US2657489A

US2657489A - Magazine floor plate release mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2657489A
Application number: US153735A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Leonard Franklin Robertson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-04-03
Filing date: 1950-04-03
Publication date: 1953-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1970-11-03

Description

Nov. 3, 1953 F. ROBERTSON, JR 2,657,489

MAGAZINE FLOOR PLATE RELEASE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1950 INVENTOR A ummm [wmafim'lz'rz 190521230445: m AQW- ATTORNEYS 1953 F. ROBERTSON, JR. 2,657;489

MAGAZINE FLOOR PLATE RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A minimu I INVENTOR lpamuiivm'alwmiwlefi "I: 5/ F 1\\\ I ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES MAGAZINE FLOOR PLATE RELEASE MECHANISM Leonard Franklin Robertson, Jr., Silver Spring, Md.

Application April 3, 1950, Serial N 0. 153,735

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for effecting removal of the magazine floor plate of hand held firearms and more particularly to an accessory type floor plate removing device which is adaptable to military type rifles intended for sporting use.

There are many guns in use which are built on actions such as the Springfield model 1903, Enfield model 1917 and Mauser model 1898. Removal of the loaded unfired cartridges from the magazine of such rifles is accomplished by inserting a pointed tool in a hole in the floor plate just forward of the trigger guard, and depressing the catch While at the same time exerting a pressure toward the trigger guard to slide the floor plate back to free the locking lugs which project forward into slots provided in the magazine. This rearward motion of the floor plate will allow it to be freed and removed from the gun.

The tool referred to above may be any pointed object with a diameter smaller than the hole provided in the floor plate. In military use this may be a full jacketed long pointed bullet, but soft nosed hunting bullets are not suitable for this use. It therefore becomes necessary for the sportsman using such equipment to carry a special and separate tool to effect the release of the floor plate catch. Obviously such an extra piece of equipment is a nuisance and is very apt to be lost in the days travels of a hunter. The hunter is, however, faced with hunting laws which require him to unload his gun before placing it in his automobile. The general procedure as now followed by the average hunter is as follows: each unfired, loaded cartridge is worked into the firing chamber and out, being ejected in the same manner as a fired case. This is, to say the least, a dangerous and highly unsatisfactory procedure. Even if the cartridge is not accidentally fired in the above motion, it will very likely be thrown out on the ground by the fast and positive action of the ejector. When recovered (if ever), the cartridge must then be wiped clean of all dirt and moisture before it can again be loaded into the gun. These conditions as stated have revealed the need for an improvement in the operation of the magazine floor plate release of military type Weapons which include no built-in equipment for such purposes.

The object of this invention is to provide a positive acting, inexpensive device which will depress the floor plate catch and, at the same time, exert a rearward pressure on the fioor plate proper causing removal of the floor plate from the gun with a single easy motion.

The device of the present invention is easily permanently attached to the gun and easily operated with cold fingers or glOVed hands, and it eliminates entirely the need for special tools or the alternative dangerous method of ejecting loaded unfired cartridges through the firing chamber of the gun.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the magazine and trigger guard assembly of a Springfield military rifle showing the device of the present invention in operative position;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of the sub-assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the form of the magazine floor plate releasing device of the present invention which is used with Springfield rifles;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the floor plate of a Springfield military rifle showing a modified socket for the reception of the release mechanism of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the magazine and trigger guard assembly of a Mauser military type rifle showing the device of the present invention in operative position;

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section of the subassembly of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the form of the magazine floor plate releasing device of the present invention which is used with Mauser rifles;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the floor plate of a Mauser rifle showing a modified socket for the reception of the release mechanism of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a view in section taken on the line Ill-40 of Figure 7.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, in greater detail, the numeral It! represents the trigger guard and magazine subassembly of a Springfield or Enfield type of rifle. The magazine of this subassembly, which bears reference numeral II, is part of an integral casting and includes four walls which define a box-like cavity, the lower open end of which is closed by a floor plate l2. The floor plate I2 is provided at its ends with lips or flanges l3 and M which seat respectively in grooves l5 and I6 of the subassembly l0. Upon reference to Figure 2 it will be appreciated that, to remove the floor plate l2 from the magazine II, it is necessary to slide the same toward the left of the position assumed in the figure. This is ordinarily prevented by a latch 11 pivoted at I8 between side frames of the subassembly In which lie above and forward of the trigger guard. The latch is provided at one end with a generally triangular projecting portion l9 having wings [9a and Nb on either side thereof and at the other end with a small socket receiving one endof a coil sprin 20 that urges the triangular projection l9 and the wings [9a and 19b downwardly as it is viewed in Figure 2.

It will be observed upon reference to Figure 4 that the lip 14 is a part of a boss 21 integral with the floor plate l2 and projecting upwardly from its inner surface. slot 22, the bottom of which is defined by a surface parallel to and in the same plane as the upper surface of the floor plate. The forward edge of the slot 22 is defined by a straight or vertical surface 23a and a beveled surface at 23 complementary to the forward face of the triangular projection l9 and "a shoulder at 24 complementary to and coacting with the wings led and 912.

It can now be seen that since the spring biases the projection l9 into the slot 22, the wings [9a and 1 91) will be pressed against the upper surface of the boss 2| rearwardly of the shoulders 21 so that the shoulders cannot be moved rearwardly of the gun as a whole. This being the case, and bearing in mind the integral nature of the boss 21, the lip I4 and the floor plate 12, it is apparent that so long as the spring 20 holds the wings 19a and I9!) in position behind the shoulders 24, the floor plate cannot be released.

The gun as manufactured is provided with a floor plate aperture at 25 so that the sharp nose of a military bullet can be inserted therein and, through the slot 22, can act on the tip of the projection l9 so as to raise the wings [to and i912 above the shoulders 24 to permit the floor plate to be moved rearwardly enough to disengage the lips l3 and M from the grooves 15 and [6.

In the original condition of the floor plate assembly the shape of the slot 22 in the boss 2| is not critical so long as it allows space for the seating of the projection l9 above the aperture '25. For reasons which will be hereinafter apparent, the slot in the boss of the conventional Springfield floor plate has been modified as a part of this invention to the configuration illustrated in Figure 4.

The present invention is a release lever attachment to be used with the above-described mechanism to facilitate removal of the ,floor plate and thereby assist in removal of unfired 'cartridges from the magazine. To accomplish the desired results there is provided the attachment shown in Figures 2 and 3. 'This attachment, in use, rests in the slot 22 of the boss 2l and 'func tions to raise the triangular projection I9 of the latch to release position. It is comprised of a piece of heavy sheet metal provided withan operating knob 26, a neck 21, a portion 28 extending forwardly of the neck and a portion-29 extending rearwardly of the neck. The

portions

28 and 29 seat in the groove 22 and reston .the uppersurface ofthe fioorplate 12 at the bottom of the groove 22. .A notch wat =3D,in the upper surface "of the release lever .jgcomplementary to the projection l9 and receives the same.

The boss 2| has an inner From the foregoing description it can be seen that when the operating knob 26 is squeezed toward the trigger guard or moved to the left of its Figure 2 position, the under surface of the portion 28 acts as a fulcrum and the portion 29 acts as a camming portion against the under side of the triangular projection l9 and raises the latch I! as a whole to a position such that the wings l9a and H319 are higher than the shoulders 24 on the boss 2| so that the boss can be moved to the left of its Figure 2 position. Of course, the boss is permanently attached to the floor plate 12 and the described movement is effected by moving the whole floor plate assembly including the boss to the release position. When the floor plate is removed the release mechanism including the projection I9 stays in the slot 22 and is a permanent loosely held part of the floor plate, the handle 26 and the parts 2;, 29 being of greater diameter than aperture 2 The arrangement which has been developed in respect to the Mauser type rifle is shown in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, and it corresponds generally to the Springfield-Enfield type which has just been-described.

In Figures 6 and 7 there is shown a sub-assembly comprising a magazine 3|, a trigger guard 32 and a floor plate 33. The magazine and trigger guard are integral and between them there is provided a housing 34 which is provided with a cylindrical interior space at 35 which receives a plunger '35. The plunger 36 is provided with a guiding pin 31 which projects through an aperture in the top of the housing 34 and between the top of the housing and the top of the plunger there extends a coil spring 38 which continuously biases the plunger downwardly. The floor plate 33 is provided at one end with a flange 39 which coacts with a complementary groove :30 in the main casting constituting the trigger guardmagazine sub-assembly. Another groove 4| is provided at the left hand and of the magazine sub-assembly as it is viewed in Figure '7 and that groove cooperates with a flange or lip 42 on a boss 43 which is integral with and projects upwardly from the inner surface of the floor plate 33. The boss is provided with a hollow interior at '44 which is accessiblefrom the outside of the gun through an aperture .at 45. In the normal military use of the rifle ,the floor plate is locked in position by seating of the plunger 36 in the socket at M and release of the floor plate is effected by inserting the pointed nose of military ammunition through the'hole at 45 to push the plunger '36 upwardly against the bias of spring 38 .so that the boss 13 is free to move and hence the floor plate 33 .may be moved to the left of its Figur 6 p sit on to di en a flan 39 and $2 from the respective grooves 5.0 and 4]. In other words, the floor ,plate is normally ,held by the projection of the plunger .35 into the hollow'interior .44 of the boss 43. Under these conditionsit is apparent that the boss 43 needbe provided vonly with a central generally cylindrical aperture ,aifording. access tothe lower .end of the plunger 35. According .to the present invention the boss 43 is .modifiedby provision of two diametrically opposejd slots on the long axis of the floor plate extending through the boss from the hollowwinterior 44 to the outside.

1f .thetrifle is used .with sporting ammunition the blunt ,nosepf bullets will not pass through the aperture at 45 anditisnecGSsary to have-a sharp tool available to release the floor plate.

To obviate this difliculty this invention provides an operating lever which is freely mounted in the slots in the boss 43 and projects through the aperture at 45 and is carried by the floor plate at all times so that it is only necessary to squeeze the lever to displace the plunger 36 and release the floor plate. The release mechanism which constitutes an important part of this invention is shown in Figure 8. It comprises an operating handle 46, a shank portion 41, a fulcrum portion 48 and an acting lever or camming portion 49. The under side of the fulcrum portion 48 and the acting portion 49 rest on the upper surface of the floor plate 33 so that the device is supported by the floor plate within the boss 43. When it is desired to release the floor plate latch the operating handle 4'5 is squeezed to the left of its Figure 7 position, i. e., toward the trigger guard and the lever part 49 then lifts the pin 36 out of the socket at 44 so that the plate may be removed.

From all of the foregoing it can be seen that this invention entails but small modification of existing equipment to bring about a, substantial advantage. According to the illustrated applications of the invention it is only necessary to cut out a groove in the floor plate boss which holds and acts as a camming surface for the floor plate release lever of the present invention.

While this invention has been described with respect to but two embodiments thereof, it is understood that it broadly comprises a pin supported for freedom of movement in the floor plate, the pin having lever portions so that it can bias the latch which holds the floor plate to release positions so that the floor plate may be removed.

What is claimed is:

1. A magazine floor plate assembly comprising a frame, a magazine fixed relative to the frame and having front and rear walls, the rear face of the front wall and the rear face of the rear wall each having a groove therein, a removable floor plate having an internal lip normally seated in the groove in the front wall of the magazine, a boss on said floor plate having a lip thereon normally seated in the groove in the rear wall of said magazine, a, spring urged latch carried by the frame and biased to act upon a portion of said boss to restrain the same against movement, a lever including a portion lying within the boss and contacting the latch and a handle portion depending below the floor plate, said lever being fulcrumed in said floor plate and movable to overcome the bias on said latch to render said floor plate removable.

2. A magazine floor plate assembly comprising a frame, a magazine fixed relative to the frame and having front and rear walls, the rear face of the rear wall having a groove therein, a removable fioor plate, a, boss on said floor plate having a lip thereon normally seated in the groove in the rear face of the rear wall of said magazine, means on the front edge of the floor plate and on the front wall of said magazine coacting to hold the floor plate against movement when the lip on the boss is engaged in the groove on the rear face of the rear wall of the magazine, a spring urged latch carried by the frame and biased to act upon a portion of said boss to restrain the same against movement, a lever including a portion lying within the boss and contacting the latch and a handle portion depending below the floor plate, said lever being fulcrumed in said floor plate and movable to overcome the bias on said latch to render said floor plate removable.

LEONARD FRANKLIN ROBERTSON, J R.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,856 Wagner Feb. 12, 1901 1,056,057 Randall Mar. 18, 1913 1,132,044 Stamm Mar. 16, 1915 1,172,069 Stamm Feb. 15, 1916 1,410,354 White Mar. 21, 1922 1,552,457 Swebilius Sept. 8, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,493 Great Britain 1911