U.S. patent application number 15/000308 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-21 for rifle magazine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Emery E. Toth. Invention is credited to Emery E. Toth.
Application Number | 20160209140 15/000308 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56407591 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160209140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Toth; Emery E. |
July 21, 2016 |
Rifle Magazine
Abstract
A polymer AK-47 magazine which has stainless steel reinforced
feed lips as well as the front locking point being part of the
reinforcing unit. The magazine also has a corrosion resistant rear
locking point as well as said magazine having internal friction
reducing lands and an anti-tilt follower. The corrosion-resistant
reinforcement is attached to the anterior, posterior, sinistral,
and dextral sides to the magazine feed lips, and the magazine front
locking point. The corrosion-resistant reinforcement prevents
deformation of said feed lips during usage.
Inventors: |
Toth; Emery E.; (Clinton
Twp, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Toth; Emery E. |
Clinton Twp |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56407591 |
Appl. No.: |
15/000308 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62104137 |
Jan 16, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 9/65 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 9/65 20060101
F41A009/65 |
Claims
1. An ammunition magazine, comprising: a. a magazine body having an
arcuate shape; b. a corrosion-resistant reinforcement attached to
an anterior, posterior, sinistral, and dextral sides to the
magazine feed lips, said magazine body including a magazine front
locking point, said corrosion-resistant reinforcement preventing
deformation of said feed lips during usage; c. an anti-tilt
follower disposed in said magazine body; and d. a spring exerting
an upward force upon said anti-tilt follower, said spring being
made of a corrosion-resistant material; whereby said anti-tilt
follower and said spring, being cooperatively engaged, are
compressed into said magazine body by said corrosion-resistant
floor plate, said spring being disposed via a spring retainer, said
spring retainer being cooperatively engaged by the floor plate.
2. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein said front locking
point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert; enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
3. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, further comprising said
ammunition magazine having a plurality of internal, friction
reducing lands.
4. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, further comprising said
ammunition magazine having a corrosion-resistant floor plate
attached at a base of said magazine body.
5. An ammunition magazine, comprising; a. a magazine body having an
arcuate shape; b. a corrosion-resistant reinforcement attached to
an anterior, posterior, sinistral, and dextral sides to the feed
lips, and front and rear locking point; c. a plurality of friction
reducing lands inside of said magazine; d. an anti-tilt follower
disposed into said magazine body; e. a corrosion-resistant spring
attached to said anti-tilt follower; f. a corrosion-resistant floor
plate attached at a base of said magazine body; and g. a spring
retainer cooperatively engageable with said floor plate; whereby,
said anti-tilt follower is inserted into said magazine body and
said corrosion-resistant spring being compressed into said magazine
via said corrosion-resistant floor plate, said spring exerting
upward force upon said anti-tilt follower, said corrosion-resistant
reinforcement preventing deformation of said feed lips during
usage.
6. The ammunition magazine of claim 5, wherein the front and rear
locking point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert; enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
7. The ammunition magazine of claim 5, wherein the rear locking
point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert; enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
8. The ammunition magazine of claim 5, wherein the spring retainer
limits travel of the anti-tilt follower, preventing over
compression of the spring.
9. The ammunition magazine of claim 5, wherein the front locking
point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert, enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
10. The ammunition magazine of claim 5, wherein the rear locking
point is corrosion resistant and not an integral part of the
reinforcement insert.
11. An ammunition magazine, comprising: a. a magazine body having
an arcuate shape; b. a corrosion-resistant reinforcement attached
to sides to the magazine feed lips, said magazine body including a
magazine front locking point, said corrosion-resistant
reinforcement preventing deformation of said feed lips during
usage; c. an anti-tilt follower disposed in said magazine body; d.
a spring exerting an upward force upon said anti-tilt follower,
said spring being made of a corrosion-resistant material, said
anti-tilt follower and said spring, being cooperatively engaged,
are compressed into said magazine body by said corrosion-resistant
floor plate, said spring being disposed via a spring retainer, said
spring retainer being cooperatively engaged by the floor plate.
12. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, wherein said front locking
point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert; enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
13. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, further comprising said
ammunition magazine having a plurality of internal, friction
reducing lands.
14. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, further comprising said
ammunition magazine having a corrosion-resistant floor plate
attached at a base of said magazine body;
15. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, wherein the front and rear
locking point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert; enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
16. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, wherein the rear locking
point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert; enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
17. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, wherein the spring
retainer limits travel of the anti-tilt follower, preventing over
compression of the spring.
18. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, wherein the front locking
point is corrosion-resistant and an integral part of said
reinforcement insert, enabling positive, reliable locking of said
magazine into a rifle.
19. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, wherein the rear locking
point is corrosion resistant and not an integral part of the
reinforcement insert.
20. The ammunition magazine of claim 11, wherein said ammunition
magazine is compatible with an AK-47 rifle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and Claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Application 62/104,137 entitled "Rifle Magazine", by
Emery E. Toth filed on Jan. 16, 2015.
FIELD OF USE
[0002] The present invention relates to a rifle magazine with
corrosion-resistant reinforced feed lips and lockup points.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With the recent advances in polymer technology, it has
become possible to make rifle magazines from polymers which are
strong enough, and temperature resistant enough to stand up to the
demands of modern combat as well as the demands of modern
recreational shooters. One problem which has occurred with polymer
magazines is deformation of the feed lips. In order to repair
problems with feed lips becoming deformed and breaking, and thereby
causing malfunctions, many manufacturers have begun to reinforce
the areas which are most prone to breakage and deformation from
prolonged use. Some have simply made the feed lips and
corresponding areas thicker and of stronger polymer, while others
have inserted steel reinforcing on the outside, or inside of the
feed lip area in an effort to prevent failure of the feed lips.
[0004] U.S. Patent Application No. 20100281737 (Cahill) discloses a
detachable magazine for a rifle. The magazine has an outer case
with an open top end, a bottom end, and an internal cavity. The
magazine also includes a follower that moves within the internal
cavity. The follower guides ammunition cartridges toward feed lips
at the top of the magazine, where the cartridges are loaded into
the rifle. The follower includes one or more openings or slots
formed through the top surface of the follower. The slots enable
debris or dirt inside the magazine to fall out when the magazine is
being cleaned. Water can be sprayed into the magazine through the
slots in the follower, and dirt or debris can be flushed out to
clean the magazine without disassembly. [0005] U.S. Pat. No.
8,713,834 (Buddie, et al.) discloses a device for reinforcing a
locating pin aperture in a firearm magazine. The reinforcement
device includes a front panel with an aperture adapted to be
coaxially aligned with the locating pin aperture. The reinforcement
device also includes a clamp adapted to secure the front panel to
the firearm magazine to ensure accurate alignment of the front
panel aperture with the locating pin aperture. [0006] U.S. Pat. No.
8,069,601 (Fitzpatrick, et al.) discloses an ammunition magazine,
preferably made of a glass fiber reinforced polymer, using a
structurally enhancing ridge, angular guide rails and a follower
made to interface with said guide rails to reduce wobble. The
preferred embodiment also features a protective cover that
distributes forces from the spring to more structurally sound areas
of the magazine, thus reducing feed end splay, and an ammunition
indication system comprised of at least one window and a noticeable
marker on the follower spring. The follower and magazine casing are
also designed to interface to prevent the follower from popping out
of the feed end and the floor plate of the magazine utilizes a
locking plate and sliding relationship between the floor plate,
locking plate and magazine to secure the floor plate onto the
magazine casing. The cover features built-in tools for unloading
and dis-assembling the magazine. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,483
(Alzamora, et al.) discloses a magazine for use in existing
firearms comprising a housing, a follower, a spring, a spring hold
and a cap. The housing comprises protruded surfaces for structural
strength and a projection that acts as a stop member to define the
maximum insertion of the magazine into the firearm magazine well.
The follower comprises two follower legs and a spring retainer, and
travels up and down the housing. The perimeters of the follower and
follower legs mirror the internal profile of the magazine housing
for a well-defined travel path within the magazine housing. The
spring hold comprises a spring retainer and a round protrusion that
locks it into the cap via a circular cut.
[0008] This prior art discloses only reinforced certain parts of
the magazine, such as the feed lips or the lockup points. Also,
some of this prior art relies on heavy polymers in the areas of the
most stress. None of this prior art is specifically for AK-47
pattern rifles.
[0009] What is needed is a corrosion-resistant reinforced polymer
AK-47 magazine for AK-47 pattern rifles and variants, such as the
Hydra made by MGI, and the LAR-47 made by Rock River Arms which use
AK-47 magazines for increased magazine reliability and reduce
fatigue on the feed lips. Further, due to usage, non-reinforced
polymer magazine feed lips wear out, causing failure to feed, jams
and other issues which do not occur with steel magazines or with
polymer magazines in which the feed lip area is reinforced with
steel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The rifle magazine of the present invention addresses said
needs.
[0011] The rifle magazine of the present invention is designed for
AK-47 pattern rifles and their variants and is designed for owners
of AK-47 pattern rifles and their variants that require a reliable,
and durable polymer magazine which is of high quality as well as
compliant per B.A.T.F. 922(r). In addition, the rifle magazine of
the present invention contains a corrosion-resistant insert which
is used to reinforce the feed lips of the magazine as well as
corrosion-resistant attachment points and a corrosion-resistant
floor plate. All of these factors contribute to increased
durability and reliability of the rifle magazine of the present
invention.
[0012] For a complete understanding of the rifle magazine of the
present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings
and description in which the presently preferred embodiments of the
invention are shown by way of example. As the invention may be
embodied in many forms without departing from spirit of essential
characteristics thereof, it is expressly understood that the
drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only, and
are not intended as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of the rifle magazine of the present invention, showing
the backside of the rifle magazine with a perspective view of the
rear locking point.
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded detailed view of the upper
portion of the rifle magazine of FIG. 1, and DETAIL "A" depicts the
rear locking point.
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts another perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of the rifle magazine of FIG. 1, the surface
of the magazine being depicted as transparent.
[0016] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict full side perspective front and rear
views, respectively, of the first preferred embodiment of the rifle
magazine of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 5 depicts a full side perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of the rifle magazine of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C depict the top, side and front view of
the first preferred embodiment of the feed lip reinforcement for
use with the rifle magazine of FIG. 1, respectively.
[0019] FIG. 7 depicts an exploded front view of the upper portion
of the rifle magazine of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 8 depicts an exploded top view of the upper portion of
the rifle magazine of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a perspective
view of the first preferred embodiment of the rifle magazine of the
present invention, showing the backside of the rifle magazine with
a perspective view of the rear locking point. The ammunition
magazine of the present invention [1] has a slightly curved body
[7] contour, which is a necessity in an AK-47 style magazine to
ensure proper feeding into an AK-47 rifle and variants. One problem
with polymer magazines is that the feed lips will deform after use
for a period of time. The rifle magazine of the present invention
has reinforced feed lips [3], the feed lip reinforcement [2]
extending the useful life of the rifle magazine. The feed lip
reinforcement [2] is made of a corrosion resistant material;
stainless steel being the material of choice with the stainless
steel insert preferably inserted into the feed lips [3] during
production. The stainless steel insert contacts the anterior,
posterior, sinistral and dextral sections of the magazine [1].
Integral to the stainless steel feed lip reinforcement [2] is a
front locking point [9]. To extend the useful life of the front
locking point [9], the front locking point [9] is a part of the
feed lip reinforcement [2]. This combination design also ensures
positive lockup when the ammunition magazine of the present
invention [1] is inserted into the rifle, which will prevent the
magazine from improperly engaging, which can be an issue certain
instances when a shooter fails to seat the magazine completely,
causing the magazine to fall from the rifle, and/or failure to
feed. In many competing designs, the front lockup point [9] is the
only reinforced part, or is merely a much thicker piece of polymer,
which will wear out with use, or even break in heavy use; for
example, if the shooter is competing any of the ubiquitous shooting
matches and drops a fully loaded magazine or an empty magazine onto
the front locking point [9], damaging or breaking the lockup [9]
point so it will prevent proper seating into the rifle.
[0022] The magazine is assembled by attaching an anti-tilt follower
[4] to the spring [5] which is then inserted into the magazine body
[7]. The magazine spring [5] is then compressed using the floor
plate [6] and spring retainer [11], which is inserted into an
opening in the floor plate [6], and then the floor plate [6] is
slide into place at the base of the ammunition magazine of the
present invention [1]. The magazine spring [5] can be made from a
variety of materials; steel, stainless steel, or what is
increasingly popular, chrome silicon steel which has a higher
fatigue resistance than other of types of spring steel.
[0023] On the inside sides and back of the ammunition magazine of
the present invention [1] are friction reducing lands [10] which
reduce the amount of friction encountered by the anti-tilt follower
[4] during travel through the magazine body.
[0024] FIG. 2 depicts the top view of the magazine of FIG. 1,
wherein the feed lip reinforcement [2] is visible inside of the
magazine feed lips [3]. Also, clearly depicted is the anti-tilt
follower [4], front locking point [9], rear locking point [8]
magazine body [7] as well as the friction reducing lands [10].
DETAIL "A" depicts an explode side view of the rear locking point
[8]. In order to reduce friction and contact within the cartridge
case with the internal body wall surface of the magazine body [7],
the preferred embodiment of the rifle magazine [1] of the present
invention includes a plurality of internal lands [15] strategically
disposed within the magazine body [7].
[0025] Also, FIG. 3 depicts another perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of the rifle magazine [1] of FIG. 1, the
surface of the magazine being depicted as transparent for purpose
of illustration.
[0026] FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the rifle magazine of the
present invention. Clearly visible is the feed lip reinforcement
[2], the anti-tilt follower [4], the front locking point [9], rear
locking point [8], feed lips [3], magazine spring [5], friction
reducing lands [10], spring over compression stop [11] and floor
plate [6].
[0027] Here, the friction reducing lands [10] can be best seen
running the length of the magazine on all four sides (also, see
FIGS. 3 and 5). These friction reducing lands [10] are on the
inside of the ammunition magazine of the present invention [1] and
with resulting raised portions on the outside of the ammunition
magazine of the present invention [1] assist in positing gripping
of the magazine by the user.
[0028] The friction reducing lands [10] are small rectangular
guides on the interior of the magazine body [7]. In another
preferred embodiment the friction reducing lands [10] are located
on all four sides of the magazine body [7]. The friction reducing
lands [10] may also be alone or in conjunction with any other
number of lands. The friction reducing lands [10] also reduce
internal friction of the anti-tilt follower [4] while traversing
its path inside of the ammunition magazine of the present invention
[1] during usage.
[0029] The anti-tilt follower [4] is used to prevent the follower
from tilting and binding inside of the magazine during use. This
can cause failures to feed as well as jamming due to the round not
being stripped correctly from the follower by the bolt of the rifle
during operation. The anti-tilt follower eliminates this issue by
preventing the follower from tilting, so it moves in the same path
at all times during usage. This also aids in loading the magazine,
because in magazines with standard followers, if the round is not
correctly inserted, it can cause the follower tilt, which can make
the magazine more difficult to load as well as causing feeding
problems during rifle operation.
[0030] The rear locking point [8] is also preferably stainless
steel and operates on the same principle as the front locking point
[9]. While the front locking point [9] is secured to the front of
the rifle receiver magazine opening, the rear locking point [8] is
securely attached to the magazine release, which is positioned just
in front of the trigger guard in an AK-47. Just as non-metal front
locking points can wear out and become deformed, so can the rear,
even more so since it is also has the added stress of being slid
against the magazine release latch during use. By having a steel
rear locking point [8] wear is practically eliminated as is the
risk of not seating the magazine correctly since a corrosion
resistant rear locking point [8] ensures positive lockup when the
magazine is inserted into the rifle. To insert the ammunition
magazine of the present invention [1] into an AK pattern rifle, the
magazine is tilted so the front locking point [9] is inserted into
position in the magazine well and the user then tilts the magazine
back and upward against the magazine release until the magazine is
firmly seated into position. The rifle at this point is ready to
fire and the bolt of the rifle needs to be pulled back towards the
user and released, stripping a round from the magazine and
inserting it into the chamber of the rifle.
[0031] To release the ammunition magazine of the present invention
[1] from the rifle, the magazine is grasped while the magazine
release is pushed forward towards the magazine. At the same time,
the magazine is tilted down and away towards to the front of the
rifle.
[0032] The spring retainer [11] is used to prevent the spring from
being over compressed when the magazine is full. If one wished to
limit the capacity of a magazine, this stop can be lengthened,
which prevents the spring from compressing beyond a certain point,
not enabling more rounds to be inserted into the magazine. At full
compression, the anti-tilt follower [4] comes into contact with the
spring retainer [11].
[0033] FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C depict the top, side and front view of
the first preferred embodiment of the feed lip reinforcement [2]
for use with the rifle magazine of [1] of the present invention,
respectively.
[0034] Unlike other variations of the AK-47 magazine with
reinforcement, the rifle magazine [1] of the present invention is
one piece, making assembly easier as well as adding overall
strength to the top of the magazine and feed lip [3] area. By
having the reinforcement made from one monolithic piece, with the
front and rear locking points [8 and 9], the reinforcement is less
prone to twisting when the magazine is in use, preventing twisting
of the feed lips [3], while adding rigidity to the top of the rifle
magazine. Assembly is also easier since only one piece needs to be
inserted and affixed to the inside of the feed and locking area of
the magazine.
[0035] In the first preferred embodiment of the rifle magazine [1]
of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, the rear locking point
[8] is a separate piece. In a second preferred embodiment of the
rifle magazine of the present invention (not shown), the rear
locking point [8] is an integral part of the feed lip steel
reinforcement [2].
[0036] FIGS. 7 and 8 depict pictures of the front and top view of
the preferred embodiment of the rifle magazine [1] of the present
invention, respectively. In FIG. 8, the feed lip reinforcement [2]
is part of the integral feed lip [3] and the front locking point
reinforcement [9]. However, the feed lip reinforcement [2]
primarily serves to reinforce the front locking point [9].
[0037] The present invention represents a departure from the prior
art in that the magazine of the present invention enables
reinforced polymer magazine feed lips that provide improved wear,
reducing feed failures, jams and other issues which do not occur
with steel or with polymer magazines in which the feed lip area is
reinforced.
[0038] Throughout this application, various Patents and
applications are referenced by number and inventor. The disclosures
of these documents in their entireties are hereby incorporated by
reference into this specification in order to more fully describe
the state of the art to which this invention pertains.
[0039] It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and
variations of the rifle magazine of the present invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure
herein. It is intended that the metes and bounds of the present
invention be determined by the appended claims rather than by the
language of the above specification, and that all such
alternatives, modifications, and variations which form a conjointly
cooperative equivalent are intended to be included within the
spirit and scope of these claims.
PARTS LIST
[0040] 1. Magazine [0041] 2. Feed Lip Reinforcement [0042] 3. Feed
Lips [0043] 4. Anti-Tilt Follower [0044] 5. Magazine Spring [0045]
6. Floor Plate [0046] 7. Magazine Body [0047] 8. Rear Locking Point
[0048] 9. Front Locking Point [0049] 10. Friction Reducing Lands
[0050] 11. Spring Retainer [0051] 15. Internal Lands
* * * * *