Modified lower receiver, magazine, and well insert

Abstract

In firearms that utilize a lower and upper receiver, and such lower receiver containing a magazine well, the disclosed system turns a detachable magazine firearm into a non-detachable magazine firearm by requiring that the magazine may only be loaded when the firearm is in the breached position and allows the firearm operator to change the caliber of ammunition by removing the upper receiver from the lower receiver and then placing an insert or property size modified magazine into the top of the existing magazine well such insert or magazine accepting smaller caliber ammunition The disclosed system thereby can convert a detachable magazine firearm of a certain caliber into: a non-detachable magazine firearm of the same caliber; a non-detachable magazine firearm of a smaller caliber; or a detachable magazine firearm of a smaller caliber

Description

DescriptionTitle Of Invention: Modified Lower Receiver, Magazine, and Well InsertTechnical Field

[0001] The disclosed system relates to firearms and magazines, and more specifically to magazine and ammunition caliber conversion systems.Background Art

[0002] Patent Document No. Inventor DateUS8898946B1 Johnson 2014-12-02 US6070352A Daigle 2000-06-06 US10260827B2 Mock 2019-04-16 US10598454B2 DiChario et al. 2020-03-24 US4139958A Foote 1979-02-20US4056038A Rath 1977-11-01US10598454B2 DiChario et al. 2020-03-24Summary of Invention

[0003] In firearms that utilize a separable lower and upper receiver, and such lower receiver containing a magazine well, the disclosed system may allow the firearm operator to: 1. Prevent the changing or loading of a magazine unless the firearm is in the breached, i.e. open, condition, thereby making the firearm legal in any location that imposes restrictions on detachable magazine firearms, and 2. Change the caliber of ammunition by using a magazine well insert.These results are achieved by removing the upper receiver from the lower receiver and then placing the magazine or a magazine well insert into the top of the magazine well. The magazine and insert may be designed to rest on a ledge in the lower receiver and may also be designed to accept smaller calibers of ammunition.

[0004] Technical ProblemThe first problem is that certain localities impose restrictions on firearms if the magazine can be changed without having the firearm in the breached position,i.e. , restrictions on detachable magazines. This would include any restrictions on a firearm with a magazine well that can be accessed from the bottom of the lower receiver. This restriction could seriously affect the choice of a firearm in these locations. Additionally, many firearm operators today want to easily and efficiently switch between different calibers of ammunition. The current process of switching ammunition caliber sizes usually requires the operator to switch firearms because the magazine of the firearm currently being used does not accept ammunition of the newly desired caliber. Current processes of changing calibers have multiple parts, require tools to install, and require ancillary features including bolt catch actuators, multiple spacers, or springs.

[0005] Solution to ProblemSome embodiments of the disclosed system may solve the restrictions on detachable magazines problem by turning a detachable magazine firearm into a non-detachable magazine firearm by making modifications to the firearm’s lower receiver. Such modifications result in a firearm that has a magazine of the original or smaller caliber that can only be loaded or removed when the firearm is in the breached position. The modifications to the lower receiver make it possible to either temporarily or permanently install non-detachable magazines.Also, for those operators that may wish to change ammunition caliber, using the disclosed magazine well insert in conjunction with the above-discussed modifications to the lower receiver, may allow the operator to change ammunition calibers easily and efficiently while still changing magazines from the unbreached condition. The operator breaks the firearm open; drops in the properly sized insert into the existing magazine well; ensures that the selected new caliber matches the firearm’s current bore and bolt configuration; installs the new magazine from the bottom of the magazine well, and resumes firing with the new caliber ammo. The insert turns a single caliber magazine well into a convertible, multi-caliber magazine well.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0006] The disclosed system may allow the firearm to avoid the restrictions on detachable magazines, and, using the magazine well insert, allows a simple way to change calibers without changing firearms.

[0007] Brief Description of Drawings

[0008] Fig. 1 shows a standard modern firearm.

[0009] Fig. 2 shows that firearm breached position with both the upper and lower receivers identified.

[0010] Fig, 3. shows an unmodified lower receiver without the ledge.

[0011] Fig. 4 shows the lower receiver with the ledge at the top of the magazine well.

[0012] Fig. 5 shows the magazine well insert.

[0013] Fig. 6 shows the insert installed into the magazine well.

[0014] Fig. 7 shows a modified non-detachable magazine.

[0015] Fig. 8 shows a modified non-detachable magazine installed into the magazine well.Description of EmbodimentsFig. 1 shows a standard modern sporting firearm. Fig. 2 shows that firearm breached, i.e. , in the open position, and identifies the upper (1) and lower receivers (2). Fig. 3 shows a lower receiver with an unmodified magazine well. (3) Fig. 4 shows the lower receiver modified by having a ledge. (4) The ledge is located on the top of the firearm’s existing magazine well. (5) The ledge may be located on at least one side and may extend around the entire circumference of the existing magazine well and may be deep and wide enough to ensure that the magazine flange (6) on the magazine well insert (Fig. 5) or the modified magazine (Fig. 7) is thick and wide enough to ensure that the insert is securely placed and durable. In one embodiment the ledge is .1 inches i.e., 2.54 mm deep and .05 inches i.e., 1.27 mm, wide although other dimensions are possible. The above-described modifications to the lower receiver may allow the use of standard size detachable and non-detachable magazines, smaller caliber detachable and non-detachable magazines, as well as the magazine well insert.Flange depth dimensions. For use of a non-detachable magazine or the magazine well insert, the appropriate depth of the flange may be determined by two factors. First, without modifications to the upper receiver, the height of the flange must not extend beyond the top of the existing magazine well or it would interfere with, if not actually prohibit, the closing and locking of the upper receiver onto the lower receiver without modifications to the upper receiver as well. Second, the height of the flange should be appropriately sized in regards to the depth of the ledge. While it may be possible to have the top of the flange shorter than the existing magazine well, i.e. , a thinner flange, that embodiment may increase the likelihood of the non-detachable magazine or insert moving in the existing magazine well during the firearm’s operation and that could lead to the improper loading of a cartridge into the chamber of the firearm. In the current embodiment, after installation of the non-detachable magazine or insert, the top of the non-detachable magazine or insert flange is flush with the top of the existing magazine well (Fig. 6). This embodiment provides the most secure placement of the non-detachable magazine or insert into the existing magazine well.Flange width dimensions. Likewise, for use of non-detachable magazine or the magazine well insert, while the width of the flange must be wider than the interior edge of the ledge, or it would simply fall through the existing well, it should also be of sufficient extent to ensure that the magazine flange is wide enough to ensure that the non-detachable magazine or insert is securely placed and durable. While in some embodiments it is possible to have the width of the flange somewhat narrower than the exterior edge of the ledge, this again increases the likelihood of the non-detachable magazine or insert moving in the existing magazine well during operation of the firearm and could lead to improper loading of a cartridge into the chamber of the firearm. Therefore, in the current embodiment, the width of the flange is flush with the exterior of the ledge. Fig. 6. This embodiment provides the most secure placement of the non-detachable magazine or insert into the existing magazine well.After installing the non-detachable magazine or inserting it into the existing magazine well, the firearm’s main, or permanent, magazine catch may engage with the main magazine catch port on the insert (8). Then the upper receivermay be closed and locked against the lower receiver, securely holding the non- detachable magazine or insert into the main magazine well. For use of the magazine insert, the newly selected smaller magazine is then installed into the magazine well insert and secured using any of various options for a magazine catch, not shown, which may engage with the small magazine catch port on the insert. (7). To remove the non-detachable magazine or insert, you would need to breach the firearm and release the main catch release button if engaged.Although, in some embodiments, it is possible for the insert to not engage the main magazine catch.In one embodiment, the bottom of the magazine well insert is slightly chamfered to allow smooth loading of the newly selected magazine into the well.The non-detachable magazine or insert can be made from any suitable material, including but not limited to, aluminum, steel, or even plastic. Also, the magazine well ledge can be machined into existing after-market magazine wells.Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other to provide an easy and efficient system to turn a bottom-loading firearm into a top-loading, breach only, loading firearm. And to turn a single caliber firearm into a multi-caliber firearm.While the above description contains many specificities, these specificities should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as examples of various embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments without departing from the scope of the device disclosed above. Thus the scope should be determined by filed claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.Reference Signs List

[0016] 1. Upper receiver.

[0017] 2. Lower receiver.

[0018] 3. Top of the unmodified magazine well.

[0019] 4. Top of the modified magazine well - Ledge.

[0020] 5. Magazine well.

[0021] 6. Flange on Insert or Magazine.

[0022] 7. Small magazine catch port.

[0023] 8. Main magazine catch port.Citation List

[0024] Patent Literature

[0025] PTL1:

[0026] Patent Document No. Inventor DateUS8898946B1 Johnson 2014-12-02US6070352A Daigle 2000-06-06US10260827B2 Mock 2019-04-16US10598454B2 DiChario et al. 2020-03-24US4139958A Foote 1979-02-20US4056038A Rath 1977-11-01US10598454B2 DiChario et al. 2020-03-24Non Patent Literature

[0027] NPL1: “9mm AR-15 Conversion: Sylvan Arms 9mm Magwell AdapterReview”, YouTube, uploaded by Delta Team Tactical, May 17,2024,https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=1yBBiHESJhg

[0028] “Henry 9mm Magazine Well Adaptors”, Henry Outfitters, Published on Oct.2024.

Claims

ClaimsI claim:

1. A firearm that has an upper and lower receiver, said receivers being separable, the said lower receiver also containing a magazine well, the upper edge of the magazine well having a ledge (4) cut into one or more sides of its upper edge, the dimensions of the ledge being suitable to accept standard detachable magazines, non-detachable magazines, and / or a magazine well insert.

2. A magazine modified for use with the modified magazine well claimed in Claim 1 wherein the magazine’s upper edge contains a flange (6) on at least one side that sits in the ledge cut into the top of the magazine well as described in Claim 1 thereby providing a means for converting a detachable magazine firearm into a non-detachable magazine firearm of the same caliber.

3. An insert for converting the modified magazine well claimed in Claim 1 into a well that can receive ammunition of a smaller caliber than otherwise provided for in the firearm, said insert comprising at least one side, an open bottom to receive a magazine for the smaller caliber ammunition, and an open top with a flange on at least one side to sit in the ledge cut into the top of the magazine well as described in Claim 1.

4. A magazine claimed in Claim 2 that is sized for smaller caliber ammunition.

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