WEARABLE GRENADE DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract

A grenade dispensing system having a magazine for retaining and dispensing grenades that is removably coupled to a holder for retaining the magazine in a predetermined location, such as on a combat vest. The magazine includes a spring and an associated follower positioned within the cavity for urging additional grenades toward the opening when a grenade is removed by a user. The magazine includes a pivoting latch for releasably engaging and mating with a receiving slot formed into the holder and the holder includes a clip for attaching to a conventional combat vest systems.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent No. 61/266,279, filed on Dec. 3, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to article retaining systems and, more particularly, to a system for retaining a grenade magazine on the body of a user.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional grenade launchers are usually mounted on a service rifle, such as the M16,and are single shot, manually reloaded weapons. The most standard grenade round is the 40 mm grenade consisting of an aluminum projectile body with a rotating band and a cartridge case containing the propelling charge and percussion primer, but there are many specialty grenades available, such as less-lethal sponge grenades and flares. Rounds are typically stored in loose fashion in the pouches or pockets of a military tactical vest. A user may therefore have to search to locate additional rounds during an engagement, thereby presenting an undesirable distraction and hampering the ability of the user to repeatedly fire the weapon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a system and method for dispensing grenade rounds that positions additional rounds in a single location.

It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a system and method for dispensing grenade rounds that is easily accessible to a user.

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention comprises a grenade dispensing system including a magazine for retaining and dispensing grenades that may be removably coupled to a magazine holder for retaining the magazine in a predetermined location, such as on a military tactical vest worn by a user. The magazine includes an opening that permits access to a first grenade in communication with a cavity formed within the magazine for housing additional grenades. The magazine further includes a spring and an associated follower positioned within the cavity for urging the additional grenades toward the opening when the first grenade is removed by a user. The holder preferably includes a pivoting latch for releasably engaging and mating with a receiving slot formed into the magazine. The present invention also includes a magazine for dispensing grenades that includes a window formed therethrough for assisting in loading the magazine with multiple grenade rounds, a following having struts for ensuring proper biasing of grenade rounds, and a pair of opposing clips for retaining grenade rounds in a position for easy dispensing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-section of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a magazine of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a second perspective view of a magazine of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a magazine of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a holder of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a second perspective view of a holder of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention in a storage configuration.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a grenade dispensing system according to the present invention showing a holder for attaching to a military vest.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a grenade magazine according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of a grenade magazine according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an follower for a grenade magazine according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of a grenade magazine according to the present invention showing the alignment of grenade rounds.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the clip retaining system of an alternative embodiment of a grenade magazine according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a grenade magazine according to the present invention showing the internal surface ribs of the magazine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a grenade dispenser 10 according to the present invention. Dispenser 10 comprises a magazine 12 for retaining and dispensing a plurality of grenade rounds 14. Dispenser 10 further comprises a holder 16 for releasably retaining magazine 12. As seen in FIG. 2, holder 16 preferably includes a clip 18 for positioning dispenser 10 on the body of a user, such as by attaching holder 16 to a conventional military tactical vest. Dispenser 10 may be manufactured from one or more types of plastics and/or polymers, such as nylon, or metals.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, magazine 12 comprises a housing 20 including a cavity 22 therein and an opening 24 at one end that is in communication with cavity 22. A spring 26 is positioned at the opposing end of magazine 12 for biasing a follower 28 toward opening 24. A removable cap 34 may be used for permitting access to spring 26 and follower 28. Spring 26 is preferably a coil spring but may comprise other conventional biasing structures. Opening 24 is preferably defined by two opposing arcuate sections 30 and 32 for retaining a single round 14 in opening 24 while allowing a user to manually remove round 14 when desired. Additional rounds 14 may be retained within cavity 22 and biased toward opening 24 by spring 26 and follower 28 so that when round 14 in opening 24 is removed, another round 14 is moved into position until all rounds are repeated. Rounds 14 may be reloaded into magazine 12 by reversing the process. As seen in FIG. 6, magazine 12 includes at least one moveable latch 36 positioned on one side for releasably engaging holder 16, as further described herein. Latch 36 may include an integrally formed or separate spring for biasing latch into an engaged position when magazine 12 is mated with holder 16.

Referring to FIGS. 8, holder 16 comprises a body 38 having an opening 40 at one end that is dimensioned to receive magazine 12. Holder 16 further includes a slot 42 formed through one side thereof for receiving latch 36 of magazine 12 when magazine 12 is positioned fully within holder 16. Latch 36 permits releasable retention of magazine 12 within holder 16 by disengaging from slot 42 when biased by a user. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that various latching structures may be used for retaining magazine 12 within holder 16 without departing from the spirit of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 9, holder 16 may be provided with one or more structures adapted for retaining holder 16 on the body of a user or in another location, such as one or more clips 18 dimensioned to engage the existing hooks or loops on a military tactical vest. Alternatively, clips 18 may be dimensioned for attachment to another item worn by a user, such as a belt, or for attachment to another structure, such as webbing.

Referring to FIG. 10, latch 36 is adapted to engage one or more slots 50 formed through magazine 12. Slots 50 are preferably positioned in first and second locations on each side of magazine 12. Movement of latch 36 between slots 50 allows for magazine 12 to be positioned in holder 16 with opening 24 exposed for left- or right-handed dispensing operations, as seen in FIG. 1, or positioned in a storage configuration with opening 24 covered by holder 16, as seen in FIG. 10.

There is seen in FIG. 11 an alternative embodiment of the present invention, namely, grenade dispenser 110 comprising a removable magazine 112 for dispending a plurality of grenade rounds 114. Dispenser 100 further comprises a holder 116 for releasably retaining magazine 112. As seen in FIG. 12, holder 116 may comprise a flexible pouch, such as one made from fabric, having one or more loops 102 attached thereto for attachment to a military vest. Holder 116 also includes a latching mechanism 118 for releasably engaging magazine 112. Latching mechanism 118 may comprise any conventional structure, such as a biased rocker plate or other known structure. Dispenser 110 may further include a removable cap 104 that can be positioned over the open end of magazine 112.

Referring to FIG. 13, magazine 112 includes a slot 120 positioned along an intermediate portion for engaging with latching mechanism 118. As an example, slot 120 is shown at the midpoint of magazine 112, thereby allowing magazine 112 to be easily positioned in holder in either direction, i.e, with the open end exposed for a user or positioned within holder 116. Magazine 112 also includes at least one window 122 formed therethrough and permitting access to the interior of magazine 112. Window 112 is preferably positioned proximately to the open end where rounds 114 are dispensed for a user. Window 122 allows a user to easily verify that a round is in position and may be used to assist a user with reloading operations by permitting a user's finger to be inserted into magazine 112. Using window 122, a user may push a round 114 further down into magazine 112 and manually retain it in place to make space for insertion of a subsequent round 114 in the open end of magazine 112, thereby allowing rounds 114 to be more easily loaded into magazine 112.

Magazine 112 of dispenser 100 includes a spring 124 and follower 126 for biasing rounds 114 loaded into dispenser 100. As seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, the upper surface 138 of follower 126 is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of dispenser 100, thereby positioning each round 114 at a slight angle within magazine 112, so that the circumferentially extending groove 128 of each round 114 cooperates with the circumferentially shoulder 130 of each adjacent round 114, as further seen in FIG. 16. Follower 126 also includes a series of struts 132 positioned around its periphery. Struts 132 acts as spacer to maintain follower 126 in position in magazine 112 and reduce frictional forces between magazine 112 and follower 126, particularly when dispenser 100 is used in harsh environments.

Referring to FIG. 17, magazine 112 includes at least one protrusion 134 positioned on the inside of the top opening. Protrusion 134 is configured to releasably engage groove 128 of round 114 when it is in position for removal by a user and thus prevents any inadvertent dispensing of round 114 by frictionally engaging the groove 128 of round 114. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that the size and shape of protrusion 134 (and the inclusion of a second protrusion 134 on the opposing side of magazine 112) may be altered to change the amount of force retaining round 114 and the amount of force needed to manually dispense a round 114. As seen in FIG. 18, magazine 112 also includes two longitudinal ribs 136 extending along on its interior surface that are positioned to engage grooves 128 of rounds 114 positioned in magazine 112. Ribs 136 thus keep rounds 114 properly aligned within magazine 112 and prevent rounds 114 from becoming misaligning or jostling around when dispenser 100 is in motion, such as when it is being transported or worn by a user.

Claims

1. A grenade magazine, comprising:

a housing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein that is dimensioned to accept a plurality of grenade rounds, wherein said housing includes an opening at one end permitting access to said cavity.

a follower positioned in said cavity for movement along said longitudinal axis; and

a spring positioned to bias said follower toward said opening.

2. The grenade magazine of claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposing clips extending from said housing to at least partially enclose said opening.

3. The grenade magazine of claim 2, wherein each of said pair of clips include a tab adapted to releasably engaging a circumferential groove formed in a grenade round.

4. The grenade magazine of claim 1, wherein said follower includes at least one strut extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and in contact with the inner surface of said housing as said follower moves within said housing.

5. The grenade magazine of claim 4, wherein said follower includes an upper surface that extends along a plane that is not perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

6. The grenade magazine of claim 1, further comprising a window formed through a side surface of said housing.

7. The grenade magazine of claim 6, wherein said window of said housing is positioned so that a user may extend a finger therethough and contact a grenade round inserted through said opening of said housing.

8. The grenade magazine of claim 1, further comprising at least one ribs extending longitudinally along an inner surface of said housing and positioned to engage a groove formed in a grenade round.

9. A grenade dispensing system, comprising:

a pouch having a latching mechanism;

a magazine comprising a housing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein that is dimensioned to accept a plurality of grenade rounds, wherein said housing includes an opening at one end permitting access to said cavity; a follower positioned in said cavity for movement along said longitudinal axis, a spring positioned to bias said follower toward said opening, and a slot extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis; and

wherein said magazine may be positioned in said pouch so that said latching mechanism of said holder releasably engages said slot.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said slot releasably engages said latching mechanism when said magazine is positioned in said pouch so that said opening is exposed and when said magazine is positioned in said pouch so that said opening is not exposed.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said pouch further includes at least one loop for attachment to the clothing of a user.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said locking mechanism comprising a rocker plate and a bias member engaging said rocker plate.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said pouch is flexible.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a removable cap for covering said opening.

15. A method of dispensing grenade rounds, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a magazine having an opening permitting access to a cavity formed therein, wherein said cavity includes a follower biased along a longitudinal axis toward said opening;

(b) inserting a grenade round into the opening of said magazine that is in communication with said cavity;

(c) pushing said round into said cavity in a direction parallel to said longitudinal access;

(d) inserting a finger though a window formed through said magazine;

(e) retaining said round in said cavity against said follower such that said round is spaced apart from said opening to allow insertion of a second round into said opening;

(f) inserting said second round into said opening; and

(g) repeating steps (d) though (f) until a predetermined number of rounds are positioned in said magazine.

16. The method of step 15, further comprising the step of:

(h) allowing the last round inserted into said magazine in step (g) to be biased against a pair of clips extending over said opening.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of removing the round biased against the pair of clips in step (h) by applying a force transverse to said longitudinal axis until said round is released by said clips.