Wearable grenade dispensing system

Abstract

A grenade dispensing system having a magazine for retaining and dispensing grenades that is removably coupled to a holder for retaining the magazine in a predetermined location, such as on a combat vest. The magazine includes a spring and an associated follower positioned within the cavity for urging additional grenades toward the opening when a grenade is removed by a user. The magazine includes a pivoting latch for releasably engaging and mating with a receiving slot formed into the holder and the holder includes a clip for attaching to a conventional combat vest systems.

1 . A grenade magazine, comprising:
 a housing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein that is dimensioned to accept a plurality of grenade rounds, wherein said housing includes an opening at one end permitting access to said cavity.   a follower positioned in said cavity for movement along said longitudinal axis; and   a spring positioned to bias said follower toward said opening.   
     
     
         2 . The grenade magazine of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of opposing clips extending from said housing to at least partially enclose said opening. 
     
     
         3 . The grenade magazine of  claim 2 , wherein each of said pair of clips include a tab adapted to releasably engaging a circumferential groove formed in a grenade round. 
     
     
         4 . The grenade magazine of  claim 1 , wherein said follower includes at least one strut extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and in contact with the inner surface of said housing as said follower moves within said housing. 
     
     
         5 . The grenade magazine of  claim 4 , wherein said follower includes an upper surface that extends along a plane that is not perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The grenade magazine of  claim 1 , further comprising a window formed through a side surface of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The grenade magazine of  claim 6 , wherein said window of said housing is positioned so that a user may extend a finger therethough and contact a grenade round inserted through said opening of said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The grenade magazine of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ribs extending longitudinally along an inner surface of said housing and positioned to engage a groove formed in a grenade round. 
     
     
         9 . A grenade dispensing system, comprising:
 a pouch having a latching mechanism;   a magazine comprising a housing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein that is dimensioned to accept a plurality of grenade rounds, wherein said housing includes an opening at one end permitting access to said cavity; a follower positioned in said cavity for movement along said longitudinal axis, a spring positioned to bias said follower toward said opening, and a slot extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis; and   wherein said magazine may be positioned in said pouch so that said latching mechanism of said holder releasably engages said slot.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said slot releasably engages said latching mechanism when said magazine is positioned in said pouch so that said opening is exposed and when said magazine is positioned in said pouch so that said opening is not exposed. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said pouch further includes at least one loop for attachment to the clothing of a user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said locking mechanism comprising a rocker plate and a bias member engaging said rocker plate. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said pouch is flexible. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a removable cap for covering said opening. 
     
     
         15 . A method of dispensing grenade rounds, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a magazine having an opening permitting access to a cavity formed therein, wherein said cavity includes a follower biased along a longitudinal axis toward said opening;   (b) inserting a grenade round into the opening of said magazine that is in communication with said cavity;   (c) pushing said round into said cavity in a direction parallel to said longitudinal access;   (d) inserting a finger though a window formed through said magazine;   (e) retaining said round in said cavity against said follower such that said round is spaced apart from said opening to allow insertion of a second round into said opening;   (f) inserting said second round into said opening; and   (g) repeating steps (d) though (f) until a predetermined number of rounds are positioned in said magazine.   
     
     
         16 . The method of step  15 , further comprising the step of:
 (h) allowing the last round inserted into said magazine in step (g) to be biased against a pair of clips extending over said opening.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of removing the round biased against the pair of clips in step (h) by applying a force transverse to said longitudinal axis until said round is released by said clips.