Devices for locking and reducing the capacity of magazine-loaded firearms

Abstract

Apparatuses for converting magazine-loaded weapons into low capacity weapons and apparatuses for locking magazine-loaded weapons are disclosed. The apparatuses may be loaded into the magazine well of a magazine-loaded weapon and may be reversible secured in place. Removal of the apparatuses requires a tool to disengage the apparatuses from the magazine well. The apparatuses may each include a body configured to be inserted into the magazine well of the firearm having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the interior cross-sectional shape of the magazine well, a securing mechanism in the body for securing the body within the magazine well, and a tool disjoined from the apparatus and the firearm and operable to engage the securing mechanism. The conversion apparatuses may include a seat in a fixed position on an upper portion of the body for receiving and positioning at least one cartridge of the firearm.

1 . An apparatus for reducing the number of rounds that can be sequentially fired from a repeating firearm, comprising:
 a. a body configured to be inserted into the magazine well of said firearm, said body having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the interior cross-sectional shape of said magazine well;   b. a securing mechanism in said body for securing said body within said magazine well, said securing mechanism comprising a lock mechanism having a locked position and an unlocked position;   c. a tool external to said body and said firearm, said tool operable (i) to engage said securing mechanism and (ii) to release said body from said magazine well; and   d. a seat in a fixed position on an upper portion of said body for receiving and positioning at least one cartridge of said firearm.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in said locked position, said lock mechanism prevents disengagement of said securing mechanism from an interior of said magazine well and prevents removal of said body from said magazine well. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein, in said unlocked position, said lock mechanism disengages said securing mechanism from an interior of said magazine well and permits removal of said body from said magazine well. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tool is operable to engage with said lock mechanism and position said lock mechanism in said locked position and in said unlocked position, thereby allowing said apparatus to be locked into said magazine well when said lock mechanism is in the locked position and allowing said apparatus to be removed from said magazine well when said tool is used to unlock said lock mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said securing mechanism comprises at least one spring-loaded tab, each said spring-loaded tab having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, each said spring-loaded tab is engaged with at least one inner wall of said magazine well. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein in said second position, each said spring-loaded tab is disengaged with said at least one inner wall of said magazine well. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said tool is operable to position each said spring-loaded tab in said second position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said tool is operable to engage with said lock mechanism and position each said spring-loaded tab in said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said securing mechanism comprises a bolt and a wedge. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said body comprises a first recess, said bolt having a first position and a second position in said first recess, said body further comprising a second recess, said wedge having a first position and a second position in said second recess. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein when said bolt is in said first position in said first recess, said wedge is in said first position in said second recess, and said body is engaged with at least one inner wall of said magazine well. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein when said bolt is in said second position in said recess, said wedge is in said second position in said second recess, and said body is engaged with said at least one inner wall of said magazine well. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said tool is operable to engage with said bolt and position said bolt in said first position in said first recess and said second position in said first recess. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said securing mechanism comprises a tab, said tab having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said tab is engaged with a magazine release button assembly of said firearm. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein in said second position, said tab is disengaged with said magazine release button assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said tool is operable to engage with said tab and position said tab in said first position and position said tab in said second position. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said seat comprises a concave recess running along its length on an upper side thereof and has a complementary shape to an exterior of said cartridge. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said recess is within a channel of said firearm and is aligned with a barrel of said firearm when said body is fully inserted into said magazine well. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said seat receives and positions no more than one cartridge. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A firearm conversion apparatus, comprising:
 a. a body having a cross-sectional shape complementary to the interior cross-sectional shape of a magazine well of a firearm;   b. a seat in a fixed position on an upper portion of said body, said seat having a concave recess running along its length having a complementary shape to an exterior of a cartridge compatible with said firearm; and   c. a securing mechanism for securing said body in said magazine well, said securing mechanism comprising at least one spring-loaded tab, said spring-loaded tab having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said spring-loaded tab is engaged with an interior wall of said magazine well, and wherein in said second position said spring-loaded tab is not engaged with said interior wall of said magazine well, wherein said spring-loaded tab reversibly locks said body in said magazine well when said securing mechanism is in said first position.   
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a detachable tool operable to engage with said securing mechanism and position said spring-loaded tab in said second position. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , said securing mechanism further comprising a release mechanism operable to position said spring-loaded tab in said second position. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a tool external to said body and said firearm, wherein said tool is operable to engage with said release mechanism and position said spring-loaded tab in said second position. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said release mechanism is within a recess in said body, and said recess limits access to said release mechanism. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said recess has a narrow opening and said release mechanism cannot be operated without a tool external to said body and said firearm, said tool having a functional portion that is small enough to access said recess. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for reducing the number of rounds that can be sequentially fired from a repeating firearm, comprising:
 a. a body configured to be inserted into the magazine well of said firearm, said body having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the interior cross-sectional shape of said magazine well;   b. a securing mechanism in said body for engaging with at least one structure within said magazine well to thereby secure said body within said magazine well, said securing mechanism comprising a lock mechanism having a locked position and an unlocked position; and   c. a seat in a fixed position on an upper portion of said body for receiving and positioning at least one cartridge of said firearm.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein, in said locked position, said lock mechanism prevents disengagement of said securing mechanism from said at least one structure within said magazine well and prevents removal of said body from said magazine well. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein, in said unlocked position, said lock mechanism disengages said securing mechanism from said at least one structure within said magazine well and permits removal of said body from said magazine well. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said lock mechanism is operable to be engaged by a tool external to said body and said firearm, said tool being operable to position said lock mechanism in said unlocked position, and said securing mechanism is disengaged from said at least one structure within said magazine well when said lock mechanism is in said unlocked position. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said securing mechanism comprises at least one spring-loaded tab, said spring-loaded tab having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said spring-loaded tab is engaged with said at least one structure within said magazine well. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein in said second position, said spring-loaded tab is disengaged from said at least one structure within said magazine well. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said lock mechanism is operable to position said spring-loaded tab in said second position. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said lock mechanism is operable to be engaged by a tool external to said body and said firearm, said tool being operable to position said lock mechanism in said unlocked position, thereby positioning said spring-loaded tab in said second position. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus for reducing the number of rounds that can be sequentially fired from a repeating firearm, comprising:
 a. a body configured to be inserted into the magazine well of said firearm, said body having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the interior cross-sectional shape of said magazine well;   b. a securing mechanism in said body for securing said body within said magazine well, said securing mechanism comprising at least one spring-loaded tab, said spring-loaded tab having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said spring-loaded tab is engaged with at least one inner wall of said magazine well; and   c. a seat in a fixed position on an upper portion of said body for receiving and positioning at least one cartridge of said firearm.   
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein in said second position, said spring-loaded tab is disengaged from said at least one inner wall of said magazine well, and said apparatus can be removed from said magazine well. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , said securing mechanism further comprising a release mechanism operable to position said spring-loaded tab in said second position. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein said release mechanism is within a recess in said body, thereby limiting access to said release mechanism. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein said release mechanism is operable to be engaged by a tool external to said body and said firearm, wherein said tool is operable to manipulate said release mechanism to position said spring-loaded tab in said second position.