Abstract:
Example cartridge magazines for use within a curved handle of certain pistols have a laterally curved housing so that the pistols and magazines can fit comfortably along a user&#39;s body. Such curved pistols and magazines are particularly suited for carrying within a shirt or pants pocket. A curved pistol loaded with a curved magazine, for instance, can be carried comfortably in one pocket while an extra loaded magazine can be carried in another pocket. Example magazines carry single and multiple rows of cartridges along appropriately sized curved housings. The magazine&#39;s curvature provides a user with a prominent tactile feature that quickly indicates in which direction the magazine should be inserted within the pistol.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/651,505 filed on May 24, 2012 by the present inventor. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject invention generally pertains to handguns and more specifically to cartridge magazines for fitting within the handle of a pistol. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pistols and revolvers are examples of handguns. A cartridge is a combination of a bullet and a shell, wherein the shell contains the gunpowder that upon ignition within the firing chamber of a handgun propels the bullet as a projectile out through the barrel of the handgun. 
     In the example of pistols, the firing chamber is generally integral with the barrel and usually a linear magazine within the handle grip of the pistol sequentially feeds a series of cartridges to the firing chamber. In the example of revolvers, a rotatable cylinder with a series of circumferentially distributed firing chambers align sequentially a series of cartridges with the revolver&#39;s barrel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a laterally curved magazine inserted within the handle of a pistol. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional exploded view of the pistol shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing cartridges being inserted in the magazine of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing the magazine loaded with cartridges. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  but identifying certain geometric features. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing different positions of an example follower with an example magazine housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional exploded view showing an example pistol magazine method. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 4  but showing the bending and compressing of an example spring with a curved magazine. 
         FIG. 12  is a top end view of the spring shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 8  but showing an example magazine holding two rows of cartridges. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-13  illustrate example magazines  10  and  10 ′ that are laterally curved for fitting within a similarly curved handle of a pistol  12  or other handgun. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , pistol  12  has a handle  14  shaped to fit comfortably against a user&#39;s body, thus pistol  12  can be readily carried under apparel or in a pants pocket. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show pistol  12  before and after installing magazine  10 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  show magazine  10  being loaded with cartridges  16 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7  shows a lateral side view of magazine  10  when loaded.  FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate example geometric features and methods of magazine  10 .  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an example method of assembling magazine  10 .  FIG. 12  shows a top view of an example spring  18  used in some magazines.  FIG. 13  shows an example magazine  10 ′ that is laterally curved for holding and conveying two rows of cartridges  16 . 
     Referring to the example of  FIGS. 1-3 , pistol  12  comprises a frame  20 , a barrel  22  with a bore  34  for shooting bullets in a forward direction  24  along the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline  26 , a trigger  28 , a front sight  30 , a rear sight  32 , laterally curved handle  14  being attached to or extending integrally from frame  20 . In some examples, handle includes a grip  14 ′. 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 4-7 , magazine  10 , in some examples, comprises a housing  36  defining an interior chamber  38  for storing and conveying cartridges  16 . Some examples of housing  36  have a first side  36   a , a second side  36   b , a rear edge  36   c , a forward edge  36   d , an open end  40  and a blocked end  42 . In some examples, an end cap  44  is attached to housing  36  at blocked end  42 . Open end  40  is where cartridges  16  enter and leave magazine  10 . In some examples, open end  40  includes some blockage or restraining feature  46  to help hold cartridges  16  within magazine  10  until it is time for cartridge  16  to exit magazine  10 . In some examples, sides  36   a  and  36   b  are wider than edges  36   c  and  36   d . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the width  48  of sides  36   a  and  36   b  is greater than the width  50  of edges  36   c  and  36   d.    
     Sides  36   a  and  36   b , and edges  36   c  and  36   d , extend between ends  40  and  42 . The expression, “a side or edge extending between two ends” means at least a portion of the side or edge lies between the two ends but does not necessarily extend all the way to either end and is not necessarily entirely confined between the two ends. So, in some examples, a side extending between two ends also extends beyond one or both ends. 
     In some examples, first side  36   a  has a first contoured length  52  extending from blocked end  42  to open end  40 . Second side  36   b  has a second contoured length  54  extending from blocked end  42  to open end  40 . The term, “contoured length” (e.g., first length  52  and second length  54 ) means the length is measured along a surface rather than along a straight line through space. For a hypothetical flat element, the element&#39;s contoured length equals its straight line length measured through space. For a hypothetical non-flat element, however, the element&#39;s contoured length is greater than its straight line length measured through space. In some examples, first contoured length  52  is longer than second contoured length  54 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  9 . 
     In some examples, first side  36   a  has a first interior surface  56  that is substantially concave along most of the first contoured length  52 , and second side  54  has a second interior surface  58  facing toward first interior surface  56  and being substantially convex for most of the second contoured length  54 . In other words, in some examples, a majority of first interior surface  56  is concave, and a majority of second interior surface  58  is convex. In some examples, the first contoured length  52  is at a first radius of curvature  60 , and the first contoured length  52  with respect to a center point  62  of the first radius of curvature  60  extends between 0.3 and 1.2 radians (reference numeral  64 ). 
     The term, “substantially convex” not only pertains to curved surfaces but also encompasses polygonal surfaces with a plurality of flat surface segments that are distributed along a generally convex layout. Likewise, the term, “substantially concave” not only pertains to curved surfaces but also encompasses polygonal surfaces with a plurality of flat surface segments that are distributed along a generally concave layout. 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , to push cartridges  16  along a contoured path  66  through chamber  38  toward open end  40 , some examples of magazine  10  include spring  18  and a follower  68 , wherein spring  18  is compressed lengthwise between follower  68  and end cap  44  or between follower  68  and some other blocking feature near blocked end  42 . The term, “contoured path” means that path deviates from being perfectly linear from the beginning of the path to its end. Some examples of a contoured path include, but are not limited to, a nonlinear path, a circular segment, a plurality of non-collinear straight line segments joined end-to-end, non-circular curves, and various combinations thereof. In some examples, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a longitudinal centerline  70  of contoured path  66  includes a substantially circular segment  72  having center of curvature  74  at point  62 , wherein the substantially circular segment  72  extends between 0.3 and 1.2 radians (reference numeral  76 ) with respect to center of curvature  74 . 
     In some examples, chamber  38  has a cross-section  78  (e.g., the chamber&#39;s cross-section as viewed across line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ) perpendicular to path  66 . Cross-section  78 , in some examples, has a length  80  extending in forward direction  24  and a width  82  extending perpendicular to forward direction  24 . Length  80  extends generally along the housing&#39;s first side  36   a , width  82  extends between sides  36   a  and  36   b , and length  80  is greater than width  82 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show follower  68  being movable along contoured path  66  between a fully loaded position  84  (e.g.,  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  8  and  9 ) and an unloaded position  86  (e.g.,  FIGS. 4 ,  9  and  11 ). In some examples, follower  68  has a side surface  88  that touches and slides along the housing&#39;s interior surfaces  56  and/or  58 . Follower  68  in unloaded position  86  is proximate open end  40 . Follower  68  in fully loaded position  84  is closer to blocked end  42  than to open end  40 . As follower  68  travels along contoured path  66 , the follower&#39;s travel direction changes from an initial travel direction  90  proximate blocked end  42  and a final travel direction  92  proximate open end  40 . In the illustrated examples, contoured path  66  provides a limited variation  94  in travel direction between initial travel direction  90  and final travel direction  92 . The term, “limited variation” means less than 360 degrees. In some examples, the limited variation  94  in travel direction is greater than zero (0) degrees and less than ninety (90) degrees. 
     In some examples, as shown in  FIG. 9 , follower  68  relative to housing  36  has a first rotational orientation when follower  68  is at fully loaded position  84 , and follower  68  has a second rotational orientation when follower  68  is at unloaded position  86 . The first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation define therebetween a limited range of rotation  96  of follower  68  relative to housing  36 . In the illustrated example, the limited range of rotation  96  is about a rotational axis  98  extending in forward direction  24 , wherein the limited range of rotation  96  is greater than zero (0) degrees and less than ninety (90) degrees. The term, “axis  98  extending in forward direction  24 ” means that axis  98  is not perpendicular to forward direction  24  and does not necessarily mean that axis  98  is parallel to or collinear with forward direction  24 . In some examples, axis  98  is substantially parallel to forward direction  24 . 
     Arrow  66  shown in  FIG. 8  represents conveying the plurality of cartridges  16  along curved path  66  within handle  14  of pistol  12 , wherein some examples of curved path  66  have a center axis of curvature that is non-perpendicular to the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline  26 . It should be noted that perpendicular does not necessarily mean the lines intersect, as some lines are spaced apart non-intersecting perpendicular lines.  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  illustrate arranging the plurality of cartridges  16  in a single curved row within handle  14 .  FIG. 13  illustrates arranging a plurality of cartridges  16  in a plurality of rows guided along a contoured path  66 ′ through a curved handle  110  of a pistol  12 ′, wherein path  66 ′ curves about point  74 ′.  FIG. 13  also shows a spring  18 ′ and a follower  68 ′ for pushing cartridges  16  toward open end  40 ′. 
     In some examples, assembly of magazine  10  is as shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12 .  FIG. 10  shows the assembly of various parts,  FIG. 11  shows spring  18  being compressed lengthwise and bent laterally, and  FIG. 12  shows a top end view of spring  18  prior to being bent within housing  36 . Arrow  100  represents inserting follower  68  into housing  36 . Arrow  102  represents inserting spring  18  into housing  36 . Arrows  104  represent compressing spring  18  within housing  36  between follower  68  and blocked end  42 . Arrows  105  represent bending spring  18  sideways against second side  36   b  of housing  36 . 
     Spring  18 , in some examples, has a longitudinal centerline  106  that is straighter prior to inserting spring  18  into housing  36 . Note, longitudinal centerline  106  is shown straighter in  FIG. 10  than in  FIG. 11 . Bending spring  18  laterally against side  36   b  of housing  36  helps prevent spring  18  from rattling around within housing  36 . A pistol free of rattling noise is a benefit in some situations. In some examples, spring  18  comprises an elongate element  108  (e.g., a wire) helically disposed about longitudinal centerline  106 . 
     Although the invention is described with respect to a preferred embodiment, modifications thereto will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the invention, therefore, is the be determined by reference to the following claims: