Mechanisms for magazine lock and release

Abstract

A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) comprises one or more mechanisms for receiving, aligning, and maintaining a position of a magazine within a bay of the CEW. Bias spring and datums may be used to align the magazine to be coupled to the CEW, wherein bias springs are configured to apply pressure to push the magazine to interact with datums to align the magazine. A spring and ramp mechanism may be used to maintain a position of the magazine coupled to the bay of the CEW. Respective grades of a locking ramp and a release ramp are used to lock a spring in place when a magazine is coupled to the bay of the CEW.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle for a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) comprising:
 a bay defining an opening configured to receive a magazine; 
 a mechanical interface disposed proximate to a first side of the bay, wherein the mechanical interface is configured to align the magazine within the bay; and 
 a second side of the bay opposite the first side, the magazine aligned to the second side by the mechanical interface. 
 
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface comprises at least a bias spring and one or more of one or more grooves, one or more protrusions, or one or more engagement surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface comprises at least one of a convex surface or a concave surface. 
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first side comprises a first surface that extends perpendicular from a top surface of the bay; and   the second side comprises a second surface that extends perpendicular from the top surface parallel to the first surface.   
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical interface is disposed on the first surface and comprises a bias spring. 
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 5 , wherein the bias spring aligns the magazine within the bay via a force applied towards the second surface that disposes the magazine proximate to the second surface within the bay. 
     
     
         7 . The handle of  claim 5 , wherein the bias spring applies a resilient force to the magazine to maintain an alignment of the magazine within the bay for a first projectile deployment and a second projectile deployment. 
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface is configured as a set of datum comprising at least one of:
 a first datum defining a first contact surface of the bay proximate the first side of the bay and a second datum defining a second contact surface of the bay proximate the second side of the bay;   a third datum defining a protrusion proximate the opening of the bay and a fourth datum defining a groove in the top surface of the bay; or   a fifth datum extending from a first side of the bay proximate the opening of the bay and a sixth datum extending from a second side of the bay proximate the opening of the bay.   
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface is a compressive mechanical interface that applies a persistent force to the magazine responsive to the magazine being disposed within the bay. 
     
     
         10 . The handle of  claim 9 , wherein the persistent force is configured to maintain an alignment of the magazine to the second side of the bay through a duration of one or more temporary forces associated with at least the magazine. 
     
     
         11 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface is an asymmetric set of mechanical interfaces that applies a force to the magazine in a first lateral direction extending from the first side towards the second side. 
     
     
         12 . A magazine for a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) comprising:
 a body having a first end opposite a second end and a top surface opposite a bottom surface; 
 a first mechanical interface disposed proximate to the top surface of the body, wherein the first mechanical interface is configured align the magazine within a bay of the CEW; and 
 a second mechanical interface disposed proximate to the top surface of the body, wherein the second mechanical interface is configured to engage one or more interfaces of the bay of the CEW, and wherein the second mechanical interface is different from the first mechanical interface. 
 
     
     
         13 . The magazine of  claim 12 , wherein the first mechanical interface comprises at least a bias spring and one or more of one or more grooves, one or more protrusions, or one or more engagement surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The magazine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first surface that extends perpendicular from the top surface; and   a second surface that extends perpendicular from the top surface parallel to the first surface, the second surface of the magazine opposite from the first surface of the magazine.   
     
     
         15 . The magazine of  claim 14 , wherein the first mechanical interface is disposed on the first surface and comprises a bias spring. 
     
     
         16 . The magazine of  claim 15 , wherein the bias spring aligns the magazine within the bay via a force applied outward from the first surface to an internal surface of the bay that disposes the second surface proximate to an additional internal surface of the bay. 
     
     
         17 . The magazine of  claim 14 , wherein the second mechanical interface comprises a first set of datum, wherein the first set of datum comprises a first datum extending from the first surface of the body proximate the first end and a second datum extending from the second surface of the body proximate the first end. 
     
     
         18 . The magazine of  claim 14 , wherein the second mechanical interface comprises a second set of datum, wherein the second set of datum comprises a third datum and a fourth datum disposed proximate the second end of the body. 
     
     
         19 . The magazine of  claim 14 , wherein the second mechanical interface comprises a third set of datum, wherein the third set of datum comprises a fifth datum defining a groove in the top surface of the body and a sixth datum defining a protrusion on the top surface of the body. 
     
     
         20 . The magazine of  claim 12 , wherein the magazine further comprises a locking ramp and a release ramp, the locking ramp coupled to the bottom surface of the body and the release ramp coupled to the body proximate to the locking ramp.