Safety Magazine
The present invention relates to magazines for firearms, and more particularly to magazines that accept blank cartridges for training and other exercises and that prevent the introduction of live cartridges. In an embodiment, the safety magazine includes an internal cavity that is shorter in length than a live ammunition cartridge. The internal cavity accepts shorter blank ammunition cartridges. The top-most ammunition cartridge in the magazine sits just under the magazine's feed lips, in the top-most ammunition position. A projection extends from the top end of the magazine opposite the feed lips to block a longer live ammunition cartridge from being inserted into the top-most ammunition position. Thus, live cartridges cannot be loaded into the magazine even at the top-most position of the magazine. The projection is retractable into the magazine.
The present invention relates to magazines for firearms, and more particularly to magazines that accept blank ammunition cartridges for training and other exercises and that prevent the introduction of live ammunition cartridges.
BACKGROUNDMilitary, police, and other armed forces often use firearms with blank ammunition cartridges during training exercises. The individuals participating in the training exercise load the blank cartridges into a magazine and attach the magazine to their firearm. Use of the blank cartridges enables the participants to use their regular firearms as if the training exercise were a real combat situation, but the participants are not firing live rounds. As a result, the participants can practice with real firearms without risking any harm to themselves or other participants. The training exercise is realistic but safe.
However, occasionally a participant will accidentally insert a magazine with live ammunition into the firearm, or will accidentally load a live cartridge into a magazine along with or instead of blank cartridges. Such a mistake can have deadly consequences during a training exercise.
In the past, training participants have used a safety magazine having an internal cavity which is shorter in length than that of a normal magazine and that accepts only blank cartridges. Blank ammunition cartridges are typically shorter in length than live ammunition cartridges because the blank cartridges lack a bullet at the front end. Such a safety magazine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,752. However, this magazine still accepts a longer live cartridge in the top-most position of the magazine. Even though the internal cavity of the magazine is shorter than a standard live ammunition cartridge, the magazine still accepts a longer live round as the last cartridge loaded into the magazine at the top-most position or position, below the magazine's feed lips.
In the past, training exercises have also utilized safety magazines that are pre-loaded with blank cartridges and that cannot be re-loaded after they are used. The magazine can eject the blank cartridges but cannot accept any new cartridges for re-use. Thus, the user cannot insert a live round into the magazine. Such a safety magazine is disclosed in WO 2005/083348. However, this magazine is not re-usable.
Accordingly, there is still a need for a reusable safety magazine that precludes the insertion of live cartridges into the magazine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to magazines for firearms, and more particularly to magazines that accept blank cartridges for training and other exercises and that prevent the introduction of live cartridges. In an embodiment, the safety magazine includes an internal cavity that is shorter in length than a live ammunition cartridge. The internal cavity accepts shorter blank ammunition cartridges. The top-most ammunition cartridge in the magazine sits just under the magazine's feed lips, in the top-most ammunition position. A projection extends from the top end of the magazine opposite the feed lips to block a longer live ammunition cartridge from being inserted into the top-most ammunition position. Thus, live cartridges cannot be loaded into the magazine even at the top-most position of the magazine. The projection is retractable into the magazine. When the magazine is inserted into a firearm, the bottom surface of the firearm pushes down and retracts the projection, so that the projection will not interfere with the loading of the blank cartridges into the firearm chamber. When the magazine is removed from the firearm, the projection returns to the extended position, blocking the top-most ammunition position, so that live cartridges cannot be inserted into the magazine.
In one embodiment, a magazine for a firearm includes a housing having first and second opposing side walls and an internal cavity between the side walls. The internal cavity is sized to receive blank ammunition cartridges and has an opening at a top end of the housing for receiving such cartridges into the cavity. The magazine also has a follower for moving the cartridges toward the top end of the housing into a top-most ammunition position. The magazine also has a projection movable between a first position in which the projection extends into the top-most ammunition position and a second position in which the projection is retracted out of the top-most ammunition position, and an extension coupled to the projection and extending through an opening in the first side wall of the housing. A spring biases the projection into the first position.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated as the same become better understood with reference to the specification, claims and appended drawings wherein:
The present invention relates to magazines for firearms, and more particularly to magazines that accept blank cartridges for training and other exercises and that prevent the introduction of live cartridges. In an embodiment, the safety magazine includes an internal cavity that is shorter in length than a live ammunition cartridge. The internal cavity accepts shorter blank ammunition cartridges. The top-most ammunition cartridge in the magazine sits just under the magazine's feed lips, in the top-most ammunition position. A projection extends from the top end of the magazine opposite the feed lips to block a longer live ammunition cartridge from being inserted into the top-most ammunition position. Thus, live cartridges cannot be loaded into the magazine even at the top-most position of the magazine. The projection is retractable into the magazine. When the magazine is inserted into a firearm, the bottom surface of the firearm pushes down and retracts the projection (as shown in
In an embodiment, a safety magazine 10 includes an outer housing 12 with a top end 14, bottom end 16, front end 26, and back end 24, as shown in
The internal cavity 18 is dimensioned to receive blank ammunition cartridges 28 and to exclude live ammunition cartridges. Blank cartridges are shorter than live cartridges because they lack a projectile. Live cartridges include a housing or casing filled with gun powder, with a primer at the back of the casing and a bullet or projectile seated at the open front end of the casing. Blank cartridges include a casing filled with gun powder and primer, but the front end of the casing is crimped shut, and there is no projectile or bullet. As a result, these cartridges are shorter in length than live cartridges, by about the length of the bullet. For example, live cartridges measure about 2.25 inches in length, and blank cartridges 1.8 inches. The term “blank cartridge” is used herein to refer to cartridges that lack a bullet or projectile at the front end of the cartridge.
The opening 20 at the top of the cavity 18 has a length Lc (see
However, even with the cavity 18 and opening 20 shortened to length Lc to preclude insertion of a live cartridge, the last cartridge inserted into the magazine into the top-most position 19 could potentially be a live cartridge, as the top-most position 19 has a length LT (see
In the embodiment of
The movable stop 40 with projection 42 slides up and down within a second internal cavity 44 at the front end 26 of the housing 12. The two cavities 18, 44 are separated by the internal dividing wall 46. The first internal cavity 18 is located between the wall 46 and the back end 24 of the housing 12. The second internal cavity 44 is located forward of the first cavity, between the wall 46 and the front end 26 of the housing.
The projection 42 is coupled to an extension such as a peg 50, which extends in opposite directions through openings such as slots 52 in side walls 32, 34 of the housing 12, as shown in
Notably, positioning the slot 52 and peg 50 to extend through a side wall of the housing, rather than, for example, the front wall 26, is beneficial in the event that the user attaches an accessory device such as a grenade launcher in front of the magazine. The peg extending out the side wall 32 or 34 of the housing will not interfere with an accessory device or other features on the firearm in front of the magazine well, and in front of front wall 26 when the magazine is loaded into the firearm.
A spring 56 (partially shown in dotted lines in
With the projection 42 extending in front of the opening 20 at the top of the cavity 18, the projection shortens the length of the top ammunition position 19. As a result, the user will not be able to load a live ammunition cartridge into the magazine. The front end of the live ammunition round, with the bullet or projectile, is too long to fit inside the cavity 18 and behind the projection 42.
However, if the projection 42 were permanently extended, in the position shown in
Accordingly, the projection 42 is designed to retract into the second internal cavity 44 or otherwise move out of its extended position when the magazine is inserted into a firearm. The firearm has an opening through which the top end 14 of the magazine 10 is inserted into the firearm's internal magazine well. The outer dimensions of the safety magazine 10 are the same as a standard magazine, so that the safety magazine 10 will fit into a standard firearm magazine well. Thus, the safety magazine can be used with standard firearms, to give the training participant realistic experience using the same firearm that will be used for real combat exercises.
When the magazine is inserted into the firearm, the surrounding bottom surfaces 60 of the firearm pass around the sides of the magazine, as shown by the dotted lines in
When the magazine is removed from the firearm, the spring 56 urges the peg 50 back up to the upper portion 52a of the slot 52, causing the projection 42 to extend through the opening 54 into the extended position shown in
Notably, due to manufacturing and operating constraints, there will likely be some clearance such as distance C (see
The safety magazine 10 can be made out of any suitable material. In one embodiment, the magazine is formed out of a suitable high-impact polymer, such as Celstran, manufactured by Ticona, a division of the Celanese Corporation. In another embodiment, the magazine is formed from metal. The choice of material may depend on the training scenario and objectives.
The magazine 10 also includes a spring-biased follower 62 that guides the blank ammunition cartridges 28 toward the feed lips 22, as shown in
The feed lips 22 are a guide that feed the blank cartridges from the top-most position 19 into the firearm chamber, as is well known in the art. The feed lips guide the cartridges and keep them aligned for movement into the firearm chamber. The feed lips also retain the cartridges in the magazine, keeping them in place and in alignment as the follower 62 urges them to the top of the magazine. In one embodiment, the feed lips extend up from the top edge 36 of the housing by about 0.375 inches.
Another embodiment of a safety magazine 100 is shown in
The top portion 102 has an internal cavity 118. This cavity 118 is sized for shorter blank cartridges and is too short to accept longer live cartridges. At the top of the magazine is the top-most ammunition position 119. Although the top-most position or location 19, 119 is described as being at the top end of the magazine above the internal cavity 18, 118, it should be understood that a blank cartridge 28 sitting in this top-most position 19, 119 may extend partly into the cavity 18, 118. The top-most position 19, 119 refers to the position of the top-most cartridge in the magazine, directly under the feed lips 22, 122.
A spring-biased follower urges the cartridges 28 toward the top-most position 119 as described above with respect to
The interior walls of the bottom portion 104 (and optionally the top portion, as shown in
The top portion 102 includes an internal wall 146 that divides the first internal cavity 118 from a second internal cavity 144 near the forward end of the top portion. The second internal cavity 144 includes a floor 148 at the bottom end of the top portion 102. A movable piece or movable stop 140 slides up and down inside the second cavity 144, similar to the movable stop 40 described above in
The top end of the movable stop 140 forms a projection 142 that moves in front of the top-most blank round 28 when the spring 156 biases the movable stop 140 into the extended position. The projection 142 blocks the front end of the top-most position 119, shortening this ammunition position 119 and precluding the insertion of a live cartridge into this position. When the magazine is loaded into a firearm, the bottom surface of the firearm pushes the peg 150 down into the bottom portion of the slot 152. As the peg 150 moves down, the projection 142 is retracted into the cavity 144. In this retracted position, the blank rounds 28 can move forward past the projection 142 and into the firearm to be fired.
In one embodiment, the spring 156 that urges the projection 142 into the extended position is strong enough to displace a live ammunition cartridge if a user tries to manually hold the projection 142 down in the retracted position and insert a live cartridge into the top-most position 119, with the front end of the live cartridge extending above the retracted projection 140. When the user inserts the magazine into a firearm (as shown, for example, in
In the embodiment shown in
In an embodiment, the internal cavity 144 extends along the length of the top portion 102, from the top end 114 to the floor 148. The cavity 144 does not extend all the way along the length of the magazine 100, as it does not extend into the bottom portion 104.
The bottom portion 104, as shown in
The spacer 170 is inserted into the bottom portion 104 in front of the ridge 172, before the bottom portion 104 is attached to the top portion 102. When the top portion 102 is attached, the floor 148 traps the spacer 170 into place between the floor 148 and the ridges 172. Optionally, adhesive such as glue is used to further secure the spacer 170 in place. With the simple insertion of this spacer 170, the bottom portion 104 is ready to be used in the safety magazine. Thus, the bottom portion 104 can be manufactured the same way for both live cartridges and blank cartridges, thereby reducing design and manufacturing costs.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
Another embodiment is shown in
In
In one embodiment, the stop 340 retracts only so far as to allow chambering of the cartridges into the firearm. The stop 340 retracts substantially out of the top-most position, but continues to block the insertion of live cartridges below the top-most position. Thus, even with the projection retracted, the second position 317 just below the top-most position 319 is blocked by the stop 340 and/or the internal wall 346. This can be seen in the embodiment shown in
Another embodiment is shown in
The embodiments described above show that the projection (42, 142, 242, 342, 442), extension or peg (50, 150, 250, 350, 450), and movable stop (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) can take different shapes and sizes. However these elements are shaped and arranged inside the magazine, the invention provides for a safety magazine that does not accept live cartridges, even in the top-most position of the magazine.
Where used throughout the specification and figures, like reference numbers indicate like elements or features.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in respect to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A magazine for a firearm, comprising:
- a housing comprising first and second opposing side walls and an internal cavity between the side walls, the internal cavity being sized to receive blank ammunition cartridges and having an opening at a top end of the housing for receiving such cartridges into the cavity;
- a follower for moving such cartridges toward the top end of the housing into a top-most ammunition position;
- a projection movable between a first position in which the projection extends into the top-most ammunition position and a second position in which the projection is retracted out of the top-most ammunition position;
- an extension coupled to the projection and extending through an opening in the first side wall of the housing; and
- a spring biasing the projection into the first position.
2. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the opening in the first side wall comprises a slot, and wherein the projection is in the first position when the extension is in an upper portion of the slot, and the projection is in the second position when the extension is in a lower portion of the slot.
3. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the projection is housed within a second internal cavity in the housing, and wherein the first and second internal cavities are divided by an internal wall.
4. The magazine of claim 3, wherein the spring is located within the second internal cavity.
5. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a sloped top surface.
6. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a guide at the top end of the housing for guiding such cartridges into such firearm.
7. The magazine of claim 6, wherein the projection extends above the guide when the projection is in the first position.
8. The magazine of claim 7, wherein the projection extends above the guide by at least 25 inches.
9. The magazine of claim 7, wherein an angle between a top end of the projection and a forward end of the guide, when the projection is in the extended position, is at least 15°.
10. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the internal cavity has a length that is less than a length of a live ammunition cartridge.
11. The magazine of claim 10, wherein the internal cavity has a length less than approximately 2 inches.
12. The magazine of claim 1, wherein in the second position, the projection blocks a second ammunition position below the top-most position, to prevent the insertion of a live ammunition cartridge into the second position.
13. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the spring exerts a force against the projection sufficient to prevent insertion of a live cartridge into the magazine.
14. A magazine for a firearm, comprising:
- a housing comprising: a top portion comprising a first internal cavity sized to receive blank ammunition cartridges, a second internal cavity, an internal wall separating the first and second cavities, and a top-most ammunition position at a top end of the top portion; and a bottom portion attached to the top portion, the bottom portion comprising an internal cavity and a spacer positioned in the internal cavity to shorten the internal cavity to receive blank ammunition cartridges;
- a movable piece positioned in the second cavity of the top portion, the movable piece having a projection, wherein the movable piece is slidable between an extended position in which the projection extends into the top-most ammunition position and a retracted position in which the projection is retracted into the second cavity; and
- a spring biasing the movable piece into the extended position.
15. The magazine of claim 14, wherein the movable piece further comprises a peg extending through a slot in the top portion of the housing, and wherein the peg is engagable with a firearm to move the projection into the retracted position.
16. The magazine of claim 14, wherein the projection comprises a sloped top surface.
17. A safety magazine comprising:
- a housing having an internal cavity sized to receive blank ammunition cartridges, the cavity having an opening for receiving such cartridges into the cavity, the housing comprising a guide for retaining a cartridge in a top-most ammunition position at a top end of the housing; and
- means for shortening the top-most ammunition position to prevent the insertion of a live ammunition cartridge.
18. The magazine of claim 17, wherein the means for shortening the top-most ammunition position comprises a projection movable into an extended position in which the projection shortens a length of the top-most ammunition position, and a second internal cavity in which the projection moves.
19. The magazine of claim 18, wherein the projection comprises a ramp at a top end of the projection for guiding such cartridges into a firearm.
20. The magazine of claim 19, wherein the ramp is angled at about 10°.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 9, 2009
Publication Date: Jan 13, 2011
Inventor: Jeffrey M. Cahill (Tucson, AZ)
Application Number: 12/500,503