U.S. patent application number 14/725051 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-01 for ammunition magazine configured for automatic ejection.
The applicant listed for this patent is George E. Klimis, Richard J. Tisone. Invention is credited to George E. Klimis, Richard J. Tisone.
Application Number | 20160348992 14/725051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57398237 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160348992 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tisone; Richard J. ; et
al. |
December 1, 2016 |
AMMUNITION MAGAZINE CONFIGURED FOR AUTOMATIC EJECTION
Abstract
The present invention includes modifications to a standard
magazine and magazine follower to effect automatic ejection of an
ammunition magazine from a weapon, once the last round has left the
magazine.
Inventors: |
Tisone; Richard J.;
(Campbell, OH) ; Klimis; George E.; (Lowellville,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tisone; Richard J.
Klimis; George E. |
Campbell
Lowellville |
OH
OH |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57398237 |
Appl. No.: |
14/725051 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 9/70 20130101; F41A
9/38 20130101; F41A 9/59 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 9/59 20060101
F41A009/59; F41A 9/65 20060101 F41A009/65 |
Claims
1. An ammunition magazine configured for weapons designed to
receive ammunition magazines, where each said weapon has an
ammunition magazine catch to hold said ammunition magazine within a
magazine well of said weapon, said ammunition magazine having an
outer casing and a spring driven follower within said outer casing,
wherein said outer casing comprises: a) at least a first aperture
in a side wall of said outer casing, said aperture being positioned
to align with said ammunition magazine catch in said weapon; and,
b) wherein said follower comprises a spring-driven prong positioned
to extend through said first aperture when said follower reaches a
predetermined position within said ammunition magazine casing.
2. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, further comprising: c) a
base plate positioned opposite said magazine well and supporting a
drive spring arranged to drive said follower through said outer
casing of said ammunition magazine.
3. The ammunition magazine of claim 2, wherein said outer casing
further comprises a lip adjacent to said first aperture, said lip
being positioned to interface with said ammunition magazine
catch.
4. The ammunition magazine of claim 3, wherein said outer casing
further comprises a sloping surface arranged between said first
aperture and the top edge of said outer casing, wherein said
sloping surface is biased away from said ammunition magazine catch
as the sloping surface extends from said first aperture to said
upper edge of said outer casing.
5. The ammunition magazine of claim 4, wherein said sloping surface
has a width at least the width of said ammunition magazine
catch.
6. The ammunition magazine of claim 5, wherein said outer casing
further comprises a stop structure above said first aperture, and
adjacent to said sloping surface.
7. The ammunition magazine of claim 6, wherein said follower
further comprises a housing having a concavity holding said
spring-driven prong and a second spring.
8. The ammunition magazine of claim 7, wherein said follower
further comprises a plate over said aperture, said plate having a
second aperture configured for said spring-driven prong to pass
therethrough.
9. A method for automatically ejecting a spent ammunition magazine
from a weapon configured to receive said ammunition magazine, said
method comprising the steps of: a) expending rounds from said
ammunition magazine into said weapon until a last one of said
rounds leaves said ammunition magazine; and, b) simultaneous to
said last round leaving said ammunition magazine, extending a
spring-driven prong perpendicular through a side wall of said
ammunition magazine, wherein said spring-driven prong operates a
manual magazine catch mechanism to release said ammunition magazine
from said weapon.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: c)
moving a sloped surface opposite said manual magazine catch
mechanism wherein said magazine catch mechanism does not hinder
said ammunition magazine from freely dropping from said weapon.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein before said last round is
expended from said ammunition magazine, said spring driven prong is
held in place by the interior of said side wall of said ammunition
magazine.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said manual magazine catch
mechanism engages said aperture and a lip beneath said aperture
until said last round leaves said ammunition magazine.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said ammunition magazine freely
drops from said weapon without operator activation of said manual
magazine catch mechanism, upon said last round leaving said
ammunition magazine.
14. An interactive system for automatically removing an ammunition
magazine from a magazine well of an automatic/semi-automatic
weapon, said system comprising: a) a magazine well configured to
hold an external ammunition magazine, and provide access between
the ammunition magazine and a firing chamber of said weapon for
rounds in said ammunition magazine; b) an ammunition magazine
casing with an aperture arranged on a predetermined side of said
ammunition magazine casing; c) a manual magazine release mechanism
positioned to interface with said aperture lip to hold said
ammunition magazine casing within said magazine well; d) said
aperture being positioned adjacent to a holding lip on said
ammunition magazine casing; e) a spring driven follower arranged in
said ammunition magazine casing, and movable therethrough, said
spring driven follower comprising an inner structure having a
concavity; and, f) a spring-loaded prong being arranged in said
concavity to extend through said aperture when said follower moves
to a predetermined position within said magazine casing.
15. The interactive system of claim 14, wherein said spring-loaded
prong automatically exerts sufficient force to operate said manual
magazine release mechanism without action by a weapon operator.
16. The interactive system of claim 15, wherein said ammunition
magazine comprises a sloped surface positioned above said aperture
and opposite manual magazine release mechanism.
17. The interactive system of claim 16, wherein said sloped surface
is configured to be further away from said manual magazine catch as
the sloped surface extends between said aperture and the top of
said ammunition magazine.
18. The interactive system of claim 17, wherein said ammunition
magazine drops freely from said magazine well upon a last round of
ammunition leaving said magazine.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is generally related to ammunition
magazines for automatic or semi-automatic weapons. In particular,
the present invention is directed to a modification in an
ammunition magazine to facilitate automatic ejection.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The purpose of modern automatic weapons, whether used in
semi-automatic, or full automatic modes, is to provide fast,
accurate placement of rounds downrange at a desired target. Speed
and precision are the objectives when using such arms as the M4
(described in the cited operations manual) in one of its many
variations and embodiments. A number of these embodiments are
listed in the subject cited operations manual. However, there are
many types of magazine-fed weapons with similar characteristics,
and the discussion of conventional art is not limited to the M4
family.
[0003] The major difficulty hindering the rapid fire of such
weapons on a designated downrange target is the reloading cycle.
The pauses or "downtime" occurring during the reloading cycle not
only hinders the effective application of fire on a given target
but also exposes the weapon operator to increased danger since he
cannot protect himself during those pauses. If the weapon operator
is engaged in competitive target shooting, the extra steps and the
time expended for the reloading operations, may put the weapon
operator at a competitive disadvantage.
[0004] There have been many techniques for dealing with this
drawback. These include larger magazines, such as large "banana"
magazines, and connecting magazines together so that it is easier
to lay hands on the new magazine once the old one is expended. In
many cases, infantry tactics mandate staggered firing and reloading
cycles so that weapon operators might protect themselves more
effectively during the pause caused by the reloading cycle. While
some of these techniques have been moderately effective, they are
in general complicated, and do not substantially decrease the pause
in firing required by the reloading cycle. In particular, none of
these techniques encompass the automatic ejection of the spent
magazine from a weapon such as the M4 (and its many variations and
derivations from the original AR15/M16).
[0005] When using the M4 (or one of its many variations), for
example, it is necessary for the final round to be fired, and for
the weapon operator to press a release button with one hand while
pulling the spent magazine out with the other. Then, the operator
could drop the spent magazine, grab a new (i.e., loaded) magazine
and slide it into the magazine receiver or magazine well of the
weapon. The operator would then have to take the added step of
pulling back on the bolt to put a new round in the firing chamber
or, in the case of most automatic weapons, press a bolt release to
automatically load the next round, before firing again.
[0006] Under the pressure of combat use, "anything that can go
wrong will go wrong" during this reloading pause. Accordingly, it
is extremely important to make this pause as short as possible
while reducing the number of physical movements that the operator
of the weapon must carry out to effect reloading. While competitive
rapid-fire shooting does not embody the stresses of combat, the
desire for rapid, accurate fire is still present. Because of this,
competitive shooters do everything that can be done to limit the
number of operations to be conducted for reloading, and to limit
the time that the weapon is off target.
[0007] Accordingly, a fast and efficient simplification of the
reloading cycle is needed to reduce the number of steps that the
weapon operator must take during the reloading process for the
ultimate purpose of reducing the time necessary for the process.
Moreover, automation of this process will benefit the weapon
operator, especially if he/she is in a combat situation and/or time
limited completion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a primary goal of the present invention to facilitate
the reloading operation of an M4 rifle or one of its many
variations.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to eliminate
any changes to the weapon while accommodating the present
invention.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to
facilitate the operation of the present invention with minimum
alterations to standard weapons magazines.
[0011] It is an additional object of the present invention to
reduce the number of physical operations or steps that a weapons
operator must carry out when undergoing the reloading
operation.
[0012] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an automatic release for the ammunition magazine once the
last round from the magazine enters the weapon's firing
chamber.
[0013] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide an automatic magazine release system that provides for
easy, automatic removal of the magazine from the weapon.
[0014] It is again an additional object of the present invention to
provide an automatic magazine release system that can be
accommodated by modification to an otherwise standard magazine
follower.
[0015] It is again another object of the present invention to
provide an effective automatic magazine release system that can be
facilitated by an innovative modification to a standard magazine
housing.
[0016] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an automatic magazine release system that can be adapted to
a wide range of magazine-fed automatic and semi-automatic
weapons.
[0017] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a system for removing ammunition magazines, requiring fewer
steps and movements by the weapon operator.
[0018] It is still an additional object of the present invention to
provide an ammunition magazine release system that allows the
weapon operator to remain on target.
[0019] These and other goals and objects of the present invention
are achieved by an ammunition magazine configured for weapons
designed to received ammunition magazines, where each of the
weapons has an ammunition magazine catch to hold the ammunition
magazine within a magazine receiver or, more commonly known as,
magazine well. The ammunition magazine has an outer casing and a
follower within the outer casing. The outer casing includes at
least one aperture in a side wall of the casing, where the aperture
is positioned to align with the ammunition magazine catch in the
weapon. The follower includes a spring-driven prong positioned to
extend through the aperture when the follower reaches a
predetermined position within the ammunition magazine casing.
[0020] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a
method for automatically ejecting a spent ammunition magazine from
a weapon configured to receive an ammunition magazine. The method
includes the steps of expending rounds from the ammunition magazine
into the weapon until the last one of the rounds leaves the
magazine. Simultaneous to the last round leaving the ammunition
magazine, a spring-driven prong is extended perpendicularly through
a side wall of the ammunition magazine so that the spring-driven
prong activates a magazine catch mechanism to release the
ammunition magazine from the weapon. The released magazine will
then fall from the magazine well.
[0021] A third embodiment of the present invention is directed to
an interactive system for automatically removing an ammunition
magazine from a weapon. The system includes a magazine receiver or
well configured to hold an external magazine and to provide access
between the ammunition magazine and a firing chamber of the weapon
for rounds in the ammunition magazine. The ammunition magazine
includes a casing with a holding lip arranged on a predetermined
side of the ammunition magazine. A manual magazine release
mechanism interfaces with the holding lip to hold the ammunition
magazine casing within the magazine receiver. An aperture is
positioned adjacent to the holding lip on the ammunition magazine
casing. A spring-driven follower is arranged in the ammunition
magazine casing and is movable therethrough. The spring-driven
follower includes an inner structure or body having a concavity. A
spring-loaded prong is arranged within the concavity to extend
through the aperture when the follower moves to a predetermined
position within the magazine casing, i.e., preferably when the last
round leaves the magazine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The drawings included herewith are for the purpose of
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
instant invention, for which reference should be made to the claims
appended hereto. Other features, objects and advantages of this
invention will become clear from the following more detailed
description made with reference to the drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of the type of conventional weapon in
which the present invention can operate.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the weapon
depicted in FIG. 1 identifying those parts of the conventional
weapon that interact with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a conventional outer casing
for an ammunition magazine.
[0026] FIG. 3B is a perspective depiction of the interior parts of
a convention ammunition magazine.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional ammunition
magazine, depicting multiple rounds or shells contained within the
outer casing, and a mechanism on the outer casing for interfacing
with the weapon of FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the conventional weapon,
opposite of FIG. 1, depicting the lines for cutaways for sectional
views.
[0029] FIG. 6 is the sectional view taken at the position depicted
in FIG. 5, illustrating an empty conventional magazine held in an
operating position within a magazine well of the weapon.
[0030] FIG. 6A is a detailed or magnified view of part of FIG. 6,
emphasizing the details of the upper portion of the magazine
follower and the magazine catch of the weapon interfacing with the
magazine.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a top sectional view along the lines depicted in
FIG. 5, including an empty conventional magazine contained within
the weapon.
[0032] FIG. 7A is a magnified or detailed view of a portion of FIG.
7, depicting parts of the conventional magazine follower.
[0033] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a magazine follower modified
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled magazine
follower modified in accordance with the embodiment of the
invention shown in FIG. 8, depicted in a manner to operate the
magazine catch of a weapon containing the magazine.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a magazine modified in
accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8
and 9, and containing rounds or ammunition shells.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a magazine modified in
accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8
and 9, depicted in a configuration in which all of the rounds or
ammunition shells have been expended from the magazine.
[0037] FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 6, but in this case,
depicting the ammunition magazine modified in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the magazine
still contains four rounds.
[0038] FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 12 depicting
the magazine modified in accordance with the same embodiment of the
invention.
[0039] FIG. 13 is the same sectional view as FIG. 6, but now
containing the ammunition magazine modified in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which all rounds or
shells have been expended from the magazine.
[0040] FIG. 13A is a magnified or detailed view of a portion of
FIG. 13.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a detailed view as depicted in FIG. 13, in which
the invention has tripped the magazine release, and the magazine is
able to move downward by gravity so as to fall out of the magazine
well of the weapon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] The present invention is directed to modifications of
various ammunition magazines that are used in weapons such as the
M4, and its many variations, dating from the AR15/M16 to the
present embodiments. Submitted as prior art of this application is
the instruction manual for the Bushmaster family of weapons. For
illustrative purposes, parts of the Bushmaster manual dated 2005
have been incorporated with the drawings of the present invention,
namely FIGS. 1-7A, as background for the application to better
describe the present invention to such firearms.
[0043] The present invention is directed to an interactive system
between a weapon and ammunition magazine modified from the prior
art. While the modifications to the magazine depicted in the
drawings have been made to specifically fit the M4 family of
weapons, other magazine-fed weapons can also be adapted by
incorporating the same modifications to the ammunition magazine in
accordance with the present invention. In particular, the weapon to
benefit from the present invention will preferably include a manual
magazine release mechanism. Alterations to the ammunition magazine
can then be made to correspond to the location of the magazine
catch and release mechanism on the weapon. The M4 Bushmaster is
used in the present application because of the easy adaptability of
the present invention to this particular weapon. However, the
present invention is not limited thereto.
[0044] For purposes of clarity, only those parts of the weapon that
interact as part of the present invention are designated. The other
parts of the weapon are depicted in the drawings, but are not
designated since they do not interact as part of the inventive
system. For example, in conventional art FIG. 1, illustrative
weapon 100 has only a limited number of parts identified. These are
the magazine receiver or well 110, magazine release button 101, and
external ammunition magazine 10. The external magazine 10 is
depicted as being within magazine receiver/well 110 for purposes of
operating the inventive interactive system.
[0045] Conventional art FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of
the weapon lock that is most relevant to the present invention. The
parts depicted therein are found in a conventional M4 rifle. Those
parts that relate to the interactive system include magazine
release button 101 and magazine catch spring 102. Magazine release
catch 104 is connected to the magazine release button 101 through
an aperture 121 in the weapon block or housing 120. The magazine
catch 104 includes a holding extension 105 which interfaces with
the external magazine 10 (not shown in FIG. 2). It is noted that
the present invention eliminates the need to manually operate
magazine release button 101.
[0046] In normal operation, the weapon operator must manually press
magazine release button 101 to operate the magazine catch 104 and
thus the holding extension 105 that holds the magazine to the
weapon. Once the magazine release button is pressed, it is possible
to pull ammunition magazine 10 from the magazine well 110. Both of
these conventional operations require extra movement on the part of
the weapon operator, and as a result, the weapon cannot be held on
target. Further, an often unacceptable span of time is needed
before the weapon can be put back on target, due to the fact that
both of the weapon operator's hands are necessary to carry out the
removal of the spent ammunition magazine 10.
[0047] A conventional ammunition magazine is depicted in FIGS. 3A,
3B and 4. The magazine 10 depicted is adapted specifically for the
M4 weapon. Accordingly, the inventive modifications for the
interactive system in this illustration are depicted for this
particular type of ammunition magazine, but the same concept can be
applied to other weapon types with similarly configured magazines
with modest changes and equivalencies. Moreover, the conventional
ammunition magazine of FIGS. 3A and 3B includes a casing 11 and a
follower 14. A base plate 12 is provided to support a spring 13,
which drives follower 14. At the top of follower 14 is an upper
support 15 to hold rounds, and a spacer 151 so that a double row of
off-set rounds can be placed in magazine 10. This is best depicted
in FIG. 4, where the double row of rounds 300 is vertically off-set
from each other. This off-set configuration is shown more clearly
in FIGS. 12 and 12A. Upper curl 111 of casing 11 keeps the rounds
300 in place and positioned to enter the firing chamber of the
weapon 100.
[0048] The conventional casing 11 of ammunition magazine 10 also
includes an aperture 16 and a lip 17. Both of these structures are
sized and located to interact with holding extension 105 of
magazine catch 104. This is the structure that conventionally holds
the magazine within the magazine receiver 110 of weapon 100. When
the operator pushes the magazine release button 101, the entire
magazine catch is moved outward away from the magazine well 110
(i.e., the magazine holding extension 105 is pushed away from catch
lip 17 on the magazine). This action allows the operator to then
pull out magazine 10 from the magazine receiver 110.
[0049] Conventional art FIG. 5 depicts a side view of weapon 100 as
viewed from the opposite side of the view in FIG. 1. The purpose of
this figure is to better illustrate and locate lines 6-6 and 7-7
for the sectional views of FIGS. 6, 6A, and 7, 7A,
respectively.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a sectional view depicting ammunition magazine 10
contained in magazine receiver/well 110 at a time when the magazine
is empty. This is depicted by the location of upper support 15 of
follower 14. Spring 13 is fully extended. It should be noted that
holding extension 105 is in place over lip 17 (shown in FIG. 10),
and extending into aperture 16 of magazine 10. This interaction is
enlarged and more closely depicted in FIG. 6A. In the conventional
art, even with the ammunition magazine 10 empty, it is firmly held
in place by holding extension 105 until the magazine release button
101 is pushed by the weapon user. This same arrangement is depicted
in conventional art FIGS. 7 and 7A. In these Figures, the entire
body of magazine catch 104 is clearly depicted in a manner which
will keep holding extension 105 in position against catch lip 17 to
hold the ammunition magazine 10 in position after the last round
(300 in FIG. 4) has been expended from the ammunition magazine 10
and into weapon 100.
[0051] FIG. 8 depicts a follower 14 modified in accordance with the
present invention. Conventional followers typically have spacing
arms 147, 148, 149 to properly maintain the follower 14 in position
within magazine casing 11. These spacer arms are necessary in
conventional weapons to prevent the upper support 15 from being
pushed too far into magazine casing 11, and ensure that the
follower 14 is guided properly in its upward movement as the rounds
300 are expended. Even if a conventional follower is not provided
with spacing arms 147, 148, 149, these could be added to facilitate
installation of the structure that facilitates the present
invention.
[0052] Inset body 141, as depicted in FIG. 8, is inserted between
spacer arms 147 and 148. Inset body 141 contains a concavity 142 in
which a drive spring 144 and release prong 143 are placed. Release
prong 143 extends through face plate 145, which is attached to the
insert body 141 by means of screws 146a, 146b, 146c and 146d or
other securing fastener. The assembled version of the modified
follower 14 is depicted in FIG. 9.
[0053] During the normal operation of magazine 10, spring 13 pushes
the follower 14 upwards as rounds 300 are expended. During this
time, release prong 143 is held back against the tension of drive
spring 144 by the interior of magazine casing 11. This relationship
is depicted in FIGS. 12 and 12A, in which rounds 300 are still
within ammunition magazine 10. FIG. 12A is a magnified partial view
of FIG. 12, which depicts a sectional view shown along the lines
6-6 of conventional art FIG. 5. It would be clear to one skilled in
this particular technology that other than insert piece 141,
containing drive spring 144 and release prong 143, the follower 14
operates in the same manner as a conventional follower in a
conventional ammunition magazine 10.
[0054] In order for the release prong 143 to operate interactively
with the relevant parts of weapon 100, it is necessary for the
preferred embodiment of the present invention include certain
modifications to the ammunition magazine 10 and casing 11. FIGS. 10
and 11 depict the necessary modifications. In FIG. 10, rounds 300
are still within ammunition magazine 10. In FIG. 11, the last round
300 has been expended from ammunition magazine 10, and the upper
support 15 is at the very top of the ammunition magazine casing 11
with convex spacer 151 resting against upper curl 111 of casing 11.
The operation of the ammunition magazine casing 11 that constitutes
part of the present invention includes the use of conventional
catch aperture 16, through which release prong 143 extends when all
of the rounds 300 are expended from ammunition magazine 10, as
depicted in FIG. 11.
[0055] To be clear, during the operation of the weapon and the
movement of follower 14 within casing 11, release prong 143 is held
back by the interior of casing 11. This is depicted in FIGS. 12 and
12A. Once the last round 300 is expended from the ammunition
magazine 10, release prong 143 extends through catch aperture 16,
and by virtue of the bias provided by drive spring 144, release
prong 143 presses against holding extension 105 of weapon 100. The
holding extension 105 holds the magazine with the aid of lip 17.
The present invention includes release prong 143 which pushes
holding extension 105 back away from catch aperture 16 and catch
lip 17 to automatically release the magazine. This occurs when all
of rounds 300 are expended from the magazine, and the magazine
follower 14 is in the position depicted in FIGS. 13 and 13A.
[0056] Once release prong 143 has pushed back the magazine catch
holding extension 105, as depicted in FIGS. 13 and 13A, the
ammunition magazine 10 begins to slide downward due to the force of
gravity as shown in FIG. 14. Because the magazine catch body 104 is
spring biased, there is likelihood that magazine catch holding
extension 105 will press back against the magazine since it is no
longer being forced outward by release prong 143, which has dropped
below the plane of the magazine catch holding extension 105, as
depicted in FIG. 14. In order to prevent magazine catch holding
extension 105 from interfering with the downward movement of
magazine 10, the ammunition magazine casing 11 is preferably
modified to include a small stop 19 and a slot or depression 18 in
the casing 11. This slot or depression 18 is inset of sufficient
depth so that magazine catch holding extension 105 cannot extend,
contact and exert force/friction against the magazine casing 11,
which would hinder the drop of the ammunition magazine 10 from the
weapon 100. This relationship is depicted best in FIG. 14, in which
it is clear that magazine catch holding extension 105 has
insufficient extension to contact and grab any part of the magazine
10, once the magazine catch holding extension is aligned within the
slot or depression 18.
[0057] Moreover, with this invention, it will be appreciated that
the weapon operator does not have to press magazine release button
101, or pull ammunition magazine 10 from the magazine receiver 110.
Rather, the entire operation is made automatic by the present
invention as described. Once the last round 300 leaves ammunition
magazine 10, whether this last round 300 has been fired or not, the
automatic release and drop of the ammunition magazine 10 will occur
without any efforts on the part of the weapon operator. This means
that the weapon operator can keep both hands in firing position and
maintain the sighting of the weapon downrange.
[0058] To reload, the weapon operator need only grab a new
ammunition magazine 10 and "slam it home" into the magazine
receiver 110. This can be done while the weapon operator maintains
the sighting of the weapon downrange.
[0059] It should be appreciated that the present invention
constituted by inset body 141, which includes release prong 143 and
drive spring 144, can be provided to a conventional follower 14 as
a retrofit. Likewise, conventional ammunition magazine 10 can be
modified to create slot 18 and stop 19. As such, the present
invention can be incorporated without substantial retooling by the
primary weapons manufacturing facilities. Even if such retooling
occurs, these are minor modifications to the ammunition magazine
casing 11 with the inset body 141 being a separate piece that can
be added to follower 14 at a later time. The addition of the
present invention need not impose a substantial manufacturing
burden.
[0060] While the preferred embodiments have been described by way
of example, the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather,
the present invention should be understood to include any and all
limitations, modifications, variations, embodiments, derivations,
and adaptations that would occur to one skilled in this technology
after understanding the present invention. Accordingly, the present
invention should be limited only by the breadth of the following
claims. All changes that come within the meaning and range of
equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their
scope.
* * * * *