Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MAGAZINE COUPLER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to magazines for use with firearms,
and in particular to a magazine coupling device to connect two magazines
together.
2. Description of Related Art
Many firearms use a magazine to store and feed ammunition. Magazines are
available in a variety of shapes and sizes, with the detachable box magazine
being most common. A detachable box magazine can be loaded or unloaded
when detached from the corresponding firearm. As necessary, an empty
magazine can be detached from the firearm and replaced with another loaded
magazine.
A basic box magazine commonly comprises an outer case into which the
ammunition is loaded, a feed mechanism, which includes a compression
spring with a follower, a floorplate and a cover. Ammunition is loaded into
the
magazine, above the follower, compressing the spring. As ammunition is
used, the spring provides an expansive force between the floorplate and the
follower, raising the ammunition within the magazine and into the firearm.
When the ammunition in one magazine has been depleted, the operator may
require efficient replacement of the magazine with another loaded magazine,
with little delay in operation of the firearm. Typically, the operator carries
additional loaded magazines on his person. The extra magazines may be
contained within pockets of a bandolier, either around the waist or over the
shoulder and across the body, or within a supplementary container. The
operator must extract a loaded magazine from its storage location and
engage it with the firearm following removal of the spent magazine. The act of
removing a fresh magazine from its storage location may cause an
undesirable delay in firearm action.
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To reduce the delay between extracting the spent magazine and engaging a
fully loaded magazine, previous devices have been utilized to couple two
magazines together, such that a fully loaded magazine is attached to the
engaged magazine and is readily at hand when the engaged magazine is
depleted of ammunition. Although there remains a delay in firearm use as one
magazine is removed and another engaged, this arrangement eliminates the
additional delay caused by extracting a loaded magazine from a storage
location, thereby improving firearm efficiency.
Previous attempts have been made to permit two magazines to be connected
together. Such attempts, however, have not been satisfactory. In particular,
=
some devices utilize a modified base plate with protruding studs and receiving
apertures to engage the opposing studs of the coupled magazine. Such
arrangements require precise placement of the two magazines to engage the
coupling method, and studs can catch and break. Additionally, this method of
coupling allows just one arrangement of the magazines, such that the
ammunition in one magazine is aligned in the opposite direction to the second
magazine, without the option to modify the angle between the two magazines.
Such arrangement may not be optimal for all operators. Examples of such
devices may be found in US Patent No. 3,191,332 to Ardolino, for example.
Other devices require the magazine to have a protruding base plate, or to
utilize a threaded rod to couple the two magazines. Such designs can be
cumbersome to engage, and may easily be damaged by dirt and debris. =
Examples of such designs may be found in US Patent No 4,685,238 to
Schoepflin, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an
apparatus for coupling two magazines together comprising a floor plate
adapted to be secured to a bottom of each of the two magazines. The floor
plate extends between top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surfaces having a
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plurality of catches wherein the plurality of catches are positioned and
shaped
to be engaged with each other when two floor plates are facewise engaged
with and rotated relative to each other to align with each other in one of two
parallel alignments.
The floor plate may be adapted to be slidably received upon a bottom end of a
body of each of the magazine. The floor plate may include horizontally
opposed ridges adapted to be received within slots on the magazine. The
floor plate may retain a spring plate within the magazine body. The floor
plate
may include at least one aperture adapted to receive a protrusion extending
from the spring plate therein so as to retain the floor plate on the magazine
body.
The catches may be arranged around a central axis extending perpendicularly
to the floor plate. The catches may be arranged in pairs diagonally across the
central axis from each other. At least one pair of the catches may comprise
inwardly extending catches having engagement surfaces extending radially
outwardly from the central axis and wherein at least one pair of the catches
comprise outwardly extending catches having engagement surfaces
extending radially outwardly from the central axis. The inwardly extending
catches may engage with a corresponding outwardly extending catch across
a longitudinal centerline of the floor plate in a first configuration and with
a
corresponding outwardly extending catch across a transverse centerline of the
floor plate in a second configuration. The top and bottom surfaces of the
floor
plate may have an angle therebetween.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed
a
magazine comprising a magazine body extending between top and bottom
ends having an interior passage therein extending to an open end at the
bottom of the magazine body and a follower slidably located within the
interior
passage of the magazine body. The magazine further comprises a magazine
spring located within the interior passage of the magazine body below the
follower, a spring plate sized to be slidably received within the interior
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passage of the magazine body and a floor plate slidably receivable upon the
bottom of the magazine body. The floor plate including a plurality of catches
positioned and shaped to be engaged with a corresponding floor plate of an
adjacent magazine when two floor plates are facewise engaged with and
rotated relative to each other to align with each other in one of two parallel
alignments.
The magazine body may include slots extending transversely to a longitudinal
axis at a position proximate to the bottom end thereof adapted to engage
corresponding ridges in the floor plate. The spring plate .may include at
least
one protrusion extending therefrom adapted to be received in at least one
corresponding depression in the floor plate.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed
a
method for coupling two magazines together comprising mating a bottom
surface of a floor plate attached to the magazine with a corresponding floor
plate of an adjacent magazine and rotating the magazine relative to the
adjacent magazine so as to engage corresponding catches extending from
each bottom surface of the floor plate of the magazine and the adjacent
magazine to align with each other in one of two parallel alignments.
The method may further comprise slidably engaging the floor plate upon a
bottom of the magazine body in a direction transverse to a length of the
magazine body. The method may further comprise providing a magazine
body extending between top and bottom ends having an interior passage
therein extending to an open end at the bottom of the magazine body and
slidably locating a follower within the interior passage of the magazine body.
The method may further comprise slidably locating a magazine spring within
the interior passage of the magazine body below the follower and slidably
locating a spring plate within the interior passage of the magazine body below
the spring.
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Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description
of
specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar
characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,
Figure 1 is a side diagrammatic view of a firearm with two attached
coupled
magazines embodying the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the two coupled magazines of Figure 1,
with the
couplers aligned in the same direction.
Figure 3 is a side view of the two coupled magazines of Figure 1,
with the
couplers aligned in the opposite direction.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of one magazine of Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 5 is an exploded end view of the magazine of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a cross section taken along line 6-6 of the magazine of
Figure 5,
with the floorplate disengaged.
Figure 7 is a cross section taken along line 6-6 of the magazine of
Figure 5,
with the floorplate engaged.
Figure 8 is ,a perspective view of the top of a floorplate of Figure
4.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the top of the spring plate of
Figure 4.
Figure 10 is a side view of the spring plate of Figure 4.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bottom of a floorplate of
Figure 4.
Figure 12 is a bottom view of a floorplate of Figure 4.
Figure 13 is a bottom view of the floorplate of Figure 4, aligned to
couple
with a second floorplate.
Figure 14 is a bottom view of the floorplate of Figure 4, fully
coupled with a
second floorplate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, a firearm with attached coupled magazines 10 is
generally shown at 8. Figure 2 shows a side view of the coupled magazines
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10, and Figure 3 shows an alternate configuration of coupled magazines 10.
The alternate configurations of coupled magazines will be described in more
detail below. In Figure 1, top magazine 20 is engaged with the firearm 8.
Bottom magazine 22 is not engaged with the firearm 8, but is coupled to top
magazine 20, for future use or storage, as will be described in more detail
below. Top magazine 20 and bottom magazine 22 may be identical, but are
identified separately to differentiate between the engaged top magazine 20
and the disengaged bottom magazine 22.
Figure 4 illustrates an exploded side view of one of the magazines 20. As
noted above, bottom magazine 22 may be identical to top magazine 20.
Magazine 20 is comprised of a magazine body 30 having a follower 32, spring
34, spring plate 36 therein and a floorplate 38 secured to a bottom thereof.
The magazine body 30 extends between front and rear ends 60 and 62,
respectively, corresponding to the front and rear edges of the ammunition 29
stored therein. The magazine body 30 comprises a box container extending
between top and bottom ends 42 and 44, respectively and first and second
sides 70 and 72, respectively, as seen on Figure 5, with a cavity 24 therein,
as seen on Figure 6.
To assemble the magazine 20, a plurality of ammunition 29, the follower 32,
spring 34 and spring plate 36 are inserted in order into the cavity 24 in the
magazine body 30 through an opening 31 in the bottom end 44 thereof,
compressing spring 34. The floorplate 38, having top and bottom surfaces 92
and 94, respectively, and first and second ends, 93 and 95, respectively, is
then attached to the magazine body 30, as will be described in more detail
below, to retain the follower 32, spring 34 and spring plate 36 therein. The
floorplate 38 has top and bottom planes 202 and 204 corresponding generally
to the top and bottom surfaces 92 and 94, respectively, which are separated
by a coupler plane angle 206 such as ranging from 0 to 90 degrees, the
purpose of which will be further described below.
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Turning now to Figure 5, the floorplate 38 has first and second sides 80 and
82, respectively. As illustrated in Figure 5, the follower 32, spring 34 (not
shown) and spring plate 36 have been previously inserted into magazine body
30. With a single ammunition 29 in the magazine body 30, the follower 32 is
positioned proximate to the top end 42 of the magazine body 30. Spring plate
36 is positioned proximate to the bottom end 44 of the magazine body 30. To
retain the assembly together, the floorplate 38 may be secured to the
magazine body 30 over the spring plate 36, which will be more fully set out
below.
Turning now to Figure 10, the spring plate 36 extends between front and rear
ends 60 and 62, respectively, top and bottom 64 and 66, respectively, and top
and bottom surfaces 46 and 48, respectively. The spring plate 36 has a length
between the front and rear ends 60 and 62 and a width sized to be slidably
received within the cavity 24, as illustrated in Figure 6. As illustrated in
Figure
10, the spring plate 36 includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the
bottom surface 48 thereof. In particular, a front protrusion 52 is located
proximate to the front end 60, and a rear protrusion 56 is located proximate
to
the rear end 62. Furthermore, a central protrusion 54 extending from the
bottom surface 48 and is centred between the front and rear protrusions, 52
and 56. The front and rear protrusions, 52 and 56, are generally conical in
shape with a rounded tip, and the central protrusion 54 is generally
frustoconial in shape, with a curved transition between the central protrusion
side 78 and central protrusion end surface 79. The purpose of this curved
transition will be described in more detail below.
As best seen on Figures 6 and 7, the length of magazine body 30 at the
bottom end 44 extending between front end 60 and rear end 62, may be
longer than at the top end 42 as is commonly known. An angled shoulder 100
within magazine body 30 at the front end 60 reduces the length of the cavity
24 of magazine body 30 thereabove. When the spring plate 36 is positioned
within the bottom portion of the cavity 24, positioning guides 102 and 104, as
best seen on Figure 9, are positioned to fit within the narrower portion of
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cavity 24 above the shoulder 100, whereas a top edge 106 at the front of the
spring plate 36 fits within the wider bottom portion of cavity 24, restricting
upward movement of the spring plate 36 past the shoulder 100 within the
bottom portion of the cavity 24. The spring plate 36 can move upwards within
the cavity 24 such that the tips of all protrusions, 52, 54 and 56, can be
fully
contained within the cavity 24 while the floorplate 38 is being attached to
the
magazine body 30, as will be described below.
As seen on Figure 5, magazine body 30 has first groove 74 within the first
side 70 proximate to the bottom end 44, and second groove 76 within the
second side 72 and proximate to the bottom end 44. The two grooves 74 and
76 are aligned with each other and extend the full length of the magazine
body 30, from front end 60 to rear end 62, as seen on Figure 4. The purpose
of this groove will be described in more detail below.
Figures 5 and 8 best illustrate the top of floorplate 38. Extending upwards
from top plane 202 on first and second sides 80 and 82 are first and second
upstanding walls 84 and 86, respectively. First upstanding wall 84 has a first
inward facing ridge 88 on a distal end thereof, and the second upstanding wall
86 has a second inward facing ridge 90 on a distal end thereof. The two walls
with inward facing ridges are equivalently sized, and are mirrored about
centreline 200. The first and second inward facing ridges 88 and 90 are
positioned such that they can be engaged with first and second grooves 74
and 76 of magazine body 30. First end, middle and second end apertures or
bores, 108, 110 and 112, respectively, are positioned along the centreline
200, to correspond to the protrusions on the spring plate 36. As illustrated,
the bores 108, 110 and 112 are substantially circular although it will be
appreciated that other profiles may be useful as well. In particular, the
first
end aperture 108 is located proximate to the first end 93, the second end
aperture 112 is located proximate to the second end 95 and the middle
aperture 110 is located therebetween. First and second end apertures, 108
and 112, are sized and positioned to receive front and rear protrusions, 52
and 56, and middle aperture 110 is sized and positioned to receive central
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protrusion 54 of spring plate 36. Both first and second end apertures, 108 and
112, are sized the same, such that they can each receive either front or rear
protrusion, 52 or 56 to permit the floorplate to be secured to the magazine
body 30 from either direction.
As illustrated in Figure 8, a first ridge 114 extends along the centreline
200,
from the first end aperture 108 to the middle aperture 110. A second ridge 116
extends from the second end aperture 112 to the middle aperture 110. Each
of the first and second ridges include tapers down to the first end, middle
and
second end apertures 108, 110 and 112. It will be appreciated that although
ridges are shown in the present embodiment of the invention, the first and
second ridges, 114 and 116, could be eliminated and the floorplate 38 could
be manufactured such that the material between bottom plane 204 and top
plane 202 could be solid, with the first end, middle and second end apertures,
108, 110 and 112, remaining as illustrated, with tapered openings to permit
engagement of the front, central and rear protrusions, 52, 54, 56, of the
spring
plate 36.
As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the floorplate 38 can be attached to the
magazine body 30 starting from either the front or rear end, 60 or 62. Figure
6
illustrates the floorplate 38 beside the rear end 62, prior to attachment. As
set
out above, the floorplate 38 can be positioned with either the first end 93 or
the second end 95 proximate to the rear end 62 of the magazine body 30. In
particular, Figure 6 illustrates the first end 93 proximate to the rear end
62,
although the floorplate 38 could be oriented in the opposite direction. To
assemble, the first and second inward facing ridges 88 and 90 of floorplate 38
are aligned with the first and second grooves 74 and 76 of the magazine body
30, and the floorplate 38 is slid onto the magazine body 30 in a direction
generally indicated at 300, parallel to top plane 202. As the floorplate 38 is
slid
into place, the three protrusions, 52, 54 and 56 of the spring plate 36 ride
on
the first and second ridges, 114 and 116 of floorplate 38, thereby compressing
the spring 34 and lifting the spring plate 36 within the cavity 24 of the
magazine body 30. As the tops of the apertures 108, 110 and 112 are
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tapered, and the protrusions 52, 54 and 56 are similarly tapered, the
protrusions can engage with the apertures when lateral force is applied along
top plane 202 to the floorplate 38 as it is slid into place on the magazine
body
30. When all protrusions, 52, 54, 56, are engaged with all apertures, 108,
110,
112, the floorplate 38 is correctly aligned and will remain in place until
vertical
force is applied to the central protrusion end surface 79 to disengage
protrusions 52, 54 and 56, and additional lateral force is applied along the
top
plane 202, which will allow for removal of the floorplate 38. Figure 7
illustrates
the floorplate 38 fully engaged with the magazine body 30 and the spring
plate 36. It will be appreciated that once fully loaded with ammunition that
the
follower 32 will be located lower in the magazine body 30, thereby
compressing the spring 34 to apply a greater force to the spring plate 36,
thereby resisting removal of the floorplate.
Turning now to Figures 11 and 12, Figure 11 illustrates one option and Figure
12 illustrates a second option of the present embodiment of the invention.
Floorplate 38 has bottom surface 94 on plane 204 including a plurality of
protrusions for locking two floorplates together. Centreline 200 separates
first
and second sides 80 and 82, and centreline 207 separates first and second
ends, 93 and 95. The bottom of floorplate 38 is divided into four quadrants:
first quadrant 208, second quadrant 210, third quadrant 212 and fourth
quadrant 214, as illustrated in Figure 12. The protrusions from the first and
second quadrants 208 and 210 are rotated 180 degrees about the intersection
of the centrelines 200 and 207, such that the protrusions from the first and
third quadrants 208 and 212 are similar, and the protrusions in the second
and fourth quadrants 210 and 214 are similar.
In first quadrant 208, a first outer ledge 120 is spaced apart from the bottom
surface 94 with a gap thereunder facing outward toward first side 80. Second
outer ledge 122 in third quadrant 212 is identical to the first outer ledge
120 as
rotated 180 degrees about the intersection of centrelines 200 and 207
similarly facing outward toward the second side 82. In second quadrant 210, a
first outer catch 124 is spaced apart from the bottom surface 94 with a gap
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therebetween facing inward and is sized and positioned to mate with first or
second outer ledges 120 and 122 such that each ledge or catch is located
within the opposite gap. In fourth quadrant 214, a second outer catch 126 is
spaced apart from the bottom surface 94 with a gap therebetween facing
toward the centreline 200 and is sized and positioned to mate with first or
second outer ledges 120 and 122 such that each ledge or catch is located
within the opposite gap. In second quadrant 210, a first inner ledge 130 is
spaced apart from the bottom surface 94 with a gap therebetween facing
outward toward the first side 80. A second inner ledge 132 in fourth quadrant
214 similarly is spaced apart from the bottom surface 94 with a gap
therebetween facing outward toward the second side 82. In first quadrant 208,
a first inner catch 134 is spaced apart from the bottom surface 94 with a gap
therebetween facing toward the centreline 200 and is sized and positioned to
mate with first or second inner ledges 130 and 132 such that each ledge or
catch is located within the opposite gap. In third quadrant 212, a second
inner
catch 136 is sized and positioned to mate with first or second inner ledges
130 and 132 such that each ledge or catch is located within the opposite gap.
All ledges and catches are generally formed as an upstanding wall from the
bottom surface 94 with a ridge at the distal end sized to fit within the gap
below the ridge of the corresponding ledge or catch when two floorplates are
connected bottom to bottom, as set out below.
As seen in Figure 12, an optional first block 140 extends from the bottom
surface 94 in second quadrant 210 while an optional second block 142
extends from the bottom surface 94 in fourth quadrant 214. A first stop 144
extends from the bottom surface 94 in first quadrant 208 and is sized and
positioned to meet with either first or second block 140 and 142 when two
floorplates 38 are coupled together. A second stop 146 extends from the
bottom surface 94 in third quadrant 212 and is sized and positioned to meet
with either first or second block 140 and 142 when two floorplates 38 are
coupled together. It may be appreciated that some of the protrusions as
illustrated in the present embodiment of the invention are optional, and other
configurations may be useful, as well.
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As illustrated in Figure 4, coupler plane angle 206 separates top plane 202
from bottom plane 204 of floorplate 38. When coupler plane angle 206 is
greater than 0 degrees, the distance between top surface 92 and bottom
surface 94 is smaller at first end 93 than at second end 95 so as to angularly
orient two magazine bodies 30 relative to each other. The coupler plane angle
206 may be selected to be any angle as desired by a user, such as, by non-
limiting example, between 0 and 90 degrees.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the two possible configurations to couple two
floorplates, 38a and 38b together. Top floorplate 38a and bottom floorplate
38b may be identical, but are identified separately to differentiate between
the
floorplate 38a of the engaged top magazine 20 and the bottom floorplate 38b
of the disengaged bottom magazine 22. In Figure 2, the two floorplates 38a
and 38b are coupled such that the first ends 93 are aligned together, and the
second ends 95 are aligned together. The result of this alignment is that the
coupled magazines, 20 and 22, essentially form a curved outer profile. In
Figure 3, the two floorplates 38a and 38b are coupled such that that the top
floorplate 38a first end 93 is aligned with the bottom floorplate 38b second
end 95, and the top floorplate 38a second end 95 is aligned with the bottom
floorplate 38b first end 93. The result of the alignment shown in Figure 3 is
that the coupled magazines, 20 and 22, essentially form a straight outer
profile. The benefit of having the ability to create alternate profiles is
user
preference. As set out above, a magazine body 30 may be connected onto a
floorplate 38 from either direction, permitting the user to select the
relative
orientation of the coupled magazines 20 and 22. Figure 2 illustrates both
magazine bodies 30 oriented such that both front ends 60 are aligned with
first ends 93 of the floorplates 38, although it may be appreciated that both
rear ends 62 of the magazine bodies 30 may be aligned with first ends 93 of
the floorplates 38, or one front end 60 of one magazine body 30 may be
aligned with the first end 93 of its floorplate 38, while the other front end
60 of
the second magazine body 30 may be aligned with the second end 95 of its
floorplate 38, for a total of three possible configurations with the first
floorplate
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coupling configuration illustrated in Figure 2. Similarly, Figure 3 is
illustrated
with both front ends 60 of the magazine bodies 30 aligned with both first ends
93 of the floorplates 38, but they may be assembled in other configurations,
as well, for a total of three possible configurations with the second
floorplate
coupling configuration illustrated in Figure 3.
To couple two floorplates 38a and 38b together, the bottom surfaces are
aligned to face each other at an offset angle, as shown in Figure 13, with the
centres of both floorplates 38a and 38b aligned. The two floorplates 38a and
38b are then rotated together in the direction generally indicated at 302.
Figure 14 illustrates two floorplates 38a and 38b locked in the engaged
position, and best shows the engagement of ledges and catches described
above. To disengage the floorplates 38a and 38b, rotate in the opposite
direction and pull apart.
Various methods and materials may be used to manufacture the magazine
body 30, follower 32, spring plate 36 and floorplate 38, such as by way of non-
limiting example injection mould, casting or cold punch.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the
invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance
with the accompanying claims.
