Safety Magazine

Abstract

The present invention relates to magazines for firearms, and more particularly to magazines that accept blank cartridges for training and other exercises and that prevent the introduction of live cartridges. In an embodiment, the safety magazine includes an internal cavity that is shorter in length than a live ammunition cartridge. The internal cavity accepts shorter blank ammunition cartridges. The top-most ammunition cartridge in the magazine sits just under the magazine's feed lips, in the top-most ammunition position. A projection extends from the top end of the magazine opposite the feed lips to block a longer live ammunition cartridge from being inserted into the top-most ammunition position. Thus, live cartridges cannot be loaded into the magazine even at the top-most position of the magazine. The projection is retractable into the magazine.

1 . A magazine for a firearm, comprising:
 a housing comprising first and second opposing side walls and an internal cavity between the side walls, the internal cavity being sized to receive blank ammunition cartridges and having an opening at a top end of the housing for receiving such cartridges into the cavity;   a follower for moving such cartridges toward the top end of the housing into a top-most ammunition position;   a projection movable between a first position in which the projection extends into the top-most ammunition position and a second position in which the projection is retracted out of the top-most ammunition position;   an extension coupled to the projection and extending through an opening in the first side wall of the housing; and   a spring biasing the projection into the first position.   
     
     
         2 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the first side wall comprises a slot, and wherein the projection is in the first position when the extension is in an upper portion of the slot, and the projection is in the second position when the extension is in a lower portion of the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the projection is housed within a second internal cavity in the housing, and wherein the first and second internal cavities are divided by an internal wall. 
     
     
         4 . The magazine of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is located within the second internal cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the projection comprises a sloped top surface. 
     
     
         6 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a guide at the top end of the housing for guiding such cartridges into such firearm. 
     
     
         7 . The magazine of  claim 6 , wherein the projection extends above the guide when the projection is in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The magazine of  claim 7 , wherein the projection extends above the guide by at least 25 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The magazine of  claim 7 , wherein an angle between a top end of the projection and a forward end of the guide, when the projection is in the extended position, is at least 15°. 
     
     
         10 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the internal cavity has a length that is less than a length of a live ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . The magazine of  claim 10 , wherein the internal cavity has a length less than approximately 2 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein in the second position, the projection blocks a second ammunition position below the top-most position, to prevent the insertion of a live ammunition cartridge into the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the spring exerts a force against the projection sufficient to prevent insertion of a live cartridge into the magazine. 
     
     
         14 . A magazine for a firearm, comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a top portion comprising a first internal cavity sized to receive blank ammunition cartridges, a second internal cavity, an internal wall separating the first and second cavities, and a top-most ammunition position at a top end of the top portion; and 
 a bottom portion attached to the top portion, the bottom portion comprising an internal cavity and a spacer positioned in the internal cavity to shorten the internal cavity to receive blank ammunition cartridges; 
   a movable piece positioned in the second cavity of the top portion, the movable piece having a projection, wherein the movable piece is slidable between an extended position in which the projection extends into the top-most ammunition position and a retracted position in which the projection is retracted into the second cavity; and   a spring biasing the movable piece into the extended position.   
     
     
         15 . The magazine of  claim 14 , wherein the movable piece further comprises a peg extending through a slot in the top portion of the housing, and wherein the peg is engagable with a firearm to move the projection into the retracted position. 
     
     
         16 . The magazine of  claim 14 , wherein the projection comprises a sloped top surface. 
     
     
         17 . A safety magazine comprising:
 a housing having an internal cavity sized to receive blank ammunition cartridges, the cavity having an opening for receiving such cartridges into the cavity, the housing comprising a guide for retaining a cartridge in a top-most ammunition position at a top end of the housing; and   means for shortening the top-most ammunition position to prevent the insertion of a live ammunition cartridge.   
     
     
         18 . The magazine of  claim 17 , wherein the means for shortening the top-most ammunition position comprises a projection movable into an extended position in which the projection shortens a length of the top-most ammunition position, and a second internal cavity in which the projection moves. 
     
     
         19 . The magazine of  claim 18 , wherein the projection comprises a ramp at a top end of the projection for guiding such cartridges into a firearm. 
     
     
         20 . The magazine of  claim 19 , wherein the ramp is angled at about 10°.