U.S. patent application number 10/382735 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-14 for magazine clip exterior housing system.
Invention is credited to Horn, Paul Thomas.
Application Number | 20040200111 10/382735 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33130348 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040200111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horn, Paul Thomas |
October 14, 2004 |
Magazine clip exterior housing system
Abstract
A magazine clip exterior housing system that facilitates belt
attachment of the ammunition magazine clips utilized by a variety
of automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems. The housing can be
removably or permanently attached over the lower half of the
exterior surface of a magazine clip, and the enclosed clip can be
used in the weapon system without the need to remove the housing.
The housing system includes a belt clip on one side and a series of
raised ribs on the other side to provide for secure clip handling.
In the removably attached embodiment a groove in the interior
surface guides the magazine clip into position within the
apparatus. The housing is made of resilient, lightweight plastic
which provides an appropriate coefficient of friction between the
housing system and the user's hands, as well as an appropriate
degree of durability/longevity. The device is simple, scalable, and
economically manufactured.
Inventors: |
Horn, Paul Thomas;
(Baltimore, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Royal W. Craig
Law Offices of Royal W. Craig
Suite 153
10 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore
MD
21202
US
|
Family ID: |
33130348 |
Appl. No.: |
10/382735 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/021 20130101;
A45F 2200/0591 20130101; A45F 5/02 20130101; A45F 5/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/050 |
International
Class: |
F41A 009/61 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A magazine clip exterior housing apparatus, comprising: a
plurality of walls defining a cavity, said cavity being open at one
end; an attachment clip fixedly attached exteriorly to one of said
plurality of walls; and a plurality of raised protrusions formed
exteriorly on another of said plurality of walls; whereby an
ammunition magazine clip may be permanently affixed in said housing
apparatus to facilitate the transportation, handling, and loading
of said magazine clip.
2. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim
1, further comprising a through hole formed in one of said
plurality of walls for drainage purposes.
3. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim
1, wherein said plurality of walls, said attachment clip, and said
plurality of raised protrusions are fabricated of a plastic
material possessing an appropriate coefficient of friction.
4. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim
3, wherein said plastic material is Nylon.
5. A magazine clip exterior housing apparatus, comprising: a
plurality of walls defining a cavity, said cavity being open at one
end; an attachment clip fixedly attached exteriorly to one of said
plurality of walls; and a plurality of raised protrusions formed
exteriorly on another of said plurality of walls; whereby an
ammunition magazine clip may be removably inserted into said
housing apparatus to facilitate the transportation, handling, and
loading of said magazine clip.
6. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim
5, further comprising a groove formed in one of said plurality of
walls for facilitating the insertion of said magazine clip into
said housing apparatus.
7. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim
5, further comprising a through hole formed in one of said
plurality of walls for drainage purposes.
8. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim
5, wherein said plurality of walls, said attachment clip, and said
plurality of raised protrusions are fabricated of a plastic
material possessing an appropriate coefficient of friction.
9. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim
8, wherein said plastic material is Nylon.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the invention
[0002] The present invention relates to weapon systems and, more
particularly, to the ammunition magazine clips utilized in
automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems, and even more
particularly, to means for facilitating the transportation and
handling/loading of those ammunition magazine clips.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background
[0004] In use, automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems can
consume ammunition at a rapid rate. Many situations requiring the
use of those systems (e.g. warfare, police response situations)
also require the operator to be mobile (i.e. on foot). Operator
mobility, however, gives rise to the logistical issue of ammunition
supply. Traditional methods for transporting the magazine clips
utilized in automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems typically
include some form of container in which one or more clips may be
stored/carried. The container is then transported by hand or
affixed to the weapon's operator in some fashion.
[0005] A secondary issue is the configuration of the magazine clips
themselves. Their physical design is intended to facilitate their
use in the appropriate weapon systems, generally at the expense of
ergonomic considerations. That physical design typically includes
smooth, metallic, external surfaces that are not always easy to
grasp, and hold onto, when one's hands are wet, cold, etc. (i.e.
conditions all too often typical to warfare and/or police response
situations). Thus, the handling and loading of the magazine clips,
even when they are available to the weapon's operator, can be
problematic.
[0006] The present inventor is not the first to address means for
facilitating the transportation and handling/loading of magazine
clips. For example, apparatus intended for the transportation
and/or handling/loading of ammunition magazine clips are found in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,815 to Fitzpatrick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,872 to
Bammate, U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,442 to Gallagher, U.S. Pat. No.
4,442,962 to Musgrave, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,717 to Theodore.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,815 to Fitzpatrick discloses a magazine
grip attachment for ammunition magazines to aid in extraction of
magazines from ammunition pouches. The apparatus comprises a sleeve
of resilient material molded in the general shape of a magazine yet
with a smaller inner circumference than the circumference of a
magazine so as to require the band to stretch over the magazine.
Extending from the top of the band is a handle designed to allow a
finger to wrap around the handle and extract the magazine. Also
provided are recessed areas and four diagonal force distribution
beams to constrict the invention and allow it to grip a magazine
more snugly when the handle is pulled.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,872 to Bammate discloses a cartridge
package for an automatic or semiautomatic firearm. The cartridge
package includes an operational loader having a magazine filled
with cartridges. The operational loader and cartridges are enclosed
in a protective piece for protection against shocks and pollution.
The package includes a rigid cap and a tearable bag.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,442 to Gallagher discloses a case for
storing and transporting a clip of cartridges that are fired in a
gun. A user can remove the clip from the case by inserting his
thumb intermediate the clip and the backing of the case and by
grasping the clip between his thumb and forefinger.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,962 to Musgrave discloses a cartridge
magazine hanger adapted for quick removal of a magazine using only
one hand. The magazine is supported by engagement of at least one
of its feed lips with a support on the hanger. The hanger can be
attached to the clothing or equipment of the user or it can be
mounted on a firearm, a vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, or a
stationary structure.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,717 to Theodore discloses a cartridge
magazine holder including a magnet to hold a pair of cartridge
magazines with large portions of the magazines exposed so that they
may be easily grasped and withdrawn by the user. The magazine
holder rides high on the belt of the wearer and holds the magazine
flat against the body for easy concealment.
[0012] Unfortunately, each of these devices fail, in some way, to
optimize the transportation and handling/loading of magazine clips.
The Fitzpatrick device, although intended to enhance an operator's
ability to extract a clip from a pouch/container, does nothing to
improve the means for transporting each individual magazine clip,
while the Bammate, Gallagher, Musgrave, and Theodore apparatus do
nothing to improve the ergonomics of magazine clip handling/loading
(e.g. apparatus intended to improve the operator's ability to
grasp, and hold onto, the clip when his/her hands are wet, cold,
etc.). Consequently, it would be greatly advantageous to provide a
magazine clip exterior housing system that (1) simplifies the
transportation of the clips, (2) significantly enhances the
ergonomics of handling the clips during the loading procedure, (3)
possesses a simple, yet scalable, design fabricated of resilient,
lightweight materials, and (4) may be economically manufactured and
sold to provide for widespread use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is, therefore, the primary object of the present
invention to provide an apparatus that facilitates the
transportation and handling/loading of the magazine clips utilized
by M-16, M-4, and MP-5 weapon systems.
[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus that may be permanently affixed or removably attached to
a magazine clip without affecting its ability to interface with the
associated weapon system.
[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus that may be temporarily affixed to the operator of the
weapon system.
[0016] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus that possesses a simple and scalable design.
[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus that is fabricated of lightweight, resilient materials
providing an appropriate degree of durability/longevity.
[0018] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide
for widespread use.
[0019] According to the present invention, the above-described and
other objects are accomplished by an exterior housing system that
facilitates the transportation, typically on the belt of the user,
of the ammunition magazine clips utilized by a variety of automatic
and semi-automatic weapon systems. The present invention may be
removably attached (i.e. a friction fit), or permanently affixed
(e.g. glued or molded onto) over roughly the lower half of the
exterior surface of a magazine clip. In this manner, the enclosed
magazine clip may be used in the weapon system without the need to
remove the housing system. The exterior housing system includes a
belt attachment clip on one side and a series of raised ribs on the
other side to provide for secure clip handling. When utilized as a
removably attached apparatus, an interior surface of the present
invention is provided with a groove that guides the magazine clip
into position within the apparatus. The present invention is
fabricated of a resilient, lightweight plastic chosen to provide an
appropriate coefficient of friction between the housing system and
the user's hands, as well as an appropriate degree of
durability/longevity. The present invention possesses a simple, yet
scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to
provide for widespread use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications
thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is an end perspective view of a magazine clip
exterior housing system 10 according a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the housing system 10
of FIG. 1 showing a belt attachment clip 30.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the housing system 10 of
FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the housing system 10
of FIGS. 1-3 showing a plurality of raised ribs 50.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The present invention is a magazine clip exterior housing
system 10 that facilitates the transportation and handling/loading
of the ammunition magazine clips utilized by a variety of automatic
and semi-automatic weapon systems. FIGS. 1-4 are, respectively,
end, side, top, and side perspective views of the exterior housing
system 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The housing system 10 preferably comprises an internal
cavity 20, an attachment clip 30, and a plurality of raised ribs
50. The housing system 10 is preferably fabricated of a resilient,
lightweight plastic that is chosen to provide an appropriate
coefficient of friction between the housing system's exterior
surface and the user's hands, as well as an appropriate degree of
durability/longevity. An example of a suitable plastic material is
the Nylon variation known as Albis Polyamide 6 PA 45/0,
unreinforced, DAM and commercially available from Albis Plastics
Corporation of Houston, Tex. However, any resilient, lightweight
plastic material possessing appropriate frictional properties and
the ability to be molded into to the required form may be
utilized.
[0026] The internal cavity 20 is defined by two side walls 21, 22,
two end walls 23, 24, and a bottom surface 25. The end walls 23, 24
may be slightly curved to match the curved configuration of a
magazine clip (not shown in the Figures). The interior surface of
an end wall 23 may include a lengthwise groove 40 that, when the
exterior housing system 10 is used in a removably attached
configuration, guides a magazine clip into position within the
system 10. A through hole 42 may be included in the bottom surface
25, offset toward the aforementioned groove 40, that aligns with a
hole located in the bottom end of a magazine clip to facilitate the
drainage of any liquid, or other contaminants, that might get into
the clip.
[0027] An attachment clip 30 may be fixedly attached to an external
surface of a side wall 21. The clip 30 is preferably affixed to the
side wall 21 such that its lengthwise axis is perpendicular to the
plane 26 defined by the opening in the internal cavity 20. The
attachment clip 30 typically comprises an anchor section 31, a
central section 32, a distal end 33, and a protruding element
34.
[0028] A plurality of raised ribs 50 may be formed on the external
surface of a side wall 22. Each of the raised ribs 50 preferably
possesses a semi-circular cross-section. The ribs 50 are preferably
formed such that, lengthwise, they run parallel to the bottom
surface 25.
[0029] In use, the exterior housing system 10 of the present
invention may be removably attached via a friction fit between the
internal cavity 20 and roughly the lower half of the external
surface of a magazine clip. In this configuration, the housing
system 10 is preferably molded as a stand alone unit with internal
dimensions that are slightly smaller than the external dimensions
of the magazine clip. Where appropriate, a groove 40 is included in
the end wall 23 to match up with a protrusion in the external
surface of a magazine clip to assist in properly seating the clip
in the housing system 10. Over time, a single housing system 10 may
be used in conjunction with a plurality of magazine clips.
[0030] Alternatively, the system 10 may be permanently affixed by
being glued over, or molded directly onto roughly the lower half of
the external surface of a magazine clip. In either the removably
attached or permanently affixed configuration, the enclosed
magazine clip may be used in its associated weapon system without
interference from the housing system 10.
[0031] The exterior housing system 10 improves the personal
transportation of magazine clips via the inclusion of the
attachment clip 30. The clip 30 is most often used to temporarily
attach the housing system 10 and enclosed magazine clip to a users
belt by positioning the belt within the cavity defined by the side
wall 21, the anchor section 31, the central section 32, and the
protruding element 34. However, the housing system 10 may be
temporarily attached to any article that will fit within the above
described cavity.
[0032] The exterior housing system 10 improves the handling and
loading of magazine clips via the inclusion of the plurality of
raised ribs 50. The presence of the raised ribs 50, in combination
with the coefficient of friction provided by the material of
construction, significantly reduces the user's potential for
mishandling (e.g. dropping) the ammunition regardless of the
surrounding circumstances (e.g. wet/cold hands, the emotions of the
moment--fear, excitement, etc.).
[0033] The exterior housing system 10 possesses a simple, yet
scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to
provide for widespread use. As described above, the present
invention facilitates the transportation and handling/loading of
ammunition magazine clips by providing a conveniently utilized belt
attachment clip 30 and a plurality of raised ribs 50 on one of its
external surfaces. Users of the automatic and semi-automatic
weapons for which the exterior housing system 10 is intended will
appreciate the increased coefficient of friction, between their
hands and their ammunition, provided by the resilient plastic
material of construction as compared to the typical metallic
surfaces of the magazine clip.
[0034] Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and
certain modifications of the concept underlying the present
invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations
and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described
will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming
familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood,
therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *