Method and apparatus for orienting and loading cartridges

• US 4,939,862 A
• Filed: 11/05/1987
• Issued: 07/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ram-Line, Inc.
• Inventors: Chesnut, M. Gaines, Brandenburg, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US07/117,247
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 42/87, 42/88
• US Class Current: 42/88
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/83 Apparatus or tools for reloading magazines with unbelted ammunition, e.g. cartridge clips

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for orienting and loading a plurality of unoriented rim-fire cartridge into a magazine are provided. An orienter apparatus employs gravity to orient rim-fire cartridges by hanging a plurality of cartridges from a number of parallel rails. The orienter is repositioned to a second or vertical configuration so that gravity can be used to feed the columns of oriented cartridges through a chute. In another embodiment, a collector apparatus is used to pick up a plurality of cartridges and hold the cartridges in a holding portion. The orienter or collector operatively engages with a loader which employs a camming mechanism to move cartridges one at a time into a magazine. The cartridges are placed in a first angular relationship with respect to the magazine opening and are moved through the opening while changing the angular relationship of the cartridge with the magazine opening. In another embodiment for use with, for example, 9 millimeter cartridges, a cartridge moving means is used to move cartridges, one at a time, as provided in single file by collector or orientor. The moving means moves a cartridge in a first direction towards the open end of the magazine and then in a second direction into the open end of the magazine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having an open end, comprising:

holding means for positioning the magazine;

cartridge moving means operably connected to said holding means for moving a first cartridge having a nose portion, said cartridge moving means defining a cartridge holding region and comprising a hook-shaped portion for engaging said nose portion of said first cartridge to limit movement of said first cartridge away from said cartridge holding region.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a guide ramp adjacent to said holding means for lifting said first cartridge while said first cartridge is being moved by said cartridge moving means.

3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a guide ramp positioned above the cartridge moving means to limit movement of the first cartridge away from said cartridge holding region.

4. An apparatus for loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having an open end and with the magazine being adapted to be removably connected to a firearm, the apparatus comprising:

cartridge moving means for moving a first cartridge into the open end of the magazine;

a housing for said cartridge moving means and for receiving cartridges, said housing being different from the magazine, said housing including at least a partially hollow handle having a longitudinal extent and a size for gripping by the hand of the user;

lever means attached to and movable with respect to said handle, said lever means at least partially received within said partially hollow handle along said longitudinal extent thereof to be positionable with respect to said handle wherein said lever means can be moved into and out of said partially hollow handle using the same hand which holds said handle, said lever means being operatively engageable with said cartridge moving means wherein said movement of said lever means results in movement of said cartridge moving means; and

wherein none of said cartridge moving means, said housing and said lever means are adapted to be connected to the firearm and none of said cartridge moving means, said housing and said lever means house a plurality of cartridges.

5. An apparatus for loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having an open end and a second end opposite said open end, comprising:

cartridge moving means for moving a first cartridge into the open end of the magazine;

magazine holding means for positioning the magazine to receive at least said first cartridge; and

clamp means comprising a pressure pad attached to a screw device which is adjustable to position said pressure pad adjacent to the second end of the magazine such that the magazine is releasably secured in said magazine holding means.

6. A collector for collecting cartridges, comprising:

a holding portion having first and second end walls and first and second side walls defining a holding chamber having at least one open end, said open end having a length defined by a distance between said first and second end walls, said length being greater than the length of each cartridge received by said holding portion and wherein the length of each cartridge is substantially perpendicular to said end walls while being held in said holding portion;

latch means at least partially covering said open end and movable with respect to said open end wherein said latch means is movable to permit passage of a first of the cartridges through said open end in a first direction by pushing said open end of said holding portion down over the first cartridge and wherein said latch means is movable to permit movement of at least one cartridge through said open end in a second direction.

7. A collector, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said latch means includes a slidably movable portion constructed and arranged to be biased into a first position wherein the cartridges are held from movement in said second direction.

8. An apparatus for collecting and loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having an open end, comprising:

a collector for collecting cartridges, said collector having a holding portion with at least one open end and a latch at least partially covering said open end and slidably movable relative to said holding portion to permit passage of a first of the cartridges through said open end in a first direction when said collector is pushed down over the first cartridge;

a loader having cartridge moving means for moving the first cartridge into the open end of the magazine; and

collector receiving means in said loader for receiving said collector, wherein said collector receiving means engages said slidably movable latch to slidably move said latch relative to said holding portion into an open position to supply at least the first cartridge to said cartridge moving means.

9. An apparatus for collecting and loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having an open end, comprising:

a collector for collecting cartridges having a holding portion with at least one open end and a latch at least partially covering the open end and movable to permit passage of a first of the cartridges through said open end in a first direction when said collector is pushed down over the first cartridge;

means for moving said latch of said collector to permit movement of at least the first cartridge in a second direction through said open end;

a loader having cartridge moving means for moving the first cartridge into the open end of the magazine; and

collector receiving means in said loader for receiving said collector in a position to supply at least the first cartridge to said cartridge moving means.

10. An apparatus for loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having a longitudinal axis, the magazine having an opening elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magazine, the apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a forward wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, said forward wall, rear wall, first side wall and second side wall defining a cavity;

a magazine receiving area for holding the magazine with the opening adjacent to said forward wall;

a sliding body disposed within said cavity for linearly sliding in a first direction from a first position to a second position and from said second position to a third position, said sliding body having at least one slot elongated in a direction at an angle to said direction of sliding, said slot having first and second ends;

a cartridge engagement piece disposed in said cavity and slidable with respect to said sliding body, said cartridge engagement piece having a post positioned to fit in said slot;

wherein when said sliding body moves from said first position to said second position, said post moves from a location adjacent to said first end of said slot to a location adjacent to said second end of said slot and said cartridge engagement piece moves at an angle to the direction of elongation of the magazine opening; and

wherein when said sliding body moves from said second position to said third position, said sliding body engages said cartridge engagement piece to move said cartridge engagement piece in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of elongation of the magazine opening;

a handle with a movable portion, said movable portion operatively engaged with said sliding body to move said sliding body from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said third position wherein said cartridge engagement piece moves in a direction at an angle to the direction of elongation of the magazine opening and then in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of elongation of the magazine opening.

11. A method for loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having a longitudinal axis and an opening, the opening being elongated in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

providing a loader housing comprising a forward wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall defining a cavity;

securing the magazine in a position with the magazine opening adjacent to said forward wall;

providing a sliding body disposed in said cavity for linearly sliding movement in a first direction and having a slot with first and second ends elongated in a direction at an angle to said first direction;

providing a cartridge engagement piece in said cavity defining a cartridge holding region, slidable with respect to said sliding body and having a post positioned to fit in said slot;

providing a handle attached to said housing with a movable portion operatively engaged with said sliding body to move said sliding body;

providing a cartridge in said cartridge holding region;

moving said movable portion to move said sliding body from a first position to a second position wherein said post moves from said first end of said slot to said second end of said slot, moving said cartridge engagement piece to translate said cartridge in a first direction at an angle to the direction of elongation of the magazine opening;

moving said movable portion to move said sliding body from said second position to said third position wherein said sliding body engages said cartridge engagement piece to move said cartridge engagement piece and translate said cartridge in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of elongation of the magazine opening.

12. A kit for adapting a loading apparatus for use with a particular shape of cartridge, the loading apparatus having a nose hook socket and a collector receiving area socket, the kit comprising:

a nose hook having a hook configuration corresponding to the contour of at least a portion of the particular shape of the cartridge and attachment means configured to fit in and be held securely by the nose hook socket of the loader; and

a collector receiving area having a passageway of a shape corresponding to the shape of at least a portion of the particular shape of the cartridge and attachment means configured to fit in and be held securely by the collector receiving area socket of the loader.

13. An apparatus for loading a plurality of cartridges into a magazine having an open end, comprising:

a housing;

holding means for securing the magazine with respect to said housing;

sliding body means disposed within said housing; and

a cartridge engagement piece operatively connected to said sliding body means wherein, when said sliding body means slides in a first direction from a first position to a second position, said cartridge engagement piece moves in a second direction, and when said sliding body means continues to move in said first direction from said second position to a third position, said cartridge engagement piece moves in a direction different from said second direction to load one of the cartridges into the open end of the magazine.

14. A kit for adapting a loading apparatus for use with a particular shape of a cartridge, the loading apparatus having a nose hook socket, the kit comprising:

a nose hook having a hook configuration corresponding to the contour of at least a portion of the particular shape of the cartridge and attachment means configured to fit in and be held securely by the nose hook socket of the loader.