Ammunition magazine configured for automatic ejection

Abstract

The present invention includes modifications to a standard magazine and magazine follower to effect automatic ejection of an ammunition magazine from a weapon, once the last round has left the magazine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ammunition magazine configured for weapons designed to receive ammunition magazines, where each said weapon has an ammunition magazine catch to hold said ammunition magazine within a magazine well of said weapon, said ammunition magazine having an outer casing and a spring driven follower within said outer casing, wherein said outer casing comprises:
 a) at least a first aperture in a side wall of said outer casing, said aperture being positioned to align with said ammunition magazine catch in said weapon; and,   b) wherein said follower comprises a spring-driven prong positioned to extend through said first aperture when said follower reaches a predetermined position within said ammunition magazine casing.   
     
     
         2 . The ammunition magazine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 c) a base plate positioned opposite said magazine well and supporting a drive spring arranged to drive said follower through said outer casing of said ammunition magazine.   
     
     
         3 . The ammunition magazine of  claim 2 , wherein said outer casing further comprises a lip adjacent to said first aperture, said lip being positioned to interface with said ammunition magazine catch. 
     
     
         4 . The ammunition magazine of  claim 3 , wherein said outer casing further comprises a sloping surface arranged between said first aperture and the top edge of said outer casing, wherein said sloping surface is biased away from said ammunition magazine catch as the sloping surface extends from said first aperture to said upper edge of said outer casing. 
     
     
         5 . The ammunition magazine of  claim 4 , wherein said sloping surface has a width at least the width of said ammunition magazine catch. 
     
     
         6 . The ammunition magazine of  claim 5 , wherein said outer casing further comprises a stop structure above said first aperture, and adjacent to said sloping surface. 
     
     
         7 . The ammunition magazine of  claim 6 , wherein said follower further comprises a housing having a concavity holding said spring-driven prong and a second spring. 
     
     
         8 . The ammunition magazine of  claim 7 , wherein said follower further comprises a plate over said aperture, said plate having a second aperture configured for said spring-driven prong to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . A method for automatically ejecting a spent ammunition magazine from a weapon configured to receive said ammunition magazine, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) expending rounds from said ammunition magazine into said weapon until a last one of said rounds leaves said ammunition magazine; and,   b) simultaneous to said last round leaving said ammunition magazine, extending a spring-driven prong perpendicular through a side wall of said ammunition magazine, wherein said spring-driven prong operates a manual magazine catch mechanism to release said ammunition magazine from said weapon.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
 c) moving a sloped surface opposite said manual magazine catch mechanism wherein said magazine catch mechanism does not hinder said ammunition magazine from freely dropping from said weapon.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein before said last round is expended from said ammunition magazine, said spring driven prong is held in place by the interior of said side wall of said ammunition magazine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said manual magazine catch mechanism engages said aperture and a lip beneath said aperture until said last round leaves said ammunition magazine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said ammunition magazine freely drops from said weapon without operator activation of said manual magazine catch mechanism, upon said last round leaving said ammunition magazine. 
     
     
         14 . An interactive system for automatically removing an ammunition magazine from a magazine well of an automatic/semi-automatic weapon, said system comprising:
 a) a magazine well configured to hold an external ammunition magazine, and provide access between the ammunition magazine and a firing chamber of said weapon for rounds in said ammunition magazine;   b) an ammunition magazine casing with an aperture arranged on a predetermined side of said ammunition magazine casing;   c) a manual magazine release mechanism positioned to interface with said aperture lip to hold said ammunition magazine casing within said magazine well;   d) said aperture being positioned adjacent to a holding lip on said ammunition magazine casing;   e) a spring driven follower arranged in said ammunition magazine casing, and movable therethrough, said spring driven follower comprising an inner structure having a concavity; and,   f) a spring-loaded prong being arranged in said concavity to extend through said aperture when said follower moves to a predetermined position within said magazine casing.   
     
     
         15 . The interactive system of  claim 14 , wherein said spring-loaded prong automatically exerts sufficient force to operate said manual magazine release mechanism without action by a weapon operator. 
     
     
         16 . The interactive system of  claim 15 , wherein said ammunition magazine comprises a sloped surface positioned above said aperture and opposite manual magazine release mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The interactive system of  claim 16 , wherein said sloped surface is configured to be further away from said manual magazine catch as the sloped surface extends between said aperture and the top of said ammunition magazine. 
     
     
         18 . The interactive system of  claim 17 , wherein said ammunition magazine drops freely from said magazine well upon a last round of ammunition leaving said magazine.