U.S. patent application number 10/891865 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for rapid activation system for a laser-sighting assembly.
Invention is credited to Antonios E. Doukas.
Application Number | 20060026886 10/891865 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35756005 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060026886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Doukas; Antonios E. |
February 9, 2006 |
Rapid activation system for a laser-sighting assembly
Abstract
A rapid activation system for a laser-sighting assembly of a
handgun includes a normally-off magnetically functionable on-off
switch disposed within the laser assembly. The system includes a
holster proportioned to hold the handgun and is formed of a
magnetically permeable material. The system further includes a
magnetic element secured upon an external surface of the holster
and positioned within electromagnetic communication with the on-off
switch of the laser assembly. Upon withdrawal of the handgun, the
holster magnetic flux attendant to the magnetic element will be
removed from magnetic communication with the on-off switch of the
laser sighting assembly thereby actuating the switch and, with it,
the laser assembly such that the laser sighting assembly is fully
functional and when the gun is withdrawn from the holster.
Inventors: |
Doukas; Antonios E.;
(Pompano Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MELVIN K. SILVERMAN
500 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD
SUITE 500
FT. LAUDERDALE
FL
33309
US
|
Family ID: |
35756005 |
Appl. No.: |
10/891865 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/0254 20130101;
F41G 1/35 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/117 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/00 20060101
F41G001/00 |
Claims
1. A rapid activation system for a laser-sighting assembly of a
hand gun, said system comprising: (a) a normally-off
electro-magnetically operable on-off switch disposed within said
assembly; (b) a holster proportioned to hold said hand gun, said
holster formed of a magnetically permeable material. (c) a magnetic
element secured upon an external surface of said holster and
positioned within electromagnetic communication with said on-off
switch, whereby withdrawal of said handgun will remove magnetic
flux attendant said magnetic element, thereby activating said
switch of said laser sighting assembly, turning on the laser
thereof when said handgun is drawn.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said holster
comprises a thick woven cloth.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said magnetic element
comprises at least one planar surface.
4. The system as recited in claim 3, in which said magnetic element
comprises at least one planar surface.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said laser-sighting
assembly comprises: an attachment to an accessory rail at a forward
under-portion of said handgun.
6. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said system comprises
as miniaturized package positioned within a portion of a recoil rod
of said handgun.
7. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprises a manual
override switch comprises means for deactuating said assembly if
said handgun is withdrawn.
8. A rapid activation system for a laser-sighting assembly of a
handgun, said system comprising: (a) a normally-off
electromagnetically operable on-off switch within said assembly;
(b) a holster proportioned to hold said handgun, said holster
formed of magnetically permeable material; and (c) a magnetic
element secured within a surface of said holster and positioned
within electro-magnetic communication with said on-off switch,
whereby withdrawal of said handgun will remove magnetic flux
attendant said magnetic element, thereby activating said switch of
said laser sighting assembly, turning on the laser thereof when
said handgun is drawn.
9. The system as recited in claim 8, in which said holster
comprises a thick woven cloth.
10. The system as recited in claim 9, in which said magnetic
element comprises at least one planar surface.
11. The system as recited in claim 3, in which said magnetic
element comprises at least one planar surface.
12. The system as recited in claim 8, in which said laser-sighting
assembly comprises: an attachment to an accessory rail at a forward
under path of said handgun.
13. The system as recited in claim 8, in which said system
comprises as miniaturized package positioned within a forward
portion of a re-coil rod of said handgun.
14. The system as recited in claim 8, further comprises a manual
override switch comprises means for deactuating said assembly if
said handgun is withdrawn.
Description
REFERENCE TO DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
[0001] This application corresponds in subject matter to Document
Disclosure Number 549,836, filed Mar. 26, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A. Area of Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an external switch for a modular
sighting laser of a handgun.
[0004] B. Prior Art
[0005] Handguns having integral or selectably attachable laser
sights have existed for a number of years, this as is reflected in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,773 (1999) to Claridge, entitled Integral Laser
Sight, Switch for a Gun; U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,226 (1996) to
Houde-Walter, entitled firearm; U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,898 (1996) to
Thummel, entitled Modular Sighting Laser for a Fire Arm; and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,578,311 (2003) to Danielson, entitled Apparatus and
Method for Actuating a Weapon Accessory by a Laser Sighting
Beam.
[0006] Other patents which show a laser gun sight mounted
internally to the recoil spring guide rod of a weapon, said patent
including U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,364 (1995) to Paldino, entitled
Internally Mounted Laser Gun Site; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,550
(1995) to Moore, entitled Internal Laser Sight for Weapons.
[0007] Notwithstanding significant developments in the art of laser
sighting means for guns and other weapons, many of such system
require either manual actuation of the laser sight or use a laser
sight which is continually on such that the user's location may be
revealed in a combat situation. A concern therefore has long
existed that a laser gun sight may either prove awkward to actuate,
or if in a normally on position, may actually prove
counter-productive in a tactical situation. The present invention
is therefore utilizes a normally-off laser-sighting system which
however is automatically actuated by the user upon removal of the
gun or weapon from a holster. The invention therefore addresses a
long-felt need in the art of gun equipped with an internally
sighted laser sight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention relates to a rapid activation system for a
laser-sighting assembly of a handgun. Therein, the system includes
a normally-off magnetically functionable on-off switch disposed
within said laser assembly. The system includes a holster
proportioned to hold said handgun and is formed of a magnetically
permeable material. The system further includes a magnetic element
secured upon an external surface of said holster and positioned
within electromagnetic communication with said on-off switch of the
laser assembly. Thereby, upon withdrawal of the handgun, the
magnetic flux attendant to said magnetic element on the holster
will be removed from magnetic communication with the on-off switch
of the laser sighting assembly thereby actuating said switch and,
with it, said laser such that the laser sighting assembly is fully
functional when the gun is fully withdrawn from the holster.
[0009] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
provide a self-contained accessory which is automatically activated
upon withdrawal of a gun equipped therewith from a holster
therefore.
[0010] It is another object to provide a more tactically
practically means of rapid target sighting which does not readily
reveal the location of the user by an adversary.
[0011] The above and yet other objects and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set
forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of
the Invention and claims appended herewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of a handgun having an accessory
rail.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 1, however showing
attachment laser sighting assembly to accessory rails of the
gun.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the inventive system
showing the position of the hand gun relative to a holster and the
magnetic strip associated therewith.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through Line 4-4 of
FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a view of the underportion of the front of the gun
shown in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view taken through
Line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side plan view of a gun equipped with a second
embodiment of the invention which the laser sighting assembly
comprises a miniaturized package positioned within a forward
portion of the recoil spring rod of the hand gun.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a front portion schematic view of the embodiment
of FIG. 7 including a breakaway view of the recoil spring rod
thereof.
[0020] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the elements of the second
embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 7-8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown in side plan view a
typical handgun 10 to which the instant rapid targeting laser
sighting system is applicable. More particularly, in FIG. 1 is
shown accessory rail 12, or universal mounting system, upon which
various accessories inclusive of a laser sighting assembly may be
attached. Such an assembly 100, as shown in FIG. 2, facilitates
accuracy of aiming gun 10 through its generation of a laser
sighting beam 102 by which a target may be much more accurately and
quickly sighted prior to firing of gun 10.
[0022] Shown in FIG. 3 is a holster 104 which holds gun 10 such
that only handle 14 protrudes therefrom. Attached to an exterior
surface of holster 104 is a magnet 106 which is secured in
electromagnetic proximity to laser sighting assembly 100. It is
noted that holster 104 must be made of a magnetically permeable
material such as a fabric, plastic, and leather through which
magnetic flux may freely pass.
[0023] The position of laser sighting assembly 100 may be more
fully appreciated with reference to FIG. 5 in which said assembly
is shown secured to said accessory rail 12. Also shown therein is a
manual override, so-called dip type, rocker or slide, switch 114
connected in line with a power source such as watch-type batteries
112 (see FIG. 6) in a positive side circuit, or within a
negative/ground circuit, to manually disconnect switch 108 and
laser 110 from said power source 112. Switch 108 may take the form
of a reed switch, of the SPDT, C Type is positioned in line with
power source 112 and functions to connect the power source to laser
110 when it is removed from close proximity of a magnetic field.
Thereby, it should be understood that switch 108 is normally-off as
long as it is positioned near a magnetic field of sufficient
strength, such as the field of magnet 106. An appropriate magnet
for this application includes a N40 grade magnet. It is noted that
magnet 106 may be attached to holster 104 by various means
including double sided tape, glue, or a sewing of the magnet to the
holster or weapon holding device. Further, a pocket 116 (see FIG.
3) provides a means of attachment to a holster clip and/or on a
belt.
[0024] In view of the above, it may be appreciated that the removal
of gun 10 from holster 104 will remove switch 108 from the magnetic
field of magnet 106 thereby actuating said switch and closing the
circuit of FIG. 6 to provide power to laser 110, so that laser beam
102 may be generated.
[0025] A further embodiment 200 of the invention is shown in FIGS.
7-9. Therein is shown a recoil spring rod 18 of gun 10, which is
positioned below gun barrel 20 and within semi-annular lower
portion 16 of outer gun body. Within recoil 18 is provided all of
the elements above set forth in FIG. 6. That is, shown within
recoil rod 18 reed switch 208, laser current board 211, laser diode
210 and its resulting sighting beam 202. Through miniaturization of
parts, said batteries as well as said reed switch may be packaged
within the recoil rod. As is noted in FIG. 9, recoil spring 22
interfaces with embodiment 200 thru end cap 26 and retainer clip
24. In such embodiment 200, the location of magnet 106 would differ
slightly so that magnetic communication between the magnet and reed
switch may be maintained when the gun is holstered. (The location
of said recoil spring rod 18 relative to the entire gun is further
shown in FIG. 7. Pocket 116 may also be used as an attachment to a
gun holster belt clip.
[0026] While there has been shown and described the preferred
embodiment of the instant invention, it is to be appreciated that
the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically
shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain
changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts
without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this
invention as set forth in the claims appended herewith.
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