METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING A USER IN CORRECTLY LOADING AND RELOADING AMMUNITION MAGAZINES INTO A HAND-HELD FIREARM IN THE DARK

Abstract

A ammunition magazine for a hand-held firearm or weapon, having a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) base portion (e.g. base plate) that emits visible illumination and enables the firearm user, in darkness, to quickly access the ammunition magazine, accurately determine its spatial orientation, properly insert (i.e. load) the magazine into the firearm in a correct manner, retrieve the spent magazine, remove (i.e. unload) it from the firearm, and then reload another loaded magazine, quickly without error or reloading errors or delays.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field Of Invention

The present disclosure relates generally to an improved firearm and ammunition magazine system which allows users, such as police officers, state and federal agents and military personnel, to more quickly load and reload ammunition magazines in darkness.

2. Brief Description Of The State Of Knowledge In The Art

The use of hand-held firearms by law enforcement officers, and armed security guards, is well known in the art.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a conventional hand-held firearm 1 is shown having a barrel 2, and a handle portion 3 adapted to receive an ammunition magazine (i.e. ammunition clip) 4 containing a round of ammunition (e.g. bullets) 5. In FIG. 1A, the magazine 4 is shown partially installed within its handle portion of the firearm. In FIG. 1B, the ammunition magazine 4 is shown fully installed within the handle portion of the firearm.

As shown, the conventional ammunition magazine 4 comprises: a hollow body 4A having a bottom opening 4B and a top opening 4C a top opening in communication with the barrel 2; a base plate 4D fixed stationary with respect to the hollow body 4A and closing off the bottom opening 4B; a movable platform 4E installed within the hollow body 4A and capable of sliding up and down therewithin; a spring 4F disposed between the movable platform 4E and the base plate 4B. In general, the hollow body is adapted for storing a round of ammunition (i.e. bullets) supported on the movable platform and extending up to the top opening.

During firearm operation, the movable platform and round of ammunition are pushed towards the top opening 4C, by virtue of the upwardly-directed biasing forces acting on the movable platform 4E and generated by the spring 4F installed between the movable platform 4E and the base plate 4B. Such forces assist in advancing the round of ammunition out of the magazine body 4A and through the top opening 4C during firearm operation. The round of ammunition (i.e. bullets) contained within the magazine is often called a cartridge, and is loaded, bullet by bullet, from the magazine into the firearm in a manner known in the art.

During night-time gun-fight, it can be difficult to find extra ammunition magazines to snap into ones firearm during reloading operations. Also, it is easy for the firearm user to load the ammunition magazine into the wrong direction of the handle portion of a firearm, as shown in FIG. 2A. Delays in ammunition reloading time, due to fumbling in the dark for a magazine or attempting to load a magazine backwards, can result in the loss of innocent life, such as police officers, state and federal agents, and military personnel.

Thus, despite the many improvements in hand-held firearms over the years, there is still a great need in the art for an improved firearm and ammunition magazine system, which allows users to more quickly reload the ammunition magazine during night-time use, while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art firearm systems.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide improved method of and apparatus for assisting (i.e. helping) a user, such as a police officer, state or federal agent, or military personnel, correctly load and reload ammunition magazines into a hand-held firearm during night-time use, while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art firearm systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus in the form of an improved firearm and ammunition magazine system that illuminates the base plate portion of the ammunition magazine, using photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) materials, which after photo-charging, emits visible illumination so that the firearm user (e.g. police officer, armed security guard et al) can safely and reliably visually discern in darkness, either the front or back magazine direction so that the magazine can be quickly loaded and reloaded into the firearm correctly in darkness.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photo-luminescent ammunition magazine for use in a hand-held firearm, wherein a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) strip is mounted on the side wall and/or bottom surface portions of the base-plate of the magazine which, after photo-recharging, emits visible illumination so as to visually indicate the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of a hand-held firearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photo-luminescent ammunition magazine for use in a hand-held firearm, wherein a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) inlays are formed, mounted or molded in the side wall and/or bottom surface portion of the base plate of the magazine which, after photo-recharging, emits visible illumination so as to visually indicate the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of a hand-held firearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photo-luminescent ammunition magazine for use in a hand-held firearm, wherein the base plate of the magazine is molded or co-molded in a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) plastic material, which after photo-recharging emits visible illumination so as to indicate the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of a hand-held firearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of transforming conventional ammunition magazines into photo-illuminating ammunition magazines involving a firearm owner, or firearm technician, replacing a conventional base plate on an ammunition magazine with a photo-luminescent magazine base plate which, after photo-recharging, emits visible illumination allows the user to quickly find and properly load his or her ammunition magazine into a firearm in total darkness.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held firearm employing a photo-luminescent ammunition magazine according to the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-top type ammunition magazine holster adapted to be worn on a person's belt or body-supported strap assembly, and hold one or more photo-luminescent ammunition magazines of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of assisting a user to correctly load and reload ammunition magazines into a hand-held firearm under darkness conditions.

These and other objects will become apparent hereinafter and in the Claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more fully understand the Objects, the following Detailed Description of the Illustrative Embodiments should be read in conjunction with the accompanying figure Drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is an elevated side view of a conventional hand-held firearm with an ammunition magazine partially installed within its handle portion, revealing the magazine body and base plate fixed thereto at its distal portion;

FIG. 1B is an elevated side view of the conventional hand-held firearm shown in FIG. 1, with the ammunition magazine fully installed within the handle portion of the firearm;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional hand-held firearm shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, with the conventional ammunition magazine (i.e. clip) about to be installed within the handle portion of the firearm, in the wrong (i.e. incorrect) direction;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a first illustrative embodiment of a photo-luminescent magazine according to the present invention, wherein a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) strip is mounted on the side wall and/or bottom surfaces of the base plate of the magazine, to emit visible illumination so as to visually indicate the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of a hand-held firearm;

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the glow-in-the-dark magazine floor, shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a second illustrative embodiment of a photo-luminescent glow-in-the-dark magazine according to the present invention, wherein a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) inlays are formed, mounted or molded in the side wall and/or bottom surfaces of the base plate of the magazine, to emit visible illumination so as to visually indicate the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of a hand-held firearm;

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the photo-luminescent magazine base plate, shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a third illustrative embodiment of a photo-luminescent magazine according to the present invention, wherein the side wall and/or bottom portions of the magazine base is molded or co-molded in a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) plastic material, to emit visible illumination and visually indicate the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of a hand-held firearm;

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the photo-luminescent magazine base plate, shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a side view of a hand-held firearm according to the principles of the present invention, with any one or the photo-luminescent ammunition magazines, shown in FIGS. 3A through 5B, shown partially installed within the handle portion of the hand-held firearm;

FIG. 6B is a side view of the hand-held firearm shown in FIG. 6A, with the photo-luminescent ammunition magazine of the present invention fully installed within the handle portion of the firearm;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an open-top type holster adapted for holding two photo-luminescent ammunition magazines of the present invention, and being worn on a person's belt or body-supported strap assembly;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the photo-luminescent ammunition magazine holster of FIG. 7 shown being photo-recharged during the day-time by the sun or other source of ambient illumination; and

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the photo-luminescent ammunition magazine holster of FIG. 7 shown being photo-discharged during the night-time where low lighting conditions prevail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring to the figures in the accompanying Drawings, the various illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described in great detail, wherein like elements will be indicated using like reference numerals.

In general, the present invention teaches the application of photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) material to the base plate portion of a weapon/firearm ammunition magazine so as to enable the firearm user, such as a police officer, state or federal agent or military personnel, to quickly access an ammunition magazine in dark and low-lighting level environments, accurately determine its spatial orientation, and properly insert (i.e. load) the magazine into the firearm in a correct manner, and then retrieve the spent magazine in total darkness, remove (i.e. unload) it from the firearm, and then reload another loaded magazine, quickly without error or reloading errors or delays.

Photo-luminescent materials are luminous materials which can absorb and store energy of various ultraviolet and other wavelengths, and then release (i.e. emit) visible illumination (i.e. light) energy in dark environments.

While various types of photo-luminescent materials can be used to practice the present invention, a preferred photo-luminescent material would be based on strontium aluminate (SRA, SrAl, SrAl₂O₄) which when activated with a suitable rare earth element dopant (e.g. Europium—SrAl₂O₄:Eu), acts as a photo-luminescent phosphor having a long persistence of Phosphorescence, a specific type of photoluminescence related to fluorescence.

A strontium aluminate based luminous pigment (SrAl₂O₄:Eu) is a light-yellow powder which turns to green color after activated by visible light. This a particular luminous material has many advantages which make currently it a preferred material for practicing the present invention, namely: short activation (i.e. photo-recharging) time; long afterglow time (i.e. decay time) of 12 or more hours; long lifetime (up to 10 years); high brightness characteristics; non-toxic; harmless; non-radioactive; non-flammable; and non-explosive etc. Also, the photo-luminous material SrAl₂O₄:Eu can be used in many transparent or translucent media such as plastic, paint, glaze, ink, glass, printing slurry etc. to produce the photo-luminous magazine base plates according to the principles of the present invention.

There a numerous commercial sources available for the photo-luminescent materials (i.e. tape, paint, powder, pigment, etc) used to practice the method and apparatus of the present invention taught herein.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, photo-luminescent materials (i.e. pigments) of any color (i.e. emission wavelength) can be used to practice the present invention, and various methods of integrating such photo-luminescent material into the base plate portion of a firearm magazine can be used. Such method will be specified in detail below.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a first illustrative embodiment of a photo-luminescent magazine 40 of the present invention. In this first illustrative embodiment, one or more photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) strips 45A, 45B are mounted on the side wall and/or bottom surfaces (i.e. portions) of the magazine base plate 4D′, by adhesive or other fastening means. The primary function of the photo-luminescent strips 45A, 45B is to emit visible illumination (after photo-recharging) so as to help the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of the hand-held firearm. The photo-luminescent adhesive strips 45A, 45B can be round, rectangular or other geometry, or can be custom made to the specifications of any magazine plate base, to which the photo-luminescent adhesive strips 45A, 45B are applied. Typically, after a single photo-recharging operation, involving exposing the photo-luminescent strips 45A, 45B to daytime light levels for a few minutes or so, the photo-luminescent strips 45A, 45B will continue to emit visible illumination for 12 or more hours.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a second illustrative embodiment of a photo-luminescent magazine 5—according to the present invention. In this second illustrative embodiment, one or more photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) inlays 55A, 55B are formed, mounted or otherwise molded as photo-luminescent beads, or like elements, in the side wall and/or bottom portions of the magazine base plate 4D″, and emit visible illumination so as to help the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of the hand-held firearm. The photo-luminescent inlays 55A, 55B can be custom made to the specifications of any magazine base plate, to which the photo-luminescent inlays 55A, 55B are applied. Typically, after a single photo-recharging operation, involving exposing the photo-luminescent inlays 55A, 55B to daytime light levels for a few minutes or so, the photo-luminescent inlays 55A, 55B will continue to emit visible illumination for 12 or more hours.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a third illustrative embodiment of a photo-luminescent magazine 60 according to the present invention. In this third illustrative embodiment, the base plate 4D″′ of the magazine 60 is molded (or co-molded) using a photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) plastic material, which emits visible illumination so as to help the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of the hand-held firearm.

In the case where the magazine base plate 4D″′ is made from transparent or translucent plastic material, then this plastic material can be mixed with a suitable photo-luminescent (i.e. glow-in-the-dark) pigment described hereinabove to make a photo-luminescent pattern 65A, 65B within the finally manufactured magazine base plate 4D″′.

Alternatively, a transparent or translucent plastic material containing a photo-luminescent pigment material described above can be co-molded with an opaque (e.g. black colored) plastic material, using co-molding techniques known in plastic co-molding art, to make the plastic magazine base plate 4D″′ having a desired photo-luminescent pattern 65A, 65B formed in the manufactured magazine base plate, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Typically, after a single photo-recharging operation, involving exposing the photo-luminescent base plate 4D″′ to daytime light levels for a few minutes or so, the photo-luminescent base plate 4D″′ will continue to emit visible illumination for 12 or more hours.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a hand-held firearm 100 according to the principles of the present invention, provided with any one of the photo-luminescent ammunition magazines 40, 50, 60 described above, shown partially installed within the handle portion of the hand-held firearm 100. So equipped, a spent magazine can be quickly removed from the hand-held firearm, and fully-loaded ammunition magazine can be correctly loaded in the dark, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an open-top type holster 150 that is especially adapted for holding two photo-luminescent ammunition magazines 40, 50, 60 of the present invention, and being worn on a person's belt or body-supported strap assembly 160.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the open-top design of the magazine holster allows the photo-luminescent ammunition magazines 40, 50, 60 to photo-recharge, while in the holster 150, during the day-time by radiant energy transmitted from the Sun or other source of ambient illumination (i.e. high intensity lamps, stadium flood lights, etc).

As shown in FIG. 8B, during the night-time, the photo-luminescent ammunition magazines 40, 50, 60 within the holster 150 are allowed to photo-discharge and illuminate visible illumination from the magazine base plates 4D′, 4D″, 4D″′, so that the user can see and access (i.e. grab) illuminating magazine and correctly load it within his or her firearm 100.

The present invention can be practiced in a wide variety of ways and modes.

The hand-held firearms with photo-luminescent magazines 40, 50, 60 described above can be manufactured by licensed firearm manufacturers, and sold to firearm users as an after-market product.

The photo-luminescent magazines of the present invention 40, 50, 60 described above can be manufactured by licensed ammunition magazine manufacturers, and sold to firearm users as an after-market product.

The photo-luminescent magazine base plates of the present invention 4D′, 4D″, 4D″′ described above can be manufactured by licensed third-party equipment manufacturers, and sold as an after-market product to firearm users who can install the photo-luminescent base plates 4D′, 4D″, 4D″′ in currently-owned ammunition magazines, to transform conventional magazines into photo-luminescent magazines 40, 50, 60, respectively, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Any of the photo-luminescent ammunition magazines of the present invention described above 40, 50 60 can be used to practice a new and improved a method of assisting a user in correctly loading and reloading ammunition magazines into a hand-held firearm 100 in the darkness.

The first step of the method involves supplying a hand-held firearm 100 to a user (e.g. a police officer, state or federal agent, or military personnel) to be worn on the person thereof.

The second step involves supplying the user with an open-top ammunition holster 150 as shown in FIG. 7 to be worn openly on the person of the user, using a strap or belt assembly 160.

The third step involves the user loading two of the ammunition magazines 40, 50, 60 into the open-top ammunition holster 150. Any remaining magazines can be stored in a supply case or other carrying device.

While the ammunition magazines 40, 50, 60 are supported in the open-top ammunition holster 150, the photo-luminescent elements on the magazines are photo-recharged by ambient sources of illumination (e.g. the Sun during day-time and high-intensity lighting sources during the night-time).

Then, while the firearm user is in darkness conditions or otherwise in dark non-illuminated environments, visible illumination is brightly emitted from the photo-luminescent base plates of the ammunition magazines of the present invention, supported in the open-top ammunition holster 150. Such brightly glowing indications from the photo-luminescent ammunition magazines 40, 50, 60 help the user in quickly determining the correct direction that bullets in the hollow body of the magazine should be loaded into the barrel of the hand-held firearm 100, preventing fumbling or incorrect reloading operations, in an unprecedented manner.

Modifications That Come To Mind

The illustrative embodiments described above show hand-held pistol-style firearms being provided with ammunition magazines equipped with photo-luminescent base plates that allow for quick, safe and correct loading of the magazines in darkness or otherwise under very-low ambient illumination conditions. It is understood, however, that such photo-luminescent techniques can be practiced in other types of hand-held firearms, with excellent results.

Variations and modifications to the photo-luminescent ammunition magazines and base plates of the present invention readily occur to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are deemed to be within the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. An ammunition magazine adapted for use in a firearm having a barrel and handle portion, in dark environments, said ammunition magazine comprising:

a hollow body having a bottom opening and a top opening a top opening in communication with said barrel;

a base portion fixed stationary with respect to said hollow body and closing off said bottom opening;

wherein said base portion includes a bottom surface, and multiple side wall surfaces;

a movable platform installed within said hollow body and capable of sliding up and down within said hollow body;

wherein said hollow body is adapted for storing a round of ammunition in the form of bullets, supported on said movable platform and extending up to said top opening;

a spring disposed between said movable platform and said base portion;

wherein said movable platform and round of ammunition are slidably pushed towards the top opening, by virtue of the biasing forces acting on said movable platform and generated by said spring installed between said movable platform and said base portion, and said biasing forces assist in advancing said bullets out of said hollow body and through said top opening; and

one or more photo-luminescent elements applied to said base portion for emitting visible illumination so as to help the user of said firearm visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in said hollow body should be loaded into the barrel of said hand-held firearm.

2. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements comprises one or more photo-luminescent strips mounted on the side and/or bottom wall surfaces, for emitting visible illumination and to helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of the hand-held firearm.

3. The ammunition magazine of claim 2, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent strips have a round, rectangular or other geometry, or are custom made to the specifications of said plate portion.

4. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements comprises one or more photo-luminescent inlays formed, mounted or otherwise molded in the side wall and/or bottom surfaces of said base portion, for emitting visible illumination and helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of said hand-held firearm.

5. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements are molded or co-molded in the material of said base portion, for emitting visible illumination and helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of said hand-held firearm.

6. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein said base portion comprises a base plate.

7. A hand-held firearm comprising:

a barrel and a handle portion adapted to receive an ammunition magazine;

wherein said magazine includes:

a hollow body having a bottom opening and a top opening in communication with said barrel;

a base portion fixed stationary with respect to said hollow body and closing off said bottom opening;

wherein said base portion includes a bottom surface, and multiple side wall surfaces;

a movable platform installed within said hollow body and capable of sliding up and down within said hollow body;

wherein said hollow body is adapted for storing a round of ammunition in the form of bullets, supported on said movable platform and extending up to said top opening;

a spring disposed between said movable platform and said base portion;

wherein said movable platform and round of ammunition are slidably pushed towards the top opening, by virtue of the biasing forces acting on said movable platform and generated by said spring installed between said movable platform and said base portion, and said biasing forces assist in advancing said bullets out of said hollow body and through said top opening; and

one or more photo-luminescent elements applied to said base portion for emitting visible illumination so as to help the user of said firearm visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in said hollow body should be loaded into the barrel of said hand-held firearm.

8. The ammunition magazine of claim 7, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements comprises one or more photo-luminescent strips mounted on the side and/or bottom wall surfaces, for emitting visible illumination and to helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of the hand-held firearm.

9. The ammunition magazine of claim 8, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent strips have a round, rectangular or other geometry, or are custom made to the specifications of said plate portion.

10. The ammunition magazine of claim 7, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements comprises one or more photo-luminescent inlays formed, mounted or otherwise molded in the side wall and/or bottom surfaces of said base portion, for emitting visible illumination and helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of said hand-held firearm.

11. The ammunition magazine of claim 7, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements are molded or co-molded in the material of said base portion, for emitting visible illumination and helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of said hand-held firearm.

12. The ammunition magazine of claim 7, wherein said base portion comprises a base plate.

13. A method of helping a user correctly load an ammunition magazine into a hand-held firearm in darkness, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) supplying a hand-held firearm to a user to be worn on the person of said user, wherein said hand-held firearm has a barrel and a handle portion adapted to receive an ammunition magazine;

(b) supplying the user with an open-top ammunition holster to be worn openly on the person of said user;

(c) loading one or more of said ammunition magazines into said open-top ammunition holster;

wherein each said ammunition magazine includes:

a hollow body having a bottom opening and a top opening in communication with said barrel;

a base portion fixed stationary with respect to said hollow body and closing off said bottom opening;

wherein said base plate includes a bottom surface, and multiple side wall surfaces;

a movable platform installed within said hollow body and capable of sliding up and down within said hollow body;

wherein said hollow body is adapted for storing a round of ammunition in the form of bullets, supported on said movable platform and extending up to said top opening;

a spring disposed between said movable platform and said base portion;

wherein said movable platform and round of ammunition are slidably pushed towards the top opening, by virtue of the biasing forces acting on said movable platform and generated by said spring installed between said movable platform and said base portion, and said biasing forces assist in advancing said bullets out of said hollow body and through said top opening; and

one or more photo-luminescent elements applied to said base portion;

(d) while said one or more ammunition magazines are supported in said open-top ammunition holster, photo-recharging said one or more photo-luminescent elements applied to said base portion thereof, by sources of ambient illumination; and

(e) during darkness, said photo-luminescent elements emitting visible illumination from the base portions of said ammunition magazines supported in said open-top ammunition holster, so as to help the user of said hand-held firearm to visually indicate the correct direction that bullets in said hollow body should be loaded into the barrel of said hand-held firearm;

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements comprises one or more photo-luminescent strips mounted on the side and/or bottom wall surfaces, for emitting visible illumination and to helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of the hand-held firearm.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent strips have a round, rectangular or other geometry, or are custom made to the specifications of said plate portion.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements comprises one or more photo-luminescent inlays formed, mounted or otherwise molded in the side wall and/or bottom surfaces of said base portion, for emitting visible illumination and helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of said hand-held firearm.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said one or more photo-luminescent elements are molded or co-molded in the material of said base portion, for emitting visible illumination and helping the user visually indicate, during night-time use, the correct direction that bullets in the magazine should be loaded into the handle portion of said hand-held firearm.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said base portion comprises a base plate.