherein each fork includes a surface for retention of a cartridge magazine in position to be inserted into and removed from the magazine well without removing the magazine from the fork.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates to the field of weapon accessories, specifically, a magazine holder which can be mounted to a weapon and is configured to hold a plurality of cartridge magazines to be selectively inserted and removed from a magazine well while the cartridge magazines are attached to the magazine holder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed herein are several examples of a cartridge magazine system configured and arranged to hold a plurality of cartridge magazines adjacent to a magazine well of a weapon. The term weapon meant to include firearms such as rifles and handguns, as well as simulated weapons such as training tools. The cartridge magazine system comprising several interoperating components, for example: a rigid cylindrical shaft having a center axis aligned with an insert axis of the magazine well, a cartridge magazine holder assembly, and a stop cap at a lower end of the shaft to maintain position of the cartridge magazine holder assembly upon the shaft. The insert axis aligned with the linear direction of travel the cartridge magazine follows when being inserted into, or being removed from the magazine well of the weapon. One example of the cartridge magazine holder assembly comprising: a collar in contact with the shaft so as to freely reposition along the shaft a distance greater than an insert distance of the magazine well; wherein the collar is rotatable about the shaft; at least one fork extending radially from the collar. Wherein each fork comprises an engagement surface for retention of a cartridge magazine in position to be inserted into the magazine well, and removed therefrom without removing the cartridge magazine from the fork. 
     The cartridge magazine system as described above may be arranged wherein the engagement surface on the fork comprises a detent. In this example, the cartridge magazine comprises an indent on a transverse side thereof, and; the detent of the fork engages the detent of the magazine cartridge to retain the magazine on the fork. 
     The cartridge magazine system may further comprise a guide bar extending from the cartridge magazine holder assembly. The guide bar in at least one example having a rearward curved bottom end which engages and retains a forward bottom edge of the cartridge magazine to further hold the cartridge magazine in the fork. 
     The cartridge magazine system may be arranged wherein the bottom end of the guide bar comprises a visual marker. In at least one example, the visual marker is luminescent. 
     To attach the cartridge magazine system to a weapon, 
     a. a clamp fixedly attached to the rigid cylindrical shaft; and 
     b. the clamp removably attached to a structure of the weapon. 
     c. The cartridge magazine system as recited in claim  6  wherein the structure to which the claim is attached is a Picatinny style rail. 
     d. The cartridge magazine system as recited in claim  1  further comprising a malleable collar mounted to the shaft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one example of the cartridge magazine system. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of one example of the cartridge magazine system, mounted to a weapon. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one example of a Picatinny rail style clamping device. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric exploded view of several components of one example of the cartridge magazines system. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of one example of a modified magazine. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of one example of a loading step of the cartridge magazine system. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of one example of a magazine holder component of the cartridge magazine system. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a single arm example of a magazine holder component of the cartridge magazine system. 
         FIG. 9  is a detail isometric view of one example of the sliding collar component with a plurality of guide surfaces thereupon. 
         FIG. 10  is a detail isometric view of one example of an indexing system in use on the cartridge magazine system. 
         FIG. 11  is another detail isometric view of one example of an indexing system in use on the cartridge magazine system. 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of one example of the shaft component with a indexing detent thereupon. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One example of the disclosed cartridge magazine system  20  is an under barrel mounted accessory designed to hold two or more modified cartridge magazines  22  for the purpose of rapid reloads of the weapon with less potential for operator error. Designed for the combat shooter in mind, the cartridge magazine system specifically addresses the potential situation where a shooter could be caught in a firefight without ammunition in their weapon  24  by an enemy, due to reloading; and significantly reduces this possibility. 
     Before continuing with a disclosure of the system, an axes system  10  is disclosed comprising a vertical axis  12 , a longitudinal axis  16  orthogonal to the vertical axis  12  and parallel to the barrel of the weapon  24 , and a transverse axis  14  orthogonal to both the vertical axis  12  and the longitudinal axis  16 . Also, a labeling system will be used where particular components are labeled with a numeric prefix and a symbol suffix. For example, a first or generic arm labeled  44 , with additional or specific arms labeled  44 ′ and  44 ″. 
     As mentioned, the cartridge magazine system  20  is mounted to the weapon  24 , in one example on the underside of the barrel or hand guard  26 . One example of a mounting system  28  is disclosed, but others could alternatively be used. The cartridge magazine system in one example uses a cylindrical shaft  30  extending downward, with respect to the weapon  24 , to provide guided vertical movement of the magazine holder assembly  32 . The term vertical used to correspond to the example of the drawings, but in more general terms used to indicate a direction aligned with the insert axis of the magazine well. In one example, at the bottom of the shaft  30  is a stop cap  34  that can be attached to the shaft. This stop cap aids in keeping the magazine holder assembly  32  on the shaft  30  and may take several different forms. Also disclosed is a malleable collar  36 . In one example, the stop cap  34  holds the malleable collar  36  in place. The malleable collar  36  is used to cushion the weight of a loaded magazine holder assembly  32 , and to reduce noise created by the operation of the cartridge magazine system  20 . 
     The magazine holder assembly  32  in one example slides freely vertically along the shaft  30  and can also rotate about the axis of the shaft  30  so as to allow positioning of multiple cartridge magazines. In one example, the magazine holder assembly  32  as best seen in  FIG. 7  comprises a slide collar  38  with an inner surface  40  and an outer surface  42 . In one form a plurality of arms  44  extend radially from the collar  38 . Each arm in one example terminates with a fork  46  having a plurality of tines  48 . Each fork  46  is designed to hold one cartridge magazine  22 . Each magazine holds several cartridges or shells. Each fork comprises two tines engaging the sides of a modified magazine  22 . In one example, each of the tines comprise a small detents  50  on the inside surface  52  of these tines  48  which engage/snap into indents  54  on the magazine  22  to hold the magazine  22  in position relative to the fork  46 . In one example, extending down from the base of the arms  44  is a guide bar  56  which follows the front face  58  of the magazine to a rearward curved bottom edge  60 . In one example the bottom end  62  of the guide bar follows the bottom edge contour of the magazine for a short distance. This bottom end  62  assists in holding the magazine  22  in position relative to the magazine holder assembly  32  and also may assist in loading the system  20  with new magazines  22  when the magazines  22  have been expended. 
     In one example, on the inside of bottom end  62  of the guide bar is a luminescent dot  64  or other marker which aids the shooter in seeing the guide bar in low light situations. In use, the guide bar aids the shooter in reloading the cartridge magazine system quickly and accurately. 
     In one example, the magazine  22  may be only modified to the extent of having an added set of indents  54  that conform to the size and shape of the detents  50  on the inside of the tines  48 , to permit a stable engagement between the magazine  22  and the fork  46 . 
     Benefits of the cartridge magazine system include:
         1. In the hands of a practiced shooter the cartridge magazine system  20  can significantly reduce the time it takes to reload the weapon  24 .   2. In the hands of a practiced shooter the cartridge magazine system  20  can reduce the risk of potentially fatal mistakes made by the shooter; specifically movements in the reloading process that require a high degree of muscle memory where even if a minor mistake is made, crucial time could be lost.   3. The cartridge magazine system can enable a practiced shooter to engage a target if necessary while the cartridge magazine system  20  itself is being reloaded.   4. The cartridge magazine system  20  offers more reliability than a high capacity drum magazine due to multiple magazines  22  being used (multiple springs) instead of just one.   5. With a drum magazine the shooter ultimately runs out of ammunition in the drum and the shooter is faced with having to do a standard reload of the weapon; with the cartridge magazine system  20 , a shooter can replenish the round count in the cartridge magazine system while still having a magazine  22  in the weapon.   6. If multiple types of ammunition are being used by the shooter, the cartridge magazine system  20  enables the shooter to quickly change from one ammunition source (magazine  22 ) to another with a different style ammunition, such as hollow point, tracer, armor piercing, rubber tip, etc.   7. If a shooter depletes all ammunition sources (magazines  22 ) with the cartridge magazine system  20  of one example, the magazine holder assembly  32  can be rotated to the side so that no fork is aligned with the magazine, thus permitting the shooter to use traditional reloading techniques.       

     Operation of the Cartridge Magazine System: 
     Reloading the weapon  24 —When the shooter determines that a reload must be made, the shooter depresses the magazine release button  66  standard to most all weapons using magazines. Release of the magazine release button disengages the magazine catch of the weapon from the indents  68  of the magazine which allows gravity and/or other/manual force to reposition the magazine holder assembly  32  downward along the shaft  30  with any magazines  22  that may be attached thereto. The magazine holder assembly  32  along with all attached magazines  22  will reposition downward a slide distance  70  to clear the bottom edge  72  of the magazine well  74  of the weapon  24 . In one example, the slide distance  70  is measured from the bottom edge  76  of the collar  38  to the top edge  79  of the stop cap  34 . If a malleable collar  36  is used, then the slide distance  70  is measured from the bottom edge  76  of the collar  38  to the top edge  80  of the malleable collar  36 . An insert distance  82  is generally the distance from the bottom edge  72  of the magazine well  74  to the top edge  84  of a magazine. More specifically, the insert distance is the distance the magazine must travel to be inserted and seated in an operating position within the magazine well  74  to allow cartridges to be fired. The insert distance  82  may vary from weapon platform to weapon platform. For example, an AR-15 may have a much different insert distance than a 50 caliber rifle. 
     When the magazine  22  is released from the magazine well, the magazine  22  and holder assembly  32  must reposition with enough clearance so that the holder assembly  32  and the magazines  22  can be rotated about the shaft axis. The shooter may then manipulate the holder assembly  32  and magazines  22  to align a selected magazine with the magazine well. Once aligned, the shooter repositions (lifts) the selected magazine  22  along with the holder assembly  32  and other magazines  22  attached to the holder assembly  32 . The selected magazine is inserted into the magazine well  74  until the weapon&#39;s magazine release  66  latches onto the indent  68  of the inserted magazine  22 . 
     Reloading the Cartridge Magazine System: 
     When the shooter determines that a magazine  22  in the holder assembly  32  needs to be exchanged with another magazine  22  for whatever reason, the shooter will first remove the inserted magazine  22 . In order to do this the shooter may relieve compression pressure on the magazine  22  exerted on the magazine  22  by the tines  48 . To do this, the shooter may apply outward pressure onto the tip of one of the tines  48 . Once compression pressure on the magazine  22  is relieved, the shooter can pull the magazine  22  free of the fork  46 . In another example, the use may be able to provide sufficient rotational/linear force on the magazine  22  to remove it from the fork  46  without independently reposition the tines  48 . With the new magazine  22  in hand the shooter may place the front bottom corner  60  of the magazine  22  into the bend  62  in the guide bar  56  and rotate/slide the magazine  22  up into the fork  46 . This installation movement may continue so as to engage the indents  54  upon the detents  50 . The reloading of one magazine  22  of the cartridge magazine system is complete when the new magazine  22  is securely placed between the forks. 
     Method of operation—In one example, the shooter will determine a primary and secondary magazine. In an example using a system with three or more arms/forks, the shooter may also determine one or more reserve magazines. Once the shooter has expended the ammunition in the primary magazine the shooter may immediately reload the weapon  24  with the secondary magazine. Once the shooter begins to use ammunition from the secondary magazine in a combat situation, the shooter should begin to look for a safe time and location to reload (remove and replace) the primary magazine fork. If a suitable location is found and time is available (i.e. sufficient cover and a lull in the firefight), the shooter should reload the primary magazine slot. Note: while reloading a fork in the magazine holder, the shooter may simultaneously engage a target while there is a loaded magazine properly inserted into the magazine well of the weapon. Upon completing reload of the primary magazine, the secondary magazine (loaded in the weapon and supplying ammunition to the weapon) can be quickly replaced by the primary magazine by a reverse of the same process disclosed above. This alternating primary and secondary magazines may be repeated until the shooter deems it not necessary or practical/possible. In an example with more than two forks, if in the event that a safe time or place cannot be found the shooter may reload the weapon with the reserve magazine if necessary and available. Upon loading the reserve magazine into the magazine well, the shooter will continue to look for a safe time/place to reload the empty slots in the magazine holder assembly. The shooter may also conduct a reload of a holder if a magazine becomes inoperative. 
     In another example, a magazine  22  not in place within the magazine well  74  may be reloaded with unfired cartridges while still in place in the magazine holder assembly  32 . 
     In one example, the cartridge magazine system  20  mounts to a Picatinny rail  86  or other structure on the underside  88  of the weapon  24 . In  FIG. 2 , the magazine system is shown attached to a Picatinny rail  86  of the hand guard  26  of the weapon  24  forward of the magazine well  74 . A Picatinny rail, alternatively known as the MIL-STD-1913 rail, STANAG 2324 rail, or simply “Tactical Rail” is a bracket used on some weapons to provide a standardized mounting platform. Such a rail comprises a series of ridges, generally with a T-shaped cross-section interspersed with flat “spacing slots.” Accessories are mounted either by sliding them on from one end or the other; by means of a clamp  28  such as shown in  FIG. 3  such clamps are normally attached to the rail  86  with bolts, thumbscrews or levers; or onto the slots between the raised sections. 
     The example clamp shown in  FIG. 3  comprises a main body  90  having a dovetail  92  at one transverse end. A sliding body  94  is engages the opposing transverse end. The sliding body  94  also has a surface  96  which cooperates with a surface  98  to form a second dovetail. These dovetails cooperate to clamp against the rail  86 . Also shown is a thumbscrew  100  which passes through a surface  102  defining a pass-through void and has male threads  104  which engage female threads  106  on the main body as a clamp. The main body of this example also has an extension  108  which attaches to the shaft  30 . In another example, the extension  108  is a unitary construction with the shaft  30 . 
       FIG. 4  shows one example of the shaft  30  having female threads  112  which engage the male threads  110  of the clamp body  90  to hold the two components together. In this example, the shaft  30  also comprises female threads  114  which engage male threads  116  on the stop cap  34 . Again, the shaft  30  and cap  34  may be a unitary construction. To retain the magazine holder assembly  32  on the shaft  30 , the stop cap  34  may have an outer surface  118  which extends radially outward from the outer cylindrical surface  120  of the shaft  30 . 
     As mentioned before, a malleable collar  36  may be placed on the shaft  30  to reduce noise, and keep the slide collar  38  from damaging the stop cap  34 . 
     In  FIG. 8  a single magazine holder assembly is shown which may be combined with the apparatus disclosed above. This example may also be used in combination with apparatus of similar structure so that movement of the magazines may be accomplished independently. 
     Looking to  FIGS. 9-12  is shown one example of an indexing system  122 . This example of an indexing system utilizes an indexing detent  124  on the shaft which cooperates with indexing guides  130 . The indexing detent  124  having a lower edge  128  which in this example may be rounded to aid in alignment of the detent  124  with an indexing guide  130  most easily seen in  FIG. 9 . Also, the upper edge  126  may be rounded or tapered in a similar manner. 
     The indexing guides  130 ,  130 ′, and  130 ″ coordinate with arms  44 ,  44 ′, and  44 ″ respectively to aid the shooter in aligning a modified magazine  22  with the magazine well  74 . In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , the top edge  138  of the collar  38  is in a resting position below the bottom edge  128  of the detent  124  such that the magazine holder assembly  32  can freely rotate to align different indexing guides  130  with the detent  124 . This arrangement also allows the magazine holder assembly  32  to rotate out of the way for manual/non assisted loading of the magazine well  74 . Alternatively, the top edge  138  of the collar  38  may extend above the bottom edge  128 , while the top edge  134  of alignment surfaces  132  may be slightly below the lower edge  128  so that the magazine holder assembly  32  is limited in its rotation by directing surfaces  136 . In another example, the top edge  134  of the guide surfaces may be just slightly above the bottom edge  128  of the detent  124 . Thus, rotation of the magazine holder assembly  32  results in the contact between the surfaces, and compression of the malleable collar  36  allows for indexing of the guide surfaces. Each example aids the shooter in alignment of the cartridge magazine  22  with the magazine well  74  prior to engagement of these two components allowing for a faster and easier re-load of the magazine well  74 . 
     The tapered lower edge  128  may assist in alignment of the indexing guides  130  with the indexing detent  124 . The magazine holder assembly  32  is raised and the indexing detent  124  engages an indexing guide  130  to align the selected cartridge magazine  22  with the magazine well  74  prior to contact between the cartridge magazine  22  and the magazine well  74 . 
     To further aid in alignment, the central indexing guide(s)  130  may comprise guide surfaces  132  while circumferentially outer guides  130 ′ and  130 ″ may comprise guide surfaces  132 ′ and  132 ″ respectively. In the example shown, guide surfaces  132 ′ and  132 ″ cooperate with directing surfaces  136 ′ and  136 ″ to aid the shooter in aligning the detent  124  into the appropriate indexing guide. 
     While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. For example, holder assemblies capable of holding one or three magazines are shown, and holder assemblies capable of holding 2, 4, 5, or more magazines are conceived. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general concept.