Magazine cartridge loader

• US 5,301,449 A
• Filed: 11/13/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michaels of Oregon Company (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Butler Creek Corporation (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, Terry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENTLEY, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US07/975,721
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 42/87, 42/88, 86/45, 86/46, 86/47
• US Class Current: 42/87
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/83 Apparatus or tools for reloading magazines with unbelted ammunition, e.g. cartridge clips

Abstract

This invention utilizes a conventional type cartridge orienting device for orienting cartridges with their longitudinal axes aligned generally parallel with one another. The present invention includes a hollow receptacle having a cartridge accepting device. This accepting device includes a stop wall to allow only one oriented cartridge to drop into the accepting device at a time. A rotatable cam is provided within the accepting device. Upon rotation of the rotatable cam, cartridges are grasped and moved away from the accepting device and transported by the rotatable cam upon further rotation thereof to the receiving end of a conventional magazine. The cartridge is then forced into the magazine when the rotatable cam is further rotated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for loading cartridges, each having a longitudinal axis, a cartridge body and a cartridge rim, into a magazine having an open end, the apparatus comprising:

an orienting means for orienting the longitudinal axes of a plurality of unoriented cartridges in parallel relation;

an accepting means, connected to the orienting means, for accepting and holding one cartridge at a time from the orienting means;

a rotatable cam mounted adjacent the accepting means having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge held by the accepting means;

the rotatable cam having a tooth to engage the rim of a cartridge held in the accepting means and move the cartridge toward the open end of the magazine; and

the rotatable cam further having a cam surface for directing the body of the cartridge toward the open end of the magazine and into the open end of the magazine upon further rotation of the rotatable cam.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 a knob means is connected to the rotatable cam for rotating the rotatable cam.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the rotatable cam includes a cutout portion sized to accept a cartridge positioned within the accepting means.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1 further means for permitting the rotatable cam to rotate in only one direction.

5. An apparatus for loading cartridges, each having a longitudinal axis and a cartridge body, into a magazine having an open end, the apparatus comprising:

an orienting means for orienting the longitudinal axes of a plurality of unoriented cartridges in parallel relation;

an accepting means, connected to the orienting means, for accepting and holding one cartridge at a time from the orienting means;

a rotatable cam mounted adjacent the accepting means having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to he longitudinal axis of the cartridge held by the accepting means;

the rotatable cam having means for frictionally engaging a cartridge held in the accepting means and move the cartridge toward the open end of the magazine; and

the rotatable cam further having a cam surface for directing the body of the cartridge toward the open end of the magazine and into the open end of the magazine upon further rotation of the rotatable cam.