GB2332942A - Air gun magazine - Google Patents

Abstract

A magazine for air gun pellets, for use with a repeater action air rifle (10), has an annulus 80 adapted to be mounted about its axis adjacent the breech (48) of the rifle. The annulus has two rows 81, 82 each having a multiplicity of radially extending bores 40. Each bore 40 is configured to receive and retain a respective pellet with the head of the pellet directed outwardly. When the magazine has been rotated to align that bore 40 with the breech, the pellet may be pushed out of its bore and into the breech (48) by a breech-closing pin (46) slidably arranged within the annulus for movement into and out of the breech. The air rifle includes a reciprocating pistol grip arranged to reciprocate the breech-closing pin to effect loading, to index the magazine by one bore-spacing and to cock the firing mechanism.

Description

AIR GUN MAGAZINE This invention relates to a magazine for air gun pellets, for use with an air gun and particularly - but not exclusively - with a repeater action air rifle. This invention further relates to a repeater action air gun in combination with a magazine of the invention.

A repeater action air gun has a magazine holding a number of pellets for loading one at a time into the breech of the gun by means of a re-loading mechanism operated by the shooter after firing a pellet. There have been many designs for such magazines, all of which have the same objective of holding a significant number of pellets in such a way that the pellets may be extracted one at a time without jamming and be loaded into the breech using as low forces as possible. Air gun pellets are particularly susceptible to damage during a mechanical loading operation since they are made of relatively soft lead or lead alloys and in practice it has proved difficult to design a mechanism able to extract pellets from a magazine in a reliable manner and to load those pellets into the breech without damage.

A further design aim of a repeater air gun incorporating a magazine is to allow easy and rapid changing of a spent magazine with a fresh magazine precharged with pellets. Most known designs of magazine hold pellets arranged in a linear manner end-to-end with a thrust rod pushing the last pellet of the line towards the breech to present the front pellet of the line ready for loading. This requires a thrust rod longer than the length of the line of pellets together with a spring having a relatively low spring rate in order that the load imparted by the spring varies to the smallest possible extent over its range of action. In turn, this has meant that the number of pellets which can be held in such a magazine is severely limited. Moreover, when the magazine is empty, the thrust rod will extend through the magazine for the full length of the line of pellets and changing the magazine requires the thrust rod to be extracted from the magazine first, before the magazine can be removed. This significantly slows the magazine changing operation.

Yet another disadvantage of a magazine which holds a number of pellets in a line is that the length or type of pellets which may be employed is usually somewhat restricted. If operation has been optimised for a particular type of pellet, the reloading mechanism may well not function reliably, if at all, with some other type.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to address the problems as described above of known designs of magazines for air guns and so to provide a magazine which is easy to use and reliable in operation, with a reduced likelihood of damage to the pellets.

According to the present invention there is provided a magazine for airgun pellets, comprising an annulus adapted to be rotatably mounted about the axis of the annulus adjacent the breech of an air-gun, the annul us having a plurality of generally outwardly-directed through-bores each arranged at a common angle to the annulus axis, the outer end of each bore being configured to receive and grip a respective pellet with the head of the pellet directed outwardly, whereby in use with the magazine mounted on an air-gun, a pellet in a through-bore aligned with the breech may be pushed out of its through-bore and into the breech by a breech-closing pin slidably arranged within the annulus for movement into and out of the breech.

With the magazine of this invention, each pellet is held in an individual through-bore, ready for loading into the breech of a gun on which the magazine is mounted. Pellets are not stacked end-to-end in a line and the likelihood of jamming or pellet damage is at least greatly reduced, if not virtually eliminated.

Moreover, the loading mechanism of the gun need perform only a relatively small movement, to take a pellet from its through-bore into the breech, so simplifying the mechanism and reducing the re-loading forces.

In order to assist retention of the pellets in the through-bores and to prevent accidental loss of a pellet following location in a through-bore, it is highly preferred for the annulus to include a resiliently deformable outer collar in which is formed a plurality of recesses each defining a part of a respective through-bore. By making each recess slightly smaller than the head diameter of a pellet, the head may be held securely by the collar to retain the pellet in its bore. Advantageously each recess is of generally U-shaped form since this gives a greater flexibility to the part of the through-bore defined by the collar and so facilitates loading of the pellets into the magazine. The collar may be made of a natural or synthetic rubber material.

According to an alternative form of this invention, there is provided a magazine for air-gun pellets, comprising an annulus adapted to be rotatably mounted about the axis of the annulus adjacent the breech of an air-gun, the annulus having a plurality of generally outwardly-directed through-bores each arranged at a common angle to the annulus axis, each through-bore being configured to receive a respective pellet with the head of the pellet directed outwardly, a groove formed in the annulus and intersecting each through-bore, and resiliently-deformable material located in the groove whereby a pellet pushed into a bore will be retained therein by said resiliently-deformable material so that when in use with the magazine mounted on an air-gun, a pellet in a through-bore aligned with the breech may be pushed out of its through-bore and into the breech by a breech-closing pin slidably arranged within the annulus for movement into and out of the breech.

For this alternative form, though it would be possible to provide an individual groove for each through-bore, it is highly preferred that said groove is formed around the annulus and intersects all of the through-bores. In this case, said groove may lie on a conical surface which intersects each through-bore at a radial position spaced inwardly from the outer surface of the annulus. With such a magazine, the resilient material preferably comprises an endless ring of an elastomeric material having a relaxed circumferential length not greater than the circumference of the base of the groove. For example, the resilient material may comprise a preformed O-ring.

Either form of magazine of this invention preferably has each bore extending in a substantially true radial direction, with all of said bores lying on a common radial plane.

A magazine of this invention may have two rows of generally radially directed bores, arranged respectively on a pair of parallel radial planes. In this way, the number of pellets held by the magazine may be doubled, the magazine being located on an air gun to present either one row or the other to the breech.

When the pellets of one row have all been fired, the magazine may be lifted off a holder on the gun, turned over and relocated on the holder to present the other row.

When the first form of magazine has two rows of through bores, there may be two separate collars of resiliently deformable material, one for each row respectively and each having a plurality of U-shaped recesses. Conveniently, the bores of one row are axially aligned with the bores of the other row and in this case the open end of each recess may be directed towards the corresponding recess of a bore in the other row.

A preferred form of air gun for use with either form of magazine as described above may have a mechanism to index the magazine and to turn the magazine one step at a time around the axis of the annulus. For this purpose, the magazine may have a ring of driving teeth at the same pitch as that of the through-bores, and in a case where the magazine has two rows of throughbores, the ring of teeth may be positioned between the two rows. Such a ring of teeth may be engaged by a reciprocating pawl provided on the gun and which is cycled during the performance of a loading action.

This invention extends to a repeater action air gun in combination with a magazine of this invention as described above. Preferably, the air gun is in the form of an air rifle having a reservoir for compressed air together with a suitable valving mechanism to release a quantity of compressed air into the breech of the gun following loading to place a pellet in the breech. The loading mechanism may include a loading pin arranged for movement into and out of the breech, from within the central region of a supported magazine, so as to move into the breech a pellet from the magazine through-bore for the time being aligned with the breech.

In a repeater action air gun as described above. the magazine is conveniently mounted with its axis perpendicular to the barrel axis, and with the outer cylindrical surface of the magazine closely adjacent the breech of the gun.

Provided that access to much of the magazine surface can be gained when the magazine is mounted on a gun it would be possible to reload the magazine whilst still mounted, rather than with the magazine separated from the gun.

Moreover, a glance at the magazine will show approximately how many pellets are left to be fired. Neither of these advantages are available with the known designs of magazine which store pellets end-to-end, as described hereinbefore.

By way of example only, two specific embodiments of magazine arranged in accordance with the present invention and for use with a repeater air rifle will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a repeater air rifle configured for use with either embodiment of magazine, and having various parts omitted for clarity; Figure 2 is a detailed view of part of the rifle of Figure 1 showing a loading locking mechanism; Figures 3 and 4 are end views on the loading locking mechanism of Figure 2, respectively in the locked and released settings; Figure 5 is a partially cut away side view of the loading mechanism of the rifle of Figure 1 and showing a first embodiment of magazine of this invention positioned on the rifle for the loading of pellets into the rifle breech; Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 but with the mechanism partway through a loading cycle; Figures 7A and 7B are respectively side and plan views of a loading pin used in the rifle of Figure 1; Figures 8A and 8B are respectively side and plan views of the embodiment of magazine; Figure 9 is a plan view of a second embodiment of magazine of the present invention; Figure 10 is a side view of the magazine of Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 6, but with the magazine of Figures 9 and 10 fitted to the air rifle.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown an air rifle 10 having a stock 11, a receiver body 12 (hereinafter referred to simply as a "receiver") including a breech from which rounds are fired, a fore-end 13 including a fixed fore-stock, and barrel 14 projecting forwardly from the receiver 12, above the fore-end 13.

The rifle further is provided with a pistol grip 15 including a trigger 16 and trigger guard 17, mounted below the receiver 12 adjacent the stock 11. On the upper side of the receiver there is mounted a telescopic sight 18.

As described above, the rifle is essentially conventional. In the case of a known form of pump-action repeater rifle, the fore-end 13 is slidably mounted on the receiver 12 and linked to the required mechanisms for re-loading the rifle and cocking the firing mechanisms ready to discharge the next round loaded into the breech of the rifle. However, in the rifle of Figure 1, the fore-end 13 is fixed to the forward end of the receiver 12 so that the stock 11, receiver 12 and fore-end 13 form a rigidly connected body.

The re-loading and cocking mechanisms of the rifle of Figure 1 are operatively connected to the pistol grip 15 which latter is slidably mounted on the receiver for reciprocating movement rearwardly and forwardly, as shown by arrow A marked on Figure 1. Reciprocation of the pistol grip through a cycle of movement from the forward position shown in solid lines in Figure 1 rearwardly to the position shown in long chain lines and back to the forward position cycles the mechanisms within the rifle to re-load the breech and cock the firing mechanism ready for the firing of the next round. These mechanisms will be described in more detail below.

A right-handed shooter will hold the fore-end 13 with his left hand and the pistol grip 15 with his right hand, bracing the rifle with his left arm to pull the stock into his shoulder. Loading of the rifle is performed by reciprocating the pistol grip 15 with his right arm. In view of the reduced leverage on account of the position of the pistol grip on the receiver, the rifle will be subjected to much reduced lateral forces on performing a re-loading action, as compared to a conventional pump-action rifle and consequently it has been demonstrated that it is possible for high-speed loading to be performed whilst maintaining a better aim on a target.

The arrangement of the mechanisms linked to the sliding pistol grip will now be described in more detail.

The lower portion of the receiver 12 defines a T-slot (not visible in the drawings), the pistol grip 15 having a slider 20 which locates in that T-slot and is guided thereby for forward and backward sliding movement along the length of the receiver. The face of wall 21 of the receiver is formed with a slot 22 through which a transfer plate 23 is connected to the slider 20 by means of a pair of screws 24. The slider also carries the trigger 16 and trigger guard 17. A crossbolt safety 25 is mounted on the slider 20, which safety 25 may be moved transversely of the slider so as to lock movement of the trigger or to release the trigger ready for firing.

The forward end 27 of the slider 20 is located adjacent the front face of the fore-end 13 and carries a peg 28 having an enlarged head 29. When in the forward position, the peg 28 passes through an aperture 30 in a locking plate 31, so that the head 29 engages the forward transverse surface of the locking plate 31. The plate is mounted for pivoting movement about the axis of the barrel 14 (see Figures 3 and 4), a spring (not shown) being provided to urge the locking plate 31 in the direction of arrow B to the position shown in Figure 3.

The engagement of the head 29 with said locking plate transverse surface then prevents rearward movement of the slider 20 and so also of the pistol grip.

When the rifle is to be loaded, stub 32 on plate 31 is depressed in the direction of arrow C (Figure 4) for example by the thumb of the left hand of the user holding the fore-end, against the action of the spring and so permitting the head 29 to pass through aperture 30 in the locking plate 31. A pin 33 projects forwardly from the receiver through an elongate hole 34 formed in the plate 31, the hole and pin together being configured so as to define limiting positions shown respectively in Figures 3 and 4, for the movement of the locking plate 31.

The receiver extends rearwardly between the side cheeks of the stock for some distance, and has an upper face 37 which carries a generally cylindrical boss 38 arranged with its axis perpendicular to the axis of the barrel. Rotatably mounted on that boss is a cylindrical magazine 39 (shown in more detail in Figures 8A and 8B), the magazine having two rows of generally radial openings 40 each for receiving a respective pellet for firing from the rifle. In this described embodiment, there are 32 openings arranged in two parallel rows. The magazine may be mounted on the boss 38 either way up, so presenting one row or the other row of pellets, ready for loading into the breech of the receiver. The boss 38 holds two diametrically opposed spring-loaded balls 41 (Figures 8A and 8B) projecting from its outer surface and which partially engage in opposed openings 40 in the lower row thereof in the magazine, both to hold the magazine on the boss and to provide an indexing mechanism for the magazine.

The magazine itself (Figures 8A and 8B) has a metallic core 42 together with two rings 43 of a resilient elastomeric material around the outer surface of the core, the rings and core together defining the two rows of openings 40. One pellet may be located in each opening respectively with the skirt of the pellet directed inwardly, each pellet being held by the resilient inter-engagement of the pellet head with the elastomeric material. In this way, each pellet is held against accidental release from the magazine but may be driven from the magazine by means of a pin acting from the inside of the magazine and engaging the pellet through its skirt. Between the rings 43, access may be gained to teeth formed on the core 42, between the respective rows of openings.

As shown in Figure 8B, the boss 38 has a slot 45 extending thereacross in alignment with the axis of the rifle, a loading pin 46 (Figures 7A and 7B) being slidably located within that slot. The pin has a forward section 47 of reduced diameter, to fit within the skirt of a range of air rifle pellets with which the air rifle is intended to be used, so as to permit the pin to engage a pellet aligned with the breech 48 of the rifle and then thrust that pellet forward into the breech. The main part of the loading pin 46, behind the forward section 47, has a diameter which is a close sliding fit within the breech 48. Located in an annular groove in the pin 46 is an O-ring 49, adapted to seal the breech behind a loaded pellet.

The loading pin 46 is carried on an arm 50 projecting from block 51 provided with a screw-threaded lock mechanism. The block 51 is releasably attached to a bar 53 slidably mounted in a channel formed within the upper part 54 of the receiver. The block 51 is located on the end face of the bar 53 by a stub 55 received in a bore in the end face of the bar 53, and secured by means of the screw-threaded lock mechanism which includes a transverse pin 56 projecting from both side faces of the block 51 and engageable by a coupling 57 pivoted to the bar, the coupling having recesses 58 to receive the projecting ends of the pin 56. A T-bolt 59 is threaded into a transverse bore in the pin 56 so that rotation of the bolt 59 will draw the pin rearwardly into the recesses 58 of the coupling 57, thereby securely to lock the block 51 to the bar 53. Conversely, releasing bolt 59 by a couple of turns frees the transverse pin 56 from the recesses so allowing the coupling 57 to be pivoted upwardly (shown in broken lines in Figure 5) and thereafter permitting removal of the block 51 and the loading pin 46, away from the magazine 39. Then, the magazine may be lifted off the boss 38 and either turned over or replaced by a fully charged magazine.

As an alternative to removing the magazine 39 from the rifle when all pellets from a row of openings 40 have been fired, and either turning the magazine over or replacing it by another, full-charged magazine, it is possible to re-charge the magazine while it remains mounted on boss 38. The pellets may simply be inserted one at a time into each opening 40, manually indexing the magazine round as required to gain access to each opening.

A driving pin 60 upstands from plate 23 and is positioned between a pair of spaced abutments 61 projecting laterally from bar 53, through a slot 62 in the receiver side wall. The spacing of the abutments gives a certain amount of lost motion as between the bar 53 and the plate 23.

Rotation of the magazine 39 is performed by a pawl 63 pivoted to the plate 23 about a vertical axis and urged by spring 64 in a clockwise direction when viewed from above (Figure 8B). The pawl extends slidably through a slot 65 formed through part 66 of the receiver, which slot provides location for the end portion 67 of the pawl. The free end of the pawl is received within the annular channel between the two rings 43 of resilient material of the magazine 39 such that the free end may engage the teeth of the magazine core 42, between the openings 40.

The mechanisms described above operate as follows. Starting as shown in Figure 5, the locking plate 31 is moved in the direction of arrow C to free the slider 20, and then the pistol grip is pulled backwardly and pushed forward to complete the reloading cycle. The movement of the pistol grip is guided by the slider 20, and is transferred to the driving plate 23. Initial rearward movement of the plate 23 engages driving pin 60 with rearward abutment 61 on bar 53, and then withdraws the loading pin 46 from the breech 48. During this, the free end of the pawl 63 is moved into the annular slot between the two rings 43 of the magazine, to engage the teeth between those rings. Continued rearward movement of the plate 23 rotates the magazine to its next indexed position, presenting the next pellet to be loaded in alignment with the breech. Forward movement of the plate 23 carries the pawl forward with its free end 66 riding over the next tooth of the magazine core, and after driving pin 60 has engaged the forward abutment 61, bar 53 is also moved forwardly. This pushes the next pellet out of the magazine into the breech, and the action is completed with the plate 23 and pistol grip fully forward, the breech being sealed closed with a pellet loaded. At the completion of this loading cycle, the head 29 of the peg 28 is once more caught by the locking plate 31.

It is possible that if pellets having a relatively long skirt are loaded into the magazine, those pellets could be moved very slightly out of their throughbores as the pellets pass over the balls 41 provided on the boss 38. Also, if the pellets are loaded imperfectly in the magazine or if the magazine is subjected to severe shocks, either before mounting the magazine on the rifle or subsequently, it is possible that the pellets could project slightly from their respective bores in the magazine. In this case, it would be possible for the projecting head of a pellet to jam against the end face of the breech 48, as the magazine is turned by pawl 63. To guard against this possibility and ensure that all of the pellets are properly located in their bores immediately before being presented to the breech for loading, a post 70 upstands from the upper surface of the receiver adjacent the breech 48 so that the heads of the pellets are guided fully back into their respective bores just before moving to the loading position. Such a post could be rotatable, or may be made of a low friction plastics material such as of polytetrafluoroethylene.

The rifle described above includes a knock-open valve mechanism to release a pre-determined quantity of air contained within a reservoir 68 (Figure 5) of highly compressed air located within the stock 11. The valve mechanism is operated by a spring loaded hammer, freed by the trigger 16 to release air into the breech between a loaded pellet and the O-ring 49 on the loading pin 46.

The reloading action of sliding the pistol grip back and forward compresses the spring of the hammer and also locks the hammer ready for release on pulling the trigger. Such an air reservoir, knock-open valve mechanism, the required transfer passages, the spring-loaded hammer and trigger release are essentially conventional and will be understood by those skilled in the art. Since these form no part of the present invention, they are neither shown in the drawings nor will they be described in further detail here.

Figures 9 to 11 show a second embodiment of magazine which may be used with an air rifle as described above. In the following, only the second embodiment of magazine will be described and parts common with those described above are given like reference characters; those parts will not be described again here.

The magazine shown in Figures 9 and 10, comprises an annulus 80 of a rigid material such as a relatively hard plastics material or a metal. Two rows 81 and 82 of equi-spaced generally radial openings 40 are formed in the annulus 80, each opening being suitably configured to receive a respective pellet for firing from the rifle. In this second embodiment, there are thirty two openings 40, arranged in two parallel rows. As with the first embodiment, the present magazine may be mounted either way up on boss 38 of the rifle, so presenting one row or the other row of pellets, ready for loading into the breech of the receiver.

Also formed in the annulus 80 are two circumferential grooves 83 and 84, each groove being formed on the surface of a cone having a conical angle of 67.50. The grooves are formed into the annulus from the end faces thereof such that groove 83 intersects bores 40 of row 81, and groove 84 intersects bores 40 of row 82, the intersection taking place at a location spaced inwardly of each bore from the radially outer end thereof.

Located in each groove 83 and 84 is a respective O-ring 85 and 86 formed from a synthetic elastomeric material of circular cross-sectional shape.

Each O-ring has a relaxed circumferencial length slightly smaller than the base circumference of the associated groove, so that the ring will naturally lie at the bottom of the groove. As best seen in Figure 10, the O-ring extends across each bore 40, adjacent the edge of the bore.

As with the first embodiment, teeth 87 are formed around the annulus 80, between the two rows 80 and 81 of bores 40. These teeth are engaged by end portion 67 of pawl 63 when the magazine is in use on an air rifle as described above.

The second embodiment of magazine is used in precisely the same manner as the first embodiment, except that the pellets must be loaded into the through-bores 40 from the interior of the annul us, by pushing each pellet into an empty bore from the radially inner end thereof. Thus, loading must be performed with the magazine removed from the rifle. On pushing a pellet into a bore, the O-ring is moved outwardly along its groove by an extent sufficient to permit the pellet fully to enter the bore, the O-ring then holding the pellet in place by locating in the waist of the pellet, between the head and skirt thereof.

Once fully charged with pellets, the magazine may be placed on boss 38 of the rifle and loading pin 46 may push a pellet out of a bore for the time being aligned with the breech of the rifle, into the breech ready for firing

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS 1. A magazine for air-gun pellets, comprising an annul us adapted to be rotatably mounted about the axis of the annul us adjacent the breech of an airgun, the annul us having a plurality of generally outwardly-directed throughbores each arranged at a common angle to the annulus axis, the outer end of each bore being configured to receive and grip a respective pellet with the head of the pellet directed outwardly, whereby in use with the magazine mounted on an air-gun a pellet in a through-bore aligned with the breech may be pushed out of its through-bore and into the breech by a breech-closing pin slidably arranged within the annulus for movement into and out of the breech.
2. 2. A magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annul us includes a resiliently-deformable outer collar in which is formed a plurality of recesses each defining a part of a respective through-bore.
3. 3. A magazine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each recess in the outer collar is of generally U-shaped form.
4. 4. A magazine for air-gun pellets, comprising an annulus adapted to be rotatably mounted about the axis of the annul us adjacent the breech of an airgun, the annulus having a plurality of generally outwardly-directed throughbores each arranged at a common angle to the annulus axis, each through-bore being configured to receive a respective pellet with the head of the pellet directed outwardly, a groove formed in the annulus and intersecting each through-bore, and resilientlydeformable material located in the groove whereby a pellet pushed into a bore will be retained therein by said resiliently-deformable material so that when in use with the magazine mounted on an air-gun, a pellet in a through-bore aligned with the breech may be pushed out of its through-bore and into the breech by a breech-closing pin slidably arranged within the annulus for movement into and out of the breech.
5. 5. A magazine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said groove is formed around the annul us and intersects all of the through-bores.
6. 6. A magazine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said groove lies on a conical surface which surface intersects each through-bore at a radial position spaced inwardly of the outer surface of the annul us.
7. 7. A magazine as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the resilient material comprises an endless ring of an elastomeric material having a relaxed circumferential length not greater than the circumference of the base of the groove.
8. 8. A magazine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the resilient material comprises a preformed O-ring.
9. 9. A magazine as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each bore extends substantially radially, with all of said bores lying on a common radial plane.
10. 10. A magazine as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the annulus is provided with a ring of driving teeth at the same pitch as the throughbores.
11. 11. A magazine as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the annulus has two rows of generally radially-directed bores, arranged respectively on a pair of parallel radial planes.
12. 12. A magazine as claimed in claim 10 and claim 11, wherein the driving teeth are arranged between the two rows of through-bores.
13. 13. A magazine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the through-bores of the two rows thereof are axially aligned.
14. 14. A magazine as claimed in claim 13, wherein each tooth is defined by the material of the annulus between the pairs of through-bores in the two rows thereof.
15. 15. A magazine as claimed in claim 1 and claim 11, wherein there is provided an outer collar for each row of through-bores, each collar defining respective Ushaped recesses aligned with the through-bores.
16. 16. A magazine as claimed in claim 15, wherein each U-shaped recess has its open end directed towards the corresponding recess of an axially aligned through-bore in the other row thereof.
17. 17. A magazine substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 8A and 8B or Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
18. 18. A repeater action air rifle in combination with a magazine as claimed in any of the preceding claims.