GB2024786A

GB2024786A - A magazine for storing articles

Info

Publication number: GB2024786A
Application number: GB7925051A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Yates T R
Current assignee: Yates T R
Priority date: 1978-04-18
Filing date: 1979-07-18
Publication date: 1980-01-16
Also published as: GB2024786B

Abstract

A magazine for storing articles, for example small-bore rounds, comprises a holder 2 for holding the articles, and is arranged such that the articles are successively moved toward a predetermined position in which they can be manually removed from the holder, the arrangement being such that on removal of each article, a further article is moved to that position. In the preferred embodiment, a cam 5 is provided to partially remove each article from the holder as the article moves towards the predetermined position. The holder may be rotatable in a housing 1, with the cam disposed inwardly of the holder, the articles being disposed around the circumference of the holder and removable by moving them radially outwardly of the holder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A magazine for storing articles The present invention relates to a magazine for storing articles The invention is primarily concerned with a magazine for storing small-bore (.22) rounds; however, it is to be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to other calibres and also other forms of article.

In certain small-bore (.22) rifle shooting competitions each round must be manually loaded individually into the breach of the rifle. Built in magazines are not allowed. In a time-limit competition the competitors are allowed to make as many shots as possible within a preset time. It is known to use a block having many holes in which the rounds are placed to support the rounds. The block is placed on the ground beside the rifle and rounds taken from it, one at a time, and manually loaded into the rifle. However, it may be necessary for the shooter to take his eye off the target to find a round and reload. In a time-limit competition this wastes time.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magazine comprising a container for containing a plurality of articles, and means for urging the articles towards a predetermined position in the magazine where the articles can be manually removed, the arrangement being such that in operation on removal of an article from the predetermined position a further article is moved to that position.

Thus, where the magazine is adapted for storing rounds each round is presented to the shooter at the same position.

The magazine of said one aspect may further comprise means which causes an article to be raised relative to the container and other articles at said predetermined position. This would facilitate manual removal of the article.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a magazine, in accordance with said one aspect, which further comprises: a housing accommodating the container, the urging means being arranged to move the container relative to the housing, and an opening being defined in the housing at said predetermined position to allow manual removal of an article from the magazine; and a stop arranged to engage an article at the opening to stop movement (due to the action of the urging means) of the container relative to the housing; the arrangement being such that, in operation, on removal of an article from the opening, the container moves relative to the housing until a further article engages the stop.

The magazine of the said further aspect of the invention may additionally comprise a cam arranged to engage an article in the container and raise the article relative to the container as the container moves towards the opening. The arrangement is such that an article will be raised up at the opening relative to the container and also the other articles making its removal from the magazine easier.

In a preferred embodiment of the magazine of said further aspect of the invention, the container is rotatable within the housing about an axis of rotation, and the urging means is arranged to rotate the container to move the articles towards the said predetermined position.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rifle magazine according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is an exploded view of the magazine of Figure 1.

The exemplary rifle magazine shown in the figures comprises a housing 1 which accommodates a circular container or drum 2 for containing twenty rounds. The drum is rotatable relative to the housing about an axis 4. The rounds are contained in apertures 3 regularly spaced apart in an annular periphery 2a of the drum, the rounds lying radially in the drum. The bases of the rounds are supported on the surface of a cam 5, which is fixed relative to the housing 1. The surface is approximately in the form of a spiral about the axis 4, so as the drum 2 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow A relative to the housing 1 and thus cam 5, the rounds rise relative to the drum 2. A coil spring 6 is provided for moving the drum 2 relative to the housing 1.

The housing 1 has a flange 7 which is approximately in the form of a spiral about the axis 4. The flange surrounds the periphery 2a of the drum 2 except between its portions of maximum and minimum radius where it has an opening 8 in it. The opening 8 is radially in line with the portion 9 having maximum radius of the cam surface 5. The arrangement of the portion 10 of minimum radius of the flange 7 and the portion 9 of cam surface 5 is such that the portion 10 of the flange 7 acts as a stop against which a round abuts and thus stops rotation of the drum 2.

In operation, rounds are loaded into the drum 2 one at a time via the opening 8. Handles 11 are provided on the drum to rotate it against the force of the spring 6 to bring the apertures 3 into line with the opening 8 one at a time. Once the drum is loaded, a round will abut against the stop formed by flange portion 10 to stop rotation of the container 2. When that round is removed the drum will rotate until a further round abuts the stop. Thus all the rounds in the magazine are presented to the same place for removal. In certain small-bore (.22) shooting competitions, where each round must be manually loaded individually into the breach of the rifle, this may lessen the necessity for the shooter to take his eye off the target to find a round. This may also lead to wasting less time in the time-limit competitions where as many shots as possible are made in a preset time.Although the magazine may be placed on the ground beside the shooter, it is preferably attached to the rifle with a bracket suitable for the rifle. For this purpose the housing is provided with slots 26.

A clamp nut (not shown) is provided in the centre slot for clamping the bracket to the housing. The bracket would fit into the accessory slot conventionally provided on most rifles. The arrangement is preferably such that the opening 8 is next to the breach.

The construction of the exemplary magazine will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2.

Preferably, the housing 1, drum 2 and cam 5 are moulded from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (A.B.S.) A.B.S. is preferred for ease of manufacture and resistance to corrosion, deformation and wear. Furthermore, it is preferred that the housing 1 and drum 2 are of black impregnated A.B.S. so that surface damage will not impair the appearance of the magazine.

The cam 5 is located on the housing by means of pegs 12 on the housing which engage in corresponding sockets 13 in the cam 5. Adhesive is used to fix the cam and housing together. The cam 5 has a central cylindrical post 14 around which the coil spring 6 fits. An extension 15 of one end of the spring fits into a slot 16 in the cam to hold that one end of the spring so the spring can be wound up. The other end 17 of the spring is in the form of an eye which fits over a peg 18 on the drum 2, so that the spring can be wound up by rotating the drum in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow A and so the spring, when wound up, can rotate the drum 2. The drum is formed of two moulded parts 19 and 20. Part 19 is annular and forms one part of the annular periphery 2a of the drum.Part 20 is in the form of a circular plate having an integral annular flange which forms the other part of the annular periphery 2a. The parts fix together by means of pegs 21 and sockets 22 and adhesive. A metal pivot screw 23 passes through a bore 24 in the centre of the part 20 of the drum 2 and screws into a threaded bore 25 in the post 14 in the cam 5 to hold the drum in the housing.

The above-described exemplary rifle magazine is intended for small-bore (.22) rounds which are about 1 inch long. Its principle dimensions are as follows: Diameter of apertures 3 : 0.235 inches Outer diameter of drum 2: 3.700 inches Inner diameter of drum 2 : 3.000 inches Minimum radius of surface of cam 5 (relative to axis 4): 0.750 inches Maximum radius of surface of cam 5: 1.250 inches Minimum radius of housing 1: 1.900 inches Maximum radius of housing 1: 2.106 inches It is to be appreciated that although the above-described exemplary rifle magazine is dimensioned for .22 rounds, the invention could be applied to rounds of other calibre or indeed completely different articles with suitable redimensioning.

Although the above-described exemplary magazine comprises a circular container 2 or drum rotatable within a roughly circular housing, the container 2 could be straight and elongate and moveable rectilinearly within a straight elongate housing. The cam, if provided, could then be in the form of an inclined plane.

Claims

1. A magazine for storing articles, comprising a container for containing a pluraiity of articles, and means for urging the articles towards a predetermined position in the magazine where the articles can be manually removed, the arrangement being such that in operation on removal of an article from the predetermined position a further article is moved to that position.

2. A magazine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing accommodating the container, the urging means being arranged to move the container relative to the housing, and the housing having an opening at said predetermined position to allow manual removal of an article from the magazine.

3. A magazine as claimed in claim 2, including a stop arranged to engage an article at the opening to stop movement, due to the action of the urging means, of the container relative to the housing, the arrangement being such that on removal of an article from the opening, the container moves relative to the housing until a further article engages the stop.

4. A magazine as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for causing an article at said predetermined position to be partially removed from said container.

5. A magazine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means comprises a cam engageable with said articles and arranged to move each said article outwardly of the container as the article moves towards said predetermined position.

6. A magazine as claimed in claim 2 or any claim appendent thereto, wherein the urging means is arranged to rotate the container within the housing to move the articles towards said predetermined position.

7. A magazine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the articles are removable from the container by moving them radially outwardly thereof.

8. A magazine as claimed in claim 7 when appendentto claim 5, wherein the cam is disposed inwardly of the container and has a radially outwardly facing surface arranged to engage the radially inner ends of the articles in the container.

9. A magazine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the housing has a portion extending around the container, the distance of said portion from the axis of rotation of the container increasing to a maximum adjacent said opening.

10. A magazine as claimed in claim 5, or any claim appendent thereto, when dependent on claim 2, wherein the housing, the container, and the cam are moulded from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

11. A magazine as claimed in any preceding claim, suitable for storing small-bore rounds.

12. A magazine for storing small-bore rounds, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.