Firearm adapter for am180 .22 caliber cartridge drums

Abstract

A firearm adapter for AM180 .22 caliber cartridge drums includes: a tower adapted to engage with a cartridge-receiving mechanism of the firearm; a plate having a first surface to releasably engage with and retain the cartridge drum in a plane generally parallel to the plate, and a second surface to engage with and retain the tower in an orientation at a substantial angle to the plane of the plate; and an aperture in the plate that aligns with a feeding aperture in the drum and the tower so as to transport the cartridge from the drum to the tower.

1 . A device utilizing a firearm adapted to receive a cartridge and a drum adapted to hold the cartridge, the drum having a first aperture, a first extension adjacent the first aperture, and a second extension opposite the first extension, the drum adapted to transport the cartridge out of the drum through the first aperture, the device comprising:
 a plate having a second aperture, the plate adapted to releasably engage with the drum so that the first aperture aligns with the second aperture, the plate having a first section and a second section;   a first hook on the first section of the plate, adapted to engage with the first extension of the drum; and   a second hook slidably attached to the second section of the plate, adapted to engage with the second extension of the drum, the second hook cooperating with the first hook so to as to releasably retain the drum;   wherein the device engages with the drum, retains the drum, and aligns the first aperture of the drum with the second aperture, so that the cartridge is transported out of the first aperture, through the second aperture, and to the firearm so that the firearm receives the cartridge.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tower that engages with the plate to receive the cartridge from the second aperture, and engages with the firearm to transport the cartridge from the plate to the firearm.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein an axis of the tower is at a 75 to 90 degree angle relative to a plane of the drum. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , the firearm having a well adapted to receive a plurality of cartridges, the device further comprising:
 a tower that engages with the plate and releasably engages with the well;   wherein the tower receives the plurality of cartridges from the second aperture and transports the cartridges to the well so that the firearm receives the cartridges.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spring to pull the second hook toward the drum so that the second hook releasably engages with the second extension of the drum.   
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first slot in the second hook, axial to the second hook;   a first pin to pass through the first slot and slidably retain the second hook to the plate;   a second slot in the second hook, collinear with the first slot;   a second pin to pass through the second slot and slidably retain the second hook to the plate;   wherein the first and second pins help guide the second hook to slide along the plate and engage with the drum.   
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a substantially flat flange that extends laterally from the plate to help stabilize the drum.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drum is a magazine for an American 180 submachine gun. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is a .22 caliber long rifle cartridge, and the firearm is capable of releasably receiving the cartridge from a removable magazine that feeds cartridges in a column. 
   
   
       10 . A device utilizing a firearm, a cartridge, and a drum, the device comprising:
 a tower adapted to engage with a cartridge-receiving mechanism of the firearm;   a plate having a first surface to releasably engage with and retain the cartridge drum in a plane generally parallel to the plate, and a second surface to engage with and retain the tower in an orientation at a substantial angle to the plane of the plate; and   an aperture in the plate that aligns with a feeding aperture in the drum and the tower so as to transport the cartridge from the drum to the tower.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first retaining element adapted to retain a first extension of the drum;   a slidable, second retaining element adapted to retain a second extension of the drum;   a spring to urge the second retaining element toward the drum so that the first and second retaining elements cooperate to releasably retain the drum.   
   
   
       12 . A method of providing a cartridge from a drum to a firearm, comprising:
 providing a plate having an aperture, a first retaining member, and a slidable second retaining member;   retaining a first extension of the drum with the first retaining member;   retaining a second extension of the drum with the second retaining member;   receiving the cartridge from the drum into the aperture; and   transporting the cartridge from the aperture to the firearm;   thereby providing the cartridge from the drum to the firearm.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a tower adapted to engage with a cartridge-receiving mechanism of the firearm;   attaching the plate to a tower;   engaging the tower with the firearm; and   utilizing the tower to transport the cartridge from the aperture to the cartridge-receiving mechanism of the firearm.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an axis of the tower is at a 75 to 90 degree angle relative to a plane of the drum. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 urging the second retaining member toward the second extension of the drum with a spring, so that the first retaining member and the second retaining member cooperate to releasably retain the drum.