Removal assist mechanism for fire arm magazine

Abstract

The inventive technology describe herein employs a removal assist mechanism for a firearm magazine that eliminates hang-ups and gravitational restrictions and allows consistent, reliable, safe, and dependable magazine ejection from a firearm. This removal assist mechanism is for a firearm having a magazine release actuator. The embodiment of the overall mechanism includes a biasing mechanism connected to the magazine and which extends from the magazine to contact a part of a firearm containing the magazine, wherein the biasing mechanism biases against the firearm part when the magazine is inserted into the firearm and remains under resistive force while the magazine is retained therein, until released by the magazine release actuator whereupon releasing the biasing mechanism assists in ejection of the magazine.

Claims

1. A removal assist mechanism for a magazine for a firearm having a magazine release actuator, which comprises: a biasing mechanism connected to the magazine and which extends from the magazine to contact a part of a firearm when containing the magazine, wherein said biasing mechanism biases against the part when the magazine is inserted into the firearm and remains under resistive force while the magazine is retained therein until released by the magazine release actuator whereupon releasing said biasing mechanism assists in ejection of the magazine, wherein said biasing mechanism includes housing having a movably disposed plunger therein which is biased by a spring.

2. The removal assist mechanism of claim 1, wherein said biasing mechanism is characterized to be removably connected to the magazine.

3. The removal assist mechanism of claim 1, which further includes a cam lever therein interconnecting said spring and said plunger.

4. The removal assist mechanism of claim 1, wherein housing surrounds part of said magazine.

5. The removal assist mechanism of claim 1, wherein said biasing mechanism is characterized to be operably connected to an integral housing part of a magazine.

6. The removal assist mechanism of claim 5, which further includes a cam lever therein interconnecting said spring and said plunger.

7. The removal assist mechanism of claim 1, which includes a plurality of said biasing mechanisms.

8. The removal assist mechanism of claim 2, which includes a plurality of said biasing mechanisms.

9. The removal assist mechanism of claim 5, which includes a plurality of said biasing mechanisms.

10. A magazine for a firearm, which includes: a magazine configured to release from a firearm by a firearm release actuator; and a removal assist mechanism including a biasing mechanism connected to said magazine and which extends from the magazine to contact a part of a firearm when containing said magazine, wherein said biasing mechanism biases against the part when said magazine is inserted into the firearm and remains under resistive force while said magazine is retained therein until released by said magazine release actuator whereupon releasing said biasing mechanism assists in ejection of said magazine, wherein said biasing mechanism includes housing having a movably disposed plunger therein which is biased by a spring.

11. The removal assist mechanism of claim 10, wherein said biasing mechanism is characterized to be removably connected to the magazine.

12. The removal assist mechanism of claim 11, which further includes a cam lever therein interconnecting said spring and said plunger.

13. The removal assist mechanism of claim 10, wherein housing surrounds part of said magazine.

14. The removal assist mechanism of claim 10, wherein said biasing mechanism is characterized to be operably connected to one of a removable and an integral housing part of a magazine.

15. The removal assist mechanism of claim 10, which includes a plurality of said biasing mechanisms.

16. The removal assist mechanism of claim 14, which includes a plurality of said biasing mechanisms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a perspective view a base pad of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. 1A.

(3) FIG. 1C is a sectional view from Line A-A through FIG. 1B.

(4) FIG. 2A is a plan view of a plunger of the invention.

(5) FIG. 2B is left side view of FIG. 2A.

(6) FIG. 3A is a plan view of a cam lever of the invention.

(7) FIG. 3B is a top side view of FIG. 3A.

(8) FIG. 3C is a right end view of FIG. 3A.

(9) FIG. 4A is a plan view of a side plate of the invention.

(10) FIG. 4B is a sectional view from Line A-A through FIG. 4A.

(11) FIG. 4C is a top view of FIG. 4A.

(12) FIG. 5A is a side plan view of a part of the invention in an extended mode.

(13) FIG. 5B is a perspective view of FIG. 5A.

(14) FIG. 6A is a plan view of a part of the invention in a retracted mode.

(15) FIG. 6B is a perspective view of FIG. 6A.

(16) FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment showing part of the invention in an extended mode.

(17) FIG. 7B is a perspective view of another embodiment showing part of the invention in an extended mode.

(18) FIG. 7C is an enlarged area A from FIG. 7B.

(19) FIG. 8A is a left end view another embodiment of the invention.

(20) FIG. 8B is a side view of FIG. 8A without a cover revealing parts thereof.

(21) FIG. 8C is a perspective view of FIG. 8B.

(22) FIG. 9A is a side view another embodiment of the invention without a cover revealing parts thereof.

(23) FIG. 9B is a right end view of FIG. 9A.

(24) FIG. 9C is a perspective view of FIG. 9A.

(25) FIG. 10A is a side view another embodiment of the invention without a cover revealing parts thereof.

(26) FIG. 10B is a right end view of FIG. 10A.

(27) FIG. 10C is a perspective view of FIG. 10A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(28) Referring now to the instant invention, a removal assist mechanism for a magazine is generally designated by the numeral 10. Like parts are like numbered throughout the embodiments. The removal assist mechanism for a magazine 10 in an exemplary embodiment includes a base pad housing 12 which has a bottom wall 14, front wall 16, rear wall 18, first side wall 20, second side wall 22 and top portion 24.

(29) The base pad housing 12 is configured with a slotted surface 26 formed beneath the top portion 24 to enable sliding onto a lip 30 at a bottom of a standard magazine tube 32 in much the same manner as a standard base pad. There is a central open surface 28 defined in the based pad 12.

(30) The first side wall 20 has a first recessed surface 34 with threaded apertures 35 to receive a complementary formed side wall plate 36 having orifices 37 which can be co-aligned with threaded apertures 35 permitting threaded connection of the same using screws 38. A second recessed surface 40 is inwardly journaled to movably receive a cam lever 42 therein. The second recessed surface 40 has a first slotted surface 44 running generally parallel to the bottom wall 14 and a second slotted surface 46 running generally perpendicular to the first slotted surface 44. A pin receiving surface 45 is disposed adjacent slotted surface 44.

(31) The side wall plate 36 includes a recessed surface 37 having complementary formed a first slotted surface 60 and a second slotted surface 62 running generally perpendicular to the first slotted surface 60 and can be co-aligned with respect to the first slotted surface 44 and second slotted surface 46. A similarly formed pin receiving surface 63 can be formed adjacent slotted surface 60 which also can be aligned with pin receiving surface 45.

(32) The cam lever 42 has a forked lower extending end 48 and an upper arm 50 with a notched surface 51. The forked end 48 has a pin receiving surface 49 extending transversely therethrough and arm 50 has a pin receiving surface 53 extending transversely through the notched surface 51. Pins 52 and 54 extend respectively through pin receiving surfaces 49 and 53. In this regard, the cam lever 42 with pins 52 and 54 can be movably seated in the slotted surfaces 44, 60 and 46, 62, respectively.

(33) A plunger 70 can be movably, preferably slidably seated in a portion 40a of surface 40 and includes a lower end 72 with a notched surface 74 and a pin receiving surface 76 extending transversely through the notched surface 74. The pin receiving surface 76 is similarly sized and configured to pin receiving surface 53 and pin 54 extends through pin receiving surface 76 and correspondingly aligned pin receiving surface 53 when the notched surface 51 is disposed against notched surface 74. An upper end 78 can be complementary formed to seat against the handle, here shown pitched, for purposes of contacting a handle housing surface of firearm 100.

(34) A spring retaining pin 65 can be disposed in pin receiving surfaces 45 and 63. Pins 52 and 54 are inserted through the cam lever 42 and into respective slotted surfaces 44, 60 and 46, 62. A spring 80 can be operably disposed between slotted surfaces 44 and 60 and has ends 82, 84 connected about respective pins 52 and 65. In this regard, the spring 80 serves to bias the cam lever 42 and in turn plunger 70 upwardly thereby assist in the ejection of the magazine 32. Note, the instant invention provides assistance in the ejection of the magazine 32, but does so in a manner whereby the cam lever 42 assists in controlling the force applied during the ejection.

(35) Thus, the invention provides a mechanism which in this example is connected as a base pad, but it is contemplated that the mechanism can be employed as a cuff about a magazine, or molded-in a magazine, in the case of use on a rifle, PCC, or any firearm utilizing a magazine/long tube/high-capacity magazine, that extends its length beyond the bottom of the firearms magazine containment area. In either case, this improves the ejection of a box/rotary/any type of magazine from any firearm.

(36) In FIGS. 7A-7C, there is shown an embodiment wherein a cuff housing 12′ includes two similarly formed mechanisms as described above. Here, there are cam levers 42A and 42B which mirror one another and operate plungers 70A and 70B in a similar manner as described above wherein respective springs 82A and 82B bias the same. The cuff housing in this embodiment is shown connected to the magazine 32 via threaded set screw connections 90.

(37) Similarly, In FIGS. 8A-8C, there is shown an embodiment wherein a slip over cuff housing 12″ includes one similarly formed mechanism as described above. The cuff housing in this embodiment is shown connected to the magazine 32 via threaded set screw connections 90. In FIGS. 9A-9C, there is shown an embodiment wherein an integrally molded cuff housing 12″ is formed as part of the magazine 32′ with one similarly formed plunger mechanism as described above incorporated therein. This embodiment envisions a replacement magazine for a firearm.

(38) Similarly, In FIGS. 10A-10C, there is shown an embodiment wherein an integrally molded cuff housing 12″″ is formed as part of the magazine 32″ with two similarly formed plunger mechanisms as described above incorporated therein.

(39) This system improves the speed of the magazine ejection to allow for more rapid reloading of the firearm in situations where less time saves lives. This can also be related to competitive shooting and defensive situations where if a magazine can drop free and quickly, it can save valuable time in order to reload a firearm or change the magazine for any other reason.

(40) Further, the invention helps eliminate magazine hang-ups in firearms that cause a magazine to stick in the firearm and results in having to remove the magazine manually. The invention allows magazine ejection at nearly any angle the firearm is held, thus aiding in speed of reloading the firearm.

(41) The invention increases the safety aspect of a firearm as the firearm does not have to be manipulated as much when changing mags. The invention prevents having to move or bring down the firearm while changing mags and eliminates many added movements required to change mags if one is caught in the firearms mag channel and does not eject free from the firearm.

(42) The invention adds forces to eject the magazine in addition to gravitational forces typically required. While a spring mechanism is shown and described, it is contemplated that the biasing member can be done with an electronic or magnetic means which assist in the ejection, or biasing of the plunger. It is also contemplated that the invention could be an independent or integral part of a magazine. It is also contemplated that the mechanism can be energized by any other spring type or mechanical lever/limb/cam.

(43) As the magazine is inserted into the firearms magazine channel, the lift comes into contact with the firearm frame, magazine well, location point, receiving area for the lift. Upon contact to that area, the lift begins its travel and engages the lift and spring mechanisms that energize the system as the magazine continues to be inserted into the firearm. Lift and spring mechanisms can be adjusted in height, length, angle, etc . . . in order to give different pressures, spring tensions, and energy curves in order to allow for specialized tuning to particular firearm.

(44) The mechanism can also be previously energized and then inserted into the firearm. This mechanism can then be turned on upon or after the magazine has been seated, or have a set engagement point to engage the system at a certain point in the insertion process for the subsequent future ejection of the mag.

(45) This mechanism might also be engaged with a mag release mechanism on the particular firearm. The typical configuration of this invention will have slight pressure on the lift engaged on the opposing surface (frame, magwell, etc . . . ), when the magazine is held in place in the firearm by the firearms magazine retention/release mechanism. Once the magazine is released from the mechanism that retains the magazine in the firearm, the invention takes over and complements any gravitational energy, or opposes it if say the firearm is at an angle where the magazine is not in a favorable gravity release position. The spring tension on the mechanism applies additional force to the ejection process. This propels the magazine out of the firearm at a greater speed and a longer travel of applied force, that would not be present without this mechanism.

(46) This will allow to clear the magazine from the firearm without hang ups, and at a much greater speed than gravity alone. This will allow for faster magazine changes in both combat/defensive situations along with competitive shooting sports.

(47) The design can configure any number of force curves throughout the movement of the mechanism by varying design aspects. One aspect of the design discussed decreases the force of the removal assist mechanism when the magazine is held in the firearm by the firearms magazine retention mechanism. This in turn does not place significant pressure on the firearms magazine retention system so it does not significantly impact (increase) the force it takes to actuate the firearms release button in order to facilitate the ejection of the magazine.

(48) Another inherent aspect of this design will eliminate magazine movement. This will help reduce noise made by the firearm if it has a loose fitting magazine. This is especially important in military/police stealth operations. This system will also help keep the firearms magazines from over extending into the firearm (example of resting firearm on magazine to steady it for a shot). This can cause malfunctions as the magazine is often pushed into the firearms extraction, ejection, and loading components, such as a slide, bolt, or bolt carrier, for some examples.

(49) The invention can be a “machined” or “mold-in” type of mechanism on any type of mag, such as PCC mags, AR mags, AK mags. These could be injection molded, or any other type of process as part of the mag body. The invention can be implemented with any type of cylindrical mag system such as Ruger rotary mags, Magpul rotary mags, and others. Suitable material of construction includes steel, aluminum, alloy or plastics, but can be any material capable of producing a functional mechanism as described.

(50) While the invention provides a simple mechanism employing a spring to increase tension to mag release push when depressed, alternative biasing assist mechanisms can be envisioned. These might use magnetic opposing poles, a gas pressure mechanism, electric biased system for example. Additionally, a spring can be adjusted to adjust to increase or decrease tension as well as pin locations to hold spring ends. For any push springs, any type of mechanism to increase or decrease spring tensions such as a screw or set screw etc . . . can be employed. Multiple locations for pins that hold springs

(51) Single, Dual type, or any number of mechanisms, or any number of various mechanisms, such as a spring in the ejection mechanism to lengthen the push/pull or increase tension, leaf springs, V springs, etc. . . . Opposite of this mechanism on the magazine, would be this mechanism on the gun that receives the magazine being pushed in.

(52) In the case of a magazine base application, the base does not have to increase the capacity of the magazine or increase the overall length of what would be considered a factory magazine.

(53) While there are shown and described herein specific forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.