Self-locking chambers for magazine speed loaders

Abstract

Self-locking chambers for magazine speed loaders is disclosed. A self-locking chamber features a chamber, comprising of two parallel walls, that engages with an alignment wall and a locking block, the alignment wall and the locking block configured to work in conjunction with one another in restraining the lateral mobility of cartridges placed in between them. Cartridges positioned in between the two parallel walls and in between the locking block and the alignment wall are restrained from lateral movement and serve to restrain the lateral mobility of the chamber, hence locking the chamber in linear alignment with a feed opening of a magazine that is coupled adjacent to the locking block and alignment wall.

1 . Self-locking chambers for speed loaders, the self locking chambers comprising;
 a receiving surface positioned to receive and support cartridges, the receiving surface having a length and a width;   an alignment wall extending from a long edge of the receiving surface along the length of the receiving surface;   a locking block extending from a short edge of the receiving surface along a portion of the width and extending along a long edge of the receiving surface for a portion of the length, wherein the locking block is spaced away from the alignment wall such that the locking block, the alignment wall, and the receiving surface collectively define a channel that is sized to permit cartridges to slide from the receiving surface, between the locking block and alignment wall, into a magazine that is positioned adjacent to the channel, and wherein the locking block, working in conjunction with the alignment wall, is configured to restrain cartridges from moving laterally while positioned in the channel; and   multiple spaced-apart partition walls operatively coupled relative to the receiving surface, wherein the partition walls are parallel to the alignment wall, wherein each partition wall defines a cut out that is sized to receive the locking block, wherein the partition walls are configured to facilitate receipt of multiple rows of cartridges onto the receiving surface and host received cartridges in areas of space between each of the partition walls defined as chambers, wherein the partition walls are configured to translate laterally relative to the receiving surface toward the alignment wall for the successive alignment of each chamber with the channel, and wherein during each chamber's successive alignment with the channel, the partition walls that border each successively aligned chamber are configured to be locked from lateral movement by the cartridges of each successively aligned chamber that are urged into the channel and restrained from lateral movement by the locking block and the alignment wall.   
     
     
         2 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein there are three spaced-apart partition walls and two chambers. 
     
     
         3 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein lateral movement is defined as movement that is parallel with the axis of the width of the receiving surface. 
     
     
         4 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein each chamber is configured to host and maintain cartridges in a file configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple spaced-apart partition walls move in tandem with one another. 
     
     
         6 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple spaced-apart partition walls collectively define a perpendicular wall that couples with each partition wall and extends along the portion of the lengths of the partition walls that is not encompassed by the cut outs. 
     
     
         7 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 6 , wherein the perpendicular wall is configured to operatively couple relative to the receiving surface, translate laterally across the receiving surface in tandem with the partition walls, receive cartridges and support cartridges. 
     
     
         8 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein the locking block is engaged within the cut outs of the partition walls and is configured to operatively couple relative to the partition walls. 
     
     
         9 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 8 , wherein the partition walls translate laterally across the locking block. 
     
     
         10 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment wall defines a passage opening sized to receive the partition walls. 
     
     
         11 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein the locking block extends along a portion of the length of the long edge that is equal to the width of two cartridges. 
     
     
         12 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein the locking block extends along the entire length of the long edge. 
     
     
         13 . The self-locking chambers of  claim 1 , wherein the chambers, while linearly aligned with the channel, are configured to overlap the channel in such a manner that cartridges positioned in the channel are simultaneously positioned within a chamber that is immediately aligned with the channel. 
     
     
         14 . A method for locking chambers in linear alignment with a magazine feed opening, the method comprising;
 providing the self locking chambers of  claim 1 ;   positioning a magazine feed opening relative to the channel in such a manner as to align the magazine feed opening linearly with the channel;   positioning multiple rows of cartridges onto the receiving surface in such a manner that one row of cartridges is positioned into each chamber;   following the positioning of cartridges into the chambers, translating the partition walls laterally relative to the receiving surface toward the alignment wall until a first chamber becomes linearly aligned with the channel;   following the alignment of a first chamber with the channel, pivoting the weight of the partition walls in such a manner as to urge the first chamber against the alignment wall and maintain the first chamber locked in linear alignment with the channel with the weight of the partition walls;   while maintaining the first chamber locked in linear alignment with the channel, urging the cartridges in the first chamber through the channel and into the magazine feed opening; and   following the loading of the first chamber, successively translating the remaining cartridge bearing chambers into alignment with the channel and magazine feed opening, locking each successively aligned chamber from translating laterally relative to the channel, and loading the cartridges within each successively aligned chamber into the magazine feed opening.   
     
     
         15 . A method for locking chambers in linear alignment with a magazine feed opening, the method comprising;
 providing the self locking chambers of  claim 1 ;   positioning a magazine feed opening relative to the channel in such a manner as to align the magazine feed opening linearly with the channel;   positioning multiple rows of cartridges onto the receiving surface in such a manner that one row of cartridges is positioned into each chamber;   following the positioning of cartridges into the chambers, translating the partition walls laterally relative to the receiving surface toward the alignment wall until a first chamber becomes linearly aligned with the channel;   following the alignment of a first chamber with the channel, locking the chamber from lateral movement relative to the channel by urging the first cartridges in the chamber, that are of closest proximity to the channel, into the channel, between the locking block and the alignment wall;   following the locking of the first chamber, successively urging the other cartridges in the chamber through the channel, between the locking block and alignment wall, and out from the chamber into the magazine feed opening, subsequently urging the cartridges already in the channel out from the channel and chamber into the magazine feed opening while maintaining the chamber locked in alignment with the channel with each successive cartridge that is passed between the locking block and alignment wall; and   following the loading of the first chamber, successively translating the remaining cartridge bearing chambers into alignment with the channel and magazine feed opening, locking each successively aligned chamber from translating laterally relative to the channel, and loading the cartridges within each successively aligned chamber into the magazine feed opening.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the rows of cartridges positioned in each chamber besides the first are supported by the locking block. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein upon the successive alignment of each chamber with the channel, partition walls bordering each successively aligned chamber urge the cartridges of each successively aligned chamber from the support of the locking block to the support of the receiving surface and the channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein upon the successive alignment of each chamber with the channel, a partition wall bordering each successively aligned chamber is translated laterally into engagement within the passage opening of the alignment wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein following the successive alignment of each chamber with the channel, the cartridges in the each successively aligned chamber are urged into the channel, between the locking block and the alignment wall, by force of gravity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein following the successive alignment of each chamber with the channel, the cartridges in the each successively aligned chamber are urged into the channel, between the locking block and the alignment wall, by a rod.