US2275213A - Rifle magazine - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1942. Q WISE 2,275,213

RIFLE MAGAZINE Filed Sept. 5. 1940 14 KQEQ/LQUZ. Z3 1{ a haw'le/s E. V/j/se/ INVENTOR m wwr.

ATTO R N EYS Patented Mar. 3, 1942 rrss '; FFIQE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in rifle magazines.

An important object of my invention is the provision of an auxiliary rifle magazine having an essentially large cartridge capacity which may be either carried separately on the person of the user or applied to a rifle of conventional construction.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an auxiliary rifle magazine of the above-mentioned character which, when applied to a rifle, will greatly increase the capacity of the rifle magazine thus eliminating the necessity of frequently reloading the same and permitting the user to fire a relatively great number of times after each filling.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an auxiliary rifle magazine of the abovementioned character which is particularly adapted for use during war-time conditions. The

application of the auxiliary magazine to thei built-in magazine of the rifle will cause the same to project substantially from the forearm portion of the gun. It is only necessary to apply the auxiliary magazine when the rifle is ready to be used and I have, therefore, provided the magazine with attaching means which permit the same to be easily and expeditiously applied to or removed from the rifle.

Yet another object of my invention is the provision of an auxiliary rifle magazine of the abovementioned character which includes lock means for positively preventing the release of the cartridges carried thereby until the lock means is manually released by the operator and, after actuation of the lock means to release the car-v tridges, the lock means is automatically positioned to positively prevent inadvertent closing of the discharge throat of the magazine.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View illustrating an auxiliary rifle magazine embodying my invention applied to a rifle of conventional construction,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the auxiliary cartridge magazine,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the rifle magazine,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevationof a locking means embodying a part of my invention,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modification of the locking means and illustrating the same as holding the keeper in obturating relation with the discharge throat of the magazine,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the locking means as holding the keeper retracted from the discharge throat of the magazine, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the locking means illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral ID designates a rifle of conventional design and construction. The rifle includes a built-in cartridge magazine ll adapted to receive a limited number of cartridges [2. The inner end of the cartridge magazine H is closed by a bolt l3 which is associated therewith so that retraction of the bolt will open the inner end of the magazine and advancement of the bolt will cause the same to engage the uppermost of the cartridges and to project the same into the firing chamber M of the gun barrel. The outer end of the magazine H is normally closed by the usual removable plate (not shown).

A rifle of the above character may be fired only a few times at one loading, due to the limited number of cartridges that may be accommodated in the magazine II, but my auxiliary magazine which is broadly indicated by the reference numeral I8, is capable of accommodating a relatively great number of cartridges. For that purpose, it comprises a relatively deep casing l9 open at each end and which will accommodate a double column of cartridges arranged in staggered relation, as illustrated in Figure 3. The lower end of the casing is closed by a removable plate 20 which serves as a seat for a spring follower 2 l As clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 the follower is arranged below the double column of cartridges and as each cartridge is removed from the magazine the resilient action of the follower will urge the subjacent cartridge into position to be next introduced into the firing chamber. The upper end of the casing is open to provide a discharge throat which is shaped to fit and to abut the built-in magazine H of the gun. The casing is adapted to be detachably applied to the gun in the same manner as the detachable plate previously referred to, and for that purpose, the forward end of the casing is provided with a projecting lip 22 which snugly fits within a recess IE5 at the forward end of the magazine I I and the rearward end thereof is provided with a suitable lug 23 which cooperates with a spring catch I! in a manner which will be later described. The lug 23 is similarly provided with a projecting lip 24 which extends in the same direction as the lip 22 for engagement within a recess 25 in the gun magazine. As best illustrated in Figure 1 the lug is provided with a tapered opening 26 which is adapted to receive the pointed end of a cartridge, or a like shaped implement, for actuating the spring catch to release the auxiliary magazine from the gun.

In attaching the auxiliary magazine, the casing is inserted in the open lower end of the gun magazine, with the projecting lips 22 and 24 disposed slightly rearwardly of their respective recesses, and the upper edge of the casing is then moved into abutting engagement with the lower end of the gun magazine. Advancement of the casing to move the lips into the respective recesses will hold the casing in place and the spring catch I1 will seat within a groove 21 provided in the upper face of the lug 23 and thus act to lock the casing in position.

It is to be understood that, while the auxiliary magazine may be attached to the gun at all times, it is primarily adapted to be applied thereto only when the gun is to be used. I have, therefore, provided an essentially springy keeper 28 which will hold a full supply of cartridges in the casing against the resilient action of the follower 21 when the casing is detached from the gun.

The keeper comprises an elongated plate the lower end of which is fixedly secured to the side of the casing by a bolt 29, or the like.

upper end thereof is bent transversely to provide an extension 33 which is adapted to be received within a recess 3! in the upper edge of the casing The plate, is formed of any suitable springy material and the and to project transversely of the discharge,

throat. The essentially springy action of the plate will normally position the projection 30 retracted from the throat, as illustrated in Figure 7, and in order that it maybe positively held in either the obturating or retracted position, I have V provided a lock or catch means therefor.

The lock means 32, as illustrated in Figures 2 through 5 comprises a sleeve pivotally mounted for rotation about a pin which sleeve is provided at its outer end with a transverse head 34. The head extends through an elongated slot 38. in the keeper plate and is normally held in transverse relation therewith by a coil spring 40. When the head 34' is disposed transversely of the slot by the spring it will engage the plate at the opposite sides of the slot to lock the same in either the obturating or open position. If the head is pivoted into register with the slot against the resilient action of the spring, the plate may be moved to either position and release of the head will permit the spring to automatically return the same to the transverse position and either above or below the plate to lock the same in the selected position.

The modified lock means illustrated in Figures 6 through 8 comprises a sleeve 33 having a pair sleeve may be positionedtransversely of the slot to lock the plate in position or in alignment therewith to permit the plate to be moved to either the obturating or open position. Inasmuch as it is desired to normally look the keeper in the selected position, a coil spring 40 similar to the spring 40, is provided to normally hold the heads 34 and 35 transversely positioned relative to the slot 38. The end 4| of each spring is fixedly secured to the casing and the end 42 thereof is received within an opening in the sleeve of its lock member, the opening of the sleeve 33 being indicated by the reference numeral 43, as shown in Figure 8. Thus, if the heads 34 and 35 are moved into register with the slot the coil spring 40 will be tensioned, andif the extension 33 is moved to the obturating position, as illustrated in Figure 6, the coil spring will automatically position the head 34 transversely of the slot 38. In this position the head 34 is disposed beyond the keeper plate in a manner to abuttingly engage the outer surface thereof at opposite sides of the slot.

It is obvious that if a full supply of cartridges is disposed within the casing and if the keeper 28 is locked in the obturating position, the casing may be carried in the pocket of a garment or attached to a belt without fear of the cartridges being inadvertently expelled from the casing. When the auxiliary rifle magazine embodying the present invention is not applied to the gun, the

gun may be easily carried and there will be no projecting parts to interfere with the ready han- 'and 35 into register with the slot 38 to permit the keeper plate to flex outwardly to the open 'position illustrated in Figure '7. To facilitate the rotation of the locking means, I have provided the arcuately curved outer face 44 of the head 35 with knurling. After the keeper has moved to the open position release of the locking means Will permit the spring 40f to automatically move the head 34 out of register with the slot. The head 34 is now positioned intermediate the keeper plate and the side of the casing and in abutting engagement with the inner face of the plate, as illustrated in the dotted lines in Figure 7. The keeper plate is now securely locked in the open position to prevent the user of the gun from inadvertently pressing thereagainst in amanner to move the same into obturating relation With the discharge throat of the magazineto prevent the discharge of the cartridges into the firing chamber of the gun It may thus be seen that I have provided an auxiliary magazine which greatly increases the firing capacity of a conventional gun. It is not necessary that the auxiliary magazine be applied to the gun at all times, but when it is desired to effect such application this operation may be expeditiously accomplished. The cartridges are securely held in the auxiliary magazine until the locking means is manually released. After the locking means has been released and the cartridges forced into the ammunition magazine ll of the gun the keeper is automatically locked in theopen position. If the bolt i3 of the gun is retracted sufiicient additional cartridges may be forced into the gun breech to completely fill both the auxiliary magazine 18 and the gun magazine H. The gun is th n f y c a ged'and may be fired without reloading until all of the cartridges have been fired. When it isdesired to reload the gun it is not necessary to remove the auxiliary magazine for the reason that retraction of the bolt I3 will permit a new supply of cartridges to be introduced into both the auxiliary and gun magazines. When the gun is not in use the auxiliary magazine may be easily detached from the gun and all of the cartridges removed from the magazine I! and firing chamber Hi. The auxiliary magazine is then charged with a fresh supply of cartridges and the keeper plate 28 locked in the closed position preparatory to application of the same to the gun.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ammunition magazine comprising a casing having a discharge throat, a spring member provided with a slot and mounted on the side of the casing, said spring member including a transverse portion movable across the discharge throat to retain ammunition in the casing, and a catch member pivoted to the casing and having spaced heads adapted to pass through said slot in the spring member in one position but not pass therethrough in another position, positioning of the spring member to retain the ammunition and rotation of the catch member to the last-named position permitting the first head to lock the spring member in a closed position and rotation of the catch member to the first-mentioned position permitting the spring member to hex to a position beyond the first head and intermediate the heads whereby return of the catch member to the second position will permit the first head to lock the spring member in an open position.

2. An ammunition magazine comprising a casing having a discharge throat, a spring member provided with a slot and mounted on the side of the casing, said spring member including a transverse portion movable across the discharge throat to retain ammunition in the casing, a catch member pivoted to the casing and having spaced heads adapted to pass through said slot in the spring member in one position but not pass therethrough in another position, and spring means coactive with the said catch member to normally position the same in the second-mentioned position, posi- Z tioning of the spring member to retain the ammunition and normal positioning of the catch member permitting the first head to lock the spring member in a closed position and rotation of the catch member to the first-mentioned position against the resilient action of the spring means permitting the spring member to flex to a position beyond the first head and intermediate the heads whereby the said spring means may automatically return the catch member to the second position to permit the first head to lock the spring member in an open position.

3. An ammunition magazine comprising a casing having a discharge throat, a spring member mounted on the side of the casing having a transverse portion movable across the discharge throat to retain ammunition in the casing, and a catch member pivoted to the casing and having a head adapted to extend transversely of the spring member in one position, positioning of the spring member to retain the ammunition and rotation of the catch member to position the head above the spring member efiecting locking of the spring member in the closed position and rotation of the catch to permit the head to disengage the spring member permitting the said spring member to flex to a position beyond the head whereby return of the catch member to the first-mentioned position will permit the head to extend below the spring member to lock the same in an open position.

4. An ammunition magazine comprising a casing having a discharge threat, a spring member mounted on the side of the casing and having a transverse portion normally retracted from the discharge throat but movable thereacross to retain ammunition in the casing, a catch member pivoted to the casing and having a head adapted to swing over the spring member to lock the same in obturating relation with the discharge throat or to swing beneath the spring member to lock the same in an open position, and spring means coactive with the catch member to normally position the head transversely of the spring member, whereby pivoting of the head to release the spring member will tension the spring means and permit the spring member to be moved to either the obturating or open position and release of the catch member will permit the spring to automatically return the head to lock the spring member in the selected position.

5. In an ammunition magazine, a casing having a discharge throat adapted to extend into the magazine chamber of a gun for a limited distance, a spring member mounted on the side of the casing and having a portion normally retracted from but movable across the discharge throat thereof, manual means carried by the portion of the casing extending from the gun chamber in a manner to be readily manually accessible when the casing is applied to the gun, said means being movable into engagement with the spring member to lock the same in either of the above positions, and

spring means coactive with the manual means to normally position the same in looking engagement with the said spring member.

6. An ammunition magazine comprising a casing having a discharge throat, a spring member mounted on the side of the casing having a transverse portion normally retracted from but movable across the discharge throat to retain ammunition in the casing, catch means movable into engagement with the spring member to lock the same in either of the above-mentioned positions, and resilient means coactive with the catch means to automatically position the same in looking relation to the spring member.

CHARLES R. WISE.

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