# US 2014/0150322 A1 · Magazine Spring Compression Tool and Method

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- Number: US 2014/0150322 A1
- Document ID: US20140150322A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/691,737
- Filed: 2012-12-01
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-01
- Inventors: Thurman B. Hampton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150322A1

## CPC

- F41C 27/00: Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
- F41A 9/65: Box magazines having a cartridge follower
- F41A 11/00: Assembly or disassembly features; Modular concepts; Articulated or collapsible guns (F41A3/64, F41A19/10 - F41A19/15, F41A21/48, F41A25/26 take precedence)
- Y10T 29/49815: Disassembling
- F41C: SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- F41A: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A tool, implement or apparatus and a method of use of the tool, implement or apparatus to aid in the disassembly and assembly of a firearm magazine for cleaning, maintenance or repair when that magazine has a sealed base plate and requires the removal of the spring and spring follower from the top of the magazine. The tool consists of two parts—a body and a pin. The method consists of using the tool body to apply a pushing force or compressing operation directly to the magazine follower and thereby compressing the follower and the magazine spring. The pin is inserted through the magazine box through witness holes to release spring tension from the follower allowing it to be removed. During reassembly, the tool body is used to apply a pushing force or compressing operation directly to the magazine spring compressing it into the magazine box and holding it in place to allow insertion of the pin through the magazine witness holes and to allow insertion of the follower.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tool, implement or apparatus for applying a pushing force or performing compressing operations directly to the magazine follower, and simultaneously to the spring of a magazine for semi-automatic or automatic firearms comprising:
a body and a pin constructed of thermoplastic resins (general purpose, engineered plastics, glass and fiber reinforced plastics), metal, alloys, composite materials, or ceramics or other material that has sufficient tensile strength to withstand the force of the spring acting against the tool body or the pin
grooves along either side of the tool body strategically located to allow the body to lock into place when pushed against the lips of the magazine
a shape, including a square, a triangle or rod, that allows the tool to be inserted into the magazine and to depress the follower
a size or dimensions equal to a single caliber cartridge and magazine or
a size or dimensions equal to multiple caliber cartridges and magazines
a pin housed in a cap or otherwise stored in a cavity within the body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method to aid in the disassembly and assembly of a magazine for cleaning, maintenance, or repair comprising:
the tool described in claim 1
inserting the tool into the wide end of the magazine
depressing the follower and spring to a position where the spring can be held in place
locking the tool body into the lips of the magazine
inserting the pin through the witness holes in the magazine box
removing the tool body
removing the follower and the spring
reinserting the spring and compressing it into the magazine box using the tool of claim 1 locking the tool into the lips of the magazine
inserting the pin through the witness holes in the magazine box
removing the tool
inserting the follower.

### Claim 3

A two piece tool consisting of a body (piece 1) and a retaining pin (piece 2) for disassembly and reassembly of a firearms magazine for cleaning or maintenance, said magazine consisting of a case having a hollow generally rectilinear configuration with two flat parallel side faces, a front face, a rear face and a base end with a non-removable base plate and an open upper end,
the base plate formed in a flat generally rectangular configuration and coupled to the base end to close the base end thereby forming an interior recess within the case,
the upper open end having a wide section equal to the dimensions of the flat edge of the cartridge to be inserted into the magazine,
the upper ends of the side faces having a radial bevel to form a lip on both sides thereby restricting the opening into the recess of the case, said feed lips having a length and a clearance,
a coil spring having an upper end and a lower end positioned on but not attached to the base plate and sized to be slightly longer than height of the interior recess of the case;
a follower positioned within the recess and upon the spring having a central section for positioning the spring and is adapted to smoothly slide up and down within the recess without binding, and
witness holes along the sides of the magazine case that are parallel to one another, and said tool consisting of a body that includes channels on opposite sides of the body, said channels having a width that is less than the clearance between the feed lips and
a second surface width above and below the channels that is greater than the clearance between the feed lips but equal to the dimensions of the flat edge of the cartridge to be inserted into the magazine, and
consisting of a retaining pin which is smaller in diameter than the witness holes in the magazine,
is no longer than the length of a cartridge intended for use in the magazine and,
is inserted into a recess in the tool body for storage said retaining pin being.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method to disassemble a firearms magazine for cleaning or maintenance consisting of the tool described in claim 3 and the magazine described in claim 3 and accomplished by
inserting the tool body into the wide section of the open upper end of the magazine to rest on top of the follower
using the tool to depress the follower and spring to a depth equal to twice the length of the cartridge that goes into the magazine or to the point where the channels on the side of the tool are aligned to the lips of the magazine
sliding the tool body toward the rear face of the magazine and engaging the lips of the magazine by sliding the lips into the channels on each side of the magazine
inserting the retaining pin through the witness holes in the magazine box at a place where the pin is beneath the follower to capture the magazine spring
removing the tool body and maneuvering the follower until it falls out or is removed from the magazine.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A method to assemble a firearms magazine after cleaning or maintenance consisting of the tool described in claim 3 and the magazine described in claim 3 and accomplished by
inserting the spring into the magazine from the open upper end using the hand
using the tool body (piece 1) depress the spring to a depth equal to twice the length of the cartridge that goes into the magazine or to the point where the channels on the side of the tool are aligned to the lips of the magazine
slide the tool body toward the rear face of the magazine and engage the lips of the magazine by sliding the lips into the channels on each side of the magazine
insert the retaining pin (piece 2) through the witness holes in the magazine to capture the magazine spring
remove the tool body
insert the follower through the open upper end of the magazine and maneuver it so that the central section is positioned on the spring
remove the retaining pin.