Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Shoulder support magazine
The present invention relates to a holder for an ammunition magazine which is
located on
the shoulder-side of a weapon and is constructed in such a way that an
ammunition
magazine arranged in the holder can be used as a shoulder support. An
additional aspect
of the invention relates to an ammunition magazine which can be inserted into
such a
holder and which is constructed in such ~ way that at it serves at least
partially as a
shoulder support. Finally, the invention also relates to weapon in which case
a shoulder-
side end is provided with a corresponding holder so that a correspondingly
constructed
cartridge magazine, which is inserted v~itl~ir., can be used as a shoulder
suppori.
Positional terms used in the following such as "up'', ''front" etc. refer to a
weapon which
is in normal firing position and whose axis of the bore (barrel-central axis)
runs
horizontally; "front" in firing direction; ''left" and "right" are described
from the view of
a marksman who has the weapon in firing direction.
Modern weapons systems consist of extensively standardized function modules or
components which, depending on the type of use, can be configured into
different
weapons. Depending on the range of application the completely configured
weapon is
configured for different applications. For example precision, firepower,
compact
dimensions etc. In this connection efforts are always being made that the
weapon be as
light as possible and that the marksman be able to carry the greatest possible
supply of
ammunition with him. In addition there is often the requirement that a weapon
exhibit the
minimum dimensions possible in the case of being transported to an operating
site
(commando units). In competition with this however there is the requirement
that when
shooting the most precise possible target acquisition be possible for an
effective operation
of the weapon. For this purpose the weapons are as a rule
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provided with a shoulder support which is required for precise aiming. In
order to make
possible the most compact weapons dimensions during transport or en route tlu-
ough
difficult terrain. such shoulder supports are often constructed to be
removable or fold
away. The shoulder support in this connection forms a component with
relatively large
dimensions which however does not fulfill any further task.
Additionally a marksman should be able to carry as much ammunition with him as
possible and it should be possible to provide the weapon with new ammunition
quickly
and easily. For this purpose as a rule compartment magazines are used which
the
marksman carries with him ir~ sufficient quantity. In order to save ~~eight,
such
P ,»t f t"
nompartmPnt magazines arP made cut of light materials, for exampl., c.~. o~
s...rd,
plastics but also out of tin. In order to also have as much ammunition as
possible on the
weapon itself, several magazines can be coupled with each other, either by
means of
gluing several magazines together into a bundle or as a result of the fact
that the
magazines are provided with coupling elements so that several magazines can be
"plugged into each other".
It is also known from USP 5,225,613 to design a closable hollow space in the
shoulder
support which can hold an ammunition magazine. In this connection the shoulder
support
bottom serves as a cover for the closing of the hollow space. To replace the
magazine the
cover is opened and exchanged for a magazine located in the magazine well of
the
weapon. Subsequently the cover is closed again.
Since weapons however exhibit only one magazine well, the number of magazines
that
can be directly attached on the weapon is limited. The marksman must carry the
other
magazines on his person in order to exchange them if necessary for empty
magazines.
In the accommodating of a magazine in the shoulder support itself, additional
covers and
hinges are required. Furthermore it cannot be recognized without further ado
whether
there is a
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3
there is a reserve magazine in the shoulder support or whether the reserve
magazine is
._____ ~lsa actuallyfilled~ith-ammunition: ---
___________"_____.'.___________._.~___.____.___.~__..____________.____.__.__
Thus there is the task of providing a light, compact weapon which fulfills
several
competing requirements. Aruong these are accurate firing position, compact
dimensions
when being transported, large supply of ammunition on the weapon, rapid
magazine
exchange and best possible economy of space, weight optimization and reduction
of the
required number of components.
This task is fulfilled according to the invention by the subject matters of
the independent
claims 1 ~ I3; 18 and 19.
Claim 1 relates to a holder for an ammunition magazine which is located on the
shoulder-
side end of a weapon and wluch is constructed in such a way that an ammunition
magazine arranged in the holder can be used as a shoulder support. Such a
holder has the
advantage that no additional shoulder is any longer required. Or, in other
words, the
shoulder support functionality is partially fulfilled by a component that is
necessary
anyway, namely the cartridge magazine. In the process, in the case of the
corresponding
design of the components, the ammunition can be fired directly from the
shoulder
support. Such a style makes weapons designs possible in which the trigger
mechanism is
arranged in front of the ammunition magazine in so-called "bullpup style",
which then in
the present case is held in a corresponding holder and serves simultaneously
as a shoulder
support.
In a different design the holder exclusively serves the purpose of a holder
for a cartridge
magazine with the ammtmition contained within being supplied to the breech
mechanism.
Claims 2 through 6 relate to designs of the holder which relate to secure and
easy to
operate Ioclcing of the magazine. For this purpose according to Claim 2 a
spring-loaded
loclting device is provided which ensures that the
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4
magazine does not unintentionally come loose from the holder. The improvement
in
accordance with Claim 3 makes possible an easy insertion of the magazine
without the
locking device itself having to be actuated. The embodiments in accordance
with Claims
4 through 6 relate to elements of the locking device which for one thing serve
the purpose
of securing the magazine itself in the holder (Claim 4), via an additionally
provided
actuating element, that the locking mechanism (Claim S) can be unlocked and
finally that
a swivel lever (Claim 6) which exhibits both the actuating e1_ement as well as
also the
locking element, through which the corresponding arrangement of the swiveling
axis
makes possible an especially functional operation.
In aCCOrdanCe PJith Clalm 7 tl2e hClder Cx111171t~ a COmpar tmen ::' ~~' 1 1 c
t ~F npPn llrl
t h:.,h le.d~ 1.., r e....
of the ammunition magazine wherein the walls of the compartment enclose a
front (open)
section of the magazine. In the case of this construction the magazine is for
one thing
spatially defined and inserted stably into the holder and can thus be moved
securely into
the locking position. For another thing the enclosing walls fulfill a sealing
and protective
function which prevents the ammunition from being accessible from the outside
and
which prevents the mechanism of the magazine from becoming dirty and possibly
impaired in its function. Thus function impairments which can be caused by
dirty. damp
ammunition and/or magazine mechanisms are prevented or at least reduced.
Claims 8 through 12 relate to improvements in which the fixing of the magazine
in the
holder, in particular in a compartment-like constructed holder according to
Claim 7, is
achieved in expedient manner. For this purpose according to Claim 8 the inner
surface of
at least one wall exhibits an elevation which protrudes into a correspondingly
provided
recess of an inserted magazine. These two interlocking parts guarantee the
Fxation of the
inserted magazine in the holder and prevent an unintentional slippage. In the
process
according to Claim 9 this stopping mechanism
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J
is constmcted resiliently elastic so that a certain holding force is exercised
which must be
overcome to insert or remove the magazine. To this purpose the surface
transitions on the
recess and on the elevation are constructed in such a way that they can glide
along each
other wherein however a specific holding resistance must be overcome with a
defined
removal or insertion force. If the elevation is constructed island-like on an
inner side of
the wall element the entire wall arches elastically in the case of insertion
or removal of
the magazine and exerts the holding force in an inserted state. This
embodiment permits
an especially easy and sturdy design which manages without additional
mechanical
elements. According to Claim 11 however such an elevation can also be
constricted as a
tongue-shaped wall element v~hich engages as an elastically deformable tongue
into the
corresponding recesses so that in the case of inserting or removing the
magazine only this
tongue is elastically deformed. In the case of the design in accordance with
Claim 12 the
elevation can also be constructed as a leaf spring element which is mounted in
the interior
on an inside wall.
In the case of all the above described embodiments the fimetion elements can
also be
exchanged between magazine and holder, i.e. the corresponding locking elements
or
surface elevations are provided or formed on the magazine itself and the
corresponding
locking counterparts or the recesses are provided in or on the holder.
Claim 13 relates to the design of the ammunition magazine as a shoulder
support. The
improvements according to Claims 14 through 17 relate to inventive
improvements
which are each to be allocated complementarily to the corresponding
constructions of the
holder itself. Thus Claims 14 and 15 relate to the locking device of the
magazine in the
holder and a corresponding design in order to specify the active coupling with
the locking
element (Claim 1 S).
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Claim 16 relates to the design of at least one outer surface of the magazine
so that the
corresponding elevations constructed on the holder can actively engage there.
According to Claims 17 and 18 the magazine can additionally exhibit a shoulder
cushion
on its bottom or on another suitable area, said shoulder cushion being present
in the case
of a corresponding arrangement of the magazine in the holder on the shoulder-
side (rear)
cnd of the magazine.
In the case of a weapon constructed in accordance with the invention (Claims
20 through
22) in accordance with Claim 21 the holder, which hold ~ a cartridge magazine
serving as
a shoulder support, can be constrr:eted to be rPmovablc, so that the weapo_n_
can also be
provided with a standard shoulder support or with a shoulder support that
folds away or
can be inserted. Claim 22 relates to a weapon which is constructed in
accordance with the
invention with a holder according to any one of Claims 2 through 12.
The invention will described more closely in the following with the help of
the attached
drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a lateral view of a rear weapon part which shows an
inventive holder and a magazine inserted within,
Figure 2 shows a partially cutaway drawing of the holder from Figure 1
Figure 3 shows the same view as Figure l, in which the magazine is
provided with an especially designed shoulder cushion,
Figure 4 shows a cutaway of the holder in partial longitudinal section in
which an elevation engages in a corresponding recess on the
magazine,
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Figure 5 shows the same view as Figure 1 in which a shoulder cushion is
directly inserted into the holder.
Figure 1 shows in one view a part of a weapon 1 with a grip 2 with the trigger
region 3 in
front of which a magazine compartment 4 is arranged, in which a magazine 5 is
inserted.
Above the grip there is a case part 6 whose exterior region together with a
rear stock of
the drip 2 defines a plane 8 limiting the case, said plane essentially running
at a right
angle to the axis of the barrel. On the plane 8 a holder 9 attaches, at whose
rear end a
magazine 5 is also mounted. The magazine is secured via a locking device 10 in
the
holder. T he holder 9 and the magazine 5 inserted within. form, together
~arith the
protection/cushion element 1 l, in the simplest case with the magazine
botton,_ wir__h_oot
padding, the shoulder support.
'1 here are also embodiments in which the magazine bottom is constructed
without
padding (not shown).
Figure 3 shows an alternative cushion element 11', which is attached either as
replacement of the protection/cushion element 11 or is slipped or placed upon
said
protection/cushion element. The cushion element 11' is extended to the bottom
and thus
offers an enlarged supporting surface on the shoulder.
Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the holder 9 and cushion element 11' are
constructed in such a way that the cushion element 11' is mounted in the
holder 9 without
magazine ~. The cushion element 11' can thus be optionally mounted on a
magazine 5 or
in or on the holder 9. With this the opening of the holder 9 is always closed,
the cushion
element 11' cannot be lost. The weapon 1 can also be used without the magazine
inserted
in the holder 9.
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Figure 1 shows coupling retainers 12 on the side of the magazine 5 inserted
into the
holder 9, to which an additional magazine with corresponding mushroom-shaped
coupling cams 13 can be mounted. Such coupling cams 13 can be recognized by
the
magazine 5 inserted in the magazine compartment 4. That is, the magazines have
coupling retainers 12 on one side and coupling cams 13 on the other side, so
that several
magazines can be locked into place coupled to each other. Additional magazines
can be
connected both to the magazine 5 located in the holder 9 as well as to the
magazine 5
located in the magazine compartment 4.
The holder 9 is essentially leguminous in structure and will be explained
further in
relation to Figure 2, in ~Jhich the holder 9 is depicted in a longitudinal
cutaway. On the
weapon-side end the holder 9 exhibits a hollow space 14 into which a coupling
piece I 5
protrudes. The coupling piece 15 is mounted on the case part 6 or constructed
in one
piece together with said case part. The inner surfaces of the hollow space 14
correspond
to the outer surfaces of the coupling piece 15, so that the holder can be
joined to the case
6 in defined position, wherein outside between case 6 and holder 8 a
transitional joint 8~
lying on the plane 8 is visible.
For attachment a pin 16 penetrating the holder 9 and the coupling piece 15 is
inserted and
locked. With this the holder 9 is firmly connected to the weapon 1.
On the rear end the holder 9 forms a compartment 17, which encloses the front
open end
18 of the inserted magazine 5. In the process the inner surfaces of the
compartment 17
correspond essentially to the outer surfaces of the magazine 5. The insertion
depth of the
magazine 5 is defined by a rotary flange 19, which in the case of the
insertion of the
magazine 5 into
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9
the compartment 17 attaches to the face 20 of the compartment pointing to the
rear.
In the case of another (not shown) embodiment the flange 19 is not rotary, but
rather
defined by suitable projections engaging at the face 20 at the magazine
exterior. The
insertion depth can also be fixed via a stop formed in the interior of the
compartment 17,
which applies at the open side of the magazine.
Between the compartment 17 and the hollow space 14 a partition 21 runs, which
closes
the weapons interior to the outside. At the bottom of the compartment 17 a
locking device
is mounted, which is formed as a toggle lever 22 which serves the purpose of
spring-
loaded locking of the magazine 5. The toggle lever 22 exhibits an actuating
end 23 and a
locking end 24 and is fastened via a pin 22' on the holder 9 which penetrates
the holder
and the lever. The locking end 24 of the lever 21 extends in the interior of
the
compartment 17, said lever exhibiting a locking face 25 at its end, said
locking face
engaging in the displayed locking position into a corresponding counterface
25' on the
magazine 5. The toggle lever 22 is spring-loaded with a torsion spring not
shown in such
a way that the locking end 24 engages with the locking face 25 on the magazine
5. In the
case of inserting the magazine 5 into the compartment 17 of the holder 9 the
region of the
corresponding magazine wall pointing downward glides along the locking end 24
and
swivels the toggle lever 22 against the spring weight until its locking end 24
snaps into a
transverse slot provided on the magazine and the magazine 5 is secured from
removal via
the counterface 25' in engagement with the locking face 25.
To release the magazine 5 the marksman encompasses with one hand the end of
the
magazine 5 jutting to the rear out of the compartment 17 so that the actuating
end 23 can
be operated. The toggle lever 22 is swiveled via the actuating end 23 against
the spring
resistance applied by the torsion spring,
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l~
so that the locking end 24 releases from engagement with the magazine S, the
locking
face 25 is no longer engaged with the counterface 25' and the magazine can be
removed
from the compartment 17 of the holder 9.
The toggle lever 21 itself is fixed via the pin 22' penetrating the holder 9,
said pin
simultaneously defining the swiveling axis of the lever 22. A fixation can
also take place
via bearing throats (not shown) formed on the lever 21 itself, said bearing
throats being
pivotable in suitable manner in the holder 9, but axially fixed. So that
impacts and blows,
i.e. accelerations of the weapon, do not release the magazine lock, the lever
22 can be
made of a relatively light plastic, for example in one piece, in t he
injection molding
method, under circumstances being provided with a metal insert. Tl:e spring
resistance of
the torsion spring acting on the lever 22 as well as the lengths of the
locking or actuating
ends 23, 24 and the location and alignment of the swiveling axis are to be
coordinated to
one another in such a way that a conceivably secure locking of the magazine 5
is ensured
and simultaneously an actuation of the lever 21 is possible, without too great
of a release
force having to be applied. The swiveling axis running here horizontally
transverse to the
main axis of the weapon can also be arranged in such a way that the actuation
direction of
the swivel lever 22 runs at a right angle to the main axis. This way it is
possible to
prevent the toggle lever 21 from accidentally being actuated in place of the
trigger, which
is actuated in direction of the main axis of the weapon, and the magazine 5 at
the end of
the weapon being released from the holder 9.
Along with the above described locking of the magazine 5 in the compartment
17, the
holding of the magazine 5 can also take place in accordance with Figure 4. In
this view
from above the magazine 5 and the holder 9 are show-n partially cutaway.
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In one embodiment (Variant A) the inner surface of the compartment I7 is
provided with
an elevation 27 which engages in a corresponding recess 26 that is formed on
the exterior
of the magazine wall. In the insertion of the magazine 5 into the compartment
17 the
curve formed on the open end of the magazine forces the elevation 27 to the
outside and
elastically arches the compartment wall 30 to the outside and if necessary the
magazine
wall to the inside until the magazine 5 connects to the flange 19 on the face
20 of the
holder 9 and the elevation snaps into the recess 26 and the magazine 5 is
locked in the
holder. In the removal of the magazine 5 From the holder 9 the holding force
must first be
overcome in order to release the locking elevation 27 from the recess 26. 'fhe
elevation
27 then glides over rib 3 i formed between the curve 29 and the recess 26,
v~=herein the
compartment wall 30 (and if necessary the magazine ~aJall) in turn are
elastically archPrl
and then glide along the curve 29, wherein the compartment wall 30 releases
again. The
magazine 5 is now loose in the compartment 17 and can be removed without
additional
expenditure of force.
In another embodiment (Variant B) instead of the elevation 27 a leaf spring 32
is
provided on the inside of the compartment wall 30, said leaf spring also
engaging in the
recess 26 on the magazine 5 and also elastically deforming in the case of the
insertion or
removal of the magazine, i.e. in taut state at the compartment wall 30 (in the
case of
insertion) and in released state engaging in the recess 26 or in the case of a
removed
magazine 5 from the compartment wall 30 projecting inward. The leaf spring is
constructed in such a way that it cannot catch in the recess 26, neither in
the case of
insertion nor in the case of removal of the magazine S.
In a third embodiment (not shown) the compartment wall 30 is cut out in the
shape of a
tongue (u-shaped) in the region of the elevation 27, so that in the case of
the removal or
the insertion of the magazine 5 the entire compartment wall does not
elastically deform,
but rather onlv the cut out
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12
tongue region on which the elevation 27 is formed. By means of the
corresponding
design of this tongue the arching force can be set which is necessary to have
elevations
glide over the rib 31, in case such rigid materials are used for the holder 9
that do not
permit an elastic arching of the entire compartment or the compartment wall
30.
