Disposable Plastic Ammunition Clip for Rapid Magazine Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ammunition packaging and loading methods result in significant metal waste and inefficiency, as metal stripper clips are not suitable for packaging or shipping and are often discarded after use, leading to bulk and weight issues, and require separate transfer from manufacturer packaging to the rifle magazine.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, recyclable ammunition clip made of polypropylene or glass-filled injection molded plastic that can serve as both a packaging element and a stripper clip, capable of holding 10 rounds of ammunition and allowing rapid loading into a rifle magazine without the need for a separate stripper clip, using a compact geometry and flexible stop mechanism to retain and release cartridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If metal stripper clips are used for loading magazines, then high-speed loading is achieved, but significant metal waste is generated and weight/bulk issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces durable metal stripper clips with disposable plastic clips that are inexpensive to manufacture and discard. These plastic clips serve their single purpose of loading ammunition into the magazine and are then discarded, eliminating the waste of expensive metal clips while maintaining the high-speed loading capability. The clips are designed to be used once and then disposed of, which is economically advantageous in combat operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the properties of the stripper clip. This material substitution reduces weight, eliminates corrosion, and allows for disposable use without the environmental and economic costs of metal waste. The plastic material can be molded into the required shape and can incorporate integration with packaging.
2Reliability
If separate packaging and stripper clips are used, then ammunition can be properly packaged and stored, but the process becomes complex and requires separate transfer operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the packaging function and the stripper clip function into a single integrated component. The plastic clip serves both as the packaging that protects and transports the ammunition and as the stripper clip that loads the ammunition into the magazine. This eliminates the need for separate packaging and loading operations, reducing complexity and streamlining the logistics chain from manufacturer to soldier.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic clip is designed to perform multiple functions: it packages and protects the ammunition during storage and transport, and it simultaneously serves as the stripper clip for loading the magazine. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated packaging and loading tools, reducing the number of components and operations required in the ammunition supply chain.
3Reliability
If traditional packaging materials are used, then ammunition can be protected during shipping, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable plastic packaging that provides adequate protection during shipping and storage but is lightweight enough to be discarded after use. This eliminates the need for heavy, durable packaging materials that would need to be recovered and reused. The plastic packaging is designed for single-use, providing sufficient protection while minimizing weight and volume.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an ammunition clip comprises an elongated channel comprising a first floor, and a first wall and a second wall, the walls extending upwardly from the first floor on opposite longitudinal sides of the floor; a first inwardly facing elongated pawl integrally formed with an inside face of the first wall, and a second inwardly facing elongated pawl integrally formed with an inside face of the second wall; at a first end of the channel, an upwardly protruding stop member on the first floor; at a second end of the channel, in the first floor, an upwardly protruding flexible stop lever, and a longitudinally extending guide tab.