Follower and methods for weapons magazine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9612069-B2
Application number	US-201615223576-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Jan 29, 2015
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A follower for a firearm magazine is provided. In some embodiments, the follower has: a cartridge platform coupling a first wall to a second wall. The first wall, the second wall, and the platform define a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of a magazine spring. At least one of the first wall or the second wall has a nonlinear end profile shaped to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A follower for a firearm magazine, the follower comprising:
a cartridge platform coupling a first wall to a second wall; wherein
the first wall, the second wall, and the platform define a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of a magazine spring; and
at least one of the first wall or the second wall has a nonlinear end profile having a concave portion extending less than halfway into the at least one of the first wall or the second wall, whereby the nonlinear profile is shaped to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force.

2. The follower of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one concave portion has a radius of curvature of at least half of a transverse width of the at least one of the first wall or the second wall.

3. The follower of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third wall coupling at least two of the first wall, the second wall, and the platform; and
wherein
at least one of the first wall, the second wall, or the third wall comprises an end distal from the platform, the end having a spring deflector shaped to deflect a spring from catching on the follower.

4. The follower of claim 3 , wherein:
the spring deflector comprises a recessed face shaped to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force.

5. The follower of claim 3 , wherein:
the spring deflector comprises at least one of a relief entry, an angled lead-in, a bevel, a chamfer, a crimped region, a convex bevel, a concave bevel, a convex chamfer, a concave chamfer, a chisel, a concave chisel, a convex chisel, and a compound bevel.

6. The follower of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first wall or the second wall comprises a spring deflector shaped to deflect a spring from catching on the follower.

7. The follower of claim 6 , wherein:
the spring deflector is shaped to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force.

8. The follower of claim 7 , wherein:
the spring deflector comprises at least one of a relief entry, an angled lead-in, a bevel, a chamfer, a crimped region, a convex bevel, a concave bevel, a convex chamfer, a concave chamfer, a chisel, a concave chisel, a convex chisel, and a compound bevel.

9. The follower of claim 6 , wherein:
the concave portion comprises the spring deflector.

10. A follower for a firearm magazine, the follower comprising:
an upper region having a cartridge interface shaped to support a cartridge in a firearm magazine;
a magazine housing interface shaped to orient the follower relative to the firearm magazine; and
a magazine spring receiving space shaped to receive at least a portion of a magazine spring; wherein
a lower region of the follower comprises a nonlinear end profile having a concave portion, a first convex portion forward of the concave portion, a second convex portion aft of the concave portion, the first convex portion having a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the concave portion and no linear portions between the first and second convex portions; and wherein
at least a portion of the nonlinear end profile is shaped to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force.

11. The follower of claim 10 , wherein:
at least a portion of the magazine housing interface comprises a spring deflector shaped to deflect the spring from catching on the magazine housing interface.

12. The follower of claim 10 , wherein:
at least a portion of the magazine housing interface comprises a relief entry shaped to deflect a spring from catching on the magazine housing interface.

13. A method of using a follower for a firearm magazine, the method comprising:
providing a follower in a firearm magazine, the follower having a receiving space defined by a plurality of walls;
loading the firearm magazine such that the follower compresses at least a portion of the magazine spring into the receiving space; and
causing a nonlinear end profile in at least one of the plurality of walls to deflect the magazine spring from catching on the nonlinear end profile, the nonlinear end profile having a first convex region, a second convex region, a concave region positioned between the first and second convex regions, and no linear regions between the first and second convex regions.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
loading the firearm magazine comprises allowing the concave region in the nonlinear end profile to deflect the magazine spring.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein loading the firearm comprises at least one of:
allowing a recessed face in at least one of the plurality of walls to deflect the spring from catching on the magazine housing interface;
allowing a recessed face in at least one of the plurality of walls to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force; or
allowing the concave region in the nonlinear end profile to translate a lateral spring force into longitudinal spring force.

Assignees

• Magpul Ind Corp

Inventors

• Bennett William Bradley
• Kielsmeier Nicholas
• Mayberry Michael T
• Nakayama Brian L
• Nuss Felix

Classifications

• B23P15/22

  cartridges or like shells · CPC title

• F41A9/70 Primary

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