Multi-caliber magazine for a firearm and a method of forming the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10401105-B2
Application number	US-201815868099-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2018
Priority date	Jan 13, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A multi-caliber automatic rifle (AR) magazine is configured to alternately receive a first cartridge having a first caliber and a second cartridge having a first caliber. The multi-caliber AR magazine includes a first pair of ribs, a second pair of ribs, and a third pair of ribs such that the first pair of ribs and the second pair of ribs are configured to both support the body of the cartridge when loaded in the magazine. The second pair of ribs are indented toward a center of the multi-caliber AR magazine housing more than the first pair of ribs such that a distance between the second pair of ribs is less than a second distance between the first pair of ribs. The third pair of ribs can be rebated to form a dual-curved rib having a central convex portion connected between two concave portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-caliber magazine for a firearm configured to support a plurality of cartridges, the multi-caliber magazine comprising:
a housing having a front, a rear, a first sidewall extending vertically between the front and the rear, and a second sidewall extending vertically between the front and the rear;
a first pair of ribs including a first rib extending vertically along the first sidewall, and a second rib extending vertically along the second sidewall, the first pair of ribs positioned proximate the rear of the housing; and
a second pair of ribs including a third rib extending vertically along the first sidewall, and a fourth rib extending vertically along the second sidewall, wherein a first distance between the third rib and the fourth rib is less than a second distance between the first rib and the second rib;
wherein each of the third rib and the fourth rib has a pair of inward protrusions extending into the housing and a portion extending outward, the portion extending outward located between the pair of inward protrusions, wherein the portion extending outward and the pair of inward protrusions are positioned inward relative to the respective first sidewall or second sidewall.

2. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , further comprising a third pair of ribs including a fifth rib extending vertically along the first sidewall, and a sixth rib extending vertically along the second sidewall, wherein the second pair of ribs is positioned proximate the front of the housing, and wherein the third pair of ribs are positioned between the first pair of ribs and the second pair of ribs.

3. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein the second pair of ribs is positioned adjacent projectiles or necks of the plurality of cartridges when the plurality of cartridges are installed in the multi-caliber magazine, and wherein at least one rib of the second pair of ribs is constructed to provide clearance between each of the second pair of ribs and the projectiles and necks of the plurality of cartridges when the plurality of cartridges are installed in the multi-caliber magazine.

4. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of inward protrusions and the portion extending outward has an arcuate shape.

5. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein at least an upper portion of the second pair of ribs extends sufficiently inwardly to contact a top-most cartridge of the plurality of cartridges when the plurality of cartridges are installed in the multi-caliber magazine.

6. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 2 , wherein the first rib and the fifth rib are positioned to simultaneously contact a case of at least some of the cartridges when the plurality of cartridges are loaded in the multi-caliber magazine.

7. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the third rib and a portion of the fourth rib each define a creased surface.

8. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to support both a first caliber cartridge and a second caliber cartridge, the first caliber different from the second caliber.

9. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to functionally support both 7.62×35 mm cartridges and 5.56×45 mm cartridges.

10. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed of a stamped sheet metal material.

11. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed of an injection-molded polymer.

12. The multi-caliber magazine of claim 2 , wherein one rib of the first pair of ribs and one rib of the third pair of ribs are constructed and arranged to simultaneously contact at least one of the plurality of cartridges when the multi-caliber magazine is full.

13. A method of forming a multi-caliber automatic rifle (AR) magazine from a housing having a front, a rear, a first sidewall extending vertically between the front and the rear, and a second sidewall extending vertically between the front and the rear, the multi-caliber AR magazine configured to support cartridges of a plurality of calibers, the method comprising:
forming a first pair of ribs on the housing, the first pair of ribs including a first rib extending vertically along the first sidewall of the housing and a second rib extending vertically along the second sidewall of the housing, the first pair of ribs positioned proximate the rear of the housing; and
forming a second pair of ribs on the housing, the second pair of ribs including a third rib extending vertically along the first sidewall of the housing and a fourth rib extending vertically along the second sidewall of the housing, the second pair of ribs being indented toward a center of the housing more than the first pair of rib;
wherein each of the third rib and the fourth rib has a pair of inward protrusions extending into the housing and a portion extending outward, the portion extending outward located between the pair of inward protrusions, wherein the portion extending outward and the pair of inward protrusions are positioned inward relative to the respective first sidewall or second sidewall.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: forming a third pair of ribs on the housing, the third pair of ribs including a fifth rib extending vertically along the first sidewall, and a sixth rib extending vertically along the second sidewall, wherein the second pair of ribs is formed proximate the front of the housing, wherein the third pair of ribs are formed between the first pair of ribs and the second pair of ribs.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the housing is a sheet metal material, and wherein forming the first pair of ribs and forming the second pair of ribs is performed by stamping the sheet metal material of the housing.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the first pair of ribs and forming the second pair of ribs is performed by injection-molding a polymer.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising: raising a central portion of the fifth rib and the sixth rib to each define a dual-curved rib with a central convex portion connected between two concave portions.

18. A multi-caliber magazine for a firearm configured to support a plurality of cartridges, the multi-caliber magazine comprising:
a housing having a front, a rear, a first side extending vertically between the front and the rear, and a second side extending vertically between the front and the rear;
a first pair of ribs including a first rib extending vertically along a first side, and a second rib extending vertically along a second side, the first pair of ribs positioned proximate the front of the housing and configured to provide clearance for projectiles of the plurality of the cartridges when the plurality of cartridges are installed in the multi-caliber magazine; and
a second pair of ribs including a third rib extending vertically along the first side, and a fourth rib extending vertically along the second side, the second pair of ribs positioned proximate the rear of the housing, the second pair of ribs configured to contact a body portion of the plurality of cartridges at a first point of contact when the plurality of cartridges are installed in the multi-caliber magazine;
wherein each of the first pair of ribs has a pair of inward protrusions extending into the housing and a portion extending outward, the portion extending outward located between the pair of inward protrusions, wherein the portion extending outward and the pair of inward protrusions are positioned inward of the respective first side

Assignees

• Sig Sauer Inc

Inventors

• Dowling John J
• Hopkins David B
• Wilson John

Classifications

• F41A9/71 Primary

  Arrangements thereon for varying capacity; Adapters or inserts for changing cartridge size or type · CPC title