Abstract:
The invention is an ambidextrous universal magazine loading and unloading tool. The tool is generally ellipsoidal, featuring a rounded end and a flat end as well as two sides defined by a central opening. The opening, sides and ends are adapted to allow for the loading and unloading of various configurations and styles of ammunition magazine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This Application claims priority based on Provisional Application No. 60/387,022, filed Jun. 7, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a tool used in the loading and unloading of ammunition magazines and, more specifically relates to a compact tool that is adaptable for use in the loading and unloading of virtually any type of ammunition magazine presently in use.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Tools to aid in the loading and unloading of ammunition magazines are known in the prior art. The need for such devices is derived from two problems. First, high capacity magazines can be tiresome to continually load, especially in training centers where a few people, typically instructors or assistants, will load special ammunition (e.g. either frangible or simulated ammunition) for an entire class. The usual custom is to use the round of ammunition itself to depress the follower of the magazine and make room for the cartridge. This method occasionally damages the cartridge, making it more prone to misfire in some fashion. As a person gets more fatigued when loading multiple magazines, that person is more prone to errors, which may damage either the magazine or the ammunition. A loading tool reduces fatigue and makes the process less damaging on the ammunition and magazine. Second, the storage and transportation of loaded magazines raises both logistical and legal concerns, as they are dangerous and, in some areas and circumstances, illegal. Unloading a magazine manually is a time consuming procedure. As such, after training maneuvers, police forces and military personnel will discharge weapons to use all of their ammunition rather than unload extra magazines by hand. Use of a tool allows for a much more rapid and less tiresome process as the tool, rather than bare hands or fingers, is used to push the cartridges out from between the feed lips of the magazine.  
           [0004]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,590 to Musgrave (1976); U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,855 to Musgrave (1984); U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,136 to Hall (1993); U.S. Pat. No. D348,503 to Claveau (1994), U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,180 to Upchurch (1991) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,693 to Holmes (1989) are all illustrative of the prior art.  
           [0005]    While the aforementioned inventions accomplish their individual objectives, they do not describe a universal loading and unloading tool that is compact, ambidextrous, and easy to use. Pat. No. D348,503 does disclose a compact universal tool; however, its button follower magazine loading aspect is not easily usable by left-handed people, as the buttons are usually configured for right-handed individuals. As a result, the magazine itself gets in the way of use of the tool. In this respect, the loading tool according to the present invention departs substantially from the usual designs in the prior art. In doing so, this invention provides a compact, ambidextrous universal loading and unloading tool that is easy to manufacture and use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of magazine loading tools, this invention provides an improved compact and universal loading tool. As such, the present invention&#39;s general purpose is to provide a new and improved loading tool that will aid in the loading and unloading of substantially all currently used ammunition magazines, including both pistol and rifle magazines, while simultaneously being compact and easy to use. To accomplish this purpose, the tool comprises a planar body with varying shaped edges for use in the loading and/or unloading of various magazines. The tool also comprises a slot, formed in the center of the tool and almost dissecting it, to aid in the loading of specialized .22 caliber pistol magazines, and the resulting two sides are specially formed to further allow use with other specific magazines.  
           [0007]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.  
           [0008]    Many objects and aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.  
           [0009]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
           [0010]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the loading tool in its preferred embodiment.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a front plan view of one tool and a top plan view of an associated magazine with a button-retained follower, the tool having a specially formed slot to conform to the magazine.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the preferred embodiment of the tool with a top plan view of a more standard magazine with a button-retained follower.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the tool of FIG. 1 and a standard center-fire rifle magazine, the tool being used to assist in loading said magazine.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 5 a - 5   d  are progressive plan views of the tool being used to load a center-fire pistol magazine.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  are plan views of either of the tools in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 being used to load a magazine with a button-retained follower.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b  are front plan views depicting the tool being used to unload an ammunition magazine.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 a  is a side-plan view of the tool being used to unload a center-fire magazine.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 b  is a side-plan view of the tool being used to unload a rim-fire magazine. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the loading tool will now be described. With reference to FIG. 1, a plan view of the tool in its preferred embodiment, the tool  10  is a generally ellipsoid planar body measuring about 1.5 inches long and 1.25 inches wide. Along its greater axis, the tool  10  has a central slot, measuring approximately 0.96 inches long by 0.39 inches wide, just enough space to encompass a button retained follower type magazine, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and  6   a  and  6   b . Slot shape is determined by the shape of the desired magazine and may be specialized for specific unique magazines, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, a SMITH &amp; WESSON .22 caliber pistol magazine  20  is shown. This particular magazine  20  can be found in a “keyhole” shape. Retainer button  22  is located at the bend in the magazine  20 . For this particular magazine  20 , slot  29  is shaped with a keyhole shape on one side. By utilizing the unique shape, tool  10  actuates the button  22 . In FIG. 3, a regularly shaped magazine  30  and slot  39  are used. Since the shape of the slot  29  or  39  is defined by the shape of a chosen magazine, and newly shaped magazines would require different slot shapes, no limitation as to slot shape should be inferred from the drawings.  
         [0021]    Again referring to FIG. 1, slot  19  defines two ends, solid end  12  and split end  14 . Slot  19  also defines two sides  16 ,  18 . Solid end  12  is used to facilitate loading rifle magazines. Split end  14  is used to load pistol magazines. Side  18  is tapered to a point  11 , forming a follower depression extension. Side  16  features a hook extension  13 , almost forming aperture  9  and completely enclosing slot  19 . Hook  13  is used to aid in the loading of double-stacked pistol magazines. Solid end  12  features a flat edge, forming two corners  15 . Either corner  15  is used to unload magazines. Key chain hole  17  may optionally be excluded.  
         [0022]    The remaining FIGS. ( 4 - 8 ) depict the tool in use with various magazines. FIG. 4 depicts use of the tool with a rifle magazine. The solid end  12  of the tool  10  is used to depress the follower in rifle magazine  40 . Cartridge  42  is then slid through an opening  46  in the feed lips  44  between the follower and feed lips  44 . Tool  10  is released and cartridge  42  is then seated in the magazine  40 . The process is then repeated by using tool  10  to depress the cartridge  42  (which in turn depresses the follower) and another cartridge is inserted. The process is repeated until the magazine is full.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 5 a - 5   d  depict the process of loading a pistol magazine  50  using the depression appendage  11  of straight side  18  of the tool  10 . The process is similar to the rifle magazine loading process; however, depression appendage  11  is inserted into the magazine  50  instead of solid end  12 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  depict the use of the tool  10  in loading a button retained follower magazine. Tool  10  is inserted over magazine  60  and rests on button  66 . The user may then depress the button towards the base of the magazine  60  with one hand  64 . This configuration allows for left or right-handed use.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 a  depicts a user unloading a magazine. The process is shown in better detail in FIG. 7 b . Tool  10  is rested on the magazine  70 , behind cartridge  72  with the solid end  12  towards cartridge  72 . Corner  15  actually interacts with cartridge  72  and the user pushes tool  10  away from the magazine  70  to push cartridge  72  out of magazine  70  through opening  76 . This may be accomplished by holding tool  10  vertically, as shown in FIG. 8 a  (for most center-fire magazines), or at an angle, as shown in FIG. 8 b  (for rim-fire magazines).  
         [0026]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.