Abstract: A lens apparatus is disclosed for use with a firearm scope. The lens apparatus includes first and second polarized lenses that move relative to each other. When differently colored lens materials are used and when moved relative to each other, the color seen through the two polarized lenses changes. In affixing the first and second polarized lenses to the firearm scope, first and second connection assemblies are utilized. The two connection assemblies have first and second latch release members, respectively. The two latch release members are located on the right and left sides of a scope when a user is in the normal shooting position. Upon actuation of the latch release member, pivotal movement of the polarized lenses, relative to the firearm scope lenses occurs. Each of the two connection assemblies includes a sleeve member and a cap lid. The sleeve member is flexible to surround portions of the firearm scope and is made of a material different from the cap lid material.

Abstract: An extended capacity cartridge magazine assembly for containing and feeding cartridges to a firearm is disclosed. The magazine includes a metal body for containing cartridges having an upper outlet through which cartridges may exit the magazine into the firing chamber of the firearm and a base plate for covering the bottom of the magazine body. A follower body is disposed within the body of the magazine for biasing cartridges toward the upper outlet. The follower body and the magazine body have certain dimensions to prevent an unwanted amount of rotation of the follower body when 0.45 caliber cartridges are being used. A collar slidably movable along the length of the magazine body is adapted to retain the base plate in a fixed position with respect to the magazine body. A flexible bumper plate interconnects with the bottom surface of the collar to secure the cartridge magazine assembly.

Abstract: A restricted capacity cartridge magazine includes a magazine body having four walls defining a chamber for housing cartridges, a bottom end and an open end through which cartridges may exit and a follower assembly for moving cartridges through the chamber toward the open end. The follower assembly includes a follower body and a constant force spring unit. Blocking members formed in opposing side walls terminate at a slot forming opposing lips which extend a predetermined distance into the chamber to contact portions of the the lowermost cartridges in the magazine to limit the movement of cartridges away from the open end of the magazine. The constant force spring unit terminates at a length such that the magazine is disabled if the follower body is moved past a predetermined distance from the open end of the magazine.

Abstract: A lens apparatus is disclosed for use with a firearm scope. The lens apparatus includes first and second polarized lenses that move relative to each other. When differently colored lens materials are used and when moved relative to each other, the color seen through the two polarized lenses changes. In affixing the first and second polarized lenses to the firearm scope, first and second connection assemblies are utilized. The two connection assemblies have first and second latch release members, respectively. The two latch release members are located on the right and left sides of a scope when a user is in the normal shooting position. Upon actuation of the latch release member, pivotal movement of the polarized lenses, relative to the firearm scope lenses occurs. Each of the two connection assemblies includes a sleeve member and a cap lid. The sleeve member is flexible to surround portions of the firearm scope and is made of a material different from the cap lid material.

Abstract: A recoil pad assembly is provided for attachment to a firearm stock. The recoil pad assembly includes a recoil pad, which includes a rib extending along the outer edge of its base. The rib is disposed adjacent a wall of a base plate shaped to receive the recoil pad. A locking plate, disposed within the recoil pad, is forced downward by fastening screws which extend through the base plate and into the stock of a firearm. When the locking plate is forced to be flushed with a lower wall of the base plate, the rib of the recoil pad is held between the two. The base plate is provided with a plurality of apertures into which portions of the rib are forced, thereby locking the recoil pad into place.

Abstract: A cartridge magazine for containing and feeding .22 rimfire cartridges including truncated, hollow point or flat nosed cartridges is disclosed. The magazine includes a metal magazine body having first and second sidewalls and first and second end walls. The cartridge storage area is defined by these four walls. The magazine body has a cross-sectional area that is substantially the same throughout the height of the magazine body. The dimensions related to the cross-sectional area are critical to proper feeding of truncated cartridges into the firearm while avoiding cartridge jamming. The magazine body includes an outlet section from which the cartridges enter the firearm from the magazine body. A number of structural members are located at the outlet section to assist in proper feeding of the cartridges.

Abstract: A magazine is disclosed for use with a pistol having a plastic firearm latch that is used to hold the magazine in the pistol well. The magazine includes an all metal magazine body. A non-metal magazine latch member is connected to the magazine body. When the magazine is held in the pistol well, the plastic firearm latch in the pistol engages the non-metal magazine latch member. In one embodiment, a carbon fiber filled firearm latch is substituted for the plastic firearm latch. A spacer assembly is held adjacent an end wall of the magazine body. The spacer assembly has a smooth outer surface for engagement by rim ends of cartridges during their movement relative to the magazine body. A non-symmetrical rib formed on the inner surface of a side wall of the magazine body is engagable by cartridges during their movement to prevent a premature bolt hold open condition.

Abstract: A firearm (10) is provided which is light weight, safe and simple to operate. The firearm (10) comprises a bolt-barrel-receiver assembly (12), a grip assembly (14) and a magazine assembly (16). the bolt-barrel-receiver assembly (12) comprises a barrel assembly 41, a receiver assembly, (42) and a bolt assembly (44). The grip assembly (14) comprises a grip body (110) and a fire control assembly (112). Plastic is incorporated into the barrel assembly (41), the fire control assembly (112) and the grip body (110). The firearm (10) incorporates several safety features through a safety actuator (222) and a disconnect (148). These safety features include a surface (243) for blocking movement of a sear (120), a blocking surface (248) for blocking movement of the disconnect (148) and a hammer passage (246) allowing blocking of the hammer (118). Due to the design of the various assemblies, the firearm (10) is comparatively simple to disassemble for cleaning or repair.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for providing heat and a resting place for reptiles or the like. The heating apparatus includes a housing and a heating device located at a selected level within the interior of the housing. When the reptile rests on an upper surface of the housing and the heating device is activated, heat is conveyed to the upper surface by convection currents. The housing resembles a limb and branches to simulate the natural habitat of the reptile. The limb is held above the bottom surface of the enclosure containing the reptile. The limb is injection molded and includes two body halves that are matingly joined together after the heating device is desirably positioned relative to the body halves. The branches are movable relative to the limb and one of the branches includes a channel for concealing portions of the electrical cord connected to the heating device.

Abstract: An aquarium cleaning apparatus is described that preferably incorporates a number of features including: (1) a swivel head connected to the siphon hose which rotates as the apparatus is maneuvered around an aquarium; (2) extension tubes to lengthen the cleaning tube assembly so that the apparatus can be used, for example, in aquariums having a greater height; (3) a self-starting feature that has a novel two-piece check ball assembly which permits "self-starting" of the siphon action; (4) an angled spout on the swivel head which connects to the siphon hose to facilitate self-starting; (5) an angled corner on the cleaning tube assembly which permits the apparatus to access and effectively clean the gravel adjacent to the walls and corners of the aquarium; (6) an aesthetically attractive contoured gripping tube; (7) a screen which prevents aquarium gravel from jamming the check valve assembly; and (8) a scraper assembly and scrubber assembly which may be attached to the apparatus for removing deposits to accumul

Abstract: A recoil pad assembly is provided for attachment to a firearm stock. The assembly includes a recoil pad section and a bracket attachment section integrally formed therewith. The recoil pad section includes a number of levels along the height thereof. Each of the levels has cut-outs together with ribs and membranes interspersed among the cut-outs. The arrangement of the cut-outs, ribs and membranes provides desired strength for cushioning against recoil forces generated by the firearm while enhancing the softness of the recoil pad section material. The assembly also includes a mounting bar subassembly affixed to the firearm stock. The mounting bar subassembly includes ramping surfaces. Containment brackets are joined to the bracket attachment section and are drawn together using the ramping surfaces and the tightening of fasteners.

Abstract: A fire control assembly (400) is provided with increased safety features. A set porch (470) is formed on a disconnect (404) to hold a firing window (416) of the disconnect (404) out of contact with a sear pin (412). A pin (458) engages a safety surface (460) on the disconnect (404) to hold the disconnect (404) in a direction (494) until the firing window (416) passes under the sear pin (412) and the sear pin (412) engages the set porch (470). Once the sear pin (412) is on the set porch (470), the trigger (402) must be pulled to engage the sear pin (412) with the firing window (416).

Abstract: A magazine (10) stores a plurality of cartridges for sequential loading into a firearm (12). The magazine (10) comprises a storage zone (32), a transition zone (34), and a loading zone (36). The cartridges are configured in a double-X pattern in the storage zone (32) and a straight stack configuration in the loading zone (36). Rails (146 and 148) hold nose end portions of the cartridges while allowing rim ends of the cartridges to spread apart into contact with the sidewalls (42 and 44) of the storage zone (32). As the cartridge pass through the transition zone (34) the inwardly sloping sidewalls (56 and 58) bring the rim ends back together into the straight stack configuration.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for orienting and loading a plurality of unoriented rim-fire cartridge into a magazine are provided. An orienter apparatus employs gravity to orient rim-fire cartridges by hanging a plurality of cartridges from a number of parallel rails. The orienter is repositioned to a second or vertical configuration so that gravity can be used to feed the columns of oriented cartridges through a chute. In another embodiment, a collector apparatus is used to pick up a plurality of cartridges and hold the cartridges in a holding portion. The orienter or collector operatively engages with a loader which employs a camming mechanism to move cartridges one at a time into a magazine. The cartridges are placed in a first angular relationship with respect to the magazine opening and are moved through the opening while changing the angular relationship of the cartridge with the magazine opening.

Abstract: A cartridge magazine comprising a single piece magazine head having a linearly shaped exterior and an arcuately shaped interior is provided. The magazine head is made by injection molding. The magazine head is connectable to an arcuately shaped magazine body for housing rim fire cartridges. The magazine body is preferably made of two plastic pieces, which are also injection molded. After making each of the halves of the magazine body, they are ultrasonically welded together. The magazine head is then joined to the magazine body. Ultrasonic welding is then utilized to fixedly connect the magazine head to the magazine body.

Abstract: A magazine for housing cartridges, preferably nine millimeter cartridges, is disclosed and includes, as part of the follower assembly, a spirally wound conforce spring unit, preferably comprising a plurality of separate but attached conforce springs. In a preferred embodiment, the magazine includes a conventional-in-length body, which has been modified by providing an elongated rib on the inside surface of a first side wall of the body. A wound portion of the spiral spring unit is located off-center and adjacent to an end portion of a follower body. An unwound portion of the spring unit is located adjacent to the first side wall of the magazine body. The rib acts to prevent contact between the unwound spring unit portion and the cartridges housed in the magazine.

Abstract: A magazine is provided for housing a predetermined number of rim-fire cartridges in a double column configuration with minimal magazine width and length requirements. The magazine is configured so that the rims of the cartridges are automatically placed in a nested or staggered relationship when they are inserted and are maintained in that relationship as they move through the housing, so as to prevent cross over of the rims and jamming. The nested, side-by-side positional relationship of the cartridges in the magazine is changed to a single file relationship while the lateral force exerted on the cartridges is controlled and jamming caused by friction or deformation is prevented. The magazine has an arcuate shape with one end wall having a portion defined by a radius of about 5.29 inches. Three rails are positioned on the upper portion of one side wall. Rails and baffles are configured to avoid or reduce interference of debris or wax build-up.

Abstract: A firearm cartridge magazine which holds a larger number of cartridges than corresponding magazines of existing design but without changes in the external size of the magazine is provided. A spring for moving the follower is run out of attenuated when the follower is in the lowest position so that, in the lowest follower position, the spring extends below the follower a distance less than about the diameter of a cartridge, and preferably about one thickness of the follower spring. A device for storing energy is provided to assist in lifting the follower from the lowermost position. Preferably, the device for storing energy is in the form of one or more follower legs which are spring-urged towards an unfolded or extended position. Preferably, the legs themselves are resilient so as to form leaf-type springs. When the follower is moved to the lowest position, energy is stored by folding or compressing the spring-loaded legs.

Abstract: A magazine is provided for housing a predetermined number of rim-fire cartridges in a double column configuration with minimal magazine width and length requirements. The magazine is configured so that the rims of the cartridges are automatically placed in a nested or staggered relationship when they are inserted and are maintained in that relationship as they move through the housing, so as to prevent cross over of the rims and jamming. The nested, side-by-side positional relationship of the cartridges in the magazine is changed to a single file relationship while the lateral force exerted on the cartridges is controlled and jamming caused by friction or deformation is prevented. The magazine has an arcuate shape with one end wall having a portion defined by a radius of about 5.29 inches. Three rails are positioned on the upper portion of one side wall. Rails and baffles are configured to avoid or reduce interference of debris or wax build-up.

Abstract: A number of rifle parts are provided to improve the appearance, facilitate the assembly/disassembly, and/or ease the carrying of a conventional rifle. In a preferred application one or more of the rifle parts are used with a 22 caliber rifle. The rifle parts include a handle unit that can be added to the conventional rifle and which is separate and detachable from the rifle body. The handle unit can be connected to the rifle body using fasteners or a dovetail arrangement. The handle unit preferably includes aligning holes through which the shooter can see the original rifle sight at the free end of the rifle barrel. A front sight assembly is provided in which a front sight is elevated to be in alignment with the rear sight. The front sight assembly makes use of the original sight or the sight slot to maintain the proper sight line between the rear sight and the front sight. A barrel retaining assembly is also provided which can be substituted for the conventional barrel retaining device.