Firearmcartridge magazine having mechanism for low-friction cartridge orienting and guiding

Abstract

A cartridge magazine for firearms having internal lateral guide ridges of dimensions for establishing lateral guiding engagement with cartridges within the magazine chamber and having longitudinal internal guide ridges projecting inwardly from said side panels. The internal longitudinal guide ridges establish low friction essentially line contact with the uppermost cartridge and establish low friction forward charging movement of the uppermost cartridge from the cartridge magazine during firearm loading. The cartridge magazine is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock and is die folded and die formed to define external depressions and internal low friction cartridge guide ridges for lateral guiding of cartridge movement within the magazine and forward guiding movement of cartridges as they are dispensed from the magazine.

1 . A cartridge magazine for firearms, comprising:
 a magazine body of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having opposed side panels and opposed front and rear end panels defining a cartridge chamber;   a follower member being moveable within said cartridge chamber;   an urging member within said cartridge chamber applying force to said follower member and any cartridges being movably supported by said follower member;   cartridge retainer members being located at upper portions of said side panels and retaining stacks of cartridges within said cartridge chamber and positioning an uppermost cartridge for loading engagement by a firearm bolt member upon forward movement thereof;   a plurality of lateral guide ridges projecting inwardly from each of said side panels and guiding lateral movement of cartridges within said cartridge chamber; and   longitudinal internal guide ridges projecting inwardly from said side panels and having low friction contact with an uppermost cartridge and guiding forward charging movement of the uppermost cartridge during cartridge loading from said cartridge magazine.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 1 , comprising:
 said magazine body being formed of a single sheet metal stock; and   edges of said sheet metal stock being laser welded to define a single welded seam.   
     
     
         3 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 2 , comprising:
 said side panels each being die formed to define a plurality of elongate external depressions and a plurality of internal elongate guide ridges each having a dimension for lateral guiding engagement with predetermined portions of cartridges within said magazine chamber; and   upper portions of said side panels each being die formed to define a plurality of elongate external lateral depressions and internal elongate lateral guide ridges being disposed in substantially normal relation with said elongate external depressions.   
     
     
         4 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 3 , comprising:
 said internal elongate lateral guide ridges being located and oriented for minimal frictional substantially line or point contact by a side of a leading cartridge within said magazine chamber and ensuring minimal frictional resistance to lateral cartridge movement during bolt induced cartridge movement from said magazine.   
     
     
         5 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 1 , comprising:
 said magazine body being formed from a single sheet of metal stock and said side and end panels being defined by substantially right angled bends of said sheet of metal stock; and   edge portions of said sheet of metal stock being laser welded along the complete extent thereof and defining a sealed and structurally enhanced edge joint preventing ingress of water and debris through said edge joint.   
     
     
         6 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 5 , comprising:
 said edge portions of said single sheet of metal stock being overlapped and when laser welded along the complete overlapped extent thereof defining a thickened and impervious laser weld joint preventing ingress of water and debris through said edge joint and increasing the structural resistance of said magazine body to deformation by impacts.   
     
     
         7 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an internal follower guide channel being defined by said rear end panel;   said thickened and impervious laser weld joint defining an elongate shoulder located within said internal follower guide channel extending substantially the entire length of said overlapped edge portions of said sheet metal stock; and   a guide projection extending from a rear portion said follower and being received in moveable guided relation within said internal follower guide channel, said guide projection defining an external recess within which said elongate shoulder is located.   
     
     
         8 . A cartridge magazine for firearms, comprising:
 a magazine body of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having opposed side panels and opposed front and rear end panels defining a magazine chamber retaining cartridges within said magazine chamber and positioning an uppermost cartridge for loading engagement by a firearm bolt member upon forward bolt movement;   a follower member being moveable within said magazine chamber;   an urging member within said magazine chamber continuously applying force to said follower member and to cartridges being movably supported by said follower member;   opposed curved cartridge retainer members extending from upper portions of said side panels and defining a space therebetween permitting cartridge insertion into said magazine chamber and defining an open ended channel through which a bolt member of a firearm is moveable to engage and strip a leading cartridge from said magazine;   a plurality of substantially parallel cartridge guide ridges projecting inwardly from each of said side panels and guiding lateral movement of cartridges within said cartridge chamber to a leading cartridge position of said magazine; and   internal cartridge loading guide ridges projecting inwardly from upper portions of said side panels and having low friction contact with a leading cartridge and guiding forward loading movement of the leading cartridge during bolt induced cartridge loading from said cartridge magazine to a cartridge chamber of a firearm barrel.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 8 , comprising:
 said magazine body being formed of a single sheet metal stock; and   edges of said sheet metal stock being laser welded to define a single welded seam.   
     
     
         10 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 9 , comprising:
 said side panels each being die formed to define a plurality of elongate external depressions and a plurality of internal elongate guide ridges each having a dimension for lateral guiding engagement with predetermined portions of cartridges within said magazine chamber; and   upper portions of said side panels each being die formed to define a plurality of elongate external lateral depressions and internal elongate lateral guide ridges being disposed in substantially normal relation with said elongate external depressions.   
     
     
         11 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 10 , comprising:
 said internal elongate lateral guide ridges being located and oriented for minimal frictional substantially line or point contact by a side of a leading cartridge within said magazine chamber and ensuring minimal frictional resistance to lateral cartridge movement during bolt induced cartridge movement from said magazine.   
     
     
         12 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 8 , comprising:
 said magazine body being formed from a single sheet of metal stock and said side and end panels being defined by substantially right angled bends of said sheet of metal stock; and   edge portions of said sheet of metal stock being laser welded along the complete extent thereof and defining a sealed and structurally enhanced edge joint preventing ingress of water and debris through said edge joint.   
     
     
         13 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 12 , comprising:
 said edge portions of said single sheet of metal stock being overlapped and when laser welded along the complete overlapped extent thereof defining a thickened and impervious laser weld joint preventing ingress of water and debris through said edge joint and increasing the structural resistance of said magazine body to deformation by impacts.   
     
     
         14 . The cartridge magazine of  claim 8 , comprising:
 an internal follower guide channel being defined by said rear end panel;   said thickened and impervious laser weld joint defining an elongate shoulder located within said internal follower guide channel extending substantially the entire length of said overlapped edge portions of said sheet metal stock; and   a guide projection extending from a rear portion said follower and being received in moveable guided relation within said internal follower guide channel, said guide projection defining an external recess within which said elongate shoulder is located.