Linked Ammunition Restraining Device

Abstract

An accessory to improve handling and transportability of a belt-fed firearm attaches to an upper surface of the firearm and provides at least two protrusions extending outward or upward therefrom, the protrusions sized and positioned to engage a portion of the ammunition belt between two rounds of ammunition and to prevent the belt from sliding across the upper surface of the firearm.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An accessory for a belt-fed firearm comprising:
 an attachment mechanism to secure the accessory to the firearm; and   a plurality of protrusions extending from the accessory, directed substantially vertically from the firearm when it is held in a neutral carrying position,   wherein a horizontal distance between two protrusions is slightly less than a length of a round of ammunition for the firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of protrusions is two protrusions. 
     
     
         3 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of protrusions extend vertically from the firearm by a distance between a radius of a roughly cylindrical round of ammunition and a diameter of the roughly cylindrical round of ammunition. 
     
     
         4 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of protrusions extend vertically from the firearm by a distance less than 1.5 times a diameter of a roughly cylindrical round of ammunition. 
     
     
         5 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is a screw-actuated clamp. 
     
     
         6 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is a cam-actuated clamp. 
     
     
         7 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is a threaded fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is an expanding pin. 
     
     
         9 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is a rivet. 
     
     
         10 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is to secure the accessory to a barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         11 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is to secure the accessory to a stock of the firearm. 
     
     
         12 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is to secure the accessory to a forward grip of the firearm. 
     
     
         13 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is to secure the accessory to an accessory rail of the firearm. 
     
     
         14 . The removable accessory of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism is to secure the accessory to a scope mount of the firearm. 
     
     
         15 . An improved belt-fed firearm comprising:
 means for preventing a belt of ammunition from sliding across an upper surface of the firearm from one side of the firearm to another side of the firearm.   
     
     
         16 . The improved belt-fed firearm of  claim 15  wherein the means for preventing comprises a plurality of protrusions on the upper surface of the firearm, two of said protrusions spaced apart along a length of the firearm by a distance smaller than a length of a cartridge of the belt of ammunition. 
     
     
         17 . The improved belt-fed firearm of  claim 16  wherein the two protrusions are to engage the belt of ammunition between two rounds to prevent the belt from sliding across the weapon. 
     
     
         18 . The improved belt-fed firearm of  claim 16  wherein the two protrusions extend substantially vertically from the upper surface of the firearm. 
     
     
         19 . The improved belt-fed firearm of  claim 15  wherein the means for preventing comprises a plurality of protrusions on the firearm, two of said protrusions spaced apart along a length of the firearm by a distance greater than a width of a link structure joining neighboring cartridges of the belt. 
     
     
         20 . A method of preparing a belt-fed weapon loaded with a starter belt of ammunition comprising:
 folding the starter belt across a top of the weapon; and   securing the starter belt against slipping from one side of the weapon to another side of the weapon by engaging the starter belt into an anti-slip feature of the weapon.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the anti-slip feature is a pair of protrusions on an upper surface of the weapon, and engaging the starter belt comprises arranging the starter belt so that the protrusions fit between two rounds of ammunition in the starter belt. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the anti-slip feature is a plurality of ridges on an upper surface of the weapon, said ridges arranged roughly parallel with a main axis of the weapon, and engaging the starter belt comprises arranging the starter belt so that the ridges fit between rounds of ammunition in the starter belt.