US3377732A

US3377732A - Loading magazine for revolver cylinder

Info

Publication number: US3377732A
Application number: US570525A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norman A Bivens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-08-05
Filing date: 1966-08-05
Publication date: 1968-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-16

Description

A ril 16, 1968 N. A. BIVENS LOADING MAGAZINE FOR REVOLVER CYLINDER Filed Aug. 5, 1966 INVENTOR. IVO/QMA/V A. 5/ (as/v5,

n/m z United States Patent 3,377,732 LOADING MAGAZlNE FOR REVOLVER CYLINDER Norman A. Bivens, 10664 Wheatland Ave., Sunland, Calif. 91040 Filed Aug. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 570,525 8 Claims. (CI. 42-50) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An easy loading magazine for use with revolvers, said magazine comprising: an elongated, tubular cartridgereceiving channel closed at one end; a cartridge follower in said channel; a spring between said follower and said closed end; a pin passing through said follower and penetrating opposed grooves in said channel walls whereby said spring may be manually compressed to facilitate loading said magazine.

This invention relates to an accessory for a firearm and, more specifically, the present invention pertains to the provision of means enabling the user thereof to facilitate the loading of hand guns, such as revolvers, in particular, and other similar or related pistols, rifles and firearms of analogous classes.

One of the primaiy objects of this invention is to provide a readily accessible reserve supply of ammunition for hunters, target shooters, police officers and members of the armed services, wherein the means enables the user to quickly and easily effect the loading of revolvers and similar firearms.

Through convention, most ammunition when carried in reserve by those persons using the hand guns is either carried loosely in the pocket, in the box in which the same is retailed, or in a conventional cartridge belt. All of these practices have major drawbacks or disadvantages in that the user must fumble around with the cartridges contained in his pocket or the retail box to find the cartridges and must finger the same in order to position them for loading in the cylinder chamber of a revolver, and in using the conventional cartridge belt, much time is lost in selecting the cartridge from the belt and inserting the same in the cylinder. This loss of time is of particular importance to law enforcement agents wherein the ability to maintain a sustained firepower may prevent his wounding or slaying.

The prior art discloses that various attempts had been made to provide hand gun users with quick reloading revolver accessories, but for the most part the same are bulky, inefiicient and impractical in application, and are ill-suited to accomplish the objectives sought to be achieved.

It is, thus, among the foremost objects of this invention to provide means for quickly, positively and accurately loading the cylinder of a revolver or similar firearm, without the disadvantages noted above and still others not mentioned but which are well known to those skilled in this art.

The means to which reference was made supra, and which forms the subject matter of this invention, comprises a magazine type of cartridge holder for loading the chambers of a revolver cylinder, the magazine being constructed, preferably, to accommodate cartridges corresponding in number to the number of cartridge chambers formed in the cylinder of a given revolver with which the magazine is to be held as an accessory.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magazine type cartridge holder for loading revolver cylinders wherein the holder is substantially fiat to permit ease in the manual manipulation thereof, occupies but little more space than the actual volume occupied by the cartridges retained in the magazine, and wherein the contour of the magazine is constructed with but a minimum of protuberances thereby eliminating any possibility of its entanglement with clothing, while, at the same time enabling the same to be quickly withdrawn from a pocket or from a belt-supported magazine or clip pouches of a type known in this art.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a magazine type loading device for the cylinder of a revolver, the magazine being so constructed as to include a casing which is adapted to hold one or a plurality of cartridges, together with a spring-biased follower which constantly and positively biases the cartridges towards the discharge end of the magazine while eliminating any possibility of a cartridge jam, and an improved magazine butt plate construction which enables the user to quickly and easily disassemble the magazine to repair or clean the same.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type generally described above which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is rugged and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, substantially to scale, of a fully loaded magazine constructed according to this invention for the loading of the cylinder of a revolver or a similar firearm;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the magazine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the magazine illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal crosssectional view, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the relative positions of the component elements of the loading magazine when it is in its unloaded condition;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed transverse cross-sectional view, FIGURE 5 being taken on the vertical plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of the magazine, the butt plate having been removed therefrom;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 6, with the butt plate installed on the magazine; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the butt plate construction.

Referring noW more specifically to the several figures of the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a magazine type loading device for the cylinder of a revolver or of a related and similar weapon, the magazine being constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. As illustrated herein, the magazine 10 is seen to comprise an elongated substantially hollow rectangular casing or main body portion 12 which may be stamped or otherwise formed to include a pair of elongated substantially rectangular, laterally spaced, confronting and

parallel side walls

14, 16 integrally connected at an adjacent pair of longitudinally extending side edges by an ogive or arcuately shaped end wall 18. The

side walls

14, 16, adjacent their other respective

opposed edges

20, 22 are formed with an elongated substantially

rectangular type slot

24, 26, respectively, spaced laterally and inwardly from the adjacent edge. The guide slots 24, 25 are disposed in confronting relation relative to one another with their respective axes parallel to one another and parallel to the adjacent one of the

edges

20, 22, and

32, 34 on a reversed ogee curve (with reference to F1 URES l and 4) to give rise to the lobes 36, 33 which are arcuately curved about a common axis to present a pair of confronting concave inner sides. The

lobes

36, 38 are curved inwardly and towards one another in such a manner as to obstruct the free entry into the front or forward end of the magazine between the

side Walls

14, 16. Butler pads 46 having a substantially U-shaped configura tion may be mounted on the lower edges of the

lobes

36, 38, the pads being positioned immediately adjacent the

forward ends

42, 43 of the

side walls

14, 16, respectively. The pads may be secured thereon by the conventional means 40A such as, for example, snap fasteners.

The rear ends 44, 4-5 of the

side walls

14, 16, respectively, are integral with elongated, laterally diverging, substantially rectangular guide flanges 48, St), the

guide flanges

48, 50 extending from points adjacent to but spaced below their respective immediately

adjacent edges

20, 22 to points spaced inwardly from but adjacent to the junction of the end wall 18 with the

side walls

14, 16.

Reference numeral 52 designates an inverted substantially U-shaped bridge as depicted in the several figures of the drawings, the bridge 52 also preferably being formed by stamping. As illustrated, the bridge 52 spans the edges 29, 22 and includes an elongated substantially rectangular bight portion 54 having a rear end 56 disposed in the common plane of the rear ends 44, 46 of the

side walls

14, 16 and, as is clearly seen in FIGURES l and 4, the forward end of the bight portion 54 overhangs the extensions or tongues 28, 3t), and the underside thereof tapers at 54A towards its outer terminal end to serve as a function to be described.

Projecting laterally from the opposed longitudinally extending marginal edges of the bight portion 54 are, respectively, a pair of elongated, substantially

rectangular arms

58, 60 fixedly secured to the exterior sides of the

side Walls

14, 16 and to the upper marginal edges of the

tongues

28, 30 by conventional means (not shown), the connection therebetween being such as to maintain the bight portion 54 in spaced relation relative to the

edges

20, 22 so as to define a pair of opposed, confronting and

parallel guide grooves

62, 64 therebetween.

At 66 as indicated, in general, a magazine follower having a substantially T-shaped configuration which includes an elongated substantially rectangular cross plate 63 having its opposed ends slidably received in the

guide grooves

62, 64, respectively. An elongated substantially rectangular stem 70 extends centrally of the plate 68 and between the

side walls

14, 16, in laterally spaced and substantially parallel relationship relative thereto.

Through reference to FIGURE 4, it is seen that the stem 70, when the magazine 10 is in its unloaded condition shown in this figure, has a cartridge casing engaging edge 72 that normally projects beyond the

forward edges

42, 43 of the

side walls

14, 16 and partially between the extensions are

tongues

28, 30 and the

lobes

36, 38 in laterally spaced relation relative thereto. The forward edge or easing engaging edge 72 of the stem 70 is recessed to form a shoulder 74 inwardly spaced relative to the adjacent edges of the

lobes

36, 38 and at the same time forming the recessed edge extension 72A which, under magazine no load condition is approximate and substantially parallel to the

forward edges

42, 43 of the

side walls

14, 16, respectively. Cartridge rim head space is obtained by disposing the forward edge 68A of J the cross plate 68 rearwardly of the edge 72, as shown in FIGURE 4.

As is seen in FIGURE 4, the stem 70 is formed with a transversely extending opening 75 which slidably receives a cross-pin 76 therethrough, the cross-pin 76 being provided with a circumferential groove 77, 78 adjacent, respectively, the opposed ends thereof, and a centrally located circumferential groove 80. As is seen in FlG- URES 2 and 5, the cross-pin 76 is of such length as to extend beyond the remotely disposed sides of the

side walls

14, 16, and the grooves 77, 78 receive therein at diametrically opposed sides thereof adjacent portions of the marginal edges of the

side walls

14, 16 defining the

slots

24, 26 and without frictional contact therewith. The grooves 77, 78 are essential in this construction since the outside diameter of the cross-pin 76 is greater than the VvldihS of the

slots

24, 26.

The cross-pin 76 is positioned relative to the stem 70 in such a manner that its centrally located circumferential groove 80 is disposed in open confronting relation relative to the inner end of a cylindrical bore 82 which, at its outer end, is in open communication with a countersunk hollow cylindrical socket 84 that extends inwardly from the rear edge 72B of the stem 70. The socket 84 releasably receives therein a substantially cylindrical plug 86 having a centrally located lock lug 88 projecting laterally from the side thereof, the lock lug 88 having the outer end thereof adapted to be received within the bore 82 and is of such length as to engage within the circumferential groove 80 to thereby prevent the inadvertent or accidental shifting of the cross-pin 76. The other side of the plug 86 is reduced in diameter forming an outwardly facing neck 90 and spring seat 92 (see FIGURE 4) to which further reference will be made infra.

The stem 70, adjacent its outermost free edge 720, but spaced inwardly therefrom, carries a laterally projecting cylindrical magazine follower stabilizing bar 92, the opposed ends of the latter slidably engaging the confronting inner ends of the

side walls

14, 16 as the follower 66 is actuated. Also located inwardly from but adjacent the edge 72C and formed in the edge 72B is a rearwardly opening transverse arcuate keeper pocket 94, the function of which will become known below.

This invention contemplates the use of a two-piece magazine butt plate assembly or unit shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawing, the butt plate assembly or unit shown therein bearing the general reference numeral 100.

The unit is seen to include, as one-piece thereof, an elongated substantially rectangular slide plate 102 having a main body portion 104 which is formed with a pair of reverted longitudinally extending laterally spaced and substantially

parallel flanges

106, 108 at the marginal edges thereof, the flanges 106, 168 overlying the adjacent portions of the main body portion 104- in spaced relation relative thereto to form a pair of substantially parallel inwardly opening confronting grooves 110, 112. The main body portion 104 is also provided with a centrally located elongated transversely extending and substantially rectangular slot 114 which is intersected intermediate its ends by a substantially cylindrical opening 116, the functions of the slot 114 and opening 116 to be explained below.

One end of the main body portion 104 is provided with a transversely extending substantially rectangular throat 118 that extends longitudinally therefrom and which is inwardly inclined relative thereto in the direction of the flanges 106, 103, the throat 118 closing the adjacent end of the grooves 110, 112 and serving as abutment means as will be explained below. The opposite ends of the grooves 110, 112 remain open at all times.

As is seen in FIGURES 4, 7 and 8, the throat 1118 continues into an integrally formed substantially rectangular end plate 126 having a rounded or ogive-shaped outer end 122.

The second piece of the two-piece butt plate unit 100 is identified by reference numeral 124 and comprises a lock plate having an elongated substantially rectangular main body portion 126 in which is located a detent 128 facing outwardly from the side thereof and which is adapted to be loosely received within the cylindrical opening 116 when the pieces are assembled to serve a later described function. The main body portion 126 adjacent one of its ends is provided with a transverse elongated substantially rectangular throat 130 which projects angularly and longitudinally therefrom in the direction of the other side of the main body portion 126. The throat 130 continues into a substantially rectangular end plate 132 which is offset but substantially parallel to the main body portion 126, and the end plate 132 is also provided with a rounded or ogive-shaped outer end 134.

The ogive-shaped end 134, at its apex, is struck to form a notch 136 having a tab 138 at the base end thereof, the tab 138 projecting from the end plate 132 in a direction away from the aforementioned other side of the main body portion 126.

It is thus seen that the two pieces 102, 124 of the unit 100 are essentially congruent in configuration relative to one another, and, in some respects the two are congruent with respect to the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the casing 12 to serve a function to be described.

In the assembly shown in FIGURES l, 4 and 7, the butt plate assembly 100 is shown as being detachably connected on the rear end of the casing 12, the lock plate having such dimensions as to extend transversely between and to substantially fill the space between the

side walls

14, 16 and the end wall 18, with the free end of the main body portion 126 engaging the underside of the bight portion 54 and with its rounded or ogive-shaped end 134 engaging within the ogive-shaped end wall 18 and complementing the same. The lock plate 124 is. of course, perpendicular to the

side walls

14, 16.

Positioned outwardly therefrom is the slide plate 102, the upper free end of the main body portion 104 thereof being substantially coplanar with the outer side of the bight portion 54, the flanges 48, 51} being slidably engaged in the grooves 106, 1118, respectively, and with the ogiveshaped end 122 projecting slightly beyond the ogive end wall 18. The detent 128 is, of course, releasably received in the opening 116.

Interposed between the follower 66 and the lock plate 124 and positioned in the casing 12 is an elongated helicoidal spring 148 under compression, each convolution of the spring being substantially oblong in configuration including the opposed substantially straight oppositely disposed side arms 150, 152, respectively, connected at each of their respective adjacent pair of ends by

concaveconvex links

154, 156, respectively, the concave portions thereof facing towards one another. As is seen in FIG- URE 4, the forward or front convolution has its link 154 disposed in the seat 92 and partially surrounding the cylindrical neck or keeper 9%, while the link 156 thereof seats and is releasably engaged in the arcuate keeper pocket 94. The rearmost convolution of the spring 148 has its link 154 bearing against the main body portion 126 and its link 156 locked behind the tab 138 and between it and an adjacent portion of the side wall 18.

The magazine 10 is front end-loaded in the usual man- FBI", and in FIGURE 1, which is substantially full scale, the magazine 16 when fully loaded as illustrated in this figure will hold six cartridges 158 of the .38 caliber cartridge, for example. The magazine 10 may be constructed, of course, for any caliber cart idge and for any number of rounds desired and is not limited in this respect to the s ecific examnle g ven. To load the magazine 10, the first of the cartridges 158 is introduced into the magazine 1.0 by substantially simultaneously engaging and pressing the cartridge casing 160 thereof between the

edges

32, 34 to spring the

resilient lobes

36, 38 outwardly and to pass therebetween, the

lobes

36, 38 then locking there behind while substantially simultaneously therewith causing diametrically opposed portions of the rim 162 of the cartridge base 163 to enter and slide in the

opposed grooves

62, 64. As the cartridge 158 is thus introduced in the magazine 10', the casing 160 makes a straight line tangential engagement with the edge 72 of the follower 66 substantially simultaneously as the adjacent portion of its rim 162 tangentially engages the front edge 63A of the cross plate 63, and as the cartridge moves into the magazine 10 the follower 66 is moved to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, towards the butt plate unit 166. The loading of the magazine 10 is facilitated if the operator will grasp the opposedends of the cross-pin 76 and draw the same towards the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, to overcome the spring tension exerted on the follower 66.

The next succeeding cartridges 153 are fed into the magazine It} in the same manner described with the exception that these make tangential rim contact only with the next adjacent rim 162 of the outermost one of the loaded cartridges 158. The head space between the

edges

20, 22 and adjacent portions of the bight portion 54 is sufficient to permit the rims 162 to freely slide in the

grooves

62, 64 but is not sufficiently great so as to permit the rims 162 to cant therein thereby maintaining the longitudinal axis of the cartridges 158 substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the bight portion 54 with the exception of the outermost one 158A thereof which, due to the engagement of its base 163 with the inclined or tapered surface 54A is canted away from the next adjacent cartridge 158, as shown in FIG-- URE l, the fully loaded magazine 10 being shown therein.

To utilize the loaded magazine 10, the revolver cylinder (not shown) is moved to its open loading position and the cartridge cases of spent rounds (if any) are expelled therefrom. With the barrel of the revolver and consequently the cylinder pointed downwardly in their normal loading positions, the user now grasps the loaded magazine in his hand, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the free end of the outermost one of the cartridges 158 is aligned with the first of the empty chambers of the cylinder and the magazine 10 is thrust downwardly towards the cylinder causing the first of the cartridges 158 to enter its chamber. Now entry is particularly facilitated through the use of this magazine 10 since the taper 54A (of the order of 1) has pitch the longitudinal axis of the first of the cartridges 158 away from adjacent cartridges 158 so that the free end of the former is spaced from the next adjacent one thereof, and from the

edges

42, 43 of the

side walls

14, 16, a distance sufficient to clear the outside edge of the revolver cylinder. Thereafter, and with the cartridge 158 partially chambered, the hand is moved at substantially right angles to the direction of the thrust releasing the aforementioned first of the cartridges 153 allowing it to become fully chambered under the force of'gravity. The next succeeding cartridge 158 automatically assumes the former position of the now loaded one thereof. The loading of the next and succeeding chambers is accomplished in the same manner, it being understood, of course, that the cylinder is rotated to present its empty chambers to the loading magazine 11 To disassemble the magazine 10, any suitable tool (the rim 162, for example) may be engaged in the slot 114 or the opening 116 to push the detent 128 out of its locking engagement with the opening 116. The slide plate 162 is then moved downwardly, reference being made to FIGURES 1, 4 and 7, to cause the flanges 48, 50' to become disengaged from within the grooves 110, 112 freeing the lock plate 124. The lock plate 124, being under spring tension, will be forced from between the

side walls

14, 16 and the end wall 18, after which the spring 148 may be drawn outwardly of the casing 12.

As the spring 148 is moved towards the rear of the casing 12, that is, to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, it draws with it the follower 66 until the opposed ends of the cross-pin 76 enter the openings 24A, 26A, these openings having a diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the cross-pin.

At this time the forward convolution of the spring 148 is disconnected from the follower 66 by disengaging the link 154 from the spring seat 92 and the link 156 from its spring seat 94. In this position, the follower 66 may be easily reached by the users fingers in order that the plug 86 may be removed from the countersunk opening 84- removing, simultaneously, therewith, the lock lug 88, with the lock l-ug 88 being withdrawn from the circumferential groove 80, pressure on either end of the crosspin 76 will cause the same to be removed from the follower 66 through either of the openings 24A, 26A, re spectively, whereby the follower 66 may be freely taken from the back end of the casing 12. The device may then be cleaned, repaired and reassembled, reversing the steps referred to above with the further observation to the effect that the link 156 at the bottom and lower end of the casing 12, as viewed in FIGURE 4, should again be reengaged with the cap 138 in the manner described.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is proffered merely by way of example, and that this in-. vention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge loading magazine for a firearm comprising an elongated substantially hollow casing including a pair of oppositely disposed, laterally spaced side walls, an end wall extending across and connected to an adjacent pair of longitudinally extending first marginal edges of said side walls, means spanning in spaced substantially parallel relation a pair of longitudinally extending second pair of adjacent edges of said side walls to define a cartridge rim receiving guide groove therebetween, butt plate means mounted on and closing one end of said casing, the other end of said casing being substantially open, cartridge follower means disposed within said casing and mounted for reciprocation therein between said open and closed ends thereof, means interposed between and engaging said butt plate means and said cartridge follower to constantly bias said follower for movement toward said open end of said casing, each of said side walls having an elongated slot formed therein with said slots being disposed substantially parallel and in confronting relation relative to one another, said cartridge follower having a cross pin extending transversely thereof and having ends projecting beyond the remotely disposed sides of said follower, said ends of said cross pin being slidably received within, respectively, one of said slots and being engageable against a pair of adjacent ends thereof to limit the movement of said follower towards said open end of said casing, and means mounted on said cartridge follower releasably connecting said cross pin thereon, said cartridge follower being substantially T-shaped in configuration including an elongated substantially rectangular cross head having a pair of opposed ends with one of said ends engaging, respectively, in one of said guide grooves, and a stem projecting laterally and substantially centrally from one side of said cross head in laterally spaced relation relative to said side walls, said stem having an opening formed therein to slidably receive said cross pin therethrough, said stern having a bore extending transversely therethrough, said cross pin having a peripheral groove formed therein intermediate its ends and normally confronting said bore, and a plug including a lock lug removably disposed in said bore to engage Within said peripheral groove to prevent axial movement of said croSS pin relative to said stem, said peripheral groove, said bore and said lock lug cooperating to form said releasable connecting means.

2. A cartridge loading magazine as defined in claim 1, wherein said stem is counterbored with the counterbore in open communication with said bore at the outer end thereof, said lock lug being seated in said counterbore and having an outwardly projecting neck reduced in diameter cooperating therewith to form a seat, and said biasing means having a portion thereof engaging in said seat to constantly urge said lock lug into releasable engagement within said peripheral groove.

3. A cartridge loading magazine as defined in claim 2, wherein said biasing means comprises an elongated spring including convolutions of oblong configuration and wherein the sides of each convolution are substantially straight and the links at each end thereof are concave-convex, and said spring has a first link thereof at its end proximate said cartridge follower disposed in said first seat to constantly urge said plug into said counterbore and said lock lug into said peripheral groove.

4. A cartridge loading magazine as defined in claim 3, wherein said side walls adjacent said closed end of said casing are each provided with a laterally projecting flange with said flanges diverging in directions away from one another, and said butt plate assembly comprises a twopiece unit including a substantially rectangular lock plate and slide plate with said lock and slide plates being superimposed and congruent relative to one another, said lock plate extending transversely between said side walls and being perpendicular thereto with an end of said lock plate engaging said end wall of said casing and its opposed end engaging said standing means, and said slide plate having a pair of longitudinally extending later-ally spaced and substantially parallel reverted flanges forming a pair of laterally spaced and confronting guide grooves to slidably receive, respectively, said flanges on said side walls of said casing therein, and means on said lock and slide plates releasably connecting the same together to prevent inadvertent movement therebetween.

5. A cartridge loading magazine as defined in claim 4, wherein said last-named means includes a detent projecting laterally from one side of said lock plate towards said slide plate, and said slide plate includes a transversely extending opening receiving said detent therein and to receive a tool therethrough to depress said detent from said opening to free said slide plate from said lock plate for movement on said flanges formed on said side walls.

6. A cartridge loading magazine as defined in claim 5, wherein said one end of said lock plate is provided with an inwardly extending tab to engage over an adjacent link of said spring to lock said link between said tab and said end wall.

7. A cartridge loading magazine as defined in claim 5, and said stem adjacent the free end thereof having an inwardly opening transverse second seat formed therein to releasably receive a second link of that convolution of said spring proximate said cartridge follower.

8. A cartridge loading magazine as defined in claim 5, and a stabilizer pin extending transversely through and beyond the opposed sides of said stem, the opposed ends of said stabilizer pin slidably engaging the adjacent sides of said side walls of said casing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1917 Orme 427 2/1920 Johnson 4250