Segmented Magazine Well Extension for Firearm Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing firearm magazine well extensions and trigger guard assemblies face issues such as wear due to repeated contact with magazines, high production costs due to precise tolerances, and hinderance for users with larger hands or those wearing gloves, necessitating improved solutions for easier magazine insertion and enhanced trigger guard usability.

Innovation Solution

A two-part magazine well extension and trigger guard extension system with a monolithic design, featuring a flange-mounting component and a magazine-receiving component that reduces wear, secure attachment via set screws, and enlarged openings for easier magazine insertion and improved trigger guard accessibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a magazine well extension with sloped feed walls is used to assist magazine insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but the extension is subject to wear over time requiring complete replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of magazine insertionVSAvoidwear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The magazine well extension is divided into two separate components: a reusable body portion that attaches to the firearm and a disposable magazine receiving portion that contacts the magazine. The reusable body contains the sloped feed walls that assist insertion, while the disposable portion absorbs wear from magazine contact. This segmentation allows the wear-prone feed walls to be replaced only when necessary while protecting the main extension body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If magazine well extensions use friction fit attachment to the magwell, then ease of installation is improved, but very specific tolerances are required increasing production cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidtolerance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The extension is segmented into a body portion with attachment features and a separate magazine receiving portion. The body portion includes machined surfaces and mounting features that attach to the firearm's magwell, while the magazine receiving portion can be manufactured with different tolerances. This allows the critical attachment interface to be precisely manufactured once, while the disposable portion can be produced more economically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the entire magazine well extension assembly is replaced when wear occurs, then reliability is maintained, but substantial cost burden is incurred

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial waste and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The extension assembly is segmented into a permanent reusable body and a consumable magazine receiving portion. The body contains the expensive machined surfaces, mounting features, and structural components that should be retained. The magazine receiving portion is designed as a disposable component that absorbs wear from magazine insertion and removal. When wear occurs, only the inexpensive receiving portion needs replacement, not the entire assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The magazine receiving portion is designed to be discarded after a certain period or when wear limits are reached, while the body portion is recovered and retained for continued use. This allows the user to replace only the worn consumable portion while keeping the valuable reusable body, significantly reducing replacement costs and material waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Device complexity

If standard trigger guard size and configuration are used, then device complexity is minimized, but usability for users with larger hands or wearing gloves is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrigger guard structureVSAvoidtrigger guard accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger guard extension is merged with the magazine well extension assembly, combining two functional elements into a single integrated device. The trigger guard extension is attached to the magazine well extension body, creating a combined accessory that provides both magazine insertion assistance and improved trigger accessibility without requiring separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger guard extension adds dimensional space by extending downward from the standard trigger guard position. This creates additional vertical space that accommodates larger hands or gloved fingers, solving the accessibility problem by adding a new dimension rather than modifying the existing trigger guard geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9897402B2Magazine well extension and trigger guard extension for a firearm

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 LANCER SYSTEMS LP

AI summary

The present application teaches an improved magazine well extension and trigger guard extension for a firearm.