Detachable firearm magazine springs formed from wire having non-round cross section

Abstract

Springs formed from non-round wire stock for a detachable magazine for a firearm are disclosed. A detachable magazine may have a body having a base, an ammunition follower positioned within the body, and a spring formed from wire having a non-round cross-section positioned between the body and the follower. The non-round wire provides a shorter compression height for the spring when compared to traditional round wire springs currently used in detachable firearm magazines.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A detachable magazine for a firearm, comprising:
 a body having a base;   an ammunition follower positioned within body; and   a spring formed from wire having a non-round cross-section positioned within the body between the base and the follower.   
     
     
         2 . The detachable magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable magazine is designed to hold pistol cartridges. 
     
     
         3 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable magazine is designed to hold rifle cartridges. 
     
     
         4 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising a second spring formed from wire having a non-round cross-section positioned within the body between the base and the follower. 
     
     
         5 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the non-round cross-section is generally rectangular such that the wire has a height and a width. 
     
     
         6 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 5 , wherein the spring maintains the width generally perpendicular to the axis of compression of the spring. 
     
     
         7 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio between the width a and the height b is between about 1 and about 10. 
     
     
         8 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio between the width a and the height b is between about 2 and about 3. 
     
     
         9 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the spring has a rounded rectangle coil shape. 
     
     
         10 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the spring has a round coil shape. 
     
     
         11 . The detachable magazine for a firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the spring has an elliptical coil shape. 
     
     
         12 . A spring for a detachable magazine for a firearm, comprising:
 a plurality of coils, each of the plurality of coils having a non-round coil shape and a uniform size, where the wire has a non-round cross-section and comprises a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces having a height, and a top surface and a bottom surface that are parallel and have a width, where a transition between either of the pair of substantially parallel side surfaces and either of the top surface or the bottom surface comprises a surface defined by a radius, where the width is greater than the height, and where the width is oriented generally perpendicular to an axis of compression of the compression spring.   
     
     
         13 . The spring of  claim 12 , where the detachable magazine is designed to hold pistol cartridges. 
     
     
         14 . The spring of  claim 12 , where the detachable magazine is designed to hold rifle cartridges. 
     
     
         15 . The spring of  claim 12 , where a ratio between the width and the height is between about 1 and about 10. 
     
     
         16 . The spring of  claim 15 , where the ratio between the width and the height is between about 2 and about 3. 
     
     
         17 . The spring of  claim 12 , where the spring has a rounded rectangle coil shape. 
     
     
         18 . The spring of  claim 12 , where the spring has an oval coil shape. 
     
     
         19 . The spring of  claim 12 , where the spring has an elliptical coil shape.