Patent Publication Number: US-6698129-B1

Title: Replacement ammunition clip for a weapon

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention deals broadly with the field of weapons. More specifically, the invention is related to storage structures for replacement ammunition clips. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of automatic weapons, emphasis is placed upon the quantity of rounds that can be fired from the weapon. In these weapons, a clip has been developed to hold a plurality of bullets and is designed to allow the bullets to be loaded in the firing chamber of the weapon in rapid succession. However, generally a clip, holding the ammunition, only holds a small number of bullets and, therefore, it is necessary to reload the weapon from time to time, by removing the empty magazine clip from the magazine well of the weapon and inserting a replacement clip. Since the user of the weapon cannot fire multiple rounds during the reloading process, it is of utmost importance that the reloading process be done as quickly as possible. 
     Traditionally, the removal of the empty clip had to be done by holding the weapon with one hand and removing the empty magazine clip with the other hand. Many weapons today have mechanisms that, when a button is depressed, expel the magazine clip through use of a spring mechanism thereby allowing the holder of the weapon to hold the weapon with one hand and use the other hand to obtain a replacement clip. Although this innovation has sped up the process of reloading the weapon, the replacement clips are not positioned for quick insertion. For example, replacement clips are typically stored for use in either a pouch or sheath positioned far from the magazine well, or attached to the magazine clip. 
     Typically, the pouch encloses one or more clips together and typically has a strap that can be placed over the arm or shoulder of the user of the weapon or may be attached to the weapon itself. The pouch apparatus generally requires two hands to use and, therefore, is difficult to utilize when holding the weapon. 
     Sheaths, as known in the prior art, generally have a receiver for holding a portion of one or more clips while having a portion of each clip exposed, allowing the user to grasp the exposed portion. Sheaths are constructed for attachment to the user, or the weapon, by either a strap or a belt. Straps allow the sheath to be hung over the user&#39;s shoulder, while belts allow the sheath to be positioned around a body part of the user or the butt stock of the weapon. Common positioning of sheaths is around the waist, or thigh of the user. The means for attaching a sheath to the butt stock of a weapon are typically VELCRO hook and loop fasteners. Although the sheath allows for the user to grasp the clip with one hand while holding the weapon with the other, the location of the clip is typically not in close proximity to the magazine well of the weapon into which the magazine clip is expelled and the replacement clip is inserted. 
     Weapon users have also attempted to solve this problem by attaching two clips together. Oftentimes this method has been accomplished by simply duct taping the two clips together, however, special brackets have been made to connect two clips together. These methods allow the user to easily release the magazine clip and move the replacement clip into position. However, in some applications it may be advantageous to have the magazine clip expelled from the weapon without having it connected to the replacement clip. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an apparatus that attaches a replacement clip in a position on the weapon that is convenient for the user to grasp, that unobtrusively positions the clip in proximity to the magazine well, and can be oriented for facile and expeditious insertion into the well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for unobtrusively disposing a replacement clip for an automatic weapon having a magazine well into which a clip is received. The apparatus includes a sheath and mechanism for mounting the sheath to an automatic weapon. 
     The sheath includes a structure for carrying the replacement clip including a dispensing port through which the replacement clip is withdrawn. The mechanism for mounting is positioned wherein a replacement clip carried within the sheath is fully withdrawn along an axis of the sheath, the clip is oriented and located relative to an entry to the magazine well to enable prompt insertion therein. 
     The apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful with weapons having a rail structure for mounting accessories thereon. These rail structures are oftentimes used on rifles and are typically mounted along the elongated barrel of the weapon. The rail is often comprised having a plurality of slots formed transversely thereon in relation to the elongate axis of the rail. In this embodiment, a clamp may be utilized to mount the sheath to the rail structure thereby capturing a portion of the rail between the jaws of the clamp. It is preferred that the jaws be adjustable toward and away from one another for capturing the rail. The rail is generally captured between the jaws such that the inner surface of the jaws are in contact with the outer surface of the rail. It is preferred that the axis along which the jaws move toward and away from one another can be varied relative to the orientation of the axis of the sheath. In this way, the angle of the opening of the sheath can be changed with respect to the angle of the axis the jaws move. 
     It is also preferred that, when mounted, the central axis of the dispensing port be angled to the elongate axis of the rail. 
     Further, embodiments of the present invention may also have an elongate connection member, such as a screw or bolt that spans between the two jaws. The elongate connection member attaches the two jaws together and may also provide the adjustment mechanism for moving the jaws. The elongate connection member may be utilized to help hold the sheath in place by spanning the jaws of the clamp within one of the slots. When a screw or bolt is utilized, an aperture is formed in one jaw having a threaded interior and another aperture is formed in the other jaw having a non-threaded interior. The threaded exterior of the screw or bolt is then placed through the non-threaded aperture and threaded into the threaded aperture. 
     The interior of the sheath is sized to frictionally hold the clip in the sheath. Additionally, a roller may be mounted within the interior space of the sheath to aid in the movement of the clip received therein. 
    
    
     Other structures and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated in view of the accompanying drawings and detailed description provided. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a right side view of an embodiment of the present invention attached to an assault rifle; 
     FIG. 2 is an angled left side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown with a standard mounting rail for a weapon mounted within the jaws of the embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a right side view illustrating the first sequence of movement of the magazine clip and replacement clip; 
     FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating the second sequence of movement of the magazine clip and replacement clip; 
     FIG. 6 is a right side view illustrating the third sequence of movement of the magazine clip and replacement clip; 
     FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating the fourth sequence of movement of the replacement clip; and 
     FIG. 8 is a right side view illustrating the fifth sequence of movement of the replacement clip. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 mounted to a weapon  50 . An apparatus  10  for disposing a replacement clip  52  for an automatic weapon  50  having a magazine well  54  into which a clip  52  is received. The weapon  50  includes a barrel  56  and a rail  58  mounted to the barrel  56 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus  10  includes a sheath  12  and mechanism for mounting the sheath  12  to the rail  58  of an automatic weapon  50 . In FIGS. 2 and 3, the rail  58  has been removed from the weapon  50  to show how the attachment of this embodiment is accomplished. As shown, in this embodiment, the mechanism is a clamp  14  having a pair of jaws  16  the jaws preferably have an interior surface shape that matches the exterior surface shape of the rail  58 . In this way, the jaws  16  of the clamp  14  can provide better frictional force due to the added surface area in contact with the rail  58 . Rails typically utilized include Picatinny and Weaver styles, although any rail and/or generally fixed mounting system may be utilized with the present invention. 
     The sheath  12  may be fabricated from any material known in the art. Such suitable materials include plastic, leather, synthetic fabrics, and the like. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is comprised of a single piece of plastic material. The embodiment of the sheath  12  also includes two rollers  18  that are attached to the sheath  12  by screws  20  and anchors  22 . The use of these screws  20  and anchors  22  can also aid in maintaining the interior dimension of the sheath  12 . In this way, when a clip  52  is placed therein, the walls of the sheath  12  will not move as much and, therefore, the sheath  12  can provide more frictional force to hold the clip  52  in place. The mounting mechanism, shown in the figures as clamp  14 , can be mounted to the sheath by any means known in the art, for example by screws  24  and anchors  26 . 
     FIG. 3 shows one embodiment illustrating the structure of a clamp  14  as may be employed in the attachment of the sheath  12  to a weapon  50 . In this embodiment, a non-threaded aperture  28  is formed in one of the jaws  16 , and a threaded aperture  30  is formed in the other jaw  16 . An elongate connection member  32 , such as a screw or bolt having complimentary exterior threading, may be passed through the non-threaded aperture  28  and threaded at least partially into threaded aperture  30 . This structure allows the jaws  16  to be attached together and allows the space between the jaws  16  to be adjusted by threading the connection member  32  further into the threaded aperture  30 . This structure also provides a means in which to tighten the jaws  16  to the rail  58 , thereby holding the sheath  12  in position. In FIG. 3, a slot  60  formed in the rail  58  is identified. As can be seen in the figure, it is one of a plurality of slots  60  formed transversely across the surface of the rail  58 . The positioning of the apertures  28  and  30  can be arranged on jaws  16  such that the elongate connection member  32  can span between the jaws  16  while passing through one of the slots  60 , such as the one identified in FIG.  3 . In this way, the elongate connection member  32  can aid in holding the sheath  12  in position by preventing the movement of the sheath  12  in the elongate direction of the rail  58 . 
     The sheath  12  includes a structure for carrying the replacement clip  52  including a dispensing port through which the replacement clip  52  is withdrawn. The mechanism for mounting is positioned wherein a replacement clip  62  carried within the sheath  12  is fully withdrawn generally along an axis  34  of the sheath  12 , the clip  62  is oriented and located relative to the entry of the magazine well  54  to enable prompt insertion therein. 
     FIGS. 4-8 illustrate the sequence of events and the movement of both the magazine clip  52  and the replacement clip  62 . In FIG. 4 the sequence begins with the magazine clip  52  being expelled from the magazine well  54 . On a weapon such as the one shown in the figures, the action of expelling the magazine clip  52  from the well  54  is accomplished by pressing a button on the weapon  50  that actuates a spring mechanism to eject the clip  52  from the well  54 . This can be accomplished by using the hand holding the weapon  50  (firing hand). The other hand is used to withdraw the replacement clip  62  from the sheath  12 . As can be seen from FIGS. 4-6, as the magazine clip  52  continues to fall from the magazine well  54 , the movement of the replacement magazine  62  in an arcuate motion from the sheath  12  allows the replacement clip  62  to be positioned below the magazine well  54  for quick insertion into the weapon  50 . Once positioned below the well  54 , the user need only move the clip  62  upward and secure it within the well  54 , as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Although depicted herein for use on a rifle, the sheath structure and positioning concepts may be applied on other weapons such as hand guns, and the like. 
     The above description is illustrative of the some embodiments and features of the present invention, however, it should not be construed to limit the language of the claims below.