GB2246622A - Pellet magazine - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable tubular pellet magazine (10) to be reliably inserted into upper barrel 32 of marking pistol 30 to the correct degree for retention, on the one hand, and for unimpeded feeding of pellets 20 to the firing barrel 34, via openings 42, 44, on the other hand, stop means, preferably in the form of an annular collar 18, is provided to abut the muzzle when the magazine 10 is in the correct position. <IMAGE>

Description

PELLET MAGAZINE This invention concerns a magazine for pellets, particularly but not exclusively paint pellets, which are fired from a specially designed gun (or marking pistol) in so-called 'war games', nowadays an increasingly popular pastime.

Such paint pellets are of generally spherical form, and known magazines, which hold ten such pellets, comprise plastics tubes with a closed rounded end and an open end, closable by an end cap.

In use, the end cap is removed and the tubular magazine, filled with pellets, is inserted open end first into an upper barrel of a double-barreled gun, of a type such as that marketed under the registered trademark SPLATMASTER. When inserted far enough, annular ribs on the exterior of the tube, adjacent its open end, engage a slightly tapering region inside the upper barrel so that the tube is held by friction fit.

In this position only a relatively short length of the tube, at its closed end, remains protruding from the upper barrel.

The extent to which the tubular magazine is inserted into the upper barrel is critical to successful operation of the gun is firing the paint pellets supplied from the magazine. In this respect, the tube should only be pushed in until its open end is substantially level with the position of an opening into the lower barrel so that the pellets can be loaded into the lower barrel for firing, by dropping one by one through this opening. If the tube is pushed in too far, the opening is partially blocked by the overhanging edge of the tube and the pellets will not load. Through an opening in the barrel wall (a breech opening) overinsertion can be observed, but is difficult to remedy.

Generally, some sort of implement has to be inserted through the breech opening in an attempt to force the tube outwards of the upper barrel, since there is insufficient of the closed end of the tube protruding from the barrel for it to be adequately gripped.

If, on the other hand, the magazine is inserted to an insufficient extent, it is liable to be inadequately retained by the aforesaid friction fit, and to work loose during the course of use of pellets from an initially full magazine.

Because of the difficulties encountered if the the degree of insertion of the magazine is inaccurate, this is an aspect of use of the relevant gun which is troublesome to users, and particularly to beginners.

In this respect, errors in the degree of insertion of the tubular magazine are particularly common, among beginners, i.e. before experience enables a user to gauge by inspecting the precise degree of insertion required.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the aforesaid problem of magazine loading in a particularly simple manner, without the need for any modification to the gun itself.

With this object in view it is proposed that a pellet magazine comprising a plastics tube with a closed end and an open end is provided, at a predetermined spacing from its closed end, with externally projecting stop means for abutment against the muzzle of a gun or pistol into which the magazine is to be inserted.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the spacing of the stop means from the closed end of the tube is to be chosen so that when the stop means abuts the muzzle the open end of the tube is accurately aligned with the forward end of the opening whereby the rear of the upper barrel communicates with the lower barrel.

The stop means is advantageously in the form of an annular collar presenting a flat surface towards the open end of the tube, for abutment against the muzzle.

Stop means of this form is likely to be relatively resistent to any wear and tear which might affect its function. In this respect, such pellet magazines are generally re-used for about six months, during which time external projections are prone to damage and wear, before being discarded.

Although less favourable, it is alternately possible for the stop means to comprise an annular collar which does not have a flat face directed towards the open end of the tube, or to comprise a plurality of separate lugs circumferentially spaced around the tube exterior.

The height of the stop means above the external surface of the tube is constrained by the construction of the gun in which the magazine is to be used, as the stop means must not overhang the adjacent lower barrel muzzle, through which the pellets are fired.

For ease of manufacture, and also to minimise any possibility of dislodgement, the stop means is advantageously formed integrally with the tube. This can readily be accomplished by injection moulding techniques.

The invention will be described further, but by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a partial cross-section illustrating a preferred practical embodiment of a pellet magazine in accordance with the invention in use inserted into a marking pistol; and Fig.2 is a side view of the same pellet magazine.

The preferred embodiment of pellet magazine comprises an injection moulded, translucent, polystyrene tube 10 with a rounded closed end 12 and an open end 14.

It is approximately 17cm long and 2.0cm in external diameter and is capable of holding ten standard marking pellets 20, which are generally spherical and have a diameter of approximately 1.7cm. Its open end 14 can be closed by a cap (not shown), which fits on in coventional manner, to hold in the pellets 20. Towards its open end 14, two annular ribs 16 are provided on the exterior of the tube 10 to enable a friction fit when inserted into a marking pistol 30.

At a predetermined spacing from the closed end 12 of the tube 10, in this case of the order of 1.5cm to 2.0cm, stop means in the form of an annular collar 18 is provided. This collar 18 projects radially from the surface of the tube 10, and further than either of the ribs 16, being approximately 0.2cm to 0.3cm in radial extent. It also has opposing substantially flat faces directed, respectively towards the open end 14 and the closed end 12 of the tube 10.

The manner of use of the tubular magazine 10 will readily be understood from Fig.1, and the foregoing introductory expanations. The marking pistol 30 has upper and lower barrels 32, 34, a handle grip 36 and a trigger 38. A hollow arming piston 40 is slidable in the lower barrel 34, from which pellets 20 are to be fired. The piston 40 has an opening 42, which in the forward, armed position of the piston 40 is aligned with an opening 44 between the rear of the upper barrel 32 and the lower barrel 34. Breech openings 46 in the sides of the upper barrel walling are also in alignment with the opening 44, so that the transfer of pellets 20 from the upper barrel 32 to the lower barrel 34 via the openings 44 and 42 can be observed.

The tubular magazine 10 is inserted open end 14 first into the upper barrel 12 of the pistol until the collar 18 abuts the muzzle, in this case provided by an end fitment 48, which fits over the two substantially identical half shells making up the pistol body.

In this position the open end 14 of the tube 10 lies just short of the openings 42, 44, so that the pellets 20 can be loaded one by one therethrough for firing out of the lower barrel 34. It should be noted that the collar 18 does not protrude over the muzzle of the lower barrel 34 and provides no hindrance to firing. It merely serves to determine the accurate insertion position of the magazine, which in that position is adequately retained by the friction fit of the ribs 16 in the interior of the upper barrel 32, specifically a slightly tapering inner region thereof, which may not be apparent in the drawing.

In alternative embodiments (not shown) the collar 18 could be replaced by a plurality of lugs, and the cross-sectional profile thereof could differ from that shown.

Claims (8)

1. A pellet magazine comprising a plastics tube with a closed end and an open end and provided, at a predetermined spacing from its closed end, with externally projecting stop means for abutment against the muzzle of a gun or pistol into which the magazine is to be inserted.

2. A magazine is claimed in claim 1 wherein the stop means is in the form of an annular collar.

3. A magazine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stop means is in the form of a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced around the exterior of the tube.

4. A magazine as claimed in claim 1, 2 and 3 wherein the stop means has a flat face directed towards the open end of the tube providing an abutment surface for contact with the muzzle.

5. A magazine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stop means is formed integrally therewith.

6. A magazine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stop means is spaced from the closed end of the tube by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of one pellet.

7. A magazine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stop means is spaced from the closed end of the tube by a distance of between 1.5cm and 2.0cm.

8. A pellet magazine. substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.