The present invention relates generally to firearm magazines. More particularly, the disclosure relates to coupling devices for coupling two or more detachable firearm magazines together.
Detachable magazines for handguns and long guns are designed to house a specific ammunition round or cartridge count, which is a function of the size of the magazine, the size of the cartridge, the size of the ammunition feeding device in the magazine, and sometimes the physical design of the firearm to which the magazine is detachably attached. In addition, the laws in some jurisdictions put strict limits on the cartridge capacity of magazines. Firearm users desiring access to ammunition beyond the capacity of an individual magazine need to carry additional individual magazines. Additional magazines are carried separately, often individually in waistband pouches designed to accommodate them. While devices exist that can connect or couple two magazines together, the existing devices do not provide a means to easily secure, in a semi-permanent way, two or more standard magazines using the features inherent to the magazine, nor do they allow for quick and secure access to additional magazines attached or in proximity to the magazine used by the firearm in this manner. Other existing magazine coupling devices require structural modifications to the individual magazines.
The various embodiments of the present coupling device have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features now will be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described herein.
One aspect of a magazine coupling device in accordance with this disclosure allows multiple magazines to form a locked unit with separation capability, while maintaining the integrity and functionality of each individual magazine, and without the need for any structural modifications of the individual magazines.
Embodiments of the present coupling device for connecting a plurality of magazines together to form a single connected unit include a plurality of floor plate structures sharing a common base, a button release hole extending from each floor plate structure into the base, and a release channel extending from each of the button release holes to an outer surface of the base forming an access opening to allow access to the button release hole from outside the coupling device.
Each floor plate structure may be configured to receive and secure a bottom end of a detachable magazine, and may each include a pair of main sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the base, one or more nubs extending inwardly from an edge of each of the main sidewalls, and one or more grooves cooperatively defined by the one or more nubs, the main sidewalls, and a surface of the base. A back wall may join the main sidewalls for each floor plate structure. The plurality of floor plate structures may be integrally formed or attached together to form a single connected unit. The button release hole may be dimensioned to receive a release button of a magazine insert inside a chamber of a detachable magazine. The fit between the button release hole and the button may be close to minimize movement of the coupler transverse to the magazine. Each floor plate structure may be oriented in the same direction or in a different direction. An additional button release hole may be provided, along with an additional release channel extending from the additional button release hole to the outer surface of the base. Cavities may be defined in a surface of the base to reduce weight and friction with the magazine. The floor plate structures and the base may be made of standard polymers that are heat and chemical resistant.
Embodiments of the present magazine coupler for connecting magazines together to form a single connected unit include a plurality of floor plate structures, each floor plate structure being configured to engage a detachable magazine, a button release hole configured to receive a button to minimize movement of the coupler in a direction transverse to the bottom end, and a release channel extending from the button release hole to outside the coupler. The floor plate structures may be connected together back-to-back, and each floor plate structure may be configured to engage a bottom end of a corresponding detachable magazine. A tongue and groove joint may be formed between at least one of the floor plate structures and at least one of the detachable magazines. Each floor plate structure may include a pair of main sidewalls extending from opposite sides of a base, one or more nubs extending from an edge of each of the main sidewalls, and one or more grooves cooperatively defined by the one or more nubs, the main sidewalls, and a surface of the base. Each floor plate structure may be oriented in a different direction.
These and other aspects and embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the various embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the disclosure not being limited to any particular embodiment.
The various embodiments of the present coupling device for magazines now will be discussed in detail with an emphasis on highlighting the advantageous features. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious coupling device for multiple magazines shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. These drawings include the following figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts:
The following detailed description describes the present embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numbers label elements of the present embodiments. These reference numbers are reproduced below in connection with the discussion of the corresponding drawing features.
The embodiments of the present coupling device for magazines are described below with reference to the figures. These figures, and their written descriptions, indicate that certain components of the apparatus are formed integrally, and certain other components are formed as separate pieces. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that components shown and described herein as being formed integrally may in alternative embodiments be formed as separate pieces. Those of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate that components shown and described herein as being formed as separate pieces may in alternative embodiments be formed integrally. Further, as used herein the term integral describes a single unitary piece.
As described below, the present embodiments, which for simplicity will be referred to as a “coupling device” or “coupler,” include devices for coupling two or more magazines together in a back to back, angled, or star pattern arrangement. The coupler connects the magazines together to form a single connected unit having a unique pattern and style.
Embodiments of the present coupler are designed to accommodate a variety of firearm types and sizes. The present embodiments are particularly well suited for accommodating auto-loading rifles, carbines, and handguns, but alternative embodiments may be suited for accommodating other types of firearms, such as certain types of shotguns, bolt-action rifles, and automatic pistols, rifles, and carbines. The coupler has unique design elements and attributes, described below, which provide secure attachment using existing magazine components, while also providing quick release capability, accessibility, and usability, such as with existing pouches and accessories for larger magazines.
The present embodiments leverage existing magazine components by using the pressure button of the magazine insert, and tongues and grooves provided at a base or bottom end of a standard magazine for a removable floor plate to secure the magazine to the coupler. Each magazine maintains its own ammunition, separate and apart from the ammunition in the other magazine(s) couple to it.
The present embodiments provide a pressure button release hole for receiving the pressure button and a release channel for access to the pressure button of the magazine insert to detach the magazine from the coupler.
The present embodiments provide quick and secure access of one or more additional magazines in direct semi-permanent attached proximity to the magazine used within the firearm.
The present embodiments allow for magazines to be securely connected together and accessible to the user without modification of the magazines. Furthermore, each individual magazine retains only its original cartridge count, as manufactured.
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiments, the coupler 100 couples a pair of magazines 10 together in a back to back (or bottom-to-bottom) arrangement. In other embodiments, the coupler 100 can connect the two or more magazines 10 in any pattern to allow for multiple secure and locking connections, such as an angled or star pattern. In one example, the coupler 100 can be shaped and designed to couple the pair of magazines 10 to form a connected unit 20 resembling a higher capacity magazine that can be used with existing pouches and bags fitted for higher capacity magazines. Although the connected unit 20 may look and feel like a higher capacity magazine, the coupler 100 maintains the utility, functionality, and round count of each discrete magazine 10. The coupler 100 is not limited to any particular magazine and can accommodate a variety of magazine types and sizes. In one example, the coupler 100 can combine a standard capacity magazine with a high capacity magazine, or combine the high capacity magazines together. The coupler 100 can be made of standard polymers used in the firearm industry that are heat and chemical resistant, and it can be made to match the color of the magazine 10.
Referring now to
The coupler 100 comprises a pair of floor plate structures 101 (
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the base or hub 105 has upper and lower main surfaces 107, each of which is bounded by a peripheral rim 106, whereby the upper and lower main surfaces 107 are recessed relative to the peripheral rim 106. A main sidewall 115 extends along each side of the hub or base 105, laterally spaced from, and extending vertically beyond, the adjacent portion of the peripheral rim 106. The main side walls 115 are joined by a back wall 116, whereby the main side walls 115 and the back wall 116 extend vertically beyond the upper and lower main surfaces 107. One or more nubs 150 extend inwardly from the top and bottom edges of each main sidewall 115 to form a U-shaped groove 155 on each side of the hub or base 105, configured to receive and engage with the bottom 12 of a magazine 10. More specifically, each groove 155 can be cooperatively defined by the corresponding nubs 150, the main sidewalls 115, the back wall 116, and the adjacent portion of the rim 106. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four nubs 150 on each main sidewall 115 for each floor plate structure 101 to define the U-shaped groove 155 on each side of the base or hub 105, each of the grooves 155 being configured to receive and secure the mating features of the magazine 10 as the bottom end 12 slides along the hub rim 106, as further discussed below. The number of nubs 150 may be varied, or they may be replaced by a continuous or interrupted lip extending inwardly from the edges of the side walls 115 and the back wall 116.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the peripheral rims 106 may be omitted thereby creating upper and lower surfaces 107 that are flat (i.e., not recessed). By recessing the upper and lower surfaces relative to a peripheral rim 106, however, both the weight of the coupler 100 and the friction experienced when sliding the bottom magazine end 12 into the groove 155 of the coupler 100 may be reduced. Furthermore, the floor plate structures 101 on opposite sides of the hub or base 105 can be individually configured to accommodate magazines 10 having bottom ends of different configurations.
A release button receptacle 140 configured to engage and secure a release button 42 (
With reference to
Simultaneously, as the coupler 100 slides over the bottom end 12 of the first magazine 10, the insert 40 presses against the coupler 100 by the force of the spring 47. The tongues 13 of the first magazine 10 can slide inside the groove 155 until the back wall 116 abuts against the magazine 10, or the main sidewalls 115 abut against the stops 15. At this juncture, the release button 42 can now slide into the release button receptacle 140 under the force of the spring 47 to prevent the coupler 100 from moving transverse to the bottom end 12, thus securing and locking the coupler 100 to the first magazine 10. The release button 42 may be larger than the release button access channel 130 so that the release button 452 engages the release button receptacle 140 and not the release button access channel 130, thereby limiting transverse movement of the magazine 10 according to the fit between the release button 42 and the release button receptacle 140. The fit between the release button 42 and the release button receptacle 140 can be a close fit to limit any sliding movement of the coupler 100 with respect to the magazine 10. If necessary, the release button 42 can be pressed into the release button receptacle 140.
Referring now to
The connected unit 20 can be loaded into the firearm with the first magazine 10 of the connected unit 20 inserted into the magazine port 35. After the ammunition from the first magazine 10 has been discharged, the connected unit 20 can be removed and flipped around so that the second magazine 10 of the connected unit 20 can be inserted into the magazine port 35.
In
Although exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated and described herein, a number of variations and modifications will make themselves apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications are understood as being encompassed within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be encompassed within the appended claims.
This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 62/199,001, filed on Jul. 30, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62199001 | Jul 2015 | US |