US20200049438A1

US20200049438A1 - Loading cartridges into a firearm magazine

Info

Publication number: US20200049438A1
Application number: US16/592,508
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry P. Hatch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-22
Filing date: 2019-10-03
Publication date: 2020-02-13

Abstract

A method to load cartridges into a firearm magazine, where the method provides and utilizes an article of manufacture comprising a hopper comprising at least one rotatable hopper plate, a hopper slide, a funnel, and a slide funnel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application is A Continuation-In-Part of a U.S. Non-Provisional Application filed on Jan. 13, 2017, having Ser. No. 15/405,582, which is a Continuation of a U.S. Non-Provisional application filed on Nov. 5, 2015, having a Ser. No. 14/933,835, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,612,070, which is a Continuation-In-Part of a U.S. Non-Provisional application filed on Nov. 22, 2013, and having a Ser. No. 14/088,117, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,182,185, which claims priority to a US Provisional application filed on Nov. 22, 2012, having a Ser. No. 61/729,407. Each and every of these cited applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to an article of manufacture, and method using that article of manufacture, to load cartridges, i.e., ammunition, into a firearm magazine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Conventional loading of detachable firearm magazines generally requires finger strength, dexterity, or both. It can be difficult to load more than a few magazines at a time by hand.
It is often a time consuming and tiring event to line up and then force the cartridges into the magazine. Such impediments discourage people who lack sufficient strength and/or dexterity from enjoying the sport of shooting. Further even able-bodied people may avoid this recreational activity due to the time and hassle that is required to load enough detachable magazines to make the experience worthwhile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method to load cartridges into a firearm magazine is disclosed. The method provides an article of manufacture comprising a hopper comprising at least one rotatable hopper plate, a hopper slide, a funnel, and a slide funnel. The method further includes selecting a firearm, selecting a caliber of ammunition compatible with the firearm, selecting a cartridge magazine compatible with the selected firearm and caliber, mounting the selected cassette onto the article of manufacture, releasably attaching the selected cartridge magazine to the mounted cassette, disposing (N) cartridges comprising the selected caliber into the hopper, agitating the hopper plate to place an (i)th cartridge into a desired orientation while in the hopper, wherein the (i)th cartridge is one of the (N) cartridges, moving the (i)th cartridge from the hopper and into the hopper slide, wherein the (i)th cartridge maintains the desired orientation when being moved from the hopper into the hopper slide, moving the (i)th cartridge from the hopper slide and into the funnel, wherein the (i)th cartridge maintains the desired orientation when being moved from the hopper slide into the funnel, moving the (i)th cartridge from the funnel and into the slide funnel, wherein the (i)th cartridge maintains the desired orientation when being moved from the funnel and into the slide funnel, moving the (i)th cartridge from the slide funnel and into the mounted cassette, wherein the (i)th cartridge maintains the desired orientation when being moved from the slide funnel slide and into the cassette, and moving the (i)th cartridge from the mounted cassette and into the releasably attached firearm magazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A comprises a first perspective view of Applicant's apparatus for loading cartridges into a firearm magazine;

FIG. 1B recites a second perspective view of Applicant's apparatus for loading cartridges into a firearm magazine;

FIG. 1C is a side view of Applicant's apparatus for loading cartridges into a firearm magazine;

FIG. 2 is a first top view of the hopper portion of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a second top view of the hopper portion of FIG. 1B including a cover plate portion;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an adjustable disk portion, with two separate disks;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an adjustable disk portion, with two separate disks;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a bottom disk of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a nub portion and a ramp portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the top disk portion of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 9 illustrates a single-piece static slot disk version of the adjustable disk of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the hopper portion of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 11 illustrates a first cassette portion;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the cassette portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the cassette portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows an interior view of the cassette portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 illustrates a first portion of a cassette that mates to a second half of the cassette of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 shows the cam portion of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 illustrates a second cassette that is used for an AR15 magazine;

FIG. 18 shows a front view of a third cassette used for 40 caliber and 9 millimeter magazines;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the cassette of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a first interior view of the cassette of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 a second interior view of the cassette of FIG. 18 showing a pistol cartridge 44 being inserted into a magazine;

FIG. 22 illustrates rotation of a cam of the cassette of FIG. 11 pushing a cartridge 44 into an attached magazine 47;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the cassette of FIG. 18, wherein a cartridge has been pushed into, and seated in, an attached magazine;

FIG. 24 is a front view of an counter for displaying a number of loaded rounds;

FIG. 25 summarizes certain initial steps in Applicant's method using Applicant's article of manufacture;

FIG. 26 summarizes certain additional steps in the method of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 summarizes certain additional steps in the method of FIGS. 25 and 26;

FIG. 28A illustrates a cartridge length adjustment feature set for a .308 round; and

FIG. 28B illustrates the cartridge length adjustment feature of FIG. 28A set for a 9 mm round.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Applicant's article of manufacture and method using same are described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The described features, structures, or characteristics of Applicant's disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of Applicant's invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that Applicant's disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth.
In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of Applicant's disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of Applicant's disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents as supported by the following disclosure and drawings.
Schematic flow charts FIGS. 25, 26, and 27, are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method.
Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method.
Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.
Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, Applicant's magazine loading device 100 comprises a hopper 110 wherein cartridges, i.e., ammunition, can be staged before being loaded into one or more detachable firearm magazines. In certain embodiments, hopper 110 can hold at least 200 cartridges. In certain embodiments, hopper 110 can hold more than 200 cartridges.
In certain embodiments, the detachable firearm magazine is configured to hold about six rounds. In yet other embodiments, the detachable firearm magazine is configured to hold at least ten rounds. In still other embodiments, the detachable firearm magazine is configured to hold thirty rounds.
Further, in certain embodiments, Applicant's magazine loading device 100 comprises a funnel 120 and a hopper slide 130, said hopper slide having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the funnel 120, and wherein the second end is attached to funnel slide 135, which sets atop and is attached to cassette 140.
FIG. 1B illustrates hopper 110, funnel 120, funnel slide 130, cassette 140, and stand 150. In certain embodiments, hopper 110 is configured to be operated by a motor. In certain embodiments, the hopper 110 can be operated by a hand crank 102 (note that hand crank 102 is not shown attached to hopper 110 in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1C shows a first motor 160 operatively coupled to a rotatable disk disposed within the hopper 110, and a second motor 170 operatively coupled to the cassette 140. FIG. 1C further illustrates slide funnel 135 which includes a cartridge adjustment length 180
In certain embodiments one or more internal surface(s) of funnel 120 and/or an hopper slide 130, is formed to include a plurality of flutes. Cartridges moving through these structures travel between two flutes. This being the case, the flutes keep rounds passing therethrough in the desired orientation, i.e. where the tapered-bullet end leads the flat-bottomed cartridge housing.
Referring to FIG. 2, hopper 110 comprises an outside shell 8, which is called a bucket. Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, at least one rotatable disk 6 is moveably disposed inside bucket 8, which aligns and moves the cartridges out of the hopper and into the funnel 120.
Referring to FIG. 3, a cover plate 9 is disposed over a portion of hopper 110, and is attached to the bucket 8 to retain the cartridges in the bucket while they are agitated by rotating disk 6.
Cassette 140 is configured to releasably fixture a firearm magazine 47 (FIG. 17) thereto. In certain embodiments, cassette 140 is operated by a hand crank. In certain embodiments, cassette 140 is operated by a motor 170 (FIG. 1C).
In certain embodiments, cassette 140 (FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C) is detachable from apparatus 100. Both cassette 140 and magazine 47 (FIG. 17) are selected based upon a caliber of ammunition to be loaded. This being the case, article of manufacture 100 can be used with a plurality of different magazines, cartridge configurations, and cartridge calibers.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 can utilize cartridge calibers from .380 auto to 308. In certain embodiments, apparatus 100 can load smaller caliber cartridges into a magazine, such as the 22 Long Rifle and other small rounds. In certain embodiments, apparatus 100 is configured to utilize larger caliber cartridges, such as shot gun cartridges and 50 caliber cartridges. In certain embodiments, cassette 140 is configured to releasably attach different types of pistol and rifle magazines. In all instances, the cassette 140 and the magazine 47 (FIG. 17) are selected based upon the caliber of rounds to be loaded, and type of forearm to be utilized.
Rotation of hopper bucket 8 (FIG. 2) agitates the rounds staged in the hopper. Such agitation causes the staged rounds to flip and rotate.
Only cartridges that have been placed in a correct orientation by the hopper rotation are able to pass out of the hopper and into the hopper slide, still having the correct orientation. By “correct orientation,” Applicant means that the rounds passing through the funnel 120, and through the hopper slide 130, and through the slide funnel 135, and through the cassette 140, are inserted into an attached magazine in an orientation ready to be subsequently moved from the magazine and into a firing chamber of a weapon bearing said magazine.
Referring to FIG. 1B, hopper slide 130 is a conduit ONLY for cartridges having said correct orientation to be moved out of the hopper and disposed the cassette. In certain embodiments, hopper slide 130 comprises a downwardly sloping slide. In certain embodiments, hopper slide 130 comprises a downwardly sloping tube. In certain embodiments, hopper slide 130 is positioned on a back portion of hopper 110.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a frame 150 of the magazine loading device allows for all parts of the invention to be held in a static relationship to one another. Further, frame 150 allows a user to configure the said device based on the user's preference and the size of the magazine to be loaded.
In certain embodiments, motor 170 (FIG. 1C) operates cassette 140 (FIG. 1B). In certain embodiments, a electronic control module (ECM) 2400 (FIG. 24), which consists of an input/output screen with various buttons or dials to allow the user to interface with the electronics of the machine, is situated such that it can connect to either the left or right hand side of the hopper depending on the users' preference.
In certain embodiments, the ECM 2400 allows for various inputs and outputs to display a number of cartridges the user wishes to load into a magazine and a number of cartridges that have already been loaded. In certain embodiments, the ECM 2400 enables counting and stores data that it processes. Further, in certain embodiments, the ECM 2400 is compatible with wireless technology, such as the use of WIFI and Bluetooth, to allow the user to employ another electronic device to interface with the machine.
Sensor 1100 (FIG. 11) is placed in and on the cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) to allow exchanging of data with the ECM 2400 via a connector. In certain embodiments, ECM 2400 is configured to determine if cam 35 (FIGS. 14, 16) has made a full rotation when inserting the (i)th round into the attached cassette.
Referring again to FIG. 2, slot 5 allows a cartridge to pass out of hopper 110, and move into hopper slide 130. An aperture formed in rotatable disk 6 facilitates connection of disk 6 to motor 160 or hand crank 102. Grommets 7 through which a screw connects hopper 110 and frame 150, wherein the corresponding grommets 7 are disposed on the opposing side of the bucket to connect the bucket to both sides of hopper 110. Grommets 8 are positioned at an angle to move the bucket up and down along the centerline of hopper 110 and used for the connection of cover plate 9. In certain embodiments, cover plate 9 (FIG. 3) attaches to hopper 110 at an angle to prevent unloaded cartridges from falling out of hopper 110.
Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 8, in certain embodiments the rotatable disk 6 comprises two interconnected, rotatable disks. The interconnected disks can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of cartridges. In certain embodiments, four (4) slots are configured to match a width of a .380 cartridge. In certain embodiments, more than 4 or fewer than 4 slots can be incorporated into the disk for different types of cartridges. In certain embodiments, slots in full-open configuration 16 match a width for a .308 cartridge.
A slot 11 (FIG. 4) defines an opening 19 (FIG. 8) on a top disk 50 (FIG. 5) and a grommet 18 (FIG. 6) on bottom disk 55 (FIG. 6), wherein a screw is employed to fixture the two disks together as one piece once the top disk 50 is rotated to a proper position to expand the slots into fully-closed configuration 10 to fit the length of the selected cartridge. In some embodiment, two slots 11 are sufficient. In certain embodiments, more or less slots 11 may be needed.
In certain embodiments, a nub 12 (FIGS. 6, 7) aligns cartridges properly to be disposed into a cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) and an attached magazine 47 (FIG. 17). Nub 12 can be positioned from about one to about twenty millimeters away from an inside wall of the bucket depending on the type of cartridges intended to be used in the machine.
FIG. 7 shows a cartridge 700 comprising a jacket 710 and a tapered bullet extending outwardly from jacket 710. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, a flat end of jacket 710 is disposed within hopper 110 such that the flat end is flush with nub 12. The orientation of cartridge 700 shown in FIG. 7 illustrates a “proper orientation” of cartridge 700. When cartridge 700 is dropped into funnel 120, cartridge enters funnel 120 with the tapered-bullet end leading.
When cartridge 700 is moved from funnel 120 into hopper slide 130, cartridge 700 maintains while moving the “proper orientation” with the tapered-bullet end leading. When cartridge 700 is moved from hopper slide 130 into slide funnel 135, cartridge 700 maintains while moving the “proper orientation” with the tapered-bullet end leading. When cartridge 700 is moved from the slide funnel 135 into cassette 140, cartridge 700 maintains the “proper orientation” with the tapered-bullet end leading.
In certain embodiments, nub 12 is formed to include member 17 extending upwardly from the disk, wherein member 17 is shaped as a rectangle with one flat side in line with the back of the slot or as a triangle shape with one of the flat sides in line with the back of the slot.
In certain embodiments, on an aspect of the nub 12 that faces into the slot, an outside corner, i.e., the corner that faces the slot and is closest to the inside wall of the bucket, is formed at a diagonal with no cut at the bottom of the nub 12 and the deepest part of the cut at the top of the nub 12. Further, the cut can be anywhere in between about 10 degrees off the Z/X plane to about 80 degrees off the Z/X plane. In the X/Y plane, the cut can also be angled anywhere in between about 10 to about 80 degrees off the plane.
In addition, in certain embodiments, the face that is created by said cut can be flat. In certain embodiments, the face can have a concaved, convex, or a combination thereof to manipulate the cartridges that are not aligned correctly to pass by nub 12 and out of the slot either in configuration 10 or configuration 16.
In certain embodiments, cartridges include a bullet portion that is formed to include a tapering “tip” to facilitate travel of the bullet through the barrel of a gun, and to achieve favorable flight dynamics. Nub 12 lets each bullet tip pass by.
As a general matter, a cartridge is formed to include a large round flat back. In certain embodiments, the above rotatable disks 50 and 55 are configured to dispose nub 12 to create a space between the nub 12 and the bucket, wherein the space is small enough to prevent an entire cartridge, which is aligned correctly with its primer positioned against nub 12, to move through. Then, the cartridge is carried inside the plate slot either in configuration 10 or 16 up to slot 5 in the bucket. Subsequently, the cartridge falls out of hopper 110 and into hopper slide 130 by gravity.
Referring again to FIGS. 7 and 8, nub 12 seats fully against a disk portion 20 when the slot 16 is in full-open configuration. Both elements 17 and 20 facilitate cartridges, which have traveled past nub 12 and traveled up the ramp like part 17, to continue to travel to the bottom of hopper 110 without getting hung up on an edge. When the adjustable disks are configured either in configuration 10, 16, or at any intermediate point in between the edge of the top disk 50, the front part 22 of the slot is shaped in a way that does not interfere with the cartridge being able to fully seat into the slot.
In certain embodiments, a rectangular member 13 extends upwardly from the disk, and agitates the cartridges to ensure all cartridges can be aligned properly to fall into the slots in configuration 10 and to be caught by nub 12. In certain embodiments, two members 13 are sufficient. In certain embodiments, more or fewer members 13 are utilized.
In certain embodiments, an aperture 15 is formed on the top of the disk to permit a shaft of a motor 160 (FIG. 1C) to pass therethrough.
In certain embodiments, each of two apertures 14 includes a bump-up and a grommet, wherein the two apertures 14 are symmetrically placed on each side of aperture 15. A shaft of a motor connects to cover plate 9 through the bump-ups and grommets. In certain embodiments, aperture 14 can have a different configuration due to a slip-on and lock in place connector being incorporated onto the back of plate 9.
Referring to FIG. 9, in certain embodiments, rotatable disk 6 is formed as an integral unit comprising a fixed dimension slot to accommodate a specific caliber of ammunition or a small range of ammunition of roughly the same length. For example, a one-piece-static-slot disk 24 is configured to accommodate both 7.62 mm×39 mm and .223 inch caliber ammunition.
In certain embodiments, a number of slots 23 is greater than 4, and is limited by a length of the cartridges to be loaded into the hopper 110. Further, the number of slots is further limited by the size of the hopper, and the room required for ramp 24 to manipulate the cartridges to fall back to the bottom of hopper 110. In certain embodiments, the one-piece disk can be constructed for nearly any caliber of ammunition from 22 Long Rifle or smaller up to 50 Cal or bigger without any restrictions.
Referring to FIG. 10, in certain embodiments, hopper 110 is disposed on frame 150 at about a 60 degree angle from horizontal. In certain embodiments, hopper 110 and all of its associated parts are angled and configured such that they are at an angle from about 5 to about 90 degrees above horizontal. In certain embodiments, a drive motor 160 is an L-shaped gear motor.
In certain embodiments, on the back of the bucket inline with and directly behind the slot 5 at the top of the hopper 110, an L-shaped pipe/tube with a side facing the slot 5 cut open connects to the slot, through which the aligned cartridges fall into. Further, due to the combination of gravity and momentum, the aligned cartridge are directed via the L-shape down the back of hopper 110 through a tube or open faced slide that curves under hopper 110 and connects onto the back of hopper slide 130. In certain embodiments, many other ways of connecting and locking these said parts into place can be employed. Funnel slide 130 incorporates a bump-out part on the face that the cartridges impact once they have come to the end of the said slide, wherein this bump-out part limits cartridges from flipping up and becoming jammed in the cassette 140 by becoming misaligned.
Referring to FIG. 11, cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) releasably attaches a firearm magazine 47 (FIG. 17), and pushes cartridges into that attached magazine 47 (FIG. 17). In certain embodiments, cassette 140 is operated by a hand crank 104 (FIG. 1A) In other embodiments, cassette 140 is operated by motor 170 (FIG. 1C).
Referring now to FIGS. 13, 14, and 16, in certain embodiments, an internal cam 35 (FIG. 14) pushes cartridges into a releasably attached magazine 47 (FIG. 17), and an interface part 28 (FIG. 11) connects a driving device and the internal cam.
Further, in certain embodiments interface part 28 is formed to include an indented and keyed socket, which can utilize hand crank 104 (FIG. 1A) to operate the cassette 140.
Spring-loaded finger actuated clip 29 (FIG. 15) releasably fixtures a magazine. Four (4) small spring steal plates 30 (FIG. 11), two on each side of the cassette 140, are used to retain and allow retaining pins 33 (FIGS. 13, 14) to be move retaining pins from an extended orientation to a recessed orientation, i.e. to their starting position.
Referring again to FIG. 13, in certain embodiments retaining pins 33 are formed to include a collar that allows them to be retained in cassette 140 wall without falling completely out of the holes wherein they reside. Retaining pins 33 can move freely out of the wall when cam 35 is rotated to push cartridges down. Retaining pins 33 move back into the walls of the cassette 140 after a cartridge passes by. Then, retaining pins 33 are pushed back into place by spring steel plates 30, to be ready for a next cartridge to be held in place until cam 35 rotates again to push that next cartridge downwardly.
Referring again to FIG. 12, slot 32 allows cartridges to enter cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) from slide funnel 135, when cassette 140 and slide funnel 135 are connected.
Referring again to FIG. 13, in certain embodiments, when no magazine is inserted in cassette 140, retaining pins 33 hold the cartridge in place and prevent that cartridge from falling out the bottom of cassette 140.
Referring again to FIG. 14, in certain embodiments, cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) has the front pins disposed slightly lower than the back ones. Further, a gear 34 interlocks with a corresponding gear that is connected to the above said external cam interface part 28.
As a general matter; the gears are configured in a 1:1 gear ratio. In certain embodiments, other gear ratios are utilized in other cassette configurations. Referring to FIG. 15, a gear 36, which directly connects to interface device 28, interfaces with gear 34 (FIG. 14), which is directly connected to cam 35. Additionally in certain embodiments, cassette 140 includes alignment pins 37, which are used to align and strengthen the two parts of the cassette 140.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 16, cam 35 comprises three lobes. In other embodiments, more than 3 lobes or fewer than 3 lobes are utilized. Further, cam 35 is formed to include a keyed hole to allow operation by a keyed shaft. In certain embodiments, cam 35 is configured for a 7.62×39 round, but can also be utilized for a 0.223 round. Further, the drive direction of cam 35 is counterclockwise, and a L-shaped cutout is utilized to allow the cartridges to fall into the cassette aligned atop the magazine.
In certain embodiments, with rifle magazines, cartridges are aligned directly above the magazine and are pushed directly down until the cartridges are disposed within the magazine. With pistol magazines, the cartridges are placed to be loaded half way forward toward the front of the magazine and then the back end of the cartridge are pushed down toward the back of the magazine until the said cartridges are seated.
Referring to FIGS. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, a L-shaped arm 39 (FIG. 20) pivots as cam 38 is rotated. When cam 38 pushes the back of the cartridge, one of the lobes of cam 38 contacts the top of arm 39. The contact continues to push forward the top of arm 39 to pivot around a point 42 (FIG. 20) on arm 39, and moves the bottom part of arm 39 to push against the front of the cartridge, which is then urged backwardly. Together with cam 38 pushing the back of the cartridge, the cartridge is pushed into magazine 43 (FIG. 21) and disposed in magazine 43 (FIG. 22).
In certain embodiments, micro-switches are installed in cassette 140 to detect the insertion of a magazine into the magazine well, and to detect the insertion of a cartridge into the magazine.
FIGS. 25, 26, and 27, summarize Applicant's method to load one or more firearm magazines using Applicant's article of manufacture. Referring now to FIG. 25, in step 2510 the method provides an automated cartridge loading device having a hopper comprising at least one rotatable disk, a funnel 120 to receive cartridges from the hopper 110, a hopper slide 130 to deliver cartridges from the funnel 120 to a slide funnel 135 and then from the slide funnel 135 to the cassette 140, and which releasably fixtures a firearm magazine, and comprises a rotatable cam.
In step 2520, the method selects a firearm and a caliber of cartridges to load. In step 2530 and based upon the selection of caliber, the method selects a firearm magazine 47 (FIG. 17) to accept the selected caliber of ammunition.
In step 2540 and based upon the selected firearm, caliber and magazine, the method selects a cassette to accept the selected magazine. In step 2550, the method mounts the selected cassette to Applicant's article of manufacture. Further in step 2550, the method sets cartridge length adjustment 2810 (FIG. 28A) and 2820 (FIG. 28B) for the length of the selected rounds.
For example and referring now to FIG. 28A. FIG. 28A shows cassette 2810 which is formed to include a cartridge length adjustment knob 2812. In FIG. 28A, knob 2812 is shown disposed in the far left portion of slot 2814. FIG. 28A illustrates the positioning of cartridge length adjustment knob 2712 for a .308 round.
Referring now to FIG. 28B, cartridge length adjustment knob 2812 is shown disposed in a far right portion of slot 2814. FIG. 28B illustrates the positioning of cartridge length adjustment knob 2712 for a 9 mm round. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a .308 round is significantly longer in dimension than is a .9 mm round. In other embodiments, the cartridge adjustment knob is automatically set when the selected cassette is attached.
Referring once again to FIG. 25, in step 2560 the method determines whether a single hopper plate is used. If the method elects to utilize a single, molded hopper plate, then the method transitions from step 2560 to step 2580 wherein the method, based upon a caliber selected, selects a molded hopper plate. The method transitions from step 2580 to step 2610 (FIG. 26).
Alternatively, if the method elects to utilize a pair of adjustable rotatable disks, then the method transitions from step 2560 to step 2570 wherein the method provides a pair of adjustable rotatable disks. The method transitions from step 2570 to step 2610 (FIG. 26).
Referring now to FIG. 26, in step 2610 the method places a plurality of cartridges having the selected caliber into the hopper. In step 2620, the method attaches a magazine configured to releasably contain (N) cartridges of the selected caliber. In certain embodiments, (N) is 5. In other embodiments, (N) is greater than 5.
In step 2630, the method rotates the hopper disk to place an (i)th cartridge, where that (i)th cartridge is one of the plurality of cartridges of step 2610, into a correct orientation, wherein (i) is initially set to 1.
In step 2640, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the hopper into the hopper slide, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains the correct orientation in the funnel. In step 2650, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the hopper slide and into the funnel, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains the correct orientation in the funnel.
In step 2655, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the funnel and into the slide funnel, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains the correct orientation in the slide funnel
In step 2660, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the slide funnel and into the cassette, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains the correct orientation in the cassette. In step 2670, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the cassette and into the attached magazine, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains the correct orientation in the magazine. The method transitions from step 2670 to step 2710 (FIG. 27).
Referring now to FIG. 27, in step 2710, the method determines if the (i)th cartridge was received by the attached magazine in the correct orientation. If the method determines in step 2710 that the (i)th cartridge was not received by the attached magazine in the correct orientation, then the method transitions to step 2720 wherein the method provides a visual alert using ECM 2400 (FIG. 24). The method transitions from step 2720 to step 2730 wherein the method provides an auditory alert. The method transitions from step 2730 to step 2740 and ends.
If the method determines in step 2710 that the (i)th cartridge was received by the attached magazine in the correct orientation, then the method transitions from step 2710 to step 2750 wherein the method determines if (i) equals (N), i.e. if the attached magazine is full.
If the method determines in step 2750 that (i) does not equal (N), then the method transitions to step 2760 wherein the method sets (i) equal to (i+1). The method transitions from step 2760 to step 2630 and continues as described herein.
Alternatively, if the method determines in step 2750 that (N) does equal (i), i.e. the attached magazine is full, then the method transitions from step 2750 to step 2770 wherein the method determines whether to load another magazine with a different caliber of cartridges. If the method determines that another magazine configured for a different caliber is selected, then the method transitions from step 2770 to step 2550 and continues as described herein. Alternatively, if the method determines that another magazine configured for a different caliber is not selected, then the method transitions from step 2770 to step 2780 wherein the method determines whether to load another magazine configured for the same caliber.
If the method elects to load another magazine of the same caliber, then the method transitions from step 2780 to step 2550 and continues as describer herein. Alternatively, if the method elects not to load another magazine of the same caliber, then the method transitions from step 2780 to step 2740 and ends.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of Applicant's disclosure.

Claims

I claim:

1. A method to load cartridges into a firearm magazine, comprising providing an article of manufacture comprising a hopper comprising at least one rotatable hopper plate, a hopper slide, a funnel, and a slide funnel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing a hopper slide further comprises providing a hopper slide configured to include a plurality of flutes on an inner surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing a funnel further comprises providing a funnel configured to include a plurality of flutes on an inner surface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a firearm;

selecting a caliber of ammunition compatible with said firearm;

selecting a cartridge magazine compatible with said selected firearm and caliber;

selecting a cassette compatible with said caliber of ammunition and with said firearm;

mounting said selected cassette onto said article of manufacture;

releasably attaching said selected cartridge magazine to said mounted cassette;

disposing (N) cartridges comprising said selected caliber into said hopper, wherein (N) is between about 6 and about 30;

agitating said hopper plate to place an (i)th cartridge into a desired orientation while in said hopper, wherein said (i)th cartridge is one of said (N) cartridges;

moving said (i)th cartridge from said hopper and into and through said hopper slide, wherein said (i)th cartridge maintains said desired orientation when being moved through said hopper and when being moved through said hopper slide;

moving said (i)th cartridge from said hopper slide and into and through said funnel, wherein said (i)th cartridge maintains said desired orientation when being moved through said funnel;

moving said (i)th cartridge from said funnel and into said slide funnel, wherein said (i)th cartridge maintains said desired orientation when being moved from said funnel and into said slide funnel;

moving said (i)th cartridge from said slide funnel and into said mounted cassette, wherein said (i)th cartridge maintains said desired orientation when being moved from said slide funnel slide and into said cassette;

moving said (i)th cartridge from said mounted cassette and into said releasably attached firearm magazine.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said selecting a cartridge magazine further comprises selecting a cartridge magazine configured to hold six rounds.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said selecting a cartridge magazine further comprises selecting a cartridge magazine configured to hold at least ten rounds.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said selecting a cartridge magazine further comprises selecting a cartridge magazine configured to hold thirty rounds.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said agitating said hopper plat further comprises rotating said hopper plate.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining if (i) equals (N);

when (i) does not equal (N), set (i) equal to (i+1);

repeating said agitating operation, said moving operations, and said determining operation.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising;

when (i) equals (N), determining whether to load another firearm magazine with cartridges comprising the selected caliber;

when electing to load another firearm magazine with cartridges comprising the selected caliber, repeating said releasably attaching operation, said moving operations, and said determining operation.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

when not electing to load another firearm magazine with cartridges comprising the selected caliber, ascertaining whether to load a different caliber of ammunition into a firearm magazine configured to releasably store said different caliber of ammunition;

when electing to load a different caliber of ammunition into a firearm magazine configured to releasably store said different caliber of ammunition, repeating said selecting operations, said mounting operation, said disposing operation, said releasably attaching operation, said agitating, said moving operations, and said determining operation.