Automatic system to improve the operation of a weapon when changing an ammunition magazine

Abstract

An advanced reloading mechanism for an automatic or semi-automatic weapon includes a firing chamber, a firing bolt and an ammunition magazine-well configured to receive an ammunition magazine with an outer casing. The outer casing of the magazine has a cavity and a spring driven follower in said cavity. An automatic magazine release mechanism is cooperated with an actuator of a first ammunition magazine, so that the first ammunition magazine is automatically released and expelled from the magazine well when the actuator reaches a predetermined position with respect to said magazine well. Further; a bolt catch mechanism is included to hold the firing bolt and chamber in an open position when a last bullet of the first ammunition magazine is fired. The bolt catch mechanism includes an extension pivotably attached to the weapon, being spring-loaded and extending into the magazine well of said weapon to operably cause said bolt catch mechanism to release said bolt and close said chamber when a second ammunition magazine is fully inserted into the ammunition magazine well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reloading sequence for an automatic or semi-automatic weapon having a firing chamber and an ammunition magazine-well configured to receive an ammunition magazine with an outer casing, said outer casing having a cavity and a spring driven follower in said cavity, said weapon further including a magazine catch configured to hold the magazine in said magazine-well, a bolt catch mechanism operable to hold open the firing chamber when said external magazine is removed from said magazine-well, said sequence comprising the steps of:
 a) firing said weapon thereby advancing rounds in a first external ammunition magazine toward the firing chamber;   b) moving a last round into said firing chamber and automatically releasing said first ammunition magazine from said magazine-well;   c) automatically holding said firing chamber open after spending said last round; and,   d) manually placing a second ammunition magazine in said magazine-well to automatically close said firing chamber on a first round from said second ammunition magazine by sliding said ammunition magazine upwards into said magazine-well to engage said magazine catch.   
     
     
         2 . A reloading process for an automatic or semi-automatic, weapon controlled by manual placement of ammunition magazines in said weapon to maintain a continuous firing capability, said process comprising the steps of:
 a) discharging said weapon to chamber a last round of a first ammunition magazine that automatically releases said first ammunition magazine from said weapon;   b) firing said last round and substantially simultaneously holding said firing chamber open automatically; and,   c) manually placing a second ammunition magazine in said weapon that activates automatic chambering of a first round from said second ammunition magazine and closes said chamber.   
     
     
         3 . A reloading system for an automatic or semi-automatic weapon, said weapon having a magazine well, a firing chamber and a bolt, said system configured to facilitate reloading, comprising:
 a) a magazine release mechanism cooperating with an actuator of a first ammunition magazine, so that said first ammunition magazine is automatically released and expelled from the magazine-well when said actuator reaches a predetermined position with respect to said well; and,   b) a bolt catch control mechanism configured to hold said weapon bolt and retain the chamber open when a last round from the first ammunition magazine is fired, and said bolt catch control mechanism further configured to close said bolt when a second ammunition magazine reaches a predetermined position in said magazine-well of the weapon.   
     
     
         4 . An automatic bolt control system for an automatic or semi-automatic weapon, said weapon having an ammunition magazine well, a firing chamber and a firing bolt, the bolt control system comprising:
 a) an automatic magazine release mechanism cooperating with an actuator of a first ammunition magazine, so that said first ammunition magazine is automatically released and expelled from the magazine well when said actuator reaches a predetermined position with respect to said magazine-well; and,   b) a bolt catch mechanism to hold the bolt and firing chamber in an open position when a last bullet of the first ammunition magazine is fired and a corresponding shell is automatically ejected from said firing is chamber, said bolt catch mechanism having an extension arm pivotably attached to the weapon, being spring-loaded and extending into the magazine-well of said weapon to operably cause said bolt catch mechanism to release said bolt and close said chamber when a second ammunition magazine is fully inserted into the ammunition magazine-well.   
     
     
         5 . The automatic bolt control system of  claim 4 , wherein said second ammunition magazine includes a casing having a detent sloping from a point where said extension arm enters said magazine well to the top of said casing. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic bolt control system of  claim 5 , wherein said bolt catch mechanism is operable to release said bolt and close the firing chamber when said second ammunition magazine is fully inserted in said ammunition magazine well. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic bolt control system of  claim 6 , wherein said extension arm on said bolt catch mechanism comprises a beveled end. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic bolt control system of  claim 7 , wherein said beveled end is aligned to contact and pass over said sloped detent on said second magazine casing to move the extension arm to operate said bolt catch mechanism to release said bolt. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic bolt control system of  claim 8 , wherein said bolt catch is mechanism comprises:
 a) an operating button pivotally connected by a pivot pin;   b) a bolt catch engagement interface; and,   c) control spring arranged between said operating button and an outer casing of said weapon.   
     
     
         10 . The automatic bolt control system of  claim 9 , wherein said control spring forces said operating button away from said weapon casing to maintain said weapon bolt and said chamber in an open position until the second ammunition magazine is fully inserted into the magazine well. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic bolt control system of  claim 8 , wherein said firing chamber automatically closes upon fully inserting said second ammunition magazine in said magazine-well. 
     
     
         12 . A process for controlling the bolt of a semi-automatic or automatic weapon, said weapon having a bolt, firing chamber, and bolt catch mechanism configured to hold and release the said bolt, said process comprising the steps of:
 a) automatically releasing a first ammunition magazine from the magazine well when an actuator of said first ammunition magazine reaches a predetermined position with respect to said magazine-well;   b) automatically catching said bolt and holding said firing chamber in an open position when a last round from said first ammunition magazine is fired and a corresponding shell is ejected from said weapon, the bolt catch mechanism being spring-loaded and pivotably attached to the weapon so that an engagement arm extends into the magazine-well; and,   b) closing said bolt catch mechanism by inserting a second ammunition magazine in said magazine-well by contacting said engagement arm extending into the magazine-well to pivot the catch mechanism to release said bolt.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said bolt is released and said firing chamber closes upon seating said ammunition magazine in said magazine-well. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein no manual action is needed to release said bolt and close said chamber other than inserting and seating said second ammunition magazine in said magazine well.