FIXED CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE

A firearm cartridge magazine system comprises one or more sidewalls extending between a base and an upper opening, wherein a hollow interior is defined by the base and the one or more sidewalls, wherein the upper opening opens into the hollow interior. An aperture is positioned on at least one of the one or more sidewalls between the opening and the base. A spring extends between a block and the base, wherein the spring and block are within the hollow interior.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of fixed cartridge magazines for firearms.

2. Description of Related Art

Projectiles are fired from cartridges that are positioned in a particular orientation within a firearm. The positioning of the cartridge is performed manually by the user or autonomously through a clip or magazine with a spring bias forcing the cartridge into position. Magazines are favored for their ease of use and ability to manage a large number of cartridges at a time.

Current magazines have seen little improvements over the many years they have been available. Original configurations provide for a housing that is sized relative to the caliber of the cartridge being used or the firearm accepting the magazine. Within the housing a spring provides pressure against a follower towards an opening in one end of the housing. The housing may be a rather simple rectangle to a more complex drum-style depending on the capacity of magazine to hold a large number of cartridges. Regardless of the shape, currently magazines are fixed in the number of cartridges that they can hold. That is, the magazines are not adaptable to meet varying standards of compliance.

Innovation involving firearms, and specifically their capacity to hold multiple cartridges, has been accompanied with evolving legislative standards driven by a plethora of factors from political agendas to current events. The second amendment of the United States Constitution affords the right to keep and bear arms. Such a right is often debated and such debates have resulted in individual states imposing varying regulations on firearm manufacturing including the manufacturing and pairing of peripherals such as the magazine. Specifically, some states have placed limitations on the number of cartridges a magazine is capable of housing. Other limitations include various regulations that would require the fixation of an otherwise detachable magazine in attempts to prevent rapid reloading of the firearm.

These limitations and regulations have resulted in firearm owners being forced to turn over high capacity magazines or modify their firearms and magazine in such a way to prevent rapid reloading. It has created such a high cost on the owner to have to re-purchase compliant magazines as well as the states to police and recycle non-compliant components.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a magazine that maintains the intended convenience of reloading while being adaptable and complaint regarding the evolving limitations placed on use and ownership.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A firearm cartridge magazine system comprises one or more sidewalls extending between a base and an upper opening, wherein a hollow interior is defined by the base and the one or more sidewalls, wherein the upper opening opens into the hollow interior. An aperture is positioned on at least one of the one or more sidewalls between the opening and the base. A spring extends between a block and the base, wherein the spring and block are within the hollow interior.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a door sealingly engaging the aperture.

In an embodiment, the door is hingedly attached to the one or more sidewalls,

In an embodiment, the door is slidingly engaged to the one or more sidewalls.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a handle attached to the block, wherein the handle extends outward from the one or more sidewalls, wherein the one or more sidewalls has a second opening longitudinally disposed between the opening and the base, wherein the second opening is closed before the upper opening, wherein the handle facilitates manipulation of the block against the spring.

In an embodiment, the aperture accepts one or more cartridges.

In an embodiment, the one or more cartridges are positioned within the hollow interior above the block.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism retains a cartridge magazine to a firearm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring toFIGS. 1-43, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

A cartridge magazine100has a hollow interior102defined by at a plurality of sidewalls104attached to one another an extending from a base106towards an opening at a top end108. The opening at the top end108is configured to facilitate the transition of a cartridge150from the magazine100into a firearm. A spring110in communication with the base106biases a block112within the hollow interior102toward the top end108. A sidewall104A has an aperture114A at least as large as a cartridge150being inserted therein. On the opposite sidewall104B, is an aperture114B that is provided generally perpendicular to the top end108. A lever116having one end attached to the block112extends outward through the aperture114B.

The top end108is further configured to retain the block112and spring110within the magazine100. For example, the opening at the top end108is defined by one or more of the sidewalls104terminating in a curve or angle towards the opening.

The aperture114B disposed on the sidewall104B extends generally parallel to the top end and is positioned on the sidewall104B between the top end and the base106.

In another embodiment, a cover118is hingedly attached to the sidewall104A near the aperture114A where the cover118is of sufficient size to cover the aperture114A. A hinge120is attached to one side of the cover either above of below the aperture114A allowing the cover118to be in a closed position, over the aperture114A, when the cover118is folded up towards the top or folded down towards the base106. In an alternative embodiment, the cover118is a door that allows for retention of the cartridges150relative to the aperture114A and can be releasably engaged to the sidewall104A in a closed position to allow for the introduction of cartridges150in an open position.

In an alternative embodiment, the cover118is in communication with the sidewall104A in a sliding engagement with the sidewall104A to close off the aperture114A. The cover may extend around an exterior perimeter of the magazine100as a sleeve. In some embodiments, the cover118may be spring biased towards a closed position. In use, a user pulls or slides the cover118away from a closed position over the aperture114A to an open position exposing the aperture114A.

In use, a user installs the magazine100into a receiver of the firearm. The user then engages the cover118moving it from the closed position to the open position whereby the aperture114A is exposed. After the aperture114A is exposed, the user pulls the lever116against the spring bias thereby adjusting the position of the block closer to the base106. When the block has been adjusted closer to the base106relative to the aperture, the user inserts one or more cartridges into the hollow interior of the magazine through the aperture. The number of cartridges is determined by the user based on the number of cartridges the magazine has the capacity to hold or the number of cartridges the user intends to fire. When one or more cartridges have been inserted into the magazine, the lever116is released from its adjusted position near the base106allowing the spring to bias the block towards the one or more cartridges, thereby biasing the one or more cartridges towards the opening at the top end of the magazine.

In an embodiment, the lever116can be locked into an adjusted position near the base106while the user is inserting the one or more cartridges. In another embodiment, the lever116remains unlocked requiring the user to apply continuous force to maintain the compression of the spring towards the base106. Once the user releases the continuous force, the resiliency of the spring results in the biasing of the block towards the opening at the top end.

In an alternative embodiment, the cartridge magazine100operates in a system with a locking mechanism122to affix the magazine release124and thereby affixing the magazine100to the firearm. The locking mechanism122has a magazine release124with a plate124A attached to one end. A second plate124B of the same general dimensions as the magazine release plate124A is provided to affix the magazine release124in position thereby preventing the articulation of the release124to resulting in the magazine100being permanently affixed once installed to the firearm. In an embodiment, the second plate124B is positioned abutting an interior surface of a trigger guard128of the firearm while the release plate124A is positioned on a surface immediately exterior to the interior surface where the second plate124B is positioned. Fasteners130extend between the second plate124B and the release plate124A to attach the two plates together having the trigger guard128secured between the two plates124A and124B.

In another embodiment, the locking mechanism122has a first component engaging a first side of the firearm and extending through to a second side of the firearm. The extension of the first component attached to a second component. In some embodiments, the attachment is permanent through a fusion or clipping engagement preventing the release of the first component from the second component. In other embodiments, the attachment is releaseable wherein the second component is threadingly engaged with a threaded shank of the first component extending through the firearm. The second component prevents articulation of the first component, wherein articulation of the first component allows for release of the magazine100. In this way, the first and second component work to lock the magazine100in an installed position within the firearm. For an illustrative example, an AR-15 platform rifle has a magazine release operated by the depression of a button on the second side of the rifle. When the button is depressed a magazine release is removed from a locking position of the magazine100. The present configuration locking mechanism would prevent the magazine release, first component, from being moved as the bottom would be permanently fixed or a locking second component would be attached to the extension of the magazine release through the firearm.

In another embodiment, the second component has a diameter or outer perimeter larger than an opening in the second side of the firearm thereby preventing the second component from entering such opening.

In an alternative embodiment, a locking mechanism122is attached to the firearm platform. The locking mechanism122restricts operation of a magazine release124. The restricted magazine release124acts to lock the cartridge magazine100in attachment with the firearm platform. In another embodiment, the cartridge magazine100is permanently affixed to the firearm platform. The magazine100may be welded, adhered, or otherwise built within the receiver of the firearm platform. Where the cartridge magazine100is built within a receiver, the firearm platform is manufactured having the cartridge magazine100incorporated into the structure of the receiver.

In an embodiment, the magazine release124of the firearm platform is configured to lock the cartridge magazine100in communication with the firearm platform.

In an alternative embodiment the cartridge magazine100has a depression152A on a section152that is configured to engage the magazine release124of the firearm platform. The depression152A receives an extension of the magazine release (not shown in the figures) such that the engagement between the extension of the magazine release and the depression152A form a locking fit between the firearm platform and the cartridge magazine100. In another embodiment, the sidewall154containing the depression152A has a tab156. In a particular embodiment, the tab156is spring-biased. The spring-biased tab156of the sidewall154is where the depression is located on the sidewall. The spring-biased tab156is moveable from a resting position. The resting position of the spring-biased tab156is coplanar with the remaining portion of the sidewall154. In a releasing position, the tab156is biased towards the interior of the cartridge magazine100. Biasing the tab156towards the interior allows for release of the cartridge magazine100by separating the depression away from the extension. In another embodiment, the tab156glidingly engages the sidewall154and is moveable by sliding the tab156within the resting plane.

In some embodiments, the magazine100is based on a standard magazine release system (e.g., a release system of an AR-15 platform rifle). The magazine release button is screwed to an “L-shaped” activation arm162, which secures the magazine100in place by positioning itself in a notch-type indentation, located on the side of the magazine. When the activation arm is tightened securely, a protruding portion162A of the arm162will robustly position itself directly into a notch on the side of the magazine100. This confidently prevents the magazine100from being released, even with the release button depressed.

In some embodiments, the activation arm162includes a protrusion portion162B. A magazine release button of a magazine100can be replaced with a nut164, which allows the activation arm162to be tightened where it secures the magazine100permanently in place and then breaks beyond a specific torque. This renders the activation arm162and the nut164combination irremovable, securing the magazine100permanently to the firearm.

In some embodiments, the magazine100is configured to retain a specific number of cartridges therein. For example, the magazine100may be configured to retain any number of cartridges and the number may be determined by statutory regulations on the allowed number of cartridges for which the magazine100can retain. The magazine100may have a geometric shape defined by the one or more sidewalls and the based to accommodate the desired number of cartridges. For example, a drum-style magazine has a circular shape and a ten-round magazine has a rectangular or crescent shape.