Adapter for coupling ammunition magazines

Abstract

An adapter for coupling ammunition magazines together comprises a structure formed to include a first interior pocket having an opening facing in a first direction, and a second interior pocket having an opening facing in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a first magazine, while the second interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a second magazine. To enable receipt of a magazine base by a pocket and a tight, secure fit within the pocket, the first interior pocket has an interior dimension slightly less than a corresponding exterior dimension of the base of the first magazine, and the second interior pocket has an interior dimension slightly less than a corresponding exterior dimension of the base of the second magazine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adapter for coupling ammunition magazines together, comprising a structure formed as a single contiguous piece that includes:
 a first interior pocket having a first opening facing in a first direction, the first interior pocket defined by a first pair of opposed sidewalls, an first end wall, and a first floor, wherein the first floor corresponds to a first surface of a continuous plate spanning the first pair of opposed sidewalls, and the first interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a first magazine; and   a second interior pocket having a second opening facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second interior pocket defined by a second pair of opposed sidewalls, a second end wall, and a second floor, wherein the second floor corresponds to a second surface of the continuous plate that is opposite the first surface, and the second interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a second magazine.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first interior pocket has an interior dimension less than a corresponding exterior dimension of the base of the first magazine, and   the second interior pocket has an interior dimension less than a corresponding exterior dimension of the base of the second magazine.   
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a distance between the first pair of opposed sidewalls defines an interior width that is less than an exterior width of the base of the first magazine, and   a distance between the second pair of opposed sidewalls defines an interior width that is less than an exterior width of the base of the second magazine.   
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 1  wherein:
 a distance between the first floor and each first lip defines an interior height that is less than an exterior height of the base of the first magazine, and 
 a distance between the second floor and each second lip defines an interior height that is less than an exterior height of the base of the second magazine. 
 
     
     
         5 . An adapter for coupling ammunition magazines together, comprising a structure formed as a single contiguous piece that includes:
 a first interior pocket having a first opening facing in a first direction, the first interior pocket defined by a first pair of opposed sidewalls, an first end wall, and a first floor, wherein the first floor corresponds to a first surface of a plate spanning the first pair of opposed sidewalls, and the first interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a first magazine; and   a second interior pocket having a second opening facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second interior pocket defined by a second pair of opposed sidewalls, a second end wall, and a second floor, wherein the second floor corresponds to a second surface of the plate that is opposite the first surface, and the second interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a second magazine, wherein:
 the first interior pocket is further defined by a single pair of first lips, each first lip extending inward, toward a center of the first interior pocket, from a top of one of the first pair of opposed sidewalls, and extending along the sidewall from the first opening and terminating at a point along the sidewall that is remoted from the first end wall, 
 the second interior pocket is further defined by a single pair of second lips, each second lip extending inward, toward a center of the second interior pocket, from a top of one of the second pair of opposed sidewalls, and extending along the sidewall from the second opening and terminating at a point along the sidewall that is remoted from the second end wall. 
   
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 5 , wherein:
 each of the first lips is configured to extend over a portion of the base of the first magazine, and   each of the second lips is configured to extend over a portion of the base of the second magazine.   
     
     
         7 . An adapter for coupling ammunition magazines together, comprising a structure formed as a single contiguous piece that includes:
 a first interior pocket having a first opening facing in a first direction, the first interior pocket defined by a first pair of opposed sidewalls, an first end wall, and a first floor, wherein the first floor corresponds to a first surface of a plate spanning the first pair of opposed sidewalls, and the first interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a first magazine; and   a second interior pocket having a second opening facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second interior pocket defined by a second pair of opposed sidewalls, a second end wall, and a second floor, wherein the second floor corresponds to a second surface of the plate that is opposite the first surface, and the second interior pocket is configured to receive a base of a second magazine, wherein:
 the first interior pocket has an interior contour having a radius of curvature corresponding to an exterior radius of curvature of the base of the first magazine, and 
 the second interior pocket has an interior contour having a radius of curvature corresponding to an exterior radius of curvature of the base of the second magazine.