Gun magazine base pad with cantilever spring latch mechanism

Abstract

A firearm magazine base pad having a significantly reduced overall height. The base pad is slidably engaged to the bottom of the magazine tube—thereby securing a magazine spring and follower inside the tube. A cantilever spring is provided to lock the base pad in place. The cantilever spring can be depressed in order to release the base pad and allow it to slide free of the magazine tube. A fixed end of the cantilever spring is attached to the base pad. A free end of the cantilever spring is free to move.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A base pad configured to be slidably attached to a magazine tube having a first lateral flange and a second lateral flange, comprising:
 (a) a body with a front, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a back, and a floor;   (b) said body having a first longitudinal slot configured to receive said first lateral flange and a second longitudinal slot configured to receive said second lateral flange;   (c) a cantilever spring having a fixed end and a free end, with said fixed end being connected to said body;   (d) said cantilever spring being longitudinally oriented, with said free end of said cantilever spring lying proximate said back of said body;   (e) said cantilever spring including an upper extreme protruding above said floor and thereby retaining said first lateral flange within said first longitudinal slot; and   (f) said cantilever spring being elastically flexible so that said upper extreme can move downward sufficiently to allow said first lateral flange to slide out of said first longitudinal slot, without causing plastic deformation of said cantilever spring.   
     
     
         2 . The base pad as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cantilever spring includes a vertical portion configured to bear against a trailing portion of said first lateral flange when said first lateral flange rests within said first longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         3 . The base pad as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of said first lateral flange so that said first lateral flange cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said first lateral flange is moved toward said first longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         4 . The base pad as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of said first lateral flange so that said first lateral flange cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said first lateral flange is moved toward said first longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         5 . The base pad as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a separate engagement portion attached to said free end of said cantilever spring, said separate engagement portion including a vertical portion configured to bear against a trailing portion of said first lateral flange when said first lateral flange rests within said first longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         6 . The base pad as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a separate engagement portion attached to said free end of said cantilever spring, said separate engagement portion including an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of said first lateral flange so that said first lateral flange cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said first lateral flange is moved toward said first longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         7 . The base pad as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an arcuate segment. 
     
     
         8 . A base pad configured to be slidably attached to a magazine tube having a lateral flange on a lower end, comprising:
 (a) a body with a front, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a back, and a floor;   (b) said body having a longitudinal slot configured to receive said lateral flange of said magazine tube;   (c) a cantilever spring having a fixed end and a free end, with said fixed end being connected to said body;   (d) said cantilever spring being longitudinally oriented, with said free end of said cantilever spring lying proximate said back of said body;   (e) said cantilever spring including an upper extreme protruding above said floor and positioned to retain said lateral flange of said magazine tube within said longitudinal slot of said body;   (f) said cantilever spring being elastically flexible so that said upper extreme can move downward sufficiently to allow said lateral flange to slide out of said longitudinal slot, without causing plastic deformation of said cantilever spring.   
     
     
         9 . The base pad as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said cantilever spring includes a vertical portion configured to bear against a trailing portion of said lateral flange when said lateral flange rests within said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         10 . The base pad as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of said lateral flange so that said first flange cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said lateral flange is moved toward said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         11 . The base pad as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of said lateral flange so that said lateral flange cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said lateral flange is moved toward said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         12 . The base pad as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a separate engagement portion attached to said free end of said cantilever spring, said separate engagement portion including a vertical portion configured to bear against a trailing portion of said lateral flange when said lateral flange rests within said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         14 . The base pad as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an arcuate segment. 
     
     
         15 . A base pad configured to be slidably attached to a magazine tube having a forward wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a rearward wall, comprising:
 (a) a body with a front, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a back, and a floor;   (b) said body being configured to slidably engage a lower portion of said magazine tube;   (c) a cantilever spring having a fixed end and a free end, with said fixed end being connected to said body;   (d) said cantilever spring having an undeflected position in which an upper extreme of said cantilever spring protrudes above said floor, thereby preventing sliding motion between said magazine tube and said body; and   (e) said cantilever spring having a deflected position in which said upper extreme moves downward sufficiently to allow said magazine tube to slide with respect to said base pad.   
     
     
         16 . The base pad as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said cantilever spring includes a vertical portion configured to bear against a trailing portion of said magazine tube. 
     
     
         17 . The base pad as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of a lateral flange on said magazine tube so that said lateral flange cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said lateral flange is moved into engagement with said body. 
     
     
         18 . The base pad as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said cantilever spring includes an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of a lateral flange on said magazine tube so that said lateral flange cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said lateral flange is moved into engagement with said body. 
     
     
         19 . The base pad as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a separate engagement portion attached to said free end of said cantilever spring, said separate engagement portion including a vertical portion configured to bear against a trailing portion of said magazine tube. 
     
     
         20 . The base pad as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a separate engagement portion attached to said free end of said cantilever spring, said separate engagement portion including an angled portion configured to bear against a leading portion of said magazine tube so that said magazine tube cams said free end of said cantilever spring downward as said magazine tube slides into engagement with said body.