Magazine and firearm with improved ammunition loading feature

Abstract

A firearm magazine housing contains a spring to forcibly urge a follower with ammunition rounds stacked thereon toward an open end of the housing, thereby to facilitate delivery of the ammunition rounds into the firing chamber of a firearm. A follower support apparatus disposed within the housing supports the follower for movement in the housing, and permits the ammunition rounds to be stacked onto the follower independently of the spring.

1 . A magazine apparatus for delivering ammunition rounds into a firing chamber of a firearm, comprising:
 a housing configured for insertion into a magazine well of the firearm;   a follower disposed and movably supported within said housing, said follower configured to support thereon a stack of ammunition rounds within said housing;   a spring disposed within said housing for forcibly urging said follower and the stack of ammunition rounds toward the firing chamber when said housing is inserted in the magazine well; and   a follower support disposed within said housing and coupled to said follower to support said follower for movement within said housing, wherein said follower support is fastened to said housing and permits ammunition rounds to be stacked on said follower independently of said spring.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said follower support includes a telescoping member having a plurality of telescoped sections. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said follower support permits ammunition rounds to be stacked on said follower without forcible urging of said follower against the ammunition rounds. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said follower support includes a unitary elongate member having a first end fastened to said housing and a second end that moves with said follower during stacking of ammunition rounds on said follower. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said follower support includes an elongate member having first and second ends fastened to said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said follower support includes first and second portions that are fastened to said housing to secure said first and second portions against movement relative to said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said follower support includes a spring-loaded assembly and a flexible elongate member engaged with said spring-loaded assembly, said flexible elongate member extensible from said spring-loaded assembly against said spring-load, and retractable onto said spring-loaded assembly by said spring-load. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said spring-loaded assembly includes a spring-loaded spool. 
     
     
         9 . A magazine apparatus for delivering ammunition rounds into a firing chamber of a firearm, comprising:
 a housing configured for insertion into a magazine well of the firearm;   a follower disposed and movably supported within said housing, said follower configured to support thereon a stack of ammunition rounds within said housing;   a spring disposed within said housing for forcibly urging said follower and the stack of ammunition rounds toward the firing chamber when said housing is inserted in the magazine well; and   a follower support disposed within said housing and coupled to said follower to support said follower for movement within said housing, wherein said follower support is fastened to said housing and permits ammunition rounds to be stacked on said follower without forcible urging of said follower against the ammunition rounds.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said follower support includes a telescoping member having a plurality of telescoped sections. 
     
     
         11 . A magazine apparatus for delivering ammunition rounds into a firing chamber of a firearm, comprising:
 a housing configured for insertion into a magazine well of the firearm;   a follower disposed and movably supported within said housing, said follower configured to support thereon a stack of ammunition rounds within said housing;   a spring disposed within said housing for forcibly urging said follower and the stack of ammunition rounds toward the firing chamber when said housing is inserted in the magazine well; and   a follower support disposed within said housing and coupled to said follower to support said follower for movement within said housing, said follower support including a unitary elongate member having a first end fastened to said housing and a second end that moves with said follower during stacking of ammunition rounds on said follower.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein unitary elongate member is flexible and said follower support includes a spring-loaded assembly engaged with said unitary elongate member, said unitary elongate member extensible from said spring-loaded assembly against a said spring-load, and retractable onto said spring-loaded assembly by said spring-load. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said spring-loaded assembly includes a spring-loaded spool. 
     
     
         14 . A magazine apparatus for delivering ammunition rounds into a firing chamber of a firearm, comprising:
 a housing configured for insertion into a magazine well of the firearm;   a follower disposed and movably supported within said housing, said follower configured to support thereon a stack of ammunition rounds within said housing;   a spring disposed within said housing for forcibly urging said follower and the stack of ammunition rounds toward the firing chamber when said housing is inserted in the magazine well; and   a follower support disposed within said housing and coupled to said follower to support said follower for movement within said housing, said follower support including an elongate member having first and second ends fastened to said housing.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein elongate member is flexible and said follower support includes a spring-loaded assembly engaged with said elongate member, said elongate member extensible from said spring-loaded assembly against a said spring-load, and retractable onto said spring-loaded assembly by said spring load. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said spring-loaded assembly includes a spring-loaded spool. 
     
     
         17 . A magazine apparatus for delivering ammunition rounds into a firing chamber of a firearm, comprising:
 a housing configured for insertion into a magazine well of the firearm;   a follower disposed and movably supported within said housing, said follower configured to support thereon a stack of ammunition rounds within said housing;   a spring disposed within said housing for forcibly urging said follower and the stack of ammunition rounds toward the firing chamber when said housing is inserted in the magazine well;   said housing having an open end through which a top ammunition round on the stack is delivered into the firing chamber when said housing is inserted in the magazine well, and said housing having a closed end opposite said open end; and   a follower support disposed within said housing and coupled to said follower to support said follower for movement within said housing, said follower support including first and second portions that are fastened to said housing to secure said first and second portions against movement relative to said housing.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said follower support includes a flexible member that defines said first and second portions. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said follower support includes a spring-loaded assembly engaged with said flexible member. 
     
     
         20 . A magazine apparatus for delivering ammunition rounds into a firing chamber of a firearm, comprising:
 a housing configured for insertion into a magazine well of the firearm;   a follower disposed and movably supported within said housing, said follower configured to support thereon a stack of ammunition rounds within said housing;   a spring disposed within said housing for forcibly urging said follower and the stack of ammunition rounds toward the firing chamber when said housing is inserted in the magazine well; and   a follower support disposed within said housing and coupled to said follower to support said follower for movement within said housing, said follower support including a telescoping member having a plurality of telescoped sections.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus that facilitates compressing a spring in a firearm ammunition magazine prior to insertion of ammunition rounds into the firearm ammunition magazine, comprising:
 a base portion: and   a contact portion protruding from said base portion for removable insertion into the firearm ammunition magazine via an opening in the firearm ammunition magazine;   wherein said contact portion, when inserted into the firearm ammunition magazine, engages against the spring and permits a force applied to one of said base portion and the firearm ammunition magazine to be transferred to the spring in a direction that causes compression of the spring.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said base portion defines therein a base portion opening that receives insertion of said firearm ammunition magazine, and said contact portion protrudes into said base portion opening. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said base portion includes a plate-like element, and said base portion opening extends through said plate-like element. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said base portion includes a sleeve-like element having an interior space contiguous with said base portion opening. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said base portion is provided in a stock of a firearm. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said base portion opening is a through opening. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said base portion opening is a blind opening. 
     
     
         28 . A firearm apparatus for firing ammunition rounds loaded into a firing chamber thereof, comprising:
 means defining a well adapted to receive insertion of an ammunition magazine that contains a spring for forcibly urging ammunition rounds into said firing chamber when the ammunition magazine is inserted in said well;   means defining a magazine insertion opening also adapted to receive insertion of the ammunition magazine; and   a contact portion protruding into said magazine insertion opening;   wherein, when the ammunition magazine is inserted in said magazine insertion opening, said contact portion is received in the ammunition magazine via an opening in the ammunition magazine, and wherein said contact portion, when received in the ammunition magazine, engages against the spring in the ammunition magazine and permits a force applied to one of said firearm apparatus and the ammunition magazine to be transferred to the spring in a direction that causes compression of the spring.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , including a stock having said magazine insertion opening defined therein. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said magazine insertion opening is a through opening. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said magazine insertion opening is blind opening. 
     
     
         32 . A firearm apparatus for firing ammunition rounds loaded into a firing chamber thereof, comprising:
 means defining a well adapted to receive insertion of an ammunition magazine that contains a spring for forcibly urging ammunition rounds into said firing chamber when the ammunition magazine is inserted in said well; and   a contact portion supported for movement into said well;   wherein, when the ammunition magazine is inserted in said well while said contact portion is positioned in said well, said contact portion is received in the ammunition magazine via an opening in the ammunition magazine, and wherein said contact portion, when received in the ammunition magazine, engages against the spring in the ammunition magazine and permits a force applied to one of said firearm apparatus and the ammunition magazine to be transferred to the spring in a direction that causes compression of the spring.