Magazine for housing cartridges using a spirally wound conforce spring

Claim 2

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, first and second end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said first and second end walls, said first and second end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges, said magazine body housing a double column arrangement of cartridges and including a transition portion located adjacent to said top portion of said magazine body wherein the cartridges move from a double column arrangement to a single column arrangement; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said follower body including a nesting area located near a front end portion of said follower body, and said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means includes an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to nose ends of the cartridges and at least a part of said wound portion of said conforce spring means being received in said nesting area, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges, wherein said conforce spring means includes at least a first conforce spring and a second conforce spring separate from said first conforce spring, said second conforce spring overlying and contacting substantial portions of said first conforce spring wherein increased spring force is provided along substantially the same longitudinal extent of said first side wall using said first and second conforce springs.

Claim 3

A magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said follower body includes a support surface, said support surface being defined using said front end portion of said follower body and a rear end portion of said follower body, said rear end portion being located adjacent to ends of cartridges opposite the nose ends thereof, wherein a first angle is defined near the top of said support surface in a downwardly direction from said front end portion to said rear end portion, and wherein said follower body also includes a first side wall and a second side wall with a second angle being defined in a direction from said second side wall to said first side wall, said second angle being greater than said first angle and said first and second angles being used to define a compound support surface for said follower body with said compound support surface being contacted by two cartridges in order to reduce unwanted movement of at least one of said follower body and the cartridges contained in said magazine body adjacent to said follower body.

Claim 4

A magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further including: a rib located on said second side wall and extending along the longitudinal extent of said magazine body.

Claim 5

A magazine, as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said rib is located on said second side wall directly opposite said unwound portion of said spring means.

Claim 6

A magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said follower body includes a nesting area formed therein for receiving at least part of said unwound portion of said spring means to prevent contact between said unwound portion and a part of the magazine.

Claim 7

A magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the cartridges contained in the magazine include nine millimeter cartridges.

Claim 8

An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further including: a plurality of latch areas formed in at least one of said walls of said magazine body, at least two of said latch areas being used by two different styles of firearms in connection with providing proper engagement between said magazine body and such firearms.

Claim 9

A magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said follower body includes a projecting wall extending downwardly for use in engaging said unwound portion of said spring means to prevent an undesired increase in width thereof.

Claim 10

A magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said follower body includes a rear leg and a front leg, said front leg being relatively more adjacent to the nose end of each cartridge than is said rear leg, said front leg having a greater length than said rear leg.

Claim 11

A magazine, as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said front leg includes bottom portions narrower than top portions of said front leg.

Claim 12

A magazine for housing cartridges with each cartridge being definable as having a casing, a nose end and a boundary between the casing and the nose end, said magazine comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means lying in a plane substantially parallel to said width of said first side wall and extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges and wherein, when cartridges are housed in the magazine, a majority of said unwound portion of said conforce spring means is closer to said front end wall than the boundary of each cartridge and the cartridge boundary is between said majority of said unwound portion and said first rib means wherein said conforce spring means does not contact the cartridge nose ends and the cartridges are substantially maintained in a nose up condition.

Claim 13

A magazine for housing cartridges with each cartridge being definable as having a casing, a nose end and a boundary between the casing and the nose end, said magazine comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means lying in a plane substantially parallel to said width of said first side wall and extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges and wherein, when cartridges are housed in the magazine, a majority of said unwound portion of said conforce spring means is closer to said front end wall than the boundary of each cartridge and the cartridge boundary is between said majority of said unwound portion and said first rib means wherein said conforce spring means does not contact the cartridge nose ends and the cartridges are substantially maintained in a nose up condition.

Claim 14

A magazine, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said depth of said first rib means depends upon the position of said first rib means relative to the nose ends of the cartridges, the thickness of said conforce spring means and the position of said conforce spring means relative to said front wall.

Claim 15

A magazine, as claimed in claim 11, further including: second rib means located on said second side wall and extending in a longitudinal direction, said second rib means having a depth wherein at least two cartridges are symmetrical about an axis perpendicular to and extending between said front and rear end walls of said magazine.

Claim 16

A magazine, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said follower body comprising a compound support surface including said front wall, said front wall diverging outwardly as said front wall extends downwardly perpendicular from said compound support surface.

Claim 17

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced from nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges, said first rib means being positionable laterally along said first side wall wherein the depth of said first rib means into said magazine chamber decreases the closer said first rib means is positioned to said front end wall near the nose ends of the cartridges.

Claim 18

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced from nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges, said first rib means being positionable laterally along said first side wall wherein the depth of said first rib means into said magazine chamber decreases the closer said first rib means is positioned to said front end wall near the nose ends of the cartridges.

Claim 19

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges, said follower body including a rear wall opposite from said front wall, a first follower side wall and a second follower side wall with a support surface being defined by said front and rear walls and said first follower side and second follower side walls of said follower body, said support surface being a compound surface in which a first angle is defined using at least said rear wall and a second angle is defined using at leas one of said first and said second follower side walls of said follower body and wherein said first angle is in the range of 5°-15° and said second angle is int eh range of 20°-35°; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges.

Claim 20

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges, said follower body including a rear wall opposite from said front wall, a first follower side wall and a second follower side wall with a support surface being defined by said front and rear walls and said first follower side and second follower side walls of said follower body, said support surface being a compound surface in which a first angle is defined using at least said rear wall and a second angle is defined using at leas one of said first and said second follower side walls of said follower body and wherein said first angle is in the range of 5°-15° and said second angle is int eh range of 20°-35°; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges.

Claim 21

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, firs and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including at least a first conforce spring and a second conforce spring separate from said first conforce spring, said second conforce spring overlying and contacting substantial portions of said first conforce spring wherein increased spring force is provided along substantially the same longitudinal extent of said first side wall using said first and second conforce springs, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges.

Claim 22

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, firs and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spirally wound conforce spring means, said conforce spring means including at least a first conforce spring and a second conforce spring separate from said first conforce spring, said second conforce spring overlying and contacting substantial portions of said first conforce spring wherein increased spring force is provided along substantially the same longitudinal extent of said first side wall using said first and second conforce springs, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges.

Claim 23

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and a spirally wound conforce spring means, said follower body including a first wall having a first channel formed therein, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges, and said first channel of said first wall of said follower body having a depth sufficient to prevent contact between said first rib means and said follower body.

Claim 24

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and side walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and a spirally wound conforce spring means, said follower body including a first wall having a first channel formed therein, said conforce spring means including a free end connected to said first side wall and, when said magazine body contains cartridges, said conforce spring means including an unwound portion and a wound portion, said unwound portion of said conforce spring means extending along said first side wall adjacent to but spaced form nose ends of the cartridges so that said unwound portion does not touch the cartridges and said wound portion of said conforce spring means being located near a front wall of said follower body, which is adjacent to the nose ends of the cartridges; and first rib means provided on said first side wall for engaging parts of the cartridges, said first rib means having a depth into said magazine chamber for use in providing said space between said unwound portion of said conforce spring means and the cartridges, and said first channel of said first wall of said follower body having a depth sufficient to prevent contact between said first rib means and said follower body.

Claim 25

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and said walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spring means; and first, second and third latch areas formed in said magazine body, said second latch area including a jog relative to said third latch area and said second latch area being contiguously adjacent to said third latch area with said first latch area being spaced from said second and third latch areas, at least one of said latch areas for use with a latch of one of three different firearms that utilize nine millimeter cartridges.

Claim 26

A magazine for housing cartridges, comprising: a magazine body including a top portion, a bottom portion, front and rear end walls, first and second side walls, each of said first and second side walls having a greater width than each of said front and rear end walls, said front and rear end walls and said walls defining a magazine chamber for storing cartridges; a follower assembly including a follower body and spring means; and first, second and third latch areas formed in said magazine body, said second latch area including a jog relative to said third latch area and said second latch area being contiguously adjacent to said third latch area with said first latch area being spaced from said second and third latch areas, at least one of said latch areas for use with a latch of one of three different firearms that utilize nine millimeter cartridges.