U.S. patent application number 11/805426 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-10 for cartridge magazine.
Invention is credited to Heinrich Buecheler, Sybille Renner, Mario Scalet, Roland Schneider, Arnold Schrotter.
Application Number | 20080006143 11/805426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38622015 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080006143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schneider; Roland ; et
al. |
January 10, 2008 |
Cartridge magazine
Abstract
A cartridge magazine has a carrier member (20) having a
plurality of receptacles (21) for frictionally retaining therein
propellant-containing cartridges (11), with two elements located in
each of the receptacles (21) for formlockingly retaining respective
cartridges from displacement in opposite axial directions of
cartridge.
Inventors: |
Schneider; Roland; (Dresden,
DE) ; Renner; Sybille; (Grabs, CH) ;
Schrotter; Arnold; (Rankweil, AT) ; Scalet;
Mario; (Schaan, LI) ; Buecheler; Heinrich;
(Buchs, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ABELMAN, FRAYNE & SCHWAB
666 THIRD AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
38622015 |
Appl. No.: |
11/805426 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/1.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 39/087 20130101;
B25C 1/186 20130101; F42B 39/085 20130101; F42B 8/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
089/001.14 |
International
Class: |
F41A 9/00 20060101
F41A009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 23, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 000 241.5 |
Claims
1. A cartridge magazine, comprising a carrier member (20) having a
plurality of receptacles (21) for frictionally retaining therein
propellant-containing cartridges (11); means provided in each of
the plurality of receptacles (21) for formlockingly retaining
respective cartridges (21) from displacement in a first axial
direction of the cartridges (21); and further means likewise
provided in each of the receptacles for formlockingly retaining the
respective cartridges (11) from displacement in a second axial
direction of the cartridges (11) opposite the first axial
direction.
2. A cartridge magazine according to claim 1, wherein the further
formlockingly retaining means comprises at least one projection
(23) for each of the receptacles (21) for engaging from behind a
cartridge bottom (12) of a respective cartridge (21) and forming a
stop.
3. A cartridge magazine according to claim 1, wherein each
cartridge has a toric widening (14), and the formlockingly
retaining means comprises a step (22) forming a stop for the toric
widening (14).
4. A cartridge magazine according to claim 2, wherein the further
formlockingly retaining means comprises a further projection
located opposite the at least one projection, the at least one
projection (23) and the further projection being located on a rim
of a respective receptacle (21).
5. A cartridge magazine according to claim 2, wherein the at least
one projection (23) is formed as an embossed or calked element.
6. A cartridge magazine according to claim 2, wherein the at least
one projection (23) is formed as a pivotal snap element.
7. A cartridge magazine according to claim 2, wherein the at least
one projection (23) is formed as a floating clip.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cartridge magazine which
is used, e.g., with powder charge-operated bolt setting tools and
which has a carrier member having a plurality of receptacles for
frictionally retaining therein propellant-containing cartridges
that serve as drive means, and means provided in each of the
plurality of receptacles for formlockingly retaining respective
cartridges from displacement in an axial direction of
cartridge.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,455 discloses storing of
propellant-containing cartridges in a strip-shaped cartridge
magazine. To this end, a carrier member is provided with a
plurality of equidistantly spaced from each other receptacles in
which cartridges are frictionally retained. The receptacles are
arranged in nose-shaped, projecting to one side of the cartridge
magazine elevations. In the receptacles, there is provided a step
that serves as a stop for a toric widening of a cartridge and
formlockingly retains the cartridge from displacement in the axial
direction of the cartridge.
[0005] The drawback of the known cartridge magazine consists in
that upon a position-dependent deformation of the plastic material
of the cartridge magazine the cartridges are not frictionally
retained therein and can fall out of the magazine.
[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a cartridge magazine with which a reliable retaining of
cartridges in the receptacles is insured and inadvertent falling
out of a cartridge from a receptacle is reliably prevented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] This and other objects of the present invention, which will
become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing, in each of
the receptacle further means for formlockingly retaining respective
cartridges from displacement in a second axial direction of the
cartridges opposite the first axial direction.
[0008] The further means reliably prevents falling of the
cartridges out of the receptacles even when the friction between
receptacles and the cartridges is reduced or eliminated due to
outside influences, e.g., climate conditions.
[0009] Advantageously, the further formlockingly retaining means
includes at least one projection for each of the receptacles for
engaging from behind a cartridge bottom of a respective cartridge
and forming a stop. Such projections can be formed in an already
existing cartridge member without any noticeable additional
expenses.
[0010] It is further advantageous when the first-mentioned
formlockingly retaining means is formed by a step that serves as a
stop for a toric widening of a cartridge. The step can be provided
on an inner circumference of a receptacle.
[0011] Advantageously, two projections, which located opposite each
other, are provided on a rim of a receptacle. This insures an
optimal retention of a cartridge in the receptacle. Of course, more
than two projections can be provided in a receptacle.
[0012] In a still further advantageous embodiment of the present
invention, the at least one projection is formed as an embossed or
calked member. The projection can be formed by embossing or calking
an elevation provided on the carrier member after placing of
cartridge, which insures an economical manufacturing.
[0013] In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the
present invention, the at least one projection is formed as a
pivotal snap or locking element. This insures that the carrier
member can be filled with cartridges several times, i.e., provides
for a multiple use of the carrier member. The snap or locking
element is formed integrally with the carrier member, e.g., from a
plastic material by an injection-molding process.
[0014] In accordance with yet another advantageous embodiment of
the present invention, the at least one projections is formed as a
floating clip that surrounds a receptacle, e.g., by 360.degree..
Alternatively, the clip can be formed of several members provided
on a rim of a receptacle. With this embodiment, the carrier member
can be easily equipped with cartridges, as the floating clip serves
as a snap element. Advantageously, the floating clip is formed
integrally with the carrier member, e.g., from a plastic material
by injection-molding.
[0015] The novel features of the present invention, which are
considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in
the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its
construction and its mode of operation, together with additional
advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The drawings show:
[0017] FIG. 1 a plan view of a cartridge member of a cartridge
magazine according to the present invention before placing of
cartridges therein;
[0018] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of the carrier member along
line II-II in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but
with cartridges placed in the cartridge carrier;
[0020] FIG. 4 a plan view of a cartridge member with cartridges
placed therein of a further embodiment of a cartridge magazine
according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 a cross-sectional view along line V-V in FIG. 4;
and
[0022] FIG. 6 a plan view of a cartridge member of another
embodiment of a cartridge magazine according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIGS. 1 through 3 show a carrier member 20 of a strip-shaped
cartridge magazine 10 that is formed of a plastic material and has
a plurality of equidistantly spaced from each other, arranged one
after another, receptacles 21 for propellant-filled cartridges 11
(FIG. 3). In each of the receptacle 21, there is provided a step 22
that serves as a stop for a toric widening 14 of a cartridge 11.
The stop is designed to formlockingly retain the cartridge 11 in a
predetermined axial direction defined by a cartridge axis A and an
opening zone 13 of the cartridge 11. In the receptacle 21, which is
surrounded, at least regionwise by a cylindrical wall 26, a
cartridge 11, which projects to one side of the carrier member 20,
is frictionally retained.
[0024] On the side of the carrier member 20 remote from the wall
26, there is provided a projection 23 (see FIG. 3) that engages
from behind the toric widening 14 of the cartridge 11 in the region
of the cartridge bottom 12 to formlockingly retain the cartridge 11
in a direction opposite the direction of the axial extent of the
cartridge 11 (in the direction of the cartridge bottom 12). Thus,
the cartridges 11 are formlockingly held by stops in both axial
directions. Thereby, falling out of cartridges 11 from the carrier
member 20 is prevented when the frictional connection between the
cartridges 11 and the receptacles 21 is reinforced by external
means such as, e.g., kinematic means.
[0025] The projections 23 are formed in the carrier member 20,
which is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and which is a plastic injection-molded
part, by side-shaped elevations 25 upon injection-molding of the
carrier member (see FIGS. 1-2). After the cartridges 11 have been
placed in the receptacles 21, the elevations 25 are transformed
into the projections 23 by embossing or calking, engaging from
behind the cartridges 11 on their bottom 12. (FIG. 3).
[0026] Sidewise of the carrier member 21, these are provided
transportation recesses 24 in which a transporting element of a
setting tool or of a magazine receptacle of the setting tool, or
the like can engage for displacing the cartridge magazine 10.
[0027] FIGS. 4-5 show another embodiment of cartridge magazine 10
that differs from that shown in FIGS. 1-3 in that projections 23
are formed as pivotal snap or locking elements. The snap elements
can be formed directly on the carrier member during an injection
process for forming the carrier member. A subsequent calking is not
any more necessary. After the carrier member has been formed, the
cartridges 11 can be placed in the receptacles 21, with the snap
elements being bent out outwardly by the cartridges. To this end,
on a side of the snap element remote from the receptacle, a free
space 27 is provided. When the cartridge 11 is completely inserted
in the receptacle 21, the snap element pivots back into its initial
position, engaging regionwise the bottom 12 of the cartridge 11.
Advantageously the snap elements have a shape of a segment of a
circle and partially surround the respective receptacles 21.
[0028] In the cartridge magazine 10 shown in FIG. 6, the
projections 23 are formed as floating clips surrounding the
receptacles 21 by 360.degree.. The floating clip can be formed on a
carrier member during the injection process when the carrier member
21 is formed. Alternatively, instead of floating clips which
completely surround the receptacles, one or more members of the
floating clip can be provided at the receptacle 21.
[0029] Though the present invention was shown and described with
references to the preferred embodiments such are merely
illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed
as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is
therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the
disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present invention
includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the
spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *