Magazine cartridge loader

• US 5,402,594 A
• Filed: 04/01/1994
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deborah L. Switzer
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Switzer
• Inventors: Switzer, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wesson, Theresa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/222,415
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 42/50, 42/87, 42/90
• US Class Current: 42/90
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/83 Apparatus or tools for reloading magazines with unbelted ammunition, e.g. cartridge clips

Abstract

A cartridge loader for a cartridge clip as disclosed. The loader includes a loader sleeve slidingly receivable on the magazine to compress the clip'"'"'s spring in order to permit easy re-loading of the clip. A brake connected to the sleeve co-acts with the magazine'"'"'s sidewall surface so as to impede the sleeve from disengagement with the magazine in the event the sleeve is inadvertently released by a user when the clip'"'"'s spring is compressed and with no cartridges present in the clip. In preferred form, the brake is comprised of a brake arm that causes the sleeve to slide in a frictional braking relation with the clip'"'"'s sidewall surface and that itself slides in a frictional braking relation with the clip'"'"'s sidewall surface.

Claims

1. A cartridge loader for a cartridge clip, said clip being of the type having a magazine with a follower biased toward an ejection end by a compression spring, and a thumb pin fixed to said follower extending through a slot located in a sidewall of said magazine, said follower being drawn down toward a closed end of said magazine against said compression spring by pushing said pin toward said closed end, said cartridge loader comprising:

a loader sleeve slidingly receivable on said magazine, said sleeve being slideable on said magazine from a first position to a second position to compress said spring in order to permit easy re-loading of said clip, said sleeve co-acting with said thumb pin as said sleeve slides from said first to said second position, and

a brake connected to said sleeve, said brake co-acting with a wall surface of said magazine so as to impede said sleeve from disengagement with said magazine in the event said sleeve is inadvertently released by a user at any location between said first and second positions when no cartridges are present in said clip.

2. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 1, said brake co-acting with said sleeve to cause said sleeve to slide in a frictional braking relation with a wall surface of said magazine as said sleeve slides from said second to said first position when said sleeve is at said second position and no cartridges are present in said clip.

3. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 2, said sleeve having cross-sectional configuration and dimensions, relative to cross-sectional configuration and dimensions of said magazine, that would allow said sleeve to slide freely along said magazine wall surface if said brake did not co-act with said wall surface.

4. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 2, said brake coacting with a wall surface of said magazine so as to slide itself in a frictional braking relation with said wall surface as said sleeve slides from said second to said first position.

5. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 1, said brake co-acting with a wall surface of said magazine so as to slide itself in a frictional braking relation with said wall surface as said sleeve slides from said second to said first position.

6. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 1, said brake comprising:

a brake arm connected to said sleeve at one end, and adapted to co-act with said magazine wall surface.

7. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 1, said loader comprising:

a latch connected to said sleeve, said latch being engageable with said magazine when said sleeve has drawn said follower to a full spring compression position so as to hold said follower in said full spring compression location.

8. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 6, said brake comprising:

a latch connected to said brake arm, said latch being engageable with said magazine'"'"'s closed end when said sleeve has drawn said follower to a full spring compression position adjacent said closed end so as to hold said follower in said full spring compression location.

9. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 8, said latch comprising:

a latch foot connected with said latch brake arm at an end opposite to that at which said brake arm is connected to said sleeve.

10. A cartridge loader as set forth in claim 1, said loader comprising

a thumb rest located on said sleeve, said thumb rest allowing said magazine to be griped in the palm of a user'"'"'s hand and said sleeve operated by the user'"'"'s thumb.