Abstract:
A loader for gun magazines. The loader includes a handle and a pair of spaced apart, outwardly extending prongs. In an embodiment, a stiffener is used to maintain alignment of prongs, and to keep the prongs from being urged apart during use. The loader is used by engaging prongs with a cartridge in the magazine, and then urging the cartridge against biasing means to create space for a cartridge to be loaded. Once space is created, the cartridge to be loaded is urged into magazine while cradled between prongs of the loader.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/504,448 filed on Jul. 5, 2011, entitled GUN MAGAZINE LOADER, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety, including the specification, drawing, and claims, by this reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT RIGHTS IN THE DRAWING 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The applicant has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates to firearms, and more particularly, to an apparatus for loading cartridges into reloadable magazines, as often used in semi-automatic or automatic weapons. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A wide variety of firearms are available with detachable magazines. Such magazines may be loaded with a plurality of cartridges, which in many currently available designs are urged toward a magazine exit by a spring biasing mechanism. Such magazines enable selected number of individual cartridges to be accessible for manual, automatic, or semi-automatic firing, according to a specific firearm design. Currently, in so far as I am aware, the available tools for magazine loading are rather cumbersome. Thus, there remains a need to provide a simple tool for use in depressing a cartridge in a clip, or depressing the base of a biasing mechanism in the clip, to quickly and easily reload cartridges into a magazine. It would be desirable to provide a suitable tool that would enable individuals to quickly and easily reload cartridges into a magazine after cartridges in the magazine have been discharged from the firearm. 
     SUMMARY 
     A novel gun magazine loader has been developed, that, in various embodiments, greatly eases the task of reloading cartridges into magazines. In an embodiment, the loader includes a handle and a pair of stiff, spaced apart, outwardly extending prongs. In an embodiment, the prongs may be provided with a curved upper interface surface that may easily cradle a cartridge which is next in line for loading into a magazine. In an embodiment, a cartridge accepting cradle portion may be formed in the handle. In an embodiment, the prongs may be provided with a curved lower interface surface that may easily apply force to a cartridges or clip base, to urge such cartridges or clip base downward against a spring biasing means in the clip. In an embodiment, the prongs may be provided using first and second prongs that are cylindrical in shape, whereby the curved upper interface surface and the curved lower interface surface are determined by the diameter of the cylindrical prongs. 
     In a method of use of the magazine loader, cartridges to be loaded may be placed on upper interface surfaces of the outwardly extending prongs, and cradled between prongs. In a method of use of an embodiment of the magazine loader, cartridges to be loaded may be first placed in a cradle portion of the handle. In one method of use, a user may steady the cartridge to be loaded in such a cradled position, whether on the handle or on the prongs, with a thumb. The user then can use the lower interface surface of the outwardly extending prongs to press a cartridge already in a clip, or the clip base in a totally unloaded clip, downward, to make space for the cartridge to be loaded. Once space has been created by urging the prongs downward against the cartridge already in the clip, the cartridge to be loaded may be slid into the clip, along the upper interface surface of the outwardly extending prongs. Once the cartridge is safely located, downward pressure may be released, and the just loaded cartridge secured by the upper end of the clip. Then the prongs of the magazine loader are removed from the clip. The process may be repeated until the magazine has full complement of cartridges. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       A novel magazine loader will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, using for illustration the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment for a magazine loader, in which a pair of spaced apart, outwardly extending prongs is illustrated. 
         FIG. 1A  is an obverse view of an embodiment for a magazine loader, in which are pair of short, spaced apart, outwardly extending prongs are illustrated, and in which a groove is provided for providing an initial position for setting a cartridge to be loaded. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment for a pair of outwardly prongs useful for a magazine loader, but shown without a handle. 
         FIG. 2A  provides a cross section of an exemplary prong, taken as along section line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 2 , showing an embodiment for an upper engaging surface shape and for the lower engaging surface shape. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a user securing a cartridge to be loaded by using his thumb on the cartridges, before engagement with a magazine loader. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of a user&#39;s hand, similar to  FIG. 3  above, further illustrating how a cartridge to be loaded may be securely engaged on upper engaging surfaces between a pair of outwardly extending prongs. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view, showing the lower engaging surfaces of the outwardly extending prongs of a magazine loader pressing down on a cartridge already in a magazine to urge the cartridge down against an upwardly biasing means in the magazine, so that space can be created in the magazine for the additional cartridge shown on the upper engaging surfaces of the outwardly extending prongs. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view, similar to that just shown in  FIG. 5 , now showing how a user&#39;s thumb may be used to urge a cartridge into a magazine, once the downward pressure exerted by the prongs of the loader have created space for the additional cartridge within the magazine. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment for a magazine loader, as provided in  FIG. 1  above, but now showing in further detail a pair of outwardly extending prongs, and the use of a smoothly contoured stiffening member between the prongs. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment for a magazine loader, showing a pair of outwardly extending prongs, and the use of a welded or brazed type stiffening member joining the prongs. 
         FIG. 8A  is a reverse side view of another embodiment for a magazine loader, as initially shown in  FIG. 1A , in which are pair of short, spaced apart, outwardly extending prongs is illustrated, and in which a groove is provided for providing an initial position for setting a cartridge to be loaded. 
         FIG. 9  is a reverse side perspective view of an embodiment for a magazine loader, showing the use of a spot welded bridge for strengthening the device, and for maintaining spacing between the outwardly extending prongs. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view, taken across line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 , showing the configuration of a spot welded bridge as may be placed on the reverse, or underside, of a set of outwardly extending prongs. 
         FIG. 11  is a partially cut away side view of a magazine that is being loaded using the loader design(s) provided herein. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of yet another magazine that has been loaded using the loader design(s) provided herein. 
         FIG. 13  provides a photographic view of the base of an existing prior art magazine that may be loaded with cartridges using the magazine loader design(s) described herein. 
         FIG. 14  provides a view of the side of an existing prior art magazine that may be loaded with cartridges using the magazine loader design(s) described herein. 
     
    
    
     The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from firearm magazine loader designs utilizing the principles taught herein, or that may be implemented in various embodiments for such magazine loaders. Other variations in prong designs or in handle designs may use slightly different mechanical structures, or different mechanical strengthing arrangements, or prong upper or lower surface shapes, yet employ the principles described herein or depicted in the drawing figures provided. An attempt has been made to show the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of an exemplary firearm magazine loader design. Such details should be useful for providing a magazine loader, and for facilitating a quick and easy method for loading gun magazines. 
     It should be understood that various features may be utilized in accord with the teachings hereof, as may be useful in different embodiments as necessary or useful for various sizes and shapes of cartridges and magazines, depending upon the conditions of service, resistance of springs, and other variables, yet be provided within the scope and coverage of the teachings herein as defined by the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Attention is directed to  FIG. 1 , where an embodiment for a gun magazine loader  20  is provided. The loader  20  includes a handle  22  with first end  24  and second end  26 . In this embodiment, spaced apart first prong  30  and second prong  32  extend outwardly from the second end  26  of handle  22  to first  34  and second  36  distal ends, respectively. As seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , the first prong  30  and second prong  32  are sized and shaped for engaging and cradling therein a cartridge  40  that is to be loaded in a magazine  42  (see  FIG. 5 ). In one suitable embodiment, first prong  30  and second prong  32  are provided in the form of a pair of strong, tempered steel rods. In an embodiment, first prong  30  and second prong  32  may be provided using stiff cylindrical steel rods having a diameter D (see  FIG. 2 ) of about 3/32″ (0.094 inches). Generally, it is desirable that the first  30  and second  32  prongs are sufficiently stiff to resist bending when urged against a cartridge  46  held in the magazine  42  by a biasing device (see spring  47  in  FIG. 11 ) of the magazine  42 . Such just described embodiment may be provided in a configuration capable of loading cartridges of various calibers, for example from about 45 caliber down to about 25 caliber, or slightly smaller, without additional parts or accessories. 
     As better seen in  FIG. 2 , between a thumb  45  and finger  48 , a working end  50  for a loader  20  is provided. The working end  50  includes the prongs  30  and  32  as just described. The working end  50  may also include at least one prong base, and as shown a first prong base  52  and a second prong base  54 . As indicated by broken lines, a handle  56  may have embedded therein, such as by use of a molded plastic handle the first prong base  52  and the second prong base  54 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a cross-sectional view of first prong  30 , which may be considered typical for many embodiments, for both first prong  30  and second prong  32 . Either or both prongs  30  and/or  32  may include curved lower engaging surfaces  60  for engaging and biasing a cartridge  46  held in a magazine  42  away from an upper open end  62  of the magazine  42 . In an embodiment, the prongs  30  and/or  42  may be generally cylindrical, i.e. round in cross-section. Also, either or both of prongs  30  and/or  32  may include curved upper engaging surfaces  64  for engaging, accepting and cradling a cartridge  40  to be loaded in the magazine  42 . In an embodiment, the upper engaging surfaces may be provided by prongs  30  and/or  42  that may be generally cylindrical, i.e. round in cross-section. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , a stiffener  70  may be optionally provided secured to and between the first  30  and second  32  prongs. In various embodiments, the stiffener  70  may be spaced apart from the handle  22 , to increase its effectiveness in maintaining the spacing S between first  30  and second  32  prongs. In various embodiments, the first  30  and second  32  prongs may have an exposed overall length L O  of about two (2) inches. In various embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 1A , the first  30  and second  32  prongs may have an overall exposed length L O  of about one (1) inch. As seen in  FIG. 2 , first  30  and second  32  prongs may be provided with an embedded length L E  located in a handle, such as handle  56 . For various embodiments, an embedded length L E  of about ¾ inch, or more, may be satisfactory. Returning now to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment the outer end  72  of the stiffener  70  may be spaced apart from the distal ends  34  and  36  by a length L S1 . For various cartridge sizes, a length L S2  of about one and one-quarter (1.25) inches has been found workable. In an embodiment, the stiffener  70  has an inner end  74 , and the inner end  74  is spaced apart from the distal ends  34  and  36  by a length L S1 . For various cartridge sizes, and stiffening requirements, a length L S1  of about one and one-half (1.5) inches has been found workable. Thus, in such an embodiment, the stiffener  70  has a width of about one-quarter (0.25) inches. As noted in  FIG. 2 , for various embodiments, and stiffening requirements, a length L H  of about one inch, or about one and one-half (1.5) inches, or more, has been found workable. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment for a loader  20 ′ is shown. In this embodiment, a handle  22 ′ is provided, and first prong  30 ′ and second prong  32 ′ are provided extending outwardly therefrom, with general construction details for such loaders  22 ′ as described above. In an embodiment, a stiffener  70 ′ may be mechanically and/or metallurgically joined, such as by welding or brazing, to prongs  30 ′ and  32 ′. 
     Attention is directed to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , where yet another embodiment for a loader  120  is provided. In this embodiment, a handle  122  is provided, and first prong  130  and second prong  132  are provided extending outwardly therefrom, with general construction details as described above. However, in this embodiment a stiffener in the form of a bridge  140  is mechanically and metallurgically joined, such as by spot welding or brazing, to prongs  130  and  132 . In an embodiment, the bridge  140  may have an overall width W 140  of about 11/32 inches. When used as a stiffener, such bridge  140  may be shaped to include first  142  and second  144  cutouts which have walls sized and shaped to match the peripheral shape  146  and  148 , respectively, of prongs  130  and  132  at the point of attachment. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 11 and 2A , a loader  20  has at least one prong, here shown as prong  32 , that has a curved lower engaging surface  60  for engaging and biasing a cartridge  46  in a magazine away from the upper open end  62  of the magazine  42 . Similarly, the at least one prong, shown as prong  32 , has a curved upper engaging surface  64  for accepting and cradling a cartridge  40  to be loaded in a magazine  42 . In various embodiments, as seen in  FIG. 2A , prongs such as prong  30  may be provided in cylindrical shape, i.e. round in cross-section. In various embodiments, the at least one prong  32  or the like is sized and shaped to enter the upper open end  62  of the magazine  42  when the magazine  42  is positioned for insertion of a cartridge  40 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 1A , an obverse side  70  of a handle  72  for an embodiment for a magazine loader is provided, in which handle  72  is provided with a depressed groove or first cradle portion  74  that provides an initial location for setting a cartridge to be loaded. Similarly,  FIG. 8A  shows a view of a reverse side  76  of a handle  72  of embodiment for a magazine loader, as initially shown in  FIG. 1A , in which a depressed groove or second cradle portion  78  is provided for providing an initial position for setting a cartridge to be loaded. 
     A simple method of loading cartridges  40  in to a gun magazine  42 , is provided using loaders  20  or  20 ′. As seen in  FIG. 11 , a gun magazine  42  having containment walls  80  and an upper open end  62  for securely holding a plurality of cartridges  46  against upward biasing means such as spring  47  is provided. The magazine  42  is configured to urge cartridges  46  contained in the magazine (or a lower biased end  82 , if the magazine  42  is empty), toward the upper open end  62 . The method includes providing a loader  20 , where the loader  20  has a handle  22  and at least one cartridge  46  engaging prong  32  extending outward from the handle  22 . The cartridge engaging prongs ( 30  and  32 ) have upper engaging surfaces  64  for cradling a cartridge  40  to be inserted into the magazine  42 , and a lower engaging surfaces  60  adapted to exert downward force in the direction of reference arrows  84  and  86  on a cartridge  46  in the magazine  42 . Cartridge  40  to be loaded in the magazine  42  is provided. The cartridge  40  to be loaded in the magazine  42  is provided in a loading position as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 11  on the upper engaging surfaces  64 , and the cartridge  40  is manually securing such as by thumb  45  at the loading position. The lower engaging surfaces  60  are engaged with either a cartridge  46  in the magazine, or with the lower biased end  82  of the magazine  42 , and downward force as indicated by reference arrows  84  is exerted to create space between the upper open end  62  and the at least one cartridge engaging prong  32 , sufficient for the magazine  42  to accept the cartridge  40  to be loaded. Then, the cartridge  40  to be loaded is slid along the least one cartridge engaging prong  32 , for example using prongs  30  and  32 , until the cartridge  40  to be loaded is placed into the said magazine  42 . Then, the loader  20  is removed from the magazine  42 . The above procedure may be repeated for each cartridge  40  to be loaded. As noted above, the use of at least one cartridge engaging prong may be effectively accomplished using a pair of prongs. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  provide examples of a prior art magazines, such as a Colt 45 automatic, and a 25 mm caliber handgun magazine, which may be loaded using the gun magazine loader(s) described herein. 
     In so far as is presently known by the inventor hereof, the devices disclosed herein are the only devices currently available which are capable of loading all commonly encountered cartridges used in automatic pistols, and in some semi-automatic long guns. Further, the devices disclosed may be used “one-handed” whether by a single hand of an able bodied individual, or by a single available hand in the case of those users who are missing, or are without normal use, of an opposing hand. 
     In the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed exemplary embodiments for the design of a magazine loader for firearms. However, certain of the described details may not be required in order to provide useful embodiments, or to practice a selected or other disclosed embodiments. Further, for descriptive purposes, various relative terms may be used. Terms that are relative only to a point of reference are not meant to be interpreted as absolute limitations, but are instead included in the foregoing description to facilitate understanding of the various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. And, various actions or activities in any method described herein may have been described as multiple discrete activities, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that such activities are necessarily order dependent. In particular, certain operations may not necessarily need to be performed precisely in the order of presentation. And, in different embodiments of the invention, one or more activities may be performed simultaneously, or eliminated in part or in whole while other activities may be added. Also, the reader will note that the phrase “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment” has been used repeatedly. This phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. Finally, the terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” should be considered synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. 
     From the foregoing, it can be understood by persons skilled in the art that a novel magazine loader for firearms has been described herein. Although only certain specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, there is no intent to limit this invention by these embodiments. Rather, the invention is to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents when taken in combination with the description. 
     Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive or limiting. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, the protection afforded to this invention should be limited only by the claims set forth herein, and the legal equivalents thereof.