A conveyor mechanism for use with ammunition rounds includes a plurality of clamshells pivotally interconnected to each other, with each clamshell including a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body. Each clamshell is selectively transitional between an ammunition holding configuration and an ammunition release position, with the second body pivoting relative to the first body to facilitate transition between the ammunition holding configuration and the ammunition release configuration. The first and second bodies are configured to cooperatively engage one of the ammunition rounds when the clamshell is in the ammunition holding configuration.

New forms of suppressive gunfire decoys are provided. In some aspects, a pin-pull device may be used to program and adjust several settings of the decoy devices, activating such devices immediately before deployment. In some aspects, the pin-pull device may serve as a remote control unit. In a preferred method of deployment, the devices are thrown to a location different from that occupied by the user(s), simulating another source of gunfire, distracting and misleading an enemy, and providing the effects of suppressive fire. In some embodiments, a networked computer system(s) may be used as a remote control unit, and the decoy device may include cameras and other sensors for tactical surveillance. In still other aspects, the gunfire decoy device may be capable of locomotion, and may be self-relocating in response to certain commands, or in reaction to stimuli, to confuse the enemy regarding sources of gunfire and troop locations.

New forms of suppressive gunfire decoys are provided. In some aspects, a pin-pull device may be used to program and adjust several settings of the decoy devices, activating such devices immediately before deployment. In some aspects, the pin-pull device may serve as a remote control unit. In a preferred method of deployment, the devices are thrown to a location different from that occupied by the user(s), simulating another source of gunfire, distracting and misleading an enemy, and providing the effects of suppressive fire. In some embodiments, a networked computer system(s) may be used as a remote control unit, and the decoy device may include cameras and other sensors for tactical surveillance. In still other aspects, the gunfire decoy device may be capable of locomotion, and may be self-relocating in response to certain commands, or in reaction to stimuli, to confuse the enemy regarding sources of gunfire and troop locations.

An ammunition management system for firing mixed ammunition in an automatic cannon. The ammunition management system includes a rotatable ammunition magazine including ammunition shot, a breech casing and an ammunition feed device for feeding of ammunition shot between the ammunition magazine and the breech casing. A drive device drives the ammunition magazine via a chain drive mechanism disposed in the ammunition magazine. A decoupling device engages and disengages the ammunition magazine with respect to the ammunition feed device, so that ammunition can be moved between different positions in the ammunition magazine, via an alternating process including: feeding of ammunition from the ammunition magazine to the ammunition feed device, disengagement of the ammunition magazine, rotation of the ammunition magazine, engagement of the ammunition magazine, and feedback of ammunition from the ammunition feed device to the ammunition magazine. A method for sorting ammunition in a ammunition magazine.

An ammunition management system for firing mixed ammunition in an automatic cannon. The ammunition management system includes a rotatable ammunition magazine including ammunition shot, a breech casing and an ammunition feed device for feeding of ammunition shot between the ammunition magazine and the breech casing. A drive device drives the ammunition magazine via a chain drive mechanism disposed in the ammunition magazine. A decoupling device engages and disengages the ammunition magazine with respect to the ammunition feed device, so that ammunition can be moved between different positions in the ammunition magazine, via an alternating process including: feeding of ammunition from the ammunition magazine to the ammunition feed device, disengagement of the ammunition magazine, rotation of the ammunition magazine, engagement of the ammunition magazine, and feedback of ammunition from the ammunition feed device to the ammunition magazine. A method for sorting ammunition in a ammunition magazine.

Ammunition storage and feeding system for light weapons that facilitates a continuous loading of the weapon, thereby relieving the user from multiple magazine replacements, and reducing potential weapon stoppages, thus providing more reliable and significantly uninterruptable use of the weapon with respect to operating the weapon with conventional magazines. According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is configured to automatically receive interlinked cartridges from a carrying device (e.g., a backpack or other convenient device harnessed to the user's body) through a flexible or semi-flexible leading means, to successively extract the cartridges from the linking arrangement and to successively feed each extracted cartridge into a dedicated magazine in a First In First Out (FIFO) manner.

A toy projectile launcher for launching projectiles, e.g, toy foam darts, from a detachable hopper. An agitating member inside the hopper enables the orderly descent of the projectiles within the hopper. A hopper cover has a collapsible ceiling with nested members and a ceiling plate to maintain the projectiles toward the bottom of the hopper. First and second catches coupled to the ceiling plate respectively engage openings in hopper walls to prevent the ceiling plate from collapsing into the cover when the hopper cover is closed. Where there are multiple vertically-spaced-apart openings in the hopper walls, the first and second catches may disengage from respective first openings, and then engage lower, second openings in the hopper walls, as the number of projectiles in the hopper drops and the ceiling plate descends in the hopper. A rotating gear advances projectiles from the firing chamber to flywheels for launch.

A conveyor mechanism for use with ammunition rounds includes a plurality of clamshells pivotally interconnected to each other, with each clamshell including a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body. Each clamshell is selectively transitional between an ammunition holding configuration and an ammunition release position, with the second body pivoting relative to the first body to facilitate transition between the ammunition holding configuration and the ammunition release configuration. The first and second bodies are configured to cooperatively engage one of the ammunition rounds when the clamshell is in the ammunition holding configuration.

Projectile loading systems for toy launchers that discharge soft spherical, but tacky, projectiles, the loading systems including a projectile hopper for storing the projectiles, a chute at the bottom of the hopper, the chute having a central groove for lining the projectiles in a single file, an agitator in the hopper. Arrangements of projectile launcher and accessories, container apparatus and the like are provided in differing sizes and orientations with aesthetics of rails in unique angled offset orientations for functions configured with attachment types, bottles, containers, and other apparatus in various combinations.

A toy projectile launcher for launching projectiles, e.g, toy foam darts, from a detachable hopper. An agitating member inside the hopper enables the orderly descent of the projectiles within the hopper. A hopper cover has a collapsible ceiling with nested members and a ceiling plate to maintain the projectiles toward the bottom of the hopper. First and second catches coupled to the ceiling plate respectively engage openings in hopper walls to prevent the ceiling plate from collapsing into the cover when the hopper cover is closed. Where there are multiple vertically-spaced-apart openings in the hopper walls, the first and second catches may disengage from respective first openings, and then engage lower, second openings in the hopper walls, as the number of projectiles in the hopper drops and the ceiling plate descends in the hopper. A rotating gear advances projectiles from the firing chamber to flywheels for launch.