U.S. patent application number 14/028803 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-19 for self-locking chambers for magazine speed loaders.
The applicant listed for this patent is Raymond Kyungjune Kim. Invention is credited to Raymond Kyungjune Kim.
Application Number | 20150075053 14/028803 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52666652 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150075053 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Raymond Kyungjune |
March 19, 2015 |
SELF-LOCKING CHAMBERS FOR MAGAZINE SPEED LOADERS
Abstract
Self-locking chambers for magazine speed loaders is disclosed. A
self-locking chamber features a chamber, comprising of two parallel
walls, that engages with an alignment wall and a locking block, the
alignment wall and the locking block configured to work in
conjunction with one another in restraining the lateral mobility of
cartridges placed in between them. Cartridges positioned in between
the two parallel walls and in between the locking block and the
alignment wall are restrained from lateral movement and serve to
restrain the lateral mobility of the chamber, hence locking the
chamber in linear alignment with a feed opening of a magazine that
is coupled adjacent to the locking block and alignment wall.
Inventors: |
Kim; Raymond Kyungjune;
(Federal Way, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kim; Raymond Kyungjune |
Federal Way |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52666652 |
Appl. No.: |
14/028803 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 9/84 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/88 |
International
Class: |
F41A 9/84 20060101
F41A009/84 |
Claims
1. Self-locking chambers for speed loaders, the self locking
chambers comprising; a receiving surface positioned to receive and
support cartridges, the receiving surface having a length and a
width; an alignment wall extending from a long edge of the
receiving surface along the length of the receiving surface; a
locking block extending from a short edge of the receiving surface
along a portion of the width and extending along a long edge of the
receiving surface for a portion of the length, wherein the locking
block is spaced away from the alignment wall such that the locking
block, the alignment wall, and the receiving surface collectively
define a channel that is sized to permit cartridges to slide from
the receiving surface, between the locking block and alignment
wall, into a magazine that is positioned adjacent to the channel,
and wherein the locking block, working in conjunction with the
alignment wall, is configured to restrain cartridges from moving
laterally while positioned in the channel; and multiple
spaced-apart partition walls operatively coupled relative to the
receiving surface, wherein the partition walls are parallel to the
alignment wall, wherein each partition wall defines a cut out that
is sized to receive the locking block, wherein the partition walls
are configured to facilitate receipt of multiple rows of cartridges
onto the receiving surface and host received cartridges in areas of
space between each of the partition walls defined as chambers,
wherein the partition walls are configured to translate laterally
relative to the receiving surface toward the alignment wall for the
successive alignment of each chamber with the channel, and wherein
during each chamber's successive alignment with the channel, the
partition walls that border each successively aligned chamber are
configured to be locked from lateral movement by the cartridges of
each successively aligned chamber that are urged into the channel
and restrained from lateral movement by the locking block and the
alignment wall.
2. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein there are three
spaced-apart partition walls and two chambers.
3. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein lateral movement
is defined as movement that is parallel with the axis of the width
of the receiving surface.
4. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein each chamber is
configured to host and maintain cartridges in a file
configuration.
5. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein the multiple
spaced-apart partition walls move in tandem with one another.
6. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein the multiple
spaced-apart partition walls collectively define a perpendicular
wall that couples with each partition wall and extends along the
portion of the lengths of the partition walls that is not
encompassed by the cut outs.
7. The self-locking chambers of claim 6, wherein the perpendicular
wall is configured to operatively couple relative to the receiving
surface, translate laterally across the receiving surface in tandem
with the partition walls, receive cartridges and support
cartridges.
8. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein the locking block
is engaged within the cut outs of the partition walls and is
configured to operatively couple relative to the partition
walls.
9. The self-locking chambers of claim 8, wherein the partition
walls translate laterally across the locking block.
10. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein the alignment
wall defines a passage opening sized to receive the partition
walls.
11. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein the locking block
extends along a portion of the length of the long edge that is
equal to the width of two cartridges.
12. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein the locking block
extends along the entire length of the long edge.
13. The self-locking chambers of claim 1, wherein the chambers,
while linearly aligned with the channel, are configured to overlap
the channel in such a manner that cartridges positioned in the
channel are simultaneously positioned within a chamber that is
immediately aligned with the channel.
14. A method for locking chambers in linear alignment with a
magazine feed opening, the method comprising; providing the self
locking chambers of claim 1; positioning a magazine feed opening
relative to the channel in such a manner as to align the magazine
feed opening linearly with the channel; positioning multiple rows
of cartridges onto the receiving surface in such a manner that one
row of cartridges is positioned into each chamber; following the
positioning of cartridges into the chambers, translating the
partition walls laterally relative to the receiving surface toward
the alignment wall until a first chamber becomes linearly aligned
with the channel; following the alignment of a first chamber with
the channel, pivoting the weight of the partition walls in such a
manner as to urge the first chamber against the alignment wall and
maintain the first chamber locked in linear alignment with the
channel with the weight of the partition walls; while maintaining
the first chamber locked in linear alignment with the channel,
urging the cartridges in the first chamber through the channel and
into the magazine feed opening; and following the loading of the
first chamber, successively translating the remaining cartridge
bearing chambers into alignment with the channel and magazine feed
opening, locking each successively aligned chamber from translating
laterally relative to the channel, and loading the cartridges
within each successively aligned chamber into the magazine feed
opening.
15. A method for locking chambers in linear alignment with a
magazine feed opening, the method comprising; providing the self
locking chambers of claim 1; positioning a magazine feed opening
relative to the channel in such a manner as to align the magazine
feed opening linearly with the channel; positioning multiple rows
of cartridges onto the receiving surface in such a manner that one
row of cartridges is positioned into each chamber; following the
positioning of cartridges into the chambers, translating the
partition walls laterally relative to the receiving surface toward
the alignment wall until a first chamber becomes linearly aligned
with the channel; following the alignment of a first chamber with
the channel, locking the chamber from lateral movement relative to
the channel by urging the first cartridges in the chamber, that are
of closest proximity to the channel, into the channel, between the
locking block and the alignment wall; following the locking of the
first chamber, successively urging the other cartridges in the
chamber through the channel, between the locking block and
alignment wall, and out from the chamber into the magazine feed
opening, subsequently urging the cartridges already in the channel
out from the channel and chamber into the magazine feed opening
while maintaining the chamber locked in alignment with the channel
with each successive cartridge that is passed between the locking
block and alignment wall; and following the loading of the first
chamber, successively translating the remaining cartridge bearing
chambers into alignment with the channel and magazine feed opening,
locking each successively aligned chamber from translating
laterally relative to the channel, and loading the cartridges
within each successively aligned chamber into the magazine feed
opening.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the rows of cartridges
positioned in each chamber besides the first are supported by the
locking block.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein upon the successive alignment
of each chamber with the channel, partition walls bordering each
successively aligned chamber urge the cartridges of each
successively aligned chamber from the support of the locking block
to the support of the receiving surface and the channel.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein upon the successive alignment
of each chamber with the channel, a partition wall bordering each
successively aligned chamber is translated laterally into
engagement within the passage opening of the alignment wall.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein following the successive
alignment of each chamber with the channel, the cartridges in the
each successively aligned chamber are urged into the channel,
between the locking block and the alignment wall, by force of
gravity.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein following the successive
alignment of each chamber with the channel, the cartridges in the
each successively aligned chamber are urged into the channel,
between the locking block and the alignment wall, by a rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of ammunition
speed loaders for firearms magazines and more particularly relates
to a chamber locking system for magazine speed loaders.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Most ammunition speed loading devices for rifle magazines
work on a system of stacking multiple ammunition cartridges into a
single file within a chamber, aligning that chamber with the feed
opening of a magazine, urging the cartridges in the chamber against
an opposing force exerted by the spring of the magazine, overcoming
that opposing force and further urging the cartridges into the
magazine. The flaw with this system is that if a chamber is not
maintained in fixed alignment with a magazine feed opening, the
force applied in overcoming the opposing force of a magazine spring
is often deteriorated while being transferred through a file of
cartridges to a magazine spring. This is because force applied onto
an a file of cartridges that is not structurally reinforced on two
widthwise sides, such as a file of cartridges in an unfixed
chamber, has a tendency to be vectored away from its original
direction of urging by the cartridges of the file, which have an
inclination to slide off from one another while in a file
configuration due to their circular shape.
[0005] Therefore, in an attempt to conserve the utility of the
force applied through cartridges to overcome a magazine spring,
speed loaders are designed with a feature that locks a chamber in
alignment with a feed opening of a magazine, so that a file of
cartridges within a chamber is constantly reinforced on two
widthwise sides up to the point where the chamber meets the
magazine feed opening. This allows a chamber to constantly maintain
its cartridges in a file, thus allowing force that is applied onto
the cartridges to directly transfer through the cartridge file, in
a linear manner, to a magazine spring with minimal force lost from
being re-vectored through the cartridges. Hence, with locked
chambers, the overall force required to load cartridges into a
magazine is relatively equal to the force required to overcome the
opposing force of a magazine spring.
[0006] Though prior art discloses a means for permanently locking a
single chamber in alignment with a magazine feed opening, prior art
does not provide a means for successively and temporarily locking a
series of chambers in alignment with a magazine feed opening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the absence of known designs or methods for
successively locking multiple chambers into alignment with a
magazine feed opening coupled relative to the multiple chambers, it
is the intent of the present invention to provide self locking
chambers that can lock and subsequently unlock from alignment with
a magazine feed opening so that successive chambers, as part of a
system, can align and lock into alignment with a magazine feed
opening.
[0008] To accomplish this objective, self locking chambers, in
their preferred embodiment, comprise a first elongated wall that is
comprised of a front face and a back face. The front face
perpendicularly extends three parallel partition walls that are
parallel with the length of the first elongated wall. These
partition walls run the entire length of the first elongated wall
and are spaced apart from one another by a distance equal to the
width of one cartridge. These cartridge wide spacings, defined as
chambers, are configured to host ammunition cartridges. The first
elongated wall also defines a cut out at a short edge of the first
elongated that runs a portion of the width of the short edge. The
cut out also runs along a long edge of the first elongated wall for
a portion of the long edge length. The cut out also runs from the
back face of the first elongated wall, through the elongated wall,
into a portion of the partition walls. The back face is slideably
engaged with a face of a second elongated wall. The face of the
second elongated wall perpendicularly extends an alignment wall at
a long edge and perpendicularly extends a locking block at a short
edge. The locking block is sized to engage within the cut out of
the first elongated wall and is distanced away the alignment wall
by a measurement equal to the width of a cartridge. The locking
block, the alignment wall and the front face of the first elongated
wall collectively define the space commonly bordered by each of
these entities as a cartridge wide channel. A first chamber of the
first elongated wall is linearly aligned with the cartridge wide
channel, while simultaneously overlapping the channel, and a first
partition wall bordering the first chamber is engaged within an
opening defined by the partition wall. An ammunition magazine is
coupled relative to the cartridge wide channel in such a manner
that a magazine feed opening defined by the magazine is linearly
aligned with the channel. Ammunition cartridges are positioned in
both chambers of the first elongated wall. Some cartridges
positioned in the first chamber and are simultaneously positioned
within the cartridge wide channel between the locking block and
alignment wall, where they are restrained from moving laterally, or
perpendicularly to the length of the channel, by the locking block
and the alignment wall. As a result, the partition walls bordering
the first chamber, which encapsulate the restrained cartridges on
two sides, are restrained from moving laterally by the restrained
cartridges. Consequently, this locks the first chamber in linear
alignment with the cartridge wide channel and the magazine feed
opening. Each cartridge in the first chamber that is not positioned
within the cartridge wide channel is successively and sequentially
urged into the channel, where it urges the cartridges already in
the channel from the channel and first chamber into the magazine
feed opening. While each cartridge passes through the channel, it
becomes restrained from moving laterally by the locking block and
alignment wall and, as a result, maintains the partition walls
bordering the first chamber restrained from moving laterally as
well. Hence, the first chamber remains locked in alignment with the
cartridge wide channel and magazine feed opening as long as there
are cartridges within the channel. Once cartridges have been
successively urged into the channel, they are further successively
urged into the magazine feed opening until all cartridges in the
first chamber have been urged from the first chamber. Once the
first chamber has been cleared of cartridges, the second chamber is
aligned with the cartridge wide channel and magazine feed opening.
The cartridges in the second chamber are successively urged into
the cartridge wide channel and then subsequently successively urged
into the magazine feed opening.
[0009] The more important features of the invention have thus been
outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows
may be better understood. Additional features of the invention will
be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the
claims that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
invention are described in detail below with reference to the
following drawings.
[0011] FIG. 1 is an angled side view of the preferred embodiment of
the sliding wall and support wall;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an angled side view of the preferred embodiment of
the sliding wall and support wall aggregated into one unit;
[0013] FIG. 3A is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the
sliding wall and support wall, aggregated, coupled with a magazine
and supporting ammunition cartridges positioned in the two
chambers;
[0014] FIG. 3B is a top cross section view FIG. 3A;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side cross section view of cartridges in the
proximal chamber urged through the channel, between the locking
block and the partition wall, into the magazine feed opening;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top cross section view of the distal chamber
linearly aligned with the magazine feed opening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] In reference to the example embodiments shown in FIG. 1,
self locking chambers 100 comprise an elongated sliding wall 101,
which is comprised of a proximal face 102 and a distal face 103.
The sliding wall proximal face 102 perpendicularly extends three
parallel partition walls 104, 105, 106. In one embodiment, the
partition walls 104, 105, 106 extend perpendicularly out from the
proximal face 102 for a distance equal to approximately half the
length of a cartridge 300. A proximal partition wall 104 is
extended at one long edge of the proximal face 102, a distal
partition wall 106 is extended at a second long edge of the
proximal face 102, which lies opposite to the long edge of the
proximal partition wall 104, and a center partition wall 105 is
extended at a location on the proximal face 102 that lies between
the proximal and distal partition walls 104, 106. The partition
walls 104, 105, 106, are parallel with the long edges of the
proximal face 102 and run across the entire length of the sliding
wall 101.
[0018] The multiple gaps between each of the individual partition
walls 104, 105, 106 are defined as chambers 107, 108. The chamber
107 between the proximal partition wall 104 and the center
partition wall 105 is more specifically defined as the proximal
chamber 107 and the chamber 108 between the center partition wall
105 and distal partition wall 106 is more specifically defined as
the distal chamber 108. In one embodiment, the width of each
chamber 107, 108 is equal to the width of a cartridge 300.
[0019] The sliding wall 101 defines a cut out 109 that runs from
the proximal chamber 107 to the distal partition wall 106 on one
axis, from a proximal short edge 110 of the proximal face 102
toward a distal short edge 111 for a portion of the length of the
sliding wall 101 on a second axis, and from the sliding wall distal
face 103, through the sliding wall 101, into the center and distal
partition walls 105, 106 for a portion of the height of the center
and distal partition walls 105, 106 on a third axis. In one
embodiment, the portion of the length of the sliding wall 101 run
through by the cut out 109 on the second axis is equal to the width
of two cartridges 300. In one embodiment, the cut out 109 runs
along the length of the sliding wall 101 on the second axis for the
entire length of the sliding wall 101. In one embodiment, the
portion of the height of the central and distal partition walls
105, 106 run through by the cut out 109 on the third axis is equal
to approximately one fifth of the length of a cartridge 300.
[0020] The self locking chambers 100 further comprises of an
elongated support wall 112, which is comprised of a front face 113.
The front face 113 defines a bottom short edge 114, a top short
edge 115, a right long edge 116 and a left long edge 117. The
support wall front face 113 perpendicularly extends an alignment
wall 118 at the right long edge 116 that runs the length of the
right long edge 116. In one embodiment, the alignment wall 118
extends from the front face 113 at the left long edge 117. The
alignment wall 118 defines a pass through space 119 sized to allow
the partition walls 114, 115, 116 passage through the alignment
wall 118.
[0021] The front face 113 perpendicularly extends a locking block
120 at the bottom short edge 114 that runs from the left long edge
117 toward the alignment wall 118 for a portion of the width of the
bottom short edge 114. In one embodiment, the distance of space
between the locking block 120 and the alignment wall 118 is equal
to the width of a cartridge 300. The locking block 120 extends from
the bottom short edge 114 and runs along the left long edge 117 for
a portion of the length of the left long edge 117. In one
embodiment, the portion of the length of the left long edge 117 run
by the locking block 120 is equal to the width of two cartridges
300. In one embodiment, the locking block 120 runs along the left
long edge 117 for the entire length of the left long edge 117. The
locking block 120 extends perpendicularly from the elongated
support wall front face 113 for a limited height. In one
embodiment, this height is equal to the thickness of the sliding
wall 101 combined with one fifth of the length of a cartridge
300.
[0022] The front face 113 defines a raised area 121 between the
locking block 120 and the alignment wall 118 that extends
perpendicularly from the front face 113 for a distance equal to the
thickness of the sliding wall 101. The raised area 121 extends from
the bottom short edge 114 and runs along the length of the support
wall 112 for a distance equal to the length of distance run by the
locking block 120 along the left long edge 117.
[0023] The locking block 120, the alignment wall 118, and the
raised area 121 collectively define the common area bordered by
each of these entities as a cartridge wide channel 122. The
cartridge wide channel 122 is sized to allow the passage of
cartridges 300 between the locking block 120 and the alignment wall
118 and is configured to interface with a magazine feed opening
201. The cartridge wide channel 122 is further configured to
successively align with each sliding wall chamber 107, 108 in a
manner that allows cartridges 300 positioned in each chamber 107,
108 a linear path through the channel 122 to a magazine feed
opening 201 coupled relative to the channel 122.
[0024] In reference to the example embodiments shown in FIG. 2, the
sliding wall distal face 103 is slideably engaged with the support
wall front face 113 in such a manner that the partition walls 104,
105, 106 align with the alignment wall 118 in a parallel manner.
The sliding wall 101 and the proximal partition wall 104 are
engaged within the alignment wall pass through space 119 and the
sliding wall proximal chamber 107 is linearly aligned with the
cartridge wide channel 122. While linearly aligned with the
cartridge wide channel 122, the proximal chamber 107 overlaps the
channel 122 in such a manner that cartridges 300 positioned in the
channel 122 are simultaneously positioned within the proximal
chamber 107. The support wall locking block 120 is slideably
engaged within the sliding wall cut out 109 and tangent with the
distal chamber 108.
[0025] In reference to the example embodiments shown in FIG. 3A and
3B, an ammunition magazine 200, comprising of a feed opening 201,
is coupled relative to the cartridge wide channel 122 in such a
manner that the feed opening 201 is in linear alignment with the
channel 122.
[0026] Ammunition cartridges 300 are positioned in the chambers
107, 108 in such a manner that the lengths of cartridges 300 are
oriented perpendicular to the length of the sliding wall 101. In
one embodiment, cartridges 300 are placed into the chambers
pointing away from the sliding wall proximal face 102. Cartridges
300 positioned in the proximal chamber 107 are supported by either
the sliding wall proximal face 102 or the raised area 121 while
cartridges 300 positioned in the distal chamber 108 are supported
either by the sliding wall proximal face 102 or the locking block
120. In one embodiment, the support of all of the cartridges 300
positioned in the distal chamber 108 is placed on the locking block
120. The cartridges 300 positioned in the proximal chamber 107 and
supported by the raised area 121, in the cartridge wide channel
122, are restricted from moving laterally, or perpendicularly to
the length of the channel 122, by the locking block 120 and the
alignment wall 118. As a result, the proximal and center partition
walls 104, 105, which encapsulate the restricted cartridges 300 on
two sides, are likewise restrained from moving laterally,
consequently locking the proximal chamber 107 in linear alignment
with the cartridge wide channel 122 and the magazine feed opening
201.
[0027] In reference to the example embodiments shown in FIG. 4,
cartridges 300 in the proximal chamber 107, supported by the
sliding wall proximal face 102, are successively urged from the
proximal face 102 onto the raised area 121, in the cartridge wide
channel 122, where they urge the cartridges 300 already in the
cartridge wide channel 122 from the channel 122 and the proximal
chamber 107 into the magazine feed opening 201. Each successive
cartridge 300 urged into the channel 122, between the locking block
120 and alignment wall 118, restrains the proximal and center
partition walls 105, 106 from moving laterally and maintains the
proximal chamber 107 locked in alignment with the cartridge wide
channel 122. Each cartridge 300 successively urged into the
cartridge wide channel 122 is then further urged from the proximal
chamber 107 into the magazine feed opening 201 until all cartridges
300 in the proximal chamber 107 are urged into the magazine feed
opening 201.
[0028] In reference to the example embodiments shown in FIG. 5,
following the clearing of cartridges 300 from the proximal chamber
107, the sliding wall 101 is further translated laterally across
the support wall 112 toward the alignment wall 118 and further
engaged within the pass through space 119 until the center
partition wall 105 becomes engaged within the pass through space
119 and the distal chamber 108 becomes linearly aligned with the
cartridge wide channel 122. While linearly aligned with the
cartridge wide channel 122, the distal chamber 108 overlaps the
channel 122 in such a manner that cartridges 300 positioned in the
channel 122 are simultaneously positioned within the distal chamber
108. The alignment of the distal chamber 108 with the cartridge
wide channel 122 causes the distal partition wall 106 to urge
cartridges 300 supported by the locking block 120, in the distal
chamber 108, from the locking block 120 onto the raised area 121.
In one embodiment, all cartridges 300 in the distal chamber 108 are
supported by the sliding wall proximal face 102, and the alignment
of the distal chamber 108 with the cartridge wide channel 122
causes cartridges 300 in the distal channel 108 to shift onto the
raised area 121 by urging of the force of gravity.
[0029] The cartridges 300 of the distal chamber 108, which have
been positioned on the raised area 121, in the channel 122, are
restrained from moving laterally by the locking block 120 and the
alignment wall 118. The center and distal partition walls 105, 106,
which encapsulate the restrained cartridges 300 on two sides, are
restricted from moving laterally by the restrained cartridges 300,
hence locking the distal chamber 108 in linear alignment with the
cartridge wide channel 122. The cartridges 300 in the distal
chamber 108, not supported by the raised area 121, are successively
urged onto the raised area 121, in the cartridge wide channel 122,
where they urges the cartridges 300 already in the channel 122 into
the magazine feed opening 201 while maintaining the distal chamber
108 locked in linear alignment with the cartridge wide channel 122
and magazine feed opening 201. Each cartridge 300 passed into the
cartridge wide channel 122 is then further urged from the distal
chamber 108 into the magazine feed opening 201 until all cartridges
300 in the distal chamber 108 are urged into the magazine feed
opening 201.
* * * * *