Abstract:
The supplemental magazine holder for a firearm is quickly and easily installed upon and removed from a handgun or other firearm, and temporarily and removably holds an extra ammunition magazine at the ready for rapid replacement in the firearm as needed. The magazine holder is longitudinally symmetrical to provide for its reversal for installation with the magazine holder sleeve disposed to either side of the weapon, as desired. The attachment bracket portion may be configured to attach to a conventional accessory attachment rail, e.g., Picatinny rail or the like, or to clamp to the frame of the weapon as required. An additional embodiment is laterally symmetrical with a magazine holder sleeve extending to each side of the attachment bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of firearms, and particularly to a supplemental magazine holder for a firearm that provides a removable bracket or attachment for temporarily and removably securing an additional or supplemental ammunition magazine to the firearm, particularly a semiautomatic handgun. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Semiautomatic and automatic firearms, particularly hand held firearms and handguns, are conventionally equipped with a magazine or “clip” capable of holding anywhere from perhaps a half dozen to on the order of thirty or so rounds of ammunition. Oftentimes this may not be sufficient for the operation at hand, and the shooter must remove the depleted magazine and install a full magazine in the weapon. While this is not a particularly difficult or bothersome task during casual target shooting, such magazine replacement can become critical in a combat or police enforcement situation when split seconds may be critical and may even make the difference between life and death for those involved. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a number of devices and aids have been developed to facilitate the rapid exchange of ammunition magazines in a firearm, as well as to provide for the attachment of various other devices (laser and infrared aiming devices, scopes, lights, etc.) to the firearm. Most such attachments for devices other than ammunition magazines are not adapted for the rapid removal of the accessory from the attachment, as there is no need for such rapid removal in the case of an aiming device or light. An example of such may be found in European Patent Publication No. 082,257, published on Jun. 29, 1983. This publication describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a device for fastening an accessory such as an optical accessory to the barrel of the firearm. The device is threaded onto a cooperating externally threaded portion of the barrel, and locked in place by clamping screws. 
         [0006]    Other accessories or attachments are more specifically configured for securing an ammunition magazine to the weapon for rapid access thereto. An example of such may be seen in Belgian Patent Publication No. 897,743, published on Jan. 2, 1984. The drawings of this publication appear to show a supplemental magazine holder that secures around the base of the magazine well of an M16 rifle, with the magazine holder per se comprising a relatively thin open clip extending to the side of the rifle attachment component. No English abstract is available for this reference. 
         [0007]    Another description of a reserve magazine retainer is found in the English abstract of German Patent Publication No. 20/2005/017,240 published on Feb. 2, 2006, which describes a retainer having a reserve magazine supported in a trough rotatable vertically through 90°, with a magazine shoe or rubber foot hinged forwardly to the retainer. No drawings are available for this reference. 
         [0008]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a supplemental magazine holder for a firearm solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The supplemental magazine holder for a firearm comprises various bracket configurations that secure removably to a firearm and removably secure at least one ammunition magazine to the firearm to facilitate the rapid exchange of a depleted magazine for a full one. Each of the embodiments includes at least one resilient magazine holding sleeve having one split side, with an adjustable clamp bolt installed in the split side to adjust the clamping pressure on the magazine placed therein. The magazine holding sleeve(s) is/are mechanically attached (e.g., bolts, etc.) to a bracket that in turn installs removably on the firearm. 
         [0010]    At least one mounting bracket embodiment includes a channel therein, with the channel sliding removably onto a conventional accessory mounting rail (e.g., Picatinny rail, etc.) installed on the firearm. Alternatively, the mounting bracket may comprise a clamp that attaches removably to the frame of the firearm. In the most preferred embodiments these firearm mounting brackets provide for the attachment of a single magazine holding sleeve thereto, but the brackets may alternatively be laterally symmetrical and provide for the attachment of two opposed magazine sleeves thereto. 
         [0011]    Each of the embodiments is preferably formed of a high density, resilient plastic material, e.g., Nylon, etc., to provide suitable combinations of resilience and durability. Each of the embodiments is longitudinally symmetrical, i.e., symmetrical end-to-end parallel to the major axis of the barrel of the weapon when the device is installed thereon. This permits the single magazine holder embodiment to be reversed end-to-end for installation with the magazine holder sleeve extending to either side of the weapon, as desired. 
         [0012]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a supplemental magazine holder for a firearm according to the present invention, showing its installation upon the accessory rail of a handgun. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a detailed exploded perspective view of the supplemental magazine holder of  FIG. 1 , showing the assembly of its components. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded environmental side elevation view of the forward portion of a shoulder fired firearm with an accessory rail, showing the removable attachment of the supplemental magazine holder of  FIG. 1  thereto. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a supplemental magazine holder for a firearm according to the present invention having lateral symmetry, with a magazine holding sleeve on each side thereof. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a supplemental magazine holder for a firearm according to the present invention having a clamp attachment to the firearm. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an exploded end elevation view of the supplemental magazine holder of  FIG. 5 , showing further details thereof. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The supplemental magazine holder for a firearm has various embodiments adapted to attach removably to the firearm and to hold a spare magazine therein for rapid access by the shooter as required.  FIGS. 1 through 3  illustrate a first embodiment of the magazine holder  10  showing its attachment to various types of firearms and details of its construction. 
         [0021]    The magazine holder  10  includes a longitudinally symmetrical weapon attachment bracket  12  structured for removable attachment to the firearm. The bracket  12  further includes a longitudinal channel  14  formed therethrough, defined by opposite first and second walls  16   a  and  16   b . Each of the walls includes a longitudinal groove, respectively  18   a  and  18   b , formed therein, with the channel  14 , walls  16   a ,  16   b , and their grooves  18   a ,  18   b  configured to fit closely about a conventional firearm accessory attachment rail R, e.g., a Picatinny rail or other attachment rail as known in the art. The bracket  12  is preferably formed of a relatively hard and dense but resilient plastic material that frictionally engages the rail R to remain in place without need for additional fastening means, but which may be readily removed as desired by sliding the bracket  12  from the rail R. 
         [0022]    A magazine holder attachment lug  20  extends from below the channel  14 , with the lug  20  having a fastener passage  22  formed laterally therethrough. A longitudinally symmetrical magazine holder sleeve  24  includes a bracket attachment boss  26  extending laterally therefrom, with the boss  26  having a threaded passage  28  (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 2 ) formed therein for the installation of an assembly bolt  30  ( FIG. 2 ) or the like therein. The magazine holder sleeve  24  extends laterally to one side of the weapon attachment bracket  12  when the bracket  12  and sleeve  24  are assembled together, generally as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0023]    The magazine holder sleeve  24  further includes a longitudinal passage  32  therethrough, with a longitudinally disposed slot  34  extending the length of the sleeve. The slot  34  defines mutually opposed first and second sleeve sides, respectively  36   a  and  36   b , which serve to grip a firearm magazine M resiliently therein. The magazine holder sleeve  24  is preferably formed of material identical to or at least similar to that used to form the weapon attachment bracket  12 , i.e., a relatively hard and dense plastic to provide the desired durability and yet allow sufficient flexibility to grip the magazine M resiliently therein for ease of insertion and removal thereof. The slot  34  allows the two magazine sleeve sides  36   a ,  36   b  to flex apart slightly relative to one another, with their resilience serving to grip the sides of the magazine M therebetween. A pinch bolt  38  may be installed through an unthreaded passage  40   a  in the base of the sleeve  24  to thread into a threaded passage  40   b  to the opposite side of the slot  34 . The bolt  38  may thus be tightened to close the two sleeve sides  36   a ,  36   b  together as desired, thus adjusting the lateral grip thereof on the magazine M placed within the sleeve. 
         [0024]    The supplemental magazine holder  10  is particularly well suited for installation on and use with a semiautomatic handgun H, e.g. the handgun H illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, accessory attachment rails R are commonly installed to the barrel B or other forwardly disposed structure S adjacent the barrel B on other firearms such as the M-16 rifle A illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The magazine holder  10  may be readily installed and used with any practicable type or configuration of firearm having a barrel B and/or other forwardly disposed structure S adjacent the barrel B with a suitable accessory attachment rail R installed thereon, and/or provided in combination with such weapons, e.g., the handgun H of  FIG. 1  or the rifle A of  FIG. 3 . Moreover, it will be seen that the longitudinal symmetry of the magazine holder  10  permits it to be reversed end-to-end, thus placing the magazine holder sleeve  24  to the side opposite that shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . This may be more desirable for a shooter using the opposite hand as the primary hand when shooting. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment to the supplemental magazine holder  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , with the magazine holder of  FIG. 4  being designated as double magazine holder  110 . Components essentially identical to those of the magazine holder  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3  are designated by identical reference numerals in the double magazine holder  110  of  FIG. 4 . The double magazine holder  110  includes a weapon attachment bracket  12  essentially identical to the bracket  12  of the holder  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . This bracket  12  is laterally symmetrical as well as longitudinally symmetrical, thus allowing a magazine holder sleeve  124  to be attached to either or both of the opposite parallel sides  42   a  and  42   b  thereof, generally as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0026]    The two magazine holder sleeves  124  differ from the sleeve  24  of  FIGS. 1 through 3  only in that they include an unthreaded lateral passage (not shown in  FIG. 4 , but similar to the unthreaded passage  40   a  shown in the sleeve  24  of  FIG. 3 ) that extends completely through the base of each sleeve  124  and the unthreaded passage  22  (as in  FIG. 2 ) of the attachment bracket  12 . The single pinch bolt  138  may be provided with sufficient length to pass completely through the passages, with a conventional threaded nut (not shown) used to secure the end of the bolt  138  opposite its illustrated head. Additional resilient members (not shown), e.g., conventional O-rings, grommets, etc., may be installed about the pinch bolt  138  within the slots  34 , to allow the bolt  138  to be tightened securely without undue clamping together of the two side walls of each magazine holder  124 . Alternatively, the central weapon attachment bracket and the two symmetrically opposed magazine holder sleeves may be manufactured as a single, monolithic component, with a pinch bolt installed in each side thereof for the grip adjustment of the magazine holder side walls. 
         [0027]    It will be seen that as the two magazine attachment faces  42   a  and  42   b  of the weapon attachment bracket lug  20  are parallel to one another, the two magazine holder sleeves  124  are also parallel to one another. As each of the sleeves  124  is longitudinally symmetrical, the reversal of one of the sleeves  124  from front to rear results in a mirror image orientation for the two sleeves of the assembly  110  of  FIG. 4 . This, when combined with the laterally symmetrical and centrally disposed weapon attachment bracket  12 , results in the dual magazine holder  110  assembly having lateral symmetry as well. The dual magazine holder  110  of  FIG. 4  is somewhat more cumbersome than the single magazine holder  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , but the doubling of the capacity of the device in comparison to the holder of  FIGS. 1 through 3  may be advantageous in some circumstances. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 6  provide illustrations of yet another embodiment of the supplemental magazine holder, designated as magazine holder  210 . The magazine holder  210  is configured for attachment to a firearm F lacking the conventional accessory attachment rail, and may be removably attached directly to the forward structure S of the firearm F adjacent the barrel B thereof. The magazine holder  210  includes a weapon attachment bracket  212  having a longitudinal channel  214  disposed therethrough. Opposite first and second walls, respectively  216   a  and  216   b , extend upwardly to each side to define the channel  214  therebetween. The first channel wall  216   a  includes at least one, and preferably two, threaded fastener passages  222   a  formed therethrough. A corresponding number of clamping bolts  44  are threaded through the fastener passage(s)  222   a.    
         [0029]    The first channel wall  216   a  preferably includes a shim receptacle  46  formed in the inner surface thereof, i.e., facing the channel  214 , with a shim or pad  48  being placed therein. The clamping bolt(s)  44  thus bear(s) against the shim or pad  48  when the magazine holder  210  is installed on the firearm F, rather than directly against the structure S of the firearm F, with the shim or pad  48  evenly distributing the pressure of the clamping bolt(s)  44 . This precludes marring the surface of the structure S when the weapon attachment bracket  212  is installed thereon. 
         [0030]    The magazine holder sleeve  24  is essentially identical to the sleeve  24  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and discussed in detail further above. The sleeve  24  attaches to the second side of the magazine holder lug  220  of the weapon attachment bracket  212  by means of an assembly bolt  30  installed through the unthreaded passage  222   b  of the bracket  212  and threaded passage  28  of the sleeve  24  ( FIG. 6 ), essentially the same as the means for attaching the magazine holder  20  to the bracket  12  described further above for the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . A pinch bolt  38  installs through the unthreaded passage  40   a  and into the threaded passage  40   b  in the bottom of the sleeve  24  to adjust the spacing of the two opposite sleeve walls and pressure on a magazine M placed therein, just as in the case of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
         [0031]    The various embodiments of the supplemental magazine holder for firearms may be removably secured and used with any practicable firearm configuration, e.g., the semiautomatic handgun H or rifle A illustrated in the drawings or, alternatively, with other types of weaponry as well. The embodiments providing for attachment of the magazine holder to the accessory attachment rail of a firearm are particularly useful, but other attachment means may be provided as well. While the single sleeve magazine holder embodiments are preferred, it will be seen that any of the embodiments herein may be configured as either single or dual magazine holders, if so desired. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.