# US 5,345,660 A · Method of manufacturing a magazine of predetermined number of cartridges

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- Number: US 5,345,660 A
- Document ID: US5345660A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/028,147
- Filed: 1993-03-09
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-03-09
- Inventors: William J. Howard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345660A

## CPC

- F41A 9/65: Box magazines having a cartridge follower
- B29C 33/76: Cores (B29C33/02 - B29C33/70, {B29C41/40, B29C53/74, B29C53/82} take precedence)
- B29C 45/0053: {combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping (injection-compression moulding B29C45/561)}
- B29C 45/26: Moulds
- B29C 45/2673: {with exchangeable mould parts, e.g. cassette moulds (B29C45/1756 takes precedence)}
- B29L 2031/777: {Weapons}
- Y10S 29/029: Molding with other step
- Y10T 29/49716: Converting
- F41A: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A process for making these magazines includes the steps of providing mold halves forming a cavity with an insert-receiving core, and a number of inserts each having a projection-producing depression a distance from the top of the magazine equal to that occupied by the given number of cartridges. After selecting an insert it is secured to the core; the mold halves are mated; and a melted hot plastic composition is injected into the cavity to form a hot casting of the shell of the magazine. The mold is opened, the hot casting removed and cooled to form a shell which is then assembled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for making a magazine for holding a specific, predetermined number of cartridges which number is fewer than about sixteen; and for reliably feeding these cartridges to the chamber of a bolt-equipped firearm; said magazine having the external appearance of a standard magazine holding at least about twenty rounds; said magazine comprising:
A. a shell comprising a closable bottom; an open top; and juxtaposed side walls, wherein the internal surfaces of the juxtaposed side walls are substantially parallel and spaced from each other by a given distance; one of said side walls carrying a projection such that the distance from the projection to the next adjacent internal surface is less than the given distance thereby defining a reduced distance; and
B. a follower within the shell; wherein the width of the follower is less than the given distance between the internal surfaces of the juxtaposed side walls but is greater than the reduced distance from the projection to the next adjacent internal surface; and
C. a base plate removably attached to the bottom of the shell; and
D. a spring compressed against the base plate and biasing the follower toward the open top; and
E. projection means for inhibiting downward movement of the follower thereby inhibiting the feeding to the magazine of any cartridge after the magazine contains said predetermined number of cartridges; and
F. means for preventing feeding of any cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the firearm if the magazine contains a quantity of cartridges greater than the predetermined number; and
said process comprising the steps of:
I. providing:
A. first and second mating mold halves which when mated form a cavity, the inside surfaces of which correspond to the outside surfaces of the shell; and
B. a core adapted to fit within the cavity and having a recess adapted to receive any one of a plurality of inserts wherein the outside surface of the core corresponds to the inside surface of the shell; and
C. a plurality of inserts having a projection-producing depression a distance from the open top of the magazine equal to that occupied by the given number of cartridges: each of said inserts adapted to fit into the insert-receiving recess; and
II. selecting an insert from among those provided; and
III. securing that insert in the recess in the core; and
IV. mating the first mold half to the second mold half; and
V. injecting a melted organic thermoplastic molding composition into the cavity thereby forming a hot casting; and
VI. cooling the hot casting to a temperature at which the hot casting is resiliently flexible; and
VII. opening the mold by separating the first half from the second half leaving the hot casting attached to the core; and
VIII. stripping the hot casting from the core; and then
IX. cooling the hot casing to room temperature whereupon the hot casting becomes a magazine shell; and
X. inserting into the magazine shell, the follower above the projection formed by the insert; and
XI. inserting into the shell below the follower a spring which upwardly biases the follower; and
XII. attaching a removable base plate to hold the spring in place; and thereby producing the magazine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the melted organic thermoplastic molding composition comprises carbon black, glass fibers, and nylon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2 wherein the injecting in Step V of the melted thermoplastic molding composition is practiced while maintaining the composition at a temperature of about 525.degree. to about 600.degree. F.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2 wherein the cooling of Step VI is practiced at a temperature of about 150.degree. to about 300.degree. F.

### Claim 5

A process for making a magazine for holding a specific, predetermined number of cartridges which number is five, seven, or ten; and for reliably feeding these cartridges to the chamber of a bolt-equipped firearm; said magazine having the external appearance of a standard magazine holding at least about twenty rounds; said magazine comprising:
A. a shell comprising a closable bottom; an open top; and juxtaposed side walls, wherein the internal surfaces of the juxtaposed side walls are substantially parallel and spaced from each other by a given distance; one of said side walls carrying a projection such that the distance from the projection to the next adjacent internal surface is less than the given distance thereby defining a reduced distance; wherein the projection has an upper surface forming a ramp at an obtuse angle of about 135.degree. with respect to the inner surface of the wall which is carrying the projection; and
B. a follower within the shell; wherein the width of the follower is less than the given distance between the internal surfaces of the juxtaposed side walls but is greater than the reduced distance from the projection to the next adjacent internal surface; and
C. a base plate removably attached to the bottom of the shell; and
D. a spring compressed against the base plate and biasing the follower toward the open top; and said process comprising, in sequence, the steps of:
I. providing:
A. first and second mold halves which when mated form a cavity the inside surfaces of which correspond to the outside surfaces of the shell; and
B. a core adapted to fit within the cavity leaving an annular space between the core and the inside surfaces of the mold halves; said core having a insert-receiving recess adapted to receive any of a plurality of inserts wherein the outside surface of the core corresponds to the inside surface of the shell; and
C. a five cartridge insert having a projection-producing depression a distance from the open top of the magazine a distance equal to that occupied by five cartridges from the top adapted to fit into the insert-receiving recess; and
D. a seven cartridge insert having a projection-producing depression a distance from the open top of the magazine a distance equal to that occupied by seven cartridges from the top adapted to fit into the insert-receiving recess; and
E. a ten cartridge insert having a projection-producing depression a distance from the open top of the magazine a distance equal to that occupied by ten cartridges from the top adapted to fit into the insert-receiving recess; and
II. selecting a single insert from among those provided; and then
III. securing the selected insert in the insert-receiving recess in the core; and then
IV. mating the first mold half to the second mold half; and then
V. injecting, at 550.degree. to 575.degree. F., a melted organic thermoplastic molding composition of 0.1 to 5 weight percent carbon black; 15 to 70 weight percent glass fibers; balance essentially nylon 6-12; wherein all percentages are based on the weight of the entire composition; into the cavity thereby forming a hot casting; and then
VI. cooling the hot casting to a temperature of 200.degree. to 250.degree. F. at which temperature the hot casting is resiliently flexible; and then
VII. opening the mold by separating the first half from the second half and by removing both halves from contact with the hot casting, thereby leaving the hot casting attached to the core; and then
VIII. stripping the hot casting from the core while the hot casting is maintained at a temperature of 200.degree. to 250.degree. F.; and then
IX. placing the hot casting on a supporting mandrel; and then
X. cooling the hot casing while still on the mandrel to a temperature of about 100.degree. to about 150.degree. F., at which temperature the hot casing is dimensionally stable and is self-supporting; and then
XI. cooling the hot casting to room temperature whereupon the hot casting becomes a magazine shell; and then
XII. inserting into the magazine shell a follower above the projection formed by the insert; and then
XIII. inserting into the shell below the follower a spring which upwardly biases the follower; and then
XIV. attaching a removable base plate to hold the spring in place; and thereby producing the magazine.