US20110078936A1

US20110078936A1 - Firearm Magazine Indicator

Info

Publication number: US20110078936A1
Application number: US12/574,829
Authority: US
Inventors: Craig D. Gates
Original assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2009-10-07
Filing date: 2009-10-07
Publication date: 2011-04-07

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a tactile indication to an operator of a firearm of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm's magazine. In some embodiments, an indication is provided when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm.

Description

BACKGROUND

It is important to an operator of a firearm to know the number of cartridges that remain in the firearm, especially when the firearm operator is in combat. Some firearms provide the operator with a visual indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. During combat, however, a firearm operator would like to know the number of cartridges that remain in the firearm without having to manipulate or look at the firearm.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments provide a tactile indication to an operator of a firearm of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm's magazine. In some embodiments, an indication is provided when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm. In one embodiment, a first indication may be provided when there are two cartridges remaining in the firearm and a second indication may be provided when there is a single cartridge remaining in the firearm. In another embodiment, an indication is provided of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. In yet another embodiment, a first indication is provided of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm, a second indication is provided when there are a critical few cartridges remaining in the firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example firearm and magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example firearm with a magazine device loaded into the firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top down view of an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9 a illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9 b illustrates a zoomed in view of a rotary indicator of an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9 c illustrates a zoomed in view of a rotary indicator of an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example rifle and an example firearm magazine device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments provide a tactile indication of the number of cartridges remaining in a firearm to an operator of the firearm. As described herein, the indication is provided by one or more indicators that are located in the magazine of the firearm. FIG. 1 depicts a firearm 102 and a magazine 104. Magazine 104 is configured to slide into firearm 102 and is configured to contain cartridge(s) 106 that are used by firearm 102. Magazine 104 also includes an indicator 108 that is configured to provide an indication of the number of cartridges remaining in firearm 102. It is to be appreciated that providing an indicator in the magazine of a firearm enables the indication system to function with little or no modification to the firearm itself. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the indication system described herein is backwards compatible with firearm magazines that are already in existence.
FIG. 2 depicts a firearm 202 with a magazine 204 loaded into the firearm. Magazine 204 includes an indicator 206, which extends out of the base of magazine 204. As discussed herein, indicator 206 indicates the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm and is both tactile and visual in that it can be both felt and seen by the firearm operator.
In a first embodiment a visual and tactile indication is provided to an operator of a firearm when there are a critical few cartridges remaining in the firearm. It is important to the operator of the firearm to known when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm because the firearm operator would like to know when the firearm must be reloaded. Accordingly, the term “a critical few cartridges” is used herein to describe the situation where only a few cartridges remain in the firearm. It is to be understood, however, that the actual number of cartridges corresponding to a critical few cartridges may vary.
For example, a critical few cartridges may correspond to two cartridges remaining in the firearm. In this example, a visual and tactile indication can be provided to an operator of a firearm when the last two and last single cartridge remain in the firearm. It is important to note at the outset that a firearm magazine feeds cartridges into the chamber of the firearm. Accordingly, when there are two cartridges remaining in the firearm, one of the two remaining cartridges will be located in the magazine and the other remaining cartridge will be located in the chamber of the firearm. Similarly, when there is a single cartridge remaining in the firearm, there will be zero cartridges remaining in the magazine. It is assumed herein that when the magazine is empty there is one cartridge remaining in the firearm, but it is to be appreciated that when the magazine is empty the chamber of the firearm could also be empty. Providing a tactile indication ensures that the operator of the firearm knows when the last two and last single cartridge remain in the firearm by allowing the firearm operator to feel the indication. The operator may also see the indicator and thereby know how many cartridges are in the firearm.
In the described embodiments, the indicator is a retractable device, which is retracted into the base of the magazine of a firearm until there are a critical few cartridges remaining in the firearm. For example, in the situation where a critical few cartridges corresponds to two cartridges remaining in the firearm, the indicator may partially extend out of the base of the magazine when there are two cartridges remaining in the firearm to provide a first indication that can be both seen and felt by the operator of the firearm. When there is only one cartridge remaining in the firearm the indicator extends fully out of the base of the magazine to provide a second indication that can be both seen and felt by the operator of the firearm. The difference between the partially extended indicator (at two cartridges left) and the fully extended indicator (with one cartridge left) is easily discernable by the operator in a tactile fashion. Note also that in this embodiment the operator need not remove his or her trigger hand from the firearm. The operator does not need to look to see how many cartridges are left. Nor does the operator need to manipulate or move or alter how the firearm is being held to know how many cartridges are left in the firearm. The operator may continue to operate the firearm as needed while still know how many cartridges are left.
A policewoman, for example, may be in a firefight with an armed suspect. The policewoman may know, without endangering herself, her partner, or civilians when only a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm; she does not have to look away from the armed suspect or, even worse, wait until she is out of cartridges and then either have to reload or be out of cartridges and thus in danger from the suspect.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example firearm magazine device 300, in accordance with a first embodiment. Firearm magazine device 300 includes cartridge(s) 314 that are fed into the chamber of the firearm when the firearm is fired by the operator. As cartridge(s) 314 are fed into the chamber of the firearm, a spring 304 pushes a follower 302 towards the top of device 300. Follower 302 is attached to a lanyard 306, which is fed through a ferrule 308 at the base of the device. Ferrule 308 turns the lanyard approximately 90 degrees. Lanyard 306 connects to an indicator 310, which is spring-loaded by a retraction spring 312. Retraction spring 312 forces indicator 310 to retract into the base of the magazine when there is no tension in the lanyard, which is depicted in FIG. 1. The length of lanyard 306 is such that there is no tension on the lanyard when there are more than a critical few cartridges in the magazine.
FIG. 4. illustrates an example firearm magazine device 400, in accordance with the first embodiment, that has one cartridge 414 remaining in the magazine (and one cartridge left in the chamber of the firearm). FIG. 4 depicts the situation in which a “critical few cartridges” corresponds to two cartridges remaining in the firearm. It is to be appreciated, however, that firearm magazine device 400 could be configured so that a “critical few cartridges” corresponds to more or less than two cartridges remaining in the firearm. Device 400 operates in the same fashion as device 300 and is operated by a lanyard 406, which is attached to a follower 402. The lanyard 406 is fed through a ferrule 408, at the base of the magazine, which turns the lanyard approximately 90 degrees. The lanyard 406 connects to the indicator 410, which is depicted in FIG. 4 as partially extended because there are two cartridges remaining in the firearm (one in the magazine and one in the chamber of the firearm). Indicator 410 is spring-loaded by a retraction spring 412, which forces indicator 410 to retract into the base of the device when there is no tension on the lanyard.
The length of lanyard 406 is such that there is little or no tension on the lanyard until there is one cartridge left in the magazine, which is depicted in FIG. 4. When there is one cartridge left in the magazine, and one cartridge in the chamber of the firearm for a total of two cartridges in the firearm, lanyard 406 begins to pull on indicator 410, forcing the indicator to partially extend out of the base of the magazine. In FIG. 4 indicator 410 is partially extended because there is one cartridge left in the magazine, and two cartridges left in the firearm, thus forcing the follower to pull on the lanyard, which forces the lanyard to pull on the indicator, which causes the indicator to extend out of the base of the magazine. Indicator 410, when extended, can be both seen and felt by the operator of the firearm. Indicator 410 is depicted in FIG. 4 as extending horizontally out of the base of the magazine towards the front of the firearm. This configuration allows the firearm operator to feel the indicator without having to manipulate the firearm. It is to be understood, however, that the indicator could also extend in different directions, such as horizontally towards the back of the firearm or downwards out of the base of the firearm. Furthermore, the indicator itself is depicted in FIG. 4 as a tiny rod, but it is to be understood that the indicator could be in any form that allows the indicator to be seen and/or felt by the firearm operator.
FIG. 5 illustrates the firearm magazine device depicted in FIG. 4, in accordance with the first embodiment, with no cartridges left in the magazine and one cartridge left in the firearm. Accordingly, indicator 510 is fully extended out of the base of the magazine allowing the firearm operator to both see and feel indicator 510. It should be appreciated that the difference between the partially extended indicator, as depicted in FIG. 4, and the fully extended indicator, as depicted in FIG. 5, is easily discernable by the operator, both visually and in a tactile fashion.
In a second embodiment a visual and tactile indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm is provided to an operator of a firearm. In the described embodiments, the indicator is a retractable device, which is retracted into the base of a magazine of a firearm until the first cartridge is fired. When the first cartridge is fired, the indicator partially extends out of the base of the magazine so that the operator can see and feel the indicator. As each subsequent cartridge is fired the indicator extends further out of the base of the magazine. When there is only one cartridge remaining in the firearm the indicator extends fully out of the base of the magazine.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example firearm magazine device 600, in accordance with the second embodiment, which provides a firearm operator with approximate data on the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. Device 600 operates in the same or similar fashion as device 300, device 400, and device 500, except that lanyard 606 is attached to a first coil of a spring 604. Lanyard 606 is fed through ferrule 608 at the base of the magazine, which turns the lanyard approximately 90 degrees. Lanyard 606 connects to an indicator 610. Indicator 610 is spring-loaded by a retraction spring 612, which forces indicator 610 to retract into the base of the device when there is no tension on the lanyard.
The first coil of spring 604, which is attached to lanyard 606, travels a small distance compared to follower 602. As such, the lanyard begins to pull on the indicator after the first cartridge has been fired, which in turn causes the indicator to extend out of the magazine. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the indicator extends horizontally out of the base of the magazine towards the front of the firearm. In other embodiments, however, the indicator extends in a different direction, such as horizontally out of the base of the magazine towards the back of the firearm or downwards out of the base of the magazine.
Indicator 606 is configured to provide a firearm operator with approximate data on the contents of the magazine because it will extend further out of the base of the magazine as each cartridge is fired. In this way, the firearm operator is provided with a general indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. When the last cartridge in the magazine is fed into the chamber of the firearm, indicator 610 fully extends out of the base of the magazine.
A third embodiment provides a firearm operator with both approximate data on the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm, as well as exact data when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm by providing two separate indicators. FIG. 7 illustrates an example firearm magazine device 700, in accordance with the third embodiment. Like device 300, device 400, and device 500, device 700 is operated by a first lanyard 706, which is attached to a follower 702. First lanyard 706 is fed through a ferrule 708, at the base of the magazine, which turns the lanyard approximately 90 degrees. First lanyard 706 connects to a first indicator 710, which is here depicted as fully extended (because there is only one cartridge remaining in the magazine). First indicator 710 is spring-loaded by a first retraction spring 712, which forces indicator 710 to retract into the base of the device when there is no tension on the lanyard.
Unlike the magazine device depicted in FIGS. 3-6, device 700 also includes a second lanyard 716, which is attached to a first coil of a spring 704. Second lanyard 716 is fed through ferrule 708 at the base of the magazine, which turns the lanyard approximately 90 degrees. Second lanyard 716 connects to a second indicator 718. Second indicator 718 is spring-loaded by a second retraction spring 720, which forces second indicator 718 to retract into the base of the device when there is no tension on the lanyard.
The first coil of spring 720, which is attached to second lanyard 718, travels a small distance compared to follower 702. As such, the second lanyard begins to pull on the second indicator after the first cartridge has been fired, which in turn causes the second indicator to extend out of the magazine. The second indicator is mounted on the magazine so that it extends from a different area of the base of the magazine compared to the first indicator. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the second indicator extends horizontally out of the base of the magazine towards the front of the firearm in the same direction as the first indicator. In other embodiments, however, the second indicator extends in a different direction than the first indicator, such as horizontally out of the base of the magazine towards the back of the firearm or downwards out of the base of the magazine.
The second indicator is configured to provide a firearm operator with approximate data on the contents of the magazine because it will extend further out of the base of the magazine as each cartridge is fired. The first indicator, however, provides the firearm operator with exact data when a critical few cartridges are left in the firearm. In this way, the firearm operator is provided with a general indication of the number of cartridges left in the firearm until the firearm is almost empty at which time the operator is provided with an exact indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm.
FIG. 8 depicts a top down view of the base of the magazine device depicted in FIG. 7, in accordance with the third embodiment, and depicts a first indicator 802, a first retraction spring 804, a first lanyard 806, a ferrule 808, a second indicator 810, a second retraction spring 812, and a second lanyard 814. In FIG. 8, second lanyard 814 is pulling on second indicator 810 forcing second indicator to extend out of the base of device 800. First lanyard 806 is not pulling on first indicator 802, thus first retraction spring 804 forces first indicator 802 to retract into the base of device 800. As discussed above, second indicator 810 will extend further and further out of the base of device 800 as each cartridge is fired and first indicator 802 will extend partially out of the base of device 800 when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm and will extend fully out of the device when one cartridge remains in the firearm. In this way, the firearm operator is provided with a general indication of the number of cartridges left in the firearm until the firearm is almost empty at which time the operator is provided with an exact indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm.
FIG. 9 a illustrates an example firearm magazine device 900, in accordance with a fourth embodiment. Firearm magazine device 900 uses a rotary indicator 908 that eliminates the need for a ferrule. FIG. 9 b illustrates a zoomed in view of rotary indicator 908, and also includes a spring 904, a lanyard 906, and a torsion spring 910. As shown in FIG. 9 b, rotary indicator 908 rotates along the “x” axis and has a total rotation of 90 degrees. Firearm magazine device 900 includes cartridge(s) 912 that are fed into the chamber of the firearm when the firearm is fired by the operator. As cartridge(s) 912 are fed into the chamber of the firearm, a spring 904 pushes a follower 902 towards the top of device 900. Follower 902 is attached to a lanyard 906. Lanyard 906 is attached to the internal arm of rotary indicator 908, and causes rotary indicator 908 to rotate in opposition of the force exerted by a torsion spring 910 when there is no tension on lanyard 906, thereby forcing rotary indicator 908 to swing into the base of the magazine when there is no tension on the lanyard. When lanyard 906 begins to pull on rotary indicator 908, rotary indicator 908 rotates on the “x” axis and the visible portion of rotary indicator 908 rotates out of the base of the magazine.
By varying the length of lanyard 906 and/or the length of an internal arm of rotary indicator 908 (depicted in FIG. 9 b), firearm magazine device 900 can be configured to provide an indication when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm and/or to provide an indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. For instance, the length of lanyard 906 can be increased so that lanyard 906 begins pulling on rotary indicator 908 when only a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm. Alternately, the length of lanyard 906 can be decreased so that lanyard 906 begins pulling on rotary indicator 908 before only a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm (such as when the first cartridge is fired), thereby providing an indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. In addition, it is to be appreciated that varying the length of the internal arm of rotary indicator 908 varies the travel distance of the visible portion of rotary indicator 908 in relation to the travel distance of the follower. For example, if the length of the internal arm of rotary indicator 908 is large, the visible portion of rotary indicator 908 will travel a small distance as each cartridge is fired. In contrast, if the length of the internal arm of rotary indicator 908 is smaller, the visible portion of rotary indicator 908 will travel a greater distance as each cartridge is fired. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that magazine device 900 can be customized to provide a desired indication by varying the length of lanyard 906 and/or the length of the internal arm of rotary indicator 908.
Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that any of the embodiments discussed herein can be easily modified to use a rotary indicator in place of, or in addition to, the straight indicator and ferrule embodiments discussed above. For instance, rotary indicator 908 can be used to provide an indication when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm. Rotary indicator 908 can also be used to provide a general indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. Furthermore, two rotary indicators can be used to provide both an indication when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm as well as a general indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm. Further still, rotary indicator 908 can be used in combination with a straight indicator to provide both an indication when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm as well as a general indication of the number of cartridges remaining in the firearm.
FIG. 9 c depicts an alternate shape for rotary indicator 908 that functions like the rotary indicator depicted in FIG. 9 b by rotating along the “x” axis thereby eliminating the need for a ferrule. Similar to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, FIG. 9 c also includes a spring 904, a lanyard 906, and a torsion spring 910. Furthermore, it is to be appreciated that other rotary indicators are contemplated that may be physically different in shape than the rotary indicators depicted in FIG. 9 a-9 c, but function like the rotary indicators discussed herein.
FIG. 10 illustrates an example firearm magazine device 1000, in accordance with a fifth embodiment. Firearm magazine device 1000 uses a pawl rather than a ferrule. The pawl is configured to prevent an indicator from being forced out of the magazine device by a compression spring until a critical few cartridges remain in the magazine. Similar to the firearm magazine devices illustrated throughout, firearm magazine device 1000 is configured to hold cartridge(s) 1014 that are fed into the chamber of the firearm when the firearm is fired by a firearm operator. As cartridge(s) 1014 are fed into the chamber of the firearm, a spring 1004 pushes a follower 1002 towards the top of device 1000. Follower 1002 is attached a lanyard 1006 that is attached to a pawl 1008. Pawl 1008 is configured to prevent an indicator 1010 from being forced out of device 1000, by a compression spring 1012, when there is no tension on the lanyard. For example, as depicted in FIG. 10, there is no tension on lanyard 1006 and pawl 1008 prevents indicator 1010 from extending out of the device. The length of lanyard 1006 is such that there is no tension on the lanyard when there are more than a critical few cartridges in the firearm. As described throughout, a critical few cartridges can refer to any number of cartridges. Follower 1002 is configured to provide tension on lanyard 1006 when a critical few cartridges remain in device 1000. The tension on the lanyard causes lanyard 1006 to lift pawl 1008 thereby permitting indicator 1010 to be driven out of device 1000 by compression spring 1012.
FIG. 11. illustrates an example firearm magazine device 1100, in accordance with the fifth embodiment, that has no cartridges remaining in the magazine (and one cartridge left in the chamber of the firearm). As such, FIG. 11 depicts the situation in which a “critical few cartridges” corresponds to one cartridge remaining in the firearm. It is to be appreciated, however, that firearm magazine device 1100 may be configured so that a “critical few cartridges” corresponds to more than one cartridge remaining in the firearm (e.g., two, three, or four cartridges remaining in the firearm). Device 1100 operates in the same fashion as device 1000 and is operated by a lanyard 1106, which is attached to a follower 1102. The lanyard is also attached to a pawl 1108 that is configured to prevent an indicator 1110 from being forced out of device 1100, by a compression spring 1112, when there is no tension on the lanyard. In FIG. 4, the length of lanyard 1106 has been configured such that there is no tension on the lanyard until there is one cartridge left in the firearm. When there are no cartridges left in the magazine, and one cartridge in the chamber of the firearm for a total of one cartridge in the firearm, follower 1102 provides tension on the lanyard. The tension on lanyard 1106 causes the lanyard to lift pawl 1108 thereby permitting indicator 1110 to be driven out of device 1100 by compression spring 1112.
Indicator 1110, when extended, can be both seen and felt by the operator of the firearm. Indicator 1110 is depicted in FIG. 11 as extending horizontally out of the base of the magazine towards the front of the firearm. This configuration allows the firearm operator to feel the indicator without having to manipulate the firearm as discussed throughout. It is to be understood, however, that the indicator could also extend in different directions, such as horizontally towards the back of the firearm or downwards out of the base of the firearm. Furthermore, the indicator itself is depicted in FIG. 11 as a tiny rod, but it is to be understood that the indicator could be in any form that allows the indicator to be seen and/or felt by the firearm operator.
Firearm magazine device 1000 and 1100 can be customized by a manufacturer and/or a firearm operator to provide an indication when a desired number of critical few cartridges remain in the firearm. It is to be appreciated that different firearm operators may desire to receive an indication for a varying number of critical few cartridges. For instance, a first firearm operator may desire to receive an indication when three cartridges remain in the firearm. Alternately, a second firearm operator may desire to receive an indication when only one cartridge remains in the firearm. The number of cartridges corresponding to a “critical few cartridges”, therefore, may be adjusted to any desired number by a manufacturer and/or an operator of the firearm magazine device by varying the length of the lanyard. For instance, the length of the lanyard can be increased or decreased so that the lanyard lifts the pawl when a desired number of cartridges remain in the device. In the example above, the first firearm operator may adjust the length of the lanyard to lift the pawl, thereby permitting the indicator to extend out of the base of the magazine, when three cartridges remain in the firearm. Alternately, the second operator may adjust the length of the lanyard to lift the pawl, thereby permitting the indicator to extend out of the base of the magazine, when one cartridge remains in the firearm. It is to be appreciated that increasing the length of the lanyard will decrease the number of critical few cartridges at which the indication will be provided. Alternately, decreasing the length of the lanyard will increase the number of critical few cartridges at which the indication will be provided.
FIG. 12 depicts a rifle 1202, such as an M16, and a magazine 1204. Magazine 1204 is configured to slide into rifle 1202 and is configured to contain cartridge(s) that are used by rifle 1202. Magazine 1204 also includes one or more indicator(s) 1206 that are configured to provide indication(s) when a critical few cartridges remain in the rife and/or indication(s) of the number of cartridges remaining in rifle 1202. While FIG. 12 depicts two different indicators, it is to be appreciated that indicator(s) 1206 can include any one and/or a combination of the indicators discussed herein (e.g., a ferrule indicator, a rotary indicator, or a pawl indicator). It is to be appreciated that providing an indicator in the magazine of the rifle enables the indication system to function with little or no modification to the rifle itself. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the indication system described herein is backwards compatible with rifle magazines that are already in existence.
Rifle 1202 can be held by an operator of the rifle with a trigger hand on the trigger of the rife and a non-trigger hand on the magazine of the rifle. It is to be appreciated, therefore, that indicator(s) 1206 can be felt by the “non-trigger hand” of the firearm operator without moving or manipulating the firearm. In other words, the firearm operator can be provided with a tactile indication while holding the rife in the usual manner.

Claims

1. A firearm magazine device configured to hold one or more cartridges for a firearm, comprising:

a spring-loaded follower that travels upwards as each of the one or more cartridges are fired by the firearm;

a pawl configured to prevent a spring-loaded indicator from extending out of the firearm magazine device; and

a lanyard connected to both the spring-loaded follower and to the pawl, the lanyard configured to lift the pawl when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm magazine device thereby permitting the spring-loaded indicator to extend out of the firearm magazine device.

2. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 1, wherein the spring-loaded follower is configured to provide tension on the lanyard when a critical few cartridges remain in the firearm magazine device, and wherein the tension on the lanyard causes the lanyard to lift the pawl thereby permitting the spring-loaded indicator to extend out of the firearm magazine device.

3. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 1, wherein a compression spring causes the spring-loaded indicator to extend out of the firearm magazine device when the pawl is lifted by the lanyard.

4. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 1, wherein the critical few cartridges comprises one, two, or three cartridges.

5. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 1, wherein a number of the critical few cartridges is adjustable by an operator of the firearm by increasing or decreasing the length of the lanyard.

6. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator can be felt by a trigger hand of an operator of the firearm, without the trigger hand having to move away from the trigger, when the indicator is extended out of the firearm magazine device.

7. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator can be felt by a non-trigger hand of an operator of the firearm, without moving or manipulating the firearm, when the indicator is extended out of the firearm magazine device.

8. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator is configured to extend horizontally out of the bottom of the firearm magazine device.

9. A firearm magazine device configured to hold one or more cartridges, comprising:

an indicator, the indicator configured to provide a visual and tactile indication when a critical few or no cartridges remain in the magazine device.

10. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 9, wherein the indicator is configured to provide a visual and tactile indication by extending horizontally out of the bottom of the firearm magazine device.

11. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 9, wherein the critical few cartridges comprises one cartridge in the magazine device, and wherein the indicator is configured to provide an additional visual and tactile indication when there are no cartridges in the magazine device.

12. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 11, wherein the indicator is configured to provide the visual and tactile indication by extending partially out of the magazine device, and wherein the indicator is configured to provide the additional visual and tactile indication by extending fully out of the magazine device.

13. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 11, further comprising an additional indicator, the additional indicator configured to provide a third visual and tactile indication of the number of cartridges in the magazine device.

14. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 9, wherein the critical few cartridges comprises one, two, or three cartridges.

15. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 9, wherein a number of the critical few cartridges is adjustable by an operator of the firearm.

16. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 9, wherein the indicator can be felt by a trigger hand of an operator of the firearm device, without the trigger hand having to move away from the trigger, when the indicator is extended out of the firearm magazine device.

17. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 9, wherein the indicator can be felt by a non-trigger hand of an operator of the firearm, without moving or manipulating the firearm, when the indicator is extended out of the firearm magazine device.

18. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a pawl, the pawl configured to prevent the indicator from extending out of the firearm device.

19. The firearm magazine device as recited in claim 18, wherein the pawl is lifted when the critical few cartridges remain in the magazine device thereby permitting the indicator to extend out of the firearm device.

20. A firearm magazine device configured to hold one or more cartridges for a firearm, comprising:

a lanyard connected to the spring-loaded follower and configured to:

pull on an indicator when there are two cartridges left in the firearm causing the indicator to extend partially out of the magazine; and

pull on the indicator when there is one cartridge left in the firearm causing the indicator to extend fully out of the magazine.