Abstract:
A solid plate adapted for attachment to the lower receiver of an uzi firearm, the solid plate completely enclosing the magazine catch mechanism to prevent release of the magazine by the standard method of pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a finger. The solid plate may define a small key hole of arbitrary shape adjacent to the magazine catch mechanism to permit the magazine to be released by inserting an elongated member through the key hole to press against the magazine catch mechanism. In an alternate embodiment the small key hole is semi-circular in shape and adapted to receive a similar semi-circular shaped key therethrough.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/395,651, filed May 17, 2010, by applicant Louie Barletta. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an adaptation to a firearm that may change its legal classification. Specifically, an uzi, or any firearm of sufficiently similar properties to that of an uzi that it may be similarly classified by law, is classified under an Assault Weapons Ban in the State of California as being in violation of California Penal Code (PC) 12276, and thus is illegal to own. More specifically, it is the readily detachable magazine of an uzi that violates PC 12276.1(a)(1). 
         [0003]    Numerous firearm safety and magazine lock mechanisms are described in the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,752,796 B2 (Ramsey, Sr.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,568,302 B1 (Bubits), U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,403 B1 (Schaefer), U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,895 B1 (Zonshine), U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,207 B1 (Crye et. al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,919 B1 (Brazeau), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,018 (Johansson); however, none of the prior art teach or imply a suitable method that may be adapted to prevent the magazine of an uzi from being detached. 
         [0004]    To declassify an uzi under PC 12276, manufacturers and individuals have provided uzis with a non-detachable magazine by means of welding or otherwise permanently fixing the magazine catch mechanism on the lower receiver of an uzi. However, such solutions are undesired because it is physically impossible to ever detach the magazine. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, what is desired, and has not heretofore been developed, is a means of preventing the magazine of an uzi firearm from being released by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a finger, further providing a means of releasing the magazine from the uzi only by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a key or suitable elongated member. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of preventing the magazine of an uzi firearm from being released by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a finger. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of preventing the magazine of an uzi firearm from being released by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a finger that is not readily or easily circumvented. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of preventing the magazine of an uzi firearm from being released by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a finger that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of releasing the magazine of an uzi firearm only by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a key or suitable elongated member. 
         [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of releasing the magazine of an uzi firearm only by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a key or suitable elongated member that is not readily or easily circumvented. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of releasing the magazine of an uzi firearm only by pressing the magazine catch mechanism with a key or suitable elongated member that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1   a  is a side elevation view of an uzi firearm with a standard grip plate attached to the lower receiver of the uzi. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1   b  is a side elevation view of an uzi firearm with the detachable magazine lock grip plate attached to the lower receiver of the uzi. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of an uzi firearm showing the release and removal of the magazine. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a ,  FIG. 3   b ,  FIG. 3   c , and  FIG. 3   d  are front elevation, rear elevation, side cross section taken along line B-B, and perspective views of a standard grip plate, respectively. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4   a ,  FIG. 4   b ,  FIG. 4   c , and  FIG. 4   d  are front elevation, rear elevation, side cross section taken along line A-A, and perspective views of an embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate, respectively.  FIG. 4   e  is an exemplary key that could be used to release the magazine of an uzi with the detachable magazine lock grip plate attached. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   a ,  FIG. 5   b ,  FIG. 5   c , and  FIG. 5   d  are front elevation, rear elevation, side cross section taken along line D-D, and perspective views of a first alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate, respectively.  FIG. 5   e  is an exemplary key that could be used to release the magazine of an uzi with the detachable magazine lock grip plate attached. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6   a ,  FIG. 6   b ,  FIG. 6   c , and  FIG. 6   d  are front elevation, rear elevation, side cross section taken along line C-C, and perspective views of a second alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate, respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Heretofore and henceforth the term ‘uzi’ is used to describe any firearm of sufficiently similar properties to that of an uzi that it may be similarly classified by law. 
         [0020]    Heretofore and henceforth the term ‘key’ is used to describe any generally elongated and sufficiently rigid member capable of being inserted through the key through hole  12  and capable of pressing the magazine catch mechanism  20 . 
         [0021]    Heretofore and henceforth the term ‘finger’ is used to describe a human finger of normal or average diameter. 
         [0022]    Heretofore and henceforth the term ‘diameter’ is used to describe the general length or width of an opening, hole, or object cross section regardless of the actual shape—circular or non-circular—of the opening, hole, or object cross section. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1   a  shows a typical uzi  1  with a standard grip plate  100  attached to the lower receiver of the uzi  1 . The magazine  40 , which may hold a repository of ammunition to be fired by the uzi  1 , may be at least partially housed within the lower receiver of the uzi  1 . The magazine catch mechanism  20  facilitates the locking of the magazine  40  in place within the lower receiver of the uzi  1  so that it will not fall out, cannot be removed, and thus cannot be reloaded with ammunition. Pressing against the magazine catch mechanism  20  with a finger in a direction perpendicular to the exterior face of the magazine catch mechanism  20  may cause the magazine  40  to be released from within the lower receiver of the uzi  1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and subsequently removed from the lower receiver of the uzi  1  and potentially reloaded with ammunition. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3   a ,  FIG. 3   b ,  FIG. 3   c , and  FIG. 3   d , the standard grip plate  100  comprises an exterior face  150 , an interior face  160 , at least one fastener through hole  110  defined therethrough, and an opening  130 . The standard grip plate  100  may be attached to the uzi  1 , with the interior face  160  adjacent to the lower receiver, by means of a fastener  30  inserted through at least one fastener through hole  110 , such fastener  30  mating with a fastener receiver element defined on the uzi  1 , such as a threaded or ribbed bore. 
         [0025]    When the standard grip plate  100  is attached to the uzi  1 , the opening  130  is adjacent to the magazine catch mechanism  20 , such opening  130  of sufficient size to permit unobstructed access to, and normal operation of, the magazine catch mechanism  20  by means of a finger. Pressing the magazine catch mechanism  20  may cause the magazine  40  to be released and removed from the uzi  1  and subsequently reloaded with ammunition. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1   b  shows a typical uzi  1  with the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  attached to the lower receiver of the uzi  1 . It can be seen that the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  completely encloses the magazine catch mechanism  20 , thereby preventing the magazine  40  from being released by pressing the magazine catch mechanism  20  with a finger. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4   a ,  FIG. 4   b ,  FIG. 4   c , and  FIG. 4   d , the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  comprises an exterior face  15 , an interior face  16 , at least one fastener through hole  11  defined therethrough, a cavity  14  defined on and within the interior face  16 , and a key through hole  12  defined therethrough and adjacent to the cavity  14 . The detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  may be attached to the uzi  1 , with the interior face  16  adjacent to the lower receiver, by means of a fastener  30  inserted through at least one fastener through hole  11 , such fastener  30  mating with a fastener receiver element defined on the uzi  1 , such as a threaded or ribbed bore. 
         [0028]    When the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  is attached to the uzi  1 , the cavity  14  is adjacent to the magazine catch mechanism  20 , such cavity  14  of sufficient volume to permit unobstructed normal movement or operation of the magazine catch mechanism  20 . However, because the first embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  completely encloses the magazine catch mechanism  20 , the magazine catch mechanism  20  cannot be pressed by a finger. To press or otherwise activate the magazine catch mechanism  20 , a key  50  may be inserted through the key through hole  12 , such key through hole  12  having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of a finger. Pressing the magazine catch mechanism  20  with a key  50  may cause the magazine  40  to be released and removed from the uzi  1  and subsequently reloaded with ammunition. 
         [0029]    A first alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  is shown in  FIG. 5   a ,  FIG. 5   b ,  FIG. 5   c , and  FIG. 5   d , which comprises an exterior face  15 , an interior face  16 , at least one fastener through hole  11  defined therethrough, and a cavity  14  defined on and within the interior face  16 , and a semi-circular key through hole  17  defined therethrough and adjacent to the cavity  14 . This first alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  may be attached to the uzi  1 , with the interior face  16  adjacent to the lower receiver, by means of a fastener  30  inserted through at least one fastener through hole  11 , such fastener  30  mating with a fastener receiver element defined on the uzi  1 , such as a threaded or ribbed bore. 
         [0030]    When the first alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  is attached to the uzi  1 , the cavity  14  is adjacent to the magazine catch mechanism  20 , such cavity  14  of sufficient volume to permit unobstructed normal movement or operation of the magazine catch mechanism  20 . However, because this first alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  completely encloses the magazine catch mechanism  20 , the magazine catch mechanism  20  cannot be pressed by a finger. To press or otherwise activate the magazine catch mechanism  20 , a semi-circular key  51  may be inserted through the semi-circular key through hole  17 , such semi-circular key through hole  17  shaped to prevent a finger or flat key  50  from being inserted therethrough. Pressing the magazine catch mechanism  20  with a semi-circular key  51  may cause the magazine  40  to be released and removed from the uzi  1  and subsequently reloaded with ammunition. 
         [0031]    A second alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  is shown in  FIG. 6   a ,  FIG. 6   b ,  FIG. 6   c , and  FIG. 6   d , which comprises an exterior face  15 , an interior face  16 , at least one fastener through hole  11  defined therethrough, and a cavity  14  defined on and within the interior face  16 . This second alternate embodiment does not contain a key through hole  12  or a semi-circular key through hole  17 . This second alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  may be attached to the uzi  1 , with the interior face  16  adjacent to the lower receiver, by means of a fastener  30  inserted through at least one fastener through hole  11 , such fastener  30  mating with a fastener receiver element defined on the uzi  1 , such as a threaded or ribbed bore. 
         [0032]    When the second alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  is attached to the uzi  1 , the cavity  14  is adjacent to the magazine catch mechanism  20 , such cavity  14  of sufficient volume to permit unobstructed normal movement or operation of the magazine catch mechanism  20 . However, because the second alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  completely encloses the magazine catch mechanism  20 , and because there is no key through hole  12  or semi-circular key through hole  17 , the magazine catch mechanism  20  can neither be pressed by a finger, a key  50 , a semi-circular key  51 , or by any other external means. Therefore, the magazine  40  may only be released from the uzi  1  by first completely removing the second alternate embodiment of the detachable magazine lock grip plate  10  from the uzi  1 , by removal of the fastener  30  or fasteners  30  that attach it to the lower receiver of the uzi  1 , followed by pressing of the now-exposed magazine catch mechanism  20 . 
         [0033]    Although specific embodiments of the detachable magazine lock grip plate have been illustrated and described, many variations or modifications would be apparent that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, which are defined by the appended claims.