Patent Publication Number: US-8973294-B2

Title: Cartridge counter

Description:
PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention refers in general to an ammunition clip that can be fitted in an automatic and/or semiautomatic breech-loading firearm. 
     STATUS OF THE TECHNIQUE 
     Currently, the perfectioning of automatic and/or semiautomatic breech-loading firearms has increased the rounds storage capacity of clips; for example a semiautomatic pistol can store more than twelve rounds in a clip. 
     In this type automatic and semiautomatic firearms, the task of counting the number of rounds still left in the clip loaded in the firearm is a burdensome, difficult and tiresome task that can be even more complicated when the user handling it is under pressure for his own life. 
     Therefore there is a need to develop a system that can count the rounds still left in the clip fitted to the automatic or semiautomatic breech-loading firearm. Furthermore, the round counter system shows the number of rounds left in the clip on a display located on the firearm casing or body. 
     CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention seeks to resolve or reduce one or more of the inconveniences exposed above using an ammunition clip for automatic and/or semiautomatic firearm such as in claim  1 . Executions of the invention are established in the dependent claims. 
     The ammunition clip includes a frame on the inside that contains an ammunition push mechanism that is displaced by a first spring between the base on one end of the frame and a second end of the frame, entry/exit hole for ammunition rounds; the clip includes a distance detection means that measures the distance between the push tile and the base of the clip. 
     The distance is sent to a programmable logic means that depending on the distance received determines the number of ammunition rounds stored in the clip fitted to the firearm. As a result, a shooter can tell at any time how many rounds are stored in the clip fitted to the firearm. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to count the amount of ammunition consumed by the firearm in order to determine the useful life remaining of the firearm parts thereof. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to ensure the visibility of the items selected and displayed on a display screen by the shooter when making use of the gun. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide a partial count of shots made with a given clip. 
     Another goal of the invention is to provide a counter of ammunition rounds stored in a clip loaded in a small size automatic and/or semiautomatic firearm that is lightweight and cheap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description to based on the figures attached that: 
         FIG. 1  shows an expanded perspective view of a clip in accordance with the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a section perspective view of a clip in accordance with the invention, 
         FIG. 3  shows another section perspective view of a clip in accordance with the invention, 
         FIG. 4  shows an expanded perspective view of a pistol firearm in accordance with the invention, 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the inside of firearm handle covers in accordance with the invention, 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the outside of firearm handle covers in accordance with the invention, 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of an automatic and/or semiautomatic breech-loading firearm with the clip in accordance with the invention, and 
         FIG. 8  shows an elevation view of the clip fitted into the automatic and/or semiautomatic breech-loading firearm in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Below, in reference to  FIG. 1 , is a pieced clip  29  of rounds  21  or box type container for an automatic and/or semiautomatic breech-loading firearm  11 , which stores a variety of rounds  21  piled one on top of the other  21 . 
     Now with regards to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the clip  29  includes a hollow cross section polygonal frame or shell  27 , substantially rectangular, suitable for the dimensions of the rounds  21  that will be stored in the clip  29 . 
     The near end of the clip  29  fitted into an automatic and/or semiautomatic breech-loading firearm  11  includes an entry/exit hole for round  21  of clip  29  access aperture; i.e.: fitting hole located in the upper part of the clip  29  when it is supported at the opposite end in a substantially vertical position. 
     The other end, opposite to the clip  29  access hole, is closed by a surface or base  28  of the clip  29  that closes it and serves and the seating or support to a first push spring  24 , of the clip  29 , that moves an ammunition push means  22  longitudinally such as a tile between the empty clip  29  position, the spring is unstressed and full clip  29 , the first spring  24  is compressed. 
     Consequently, the rounds  21  stored in the clip  29  are moved towards to the clip  29  entry each time a round  21  is expelled out of the clip  29 , or towards the base  28  each time a round  21  is added through the clip  29  access hole. 
     As a result of the push effort made by the first spring  24 , the tile  22  moves upward or downward depending on if a round  21  is extracted or introduced in the clip  29  respectively. 
     A distance detection means  25  measures the distance between the tile  22  and the base  28 . The distance perceiver  25  is located in a place configured for such purpose between the tile  22  and the base  28  of the clip  29 . So that when the tile  22  moves longitudinally, the distance perceiver  25  generates an electric signal that indicates the longitudinal movement made by the tile  22 , either upward towards to the access or downward towards the base  28  of the rounds  21  clip  29 . 
     The distance perceiver  25  includes a first set of electric terminals  26  adapted to make electric contact with a second set of electric terminals  41  located at the tip  42  of the firearm  11 , see  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  8 . Obviously, both sets  26 ,  41  or terminals are facing when the clip  29  is loaded in the tip  42  of the firearm  11 . 
     The first set  26  of electric terminals can be placed, for example, at the entrance of the clip  29  fitting location in the case of partially fitted clip  29  (sub rifle, assault rifle, lightweight machine gun, etc.), displayed in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ; or in the other end of the clip  29  casing  27  when totally fitted inside the handle of a firearm  11  such as pistol, displayed in  FIG. 4 . The location of the two sets  26 ,  41  of terminals shall be such that they provide a robust electrical connection that is practical and maintenance free, ideal for tough usage of the firearm  11  in aggressive environments, i.e.: in the open air. 
     The number of electrical terminals required may vary depending if the clip  29  shell  27  is made of steel and if such steel shell  27  is used as mass for the electric circuit that is part of the rounds  21  counting system. In this case, the number of terminals required for each set  26 ,  41  shall be less than when the clip  29  casing  27  is not used as mass for the electric circuit. 
     With regards to  FIG. 5 , the second  26  set of contacts, in turn, is connected to a programmable logic means, microprocessor, that can count the rounds  21  stored in the clip  29  based on the signals received from the distance perceiver  25 . 
     The microprocessor  71  is located in a location provided for such purpose in the firearm  11  handle between the handle frame and the covers  73 . 
     When the clip  29  is fitted in the firearm  11 , both first  26  and second  41  of electrical terminals are in electrical contact and allow an electric signal, relative to the movement of the push tile  22 , to be sent from the distance perceiver  25  through both sets  26 ,  41  of contacts and electric connections to the microprocessor  71  that, in turn, are also connected via electrical  6  connections to a display  13 , located in the body or casing of the firearm as such and in sight of the shooter when pointing the firearm  11  to a potential target. For example, the display  13  can be located near the firearm  11  sights and, therefore, within the visual sights of the shooter, displayed  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 . 
     The location of the display  13  in the casing of the firearm  11  shall be such that the information displayed on the display  13  can be read by the shooter in a variety of positions between the firearm  11  and shooter. 
     When the microprocessor  71  receives an electric signal from the distance perceiver  25 , it will increase by one the total number of shots made by said firearm  11  and in turn reduces by one the number of rounds  21  stored in the clip  29 . The result of both counts can be displayed on the display  13 ; by default it shall display the amount of rounds  21  currently stored in the clip  29 , but it shall be possible to view the total number of shots made by the firearm  11 . 
     In summary, the total counter functions counts the total amount of ammunition consumed by the firearm  11  during its usage, and the partial counter function appears immediately on loading a clip  29  in the firearm  11 . Once the clip  29  is loaded, the display  13  will show the number of rounds  21  stored in it, which shall be any number between zero, empty clip  29 , and the maximum number of rounds  21  that can be stored in the clip  29 . The number of the rounds  21  to be controlled shall be solely limited by the size of the clip  29 , as there are no restrictions in terms of the counter. 
     It should be noted that the rounds  21  clips for automatic and semiautomatic breech-loading firearms  11  are normalized; therefore, the microprocessor  71  shall be capable of calculating, once a clip  29  has been fitted, the total number of rounds  21  currently stored in the clip  29  fitted in firearm  11  based on the signals received from the distance perceiver  25 . Given that a clip  29  is not always fitted in a firearm  11 , such clip  29  must store the maximum number of rounds  21  that it can store, situation of full clip  29 . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the distance perceiver  25  is connected to the tile  22  through a connection interface means  23  such as a second  23  spring; i.e.: finely calibrated spirals, so that its near end is connected to the distance perceiver  25  and the other end is connected to the lower part of the push tile  22 . The distance perceiver  25  receives from the second  23  spring a signal that is the result of extending the second  23  spring. The signal received varies between a value that corresponds with the maximum number of rounds  21  that can be stored in a clip  29  and a value that corresponds to the minimum number of rounds  21  stored in the clip  29 . 
     The signal received by the distance perceiver  25  is converted into an electric signal that is sent to the microprocessor  71 , which transforms it into a counter unit visible on the display  13 . 
     The mechanical tension of the second  23  spring, in its maximum distressed position, is very small and does not interfere with the push function made by the first  24  spring. 
     Similarly, the connection provided by the interface means  23  can be performed with an infrared beam; i.e.: the variation of tile  22  position is calculated using an infrared light emitting diode  33  that emits an infrared signal reflected by the underside of the tile  22 , and received in a receiving diode  34 ; both diodes  33 ,  34  are connected to the distance perceiver  25 . Consequently, the signal received by the distance perceiver  25  from the receiving diode  34  is the result of the distance between tile  22  and the clip  29  base  28 . Similarly, the signal received varies between a value that corresponds with the maximum number of rounds  21  that can be stored in the clip  29  and a value that corresponds with the minimum number of rounds  21  stored in the clip  29 . 
     The tile  22  includes a reflecting surface on the underside, suitable to reflect an infrared light beam. Both the projected and reflected beam travel through an empty space between the spirals of the first  24  spring and no elements external to the system interfering in their course. The distance perceiver  25  transforms the signal received into an electric signal that is sent to the microprocessor  71  that turns it into a visible counter unit. 
     In another execution, the distance perceiver  25  can include a variable linear magnetoresistance and a permanent magnet secured to the ammunition push tile  22 , so that the value of the magnetoresistance shall vary depending on the distance of movement of the permanent magnet. 
     Another execution of the distance perceiver  25  can include a series of ultrasounds emitters-receivers, so that when the tile  22  moves, it generates a variation in the internal volume of the clip  29  between the tile  22  and base  28 . 
     The microprocessor  71  can be connected to a data input/output interface, not displayed, that includes an alphanumeric keyboard and functions such as vertical movement up and down, which can be used to perform data input and output to and from the microprocessor  71 . Furthermore, some keys can be associated to certain characters and/or functions. 
     The keyboard can change, in manual mode, from one information displayed on the screen and another easily and quickly; i.e.: if the initial option was to display the number of shots corresponding to the clip  29  fitted in the firearm  11  at a given time, pressing the corresponding button can display the total number of shots made with the firearm  11 . 
     Returning now to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , the firearm  11  fitted with the clip  29  of this invention, includes an on/off switch  12  so that the microprocessor  71  does not perform certain functions and/or no information is displayed in the display  13 . For example, when the firearm  11  is not going to be used or when the shooters empties a clip  29  of rounds  21  without removing the clip  29  from the firearm  11 , not consuming energy from a power source, a battery or similar. 
     The display  13  of the firearm  11  can show information selected by the shooter from the possible information that can be provided by the microprocessor  71  such as the total number of shots taken, number of rounds stored in the clip  29  currently fitted in the firearm  11  or other similar information. The firearm  11  shooter only has to select the type of information to be displayed on screen through the keyboard. 
     As already indicated, the display  13  can be placed on top of the firearm  11 , on one side, for example, on the opposite side of the expulsion hole, so that the display  13  can be viewed at all times by the shooter when taking a shot, i.e.: the display  13  shall be facing the shooter. 
     Furthermore, display  13  can be moved on the axis of the firearm  11  barrel; i.e.: not being vertical to the barrel so that the display  13  is substantially moved from an imaginary line that connects the slights of the firearm  11 , enabling the user to use the firearm  11  sights when shooting. 
     The entire counter system is powered with electricity from the power source that feeds all the rounds  21  counter system circuits. The battery is connected to the perceiver  25 , display  13  and microprocessor  71  through electrical connections; the battery is of reduced size and long duration such as a Lithium battery that are long lasting. The battery is located in position  74  provided for such purpose between a cover  73  of the handle and the casing of the handle, for example, displayed in  FIG. 5 . 
     The battery can be rechargeable or throw-away. If rechargeable, it shall include contacts for such purpose at the connector that connects the alphanumeric keyboard, for example. 
     In order to extend the useful life of the battery as much as possible, the counter system shall be powered on/off with a switch  12  provided for such purpose, so that when the firearm  11  is not being used, the switch  12  shall be in the off position and, when the gun  11  will be used, the switch  12  is in the on position. In the event the switch is off, the microprocessor  71  shall continue to receive power in order to maintain certain information stored such as the total number of shots made with the firearm  11 . 
     The display  13  can be either LCD, electroluminescent, plasma or similar, because these technologies involve less consumption of electricity. Furthermore, the screen  13  can be touch sensitive, therefore, some data input functions could be performed through the screen  13 . 
     The executions and examples established in this report are presented as the best explanation of this invention and its practical application in order to allow experts on this matter to put the invention into practice and use it. However, the experts on this technique will realize that the description and examples above have been presented for illustrative purposes only as an example. The description provided is not destined to be comprehensive or limit the invention to the precise form described. Many modifications are variations are possible in light of the above without excluding the spirit and scope of the following claims.