U.S. patent application number 11/094510 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for light assembly of pre-defined shape.
Invention is credited to Ira Kay, Rodney H. Miller.
Application Number | 20060026882 11/094510 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46321894 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060026882 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Rodney H. ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
Light assembly of pre-defined shape
Abstract
A light assembly having a pre-defined shape is provided to be
removably attached to a mating guide provided on any convenient
device but advantageously provided on a weapon. The light assembly
comprises a housing provided with suitable optics having a light
source at one end thereof and batteries for powering the light
source through a switch. The housing has a pair of lateral members
which are movable between a retracted position and an extended
position so that, when the members are in the retracted position,
the light assembly has the above-mentioned pre-defined shape and
when the members are in the extended position, they are adapted to
engage the mating guide. Means for preventing the longitudinal
movement of the light assembly on the mating guide are also
provided with the light assembly. In a particularly advantageous
application, the light assembly can thus be easily mounted and used
as a target illumination and/or aiming device with a weapon or be
readily used as a separate and independent entity.
Inventors: |
Miller; Rodney H.; (Quebec,
CA) ; Kay; Ira; (Warrenton, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
600 13TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3096
US
|
Family ID: |
46321894 |
Appl. No.: |
11/094510 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10814584 |
Apr 1, 2004 |
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11094510 |
Mar 31, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 11/003
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/072 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/00 20060101
F41C023/00 |
Claims
1. A light assembly having a pre-defined shape, for removable
attachment to a mating guide, said light assembly comprising a
housing provided with suitable optics having a light source at one
end thereof and batteries for powering said light source through a
switch, said housing having: a) a pair of lateral members being
movable between a retracted position and an extended position,
wherein: when said members are in the retracted position, the light
assembly has said pre-defined shape; and when said members are in
the extended position, said members are adapted to engage said
mating guide; and b) means for preventing longitudinal movement of
the light assembly on the mating guide.
2. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing has
two sides, each one of said two sides being provided with a channel
for receiving a respective one of said lateral members, where each
one of said lateral members comprises an inner substantially planar
face bounded by a stop screw, and wherein the mating guide is
planar, parallel to the housing and perpendicular to the inner
planar face of the lateral members, said mating guide comprising
rail grooves parallel to each other projecting outwardly, planar to
the mating guide; said inner face of the lateral members being
adjacent to the housing and provided with a longitudinal groove
proximate and parallel to the lower edge, said longitudinal groove
being shaped and sized to slidably engage the flange.
3. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein when the
lateral members are further provided with locking means for locking
said lateral members in the retracted position and in the extended
position.
4. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein each channel is
shaped and sized to receive a corresponding lateral member, said
channel comprising a back face for maintaining the lateral member
within said channel.
5. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein each channel is
substantially U-shaped and sized to receive a corresponding lateral
member, said U-shaped channel being provided with guiding members
protruding outwardly and perpendicularly from said channel, for
slidably engaging corresponding grooves extending from the upper
edge to the lower edge of the lateral members.
6. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein the mating
guide is provided with a plurality of cross-slots and wherein each
one of said lateral members further includes a latch having: an
upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion and said
lower portion each having an inner face adjacent to the side of the
housing and an outer face; and a latch projection projecting
inwardly from the inner face of said lower portion of the latch,
for engaging any one of said cross-slots, said latch being inwardly
biased; wherein the latch is pivotable between an operative
position and an inoperative position so that: a--when the latch is
in the operative position, with the latch projection protruding
into the side of the housing, thereby providing the means for
preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the
mating guide; and b--when the latch is in the inoperative position,
the upper portion is pivoted inwardly toward the housing while the
lower portion is pivoted outwardly away from the housing, thereby
preventing the latch projection from engaging any one of said
cross-slots.
7. The light assembly according to claim 6, wherein each channel
comprises a back face and sidewalls, said back face comprising a
depression shaped and sized to receive a respective one of said
latch projections so that, when the lateral members are in the
retracted position, each one of said respective latch projections
engages said respective depression.
8. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a
push button.
9. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pre-defined
shape is a substantially cylindrical shape.
10. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light
source is a LED assembly.
11. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light
source is a laser.
12. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light
source is a combination of a LED and a laser.
13. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light
source is a combination of an incandescent light source and a
laser.
14. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mating
guide is provided on a weapon.
15. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mating
guide is provided on a device on which the light assembly is to be
mounted.
16. A method for removably attaching a light assembly, said light
assembly having a pre-defined shape, for removable attachment to a
mating guide, said light assembly comprising a housing provided
with suitable optics having a light source at one end thereof and
batteries for powering said light source through a switch, said
housing having a pair of lateral members being movable between a
retracted position and an extended position and means for
preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the
mating guide, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing
said light assembly; b) depressing the latches to the inoperative
position so as to allow the lateral members to slide until they are
in the extended position and the latch lock engaged; c) engaging
longitudinal rail grooves of the lateral members into flanges of
the guide; d) moving and maintaining latches of the lateral members
in an inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly on the
mating guide; and e) moving the latches in an operative position so
as to lock the light assembly in place on the mating guide.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising of the step of
detaching the light assembly from the mating guide, said step of
detaching comprising the sub-steps of: f) moving and maintaining
the latches in the inoperative position, while sliding the light
assembly longitudinally of the flanges of the mating guide; and g)
depressing the latch lock so that the latches slide back into the
light assembly, so that the light assembly resumes the pre-defined
shape.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the initial step of
mounting said mating guide on a weapon.
19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the initial step of
mounting said mating guide on a device on which the light assembly
is to be mounted.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to the field of
lighting devices. More particularly, it concerns a light assembly
of pre-defined shape, for removable attachment to a mating
guide.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the art, there are many designs of single purpose light
assemblies which are or can be mounted on specific devices. There
are also many designs of light assemblies which are used as
independent light assemblies. However, few of them are designed to
be readily removably mounted on any suitable device while being
able to be readily used separately, as an independent light
assembly.
[0003] More particularly, in the specific field of weapons there
has been a number of target illumination and/or aiming accessories,
such as lasers, sights, flashlights or other accessories which can
be mounted on firearms since, in this case, one major concern is
proper target illumination and/or aiming at the target of interest.
Most of these accessories use various forms of locking screws,
captive screws, nut and bolt clamps or other similar techniques to
clamp the accessory to the weapon, as opposed to a latch and rail
groove mechanism which would safely guide and lock the accessory to
the weapon. Examples of such prior art accessories are given in US
patents or patent applications nos. U.S. 2001/0027620 A1; U.S.
2001/0045046 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,662; U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,137;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,489; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,226.
[0004] As can be appreciated, the just-mentioned target
illumination and/or aiming accessories present a number of caveats.
Accordingly, such accessories can not be readily mounted on and
detached from the weapon. In most cases, such mounting and
detaching require the use of specific tools, or of both hands.
Therefore, the weapon user can not simply grip the target
illumination and/or aiming device with one hand and readily mount
it on his/her weapon in order to proceed to a precise
triggering.
[0005] Other related prior art documents also present significantly
different types of attachment methods to weapons or involve weapons
that do not have a standard rail which can be interfaced with
target illumination and/or aiming accessories. Examples of such
prior art accessories are given in US patents nos. U.S.
2002/0007581 A1; U.S. 2002/0100204 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,772;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,754; U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,322; U.S. Pat. No.
5,727,346; U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,683; U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,905; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,318,014; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,901. The problem of
such prior art devices is again the cumbersome mounting process as
well as the bulkiness of such devices. More specifically, if the
accessories can not be readily mounted on the weapon, they have to
be provided with their specific mounting device thus decreasing the
motility of the weapon user.
[0006] Also known in the prior art is a clamping mechanism for
attaching an auxiliary apparatus to the frame of a weapon, which is
further characterized in that the actual attachment or removal of
the apparatus can be accomplished by a user with one hand, without
using separate brackets or other mechanical components. These
elements are disclosed in US patent no. U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,967
(Woodman et al.).
[0007] Further, prior art target illumination and/or aiming devices
are all suited for use as an independent hand held light assembly,
because of their protruding clamping mechanism, which makes them
non-ergonomic. Further, their exposed clamping mechanism is often
prone to breakage if shocked and to contamination from exposure to
dust, water, and other contaminants.
[0008] It is thus apparent, from the above-mentioned prior art
documents, there is a lack for a light assembly which can be
readily mounted on a mating guide, which, in a preferred
application, is provided on a weapon, and which can be readily used
separately, as an independent light assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a light
assembly which satisfies the above-mentioned needs.
[0010] More specifically, an object of the present invention is to
provide a light assembly to be readily mounted on a mating guide
provided on any convenient device and be readily removed therefrom
while resuming its original pre-defined shape, in order to be
usable as a separate entity.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, this object is
achieved with a light assembly having a pre-defined shape, for
removable attachment to a mating guide provided on a weapon or
other device on which the light assembly is to be mounted. The
light assembly comprises a housing, provided with suitable optics
having a light source at one end thereof and batteries for powering
the light source through a switch. The housing of the light
assembly has a pair of lateral members which can both be moved
between a retracted position and an extended position. When the
lateral members are in the retracted position, the light assembly
has the above-mentioned pre-defined shape. When the lateral members
are in the extended position, these members are adapted to engage
the mating guide provided on the weapon or other device on which
the light assembly is to be mounted. When the lateral members are
in the extended position they are locked in place by a latch lock.
Preferably, each one of the lateral members is provided with a
longitudinal rail groove which is shaped and sized to slidably
engage a corresponding flange on the mating guide. The housing of
the light assembly of the present invention further has means for
preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the
mating guide.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the mating guide is provided with a plurality of
cross-slots and each one of the lateral members further includes a
latch having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper
portion and the lower portion of the latch have an inner face
adjacent to the side of the housing and an outer face. The lower
portion of the latch also has a latch projection projecting
inwardly from the inner face of the lower portion of the latch, for
engaging any one of the above-mentioned cross-slots. The latch is
pivotable between an operative and an inoperative position so that
when the latch is in the operative position, it is normally
inwardly biased, with the latch projection protruding into the side
of the housing, thus providing the means for preventing
longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the mating guide.
When the latch is in the inoperative position, the upper portion is
pivoted inwardly toward the housing while the lower portion is
pivoted outwardly away from the housing, thereby preventing the
latch projection from engaging the cross-slots.
[0013] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the mating guide is provided on a weapon.
[0014] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is also provided a method for removably attaching the light
assembly as defined above, to a mating guide.
[0015] The method for removably attaching the light assembly, as
defined above, to a mating guide comprises the steps of: [0016] a)
providing a light assembly as described above; [0017] b) depressing
the latches to the inoperative position so as to allow the lateral
members to slide until they are in the extended position and the
latch lock engaged; [0018] c) engaging the longitudinal rail
grooves of the light assembly into the flanges of the mating guide;
[0019] d) moving and maintaining the latches in their inoperative
position, while sliding the light assembly on the mating guide; and
[0020] e) moving the latches in their operative position so as to
lock the light assembly in place on the mating guide.
[0021] Preferably, the method for removably attaching the light
assembly further comprises the step of detaching the light assembly
from the mating guide, the step of detaching comprising the
sub-steps of: [0022] f) moving and maintaining the latches in their
inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly
longitudinally off the flanges of the mating guide; and [0023] g)
depressing the latch lock so that the latches slide back into the
light assembly, so that the light assembly resumes its pre-defined
shape.
[0024] In a further preferred embodiment, the method further
comprises the initial step of mounting the mating guide on a
weapon.
[0025] As can be appreciated, the light assembly according to the
invention is very versatile, as it can be mounted on any suitably
shaped mating guide (either integrated into or mounted through
appropriate fasteners) provided on any suitable device while still
being usable as a separate entity aside from the device and the
mating guide.
[0026] These and other features, objects and advantages of the
present invention will be better understood upon reading the
following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments
thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1A is a side view of a light assembly, according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 1B is a front view of the light assembly shown in FIG.
1A, the lateral members being in the extended position.
[0029] FIG. 1C is a front perspective view of the light assembly of
FIG. 1A.
[0030] FIG. 1D is a front perspective view of the light assembly
shown in FIG. 1B.
[0031] FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of the light assembly of
FIG. 1A which is mounted on a generic weapon guide.
[0032] FIG. 2B is a side perspective view of the light assembly of
FIG. 1A which is mounted on a long gun such as a rifle guide.
[0033] FIG. 2C is a side perspective view of the light assembly of
FIG. 1A which is mounted on a hand gun guide.
[0034] While the invention will be described in conjunction with
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not
intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiments.
On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications and equivalents which may be included, as defined by
the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] In the following description, similar features in the
drawings have been given similar reference numerals and, in order
to lighten the figures, some elements are not referred to in some
figures if they were already identified in a previous figure.
[0036] Throughout the present description, the light assembly of
the present invention will mostly be described and illustrated with
respect to a mating guide provided on a weapon, but it should be
understood that such a mating guide could be provided on any
suitable device, such as for non limitative examples, a paintball
gun, a bicycle, a protecting helmet (for use in mining, caving or
other applications) or other headgear, a watercraft, a wristband,
scuba diving gear, a belt clip, a building, a post or other
construction, a tent, or any other device which could
advantageously make use of a lighting assembly.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1D, and 2A to 2C, there is shown a
light assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The light assembly 10 has a pre-defined shape,
and is removably attachable to a mating guide 20, which is
preferably provided on a weapon. Any mating guide, preferably
provided with parallel flanges 22 can be used to slidably engage
the longitudinal rail groove 32 on the lateral members of the light
assembly's housing. This allows any guide, such as a railing system
(an example of which is the M-1913 (Picatinny)rail) or any
equivalent thereof, to engage a light assembly while being mounted
on the device of interest, advantageously on the weapon of
interest.
[0038] The light assembly 10 comprises a housing, preferably with
two sides. Each side of the housing of the light assembly 10 is
provided with a pair of lateral members 30, preferably received by
corresponding channels 40 provided on each side of the housing. As
shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, each channel 40 preferably comprises a
back face 42 and stop screw 41 for maintaining the lateral member
30 within each channel 40. Alternatively and as shown in FIGS. 2A
to 2C, the channel 40 can be substantially U-shaped and sized to
receive a corresponding lateral member 30. This channel 40 is
provided with guiding members 46 protruding from the channel 40,
preferably from the back face 42 thereof, for slidably engaging
corresponding grooves 48.
[0039] The lateral members 30 are movable between a retracted
position, as shown in FIG. 1C, and an extended position, as shown
in FIG. 1D, by a distance at least equal to distance x. Distance x
is the distance between the longitudinal rail groove 38 and the
lowest point A of the housing, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1D.
[0040] In order for the lateral members 30 to remain in the
retracted position, locking means are provided by the latch lock
31. Similarly, locking means are provided to prevent the lateral
members 30 from extending beyond the extended position by stop
screws 41.
[0041] When the lateral members 30 are locked in their retracted
position, these lateral members 30 are adapted to engage the
housing. Referring especially to FIG. 1D, one can appreciate that
each channel 40 comprises a back face 42 and sidewalls 44.
[0042] When the lateral members 30 are locked in their extended
position, they are positioned so that the lowest point A of the
housing is as close as possible to the mating guide 20 in order to
allow the eventual sliding movement of the light assembly 10 on the
mating guide 20. Referring more specifically to FIG. 1B, one can
appreciate that each lateral member 30 comprises an inner
substantially inner planar face 32. The inner planar face 32 of the
lateral members 30 is further characterized in that it is adjacent
to the side of the housing and provided with a longitudinal rail
groove 38. The longitudinal rail groove 38 is shaped and sized to
slidably engage a corresponding flange 22 of the mating guide
20.
[0043] Preferably, the mating guide is provided with a plurality of
cross-slots 60 and each lateral member 30 further includes a latch
70 with an upper portion 72 and a lower portion 74. Each one of the
upper portion 72 and the lower portion 74 has an inner face,
adjacent to the side of the housing, and an outer face.
[0044] Each latch further has a latch projection 78 projecting
inwardly from the inner face of the lower portion 74 of the latch,
for engaging any one of the cross-slots 60. Each latch 70 is
further characterized in that it is preferably rotatable about a
pivot between an operative position and an inoperative
position.
[0045] Without departing from the scope of the present invention,
it will be apparent for any person skilled in the art that the
means for preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly
can comprise at least two, and preferably a plurality of
projections protruding downwardly and outwardly from the area below
the housing closest to the guide. Such projections would serve the
same purpose as the latch projections 78 in their operative
position.
[0046] Referring again to FIGS. 1B to 1C, the housing is provided
with a suitable optics 12 having a light source 14 at one end
thereof and batteries 16 for powering the light source 14, such as
a LED assembly, incandescent light bulb and/or laser or a
combination thereof, through a switch, such as a push button switch
19. The switch can be any type of electromechanical switching
device including, but not limited to, a mechanically activated,
electronically activated, or radio-frequency controlled switch. The
light assembly 10 is further characterized in that the suitable
optics, the batteries and the switch, enclosed in the housing,
pre-define the shape of the light assembly 10. By "pre-defined
shape", it will be understood that the light assembly 10 has an
advantageously uninterrupted profile when considered as a whole.
More specifically, the uninterrupted profile of the light assembly
10 means that all the components of the housing have the same
general shape, even though the optical piece is larger than the
battery portion which, in turn, is smaller than the switch portion
of the housing. The light assembly 10 may advantageously have an
ergonomic shape so that the user can comfortably grip it with one
hand. The light assembly 10 may thus have a rectangular, oval or
triangular shape, but preferably, a substantially cylindrical
shape.
[0047] As can also be appreciated from FIGS. 1A and 1C, the
uninterrupted profile of the light assembly is best depicted when
the lateral members 30 are in the retracted position. More
specifically, the outer face of both the upper and lower portions
72, 74 of the latch, as well as the outer face of the lateral
members, are shaped so that they form this uninterrupted profile
with the rest of the housing.
[0048] Furthermore, the light assembly 10 may advantageously be of
dimensions similar to the dimensions of the mating guide 20, as
best shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C More specifically, the width of the
light assembly 10 is preferably somewhat similar to the width of
the mating guide. As can be understood, the width of the light
assembly and the guide is determined along the axis perpendicular
to the main axis of each of these elements. It is thus clear that,
in the particular field of target illumination and/or aiming, the
present invention alleviates the need to use bulky light assemblies
as target illumination and/or aiming device accessories, which are
not practical on site where vigilance, accuracy and rapidity are of
the essence.
[0049] The present invention also provides a method for removably
attaching the light assembly, as defined above, to a mating guide,
preferably provided on a weapon. The method comprises the steps of:
[0050] a) providing a light assembly as described above; [0051] b)
depressing the latches to the inoperative position so as to allow
the lateral members to slide to the extended position and the latch
lock engaged; [0052] c) engaging the longitudinal rail grooves of
the lateral members into the flanges of the guide; [0053] d) moving
and maintaining the latches in their inoperative position, while
sliding the light assembly on the guide; and [0054] e) moving the
latches in their operative position so as to lock the light
assembly in place on the guide.
[0055] Preferably, the method for removably attaching the light
assembly further comprises the step of detaching the light assembly
from the mating guide. This step comprising the following sub-steps
of: [0056] f) moving and maintaining the latches in their
inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly
longitudinally off the flanges off the guide; and [0057] g)
depressing the latch lock so that the latches slide back into the
light assembly so that the light assembly resumes its pre-defined
shape.
[0058] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
to these precise embodiments and that various changes and
modifications may be effected therein without departing from the
scope or spirit of the present invention. It is clear from the
present description that the proposed light assembly is
particularly useful for mounting on a weapon. It should however be
understood that the light assembly of the present invention is not
limited to be used on a weapon and that any convenient applications
such as mounting on a bicycle, or on a protecting helmet, for
example, are also envisaged and are encompassed by the present
invention.
* * * * *