Firearm Magazine Spring Locking Mechanism for Injury-Free Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional high capacity firearm magazines require substantial finger pressure to load, which can cause injury or damage due to the upward force exerted by the magazine spring, making it difficult to insert new rounds.
Innovation Solution
A spring locking device is integrated into the magazine, featuring a follower with flexible protrusions and a through hole in the base plate assembly, allowing the spring to be compressed and locked in a state that facilitates easy loading by preventing the need for manual pressure to insert cartridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a strong spring is used to hold rounds in compression, then the magazine can maintain proper feed lips pressure, but substantial finger pressure is required to load which can cause injury or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-compressed during the loading process using a pusher tool, and the compressed state is locked in place using the flexible protrusion and tab mechanism. This preliminary compression action eliminates the need for the user to apply substantial finger pressure against the strong spring force during loading, thereby preventing injury or damage to the thumb while maintaining proper feed lips pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
A pusher tool serves as an intermediary device to compress the spring during loading. The pusher tool applies the necessary compression force to the follower, which in turn compresses the spring, without requiring the user's thumb to directly oppose the strong spring force. This intermediary mechanism transfers the compression action away from the user's thumb.
2Ease of operation
If substantial finger pressure is applied to create space under feed lips, then a new round can be inserted, but the process is difficult and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-compressed using a pusher tool before loading begins. This preliminary action creates the necessary space under the feed lips in advance, eliminating the need for the user to apply substantial finger pressure during the actual loading process, thereby making loading easy and safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine spring, when compressed by the pusher tool, automatically creates the space needed for loading without requiring user intervention to apply pressure. The system serves itself by using the pusher tool to compress the spring, which then performs the function of creating loading space automatically.
3Ease of operation
If the spring is compressed to facilitate loading, then cartridges can be inserted easily, but the spring must be locked in place to maintain compression
Solution Approach 1:
The spring locking function is segmented into a separate flexible protrusion with a tab that can independently engage with the through hole in the base plate assembly. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism to be a simple, discrete component rather than a complex integrated system, maintaining ease of operation while providing reliable spring compression maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible protrusion provides a dynamic locking mechanism that can deflect during compression and then engage positively when the tab fits into the through hole. This dynamic behavior allows the system to transition smoothly from compression to locked state, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable spring maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for effortless loading of cartridges into the magazine by compressing the spring and locking it in place, reducing the risk of injury and making the loading process simpler and safer.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible protrusion may further be configured to be movable between undeflected and deflected states, and movement of the flexible protrusion from the deflected state to the undeflected state in the loading position causes the tab at the distal end of the flexible protrusion to extend at least partly through the through hole
Data Source
AI summary
A method and associated device that compresses a magazine spring and locks it in place to facilitate loading of cartridges in the magazine. A spring locking device, which might be integrated with a follower that rides atop the magazine spring, includes a single or a pair of flexible quick release tabs that pass through one or more through holes in the magazine and which can be easily unhooked or released to permit the magazine spring to decompress and urge any cartridges in the magazine toward the top of the magazine.