US008832987B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,832,987 B2 Addis (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 16, 2014 (54) SYSTEMIS AND METHODS FORADING THE (56) References Cited INSERTON OF DETACHABLE FIREARM MAGAZINES U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,430,821 A 2, 1984 Vincent ............................. 42.50 (76) Inventor: Michael A. Addis, Hayward, CA (US) 4.484.404 A * 1 1/1984 Johnson ............................ 42.90 7,823,312 B2 * 1 1/2010 Faifer ........................... 42/49.02 (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 8,127.480 B1* 3/2012 McManus et al. ........... 42/49.02 patent is extended or adjusted under 35 * cited by examiner U.S.C. 154(b) by 149 days. Primary Examiner — Daniel J Troy (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Kang S. Lim (21) Appl. No.: 13/282,428 (57) ABSTRACT The present invention relates to systems and methods for (22) Filed: Oct. 26, 2011 aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle Vari ants. The magazine well attachment includes a well attach (65) Prior Publication Data ment body having a slit configured to slide over a trigger US 2013/0104440 A1 May 2, 2013 guard of a firearm during the assembly process. The attach ment body includes a beveled well opening for guiding a tilt-lock magazine into the firearm. The beveled well opening (51) Int. C. includes beveled steps for funneling and centering the maga F4 LA 9/65 (2006.01) Zine during insertion and also includes an angled front well F4 LA 7/38 (2006.01) ramp for guiding the magazine into the rifle at an appropriate (52) U.S. C. angle. In order to accommodate the dimensional variances CPC ...................................... FAIA 17/38 (2013.01) between receivers made by different manufacturers, a front USPC .............................................. 42/90: 42/49.01 retainer secures the attachment to the magazine opening. The (58) Field of Classification Search magazine well attachment also includes a rear overhang USPC ..................................... 42/90, 106, 49.01, 50 secured to a ledge of the firearms trigger guard. See application file for complete search history. 10 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 1 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 114 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 2 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 FIG. 1B U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 3 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 4 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 128 FIG. 4 168 134 124 122 132 FIG. 5 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 5 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 6 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 7 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 8 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 FIG. 8 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 9 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 FIG. 9A U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 10 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 144 -100 926 928 924 FIG. 9B U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 11 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 U.S. Patent Sep. 16, 2014 Sheet 12 of 12 US 8,832,987 B2 US 8,832,987 B2 1. 2 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADING THE magazine during insertion, and also includes an angled front INSERTION OF DETACHABLE FIREARM well ramp configured to guide the magazine into the rifle at an MAGAZINES appropriate angle. It is also possible to include additional functionality to the BACKGROUND magazine well attachment. For example, a magazine latch shield can be coupled to or incorporated into the magazine The present invention relates to systems and methods for well body to prevent the magazine latch from being activated aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in firearms. by the user's fingers. Accessories for firearms have increased steadily over time in Note that the various features of the present invention both functionality and flexibility, and today, there is a wide 10 described above may be practiced alone or in combination. variety of firearm accessories available including detachable These and other features of the present invention will be magazine accessories. described in more detail below in the detailed description of To accomplish an efficient and reliable loading and/or the invention and in conjunction with the following figures. reloading of a firearm, the detachable magazine has to be 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS securely seated in the correct orientation, and this loading/ reloading process should preferably be performed solely by In order that the present invention may be more clearly feel, i.e., without the user having to look down at the firearm ascertained, some embodiments will now be described, by or at the magazine. Loading/reloading by feel enables the user way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw to keep his/her eyes downrange which is very important in ings, in which: tactical situations. Such as when a police officer is engaging a FIGS. 1A and 1B are top and bottom isometric views of a Suspect during a bank robbery. magazine well attachment in accordance with one embodi The inventor of the Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK) type of ment of the present invention; rifles, also commonly known as a Kalashnikov rifle (named FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A: after the inventor), had as his primary design goals excep 25 FIG. 3 is a left side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A: tional reliability in the field and very low manufacturing cost. FIG. 4 a right side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A: As a result, functionality was compromised including long FIG.5 front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A: range accuracy and ease of loading and reloading. For FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1A attached to a example, the AR rifles, e.g., the Colt AR-15, are inherently receiver of a Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK) variant rifle; more accurate and easier to reload than the AK rifles. 30 FIGS. 7A and 7B are isometric views showing two exem Loading an AK rifle variant requires initial insertion of the plary retaining clips for attaching the magazine well attach magazine into a straight-walled magazine opening, engaging ment of FIG. 1A to the rifle of FIG. 6; the front magazine tab to the rifle, and then rotating the FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating the trigger guard magazine rearward to engage the rear magazine tab into the area of the AK rifle of FIG. 6; 35 FIGS. 9A-9C are isometric, side and bottom exploded rifle's magazine latch. Hence, loading and reloading an AK views of another embodiment of FIG. 1A with an optional requires a lot of manual dexterity and the difficulty of a speed magazine latch shield; and load or reload increases exponentially under stress. FIG.9D is an assembled view of showing the embodiment It is therefore apparent that an urgent need exists for an AK of FIG. 9A attached to the rifle of FIG. 6. magazine well attachment to aid the insertion of detachable 40 magazines in AK rifle Variants. This improvement enables DETAILED DESCRIPTION users to quickly and easily complete a load or reload of an AK rifle without error, especially in stressful situations. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to several embodiments thereofas illustrated in the SUMMARY 45 accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a To achieve the foregoing and in accordance with the thorough understanding of embodiments of the present inven present invention, Systems and methods for aiding the inser tion. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that tion of detachable magazines in firearms are provided. In embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these particular, a magazine well attachment is provided for AK 50 specific details. In other instances, well known process steps rifle variants to guide the insertion of detachable magazines. and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to One embodiment of the magazine well attachment not unnecessarily obscure the present invention. The features includes a well attachment body having a slit configured to and advantages of embodiments may be better understood slide over a trigger guard of a firearm during the assembly with reference to the drawings and discussions that follow. process. The attachment body also includes a beveled well 55 The present invention relates to systems and methods for opening configured to guide a tilt-lock magazine into a maga aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle Vari Zine opening of the firearm. ants. To facilitate discussion, FIGS. 1A and 1B are top and In order to accommodate the dimensional variances bottom isometric views of a magazine well (magwell) attach between receivers made by different manufacturers, a front ment 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present retainer, e.g., a metal C-shaped clip, is fastened to the front of 60 invention. FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are the top view, left side view, the magazine well attachment and is configured to secure the right side view and front view, respectively, of magwell attachment to a front portion of the magazine opening of the attachment 100. In this embodiment, magwell attachment firearm. The magazine well attachment also includes at least 100 includes trigger guard grips 122, 124, magazine latch one rear overhang configured to secure the attachment to a grips 132, 134, magwell walls 166, 168, and front receiver ledge of the firearms trigger guard.