Patent ID: 7487613

Claim:
A cartridge loader ( 100 ) for inserting cartridges into a gun magazine, wherein said cartridge loader ( 100 ) fits onto a person's thumb and more particularly fits onto the distal phalange of a person's thumb, said cartridge loader ( 100 ) comprising: a thumb-protecting member ( 120 ), said thumb-protecting member ( 120 ) defines interior ( 160 ) and exterior ( 180 ) surfaces, said thumb-protecting member ( 120 ) defines an interior open cavity ( 200 ) of sufficient volume to accommodate a distal phalange of a person's thumb, wherein said thumb-protecting member ( 120 ) is a U-shaped member ( 280 ) having a front-end ( 300 ), topside ( 320 ), bottom side ( 340 ), first tongue ( 360 ) and a second tongue ( 380 ), wherein said topside ( 320 ) defines first and second opposite sides ( 325 ) and ( 330 ) and rear end ( 400 ), said bottom side ( 340 ) defines a rear end ( 420 ), exterior surface ( 180 b ) and first ( 345 ) and second ( 350 ) opposite bottom sides, and wherein said first ( 360 ) and second ( 380 ) tongues respectively extend in a generally downward direction from said first side ( 325 ) and second side ( 330 ) at the rear end ( 400 ) of topside ( 320 ) towards said rear end ( 420 ) of bottom side ( 340 ); and a cartridge-pushing member ( 140 ), said cartridge-pushing member ( 140 ) having opposite first ( 220 ) and second ( 240 ) ends, said first end ( 220 ) of said cartridge-pushing member ( 140 ) is attached to the exterior surface ( 180 b ) of said bottom side ( 340 ) of said thumb-protecting member ( 140 ), and said second end ( 240 ) of said cartridge-pushing member ( 140 ) defines, at least in part, a concave surface ( 260 ) to suit the exterior shape of a cartridge casing.