Firearm magazine storage rack with adjustable partitions

A firearm magazine storage rack for holding firearm magazines is provided. The rack includes a frame having opposing spaced apart side elements, each side element having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge, and at least one cross piece extending between and coupling the side elements in a parallel spaced apart orientation. A shelf element extends between the side elements intermediate the bottom edges and the top edges thereof. A partition support extends between the side elements intermediate the shelf element and the top edge of the side elements, and a plurality of partition elements are adjustably received by the partition support hanging vertically and extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to firearm magazines.

More particularly, the present invention relates to firearm magazine storage devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the use of firearms, an area of concern is the storage of magazines. Many firearms, semi-automatic and automatic in particular, utilize magazines for supplying rounds to the chamber of the firearm. When the magazine is exhausted, it is removed from the firearm, and replaced with a charged magazine. Often, individuals will carry multiple magazines on their persons, typically in pockets or pouches affixed to a belt and the like. However, the ammunition must be moved from “loose” rounds, as supplied in ammunition boxes, to ammunition carried by a magazine. When not in use, the magazine must be stored.

For most civilian individuals, magazines can be charged when desired, and carried on their person. However, between times, the magazines must be stored, charged or uncharged. Often, magazine are simply deposited in a box, in a drawer or simply laid on a shelf. While somewhat effective, this method of storage can cause clutter, difficulty locating a magazine of specific caliber or style, and is just inefficient. Magazines simply piled in a drawer, a box or on a shelf often need to be sorted through to locate the desired individual magazine when multiple magazines are present. Additionally, handling of a magazine in this manner can cause damage.

For military or law enforcement use, the availability of a charged magazine is often critical. Additionally, the organization supporting these individuals is often required to control and account for all ammunition expenditures. Thus, the organization often does not dispense the magazines until just prior to deployment. Additionally, individuals may need more available magazines then they can carry, such as during a heavy firefight or long operation. In these instances, there is a need for large storage capacity of charged magazines. This is traditionally accomplished by storing them in boxes and the like in vehicles or an arms locker. The downside to storage boxes is that the magazines are difficult to access, have the potential to be damaged, and it is difficult to account for and easily determine how many magazines have been dispensed. In civilian use, magazines are typically stored in boxes, pouches, or simply left lying around.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing charged/uncharged magazines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing magazines that protects the magazines and allows quick and easy access.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing magazines that can be employed in vehicles, arms lockers, rooms, etc.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a firearm magazine storage rack which is adjustable by the consumer to secure a variety of magazines of different heights and widths.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention, provided is a firearm magazine storage rack including a frame having opposing spaced apart side elements, each side element having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge, and at least one cross piece extending between and coupling the side elements in a parallel spaced apart orientation. A shelf element extends between the side elements intermediate the bottom edges and the top edges thereof. A partition support extends between the side elements intermediate the shelf element and the top edge of the side elements, and at least one partition element is adjustably received by the partition support hanging vertically and extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom.

The partition support includes a front surface and an opposing back surface, the back surface having a plurality of stops separated by gaps. The at least one partition element includes opposing surfaces defined by a front edge, a back edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a slot formed in and extending from the bottom edge and terminating at a position spaced apart from the top edge.

In a specific aspect, the slot has a width greater than a thickness of the partition support between the front surface thereof and the gap between stops on the back surface thereof, and a width less than a thickness of the partition support between the front surface thereof and the stops on the back surface thereof. The stops include ridges extend from a top edge of the partition support to a bottom edge of the partition support, and wherein the slot of the at least one partition element is receivable over the top edge of the partition support in the gap between the ridges, the ridges contacting and stabilizing the at least one partition along the entire length of the ridges.

The at least one partition element extends generally perpendicularly from the partition support, with the front edge of the at least one partition element extending perpendicularly forwardly therefrom and the back edge of the at least one partition element extending perpendicularly rearwardly therefrom, with the back edge of the at least one partition element terminating at or before reaching a plane defined by the back edges of the side elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed toFIGS. 1 and 2which illustrates a firearm magazine storage rack with adjustable partitions, generally designated10. Rack10is intended to be mounted to an upright surface for storing firearm magazines12having generally flat bottoms and straight sides. The upright surface can be in a building, vehicle, storage unit, gun safe and the like. Rack10can store magazines of different sizes and widths, as well as charged (filled) or uncharged.

Rack10includes a frame14having opposing spaced apart side elements20and22. Side element20has a top edge24, a bottom edge25, a front edge26, a back edge28and inner and outer surfaces29and30. Side element22has a top edge34, a bottom edge35, a front edge36, a back edge38and inner and outer surfaces39and40. An upper cross piece42extends between side elements20and22proximate top edges24and34at back edges28and38. A bottom element45extends between side elements20and22at bottom edges25and35, and preferably extends from back edges28and38, to front edges26and36. A lip46extends upwardly from the front of bottom element45. A front cross piece48extends between side elements20and22spaced apart from top edges24and34at front edges26and36, so as to be positioned intermediate bottom element45and upper cross piece42. Upper cross piece42, bottom element45and front cross piece48extend between and couple side elements20and22in a parallel spaced apart orientation. Frame14provides a rigid structure which can be mounted by mounting elements (apertures49for receiving fasteners such as screws and the like) to an upright surface to support magazine receiving elements for securely holding magazines.

With additional reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the magazine receiving elements include a shelf element50extending between side elements20and22intermediate bottom element45and front cross piece48. Shelf element50preferably extends from back edges28and38, to front edges26and36. A lip52extends upwardly from the front of shelf element50and a lip54extends downwardly from the rear of shelf element50. Shelf element50includes a generally planar top surface for receipt of the bottoms of magazines12thereon. A partition support60extends between side elements20and22intermediate shelf element50and upper cross piece42. Partition support60extends from side elements20and22spaced from back edges28and38sufficient to accommodate partition elements62thereon, as will be described presently, without those partition elements extending rearwardly beyond a plane defined by back edges28and38. This permits frame14to lie flat against an upright surface to which frame14is mounted. Partition support60includes a top edge63, a bottom edge64, a front surface65and a back surface67. Front surface65is generally planar for receipt of the sides of magazines12thereagainst, while back surface67includes a plurality of stops separated by gaps. In this preferred embodiment, the stops are vertically extending and horizontally spaced apart ridges70separated by gaps72.

With reference toFIG. 5, partition elements62each include opposing, generally planar surfaces74and75, defined by a front edge77, a back edge78, a top edge79and a bottom edge80. A slot82is formed in each of partition elements62, extending from bottom edge80and terminating at a position spaced apart from top edge79. Slot82has a width sufficient to slide over top edge63of partition support60at gaps72between ridges70. Thus, the width (from front to back) of slot82is larger than a thickness of partition support60between front surface65and back surface67at gaps72between ridges70, and has a width less than a thickness of partition support60between front surface65thereof and ridges70on back surface67. Ridges70contact partition elements62along substantially the entire length of slot82, preventing lateral motion along partition support60. Partition elements62hang vertically from partition support60and extend generally perpendicularly from partition support60, with front edge77extending perpendicularly forwardly therefrom and back edge78extending perpendicularly rearwardly therefrom. It will be understood that back edge78does not extend beyond the plane defined by back edges28and38of side elements20and22. This enables frame14to lie generally flush against an upright surface. A partition element62can be adjusted by removing it from partition support60and relocating it between any of ridges70at gaps72. In this manner, the distance between adjacent partition elements can be adjusted to form a magazine receiving space of adjustable size to accommodate magazines of different sizes.

Frame14and the magazine receiving elements, accept partition elements62, are preferable formed of a one piece construction such as by molding in plastic. While molded plastic is preferred, it will be understood that frame14and the various other elements can be constructed of wood, metal, ceramic, and the like, and function properly.

Referring back toFIG. 1, magazines12can be positioned between properly adjusted partition elements62and supported by shelf element50. Wider magazines12may require greater spacing of partition elements62, while narrower magazines require less spacing. When properly positioned, lateral movement of magazines12, from side to side, is prevented by partition elements62, while magazines are supported vertically by shelf element50. Forward and backward movement of magazines12is controlled by front cross piece48and lip52.

Thus disclosed is a firearm magazine storage rack10capable of storing a plurality of magazines in a secure and upright manner and adjustable for magazines of variable width. This permits the magazines to not only be stored in stationary locations such as building, ammunition lockers, gun safes, and the like, but also to be carried by vehicles over rough terrain while maintaining ease of access and the ability to keep track of and count individual magazines quickly and easily.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: