GB2231943A

GB2231943A - Cartridge magazine

Info

Publication number: GB2231943A
Application number: GB8926014A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Peter Sinclair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-15
Filing date: 1989-11-17
Publication date: 1990-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-17
Also published as: HK52294A; GB8911067D0; GB8926014D0; GB2231943B

Abstract

A magazine for holding shot gun cartridges has two channels 6, 7 which are separated by a partition 8 and each of which can hold two staggered columns of cartridges 9. The partition 8 has a widened portion 10 that causes each staggered column of cartridges 9 to form a single column thereof, so that pairs of cartridges can be removed, to be immediately replaced, under the effect of gravity, by a further pair thereof. The channels 6, 7 may be covered by a lid 2 having a slot through which cartridges can be inserted. <IMAGE>

Description

CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE This invention relates to a magazine for holding cartridges, such as shot gun cartridges, in a manner such that each cartridge is fed, under the influence of gravity, to a position from which it can be removed from the magazine to be immediately replaced at the same position by a subsequent gravity-fed cartridge.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cartridge magazine comprising one or two or more elongated channels each suitable to hold a column of cartridges or a plurality of staggered columns of cartridges in a manner such that, when one end of the elongated channel(s) is in an upper position and the other end of the elongated channel(s) is in a lower position, the cartridges can move towards the lower end under the effect of gravity upon removal of a cartridge from the lower end.

Preferably, the or each channel is suitable to hold two or more staggered columns of cartridges, and is tapered at the lower end to cause the cartridges to form a single column at the lower end. Preferably the magazine has two channels that veer towards each other at the lower end.

Preferably, the magazine comprises a box-like structure divided into said two channels by a partition having at its lower end a widening portion that forms said necks.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a magazine of the invention; Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are sectional views taken along lines A-A, B-B and C-C of Figure 1; Figure 3 is perspective view of the magazine of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of another magazine of the invention; Figure 5A is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 4; Figure 5B is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 4; Figure 5C is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the circled portion C of Figure 5A; Figure 6 is an end view of the magazine of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a plan view of a lid for the magazine of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the lid of Figure 7; and Figure 8A is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the circled portion A of Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 1 to 3 of the drawings, the magazine consists of a box-like structure having a base 1, a lid 2, two sides 3 and 4 and an upper end 5, the box being divided into two channels 6 and 7 by a partition 8. Each of the channels 6 and 7 is suitable to hold two columns of cartridges 9, such as shot gun cartridges, in a staggered manner as shown in Figure 1.

In the event that the cartridges are rimmed cartridges, the rims of the cartridges extend over the top of the partition 8.

At its lower end, the partition 8 has a widened portion 10 and a narrowed portion 12 so that each channel 6 and 7 has a neck allowing one cartridge of the staggered column of cartridges to pass, under the effect of gravity, to the lower end 11 of the box-like structure, into a channel between the narrowed portion 12 of the partition 8 and tapering sides 13 and 14 of the box-like structure, when the magazine is held in the position shown in Figure 1.

The tapering sides 13 and 14 have cut-out portions 15 and 16, the lower end of the partition 8 has a cut out portion 17, and the lower end 11 of the magazine is cut away, thereby allowing two cartridges, one from each channel, to be easily removed simultaneously by the user, for loading into a double-barrel shot gun.

The magazine is provided with a suitable strap (not shown) or belt loop (not shown) so that it can be carried around the neck, shoulder or waist of the user with the end 11 lowermost, so that the cartridges feed by gravity in pairs to the lower end 11 for simultaneous removal by the user. Alternatively, the user can of course remove a single cartridge from one channel.

In order to prevent the cartridges from falling out of the magazine, the magazine is provided with the lid 2, connected to one of the sides 3 and 4 or to the end 5 in a hinged manner (not shown) and held in place by a suitable fastening means (not shown) such as a hook-and-loop type fastening (e.g. Velcro). The lower edge of the lid 2 is shown by the dotted line 18 in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 4 to 8, the magazine shown in these Figures is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3, and similar parts have been given similar reference numerals. The main difference is that the lid 2 is provided with slots 18 through which the cartridges can be loaded into the magazine (accordingly, it is not necessary for the lid 2 to be hinged to the magazine).

The slots 18 are shaped and located so that they prevent the cartridges, of the double column of cartridges in each channel, from escaping once they have been inserted correctly, at any point of the slots, and have taken up their positions on either side of the slot. The lower portion of the slots veer outwardly, following the centre line of the channel as it narrows, stopping at a point just above the point where the cartridges form a single column, and out of phase with the cartridges resting one upon the other at this point, so that the cartridges are not held on the lower semicircular rim of the slots. Alternatively, the slots can be narrowed at the portion where the double column of cartridges becomes a single column.

This narrowed portion can extend to the lower edge of the lid, along the centre line of the channel.

The slots in the lid are elongated so that a cartridge may be inserted through the slots at any point and it is possible therefore for the cartridge being introduced to be inserted just above the uppermost cartridge of those remaining in the magazine.

In this way, it takes up a correct position in the channel and does not interrupt the flow of cartridges through the channel. The effect of these slots is that the magazine need never become empty in use as loose cartridges can be inserted and the magazine topped up or refilled without the necessity of taking it off or opening a lid. This can be accomplished with one hand while holding a gun in the other and indeed without looking at the magazine at all.

The lid 2 can be permanently attached to the body of the magazine by any practical means such as ultrasonic welding or glue if made of plastic, or can be made as an integral part of the magazine if the magazine is milled or routed from a solid block of metal or wood.

The lid 2 has therearound a lip 19 for assisting in locating it on the magazine.

The magazine shown in Figures 4 to 8 differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 3 also in that the partition 8, rather than being a solid partition, consists of two partition walls 8a and 8b separated by a gap.

The magazine is made in any suitable material such as metal, wood or a plastic material. In the latter case, it may be made by injection moulding. The lid 2 is preferably made of a transparent material.

In the embodiment shown, each channel holds two columns of cartridges. However, it would be possible to modify the magazine so that each channel has a single column of cartridges or more than two columns of cartridges. The length of the magazine can be adapted to the desired number of cartridges.

The magazine can be suitably adapted to take cartridges of various gauges and calibers, and of various types, e.g. of rimmed type, of rimless type, of semi-rimmed type, and of belted rimless type.

Claims

1. A cartridge magazine comprising one or more elongated channels each suitable to hold a column of cartridges or a plurality of staggered columns of cartridges in a manner such that, when one end of the elongated channel(s) is in an upper position and the other end of the elongated channel(s) is in a lower position, the cartridges can move towards the lower end under the effect of gravity upon removal of a cartridge from the lower end.

2. A magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each channel is suitable to hold two or more staggered columns of cartridges, and is tapered at the lower end to form a neck that causes the cartridges to form a single column at the lower end.

3. A magazine as claimed in claim 2, having two channels that veer towards each other at the lower end.

4. A magazine as claimed in claim 3, comprising a box-like structure divided into said two channels by a partition having at its lower end a widening portion that forms said necks.

5. A magazine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, having a lid that extends over the column or columns of cartridges that in use are held in the channel or channels.

6. A magazine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, having a lid that extends over the column or columns of cartridges that in use are held in the channel or channels, the lid having a slot through which the cartridges can be inserted into the channel or channels.

7. A magazine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1, 2A, 2B, 2C and 3, or Figures 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, 6, 7, 8 and 8A.