Abstract:
Magazine block device for firearm dry fire practice which allows a user to practice proper firearm handling skills without expending ammunition, including recocking and actuating the firearm slide without pressing the slide lock release. In an aspect, a magazine block device is provided having a bullet-shaped body, two upper ridges forming a longitudinal channel through which the firearm breach face loading tab may pass without dislodging the magazine block device, and an offset lower ridge. The lower ridge is configured to evenly force a magazine follower down a sufficient distance to prevent actuation of the firearm slide lock. This allows dry fire practice of pulling the slide. Several other features include ridges to assist a user to remove and load the block device in and out of a magazine, as well as a pocket to mechanically remove same.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/479,014, filed Jan. 10, 2014, and entitled “Dry Fire Practice Magazine Block,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to firearms, and more particularly to dry-fire practice equipment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Dry fire practice involves manipulating and using the weapon without loading it. The technique is often used to simulate actual firing of the firearm when there is not a suitable place to practice with live ammunition. The user may handle, aim, pull the trigger, pull the slide and/or cock the firearm during such practice. Dry fire exercises are a versatile and safe way to practice with firearms and improve one&#39;s shooting skills. Historically safety or “dummy” rounds have been used to simulate proper loading, reloading, and quick trigger engagement after reloading. However it is laborious and time consuming to load the practice magazine and then have to retrieve the ejected safety rounds from the ground. Most pistols use magazines featuring a spring loaded follower. When the magazine is emptied, the follower engages a slide lock which prevents travel of the slide until a new, loaded magazine is inserted. While this functionality is useful for quickly reloading the firearm during live firing, it hampers practicing with the firearm because the operator must disengage the slide lock after insertion of a fresh magazine. If that magazine is empty the spring loaded follower prevents the disengagement of the slide stop. As mentioned above the historic use of safety rounds is problematic. 
     Some pistols, such as the Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P9c pistol (available from Smith &amp; Wesson Corp. of Springfield, Mass.), contain a magazine safety. Such pistols cannot function without a magazine, preventing the most basic practice of cycling the slide to cock the firearm and then pulling the trigger. Using an empty magazine automatically locks the slide back with each cycle, which hinders the drill. Thus use of safety rounds is very inefficient. 
     Devices are known which facilitate using a firearm to practice. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 119,357, issued to A. C. Hobbs on Sep. 26, 1871, discloses a black cartridge containing no gun powered. The cartridge includes a rubber disk positioned at the rear of the cartridge casing. During dry fire practice, the Hobbs blank is chambered and the disk absorbs blows from the firing pin, allowing the user to simulate some firing actions. 
     Improvements on the Hobbs blank are known, such as the firearm snap cap disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,090 issued to J. E. Darrow on Jul. 25, 1995. The snap cap is also designed to be chambered and consists of a bore cleaning brush attached to a unit body having a diameter equal to the diameter of ammunition used with the firearm. 
     While the Hobbs blank, the Darrow snap cap, and other types of chamber-able simulated ammunition may be used during dry fire practice, such practice ammunition may be expelled prematurely if the firearm&#39;s round ejection mechanisms are simulated (e.g., pulling a pistol slide back when a practice round is in the chamber). Thus, practicing actuating the firearm slide, reloading the firearm magazine, and other techniques may be difficult and/or require multiple rounds of practice ammunition. 
     Other safety devices are known, such as the magazine block device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,449 issued to N. E. Clifton on Jul. 10, 2007. The Clifton magazine block is designed to be inserted into a magazine and, when the magazine is loaded into a rifle, the magazine block occupies the loading chamber, thereby preventing live rounds of ammunition from being loaded while still allowing the user to practice with the rifle. Some designs of the Clifton magazine block impede full motion of the firearm slide and/or charging handle. 
     Given the foregoing, what are needed are devices which allow a user to conduct dry fire practice drills with a firearm, including magazine removal are reload exercises. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. It is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the subject matter to be claimed, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the subject matter to be claimed. 
     The present disclosure is directed to magazine block devices. Magazine block devices in accordance with the present disclosure may be used with pistols, rifles, and other firearms during dry fire practice, enabling a user to learn and maintain proper firearm handling skills without expending ammunition, thus reducing costs and increasing safety during such exercises, 
     In an aspect, a magazine block device is provided having a bullet-shaped body. The magazine block device is designed to be inserted into a magazine having an offset, spring-loaded follower. The magazine block device body includes two upper ridges positioned along to outer edge of the body. The upper ridges form a longitudinal channel through which the firearm breath face loading tab may pass without dislodging the magazine block device. The upper ridges contact the feed lips of the magazine, keeping the magazine block device in position. 
     Magazine followers are often angled, therefore the bottom portion of the magazine block device may comprise an offset lower ridge. The lower ridge is configured to evenly force the follower down a sufficient distance to prevent actuating the firearm slide lock. This allows dry fire practice of pulling the slide, 
     The magazine block device may also comprise one or more cutouts, protrusions, or other portions designed to help a user insert or remove the magazine block device from the magazine. In some aspects, the magazine block device may be inserted and removed from a magazine by hand, enabling the user to quickly prepare a firearm for dry fire practice and return the firearm to live, operational status by simply inserting a magazine containing live ammunition or removing the magazine block device from a magazine, reloading that magazine with ammunition, and loading the magazine into the firearm. 
     In an aspect, the magazine block device allows the user to dry fire practice with a semi-automatic pistol without having the slide lock engage. Because dry fire practice necessitates having the pistol or other firearm free of ammunition in the magazine as well as the chamber, the built in slide lock will always lock the slide in the rear, or open, position when the pistol is cycled, or re-cocked, to reset the trigger into the “fire” position. This requires the user to disengage the slide lock after every cocking cycle which is disruptive to dry fire practice techniques. Among other things, having to constantly disengage the slide lock after every trigger pull and recock cycle disrupts the hand position, target focus and mental concentration. 
     The slide lock is a feature in all semi-automatic pistols to alert the user when the magazine is empty or all rounds have been expended. After the last round in the magazine is chambered, the magazine follower rises to the top of the magazine, by spring pressure, until it engages the feed lips of the magazine body. When in this upper-most position, the magazine follower pushes up on the slide-lock of the pistol so that after the next shot and recocking cycle, the slide of the pistol engages this slide lock and holds the slide in its most rearward, or open, position. 
     In an aspect, a magazine block device prevents the slide lock from engaging by simulating a round in the feed position in the magazine. This pushes the magazine follower down low enough as to prevent engagement of the slide lock, allowing the slide to return to the closed, or locked, position. The user only need manually cycle the slide of the pistol after each “dry fire” trigger pull with the magazine block device installed, avoiding the extra, disruptive step of disengaging the slide lock. 
     Further features and advantages of the devices and systems disclosed herein, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the Detailed Description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a dry fire practice magazine block device, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the magazine block device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective cutaway view of a firearm detailing the firearm internal components, having a round loaded in the magazine but not chambered. 
         FIGS. 4A  &amp; B are cutaway views of the firearm of  FIG. 3 , wherein the slide has been pulled back in order to chamber the round and the slide lock being disengaged. 
         FIGS. 5A  &amp; B are cutaway views of a firearm detailing the firearm internal components wherein no round is present and the slide lock is engaged. 
         FIGS. 6A-C  are perspective views of a magazine and a magazine block device being inserted into the magazine, in accordance with an aspect the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7A  &amp; B are cutaway views of a firearm wherein the firearm magazine houses a magazine block device preventing the slide lock from engaging. 
         FIGS. 8A  &amp; B are cutaway views of a firearm wherein the firearm magazine houses a magazine block device preventing the slide lock from engaging and the slide and barrel being removed. 
         FIG. 9  is a cutaway view of a firearm wherein the firearm magazine houses a magazine block device preventing the slide lock from engaging. 
         FIGS. 10A  &amp; B are cutaway views of a firearm wherein the firearm magazine houses a magazine block device preventing the slide lock from engaging, thereby allowing the slide to return after being pulled back. 
         FIG. 11  is a cutaway view of a firearm wherein the firearm magazine houses a magazine block device. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear top perspective view of a dry fire practice magazine block device, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a front top perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 14  is a front bottom perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear bottom perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 16  is a left side elevational view thereof, 
         FIG. 17  is a right side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 18  is a rear end view thereof. 
         FIG. 19  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 20  is a front plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 22  is a rear top perspective view of another aspect of the dry fire practice magazine block device. 
         FIG. 23  is a front top perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 24  is a front bottom perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 25  is a rear bottom perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 26  is a left side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 27  is a right side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 28  is a rear end view thereof. 
         FIG. 29  is a front elevational view thereof, 
         FIG. 30  is a front plan view thereof, 
         FIG. 31  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to magazine block devices for dry fire practice. Devices in accordance with the present disclosure allow users of pistols, rifles and other firearms to conduct dry fire practice while having the firearm free of any ammunition in the magazine, as well as the chamber. Magazine block devices in accordance with the present disclosure prevent the firearm slide lock from engaging after every cocking cycle. Such devices also remain engaged within the device after each cocking cycle, even where such cycles are designed to expel chambered ammunition casings and/or dummy rounds. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1-2 , a top and a bottom perspective view of a dry fire practice magazine block device  100  are shown and described in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. 
     Magazine block device  100  may be constructed out of any appropriate material including, but not limited to, a polymer, metal, wood, rubber, and/or combinations thereof. Magazine block device  100  comprises a body  102  and may be bullet-shaped, resembling the profile of the ammunition magazine block device  100  that replaces an ammunition round during dry fire practice. The cross section of body  102  is substantially similar to the cross section of such ammunition. Body  102  may include a curved front portion  110 . Curved front portion  100  ensures that device  100  fits into magazines designed for bullets having similar profiles. 
     Two upper ridges  104  are positioned along the outer edge of body  102 . Upper ridges  104  extend vertically from body  102 . In some aspects, upper ridge  104  extends approximately two millimeters from the top surface of body  102 . As shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 6-11 , upper ridges  104  are designed to simulate the side of a bullet casing and position device  100  properly within a magazine by contacting the feed lips of the magazine. Upper ridge  104  has a flat outer surface, a curved inner surface, and extends most of the length of device  100 . In some aspects, the front of upper ridge slopes downward, forming a smooth interface with other portions of body  102 . 
     Two ridges  104  form a longitudinal channel  106  along the top surface of device  100 . Channel  106  allows firearm loading mechanisms, such as a breach face loading tab of a pistol (see  FIGS. 3-5  and  FIG. 18 ) to freely move without chambering device  100 , a round, or any other item. This allows the user to perform dry fire exercises such as cocking the firearm without expelling device  100 . 
     Device  100  may be configured for use with spring loaded magazines having angled followers. Device  100  may further include a lower ridge  108  extending down from body  102  in order to contact the follower and maintain the follower in a position that will not actuate the firearm slide lock or other magazine reloading mechanism. In an aspect, lower ridge  108  extends approximately four millimeters downward and is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of device  100 . This configuration, shown in  FIG. 1 , is configured to evenly force the follower down a sufficient distance to prevent actuating the firearm slide lock. This allows dry fire practice of pulling the slide freely and performing other recocking actions without actuating the slide release mechanism. Lower ridge  108  extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of device  100 . At a front portion, lower ridge  108  slopes upward, connecting with other portions of device  100 . The outer side of lower ridge  108  is substantially vertical. The inner side of lower ridge  108  may be curved in order to interface with the surface of the magazine follower. 
     Front portion  110  may include one or more flanges  112  extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of device  100 . Each flange  112  is raised slightly with respect to the surface of body  102  such that a user may push or pull against flange  112  in order to install or remove device  100  from a magazine. Flanges  112  may be positioned along other portions of device  100 , such as upper ridges  104 , body sides, and the like. 
     Device  100  may also comprise one or more cutouts, protrusions, or other portions designed to help a user insert or remove the magazine block device  100  from the magazine. In some aspects, the magazine block device  100  may be inserted and removed from a magazine by hand, enabling the user to quickly prepare a firearm for dry fire practice and return the firearm to live, operational status by simply inserting a magazine containing live ammunition or removing magazine block device  100  from a magazine, reloading that magazine with ammunition, and loading the magazine into the firearm. 
     In an aspect, body  102  may comprise pocket  114 . A tool or other rigid member may be inserted into pocket  114  in order to aid in the removal of device  100  from a magazine, 
     As will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, device  100  may be configured to function with firearms using various types of ammunition (e.g., 9 mm, .308, .45ACP, 12ga., .22LR, 5.56x45 mm, 7.62×51 mm, .357 Magnum), having varying magazine designs (e.g., single column, staggered, internal box, detachable box, STANAG magazine) and the like. Device  100  may be configured to inhibit round loading mechanisms and/or casing ejection mechanisms apart from those shown and described herein. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , cutaway views of a firearm  300  are shown, depicting operations of portions of firearm  300 . 
     Pistol  300  includes a hammer  302 . Hammer  302  may be manually cocked or may be cocked by movement of a slide  308 . Slide  308  has a breach face loading tab  310  configured to push a round  304  into a firing chamber  312  from a magazine  306 . Before round  304  is loaded into chamber  312 , round  304  is held in place within magazine  306  by a pair of feed lips  406  and a follower  404 . Feed lips  406  constrain the motion of round  304  because follower  404  is spring loaded and forces round against feed lips  406 . Slide  308  can freely move unless a slide lock  402  is engaged. Slide lock  402  is engaged when no rounds  304  or other objects remain in magazine  306 , thereby allowing follower  404  to press against slide lock  402 . Engaging slide lock  402  locks slide  308  into an open position. In order to move slide  308  from the locked position a slide lock release must be pressed by the user. Pressing the slide lock release is not part of a normal firing sequence; therefore avoiding such an action during dry fire practice is desired. Device  100  may be utilized in order to avoid such an action because device  100  prevents upward movement of follower  404 , preventing follower  404  from engaging slide lock  402 . 
     Detail view  401  shows tab  310  positioned near the rear of round  304 . As tab  310  moves forward, it pushes round  304  out of magazine  306  and into chamber  312 . 
     Detail view  501  shows follower  404  engaging slide lock  402  when follower  404  is not vertically constrained by round  304 , device  100 , or another object. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A-C , perspective views of magazine  306  and device  100  are shown. In particular,  FIGS. 6A-C  shown how device  100  is inserted into empty magazine  306  in order to prepare magazine  306  for use in dry fire practice. 
     When follower  404  is in the position shown in  FIG. 6A , slide lock  402  is activated. In order to avoid activating slide lock  402  during dry fire practice, vertical movement of follower  404  must be limited using device  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , follower  404  is first pushed down in direction A. Magazine block device  100  is then inserted above follower  404  in direction B. The edges of device  100  may be curved in order to push follower  404  down via insertion of device  404  as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     As shown in FIG. GC, upper ridges  104  each contact a feed lip  406 , maintaining the position of device  100 . Lower ridge  108  pushes follower  404  downward, ensuring that it cannot engage slide lock  402  when the magazine shown in  FIG. 6C  is in use. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-8B , cutaway views of firearm  300 , wherein magazine  306  houses device  100 , are shown. Device  100  is inserted into magazine  306  as shown in  FIGS. 6A-C . As shown in  FIGS. 7A  &amp; B, magazine  306  is then inserted into firearm  300  as normal. 
       FIG. 7B  is a detail view of area  701 . As show in  FIG. 7B , when magazine  306  is equipped with device  100 , tab  310  moves freely through channel  106 . Tab  310  does not contact device  100 , therefore no object is loaded into chamber  312  and firearm  300  may be cycled may times during practice. 
       FIG. 88  is a detail view of area  801  of  FIG. 8A . As shown in  FIG. 8B , when magazine  306  is equipped with device  100 , follower  404  does not engage slide lock  402 . 
     Referring briefly to  FIGS. 9-11 , a series of cutaway views are shown which depict the movement of slide  308  when firearm  300  is equipped with device  100 . Slide  308  is able to move freely, enabling firearm  300  to be used in dry fire practice without having to constantly disengage slide lock  402  after every trigger pull and re-cock cycle. 
     Referring briefly to  FIGS. 12-21 , various views of a dry fire practice magazine block device  100 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, are shown. 
     Referring briefly to  FIGS. 22-31 , various other views of another dry fire practice magazine block device  100 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, are shown. 
     While various aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
     In addition, it should be understood that the figures, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present disclosure, are presented as examples only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.