Pistol magazine loader
A magazine loader for sequentially loading cartridges into an uppermost cartridge space of a magazine comprising a housing defining a cavity with a lower magazine receiving opening and an upper cartridge receiving opening. A movable tool at the upper cartridge receiving opening includes an arm that extends to an uppermost cartridge position. When a magazine is inserted into the housing cavity the arm engages with the uppermost cartridge or the spring loaded follower of the magazine depressing same. As a cartridge is inserted through the upper loading opening, the cartridge effects a rearwardly directed force to the arm of the tool causing the arm of the tool to move rearwardly directed force to the first arm may cause the pin to move forwardly and upwardly along the path thereby withdrawing the first arm from the uppermost cartridge space allowing the cartridge to occupy the uppermost cartridge space.
1. An apparatus for sequentially loading cartridges into an uppermost cartridge space of a magazine, comprising:
a housing defining a cavity, an upward forward loading opening for receiving cartridges and a bottom opening for receiving the magazine;
a tool movably supported within and by the housing, the tool comprising a downwardly extending arm having an pre-move position to be received by the magazine at the uppermost cartridge space when the magazine is inserted in the bottom opening;
whereby, when a cartridge is inserted through the upper forward loading opening by a user, the cartridge effects a rearwardly directed force to the arm of the tool causing the arm to move rearwardly out of the uppermost cartridge space allowing the cartridge to occupy the uppermost cartridge space.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the cartridge has been received at the uppermost cartridge space and when the apparatus is moved in an upward direction with respect to the magazine, the first arm returns to the pre-move position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spring loaded lever pivotably supported by the housing, the spring loaded lever urging the magazine in the cavity whereby the apparatus is capable of receiving magazines from handguns of various makes and models without requiring a user to make adjustments to the apparatus.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing has a plurality of wall portions defining the cavity and the upward forward loading opening, the plurality of wall portions comprising a starboard wall portion and an opposing port wall portion, the wall portions defining a starboard channel and an opposite port channel, wherein the tool is disposed between the starboard wall portion and the port wall portion and the opposing channels constrain the movement of the tool.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the tool is spring loaded to urge the tool in a forward direction with respect to the housing.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the starboard wall portion and the port wall portion each have respective projections extending inwardly, and wherein the tool comprises a central portion defining a bore, the downwardly extending arm and a second arm disposed forward of the downwardly extending arm, the second arm engaging the respective projections during movement of the tool.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a pin having a starboard end disposed inside the starboard channel and a port end disposed inside the port channel so that translation of the pin is constrained to movement along a path defined by the channels, and the intermediate portion of the pin extending through a bore defined by the central portion of the tool so that the tool is supported by the pin and the pin follows the path defined by the channels.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the starboard wall portion comprises one or more inwardly extending starboard ribs, the one or more starboard ribs defining the starboard channel and one or more inwardly extending port ribs, the one or more port ribs defining the port channel.
9. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lever is pivotally mounted at a forward wall of the housing and the lever urges the magazine in the cavity rearwardly.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lever disposed inside the cavity defined by the housing for urging the magazine against a front housing wall portion, the lever being pivotally supported by an axle, the axle extending into a first hole defined by the starboard wall portion and a second hole defined by the port wall portion, the spring urging a distal portion of the lever away from the front housing wall portion.
11. An apparatus for sequentially loading cartridges into an uppermost cartridge space of a magazine, comprising:
a housing defining a cavity, an upward loading opening for receiving cartridges and a bottom opening for receiving the magazine;
a tool supported within and by the housing, the tool comprising an arm for engaging a cartridge at the uppermost cartridge space when the magazine is inserted in the bottom opening; and
a spring loaded member supported by the housing and positioned below the tool, the spring loaded member positioned for urging the magazine in the cavity whereby the apparatus is capable of receiving magazines from handguns of various makes and models without requiring a user to make adjustments to the apparatus.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the spring loaded member is configured as a lever pivotally connected to the housing, the lever extending upwardly therefrom whereby when a magazine is inserted in the bottom opening the lever deflects.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the housing has a plurality of wall portions defining the cavity and the upward loading opening is positioned forwardly, the plurality of wall portions comprising a starboard wall portion and an opposing port wall portion, the apparatus further comprising a pin extending between and supported by the starboard wall portion and the opposing port wall portion, the pin extending through an opening defined in the lever.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the tool is movably attached to the housing by the pin positioned in a starboard channel and in a port channel so that the tool has a movement defined by the starboard channel and port channel.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the tool arm is a downwardly extending arm and the tool arm further has a second arm disposed forward of the downwardly extending arm, the second arm for engaging a projection on the housing for further defining the movement of the tool.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the lever is pivotally mounted at a forward wall of the housing, and whereby when a magazine is inserted in the bottom opening the lever deflects forwardly toward the forward wall.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the starboard wall portion comprises one or more inwardly extending starboard ribs, the one or more starboard ribs defining a starboard channel and the port wall portion comprises one or more inwardly extending port ribs, the one or more port ribs defining a port channel, the pin being received in the starboard channel and the port channel.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the housing has an L-shape when viewed from the side.
19. A method for sequentially loading cartridges into an uppermost cartridge space of a magazine, comprising:
providing an apparatus for sequentially loading cartridges into an uppermost cartridge space of a magazine, the apparatus comprising a housing and a tool movably supported within and by the housing, the housing defining a cavity, an upward forward loading opening for receiving cartridges and a bottom opening for receiving the magazine, the tool comprising a downwardly extending arm having an pre-move position to be received by the magazine at the uppermost cartridge space when the magazine is inserted in the bottom opening;
inserting an upper portion of the magazine into the housing cavity;
urging the housing to translate downwardly to depress a follower spring of the magazine;
inserting one end of a cartridge through an opening defined by the housing;
urging the cartridge rearwardly against the first arm of the tool whereby the tool rotates about the pin until the second arm of the tool contacts a protrusion of the housing at a point of contact; and
urging the cartridge further rearwardly against the first arm of the tool whereby the tool rotates about the point of contact and the pin moves forwardly and upwardly along the path so that the first arm of the tool is withdrawn from the uppermost cartridge space allowing the cartridge to occupy the uppermost cartridge space.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising moving the apparatus upward with respect to the magazine, wherein the first arm is free to return to the pre-move position when the apparatus upward with respect to the magazine.