Side-Loading Magazine With Retractable Follower Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Firearm laws in states like California and New York require semi-automatic firearms to have fixed, non-removable magazines, posing a challenge for users who need to load ammunition without violating these regulations.

Innovation Solution

An affixable ammunition magazine design that can be fixed to a firearm, allowing for easy loading via a movable sleeve and side opening, ensuring compliance with laws while enabling convenient cartridge insertion without disassembly or tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed magazine is implemented to comply with firearm laws, then legal compliance is achieved, but loading ammunition becomes difficult without disassembly or tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelegal complianceVSAvoidloading convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The magazine is divided into separate functional components: a fixed magazine body that remains attached to the firearm, and a movable loading sleeve that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows the magazine to maintain its fixed status while enabling convenient loading through the movable sleeve component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The loading sleeve is designed as a dynamic component that can move between locked and unlocked positions. When unlocked, it allows easy access for loading ammunition; when locked, it secures the magazine body firmly to the firearm, maintaining the fixed magazine requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a fixed magazine is implemented to comply with firearm laws, then legal compliance is achieved, but the magazine cannot be removed for reloading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelegal complianceVSAvoidreloading flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The magazine system is segmented into a permanent magazine body and a removable sleeve component. The magazine body remains fixed to the firearm as required by law, while the sleeve can be removed and replaced, providing reloading flexibility without violating fixed magazine regulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The loading sleeve is designed to nest within the magazine body when not in use. This nested configuration allows the sleeve to be stored compactly while maintaining access to the magazine's full ammunition capacity, and enables quick replacement of the sleeve for reloading purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If a movable sleeve is added to enable easy loading, then loading convenience is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading convenienceVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The loading function is extracted from the main magazine body and embodied in a separate movable sleeve component. This extraction simplifies the overall design by separating the loading mechanism from the fixed magazine structure, allowing each component to be optimized independently while reducing inter-component complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The loading sleeve incorporates self-contained features including an integrated spring mechanism and follower system that automatically advance ammunition into the chamber. This self-service design eliminates the need for additional manual operations or complex external mechanisms, achieving ease of loading without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 affixable magazine allows users to load ammunition easily and securely, adhering to legal requirements by preventing removal without disassembly, while maintaining functionality and compliance with state laws.

Implementation Method 1

a cartridge follower spring configured to be compressed by the cartridge follower when the groove end catch has engaged with and has pulled down the cartridge follower, and the cartridge follower spring is configured to expand when the groove end catch is disengaged from the cartridge follower

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring expansion: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS10295288B2Side-loading fixed magazine with retractable follower and sliding ammunition loading sleeve

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 MAGA DAVID DALLAS

AI summary

An affixable magazine complying with new firearms laws that enables citizens to legally own and effectively operate a firearm, such as an AR-15. The affixable magazine facilitates easy loading of ammunition through a sliding sleeve without removing the magazine from the firearm, disassembling the action, or using tools. The affixable magazine includes: a magazine body configured to contain a stack of cartridges, and an attachable blocking tab for blocking removal of the ammunition magazine from the magazine well, the attachable blocking tab being attached after insertion of the ammunition magazine into the magazine well, and before re-engaging the upper receiver with the lower receiver. The affixable magazine also includes a magazine body having an opening, with a sliding sleeve configured to alternately cover or reveal the opening, the sliding sleeve including: at least one groove and at least one groove end catch configured to catch and retract the follower.