RAPID RELEASE MAGAZINE DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

Broadly, an embodiment of the now disclosed apparatus generally provides an ammunition magazine storage and dispensing apparatus to enable a user to remove a weapon's magazine from the apparatus quickly and easily for subsequent insertion into that users weapon, the apparatus comprising means for securing the top of a magazine, means for securing the bottom of a magazine, a back plate connecting the two securing means, and means whereby the apparatus may attach to other objects, including but not limited to the person or gear of a user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/508,371 filed Jul. 15, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention has been created without the sponsorship or funding of any federally sponsored research or development program.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

This invention relates to subject matter for which reference to sequence listing, a table, or a computer program listing compact disk appendix is inappropriate and unnecessary and, therefore, no such reference to sequence listing, a table, or a computer program listing compact disk appendix has been provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention generally pertains to ammunition magazine holders and carriers. The invention relates more particularly to a spare magazine carrier and dispensing system (hereinafter the “now disclosed apparatus”) for securing ammunition magazines on a user's person and conveniently dispensing the same during the reloading of a weapon by means of a carrier that retains a magazine via compression fit of the magazine itself within the structure of the carrier and the planned failure of the compression fit when a user grips the magazine and applies torque, thus allowing the magazine to release to a user's hand for installation in a contemplated weapon. In this manner, the user can quickly, easily, and without obstruction access one or more ammunition magazines seated therein for rapid reloading of a firearm.

The field of the invention further pertains to methods of dispensing ammunition magazines from magazine holders and carriers. The invention relates more particularly to a method for the dispensing of an ammunition magazine from a magazine holder or carrier ((hereinafter the “now disclosed method”) wherein the dispensing of the magazine is engendered by a user's application of torque to the magazine itself and the operation of a mechanism whereby the ability of the holder or carrier to securely retain the magazine fails in response to the torque so applied.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

There is an demonstrated need for an apparatus and method for holding auxiliary weapon ammunition clips and magazines at the ready for use by military, law enforcement and any user who may be in need of convenient access to the auxiliary ammunition magazine and a quick streamlined installation of the magazine to a weapon during reloading.

Modern firearms, particularly those utilized in law enforcement or combat circumstances, are designed for high cyclic rates of fire and are almost universally reloaded upon a user expending all ammunition by way of magazines capable of holding a plurality of cartridges. These magazines are, for the most part, manually released from the weapon when they have become empty, at which time a new auxiliary magazine must be inserted into the weapon before firing may be continued. Typically, these auxiliary magazines are carried in a protective pouch attached to the person or gear of a user. Much of the prior art in the field of invention attempts to address concerns of expediency and agility in the removal, acquisition of a replacement magazine and insertion of the same into a weapon during reloading.

With the advent of the ammunitions magazine came the corresponding need to carry the same for ready access in the reloading of a firearm. Accordingly, the prior art is ripe with examples of magazine carriers, pouches and dispensers designed for mounting to the person or gear of an individual user to provide convenient means for carrying and providing ready access to one or more ammunitions magazines. Many instances found in the existing prior art favor a design of carrier in which the magazine is secured within a closed-bottom pouch having a top flap that is capable of opening to allow access to a magazine or closing to secure the magazine within the pouch. These existing magazine pouch designs result in awkward movement when grasping and removing the magazine, slow removal of the magazine from the magazine pouch, and slow insertion of the magazine into the weapon.

To load a stowed magazine into a weapon, most existing magazine pouch designs, particularly the top flap pouch embodiment, require the user to reach downward to grasp the magazine, lift their arm upward while bending their wrist downward to remove the magazine from the magazine pouch, then move the magazine around the magazine pouch, under the weapon, and upward into the weapon. Additionally, most existing magazine pouches possess the additional limitation of a cover strap that must be unfastened in order to access and remove the magazine. Specifically, in the case of an armed user utilizing a top flap pouch embodiment, removal and insertion of an auxiliary magazine requires at least the following eight individual motions of the users free hand to reload the weapon: (i) unfastening of the top flap to allow manipulation of the flap; (ii) lifting of the top flap to allow access to the pouch; (iii) restraining the top flap from its bias to return to a resting position obstructing access to the pouch; (iv) reaching downward and grasping of the auxiliary magazine within the pouch; (v) removal of the auxiliary magazine from the pouch via lifting the magazine from the pouch; (vi) upward lifting of the arm while bending the wrist downward to remove the magazine from the pouch; (vii) transport of the magazine to a position beneath the weapon; and (viii) insertion of the magazine into the weapon. On a practice firing range, the delay caused by the execution of these eight steps can be inconvenient. During combat, the delay caused by the execution of these eight steps can be life-threatening.

In recognition of the above-identified inefficiencies of the existing magazine pouch designs, particularly the top-flap pouch carrier design, several alternative designs have been proposed in an effort to create a “better magazine carrier”. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,104,656 (the “656patent”), a spare magazine carrier is disclosed wherein the top flap is abandoned in favor of a flap that is pivotally attached to the front and rear of a pouch at both ends of the flap so that the carrier may be opened and closed via lateral rotation of the flap cover about the front and rear pivot points.

Although the 656 patent addresses the inefficiencies of unfastening a top flap and restraining a top flap from obstructing access to the magazine carrier, concerns over the awkward physical motions needed to remove the magazine from the carrier and insertion of the magazine into the weapon are not addressed at all. Further, the 656 patent trades the inefficiency of lifting the top flap for the equal inefficiency of laterally rotating the flap cover to gain access to the pouch.

In an alternative magazine carrier design, U.S. Pat. No. 7,805,875 (the “875 patent”), a firearm magazine grip is disclosed wherein a spare magazine is held via compression fit between to opposing plates, the level of compression being determined by a user's manipulation of a knurled securing member, the adjustment of which causes either a tighter or loosened compression fit dependent upon user selection. While the 875 patent completely abandons the top flap pouch embodiment of a magazine carrier, the invention disclosed in the 875 patent is arguably less efficient than the top flap pouch embodiment in that a user must separately manipulate the knurled securing member to enable release and, thereby, access to the magazine.

In an alternative magazine carrier and dispenser design, U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,057 (the “057 patent”), a magazine carrier and dispenser is disclosed that specifically addresses the concerns of the awkward physical motions needed to remove the magazine from a top flap pouch and insertion of the magazine into the weapon. Specifically, the 057 patent discloses a spring-loaded carrier and dispenser that delivers magazines sequentially and in an orientation to facilitate their rapid retrieval and insertion in a weapon without undue searching, manipulation and/or need to look away from a threat or target when the user is engaged in combat. The 057 patent introduction of an enclosed housing having a spring-loaded mechanism for biasing magazines toward the dispensing mouth of the carrier apparatus is undesirable for a number of reasons. First, the moving parts of the apparatus, though functional, provide opportunities for failure in the operation of the apparatus that do not otherwise exist in the context of the top flap carrier or other designs lacking moving parts. Further, repair of the 057 patent embodiment is complicated by the fact that the spring-loaded mechanism is completely enclosed by the carrier itself and the magazines loaded therein. Lastly, because combat does not occur in a circumstantial vacuum, one can readily envision the introduction of sand, dirt, rust, or debris, and/or the jarring of the carrier housing causing functional failures relating to the moving parts within the carrier. In this sense, the present inventor believes that simplicity of design is an asset and that the introduction of further moving parts and complexity of design should be avoided where possible.

Although the above-referenced inventions and patents are representative of the diversity found in the prior art in the field of invention, none of the above inventions and patents, taken singly or in combination, is seen to read on the now disclosed apparatus or method as claimed. Thus, avoiding the above-identified inefficiencies of the top flap pouch embodiment dominant in the prior art while retaining a simplicity of design commensurate with that embodied in the top flap pouch style carrier is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The now disclosed apparatus provides for the secure retention of ammunition magazines and rapid removal of a magazine from the apparatus and rapid insertion of the magazine into a weapon for reloading purposes. The now disclosed apparatus significantly diverges from the prior art in that the magazine is secured only by compression fit in a manner in which a substantial portion of the magazine remains exposed. Further, the apparatus itself contains no moving parts and, therefore, is less apt to mechanical failures in comparison to the prior art.

In broad embodiment, the now disclosed apparatus includes means for securing the top of a magazine, means for securing the bottom of a magazine, and a back plate connecting the two securing means. The magazine top-securing means and the magazine bottom-securing means create between them compression sufficient to securely retain the magazine in all conditions and under the duress of nearly any level of physical activity performed by a user. A further significant aspect of the now disclosed apparatus is the integration of means that compromise the compression fit of the magazine when torque is applied to an intermediate point in the length of the magazine. In this sense, the application of torque by a user to an intermediate point in the length of the magazine, enables the release of the magazine from the compression fit of the apparatus and enables the freedom of the magazine for insertion into a weapon for reloading.

There is no intent on the part of the inventor to limit the now disclosed apparatus to either a left-handed or a right-handed configuration and, in fact, it is expressly contemplated that due to the simplicity of design, introduction of congruent functional aspects of the apparatus having opposite orientation with regard to the now disclosed apparatus will result in configurations accessible to either a right-handed or left-handed user as appropriate.

It is a primary objective of the now disclosed apparatus to provide an apparatus for the storage and dispensing of an ammunition magazine enabling a user to rapidly rotate a magazine from the apparatus in a single fluid motion, thereby eliminating any awkward bend in the arm and enabling faster transition of the magazine from the apparatus to the weapon.

It is a further objective of the now disclosed apparatus to provide an apparatus for the storage and dispensing of an ammunition magazine wherein the apparatus itself has no moving parts and is of relatively simple design to mitigate the potential for mechanical failures of the apparatus and/or the need for repair, refurbishment, or replacement of apparatus components.

It is a further objective of the now disclosed apparatus to provide an apparatus for the storage and dispensing of an ammunition magazine securing an auxiliary magazine in a variety of conditions including, but not limited to the introduction of sand, dirt, rust, or debris to the apparatus and/or the jarring of the apparatus during user activity, particularly vigorous activity as may be expected in combat scenarios.

It is a primary objective of the now disclosed method to provide a method whereby a user may rapidly rotate a magazine from a storage apparatus in a single fluid motion, thereby eliminating any awkward bend in the arm and enabling faster transition of the magazine from the storage apparatus to a weapon.

These and other advantages of the now disclosed apparatus and method will become apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the figures and descriptions of the figures stated below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The aforementioned advantages of the invention, as well as additional advantages thereof will be more fully understood as a result of a detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 presents a front isometric view identifying the front, open side and top of the now disclosed apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus;

FIG. 2A presents a front isometric view identifying the front, open side and top of the now disclosed apparatus according to the best mode of the apparatus;

FIG. 2B presents a rear isometric view identifying the back, closed side and bottom of the best mode of the now disclosed apparatus of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 presents a front isometric view of the best mode of the now disclosed apparatus of FIG. 2A and 2B, the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 containing an ammunition magazine;

FIG. 4 presents a front isometric view of the best mode of the now disclosed apparatus of FIG. 2A and 2B, the apparatus as shown in FIG. 4 shown without an elastic material portion to the housing to demonstrate the structural configuration of the housing in the contemplated best mode; and

FIG. 5 presents a side isometric view from the left of the best mode of the now disclosed apparatus of FIG. 2A and 2B, the apparatus as shown in FIG. 5 shown without an elastic material portion to the housing to demonstrate the structural configuration of the housing in the contemplated best mode.

FIG. 6 presents an illustrative view of how the apparatus might look in use by a user in a combat scenario.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the now disclosed apparatus generally provides an ammunition magazine storage and dispensing apparatus to enable a user to remove a weapon's magazine from the apparatus quickly and easily for subsequent insertion into that users weapon, the apparatus comprising means for securing the top of a magazine, means for securing the bottom of a magazine, a back plate connecting the two securing means, and means whereby the apparatus may attach to other objects, including but not limited to the person or gear of a user.

A preferred embodiment of the now disclosed apparatus provides an ammunition magazine storage and dispensing apparatus configured to enable a user to quickly and easily remove an auxiliary magazine from the apparatus and subsequently insert the magazine into that users weapon, the apparatus comprising a pouch configured to hold the top of a magazine, a lower retention lip configured to hold the bottom of a magazine, a back plate connecting the pouch to the retention lip, and at least a single strap affixed to the rear of the back plate to allow for attachment of the apparatus to other objects, including but not limited to the users person or gear. In this preferred embodiment the pouch may be constructed of any flexible but durable material (e.g., canvas, cloth, leather, rubber, etc.) and may be mechanically fastened to the back plate.

A further preferred embodiment of the now disclosed apparatus provides an ammunition magazine storage and dispensing apparatus configured to enable a user to quickly and easily remove an auxiliary magazine from the apparatus and subsequently insert the magazine into that users weapon, the apparatus comprising a pouch configured to hold the top of a magazine, a slit or aperture in the perimeter of pouch opening and extending into at least one side of the pouch, a lower retention lip configured to hold the bottom of a magazine, a back plate connecting the pouch to the retention lip, and at least a single strap affixed to the rear of the back plate to allow for attachment of the apparatus to other objects, including but not limited to the users person or gear. In this preferred embodiment the pouch may be constructed of any flexible but durable material (e.g., canvas, cloth, leather, rubber, etc.) and may be mechanically fastened to the back plate. In this preferred embodiment, the slit or aperture need only be large enough to allow the release of the top of a magazine through the slit or aperture upon the firm application of force to the magazine.

A further preferred embodiment of the now disclosed apparatus provides an ammunition magazine storage and dispensing apparatus configured to enable a user to quickly and easily remove an auxiliary magazine from the apparatus and subsequently insert the magazine into that users weapon, the apparatus comprising a housing configured to hold the top of a magazine, at least one side of the housing being absent and replaced with an elastic material (e.g., rubber, neoprene, etc.) firmly affixed to the remaining housing, a lower retention lip configured to hold the bottom of a magazine, a back plate connecting the housing to the retention lip, and at least a single strap affixed to the rear of the back plate to allow for attachment of the apparatus to other objects, including but not limited to the users person or gear. In this preferred embodiment, elastic material affixed to the housing need only maintain of degree of elasticity sufficient to securely retain the top of the magazine in the absence of applied force and to allow the release of the top of a magazine via stretching of the elastic material upon the firm application of force to the magazine.

The best mode of the now disclosed apparatus provides an ammunition magazine storage and dispensing apparatus configured to enable a user to quickly and easily remove an auxiliary magazine from the apparatus and subsequently insert the magazine into that users weapon, the apparatus comprising a rigid housing configured to hold the top of a magazine, at least one side of the housing being absent and replaced with an elastic material (e.g., rubber, neoprene, etc.) firmly affixed to the remaining rigid housing, a lower rigid retention lip configured to hold the bottom of a magazine, a rigid back plate connecting the housing to the retention lip, and at least a single strap affixed to the rear of the back plate to allow for attachment of the apparatus to other objects, including but not limited to the users person or gear. In this best mode, elastic material affixed to the housing need only maintain of degree of elasticity sufficient to securely retain the top of the magazine in the absence of applied force and to allow the release of the top of a magazine via stretching of the elastic material upon the firm application of force to the magazine. Further, in this best mode, the rigid housing, rigid retention lip and rigid back plate may all be composed of a unitary and rigid composition from a single mold, the composition being metal, hard plastic, or any other sufficiently rigid unitary composition. Further, with regard to the back plate component of the best mode, the inclusion of longitudinal concave channeling along the edges of the back plate allows space for a users fingers to fit between the back plate and a secured magazine thus providing better ergonomics for the gripping and removal of the magazine from the apparatus. Dependent upon the shape of the magazine with which use of the apparatus is intended, the best mode may either have an arcuate back plate, or not, as needed.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the means whereby the apparatus may attach to other objects, including but not limited to the person or gear of a user, may comprise a strap or plurality of straps, a clip or plurality of clips, a snap-together button, Velcro® or its equivalent, or any other mechanism of attachment as long as the mechanism allows for the reliable attachment of the apparatus to the person, gear, weapon or other region of convenience as determined by the user.

Broadly, an embodiment of the now disclosed method generally provides a method whereby a user may rapidly rotate a magazine from a storage apparatus in a single fluid motion, thereby eliminating any awkward bend in the arm and enabling faster transition of the magazine from the storage apparatus to a weapon, said method comprising secure retention of the top and bottom of an ammunition magazine, exposure of an intermediate length of the magazine, and engendering failure of the otherwise secure retention of the top and bottom of the magazine by the application of torque to the exposed intermediate length of the magazine.

The preferred embodiment and best mode of the now disclosed method provides a method whereby a user may rapidly rotate a magazine from a storage apparatus in a single fluid motion, thereby eliminating any awkward bend in the arm and enabling faster transition of the magazine from the storage apparatus to a weapon, said method comprising the use of an apparatus of the type now disclosed and engendering release of an ammunition magazine from the apparatus by the application of torque to the exposed intermediate length of the magazine thus causing the retention and securing features of the apparatus to fail, allowing release of the magazine. The preferred embodiment and best mode of the now disclosed method is also the contemplated manner and process of using the now disclosed apparatus.

The best mode and preferred embodiments of the now disclosed apparatus and method will be more fully understood and appreciated when considered in view of the accompanying drawings and following detailed description of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 presents an exemplary embodiment of the now disclosed apparatus 9, the apparatus 9 comprising a pouch 10 configured to hold the top of a magazine 11, a retaining lip 12 designed to restrain the base of the magazine 11, and a back plate 13 designed to provide a compression fit of the magazine 11 between the pouch 10 and the retaining lip 12 in order to firmly retain the magazine 11. The back plate 13 and the retaining lip 12 may be made of a rigid material, such as metal or a composite material. The pouch 10 may be made of a flexible material such as canvas, cloth, leather or rubber and may be mechanically fastened to the back plate 13 by any useful and practical fastening means, such as rivets or adhesives. The pouch 10 may further comprise a slit 14 designed to allow the magazine 11 to be removed by rotating the top of the magazine 11 toward the open side 15 of the pouch 10. The slit 14 may flex open as the user rotates the magazine 11 thereby allowing the magazine 11 to rotate until the base of the magazine 11 may be free from the retaining lip 12 of the back plate 13.

In one exemplary embodiment, the retaining lip 12 and the back plate 13 may be a single, integrated structural piece. In an alternative embodiment, the retaining lip 12 may be a separate element structurally attached to the back plate 13 and designed to be replaced in the event that the retaining lip 12 is damaged.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the pouch 10 may comprise two slits 14, one slit on each side of the pouch 10, to enable removal of the magazine to either side of the now disclosed apparatus 9.

In another alternative exemplary embodiment, the now disclosed apparatus 9 may be designed to hold a plurality of magazines 11 via division of the pouch 10 into at least two sections, each configured to hold the top of at least one magazine 11, and the division of the retaining lip 12 into at least two sections, each configured to hold the bottom of at least one magazine 11.

In still another alternative exemplary embodiment, the now disclosed apparatus 9 may exist without full pouch 10, having only a loop of elastic material fastened to the back plate 13, said loop of elastic material serving as a functional alternative to the pouch 10 and enveloping the top of a magazine 11.

FIG. 2A demonstrates the now disclosed apparatus 9 in its best mode. The apparatus 9 comprises a rigid housing 16 configured to hold the top of a magazine, a retaining lip 12 designed to restrain the base of the magazine, and a back plate 13 designed to provide a compression fit of the magazine between the rigid housing 16 and the cradle 17 of the retaining lip 12 in order to firmly and securely retain the magazine. The back plate 13, housing 16 and the retaining lip 12 may be made of a rigid material, such as metal or a composite material. Further, the back plate 13, housing 16, and retaining lip 12 may be unitary in composition. In the alternative, the rigid housing 16 may be mechanically fastened to the back plate 13 by any useful and practical fastening means, such as rivets or adhesives. The rigid housing 16 may further comprise an open side 15 of the housing 16 wherein the magazine remains restrained inside the housing 16 by virtue of a loop of elastic material 18 integrated with the rigid housing 16 by means of elongated eyelets 22 wherethrough the loop of elastic material 18 is threaded. The loop of elastic material 18 is designed to allow the magazine to be removed by rotating the top of the magazine toward the open side 15 of the rigid housing 16 and, thus, placing strain upon the loop of elastic material 18, causing the loop of elastic material 18 to stretch. The loop of elastic material 18 flexes open as the user rotates the magazine thereby allowing the magazine to rotate until the base of the magazine may be free from the retaining lip 12 of the back plate 13. The back plate 13 may be arcuate in shape and may further comprise two longitudinal concave channels 19 along the edges of the back plate 13 to allow space for a users fingers to fit between the back plate 13 and a secured magazine thus providing better ergonomics for the gripping and removal of the magazine from the apparatus 9.

The inventor contemplates that the apparatus 9 is equipped with means of attachment to other objects and the best mode specifically contemplates that the means of attachment will be at least one strap fastened to the back plate 13 and, in fact, FIG. 2A shows a first aperture 20 and a second aperture 21 in the back plate 13 whereby at least a single strap may be affixed to the rear of the back plate 13—FIG. 2B contains a more complete disclosure of this element of the apparatus 9.

FIG. 2B shows a single strap 23 which may be designed to secure the apparatus 9 to the clothing, gear, or equipment worn by the user. The strap 23 may be made of canvas, cloth, leather, or other suitable material. The strap 23 may be structurally attached to the back plate 13 near the top of the back plate 13 by any useful and practical means, such as rivets, or may be threaded through a first upper aperture 21 and a second lower aperture 20 as depicted. The length of the strap 23 between the first aperture 21 and the second aperture 20 may weave or strap to the clothing, gear or equipment worn by the user, and may be secured near the base of the back plate 13 by any practical means, such as snaps, clips, buttons, ties, or a hook-and-loop system such as Velcro®. In alternative embodiments, there may be more than one strap 23, or a single strap 23.

FIG. 3 demonstrates the now disclosed best mode of the apparatus 9 as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, comprising the apparatus 9 as above described actively retaining a single magazine 11. FIG. 3 particularly demonstrates the utility of the aforementioned longitudinal concave channels 19 along the edges of the back plate 13 to allow space for a users fingers to fit between the back plate 13 and a secured magazine 11, thus providing better ergonomics for the gripping and removal of the magazine from the apparatus 9.

FIG. 4 demonstrates the now disclosed best mode of the apparatus 9 as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, comprising a rigid housing 16 configured to hold the top of a magazine, a retaining lip 12 having a cradle 17 designed to restrain the base of the magazine, and a back plate 13 designed to provide a compression fit of the magazine between the rigid housing 16 and the cradle 17 of the retaining lip 12 in order to firmly retain the magazine. The rigid housing 16 may further comprise an open side 15 wherein the magazine remains restrained inside the housing 16 by virtue of a loop of elastic material integrated with the rigid housing 16 by means of elongated eyelets 22 wherethrough the loop of elastic material is threaded. FIG. 4 is presented without the presence of the loop of elastic material for the purposes of clearly demonstrating the integration of the loop of elastic material with the housing 16 by way of the elongated eyelets 22 which are clearly shown in FIG. 4. By threading a loop of elastic material through elongated eyelets 22 in the rigid housing 16, the open end 15 of the housing 16 is enclosed by a pliable material that stretches upon rotating the secured magazine toward the open side 15 of the rigid housing 16. The rigid housing 16 may further comprise an open side 15 wherein the magazine remains restrained inside the housing 16 by virtue of a loop of elastic material integrated with the rigid housing 16 by means of threading the loop of elastic material through elongated eyelets 22 on the open side 15 of the housing 16 and corresponding elongated eyelets on an opposite enclosed side of the housing 16.

FIG. 5 demonstrates the now disclosed best mode of the apparatus 9 as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, comprising a rigid housing 16 configured to hold the top of a magazine, a retaining lip 12 having a cradle 17 designed to restrain the base of the magazine, and a back plate 13 designed to provide a compression fit of the magazine between the rigid housing 16 and the cradle 17 of the retaining lip 12 in order to firmly retain the magazine. The rigid housing 16 may further comprise an open side 15 wherein the magazine remains restrained inside the housing 16 by virtue of a loop of elastic material integrated with the rigid housing 16 by means of elongated eyelets on the open side 15 of the housing 16 and corresponding elongated eyelets 24 on an opposite enclosed side 25 of the housing 16 wherethrough the loop of elastic material is threaded. FIG. 5 again presents the contemplated best mode of the apparatus 9 in the absence of the referenced loop of elastic material, this time to demonstrate the elongated eyelets 24 on the opposite enclosed side 25 of the rigid housing 16 to allow a more complete appreciation of the mechanism whereby the loop of elastic material is integrated with the rigid housing 16.

FIG. 6 shows the best mode of the apparatus 9 as it may be worn by a user 26 in a combat scenario. Further, FIG. 6 demonstrates the proximity of the apparatus 9 to the weapon 27 of the user 26 and, specifically, the proximity of the apparatus 9 to the port of the weapon 27 in which a magazine 11 should be inserted to allow for reloading.

According to the best mode, the invention may be used in the following manner. A magazine 11 may be stowed in the now disclosed apparatus 9 such that the end of the magazine 11 in which the bullets are exposed may be at the top of the now disclosed apparatus 9. The now disclosed apparatus 9 may be attached to the clothing, gear or equipment of the user by means of the strap 23. The user may grasp the base of the magazine 11 near the retaining lip 12, then rotate the base of the magazine 11 toward the side of the housing 16 that is integrated with the loop of elastic material 18. As the user rotates the base of the magazine 11, the length of elastic material 18 may flex open thereby allowing the magazine 11 to rotate until the base of the magazine 11 may be free from the retaining lip 12. The user may then freely transfer the magazine 11 from the apparatus 9 to the under side of the users weapon and quickly and efficiently insert the magazine 11 upward into the weapon for reloading purposes.

While the foregoing written description of the disclosed invention enables one of ordinary skill to practice and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

Further, while specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is realized that numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a housing configured to hold a top end of at least one magazine; a back plate connected to and extending downward from the upper housing; a retention lip attached to a lower terminus of the back plate and configured to retain the base end of at least one magazine; and means whereby the apparatus may attach to other objects.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is a pouch having at least one slit in at least one side of the pouch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is a pouch having at least one slit and the means whereby the apparatus may attach to other objects is at least one strap.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing, back plate, and retention lip are constructed of a rigid material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the rigid material is a metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the rigid material is a hard plastic.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one side of the housing is comprised of an elastic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means whereby the apparatus may attach to other objects is at least one strap.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the back plate is arcuate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least one longitudinal edge of the back plate features a longitudinal concave channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing, back plate, and retention lip are constructed of a rigid material; at least one side of the housing is comprised of an elastic material; the back plate is arcuate and at least one longitudinal edge of the back plate features a longitudinal concave channel; and the means whereby the apparatus may attach to other objects is at least one strap.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is divided into at least two sections, each section configured to hold a top end of at least one magazine, and the retention lip is divided into two sections, each section configured to retain the base of at least one magazine.

13. A magazine storage and dispensing device comprising means of securely retaining the top and bottom of a magazine; a back plate connecting the means securely retaining the top of the magazine to the means securely retaining the bottom of the magazine; means whereby the secure retention of the top and bottom of the magazine is compromised when torque is applied to an intermediate point on the body of the magazine; and means whereby the device may attach to other objects.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the means of securely retaining the top of a magazine is a housing configured to hold the top of at least one magazine.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the housing is a pouch and the means whereby the secure retention of the top and bottom of the magazine is compromised when torque is applied to an intermediate point on the body of the magazine is at least one slit in at least one side of the pouch.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the means of securely retaining the bottom of a magazine is a retention lip attached to a lower terminus of the back plate and configured to retain the base end of at least one magazine.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the means whereby the secure retention of the top and bottom of the magazine is compromised when torque is applied to an intermediate point on the body of the magazine is a flexible panel of the housing constructed from an elastic material.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein the means of securely retaining the top of a magazine is a housing configured to hold the top of at least one magazine; the means of securely retaining the bottom of a magazine is a retention lip attached to a lower terminus of the back plate and configured to retain the base end of at least one magazine; the means whereby the secure retention of the top and bottom of the magazine is compromised when torque is applied to an intermediate point on the body of the magazine is a flexible panel of the housing constructed from an elastic material; and the means whereby the device may attach to other objects is at least one strap.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the housing, the retention lip, and the back plate are constructed of a rigid material and are unitary in composition.

20. A method of dispensing a magazine in a storage device comprising secure retention of the top and bottom of the inert magazine; exposure of a middle length of the inert magazine; and engendering failure of the otherwise secure retention of the top and bottom of the magazine by the application of torque to an exposed intermediate point on the body of the magazine.