Patent Abstract:
Systems and methods herein relate to a safety magazine for blank ammunition or “blanks”. In one illustrative implementation, a specially-shaped follower is utilized to engage and advance the blank ammunition without jamming, i.e., when holding and feeding blank cartridges into the chamber of a firearm. In other implementations, integrated/unitary magazines including such a follower are disclosed, which also prevent jams otherwise common in the field of magazines converted to handle blank rounds of ammunition. According to such implementations, live ammunition or cartridges are prevented from being loaded into the magazine and a specialized follower that prevents the ammunition from jamming is provided.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit priority to provisional patent application No. 62/019,858, filed Jul. 1, 2014; this application also bears relation to application Ser. No. 14/182,600, filed Feb. 18, 2014, and provisional patent application No. 61/770,458, filed on Feb. 28, 2013; all of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The innovations herein relate to a safety magazine, and more particularly, to a specialized follower and integrated/unitary magazine with such follower that prevent jams, i.e., when holding and feeding blank cartridges into the chamber of a firearm. 
     Description of Related Information 
     Firearms magazines have been developed for their intended caliber and cartridge length to be held in a specific arrangement and presented to the firearm chamber through various firearm receiver actions. Further, blank cartridges, which are a type of cartridge for a firearm that contains gunpowder but no bullet or shot, are commonly used for simulation in training (such as military or police training), signaling, or theatrical/movie special effects wherein a sound or flash is needed but a projectile would not be safe. In a military application, soldiers typically train using the same rifle magazine for firing live cartridges (such as in firing ranges) as they do for blank ammunition (such as in urban training) This dual usage results in two debilitating outcomes for military personnel. 
     First, during training exercises, the blank ammunition often “jams” causing the service rifle to malfunction. Unfortunately, this jamming is virtually inevitable when using the same rifle magazine for firing live cartridges as for blank ammunition as the standard-issue magazine was never designed to fire blank ammunition. As everyone in uniform knows, the much shorter blank ammunition cartridges simply do not feed properly from the standard magazine into the service rifle. As a result, realism is sacrificed and valuable training time is lost. 
     Second, dual usage eventually results in the unfortunate situation wherein live cartridges may become mixed with blank cartridges, thereby seriously hurting or killing soldiers or anyone else in the vicinity. 
     Currently, there are no magazines that accept only blank cartridges and prevent live cartridges from being loaded into the magazine, thereby preventing the aforementioned pitfalls of current firearm magazines. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like elements in different drawings are numbered in like fashion. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the blank cartridge magazine and its internal components consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the internal components of the blank cartridge magazine, as assembled, consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the blank cartridge magazine, as assembled, consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an underside perspective view of a cartridge follower and spring of the blank cartridge magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the cartridge follower consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the cartridge follower consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the cartridge follower consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a rear view of the cartridge follower consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the blank cartridge magazine, as assembled consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a close-up section side view of the upper area of the blank cartridge magazine, as assembled consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective top view of the blank cartridge magazine, showing loaded blank cartridges and prevented loading of a live cartridge consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a top view of the blank cartridge magazine, showing loaded blank cartridges and prevented loading of a live cartridge consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a side view of a housing of the blank cartridge magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a top view of a housing of the blank cartridge magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a front or rear view of a housing of the blank cartridge magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a perspective view of a slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a front view of the slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a top view of the slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a side view of the slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an exploded view of the blank cartridge magazine and its internal components consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates another perspective view of the internal components of the blank cartridge magazine, as assembled, consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates yet another perspective view of the internal components of the blank cartridge magazine, as assembled, consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a top view of the cartridge follower in another embodiment consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a side view of cartridge follower consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a rear view of the cartridge follower consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a side view of a housing of the blank cartridge magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a top view of a housing of the blank cartridge magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 28  illustrates a front or rear view of a housing of the blank cartridge magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 29  illustrates a perspective view of a slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 30  illustrates a front view of the slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 31  illustrates a top view of the slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 32  illustrates a side view of the slide spacer insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 33  illustrates different views of the magazine consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 34A-H  illustrates views of the follower cartridge consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 35A  illustrates a view of the slide insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
         FIG. 35B  illustrates another view of the slide insert consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the Summary of the Invention above and in the Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components. Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). 
     The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm, and whose upper limit is 100 mm. 
     The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustrate the best mode of practicing the invention. In addition, the invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the invention and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims. 
     Overview 
     The present document addresses the aforementioned deficiencies of current magazines by disclosing a blank cartridge magazine that prevents live ammunition or cartridges from being loaded into the magazine and a specialized follower that prevents the ammunition from jamming. 
     Disclosed here are innovative, M16/M4 5.56 training magazine specifically designed to fire blank ammunition. Our blank-fire magazines feed blanks into the service rifle seamlessly without causing jams. And, our blank-fire magazine requires absolutely no modifications to the rifle and costs the same as a regular magazine. Perhaps most importantly, the blank-fire magazine makes training safer because it is simply impossible to load live rounds into our magazine. 
     In order to prevent the loading of only blank cartridges, and not live cartridges with projectiles, the systems here embody a standard sized magazine, for whichever kind of firearm is used, and prevent the loading of live ammunition while also aiding in the prevention of jams, where a round is stuck in the magazine and is unable to properly load into the receiver group. 
     Currently, blank cartridges are differentiated from live cartridge in that they have a shorter length because they do not have a projectile or bullet at their head end, but rather comprised of a casing having gunpowder and a primer and wherein the head end area is crimped. 
     EXAMPLES 
       FIGS. 1-10  illustrate an example embodiment of the blank cartridge magazine.  FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment of the magazine  100  for blank rifle cartridge or ammunition. The magazine comprises a housing  200  having a front wall  200   a  and rear wall  200   b  and right side wall  200   c  and left side wall  200   d . Housing  200  further include an end or floor plate  210  [label] attached thereto which receives a distal end of a follower spring  130 . The floor plate  210  encloses the lower end of housing  200  to define, along with the side walls and front and back walls, an interior space sufficient to retain any desired number of cartridges  140 . The magazine further receives within its housing  200  a cartridge follower  110  for holding blank ammunition or blank cartridges  140  and for guiding them upwards through the housing  200  after rounds are ejected from the magazine into the firearm receiver group. A proximal end of biased spring  130  further attaches to the bottom surface of follower  110 . The magazine further receives slide insert  120  within its interior that is positioned adjacent the front wall  200   a , as further shown in  FIG. 5-6 . In certain example embodiments as will be discussed below, the slide insert  120  may be removable, attached to the front wall  200   a  or side walls  200   c    200   d  by any example adhesion including but not limited to weld, rivet, glue, and/or friction. In certain examples of the invention, the magazine front wall has a thickness greater than that of the rear wall. The thickness of the front wall is fixed and formed integral with the front wall and is not removable and is not a sliding member that may be interchanged. Instead, the thickness of the front wall may be increased, for example, by welding and/or riveting or by any other means to permanently attach a structural element to the front wall to increase the thickness of the front wall, or by using a thicker material to make the thicker wall. The front wall having a thickness greater than that of a rear wall where the thickness of the front wall does not change increases the safety of the magazine in that the user is assured that the magazine is physically incapable of accepting live ammunition. A front wall that is not fixed and increased/decreased in thickness by one or more slideable/replaceable members may allow loading of live ammunition when the slideable/replaceable member is inadvertently removed from the magazine. However, a front wall having a fixed, permanent thickness in that the front wall may not be disassembled or manipulated to change the thickness of the front wall increases the reliability and effectiveness of the magazine. In this manner, non-projectile ammunition, such as blank ammunition, can be loaded while live projectile ammunition including the ball/projectile/bullet are prevented from loading. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , housing  200  can be may be made of any suitable material metal, titanium, aluminum, steel, or polymer. Further, housing  200  may be integrally formed from sheet metal and folded into the final configuration as shown. The distance between the housing  200  front wall  200   a  and rear wall  200   b  may correspond generally to and be slightly greater than the length of the blank cartridges  140  to be stored. It should be noted that the dimensions of the magazine housing  200  and the cartridges to be loaded into the housing  200  could vary depending on the caliber of round and type of firearm it is intended to be used with. The examples in this description generally use the dimensions of a standard M-16 using a 5.56 mm caliber round. However, the general descriptions and embodiments described here could be adopted to any kind of magazine, used in any type of firearm, including hand guns, as well as rifles and long barreled firearms. 
     It is contemplated within the scope of the invention that the internal components of the magazine  100 , such as follower  110 , slide insert  120 , and spring  130  can either be manufactured and assembled with housing  200  and the housing or any of the aforementioned components can be color coded, labeled, or have indicia indicating that the magazine is for blank ammunition. Alternatively, follower  110 , slide insert  120 , and spring  130  can be retrofitted with existing magazine housings of rifles that fire live ammunition. Specifically, the internal components of a live ammunition magazine, such as an M16 or M4 rifle, can be replaced with the internal components of the present invention, such as follower  110 , slide insert  120 , and spring  130 . Further, the components of the present solution, such as the follower, slide insert, and spring can be insertable into a standard M16 style magazine well, wherein the safety magazine is adapted for enabling non-lethal training cartridges to be fired while preventing the loading and firing of standard 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridges. 
       FIG. 2  shows the spring  130  pushing the cartridge follower  110  up in the main body of the magazine housing  200 . The example in  FIG. 2  also shows the blank cartridges loaded  140 . The slide insert  120  from  FIG. 1  takes up the space where the projectile on a live round would extend past the cartridge jacket. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , showing a front on view of the magazine, loaded with blank rounds  140 , a pair of feed lips  202  and  204  are positioned on the upper edges of the side walls to single feed the cartridges into receiver group (not pictured). 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of the cartridge follower  110  and the spring  130  without the magazine housing shown. The cartridge follower  110  may be made of a heat resistant molded polymer, metal, ceramic, or other suitable material. Further, spring  130  and floor plate  210  may have corresponding projections or recesses to locate an end of the spring at a desired location with respect to the housing floor. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , cartridge follower  110  has a main body plate  111  having a detent projection  118  underneath it for receiving a first end of spring  130 . Further, a first elongated projection or guide  114  extends downward from main body  111  of cartridge follower  110 , wherein the guide  114  can be attached to the main body  111  separately or formed integrally with main body  111 . Guide  114  assists the guiding of cartridge follower  110  within the magazine housing  200  as the cartridge follower  110  moves up and down in the magazine housing, depending on how many cartridge rounds are loaded in it. In the example embodiment, first guide  114  is position adjacent to the interior surface of rear wall  200   b , thereby allowing and guiding the follower along the length of the rear wall  200   b . However, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that guide  114  can also be configured to be position adjacent to the interior of front wall  200   a  of the magazine. Here, guide  114  is substantially perpendicular with respect to the top surface (surface contacting the cartridge) of main body  111  and is further reinforced by a pair of protrusions  110   a  and  110   b  that further assist the guiding of follower  110  within the walls of housing  200  when it is positioned in and moves up and down within the housing. 
     On the opposing side of cartridge follower  110 , is an elongated second protrusion or guide  112 , wherein second guide  112  can be attached separately to main body  111  or formed integrally with main body  111  of the cartridge follower  110 . Second guide  112  assists the guiding of follower  110  within housing  200  as explained above. In the example embodiment, second guide  112  is position adjacent to a slide insert  120  (from  FIG. 1 ) that is positioned adjacent to the interior surface of front wall  200   a , thereby allowing and guiding the follower along the length of slide insert  120  and front wall  200   a . However, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that guide  112  can also be configured to be position adjacent to the interior of rear wall  200   b  of the magazine. 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , guide  112  is substantially perpendicular with respect to the top surface (surface contacting the blank cartridge) of main body  111  and is further reinforced by a block  110   c  having opposing lobed protrusions that further assist the guiding of the follower  110  within the walls of housing  200 . In the example shown, second guide  112  is slightly longer in length as it extends into the magazine housing and away from the cartridge follower  110  than first guide  114 . Further, second guide  112  can also include an elongated recess or channel  112   a  that can further engage an elongated projection or track in the magazine housing (not shown) along insert  120  in another embodiment of the invention, thereby assisting in positioning and movement within the magazine along slide insert  120 . Alternatively, in another embodiment, channel  112   a  can also engage any track or elongated projection along the interior of the front or rear walls of the housing  200 . 
       FIGS. 5-8  illustrate the cartridge follower  110  in various orientations.  FIG. 5  shows a top perspective with a blank cartridge mold  116  in the main body  111  of the cartridge follower  110 . The first guide  114  and second guide  112  are also shown. 
       FIG. 6  shows a detail top down view embodiment of the blank cartridge mold  116  in the cartridge follower  110 . In this detail, the blank cartridge has various bulges  116   a    116   b    116   c  running the length of the blank cartridge mold body  116 . The front includes a ridge  116   d  that mimics a projectile and follows the contour of a cartridge front section. The rear  116   e  includes a tapered section. Here, grooves  116   a  and  116   b  can be concave or convex in configuration. In addition, mold  116  has a peak area or ridge  116   c . It is contemplated within the scope of the invention that mold  116  can be situated on side on the top surface of the main body  111 . Further, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that mold  116  can be integrated with the main body of follower  110  or can be separately be affixed to or attached to the main body  111 . Also, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that the cartridge mold can be of any length, configuration, shape, or dimension. 
       FIG. 7  shows the main body  111  of cartridge follower  110  with a front end  111   a , rear end  111   b .  FIG. 7  also shows the first guide  114  and second guide  112  extending form the cartridge follower main plate body  111 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the cartridge follower  110  with a right side end  111   c , and left side end  111   d . Further, main body  111  includes a projected blank cartridge mold  116 . Here, the blank cartridge mold  116  is approximately one-half of a simulated blank cartridge and having similar dimensions of a blank cartridge. This blank cartridge mold  116  mimics a cartridge when the other cartridges are loaded into the magazine and the cartridge follower is depressed into the magazine. 
     Cartridge mold  116  allows a user to quickly see that the magazine is for a blank cartridge and not live cartridges prior to loading the magazine. In addition, mold  116  allows the stack of cartridges  140  to be slightly offset from each other when stacked within the housing, thereby allowing each individual cartridge to be fed through the feed lips and further prevent jamming of the firearm. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show detail cut away views of the cartridge housing  200 .  FIG. 9  shows the front  200   a  and rear  200   b  walls of the housing  200  as well as the floor plate  210 .  FIG. 10  shows a close up detail of the top of the magazine housing  200  where the cartridges are fed into the firearm receiver group (not shown). The cartridge  140  is shown with a cartridge body  144  and a narrower front  142  where a projectile would protrude if there was one as in a live round. But instead, in this example, a slide insert  120  is shown in the magazine housing  200  which restricts loading cartridges that have projectiles  150 .  FIG. 10  also shows details of a front guide  112 , channel  112   a , second guide  114  and second channel  114   a  that may position the cartridge follower as it rides up and down within the magazine housing. 
       FIGS. 11-12  illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein a live ammunition cartridge  140   a  is shown in the magazine which can only accommodate blanks. Thus, because the live round includes a projectile end, the slide insert  120  prevents the live round from being inserted into the housing  200 . 
       FIGS. 13-15  illustrate an example embodiment for a magazine housing  200  holding the blank cartridges of the present solution. In particular, a range and preferred measurements for the housing will now be described with references to numerals [insert figs with the following numbering into drawing set] A1-A3, B1-B6, and C1-C5, wherein the measurements/dimensions can be approximations (approx.) and referred to herein in inches (in. or in). Here, A1 can be approx. 1 in., preferably 1.12. A2 can be approx. 7 in., preferably 7.06 in. A3 can be approx. 2-3 in., preferably 2.52 in. B1 can be approx. 0.5-1 in., preferably 0.87 in. B2 can be approx. 0.5 in., preferably 0.58 in. B3 can be approx. 3 in., preferably 3.29 in. B4 can be approx. 3 in., preferably 3.47 in., B5 can be approx. 0.1 in., preferably 0.14 in. B6 can be approx. 0.4-0.6 in., preferably 0.50 in. C1 can be approx. 6 in., preferably 6.75 in. C2 can be approx. 6 in., preferably 6.45 in. C3 can be approx. 0.3-0.5 in., preferably 0.41 in. C4 can be approx. 0.3-0.4 in., preferably 0.50 in. C5 can be approx. 0.1-0.3 in., preferably 0.19 in. C6 can be approx. 0.1-0.3 in., preferably 0.21 in. 
       FIGS. 16-19  show perspective angles of the slide insert  120 . The slide insert is contoured to follow the front wall of the magazine housing  200   a . In various embodiments, the slide insert would be configured to slide into a magazine of whichever caliber and prevent a live round from being inserted. 
       FIGS. 20-23 and 26-32  are more illustrations of perspective views of the internal components of the blank cartridge magazine, as assembled, consistent with one or more aspects of the innovations herein. 
       FIGS. 23-25  illustrate an example embodiment for a follower of the present solution. In particular, a range and preferred measurements for the housing will now be described with references to numerals D1-D12, E1-E11, and F1-F6, wherein the measurements/dimensions can be approximations (approx.) and referred to herein in inches (in. or in). Here, D1 can be approx. 0.1-0.3 in., preferably 0.20 in. D2 can be approx. R0.1-R0.3 in., preferably R0.17 in. D3 can be approx. 0.1-0.4 in., preferably 0.25 in. D4 can be approx. 0.1-0.4 in., preferably 0.24 in. D5 can be approx. R0.1-R0.3 in., preferably R0.17 in. D6 can be approx. 0.2-0.4 in., preferably 0.33 in. D7 can be approx. 1-3 in., preferably 1.47 in. D8 can be approx. 1-3 in., preferably 1.27 in. D9 can be approx. 0.2-0.4 in., preferably 0.22 in. D10 can be approx. 0.2-0.4 in., preferably 0.32 in. D11 can be approx. 0.4-0.8 in., preferably 0.67 in. D12 can be approx. 0.1-0.3 in., preferably 0.18 in. E1 can be approx. 1-3 in., preferably 2.15 in. E2 can be approx. 0.5-4 in., preferably 1.24 in. E3 can be approx. 0.1-4 in., preferably 0.94 in. E4 can be approx. 0.05-0.3 in., preferably 0.14 in. E5 can be approx. 1-4 in., preferably 1.82 in. E6 can be approx. 0.05-0.3 in., preferably 0.17 in. E7 can be approx. 0.05 in-0.3 in., preferably 0.16 in. E8 can be approx. 0.1-0.5 in., preferably 0.35 in. E9 can be approx. 0.05-0.3 in., preferably 0.18 in. E10 can be approx. 0.1-4 in., preferably 0.66 in. E11 can be approx. 0.005-0.5 in., preferably 0.09 in. F1 can be approx. 0.2-1.5 in., preferably 0.76 in. F2 can be approx. 0.1-0.7 in., preferably 0.32 in. F3 can be approx. 0.1-0.4 in., preferably 0.22 in. F4 can be approx. 0.1-1.0 in., preferably 0.49 in. F5 can be approx. 0.1-4 in., preferably 1.24 in. F6 can be approx. 0.1-4 in., preferably 1.42 in. 
       FIGS. 33-37  illustrate an example additional or alternative embodiment of the invention of the firearm magazine. 
       FIG. 33  illustrates an implementation of the invention of the firearm magazine. In particular, measurements will now be described with references to numerals K1-K15, wherein the measurements/dimensions can be approximations (approx.) and referred to herein in inches (in. or in). Here, K1 can be approximately can be approx. 1-10 in., preferably 7.11 in. K2 can be approximately 0.01-3 in., and preferably 1.06 in. K3 can be approximately 0.01-3 in., and preferably approximately 0.60 in. K4 can be approximately 0.01-3 in., and preferably approximately 0.27 in. K5 can be approximately 0.01-1 in., and preferably approximately 0.19 in. K6 can be approximately 0.5-5 in., and preferably approximately 2.10 in. K7 can be approximately 0.5-5 in., and preferably approximately 1.96 in. K8 can be approximately 0.01-3 in., and preferably approximately 0.25 in. K9 can be approximately 0.06 in. K10 can be approximately 0.01-3 in., and preferably approximately 0.94 in. K11 can be approximately 0.1-10 in., and preferably approximately 5.99 in. K12 can be approximately 0.5-6 in., and preferably approximately 2.53 in. K13 can be approximately 0.25-3 in., and preferably approximately 0.88 in. K14 can be approximately 0.25-3 in., and preferably approximately 0.76 in. K15 can be approximately 0.1-3 in., and preferably approximately 0.50 in. 
       FIGS. 34A-H  illustrate an embodiment of the follower cartridge and its components from various perspectives. 
       FIG. 34A  illustrates a top down view of an example cartridge follower  3110  which has a different configuration than those described above. It should be noted that any of various embodiments of cartridge followers including combinations of the various examples described may be used. 
     In the example of  FIG. 34A , the word “SAFE” is etched or molded into the cartridge follower. This is to allow the user to see that the magazine is only intended and can only hold blank rounds and not live rounds. 
     In the example of  FIG. 34A , on one end of the cartridge follower, the first guide  3114  which extends from the back end  3111   b  is shown approximately 0.31-0.33 inches in width, preferably 0.32 inches measured from side  3111   c  to side  3111   d  of the guide. 
     The second guide  3112  includes lobes  3110   c ,  3100   d  which extend outwardly from the cartridge follower body  3110 . The lobes  3110   c ,  3100   d  are shown completing a 75-85 degree, preferable 79 degree arc. Between the two lobes  3110   c ,  3110   d  is a semicircular cutout  3220 . 
     The width across the cartridge follower  3110  main body at the narrowest point can be approx. 0.57-0.59 inches in some examples, preferably 0.58 in. There are approx. 0.17-0.23 in., preferably 0.2 in. of space  3407  between front end  3111   a  and slide insert  3120 . 
       FIG. 34B  illustrates a cutaway view from A-A as shown in  FIG. 34A . In certain examples, the radius of the body of the blank cartridge mold  3116  can be approx. 0.17-0.23 in., preferably 0.2 in. high. 
       FIG. 34C  illustrates a partial cutaway view from B-B as shown in  FIG. 34A , focusing on the and center appendage  3220 . The downwardly extending sides of the center appendage  3220  each angle inwards approximately 4 degrees. The fillets where the center appendage  3220  meets the bottom of the main cartridge follower body  3111  can be approx. 0.01-0.03 in. each, preferably 0.02 in. The fillets where cartridge follower body  3111  meets the second guide  3112  are all approx. R0.01-R0.03 in., preferably R0.02 in. 
       FIG. 34D  illustrates a cutaway view from C-C as shown in  FIG. 34A , including the cartridge mold  3116 , second guide  3112 , channel  3112   a , first guide  3114 , the center appendage  3220 . In this example, the second guide is shown at an angle between 90 and 96 degrees, preferably, 93 degrees extending from the cartridge follower  3110 . Thus, the guides can fit into a curved magazine and slide within it. Second guide  3112  can extend approx. 0.67-0.73 in., preferably 0.7 in. from the cartridge follower  100 . In certain embodiments the bottom fillets where channel  3112   a  and guide  3112  meet can be approx. R0.01-R0.03 in., preferably R0.02 in. The farthest edges of channel  3112   a  and guide  3112  angle inward at approximately 5 degrees. The edges of  3112  also angle inwards at approximately 5 degrees. The fillets where the bottom of  3111  and  3112  meet can be approx. R0.01-R0.03 in., preferably R0.02 in. The fillets where the bottom of  3111  and top of meet can be approx. R0.01-R0.03 in., preferably R0.02 in. The center appendage  3220  can be approx. 1.17-1.23 in., preferably 1.2 in. long. The width of the center appendage  3220  where it meets the cartridge follower body  3111  can be approx. 0.27-0.33 in. in certain examples, preferably 0.3 in. Guide blocks  3110   a  and  3110   b  can extend approx. 0.07-0.13 in., preferably 0.01 in. from cartridge follower body  3111 . The edges of first guide  3114  angle inwards at approximately 4 degrees. First guide  3114  can extend downwards approx. 0.77, preferably 0.8 in. The distance between the bottom of cartridge follower body  3111  and the top side  3111   b  can be approx. 0.07-0.13 in. apart in certain embodiments, preferably 0.1 in. The blank cartridge mold  3116  front end  3116   a  can have a slope of approximately 13 degrees. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 34D , the thickness of the cartridge follower body  3111  can be approx. 0.07-0.13 in., preferably 0.1 in. The cartridge follower body  3111  may also include a thickness step which increases the thickness at the second guide  3114  end to approximately 0.2 inches. Thus, the example of  FIG. 34A  shows a stepped thickness of the cartridge follower body  3111  with one end being approximately twice as thick as the other end, and step near the blank cartridge mold  3116  tapered section  3117 . 
     The length of the cartridge follower from side  3111   b  excluding second guide  3112  to the center of the center appendage  3220  can be approx. 1.07-1.13 in., preferably 1.1 in. The measurement from the bottom to the top of side  3111  a can be approx. 0.07-0.13 in., preferably 0.1 in. The outer curve of the blank cartridge mold  3116  can be approx. R0.07-0.09 in., preferably 0.08 in. 
       FIG. 34E  illustrates an example bottom view of the cartridge follower  3110 . As shown in the example, the overall length of the cartridge follower can be approx. 2.07-2.13 in., preferably 2.1 in. long. The overall length of the cartridge follower will of course depend on the dimensions of the slide  3120  which can be used to restrict the loading of live rounds into the magazine, depending on the firearm and caliber round it is intended to be used with. In the example of  FIG. 34E  the distance of the cartridge follower  3110  without the first guide  3112  can be approx. 1.97-2.03 in., preferably 2.0 in. 
     In certain examples, a center appendage  3220  is shown extending outwardly from the cartridge follower  3110 . The cartridge follower  3110  has a back side with a second guide  3112  to fit into the magazine. In the example shown in  FIG. 34E , the back side  3110   a  extends outwardly and is approximately 0.14 to 0.34 in. and preferably 0.24 in. deep. This dimension includes the second guide  3112  which in this example widens into a larger rear guide  3110   b . In certain examples the dimensions of  3110   a  the second guide  3112  can be can be approx. 0.9-0.11 in., preferably 0.1 in. and the body of the rear guide 0.12 to 0.16 in. and preferably 0.14 in. deep. The sides of the rear guide  3110   b  which extend beyond the second guide  3112  may be between 0.18 and 0.22 in. preferably 0.2 in. wide on either side of the second guide  3112 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 34E , the example shows the rear guide  3110   b  having a semicircular cutout with a radius of approx. R0.27-R0.33 in., preferably R0.3 in. wide. Also shown is a cutout flange near the front of the cartridge follower and the front guide  3110   c ,  3110   d . This front guide in the example extends outwardly from the cartridge follower in the same way the rear guide  3110   a ,  3110   b  and the center appendage  3220 . Further, the front end of the cartridge follower includes cutouts on either side. The example shows dimensions of between 28 and 36 degrees, preferably is 32 degrees. Also shown in the example is the front guide  3110   c ,  3110   d  with a semicircular cutout similar to the one on the rear guide. The semicircular cutout in the front guide is cut from both sides of the front guide making a roughly hourglass shape in the example. 
       FIG. 34F  illustrates a cutaway view from F-F as shown in  FIG. 34B , focusing on channel  3112   a  and the part of the center appendage  3220  that extends below it. The inner grooves of channel  3112   a  angle inwards 3 degrees. The outer grooves of channel  3112   a  angle inwards 2 degrees. 
       FIG. 34G  illustrates a cutaway view from G-G as shown in  FIG. 34B  from the opposite perspective illustrated in  FIG. 34F , focusing on short guide  3114  and the part of the center appendage  3220  that extends below it. The inner grooves on second guide  3114  angle inward 5 degrees. The distance between the outer and inner grooves can be approx. R0.17-R0.23 in. in some examples, preferably R0.2 in. The inner radius of the blank cartridge mold  3116  can be approx. R0.17-R0.23 in., preferably R0.2 in. 
       FIG. 34H  illustrates a cutaway view from H-H as shown in  FIG. 34A , bisecting the center appendage  3220 . The base  3220  of the center appendage  3220  can be approx. 0.17-0.23 in., preferably 0.2 in. The sides of followed upwards angle outward 4 degrees. In some examples, the base  3220  and the bottom of cartridge follower  3111  can be approx. 0.07-0.13 in. apart, preferably 0.1 in. The fillets where the blank cartridge mold  3116  meets cartridge follower body  3111  can be approx. R0.01-R0.03 in., preferably R.02 in. 
       FIG. 35A  illustrates an example top view of slide insert  3120 . Slide insert  3120  has a length of approx. 5.97-6.03 in., preferably 6.0 in., a width of approx. 0.47-0.53 in., preferably 0.5 in., and a depth of approx. 0.17-0.23 in., preferably 0.2 in. Located approx. 0.47-0.53 in., preferably 0.5 in., from the top and bottom of slide insert  3120  are the centers of circular openings  3502   a  and  3502   b . Circular openings  3502   a  and  3502   b  are both positioned approx. 0.27-0.33 in., preferably 0.3 in., from the left side of slide insert  3120 . The distance from the center of circular opening  3502   a  to the center of circular opening  3502   b  can be approx. 5.17-5.23 in., preferably 5.2 in. Circular openings  3502   a  and  3502   b  are both comprised of two circular openings with diameters of approx. 0.126-0.136 in., preferably 0.131 in., within a counter bore where a larger hole with a diameter approx. 0.220-0.230 in., preferably 0.225 in., has a depth of approx. 0.126-0.136 in., preferably 0.131 in. 
       FIG. 35B  illustrates an example side view of slide insert  3120 . The radius of the curve just below the center of slide insert  3120  can be approx. 9.17-9.23 in., preferably 9.2 in. The angle between the planes extending from the top and bottom of slide insert  3120  to the place of curvature is approximately 164 degrees or whatever is necessary to fit into the appropriate magazine. 
     From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objectives herein-above set forth, together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. 
     While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. For example, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that the cover and its legs may be attached to the frame or metal frame of the shopping cart and not the basket. Or alternatively, the cover and legs being attached to both the frame and basket. Further, it will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5