Montana Patent of the Month – October 2023
Pistol enthusiasts and firearm manufacturers are well aware of the critical role that magazines play in semi automatic handguns. These removable ammunition magazines, which are inserted into the magazine well of the handgun’s grip, are vital for feeding rounds to the firearm’s chamber. Shield Arms, LLC, a company focused on providing innovative, life-protecting, high-value products, has been granted a patent for a magazine designed with increased ammunition capacity.
Traditional semi automatic handguns typically utilize box magazines with rectangular cross-sectional bodies to hold and feed ammunition cartridges. These magazines vary in size and shape, depending on the handgun model, ammunition caliber, and desired round capacity. Magazine design is a crucial factor in firearm performance, and some handguns even require specialized magazines specific to their make and model.
For instance, some handguns use single-stack magazines, which hold cartridges in a single row, while others employ double-stack magazines that accommodate cartridges in an alternating double column. Double-stack magazines have a higher round capacity but are wider, leading to a bulkier grip, which may not be ideal for all users.
Here’s where Shield Arms comes into the picture. They’ve introduced an innovative pistol magazine designed to provide a solution to the trade-off between capacity and grip size. Their magazine design offers an increased ammunition capacity without the need for a significantly wider grip.
The Shield Arms magazine features a metallic tubular body, and it is dimensioned to replace the standard polymer or polymer-over-metal single-stack magazines. What sets it apart is the unique longitudinal exterior ridge on the forward wall of the magazine’s body. This ridge compensates for the front-to-back dimensioning difference compared to the standard magazines while maintaining the same exterior dimensions.
This ingenious design allows the magazine to hold more rounds without requiring a wider grip on the handgun. As a result, users can enjoy increased ammunition capacity without compromising on grip size or concealability.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
