Compact firearm spring arrangement

Abstract

A compact firearm spring arrangement within a firearm magazine utilizes two or more springs connected in a linear arrangement by a connecting cup that allows one spring to compress within the other, thereby resulting in a free length spring system having a reduced height when fully compressed. At least one of the springs is a wire spring coiled in an oblong shape and one of the springs is a flat spring for providing increased force density for operation of the firearm. The reduced height of the spring arrangement when fully compressed, and increased force density from the flat spring(s), allows for additional bullet storage space within a magazine of standard size or, alternatively, a more compact system within a magazine that provides an equal amount of bullet storage space while reducing the friction of operation of the firearm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magazine for storing bullets for use by a firearm, said magazine comprising:
 a tube defining an interior chamber of the magazine, said tube having a bottom plate and an open top, and said tube being sized and configured for storing at least one bullet in position for use by the firearm;   a follower for supporting said at least one bullet in position to be loaded into the chamber of the firearm, and said follower being sized and configured to move within the interior chamber;   a primary compression spring formed from a coiled wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with said follower, and said primary compression spring being structured and disposed for compressing when a bullet is inserted into said tube and expanding when a bullet exits said tube;   a flat spring defining a secondary compression spring having a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the bottom plate of said tube, said flat spring having a smaller dimension than an inner dimension of said primary compression spring so that said flat spring compresses within a coiled configuration of said primary compression spring, and said flat spring being structured and disposed for compressing when a bullet is inserted into said tube and expanding when a bullet exits said tube;   a connecting cup having an interior compartment surrounded by an outer rim extending from the base of said connecting cup, and said connecting cup being structured and disposed for securing the second end of said primary compression spring against the outer rim of said connecting cup and the second end of said flat spring in the interior compartment of said connecting cup; and   said flat spring being compressible within the compartment of said connecting cup and said connecting cup being compressible within the hollow interior channel formed by the coiled wire of said primary compression spring.   
     
     
         2 . The magazine for storing bullets for use by a firearm as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bottom plate is removable. 
     
     
         3 . The magazine for storing bullets for use by a firearm as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a lock plate integrally attached to said removable bottom plate, and said lock plate being provided for secured attachment to the first end of said flat spring. 
     
     
         4 . The magazine for storing bullets for use by a firearm as recited in  claim 1  wherein the outer rim of said connecting cup comprises a plurality of flanged prongs extending from the base of said connecting cup and surrounding the interior compartment of said connecting cup, and said plurality of flanged prongs being structured and disposed for bending inwards when engaging the hollow interior channel of said primary compression spring until the second end of said primary compression spring snaps into the outer rim of said connecting cup. 
     
     
         5 . The spring arrangement for use in the interior chamber of a firearm magazine as recited in  claim 4  wherein each of said plurality of flanged prongs are formed of spring steel. 
     
     
         6 . The magazine for storing bullets for use by a firearm as recited in  claim 1  wherein said primary compression spring and said flat spring have unique spring rates. 
     
     
         7 . The magazine for storing bullets for use by a firearm as recited in  claim 1  wherein said primary compression spring and said flat spring have equal spring rates. 
     
     
         8 . A spring arrangement for use in the interior chamber of a firearm magazine, said spring arrangement comprising:
 a follower for supporting at least one bullet in position to be loaded into the chamber of the firearm, and said follower being sized and configured to move within the interior chamber of the firearm magazine;   a primary compression spring formed from a coiled wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with said follower, and said primary compression spring being structured and disposed for compressing when a bullet is inserted into the firearm magazine and expanding when a bullet exits the firearm magazine;   a flat spring defining a secondary compression spring formed from flat stock and having a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the bottom of the interior chamber of the firearm magazine, said flat spring having a smaller dimension than an inner dimension of said primary compression spring, and said flat spring being structured and disposed for compressing when a bullet is inserted into the firearm magazine and expanding when a bullet exits the firearm magazine;   a connecting cup for securing said primary compression spring and the flat spring; and   said flat spring being compressible within the hollow interior channel formed by the coiled wire of said primary compression spring.   
     
     
         9 . A spring arrangement for use in the interior chamber of a firearm magazine, said spring arrangement comprising:
 a follower for supporting at least one bullet in position to be loaded into the chamber of the firearm, and said follower being sized and configured to move within the interior chamber of the firearm magazine;   a primary compression spring formed from a coiled wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with said follower, and said primary compression spring being structured and disposed for compressing when a bullet is inserted into the firearm magazine and expanding when a bullet exits the firearm magazine;   a flat spring having a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the bottom of the interior chamber of the firearm magazine, said flat spring having a smaller dimension than an inner dimension of said primary compression spring, and said flat spring being structured and disposed for compressing when a bullet is inserted into the firearm magazine and expanding when a bullet exits the firearm magazine; and   said flat spring being compressible within the hollow interior channel formed by the coiled wire of said primary compression spring.   
     
     
         10 . The spring arrangement for use in the interior chamber of a firearm magazine as recited in  claim 9  wherein said primary compression spring and said flat spring have unique spring rates. 
     
     
         11 . The spring arrangement for use in the interior chamber of a firearm magazine as recited in  claim 9  wherein said primary compression spring and said flat spring have equal spring rates.