Patent Publication Number: US-11041684-B1

Title: Cartridge loader

Description:
This application claims priority based on U. S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62,921,128 filed May 30, 2019. 
     This application pertains to apparatus and methods for loading cartridges in a weapon. 
     More particularly, the application pertains to apparatus and methods for loading cartridges in a magazine. 
     Those of skill in the art have for many years pursued improvements in loading cartridges into a magazine or weapon. 
     Therefore, it would be highly desirable to provide improvements in that respect. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide improvements in loading cartridges in a magazine. 
    
    
     
       This, and other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a cartridge loader constructed in accordance with the invention, said perspective view being taken from above and at the rear of the cartridge loader; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1  illustrating further construction details thereof, said perspective view being taken from below and at the front of the cartridge loader: 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 2  illustrating further construction details thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 2  illustrating further construction details thereof, said side view being taken from the right hand side of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is rear view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1  illustrating further construction details thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1  illustrating further construction details thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view illustrating a component which comprises substantially one half of the body of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the component of  FIG. 7  illustrating further construction details thereof; 
         FIG. 9  is a left hand side view of the component of  FIG. 8  illustrating further construction details thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the component of  FIG. 8  illustrating further construction details thereof, said perspective view taken from the right rear of the component; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the component of  FIG. 8  illustrating further construction details thereof, said perspective view taken from the left rear of the component; 
         FIG. 12  is front view illustrating the lever utilized in the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view illustrating the lever of  FIG. 12 , said view taken from the right hand side of the lever; 
         FIG. 14  is a back view of the lever of  FIG. 12  illustrating further construction details thereof; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the lever of  FIG. 12  illustrating further construction details thereof; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1  with the component of  FIG. 7  removed for purposes of clarity and in combination with a magazine inserted therein and shown in section view, said side view illustrating the mode of operation of the presently preferred embodiment of the cartridge loader of the invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1  with the component of  FIG. 7  removed for purposes of clarity and in combination with a magazine inserted therein and shown in section view, said side view illustrating the mode of operation of the presently preferred embodiment of the cartridge loader of the invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1  with the component of  FIG. 7  removed for purposes of clarity and in combination with a magazine inserted therein and shown in section view, said side view illustrating the mode of operation of the presently preferred embodiment of the cartridge loader of the invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 1  with the component of  FIG. 7  removed for purposes of clarity and in combination with a magazine inserted therein and shown in section view, said side view illustrating the mode of operation of the presently preferred embodiment of the cartridge loader of the invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 17  illustrating the mode of operation thereof; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the cartridge loader of  FIG. 17  illustrating the mode of operation thereof; 
         FIG. 22  is a left hand side view of the magazine and cartridges of  FIG. 17  further illustrating the mode of operation of the cartridge loader of the invention, said magazine being illustrated in section view to better illustrate the position of cartridges in the magazine; 
         FIG. 23  is a front view of the magazine and cartridges of  FIG. 22  further illustrating the mode of operation of the invention; 
         FIG. 24  is an elevation view of the magazine and cartridges of  FIG. 22 , said elevation view taken from above the magazine and cartridges to further illustrate the mode of operation of the invention; 
         FIG. 25  is a diagram illustrating the movement of the arms of the lever of  FIG. 12  during operation of the cartridge loader of the invention; 
         FIG. 26  is a top view illustrating the latch utilized to engage a magazine inserted in the cartridge loader of the invention; 
         FIG. 27  is a perspective view further illustrating the latch of  FIG. 26 ; and, 
         FIG. 28  is a rear view of the latch of  FIG. 27  further illustrating construction details thereof. 
     
    
    
     Briefly, in accordance with the invention, provided is an improved cartridge loader. 
     The cartridge loader includes a body and a lever. 
     The body includes a first opening and a second opening. 
     The first opening is shaped and dimensioned to slidably receive a magazine. The magazine contains a stack of identical cartridges including a top cartridge and a second cartridge. Each cartridge has a back end and a front end. 
     The magazine includes an open upper end with at least one canted lip to engage and removably capture an insert cartridge identical in shape and dimension to the top cartridge, and includes a spring loaded base slidably mounted in the magazine to upwardly displace toward the lip a stack of cartridges stored in the magazine, 
     The second opening is shaped and dimensioned to receive an insert cartridge having a front end and a back end. 
     The body includes an arcuate guide surface to channel the back end of the insert cartridge toward the open upper end of the magazine for capture of the back end of the insert cartridge by the lip of the magazine. 
     The body includes a pivot. 
     The cartridge loader also includes a lever mounted in the body to rotate about the pivot. The lever includes a first arm and a second arm. 
     The first arm extends outwardly from the pivot and includes a first distal end. The first distal end is a first selected distance from the pivot. 
     The second arm extends outwardly away from the pivot, moves simultaneously with the first arm, and includes a second distal end a second selected distance from the pivot point. The second selected distance is greater than the first selected distance. 
     The lever has at least two operative positions, a first operative position and a second operative position. 
     When the lever is in the first operative position, the insert cartridge is insertable in the second opening of the body such that the insert cartridge is channeled by the guide surface toward the open end of the magazine for capture of the back end of the insert cartridge. Also, when the lever is in the first operative position, the second distal end extends downwardly past the lip of the magazine and into the magazine, engages the top cartridge, and downwardly displaces the cartridge stack away from the lip of the magazine such that the insert cartridge can be channeled to a position in which the back end of the insert cartridge is intermediate the lip and the top cartridge and is captured by the magazine. 
     When the lever is in the second operative position, it has been rotated about the pivot to engage the front of the insert cartridge with the first distal end to move the cartridge such that the back end of the insert cartridge contacts the lip of said magazine, and the back end of the insert cartridge is intermediate the lip and the top cartridge in the magazine. Rotating the lever to the second operative position also moves the second distal end upwardly past the lip and out of the magazine. 
     Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for purposes of illustration, and not limitation, of the invention,  FIGS. 1 to 6  illustrate an assembled cartridge loader in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The assembled cartridge loader is generally indicated by reference character  10 . 
     The body of loader  10  includes side components  11  and  12 . Component  11  generally is a mirror image of component  12 . Lever  13  is mounted at the top of the body of loader  10  to rotate about pivot  29  ( FIG. 20 ). 
     Opening  87  in the body of loader  10  is shaped and dimensioned to receive slidably an insert cartridge  30  ( FIG. 17 ). Orthogonal opening  19  ( FIG. 2 ) is shaped and dimensioned to receive slidably a magazine  15  ( FIG. 17 ). 
       FIGS. 7 to 11  illustrate component  12 . Component  12  includes member  14 . The aperture  14 A formed therethrough typically, during operation of the cartridge loader  10 , receives the thumb of a hand of the user. Alternatively, aperture  14 A can, if desired, receive the index finger of a user. 
     Aperture  17 , in conjunction with aperture  75  in component  11  ( FIG. 1 ), receives latch  72  ( FIGS. 26 to 28 ). Head  71  of latch  72  can seat in aperture  75  ( FIG. 1 ). Distal end  72  of latch  70  extends outwardly from aperture  17  ( FIG. 2 ). Latch  70  includes aperture  73 . Latch  70  is designed to interfit with magazine  15  and retain magazine  15  in loader  10  in the position illustrated in  FIGS. 16 to 21  when loader  10  is being used to insert cartridges in magazine  15 . 
     Lever  13  is illustrated in  FIGS. 12 to 15 . Lever  13  includes aperture  91  which typically receives the finger of the hand of a user during operation of loader  10 . The finger is used to move aperture  19  in the direction of arrow B to rotate lever  13  about pivot  29 . Lever  13  includes arms  20  and  80 . Alternatively, aperture  91  can, if desired, receive the thumb of a hand of a user, in which case aperture  14 A receives the index finger of the hand and the thumb is used to move aperture  19  in the direction of arrow B. 
     Arm  20  includes surface  21  and includes first rounded distal end  22 . Arm  80  includes concave arcuate surface  24  shaped to conform to the front end  32  of an insert cartridge  30 . Arm  80  also includes second distal end  27 . When the cartridge loader  10  is assembled, pivot  29  extends through aperture  29 A in lever  13 . Aperture  29 A (and therefore lever  13 ) rotates about pivot  29 . The distance of first distal end  22  from aperture  29 A is greater than the distance of the second distal end  27  from aperture  29 A. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates loader  10  with lever  13  in a first operative position. In the first operative position, lever  13  is positioned such that an insert cartridge can be received in opening  87  ( FIG. 1 ). In addition, in  FIG. 1 , distal end  22  downwardly depresses the top cartridge  60  in a cartridge stack in loader  10 . When cartridge  60  is downwardly depressed, the cartridges beneath cartridge  60  are also downwardly depressed and, as is well known in the art, spring loaded platform  91  is also downwardly depressed. 
     In  FIG. 16 , the distance between the upper surface of cartridge  60  and the edge  41  ( FIG. 17 ) of canted lip  40  is indicated by arrow A. Canted lip  40  can be better seen in  FIG. 24 . In magazine  15  there are, as would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, typically a pair of opposed, spaced apart lips  40  at the upper open end of magazine  15 . These spaced apart lips  40  are canted slightly inwardly toward each other, and collectively function to “hold” below lips  40  a cartridge that is positioned in magazine  15  below lips  40 , and that contacts lips  40 . Lips  40  therefore capture the cartridge and prevent the cartridge from moving upwardly between the lips and out of magazine  15 . 
     In  FIG. 16 , distance A is sufficient to permit the back end  33  of an insert cartridge  30  to be positioned between lip  40  (and edge  41 ) and the upper surface of top cartridge  60  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 18 . When end  33  is so positioned, insert cartridge  30  is captured, and, as a result, cartridge  60  and the entire cartridge stack in magazine  15  generally cannot be upwardly displaced by spring loaded platform  91 . Insert cartridge  30  is effectively wedged between lip  40  and top cartridge  60  and prevents any such upward displacement of the cartridge stack by platform  91 . 
     Arcuate fixed rigid guide member  25  in  FIG. 16  includes inner arcuate concave guide surface  25 B ( FIG. 21 ). Member  25  also includes end or tip  25 A ( FIG. 18 ). When insert cartridge  30  is initially inserted in aperture  87 , guide surface  25 B directs, or channels, end  33  downwardly toward end  25 A and toward the open upper end of magazine  15 . End  25 A is located at point which, when end  33  moves off surface  25 B and end  33 , “delivers” end  33  to a position at which end  33  is intermediate lip  40  and top cartridge  60 . 
     When an insert cartridge  30  is initially inserted in opening  27  in  FIG. 16 , end  33  of cartridge  30  is channeled by surface  25 A of member  25  into contact with surface  21  of arm  20 . If cartridge loader  10  is in the upright orientation illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the force of gravity facilitates the downward movement of insert cartridge  30  ( FIG. 17 ) and back end  33  thereof toward surface  21 . When lever  13  in  FIG. 16  is then initially displaced in the direction of arrow B, cartridge can slide along the top of cartridge  10  and “follow” and maintain contact with surface  21  and arm  20  until end  33  is initially interposed, or nearly interposed, between lip  40  and cartridge  10 . Since arcuate surface  24  is not yet contacting the front end  32  of cartridge  30  in  FIG. 17 , that is the scenario suggested in  FIG. 17 . In an alternate embodiment of the invention, surface  21  will, as lever  13  is rotated in the direction of arrow B, separate from end  33 . In this alternate scenario, distal end  22  still, however, maintains contact with cartridge  60  to keep cartridge  60  spaced apart from lip a distance indicated by arrow A. Distance A is sufficiently large to permit back end  33  to move between lip  40  and cartridge  60  when surface  24  engages front end  32  and pushes end  33  of cartridge toward arm  20  and surface  21 . 
     In  FIG. 17 , insert cartridge  30  has been inserted in opening  87 , and back end  33  has slid along the inner concave arcuate surface  25 B ( FIG. 18 ) to reach the end or tip  25 A of member  25 . End  33  rests against surface  21  of arm  20 . But in  FIG. 17 , end  33  has not yet been delivered off the end  25 A and off guide surface  25 B to a position intermediate lip  40  and the upper surface of top cartridge  60 . In contrast, in  FIG. 18 , end  33  has moved past end  25 A and has begun to move between lip  40  and the upper surface of cartridge  60 . Accordingly, critical features of loader  10  are that arcuate guide member  25  be provided and that it be shaped and dimensioned such that the back end  33  of an insert cartridge be delivered or “dropped off” at a location which permits the end  33  of insert cartridge  30  to move between and be “captured” by lip  40  and the upper surface of the top cartridge  60  in magazine  15 . 
     While  FIG. 16  illustrates a first operative position of lever  13 ,  FIG. 19  illustrates a second operative position in which the second distal end  27  has, while lever is rotated from the first operative position of  FIG. 16  to the second operative position of  FIG. 19 , contacted the front end  32  of cartridge  30  and continued to push cartridge  30  between lip  40  and top cartridge  60  until the back end  33  contacts a “stop”, namely, inner wall  61  of magazine  15 . 
     Once insert cartridge is positioned as shown in  FIG. 19 , lever  13  can be returned to the first operative position of  FIG. 16 , and another insert cartridge can be inserted in opening  87 , and the process repeated. 
     The width of each cartridge in magazine  15  in  FIG. 16  is indicated by arrow W. Each insert cartridge  30  also has a width, W. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates loader  10  after insert cartridge is initially inserted through opening  87  and lever has been moved a short distance in the direction of arrow B ( FIG. 16 ) without surface  24  of second distal end  27  contacting the front end  32  of cartridge  30 . In  FIGS. 16 and 17 , first distal end  22  continues to contact top cartridge  60  and, as earlier noted above, maintain cartridge  60  a distance A which is sufficient to permit end  33  to move between lip  40  and the upper surface of top cartridge  60 . End  22  must continue to engage cartridge  60  and maintain said distance A until back end  33  initially moves between and is captured by lip  40  and the upper surface of top cartridge  60 . 
     In  FIG. 18 , lever  13  has been rotated further in the direction of arrow B and surface  24  has contacted the front end of insert cartridge  30  and has begun to push end  33  of cartridge  30  between lip  40  and cartridge  60 . In  FIG. 18 , cartridge  30  has been moved only slightly from the position of the cartridge  30  in  FIG. 17 . 
     In  FIG. 19 , lever  13  has completed its movement of cartridge  30  between lip  40  and top cartridge  60 , and, end  33  of cartridge  30  contacts interior wall  61  of magazine  15 . When lever  13  moves between the position of  FIG. 18  and the position of  FIG. 19 , surface  24  gradually “rolls” off the front end  32  of insert cartridge  30  until only distal end  27  contacts the arcuate outer surface of front end  32 . 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view illustrating the position of insert cartridge in  FIG. 17 . In  FIG. 20 , lever  13  has, for the sake of clarity been omitted. 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view illustrating the position of insert cartridge  30  after it has moved only slightly from the position in  FIG. 17 . 
       FIGS. 22 to 24  illustrate only magazine  15  and cartridges from  FIG. 18  to give another view of the position of insert cartridge  30  as it begins to travel intermediate lip  20  and cartridge  60 . 
       FIGS. 26 to 28  illustrate latch  70 . 
       FIG. 25  is a diagram illustrating the travel of distal ends  22  and  27  when lever  13  is rotated from a first operative position of  FIG. 16  to a second operative position of  FIG. 19 . 
     Point  82  is the position of distal end  27  in the first operative position of lever  13  in  FIG. 16 . Point  83  is the position of distal end  27  in the second operation of lever  13  in  FIG. 19 . Arrow E indicates the path of travel of end  27  while lever  13  moves from the first to the second operative position. Path E is an arc on the circle indicated by dashed line  80 . 
     Point  84  is the position of distal end  22  in the first operative position of lever  13  in  FIG. 16 . Point  85  is the position of distal end  22  in the second operation of lever  13  in  FIG. 19 . Arrow F indicates the path of travel of end  22  while lever  13  moves from the first to the second operative position. Path F is an arc on the circle indicated by dashed line  81 . 
     The size or diameter of the circle  80  along which end  27  travels, and the size of the circle  81  along which end  22  travels are not, for a particular magazine and size of cartridge received by the magazine, readily apparent. The proportionate diameter of circle  81  with respect to the diameter of circle  80  also is not readily apparent. These values were determined and discovered during development of the invention, but are not values that can be found by simply pulling some reference book off the shelf. The proportionate sizes of arms  20  and  60 , and the distances of distal ends  27  and  22  from pivot  29 , seen in the drawings are presently utilized in an embodiment of the invention.