WO1991014146A1

WO1991014146A1 - Gun magazine safety device

Info

Publication number: WO1991014146A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/000389
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Ealovega
Original assignee: Bushman Limited
Priority date: 1990-03-13
Filing date: 1991-03-12
Publication date: 1991-09-19
Also published as: GB9005659D0; AU7458691A

Abstract

A safety magazine (10) for a gun which magazine is provided with a first locating notch (22) for co-operation with a spring detent (26) provided by the gun for holding the magazine in a 'safe' position in which a leading cartridge (16) in the magazine is disposed out of the path of movement of the gun bolt (18) and a second locating notch (30) for co-operation with the detent (28) for holding the magazine in an active position in which lead cartridge is disposed in the path of movement of the bolt whereby successive feed of cartridges from the magazine can take place to discharge the gun.

Description

GUN MAGAZINE SAFETY DEVICE

- 1 -

This invention relates to a safety magazine for a gun. The magazine is adapted to receive a plurality of cartridges and can be shifted from an inactive position in which the leading cartridge in the magazine is disposed out of the movement of the gun bolt to an active position in which the gun can be discharged.

The invention permits a gun fitted with a loaded magazine to be carried but inactive even in cocked condition with any other safety devices disengaged. However, a gun having a safety magazine according to the invention can be readily brought into a firing condition by shifting the cartridge magazine from its inactive to its active position.

The invention provides a safety magazine for a gun which magazine is adapted to receive a plurality of cartridges said magazine being provided with first locating means for co-operation with arresting means provided by the gun for holding the magazine in an^' inactive position in which a leading cartridge in the magazine is disposed out of the path of movement of the gun bolt and second locating means for co-operation with said arresting means for holding the magazine in an active position in which said lead cartridge is disposed in the path of movement of the bolt whereby successive feed of cartridges from the magazine can take place to discharge the gun.

According to a feature of the invention, said leading cartridge may be disposed in vertical axial alignment with, but below the path of movement of, said bolt when the magazine is held in its inactive position.

According to another feature of the invention, said magazine may be shifted from its inactive position to its active position by linear upward movement of the magazine relative to the gun.

According to yet another feature of the invention, said first and second locating means may comprise successive notches formed in a wall of the magazine. In constructions where this feature is adopted, said first and second locating means may co-operate with a spring loaded detent provided on the gun adjacent a magazine receiving aperture. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

FIGURE 1 is a schematic vertical section through the breech area of a gun fitted with a safety magazine according to the invention, shown in an inactive position; and

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view similar to Figure 1 but showing the magazine in an active position.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 an elongate magazine 10 is received in an aperture 12 provided in the underside of the breech of a gun 14 in an inactive i.e. safe position in which cartridges are unable to be fed into the breech for discharge.

The magazine is held located in this position in which the uppermost cartridge 16 is in vertical axial alignment with, but below the path of movement of the bolt 18 within the breech 20. The magazine is held in this "safe" position by co-operation between an uppermost notch 22 in the side wall 24 of the magazine and a spring loaded detent 26 below the breech aperture. The detent is spring biased in the direction of arrow "D" to engage the magazine.

In order to bring the magazine into an active position in which successive feed of the cartridges from the magazine can take place so that the gun can be discharged, the magazine is displaced upwardly. Such upward movement causes a ramp surface 28 at the head of the detent to be overridden until the detent is relocated by the force of spring "D" in a lowermost notch 30 in the cartridge side wall. In this position, the uppermost cartridge in the magazine is disposed in, and axially aligned with, the path of movement of the bolt, so that the cartridge can be detonated when struck by the firing pin 32 of the bolt.

The magazine can be pushed upwardly into the active, firing position by the palm of a user's hand or alternatively, by manipulating a small latch 34 extending from the forward end of the cartridge magazine.

Claims

CLAIMS- 5 -

1. A safety magazine for a gun which magazine is adapted to receive a plurality of cartridges said magazine being provided with first locating means for co-operation with arresting means provided by the gun for holding the magazine in an inactive position in which a leading cartridge in the magazine is disposed out of the path of movement of the gun bolt and second locating means for co-operation with said arresting means for holding the magazine in an active position in which said lead cartridge is disposed in the path of movement of the bolt whereby successive feed of cartridges from the magazine can take place to discharge the gun.

2. A safety magazine according to claim 1 wherein said leading cartridge is disposed in vertical axial alignment with, but below the path of movement of, said bolt when the magazine is held in its inactive position.

3. A safety magazine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said magazine is shifted from its inactive position to its active position by linear upward movement of the magazine relative to the gun.

4. A safety magazine according to any of the preceding claims wherein said first and second locating means comprise successive notches formed in a wall of the magazine

5. A safety magazine according to claim 4 wherein said first and second successive notches co-operate with a spring loaded detent provided on the gun adjacent a magazine receiving aperture.

6. A safety magazine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. The combination of a safety magazine according to any of the preceding claims and a gun having arresting means for holding the magazine in an active and an inactive position.