WO2005083348A1

WO2005083348A1 - A firearm component

Info

Publication number: WO2005083348A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2005/000009
Authority: WO
Inventors: William James Sharplin
Original assignee: William James Sharplin
Priority date: 2004-02-03
Filing date: 2005-01-31
Publication date: 2005-09-09

Abstract

A magazine (2) for firearm (1), the magazine (2) being pre-loaded with blank ammunition and being constructed such that it cannot receive further ammunition whether blank or otherwise, at least without irregular manipulation of the magazine.

Description

A Firearm Component.

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a component for a firearm. A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a magazine for a firearm.

BACKGROUND

In the context of firearms it is known to use blanks rather than live bullets to enable training to take place with minimal risk. This is especially the case in the context of military organisations. In training exercises it has been known to inadvertently use live ammunition in place of blank ammunition. This has resulted in the injury or death of individuals - eg when a live round of ammunition is unwittingly fired at one soldier by another. It is accordingly an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

GENERAL DESCRIPTON

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a magazine for a firearm, the magazine being pre-loaded with blank ammunition and being constructed such that it cannot receive further ammunition whether blank or otherwise, at least without irregular manipulation of the magazine. Preferably the pre-loaded magazine can expel ammunition but cannot, after it is loaded during manufacture, receive further ammunition.

Optionally the magazine and/or the ammunition therein has substantially distinctive coloring or other markings to enable the magazine to be readily identified as containing only blank ammunition and/or the ammunition to be readily identified as blank ammunition.

Optionally the magazine is substantially transparent.

Optionally the magazine is formed to give a visible indication in the event that it has undergone irregular manipulation to insert additional ammunition.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of safeguarding against the inadvertent use of live, as opposed to blank, ammunition, involving: i) entering into a computer means details of magazines (eg as described above) produced to have only blank ammunition therein (optionally the details are a mass reading for each magazine and/or a respective identification number marked on each magazine), the details of the magazines being recorded in the computer means, ii) the computer means receiving inquiries from purchasers of the magazines and processing these wherein such processing is to determine whether the purchasers have a magazine of blank ammunition corresponding to one of those recorded in the computer means, and iii) the computer means reporting to the inquirers, as a result of the processing, details sufficient for the inquirers to determine whether the magazine inquired on is a magazine of blank ammunition corresponding to one of those for which details are recorded in the computer means. Optionally if the computer means identifies a magazine to report to the inquirer the report identifies the mass of the magazine at its point of production such that the mass can be compared to the current mass of the magazine and thus provide an indication as to whether it has been tampered with.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing (figure 1), which shows a military assault rifle incorporating a magazine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The military assault rifle 1 has a magazine 2 loaded with a number of rounds of blank ammunition. The ammunition is housed within the magazine 2 and is thus not visible in the drawing. The magazine is constructed such that it can be fitted to the rest of the rifle and detached when its load of ammunition has been exhausted.

The magazine 2 has a mechanism which allows ammunition to be released for firing, but does not allow ammunition to be added to the magazine, at least without undue or improper manipulation, once the magazine has been manufactured (ie including receiving a factory fill of ammunition). The ammunition within the magazine at the point of manufacture is all blank ammunition. Accordingly, once the blank ammunition is used up it is not possible, unless the magazine is subjected to improper manipulation (eg with tools, etc), to insert live or any other type of ammunition into the magazine. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this greatly reduces the likelihood of a firearms training accident - for example as may occur if the magazine was able to be re-used and where someone inadvertently loaded it with live ammunition.

The magazine is preferably colored or otherwise marked to indicate that it holds blank ammunition only. In this way military personal will immediately know if they have a magazine of blanks, or live ammunition. Optionally the body of the magazine is transparent and the ammunition therein is distinctly colored or otherwise marked to show that it is blank.

The mechanism by which the magazine prevents insertion of ammunition without irregular manipulation may involve any suitable part or arrangement of parts and will not present undue difficulty to a person skilled in the art. For example, the magazine may have an internal spring mechanism which biases the ammunition to the point of discharge from the magazine. When the magazine is in a normal in-use orientation, ie as shown in the drawing, the spring mechanism biases the ammunition for upward movement - ie towards the breach of the rifle. The spring mechanism may be such that, as with a ratchet arrangement, it is only able to advance in one direction, ie upwards towards the breach. As each round of ammunition is fired the spring mechanism pushes the remaining ammunition upwards so that there is insufficient room to insert a further round of ammunition into the magazine.

Preferably at least the housing of the magazine 1 is substantially formed from a suitable plastic substance, although that is not essential.

To further reduce the likelihood of military personal firing live ammunition, believing it to be blank ammunition, a computer database of the magazines 2 is maintained at a safety control centre. The database runs in conjunction with a web site which can be accessed via the internet or similar by purchasers of the magazines. Access to the web site may be restricted by way of a password facility or the like. At the point of manufacture the magazines are each marked with an identification number and weighed. The identification number of each magazine, together with its mass, is recorded in the database. Someone wishing to verify that they have a magazine filled with only blank ammunition may access the web site, enter the identification number of the magazine or magazines they have at hand, and receive a report by way of the web site as to whether what they have is recorded in the database as containing only blank ammunition. For further verification the inquirer may be given the mass of the magazine at the time it left the factory and compare this to the mass of what that person has at hand. If there is a discrepancy in terms of mass then the inquirer may deduce that the magazine at hand has been tampered with or is otherwise not loaded with blanks. Those skilled in the art will be aware that live ammunition is normally heavier than blank ammunition and thus a weight discrepancy may indicate that the magazine at hand contains one or more rounds of live ammunition.

In at least some embodiments the invention facilitates magazine traceability and allows for specific numbering and data base storage for each magazine loaded in a factory corresponding to and recorded for each magazine weight. Such weight may be used to confirm the correct mass for blank factory loaded magazines. Such magazines may be regarded as "sanitizedP

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A magazine for a firearm, the magazine being pre-loaded with blank ammunition and being constructed such that it cannot receive further ammunition whether blank or otherwise, at least without irregular manipulation of the magazine.

2. A magazine according to claim 1 , arranged so that it can expel ammunition but cannot, after it is loaded during manufacture, receive further ammunition.

3. A magazine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magazine and/or the ammunition therein has/have substantially distinctive coloring or other markings to enable the magazine to be readily identified as containing only blank ammunition and/or the ammunition to be readily identified as blank ammunition.

4. A magazine according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the magazine is substantially transparent.

5. A magazine according to any one of the preceding claims, formed to give a visible indication in the event that it has undergone irregular manipulation to insert additional ammunition.

6. A magazine according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as described herein.

7. A method of safeguarding against the inadvertent use of live, as opposed to blank, ammunition, involving: i) entering into a computer means details of magazines produced to have only blank ammunition therein, the details of the magazines being recorded in the computer means, ii) the computer means receiving inquiries from purchasers of the magazines and processing these wherein such processing is to determine whether the purchasers have a magazine of blank ammunition corresponding to one of those recorded in the computer means, and iii) the computer means reporting to the inquirers, as a result of the processing, details sufficient for the inquirers to determine whether the magazine inquired on is a magazine of blank ammunition corresponding to one of those for which details are recorded in the computer means.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein if the computer means identifies a magazine to report to the inquirer a report is sent which identifies the mass of the magazine at its point of production such that the mass can be compared to the current mass of the magazine and thus provide an indication as to whether it has been tampered with.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the magazines are in each case substantially as set out in any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A method according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the details of magazines produced to have only live ammunition therein involve a mass reading for each magazine and/or a respective identification number marked on each magazine,