Patent ID: 7467580

Claim:
An ammunition carrier for retaining ammunition, the ammunition carrier comprising: a stationary carrier body portion disposed about a space in which to retain the ammunition; a rotating carrier body portion disposed about the space and pivotally attached to the stationary carrier body portion, the stationary carrier body portion and the rotating carrier body portion collectively forming a cover assembly to secure the ammunition; a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism pivotally attached to the rotating carrier body portion, the locking mechanism: engageable, in an engaged position, with the stationary carrier body portion so as to prevent rotation of the rotating carrier body portion relative to the stationary carrier body portion; and disengageable, in a disengaged position, with the stationary carrier body portion so as to allow rotation of the rotating carrier body portion relative to the stationary carrier body portion; an ammunition safety retention housing disposed in the space, the ammunition safety retention housing for further securing the ammunition and pivotally attached to the stationary carrier body portion, the ammunition safety retention housing including a sidewall with a sidewall opening in the sidewall through which ammunition may be passed, the ammunition safety retention housing rotateable from a closed position, in which the sidewall opening is positioned adjacent the stationary carrier body portion, to an open position, in which the sidewall opening is exposed to allow removal of ammunition; and a gear assembly including a driving actuator gear pivotally attached to the rotating carrier body portion and a driven actuator gear attached to the ammunition safety retention housing, wherein rotation of the driving actuator gear effects rotation of the driven actuator gear and the ammunition safety retention housing.