Magazine for firearms

Abstract

A magazine (1) for firearms, comprising a tubular element (2) extending along a main direction of extension (100) between a first end (2a) and a second end (2b), the tubular element (2) comprising a side wall (3) which defines internally a receptacle (4), the magazine (1) comprising a base assembly (5) which is removably associated with the first end (2a) of the tubular element (2), and an ammunition lifter (20) which is accommodated so that it can slide within the receptacle (4), elastic loading means being provided which are arranged within the receptacle (4) and act between the base assembly (5) and the lifter, the magazine (1) being configured to make the ammunition (20) exit from the second end (2b) of the tubular element (2), at the side wall (3) of the tubular element (2) there being at least one engagement seat (10) configured to be engaged with snapaction by a retention tooth supported by a firearm; the tubular element (2) is made of metallic material and the at least one engagement seat (10) comprising a recess (11) which comprises a bottom portion (11a) and a lateral blending portion (11b) for blending with the side wall (3) of the tubular element (2).

Description

[0001] MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS

[0002] The present invention relates to a magazine for firearms, in particular a magazine for pistols.

[0003] A magazine for firearms is typically constituted by a magazine body which is configured to accommodate the ammunition, which is stacked vertically.

[0004] The body of the magazine comprises a tubular element, with a substantially prismatic shape, and a bottom element, which generally can be removed in order to carry out maintenance and cleaning operations.

[0005] Inside the body of the magazine there is a lifter and a spring, placed in compression between the bottom element and the lifter.

[0006] Typically, the bottom element is inserted into the end of the tubular element, in a direction for engagement.

[0007] During normal use, the body of the magazine is inserted into the stock of the firearm or into a conveniently adapted seat for the magazine.

[0008] The magazine is usually kept in place inside the stock of the firearm by means of mechanical locking.

[0009] Most of the firearms present on the market ensure the magazine is locked inside the stock (or the magazine seat) by using metallic retention teeth, arranged inside the firearm, which have a head portion designed to engage in respective “coupling slots” defined on the tubular element of the magazine.

[0010] The retention teeth are usually pushed into position by a spring and are connected, by way of kinematic connection means, to a button for detaching the magazine (also called the “magazine release button”) located outside the stock of the firearm or outside the magazine seat, and operable by the user.

[0011] When the magazine is inserted into the stock of the firearm, the retention tooth acts on and intercepts, with its head portion, the coupling slot defined on the magazine, in order to create a stable coupling between the two elements.

[0012] The solutions usually on the market have, on the tubular element of the magazine, one or more cut-out coupling slots, which therefore pass through the body of the magazine that is made of metallic material.

[0013] In some solutions, both the retention tooth and the tubular element of the magazine are made of plastic material: in this case, the head portion of the retention tooth engages inside a contoured engagement seat, provided in the form of a recess in the outer surface of the tubular element made of plastic material, in order to preserve the integrity of the retention tooth and extend its useful life, reducing wear on it during the coupling and uncoupling operations.

[0014] For the above reasons, it is therefore not normally possible to use a metallic magazine with a cut-out through slot with a retention tooth made of plastic material, owing to the high wear between the parts that may occur even after just a few use cycles.

[0015] The aim of the present invention is to provide a magazine for firearms that is capable of improving the prior art in one or more of the above- mentioned aspects.

[0016] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to make available a magazine for firearms that can be used if the firearm is fitted with retention teeth made of plastic material.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to provide a magazine for firearms that makes it possible to execute the operation to lock the magazine inside the stock of the firearm in an effective and long-lasting manner, with a metallic magazine, without damaging the retention tooth made of plastic material and so rendering such locking ineffective or unstable.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide a magazine for firearms that replicates the correct operation of a magazine made of plastic material, while keeping the internal components of the firearm unaltered.

[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a magazine for firearms that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

[0020] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a magazine for firearms according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0021] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the magazine for firearms according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the magazine according to the invention, with the bullets arranged therein;

[0023] Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 from another point of view;

[0024] Figure 3 is another perspective view of the body of the magazine;

[0025] Figure 4 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the magazine according to the invention.

[0026] With reference to the figures, the magazine for firearms according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprises a tubular element 2 which extends along a main direction of extension 100 between a first end 2a and a second end 2b.

[0027] The tubular element 2 comprises a side wall 3 which internally defines a receptacle 4.

[0028] The magazine 1 comprises a base assembly 5, which can be detachably associated with the first end 2a of the tubular element 2, and an ammunition lifter 20, which is arranged inside the receptacle 4.

[0029] The lifter can slide inside the receptacle 4 along the main direction of extension 100.

[0030] The magazine 1 is further provided with elastic loading means, which are arranged inside the receptacle 4 and act between the base assembly 5 and the lifter. The magazine 1 is configured, by virtue of the presence of the lifter, to make the ammunition 20 contained in the receptacle 4 exit from the second end 2b of the tubular element 2.

[0031] At the side wall 3 of the tubular element 2 at least one engagement seat 10 is provided, which is configured to be engaged, advantageously by snap action, by a respective retention tooth, not shown in the figures, supported by a firearm.

[0032] According to the present invention, the tubular element 2 is made of metallic material.

[0033] The at least one engagement seat 10 comprises a recess 11 which comprises a bottom portion I la and a lateral blending portion 11b for blending with the side wall 3 of the tubular element 2.

[0034] The recess 11 comprises a closed sunk region of the side wall 3.

[0035] Advantageously, the at least one engagement recess 10 is provided by means of a deep drawing process.

[0036] Preferably, the lateral blending portion 11b has a first substantially flat portion 12 which is arranged toward the second end 2b of the tubular element 2 with respect to the bottom portion I la and is designed to define an abutment and locking surface for the respective retention tooth.

[0037] The side wall 3 of the tubular element 2 comprises a rear portion 3a, two flanks 3c and a front portion 3b; in particular, the engagement recess (or recesses) 10 is / are defined at a region arranged between the front portion 3b and a respective flank 3c.

[0038] Obviously, the engagement seat 10 can be provided and defined at other areas of the side wall 3, for example at the front portion 3b.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, two engagement recesses 10 are defined on the side wall 3, arranged on opposite sides.

[0040] According to a particularly important aspect of the present invention, the tubular element 2 has, at the side wall 3, at least one rib 31 defined by an elongated groove 31a that extends substantially parallel to the main direction of extension 100.

[0041] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a magazine assembly which comprises a magazine 1 having the characteristics described above, and a stock or an insertion seat of a firearm.

[0042] The stock of the firearm, or similarly the insertion seat, is provided with a housing into which the magazine 1 can be inserted and from which it can be removed.

[0043] The housing is associated with at least one retention tooth for stably locking the magazine 1 inside the housing.

[0044] In particular, the at least one retention tooth has at least one head which can engage with and disengage from a respective engagement seat 10 defined on the magazine 1.

[0045] Conveniently, the head of the retention tooth is made of plastic.

[0046] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for providing a magazine 1 having the characteristics described above.

[0047] According to the method of the invention, the tubular element 2 is obtained by cold deformation of a sheet-like element made of metallic material.

[0048] In particular, the (or each) engagement seat 10 is provided by means of a deep drawing operation.

[0049] The method according to the invention entails, in addition to the deep drawing operation, a step of folding the sheet-like element and a step of welding the folded sheet-like element to obtain the tubular element 2.

[0050] Advantageously, the deep drawing operation entails a first deep drawing step performed before the folding step and a second deep drawing step performed after the folding step.

[0051] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0052] The invention described makes it possible, when the plastic retention is made of plastic material and the magazine of metallic material, to:

[0053] - perform the locking operation in an effective and long-lasting manner with a metallic magazine, which cannot be done with normal production techniques in which the magazine is given a cut-out through slot, because it can damage the retention tooth in the short term and make the contact between them ineffective or unstable;

[0054] - preserve the integrity of the retention tooth in the long term, in the presence of a metallic magazine;

[0055] - replicate the correct operation of the magazine as originally designed, but made using a completely different technique (cold deformation of metallic material instead of a magazine made completely of plastic or overmolded plastic), while keeping the components inside the firearm unaltered.

[0056] Finally, the embodiment that entails providing closed and drawn engagement seats can be applied to the development of new models of magazine, in order to also obtain fewer entry points for dirt, dust, sand or earth during operation of the firearm even under extreme conditions, and to also reduce the points of possible onset of corrosion, in magazines that are originally made of sheet metal, in substitution of the normal cut-out open slots.

[0057] The deep drawing operation used to provide the engagement seat or seats 10 makes it possible, by way of using one or more conveniently contoured punch dies, to plastically deform a flat sheet in order to make it assume a box-like, cylindrical, or cup-like shape, so preserving the continuity of its surfaces.

[0058] Using this shaping process, the following effects are obtained:

[0059] - the required geometry;

[0060] - the integrity of material of limited thickness is preserved;

[0061] - surfaces that are at close to a right angle between them, to create the necessary coupling system. The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0062] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000000927 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0063] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A magazine (1) for firearms, comprising a tubular element (2) extending along a main direction of extension (100) between a first end (2a) and a second end (2b), said tubular element (2) comprising a side wall (3) which internally defines a receptacle (4), said magazine (1) comprising a base assembly (5) which is removably associated with said first end (2a) of said tubular element (2), and an ammunition lifter (20) which is accommodated within said receptacle (4) and can slide within said receptacle (4) along said main direction of extension (100), elastic loading means being provided which are arranged within said receptacle (4) and act between said base assembly (5) and said lifter, said magazine being configured to make the bullets exit from said second end (2b) of said tubular element (2), at said side wall (3) of said tubular element (2) there being at least one engagement seat (10) configured to be engaged with snap-action by a respective retention tooth supported by a firearm, characterized in that said tubular element (2) is made of metallic material, said at least one engagement seat (10) comprising a recess (11) which comprises a bottom portion (I la) and a lateral blending portion (1 lb) for blending with said side wall (3) of said tubular element (2).

2. The magazine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one engagement recess (10) is provided by means of a deep drawing process.

3. The magazine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lateral blending portion (11b) has a first substantially flat portion (12) which is arranged toward said second end (2b) of said tubular element (2) with respect to said bottom portion (I la) and is designed to define an abutment and locking surface for the respective retention tooth.

4. The magazine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said side wall (3) of said tubular element (2) comprises a rear portion (3a), two flanks (3c) and a front portion (3b), said at least oneengagement recess (10) being defined at a region arranged between said front portion (3b) and a respective flank (3c).

5. The magazine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tubular element (2) has, at said side wall (3), at least one rib (31) defined by an elongated groove (31a) that extends substantially parallel to said main direction of extension (100).

6. A magazine assembly, comprising a magazine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims and a stock or an insertion seat of a firearm having a receptacle into which it can be inserted into and disengaged from said magazine (1), said receptacle being associated with at least one retention tooth for the stable locking of said magazine (1) within said receptacle, characterized in that said at least one retention tooth has at least one head which is engageable with and disengageable from a respective engagement seat (10) defined on said magazine (1).

7. The magazine assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that said head of said retention tooth is made of plastic.

8. A method for providing a magazine (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said tubular element (2) is obtained by cold deformation of a sheet-like element made of metallic material, said at least one engagement seat (10) being provided by means of a deep drawing operation.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that in addition to said deep drawing operation there is a step of folding said sheet-like element and a step of welding said folded sheet-like element to obtain said tubular element (2).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said deep drawing operation entails a first deep drawing step performed before said folding step and a second deep drawing step performed after said folding step.

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