Housing for a cartridge magazine for a firearm and cartridge magazine for a firearm

Abstract

A housing for a cartridge magazine for a firearm including an interior space consisting of a first and a second region. Between the first and the second region a transitional region is formed which connects the first and second region with one another. The inside surface of the front wall extends in the direction of the Z-axis in at least one region along a first circular path, the inside surface of the rear wall extends in at least one region in the direction of the Z-axis along a second circular path. The first region is designed for accommodation of four stacks of cartridges arranged directly adjoining one other and preferably offset in Z-direction relative to one another. The second region being designed for accommodation of two stacks of cartridges arranged directly adjoining one another and preferably offset in Z-direction relative to one another.

Claims

1. A housing for a cartridge magazine for a firearm, which extends along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis, comprising: a front wall; a rear wall; a first side wall; and a second side wall, inside surfaces of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the second side wall forming an interior space consisting of a first region and a second region, between the first region and the second region a transitional region is formed which connects the first region and the second region with one another; wherein the interior space is limited by the inside surfaces of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the second side wall; wherein the inside surface of the front wall extends in the direction of the Z-axis in at least one of the regions along a first circular path; wherein the inside surface of the rear wall extends in at least one of the regions in the direction of the Z-axis along a second circular path; wherein the inside surfaces of the front wall and the rear wall in at least one of the regions are located at a first distance (A) from one another; wherein the housing has a housing bottom side and a housing top side, magazine lips are formed on the housing topside, and the housing bottom side is designed to be at least partially open, the first region being configured for accommodating four stacks of cartridges arranged directly adjoining one other and being offset in the Z-direction relative to one another, the second region being configured for accommodating two stacks of cartridges arranged directly adjoining one another and being offset in the Z-direction relative to one another, wherein the inside surface of the front wall has a first protrusion which protrudes in direction of the X-axis into the interior space of the housing and extends along the Z-axis originating from the transitional region at least partially into the first region and also at least partially into the second region, and the inside surface of the rear wall has a second protrusion which protrudes in direction of the X-axis into the interior space of the housing and which along the Z-axis features a start in the first region and an end in the transitional region or in the second region.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the inside surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall in the first region and in the second region are arranged substantially parallel relative to one another and between them in the Y-direction a virtual central plane is formed in the X- and the Z-directions.

3. The housing of claim 2, wherein a first protrusion is arranged at least in sections inside the central plane and/or a second protrusion is arranged at least in sections inside the central plane.

4. The housing of claim 3, wherein an extension of the first protrusion in the X-direction is between 5% of A and 30% of A, and/or an extension of the second protrusion in the X-direction is between 5% of A and 30% of A.

5. The housing of claim 3, wherein the inside surface of the rear wall has at least two grooves in at least one of the regions, each of the grooves progress laterally directly adjacent to the second protrusion.

6. The housing of claim 1, wherein the inside surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall in the first region are located at a second distance (B) and in the second region at a third distance (C) from one another.

7. The housing of claim 6, wherein the second distance (B) is 1.85 times to 2.15 times that of the third distance (C).

8. The housing of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the first region extending along the X-axis and the Y-axis is divided into a rectangular zone and into a trapezoid zone adjoining the rectangular zone, and a cross section of the second region extending along the X-axis and the Y-axis is divided into a rectangular zone of the second region and into a trapezoid zone of the second region adjoining the rectangular zone of the second region.

9. The housing of claim 1, wherein the inside surface of the first side wall has a protrusion which protrudes in direction of the Y-axis into the interior space of the housing and which along the Z-axis has a start in the first region and ends in the transitional region, and/or the inside surface of the second side wall has a protrusion which protrudes in direction of the Y-axis into the interior space of the housing and which along the Z-axis has a start in the first region and ends in the transitional region.

10. The housing of claim 9, wherein the protrusion of the first side wall and/or the protrusion of the second side wall are arranged in an interface region between a rectangular zone and a trapezoid zone adjoining the rectangular zone of the cross section of first region.

11. The housing of claim 1, wherein the inside surface of the first side wall in the transitional region is along a first curved path and the inside surface of the second side wall in the transitional region is along a second curved path, wherein the curved paths each have a respective turning point and extend from the bottom side of housing to the top side of the housing before the respective turning point in direction of a central plane, the curved paths, after their respective turning point, respectively fit against a first and a second parallel relative to the central plane.

12. The housing of claim 11, wherein the curved paths are symmetrically identical.

13. The housing of claim 12, wherein the first and second curved paths are arranged in a Z-direction offset relative to one another by an offset (V).

14. The housing of claim 13, wherein the inside surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall in the first region are located at a second distance (B) and in the second region at a third distance (C) from one another, the offset (V) is between 7% and 35% of the difference between the second distance (B) and the third distance (C).

15. The housing of claim 1, wherein the housing is a single component.

16. The housing of claim 1, wherein the housing consists of a homogeneous material, and the structure of the material is substantially homogeneous over the entire housing.

17. The housing of claim 1, wherein the housing consists of a synthetic material.

18. A method for operating a firearm, comprising the step of operating the firearm with a cartridge magazine with a housing of claim 1.

19. A cartridge magazine for a firearm, the cartridge magazine comprising: a housing for the cartridge magazine which extends along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis and which, in its inside forms an interior space consisting of a first region and a second region, wherein between the first region and the second region a transitional region is formed which connects the first and the second region with one another; wherein the interior space is limited by inside surfaces of a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; wherein the inside surface of the front wall extends in the direction of the Z-axis in at least one of the regions along a first circular path; wherein the inside surface of the rear wall extends in at least one of the regions in the direction of the Z-axis along a second circular path; wherein the inside surfaces of the front wall and the rear wall in at least one of the regions are located at a first distance (A) from one another; wherein the housing has a housing bottom side and a housing top side, magazine lips are formed on the housing topside and the housing bottom side is at least partially open; wherein the cartridge magazine includes a bottom cover which is suitable to at least substantially close off the at least partially open bottom side of the housing; a first feeder; a second feeder; the feeders allowing the second feeder to be movable at least partially into a space of the first feeder; a first spring located between the first feeder and the bottom cover; and a second spring located between the first feeder and the second feeder, the first region accommodating four stacks of cartridges arranged directly adjoining one other and offset in a Z-direction relative to one another, and the second region accommodating two stacks of cartridges arranged directly adjoining one another and offset in the Z-direction to one another, wherein the inside surface of the front wall has a first protrusion which protrudes in direction of the X-axis into the interior space of the housing and extends along the Z-axis originating from the transitional region at least partially into the first region and also at least partially into the second region, and the inside surface of the rear wall has a second protrusion which protrudes in direction of the X-axis into the interior space of the housing and which along the Z-axis features a start in the first region and an end in the transitional region or in the second region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a cartridge magazine according to an embodiment of the present invention with a housing;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front view of the cartridge magazine with housing that is illustrated in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cartridge magazine with housing that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectioned side view taken along line M of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear view of the cartridge magazine in a sectional view partially filled with cartridges; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a view of the housing cross section in region I of FIG. 5.

(8) Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) The drawing of FIGS. 1-6 show a preferred design example of inventive cartridge magazine 2 which includes an inventive housing 1. Same components carry the same identification in all Figures and are not necessarily depicted or visible in all Figures or repetitively described in all Figures.

(10) FIG. 1 of the drawing shows cartridge magazine 2 in a side view from the outside. Front wall 3, rear wall 4 and first side wall 5 of housing 1 are clearly visible. A bottom cover 25 is fixed to the bottom side of housing 7. This can for example be slid open from front wall 3 in the direction of rear wall 4 in guide grooves provided in housing 1 for this purpose, and can, for example, be secured against loss by means of an inside bottom plate, illustrated in FIG. 4, by way of pressure by first spring 28 which is also shown in FIG. 4.

(11) It is also visible that inside 3a of front wall 3 in at least in one of the regions I, II or III identified in FIGS. 2 and 5 progresses along a first circular path K1. In the illustrated example at least inside 3a of front wall 3 should actually be located in all regions I, II and III on first circular path K1. At a distance A thereto, inside 4a of rear side 4 extends in at least one region I, II, or III along a second circular path, wherein the radius of second circular bath K2 can be greater by A than the radius of first circular path K1. In the illustrated example, at least inside 4a of rear wall 4 should actually be located in all regions I, II, and III in second circular path K2. Housing 1 of the cartridge magazine features on its housing top side 8, magazine lips 9 which are designed to always support top cartridge P located in interior space IR (compare FIG. 4 and FIG. 6) in cartridge magazine 2 on its shell surface, at least in an at least partially filled state of the cartridge magazine. In a partially filled state the at least one cartridge P is pressed by means of spring force, in particular a spring force resulting from a first spring 28 and a second spring 29, against the inside of magazine lip 14 and can then during use of a firearm which is not illustrated here be moved from its lock forward, in other words in direction of the front wall and via same can be removed from cartridge magazine 2. Due to the easily recognizable shape in FIG. 2 of the two magazine lips 14, housing top side 8 is not further enclosed, but open.

(12) Moreover, in the outside front view of cartridge magazine 2 illustrated in FIG. 2, second side wall 6 of housing 1 is visible in addition to first sidewall 5. Also the location of first region I and second region II, as well as that of transitional region III connecting the latter is recognizable. Locking section 30 which is located in region II is designed to form together with an appropriate counterpart a mechanism on the firearm for detachable mounting of the cartridge magazine in the intended firearm which however is not illustrated herein.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a rear view of cartridge magazine 2, wherein rear wall 4 is clearly recognizable. The central plane extends through the longitudinal axis of the magazine in a Z-direction, wherein the central plane in the context of the description of the preferred design example is only illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the same as other planes and components that are not illustrated in all Figures, but are included in the only design example illustrated in the drawing.

(14) FIG. 3 also shows a cartridge magazine 2 with a locking piece 32 which is movably located opposite housing 1 of cartridge magazine 2 along the illustrated double arrow which can be moved by the feeder, movable through second region II into a free space 33 located in housing 1 in rear wall 4 between magazine lips 14. Locking piece 32 is suitable for limiting a freedom of movement of the lock on a firearm. Locking piece 32 is moreover formed by a bent metal piece which is arranged supported movably on inside 4a and the outside of rear wall 4. The bent metal piece consists very advantageously of an especially hardened and tempered spring steel. The enlarged perspective illustration showing the locking piece outside of the cartridge magazine shows an angular deflection of approximately 90 degrees between two approximately 180 degree angular deflections. The metal thickness is especially preferably between 0.8 mm and 1.6 mm. To be able to absorb the forces of the non-illustrated lock of the also non-illustrated firearm the locking piece preferably supports itself preferably also laterally on the edges of free space 33. Even through the locking piece is only depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings, for reasons of a clear overview of the cartridge magazine, it can and should of course be present in all illustrated Figs.

(15) FIG. 4 provides an insight into the interior space IR of cartridge magazine 2, so that inside surfaces 3a, 4a and 6a are clearly visible. First protrusion 10 and second protrusion 11 are shown in the crosshatched area. It can be clearly seen that inside surface 3a of front wall 3 has a first protrusion 10 which protrudes in direction of the X-axis (compare FIGS. 3 and 6) into inside space IR of housing 1, and which extents along the Z-axis originating from transitional region III at least partially into first region I and at least also partially into second region II; and that inside surface 4a of rear wall 4 has a second protrusion 11 which in direction of the X-axis protrudes into inside space IR of housing 1 and which along the Z-axis features a start 12 in first region I, here even close to housing bottom side 7, and an end 13 in transitional region III or in second region II, wherein end 13 is factually in transitional region III.

(16) Start 19 and end 20 of additional protrusion 18 of inside surface 6a of second side wall 6 is also recognizable in the left area of the illustration. An additional protrusion 15 can also be provided in a symmetrically identically manner in the herein non-illustrated inside 5a of housing 1, as can also be seen in FIG. 6.

(17) Second feeder 27 is pressed against the force of second spring 29 into the space of first feeder 26 which in the illustration is pressed deeply into the inside space of region I against the force of first spring 28. The first spring is arranged between first feeder 26 and bottom plate 25, even if in the illustrated example this is only indirectly the case, since here an inside bottom plate 31 is provided between first feeder 26 and bottom plate 25.

(18) FIG. 5 shows the inventive cartridge magazine 2 in a sectional illustration of the rear view, partially loaded with cartridges P. Here it can be clearly seen that first region I is designed for accommodation of four stacks of cartridges P, which are arranged directly adjacent to one another and preferably offset relative to one another in the Z-direction; and that second region II is designed for accommodation of two stacks of cartridges P which are arranged directly adjacent to one another and preferably offset relative to one another in the Z-direction.

(19) The cartridges are arranged directly adjacent to one another because they touch each other directly, at least in partial regions of their shell surfaces.

(20) In order to be able to accommodate four stacks of cartridges arranged adjacent to one another (in the Y-direction, compare FIGS. 3 and 6)), inside surfaces 5a and 6a of first and second side wall 5 and 6 which are arranged parallel to one another assume a distanced B relative to one another in region I which, in the illustrated example is approximately 1.95 times to 2.05 times that of distance C of the side inside surfaces which are arranged parallel to one another in region II.

(21) In order to ensure smooth operation and repetitively accurate process sequence during the progressive advancement of cartridges P in interior space IR of cartridge magazine 2 it is provided in the preferred design example that cartridges P in all regions are arranged directly adjacent to one another.

(22) In support thereof, additional protrusions 15 and 18 are provided on inside surfaces 5a and 6a of both side walls 5 and 6 which are arranged in transitional region III along a first curved path 21 and a second curved path 22, wherein curved paths 21, 22 respectively each include a turning point 23, 24 and which extend from housing bottom side 7 (compare, for example, FIG. 1) to housing top side 8 (compare for example FIG. 1 or 4) before the respective turning point 23, 24 in direction of central plane M (compare FIG. 3 or 6) and which, after the respective turning point 23, 24 tightly fit against a first and a second parallel relative to central plane M which herein are formed by inside surfaces 5a and 6a of first and second side walls 5 and 6 in region II. Curved paths 21, 22 are designed symmetrically identical relative to central plane M, however first 21 and second curved path 22 are offset relative to one another in the Z-direction by an offset V. The selected offset V is between 7% and 35%, in particular between 10% and 25% and especially between 18% and 22% of the difference between distance B and distance C.

(23) From the cross sectional depiction of housing 1 in FIG. 6 it can be seen that housing 1 of cartridge magazine 2 that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 is a single component. Housing 1 should consist of a homogeneous material, wherein the structure of the material is substantially homogeneous over entire housing 1 and in this case consists of a synthetic material. The synthetic material should preferably consist of a polyamide. Since the cartridge magazine is designed to accommodate a high number of cartridges and provides preferably between 50 and 80 cartridges, for example 60 cartridges during operation of the firearm without having to change out the magazine, the cartridge magazine is provided as the first cartridge magazine also consisting of a polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

(24) The illustrated cross section also shows that the cross section of the first region extending along the X-axis and the Y-axis divides itself into a rectangular zone Z1 and into a trapezoid zone Z2 adjoining rectangular zone Z1. The cross section of region II which is not again explicitly discussed is designed accordingly.

(25) The illustration also shows that first protrusion 10, at least in sections, is arranged within central plane M and/or second protrusion 11 is arranged within central plane M, at least in sections.

(26) The extension of the first protrusion 10 in the illustrated design example in the X-direction is between 5% of A and 30% of A, in particular between 5% of A and 18% of A and especially between 8% of A and 13% of A and/or that the extension of the second protrusion 11 in the X-direction is between 5% of A and 30% of A, in particular between 5% of A and 18% of A and especially between 8% of A and 13% of A.

(27) FIG. 6 also shows, that inside surface 4a of rear wall 4 has two grooves 14 in at least one region I, II, or III, preferably even in all three regions I, II and III each of which progress laterally, preferably directly adjacent to second protrusion 11.

(28) While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION LIST

(29) I First region II second region III third region A distance A B distance B C distance C IR interior space K1 first circular path K2 second circular path M median plane P cartridge(s) V offset Z1 rectangular zone Z2 trapezoid zone 1 housing 2 cartridge magazine 3 front wall 3a inside surface of front wall 4 rear wall 4a inside surface of rear wall 5 first side wall 5a inside surface of first side wall 6 second side wall 6a inside surface of second side wall 7 bottom side of housing 8 top side of housing 9 magazine lip(s) 10 first protrusion 11 second protrusion 12 start of second protrusion 13 end of second protrusion 14 groove(s) 15 additional protrusion (of first side wall) 16 start of additional protrusion 17 end of additional protrusion 18 additional protrusion (of second side wall) 19 start of addition protrusion 20 end of additional protrusion 21 first curved path 22 second curved path 23 turning point 24 turning point 25 bottom cover 26 first feeder 27 second feeder 28 first spring 29 second spring 30 locking section 31 inside bottom plate 32 locking piece 33 clearance