Universal magazine loading and unloading accessory

An accessory facilitates loading and unloading of cartridges into a firearm magazine and includes a main body having a top end with a top opening, a bottom end with a bottom opening, a wall portions extending between the top and bottom ends and defining therebetween a body cavity in communication with the top and lower openings and also defining a front opening in communication with the body cavity. A first portion of the body cavity can receive a cartridge from the front opening and a second portion of the body cavity can receive an open end of a portion of a firearm magazine from the bottom opening. A thruster is movably coupled to the main body and mounted to the main body above the top end, and includes a plunger which is movable into and out of the first portion of the body cavity through the top opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to firearms and, more particularly, to methods and accessories for facilitating loading and unloading of firearm cartridges into and out of a firearm magazine.

BACKGROUND

In order to achieve a higher capacity, many firearms utilize a “double stacked” magazine in which the cartridges are held in two adjacent columns where the cartridges are stacked in a staggered (zigzag) fashion. Such magazines achieve higher round capacity compared to single column magazines. The cartridges advance to the feed position, under spring pressure, as a group. Feeding takes place alternately from the left feed lip and the right feed lip of the magazine. The space between the feed lips is greater than the maximum diameter of a cartridge thus allowing convenient refilling of the magazine.

Magazines of handguns or pistols contain either a single column of cartridges, for smaller pistols or, for larger pistols, two staggered columns which converge to a single column at the open end of the magazine. Such magazines expose just a single, topmost cartridge, between both feed lips. These handgun magazines are not relevant to the embodiments of the present inventive concept.

Loading magazines with loose cartridges is a relatively time-consuming, tedious, and painful practice if done with bare fingers. Pain accumulates and intensifies as more rounds are loaded against the increasing spring pressure, thus slowing the loading process. In cases where the cartridges are short, it is particularly difficult to load a magazine by use of only human hands. Thus, it is useful to provide an apparatus for assisting in the magazine loading process.

A number of devices exist which are adapted to assist the user in loading firearm rounds into cartridges; however, such devices are dedicated to specific types of cartridges and magazines, and rely on custom features of the targeted magazine to securely attach thereto. These devices are not compatible not only between different size cartridges, but also different types of magazines. Therefore, users who own different types of magazines must purchase several different devices of the same function and feature.

SUMMARY

An accessory according to one embodiment of the present inventive concept facilitates loading and unloading of cartridges into a firearm magazine and includes a main body having a top end with a top opening, a bottom end with a bottom opening, a wall portions extending between the top and bottom ends and defining therebetween a body cavity in communication with the top and lower openings and also defining a front opening in communication with the body cavity. A first portion of the body cavity can receive a cartridge from the front opening and a second portion of the body cavity can receive an open end of a portion of a firearm magazine from the bottom opening. A thruster is movably coupled to the main body and mounted to the main body above the top end, and includes a plunger which is movable into and out of the first portion of the body cavity through the top opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Terms such as front, rear, bottom, and bottom side view, are used herein as a convenient method for differentiating between the views or orientations shown inFIGS.1through10. It will be appreciated that the elements shown in FIGS. may assume various orientations without deviating from the spirit and scope of this detailed description. Accordingly, the terms front, rear, bottom, front view, right side view, top view, rear view, left side view, bottom view, and the like should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention recited in the attached claims.

FIG.1is a perspective view showing a firearm50, a plurality of cartridges72, a magazine60, and a magazine loader100for loading cartridges72into the magazine60. The magazine loader100is comprised of a main body110, a thruster140, and a magazine clamp150. The magazine60is comprised of a casing62, a follower68, and a spring70. The open end of the magazine has cartridge-retaining lips66to contain loaded cartridges within the magazine60.

FIG.2is a perspective view showing a plurality of cartridges72, a magazine60, and a magazine loader100. The magazine loader100may be used to load a plurality of cartridges72into the magazine60. The magazine loader100presented in this illustrated embodiment may also be used to unload a plurality of cartridges72in the magazine60.

Referring, for example, toFIGS.3A-4F, an example magazine loader100comprises a main body110for receiving an upper portion of the magazine60and a thruster140which moves up and down freely during loading action by operator through a thruster well114formed at the top of the main body110for loading cartridges72into the magazine60received by the main body110.

An example of the magazine loader100is comprised of a main body110, a thruster140, and a magazine clamp150. The main body110has a cartridge ramp112that guides the cartridge72into a cartridge cavity104when loading the cartridge72. A plurality of stiffeners118are formed around the main body110to increase structural integrity of the main body110. On the rear of the main body110, an unloading flange136is formed. The unloading flange136may be used as a tool to unload cartridges72loaded in the magazine60, and may also be used as a flange to grip the main body110with fingers during loading of the cartridges72.

A plunger144is formed at the lower portion of the thruster140and moves up and down freely during loading action by operator through the thruster well114formed at the top of the main body110. Two springs146residing in the spring pockets116formed at the top of the main body110support the thruster140and return the thruster140back to a “ready” position when a push-down force for loading a cartridge72is removed. Two thruster teeth142on opposite sides of the plunger144keep the thruster140inside the thruster well114by thruster stoppers128formed inside the thruster well114. A magazine clamp150slides into and out of the main body110along guiding slots132formed in the main body110. A pair of guide rails152formed along the sides of the magazine clamp150fit into the guiding slots132and move only along one axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide rails152. At the end of the guide rails152, stoppers156are formed to prevent the magazine clamp150from being pulled out of the main body110totally. The magazine clamp150can be pulled out until the stoppers156hit the inside end of the guiding slot132. A notch154is formed at the end of each guide slot132. If the magazine clamp150should be removed totally from the main body110, stop ends156and notches154should be aligned and both stop ends156of the magazine clamp150are pushed inwardly to disengage from the guiding slot132of the main body110.

At the bottom of the main body110, a bottom opening108through which the magazine60can pass is defined by three walls of the main body110and the magazine clamp150. The bottom opening108is at a plane of a magazine cavity102(in which the magazine60can be accommodated) formed by the main body110and the magazine clamp150. By sliding the magazine clamp150, the size of magazine cavity102and bottom opening108can be adjusted for the magazine60to be loaded with cartridges.

At a rear end of magazine cavity102, on the inside rear wall of the main body110, a pair of rear stops126are formed for a rear wall of the magazine60to contact and, thus, be benched when the magazine60is inserted into the magazine cavity102to load cartridges72. At the top of magazine cavity102formed by the main body110, top stops122(e.g., a pair of symmetrically-angled surfaces with round corners along the side walls of the main body110) are formed to stop an open end64of a magazine62inserted into the magazine cavity102for loading.

At the rear end of the cartridge cavity104, on the inside rear wall of the main body110, cartridge stops124are formed to stop the rear end of a cartridge to be positioned inside or along the rear inside wall of the magazine60. At the bottom of the inside rear wall of the main body110, notches134may be formed to prevent locking features of certain types of magazines60from interfering with the rear inside wall of the main body110.

On the rear outer wall of the main body110, unloading flange136is formed not only to be used as an unloading tool but also used as a holding feature of the main body110by fingers when gripped for loading cartridges72into the magazine60.

Inside of a magazine clamp150, a pair of symmetrically-angled clamping surfaces158are formed to clamp the magazine60securely from the sides thereof to prevent side play and rotation when the magazine60is inserted into the magazine cavity102. In some embodiments, clamping surfaces158may be made of compliant material firmly attached to the magazine clamp150to provide more friction and clamping force.

Referring, for example, toFIGS.5A-6E, an example magazine loader100comprises a main body110and a magazine clamp150for receiving an upper portion of the magazine60and a thruster140moving into the main body110for loading cartridges72into the magazine60received by the main body110.

To load cartridges72into a magazine60, the magazine clamp150is moved outwardly to adjust the length of the bottom opening108so that the magazine60can be slid (open end64first) and upward into and through the bottom opening108(e.g., along an insertion axis extending along the direction of arrow51inFIG.5A). Thereafter, the magazine60is arranged inside the magazine cavity102between the main body110and the magazine clamp150and is pushed upward (e.g., along the insertion axis) to make lips66of magazine60to be symmetrically and stably benched to top stops122. Then the magazine clamp150is adjusted inwardly (e.g., by pushing with thumb54) toward the main body110along the guiding slots132to securely clamp the magazine60between the clamping surfaces158and against rear stop126of the main body110, which is held firmly by other fingers52to prevent any rocking while aligning the center of thruster well114and the center of the open end64of the magazine60.

Once the magazine60is securely held in one hand, the cartridge cavity104of the magazine loader100can be oriented to face substantially upward for easy loading. A loose cartridge72is then rearwardly inserted into the cartridge cavity104(i.e., a space between the top of the open end64of inserted magazine60and the plunger144at the bottom of the thruster140) along the cartridge ramp112. Inserted cartridge72is stopped by cartridge stop124of the main body110and loosely positioned inside the cartridge cavity104. Then the thruster140is pushed downward (e.g., as indicated by arrow53inFIG.5D) for the plunger144to contact the cartridge72and further push the cartridge between the feed lips66of the magazine60and into the magazine60. Once the cartridge72has fully passed the lips66and placed into the magazine60, the thruster140can be released and returned to its original topmost position by spring146action, providing the cartridge cavity104between the open end64of the magazine and the plunger144of the thruster140for another cartridge72to be placed in the cartridge cavity104. This process can be repeated until the desired number of cartridges72are loaded into the magazine60, or until the magazine is full.

The thruster140can be pushed by the palm of the operator's non-gripping hand for easy loading. For an operator with strength, thruster140can be pushed by one or two fingers52of the gripping hand for speed loading (e.g., as shown inFIG.5D).

FIGS.7A-7Dare partial cutaway views illustrating loading of different type cartridges (e.g., cartridges72and92) into different magazines (i.e., magazine60in the case of cartridge72, and magazines90and98in the case of cartridge92).

FIG.7Ais showing a cartridge72contacting cartridge stop124in the cartridge cavity104being pushed down by the thruster140as shown inFIG.6Cinto a magazine60securely clamped by the magazine clamp150.

FIG.7Bis showing another type of cartridge92contacting cartridge stop124in the cartridge cavity104being pushed down by the thruster140into a magazine90securely clamped by the magazine clamp150.

FIG.7C-7Dis showing the same type of cartridge92as shown inFIG.7Bbeing loaded in another type of magazine98whose inside rear wall is not aligned with cartridge stop124. In this example, an insert180is used to align the end of the cartridge92to the rear inside wall of the magazine98.

FIGS.8A-8Fare bottom side cutaway views illustrating an unloading sequence for an example magazine loader100with unloading flange136for a magazine60loaded with plurality of cartridges.

FIG.8Ais showing a loaded magazine60with topmost cartridge74and second-to-topmost cartridge76while the unloading flange136of a magazine loader100is about to touch second-to-topmost cartridge76. Topmost cartridge74is shown also engaging a lip66of the magazine. All other cartridges78below second-to-topmost cartridge76and above the bottommost cartridge80above follower68are compressed by the spring70. Such a position is at equilibrium since the lip66engages topmost cartridge74and the follower68engages the last cartridge80while casing62of magazine60constrains side motion from the upward force exerted by a spring70to form two columns of stacked cartridges inside of the magazine60.

FIG.8Bis showing the unloading flange136of a magazine loader100pushed further down onto the second-to-topmost cartridge76through the open end64of a magazine until the rear wall of the main body110touches the lips66of the casing62. Since the second-to-topmost cartridge76and all cartridges below it are pushed down, the topmost cartridge74disengages from the lip66and becomes loose, because upward spring force is eliminated. Then topmost cartridge74may fall out of the magazine60gravitationally and forwardly as shown inFIGS.9A and9B. After topmost cartridge74is unloaded from the magazine60, the second-to-topmost cartridge76then becomes the topmost cartridge of the loaded magazine.

FIGS.8C-8Eare showing the unloading flange136of the magazine loader100, while rear wall of the main body110is maintaining contact with the lips66of the casing62, slide from (newly topmost) cartridge76over to next column of stacked cartridges and pushing down onto the (newly second-to-topmost) cartridge78. Now the cartridge76becomes loose because it is disengaged from the unloading flange136and the upward spring force is eliminated. The cartridge76may then fall out of the magazine gravitationally and forwardly in the same manner as shown inFIGS.9A and9Bfor previously-unloaded cartridge74.

Referring, for example, toFIGS.8B-8E, the same unloading sequence discussed above with respect toFIGS.8A and8Bmay be repeated until the last cartridge80becomes the topmost cartridge.FIG.8Fshows the unloading flange136moving from the topmost cartridge80to the follower68of the magazine60. Now the topmost cartridge80becomes loose and falls out of the magazine gravitationally and forwardly.

FIGS.9A and9Bare side views of a magazine loader100and coupled magazine60positioned for unloading rounds from the magazine60. Here the front opening of the magazine loader100faces substantially downward. A single loose cartridge74is shown being forwardly unloaded and free-falling from the magazine60gravitationally.

FIGS.10A-10Dare perspective views showing another embodiment in accordance with the present inventive concept. In this example of embodiment, a magazine loader160is composed of a thruster140and a main body162without a magazine clamp. This type of magazine loader can be a single purpose loader made for certain size magazines instead of universal loader. Plural side guides164are formed along the inside walls of the main body162which gives proper gap for an intended type of magazine to be inserted easily while preventing too much side rocking during loading. The magazine60can be clamped by a user's thumb54and other fingers52against rear stop126so that the magazine60can be securely held inside the loader160at a proper position so cartridge can be loaded.

The magazine loaders according to the various embodiments of the present inventive concept as described above provide substantial assistance to a firearm user in safely and rapidly loading and unloading a magazine. The magazine loaders may be adapted to operate with any type of double-stacked magazine and with any common cartridges.

Loading cartridges into the magazine is based on the method of pushing cartridges between a magazine's lips along the side walls of cartridge cavity where a cartridge is inserted rearwardly (rim/flange first). This is accomplished by providing a downward thrust on the cartridge to be loaded into the magazine, and thus on all previously-loaded cartridges within the magazine, to lower the cartridge to be loaded against the spring force of the follower in the magazine by a plunger formed in the thruster. The thruster will return to its top position by the return springs for next cartridge loading.

In practice, the user holds the magazine loader and coupled magazine in one hand (e.g., the left hand), where the magazine loader's front is directed substantially upward (e.g., as shown inFIG.5B). At the same time, the user may push the magazine's opposite closed end against the user's abdomen (not shown). The user may employ the palm of the right hand, or one or more of the free fingers of the left hand to push the thruster down and then let go as the right hand rearwardly feeds each loose cartridge into the cartridge cavity formed in the main body. Hence, every time the thruster is returned to the “ready” position, a single cartridge can be loaded into the cartridge cavity.

Unloading a cartridge from the magazine is based on the method of releasing spring pressure from the topmost cartridge of the magazine so that it may fall gravitationally and forwardly (bullet first) from the magazine, i.e., free-fall. This is accomplished by providing sufficient thrust into the magazine on the second-to-topmost cartridge, and thus on all previously loaded cartridges, for releasing the spring pressure from the topmost cartridge, allowing it to unload.

In practice, the user holds the magazine in, say, a left hand, where the cartridges are directed substantially downwards to earth as inFIG.9B. The right hand is used to hold the magazine loader to push the second-to-topmost cartridge in the magazine with the unloading flange until the rear wall of the magazine loader is stopped by the lips of the magazine. This will allow the topmost cartridge to free-fall out of the magazine as inFIG.9B. Then quickly reciprocating the unloading flange left-and-right between the two lips of the magazine allows the cartridges to free-fall out of the magazine in quick succession. Hence, every time the unloading flange is moved to the other lip, a single cartridge is unloaded.

Constructed as exemplarily described above, the magazine loaders according to any of the aforementioned embodiments provide several advantages over conventional magazine loaders: a single device can be used with a plurality of magazine shapes and calibers, eliminating the need for multiple devices of each magazine shape; a single device can both load and unload magazines; the device can be operated at high speed with minimal fatigue to the user; the thruster can be pushed by palm or any flat surface for weak or injured user; the thruster can be pushed using one or two fingers of the same hand holding magazine for faster loading; the device is small, lightweight and inexpensive.

These and other advantages will become further apparently from the following detailed description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.