Ammunition magazine

[0001] This Application claims priority on earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/941,646, filed on Jun. 1, 2007, and incorporates the same in its entirety by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of firearms and more particularly relates to an improved ammunition magazine.

[0003] Ammunition magazines are well known in the art of firearms. Their basic construction is a containment shell with two open ends. One end is deemed the “floor” of the magazine and is covered by a plate while the opposite end is the “feed” end and interfaces with the weapon. Inside the volume defined by the shell and plate is a spring and follower assembly. When ammunition is loaded into the magazine, the ammunition pushes the follower down towards the floor and thereby compresses the spring. In use, when one cartridge of ammunition is expended, the compressed spring releases and pushes the follower and associated ammunition upwards toward the feed end and the next round of ammunition is thereby readied.

[0004] Prior magazines have been manufactured in many different configurations and of different materials. Perhaps the best known in the U.S. are the AK-47 and the USGI AR15/M16 magazines. These magazines function similarly, though they are made with slight variations to interface with their host system. Of notable difference is that the AK-47 magazine has a relatively constant curvature while the AR15/M16 magazine has a less curved lower region that gradually resolves to a more linear function towards the feed end. Both use the same type of internal system. Of particular note with both, and all follower magazine systems, is that the system works well only as the follower smoothly and levelly travels the inside of the magazine. As the follower must move, there is room for the follower in all the known prior art magazines to move axially, or “wobble” and possibly jam. This is notorious in the AR15/M16 magazine style as the geometry of the magazine is inherently not uniform.

[0005] The present invention is a polymer magazine with angularly shaped guide rails to interface with the internal follower, thereby restricting axial motion of the follower. The magazine also features a load indicator and a two-piece floor plate locking system. The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the magazine of the present invention allows for more stable and level motion of the follower while the magazine is loaded or unloaded.

[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of ammunition magazines, this invention provides an improved magazine. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new and improved magazine that is backwards compatible with known weapon platforms and presents a more stable follower and follower path.

[0007] To accomplish these objectives, the improved ammunition magazine comprises a plurality of lateral angularly shaped guide rails within the magazine shell and a follower that is configured to abut them. By interfacing with more internal structure, all non-advantageous linear and axial motion is inhibited and the follower is then more stable in its progress. The magazine also features a polymer construction and an ammunition load indicator system. The magazine also features a cover for storage.

[0008] 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.

[0009] Many objects 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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.

[0037] With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the ammunition magazine is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an” and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0038] With reference to FIG. 1, the magazine 1 generally comprises a body 10 having a floor end 13 and a feed end 17. Feed lips 21 are provided at the feed end 17 to interface with a weapon and to guide cartridges into the firing chamber of said weapon. The floor end is capped with a floor plate 20 which is secured by a lock plate 25. A spring 35 rests against the lock plate 25, centered by walls 24, and floor plate 20 combination and provides tension to bias the follower 30 and the floor plate 20 so that the follower 30 will progress up the magazine body 10 as ammunition is used. Floor plate 20 slides over a rim 23 of the floor end 13, using a ledge to interface with the rim, and simultaneously over the lock plate 25. The floor plate 20 and lock plate 25 interface together with a tab 26 on the lock plate resting within a slot 27 of the floor plate (shown in FIGS. 6-6c), so, with the floor plate 20 holding the magazine 1 and the lock plate 25 holding the floor plate 20 laterally, as it is forced against the floor plate 20 by the spring, the floor plate 20 does not slide off the magazine 1. A protective impact cover 40 is also provided for use during storage. Magazine 1 also features two indicator windows 15 to view the spring. An indicator, which could be as simple as a colored dot or a dab of properly placed paint, is positioned on the spring and is viewable through the windows when the magazine 1 is assembled. Ideally, the windows 15 are positioned on either side of the magazine body 10 and are close enough to the floor end so that they are not obscured when the magazine 1 is inserted in a weapon's magazine well. FIGS. 2-4 provide views of the magazine 1 assembled, FIG. 4 without the impact cover 40.

[0039] Inside the body 10, along the fore side of the magazine 1, is a ridge 19, shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. The ridge serves three purposes. The first purpose is to provide additional stability and strength to the magazine body 10. The second purpose is to divide tips of cartridges, left from right, in their off-set stacking in the magazine. The third purpose is to provide an additional interface with the follower 30 to prevent forward linear and axial tilt. The body also has two lateral guide rails 31 extending through the body 10. The guide rails 31 present a solid surface for the follower to abut and to guide cartridges as they travel through the magazine body 10. Ideally, the guide rails should each present a flat front surface and taper back to the walls, presenting either a trapezoidal or triangular cross-section. By “flat”, applicants mean that the front surface is squared, roughly parallel to the fore and rear sides of the magazine. So as to not interfere with feeding of cartridges in to the weapon, the guide rails 31 should terminate 31a at approximately a cartridge's diameter of the feed end 17 of the magazine body (as defined by the level where the rib 19 terminates with tab 29), or within ¼ inch for a 0.223 magazine. This is, however, only for the preferred embodiment, as the guide rails 31 can extend the entire length of the magazine body 10 and the magazine will still be functional, just not preferred.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 9-9e, the follower 30 has two tines, a forward tine 33 and hind tine 37. Both tines are elongated and extending from platform 34. The forward tine 33 presses against the ridge 19 and prevents axial movement, particularly those movements caused by the simple act of firing the weapon, which would push the rear of the ammunition (and the follower 30) down. The hind tine 37 fits into trough 11 (FIG. 7) to prevent lateral movement. The extension of the tines greatly inhibit axial and lateral movement as the extension increases contact with the magazine body and provide more counter-torque when forces would cause such movement. The follower also has two lateral arms 36 that fit alongside of the lateral fins 31 to further inhibit rotation. The follower 30 interfaces with spring 35 by attachment of the spring 35 to loop 38 and retention of the spring 35 by retaining wall 32.

[0041] At the top of ridge 19 is a slight tab 29 (FIGS. 6 and 8) that protrudes towards the interior of the magazine 1. Tab 29 serves as a block to prevent the follower 30 from exiting the feed end 17 of the magazine 1. It interfaces with a detent 39 provided in the follower 30 (FIGS. 9, 9b, and 9e).

[0042] In the preferred embodiment, the magazine body is comprised of a long glass-reinforced thermoplastic polymer selected to resist the heat generated from firing a rifle. However, other polymers, like polycarbonate, may be used and the magazines may be made in any color or opacity (which can reduce or eliminate the need for a magazine level indicator). Some polymers, such as polycarbonate, may be used without reinforcement. Other reinforcement materials, such as steel, carbon fiber, or other materials may also be used to reinforce the magazine. Likewise, the magazine body may be made of other materials having suitable strength and durability, such as titanium, ceramics, laminates, amorphous metals, etc.

[0043] The magazine 1 is structured to increase its structural integrity. To that end, fore ridge 19 provides added durability to the magazine. Protective cover 40 also provides reinforcement during storage, as pressures from the stored ammunition and spring 35 would normally force the feed lips 21 of the magazine 1 apart. Protective cover 40, shown in FIGS. 10-10e, interfaces with geometry, namely notch 44 and hinge base 48, on the magazine body 10 with latch 43 and cover hinge 47 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), and forces the ammunition downward with an underside spacer 45, thereby absorbing and distributing the forces that would normally be applied to the feed lips 21 in a more advantageous manner. The cover 40 also serves as a magazine tool as the cover latch 43 will fit between the feed lips 21 so as to push rounds of ammunition 50 out of the magazine 1 (FIGS. 11a-11c). It also has a specialized gauge 49 to determine if the feed lips 21 have either splayed or compressed in a manner to prevent operability of the magazine with the weapon. Gauge 49 is a flared area, specially sized depending upon the size of ammunition, slightly above latch 43. The operable magazine 1 will accommodate the latch 43 between the feed lips 21, but not the gauge. If the latch 43 is unable to fit between feed lips 21, then the feed lips 21 have compressed in some manner, perhaps due to impact or compression damage, and the magazine 1 is then not fit for use. If the gauge 49 is able to fit between feed lips 21, then the feed lips 21 have splayed, perhaps due to long term storage without the impact cover 40, and the magazine 1 is not fit for use. Measurements of the gauge and latch widths will be dependent upon the type of ammunition used. Likewise, this magazine 1 is capable of being used in multiple weapon platforms, each with its own tolerances. The widths of the latch 43 and gauge 49 would be dependent upon those tolerances and different weapon platforms may be accommodated my merely fashioning a different version of the impact cover 40 for that platform, without changing the magazine as a whole. Impact cover 40 may also be used to depress the locking plate tab 26 so as to remove the floor plate 20 (FIGS. 12a-12c).

[0044] It should also be noted that magazine body 10 presents a constant internal curve, with slight straightening near the interior rear face of the feed lips only to allow interface with a weapon, seen best in FIG. 8. As such, the follower 30 and associated ammunition travel more smoothly through the magazine body 10 with lessened round stack variation.

[0045] 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.