Firearm lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11112194-B2
Application number	US-202016788113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 16, 2016
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A firearm loader may be used to transfer at least one cartridge to a firearm. The loader includes a main body comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a follower disposed inside the main body. The loader may include an engaged configuration wherein the loader is at least partially inserted into a firearm. The proximal end may include an opening. In the engaged configuration, the opening approximately faces a magazine of the firearm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A magazine lock assembly for a firearm, the magazine lock assembly comprising:
a magazine catch comprising a unitary component having a first end with a protrusion for engaging a magazine and a second end with threads;
a spacer comprising a cavity; and
a lock member comprising a shaft, a head, and a hole extending through the head, wherein:
the shaft of the lock member is at least partially disposed within the cavity of the spacer;
in a permanently installed configuration, the magazine lock assembly permanently fixes the magazine to the firearm;
the lock member and the magazine catch are attached to one another by rotating the head of the lock member;
the shaft of the lock member comprises a necked down region such that the shaft is configured to shear apart at the necked down region;
in the permanently installed configuration, the head and a portion of the shaft separate from the magazine lock assembly at the necked down region; and
the hole through the head comprises a diameter smaller than a diameter of a hollow portion of the lock member and the hole extends through a full length of the lock member.

2. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the lock member comprises threads that correspond to the threads of the second end of the magazine catch.

3. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hollow portion of the lock member comprises internal threads that correspond to the threads of the second end of the magazine catch.

4. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the cavity of the spacer is non-threaded;
and
at least a portion of the second end of the magazine catch is disposed inside the shaft of the lock member within the cavity of the spacer.

5. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an uninstalled configuration.

6. The magazine lock assembly of claim 5 , wherein, in the uninstalled configuration, the lock member and the magazine catch are attached to one another and the head remains attached to the magazine lock assembly.

7. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein, in the permanently installed configuration, the head is detached from the magazine lock assembly such that the lock member cannot be detached from the magazine catch without damaging the lock member.

8. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
in the permanently installed configuration, an end of the shaft is approximately flush with an outer surface of the spacer.

9. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the necked down region comprises a beveled surface that reduces in dimension when moving away from the head.

10. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the necked down region is disposed on an outer surface of the shaft of the lock member.

11. The magazine lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein, in the permanently installed configuration, the shaft of the lock member bottoms out within the cavity of the spacer.

12. A firearm comprising:
a magazine lock assembly, the magazine lock assembly comprises:
a magazine catch comprising a protrusion for engaging a magazine;
a spacer comprising a cavity;
a lock member comprising a shaft, a head, and a hole extending through the head;
an uninstalled configuration; and
a permanently installed configuration, wherein:

in the permanently installed configuration, the magazine lock assembly permanently fixes the magazine to the firearm;
the lock member and the magazine catch are attached to one another by rotating the head of the lock member;
the shaft of the lock member comprises a necked down region such that the shaft is configured to shear apart at the necked down region;
in the permanently installed configuration, the head and a portion of the shaft separate from the magazine lock assembly at the necked down region; and
the hole through the head comprises a diameter smaller than a diameter of a hollow portion of the lock member and the hole extends through a full length of the lock member.

13. The firearm of claim 12 , wherein the shaft of the lock member comprises threads for attachment to the magazine catch.

14. The firearm of claim 12 , wherein the hollow portion of the lock member comprises internal threads for attachment to the magazine catch.

15. The firearm of claim 12 , wherein:
and
at least a portion of the magazine catch and the shaft is disposed inside the shaft of the lock member within the cavity of the spacer.

16. The firearm of claim 12 , wherein, in the uninstalled configuration, the lock member and the magazine catch are attached to one another and the head remains attached to the magazine lock assembly.

17. The firearm of claim 12 , wherein, in the permanently installed configuration, the head is detached from the magazine lock assembly such that the lock member cannot be detached from the magazine catch without damaging the lock member.

18. The firearm of claim 12 , wherein the lock member comprises a beveled surface that reduces in dimension when moving away from the head.

19. The firearm of claim 12 , wherein the shaft of the lock member bottoms out in a static configuration within the cavity of the spacer.

20. A method of installing a magazine lock assembly in a firearm, the method comprising:
inserting a magazine catch into a first side of a firearm wherein the magazine catch comprises a first end with a protrusion for engaging a magazine and a second end with threads;
inserting a spacer comprising a cavity into the second side of the firearm;
inserting a lock member into a second side of the firearm wherein the lock member comprises a shaft, a head, and a hole extending through the head; and
attaching the lock member and the magazine catch to one another by rotating the head of the lock member, wherein:
a portion of at least one selected from the group of the magazine catch and the shaft is disposed within the cavity of the spacer;
attachment between the lock member and the magazine catch includes bottoming out the shaft of the lock member in a static configuration within the cavity of the spacer;
the magazine lock assembly permanently fixes the magazine to the firearm;
the shaft of the lock member comprises a necked down region such that the shaft is configured to shear apart at the necked down region;
in the permanently installed configuration, the head and a portion of the shaft separate from the magazine lock assembly at the necked down region; and
the hole through the head comprises a diameter smaller than a diameter of a hollow portion of the lock member and the hole extends through a full length of the lock member.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising rotating the head of the lock member until the head shears apart from the lock member.

Assignees

• Underwood James Matthew
• Underwood Larry Cullen

Inventors

• Underwood James Matthew
• Underwood Larry Cullen

Classifications

• F41A9/70 Primary

  Arrangements thereon for discharging, e.g. cartridge followers or discharge throats · CPC title

• F41A9/67

  having means for depressing the cartridge follower, or for locking it in a depressed position · CPC title

• F41A9/83

  Apparatus or tools for reloading magazines with unbelted ammunition, e.g. cartridge clips · CPC title

• F41A17/38

  {Magazine mountings, e.g. for} locking the magazine in the gun · CPC title