U.S. patent application number 12/267034 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-14 for rail mounted multi-function flashlight.
This patent application is currently assigned to Emissive Energy Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert D. Galli.
Application Number | 20090122527 12/267034 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40623515 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090122527 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Galli; Robert D. |
May 14, 2009 |
RAIL MOUNTED MULTI-FUNCTION FLASHLIGHT
Abstract
A flashlight having an outer housing that includes both an
integrated means for interfacing the flashlight with a firearm and
a surface thereon that serves as a handgrip for assisting a user in
holding the firearm itself. In this manner, the flashlight can be
slidably received onto a rail interface adjacent a firearm barrel.
The flashlight is multi-functioned in that it includes at least a
white light flashlight and an infrared illuminator. Additionally,
the flashlight includes a plurality of batteries arranged in two
functional banks and contained in a battery compartment within the
housing such that they are positioned transversely relative to the
longitudinal axis of the flashlight causing them to be transverse
to the longitudinal axis of the firearm as well in order to
preserve the batteries in operational condition.
Inventors: |
Galli; Robert D.; (North
Kingstown, RI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARLOW, JOSEPHS & HOLMES, LTD.
101 DYER STREET, 5TH FLOOR
PROVIDENCE
RI
02903
US
|
Assignee: |
Emissive Energy Corporation
North Kingstown
RI
|
Family ID: |
40623515 |
Appl. No.: |
12/267034 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60986322 |
Nov 8, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20130101; F41G
11/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/110 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20060101
F41G001/35 |
Claims
1. A flashlight configured to be received on a dovetail rail
mounting interface comprising: a housing having a first end and a
second end, a channel extending from said first end to said second
end, said channel having a dovetail profile configured to engage
with said dovetail rail mounting interface; at least one light
emitting diode received within the first end of the housing; a
power supply disposed within said housing; and a user interface
affixed to said housing to allow a user to selectively energize and
control a mode of operation of the light emitting diode.
2. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said channel has one fixed
side and one movable side such that said movable side can be opened
relative to said fixed side to install said flashlight onto said
rail and said movable side can be closed to engage said dovetail
rail mounting interface.
3. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said channel is slidable
received about said dovetail rail mounting interface.
4. The flashlight of claim 3, further comprising: a clamping
mechanism for engaging said dovetail rail interface to selectively
retain said flashlight in an installed position.
5. The flashlight of claim 4, wherein said clamping mechanism is a
screw.
6. The flashlight of claim 5, wherein said screw is positioned in a
compartment within said housing for containing said power
supply.
7. The flashlight of claim 5, wherein said clamping mechanism has a
locking feature that prevents accidental rotation thereof.
8. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said power supply is at least
one battery disposed within said housing.
9. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein said flashlight has a
longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end
and said at least one battery has a longitudinal axis extending
from a first terminal to a second terminal thereof, the
longitudinal axis of the battery being transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the flashlight when said at least one battery
is received within said housing.
10. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein said flashlight has a
longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end
and corresponding to a longitudinal axis of a firearm on which said
flashlight is mounted, said at least one battery has a longitudinal
axis extending from a first terminal to a second terminal thereof,
the longitudinal axis of the battery being transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the flashlight and the firearm when said at
least one battery is received within said housing.
11. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein said flashlight has a
longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end
and corresponding to a longitudinal axis of a firearm on which said
flashlight is mounted, said at least one battery is positioned
within said housing such that recoil energy travelling along the
longitudinal axis of said firearm is transverse to a longitudinal
axis of said battery extending from a first terminal to a second
terminal thereof.
12. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a
plurality of batteries disposed within said housing said plurality
of batteries being configured into at least two separate battery
banks wherein a user can selectively choose which of said plurality
of battery banks is used to energize said flashlight.
13. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a
plurality of batteries disposed within said housing said plurality
of batteries being configured into at least two separate battery
banks wherein a first of said plurality of battery banks is
actively used to energize said flashlight and the remaining of said
plurality of battery banks are reserve.
14. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode
emits a high-powered visible light.
15. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said at least one light
emitting diode is at least two light emitting diodes emitting
different energies from each other, the energy selected from the
group consisting of: visible white, visible red, visible blue,
visible green, ultraviolet, infrared and laser.
16. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said at least one light
emitting diode is three light emitting diodes, a first light
emitting diode emitting visible light, a second light emitting
diode emitting infrared energy and a third light emitting diode
emitting laser energy.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority from
earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/986,322,
filed Nov. 8, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a
multi-functional flashlight assembly that includes an integrated
supplemental rail interface mount. More specifically, the present
invention relates to a multi-functional flashlight assembly that is
particularly suited for being interfaced with a standard military
style rail type mount found on most modern combat weapons.
[0003] In the prior art, flashlights for use in military
applications have typically been constructed in a standard fashion
utilizing a tubular outer housing. As a consequence, in order to
facilitate mounting of the flashlight onto other devices, like
military weapons such as an M-16 rifle, a relatively large mounting
assembly was required. In this regard most modern type firearms are
equipped with an interface rail integrated thereon for the mounting
of auxiliary devices such as flashlights and the like. The rail is
known in the art as a Weaver type interface and takes the form of a
rail having a dovetail cross-sectional profile that extends over
the receiver of the firearm. Additionally, there are several
supplemental rail systems that mount onto such firearms by
interfacing with the Weaver rail on the firearm and extending along
and around the barrel to provide additional interface rails. These
supplemental systems are employed to offer rail interfaces that are
positioned both along the top of the firearm as well as at the 3, 6
and 9 o'clock positions around the barrel. All of the interface
rails are provided in this manner have a standardized profile and
are configured specifically for the mounting of various accessories
depending on the type environment in which the firearm will be
used.
[0004] In order to interface a flashlight with these interface
rails, a mount is provided that typically employs a heavy gauge
band, which is wrapped around the entire outer housing of the
flashlight and also includes projections to one side of the band
where a large thumbscrew is positioned to allow a user to tighten
the band around the flashlight. Further, the band is affixed to a
mounting clamp that allows the band containing the flashlight to be
installed onto the firearm interface rail. The difficulty
encountered with this construction is that in some cases it creates
a greater opportunity for the flashlight and mounting assembly to
be caught on clothing or brush while the firearm is being carried,
thereby knocking the flashlight out of alignment, dislodging the
flashlight from the firearm or damaging the flashlight. Further,
the interface between the outer tubular housing and the mounting
band leaves the potential that the flashlight may slide or rotate
within the band requiring frequent repositioning. While this may be
acceptable for a sport type firearm, it is not acceptable for a
firearm employed for field use, such as hunting or combat
environments where immediate, fully aligned use of the flashlight
assembly is required.
[0005] Other difficulties with such flashlights include the fact
that they are typically single function devices that must be
exchanged for a different flashlight should the need for an
additional function arise, such as for example, in infra-red
applications. In these situations, the user must carry several
different lighting devices with them so that, as the need arises,
the user can exchange lighting devices. In addition, while there
are some flashlights that include multi-functional features, often
the controls are small and fussy making them difficult to operate
in the typical military environment where the user is often wearing
gloves. In these applications small buttons, sliders and knobs are
nearly impossible to operate in a reliable fashion.
[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior
art devices, there is a need for a multi-function flashlight device
that provides an improved method of compactly and reliably mounting
the flashlight device onto a firearm. There is a further need for
an interfaceable flashlight assembly that includes an improved
engagement method for firearms while also having the ability to
consistently and quickly engage with the firearm in provides
accurate alignment therewith, while further still providing a
reduced profile thereby reducing potential interference with other
devices and attachments. Finally, there is a need for a
multi-functional flashlight that eliminates the need for a user to
carry several different illumination devices by combining all of
the required functions into a single device that provides an
improved method of compactly and reliably mounting the flashlight
device onto a firearm.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a novel flashlight assembly
that includes multi-functionality yet is rugged and easy to
operate. The multi-function flashlight device of the present
invention is fashioned to have an outer housing that includes both
an integrated means for interfacing the flashlight with a firearm
and a surface thereon that serves as a handgrip for assisting a
user in holding the firearm itself. Generally, the flashlight of
the present invention has an outer housing that includes a dovetail
shaped interface rail and a recessed curvature to an upper surface
thereof that makes the flashlight particularly suited to interface
with the accessory rail on the bottom hand guard of a supplemental
rail system. In this manner, the flashlight of the present
invention can be slidably received onto a rail interface and more
preferably, onto the lower rail interface located at the 6 o'clock
position relative to the firearm barrel.
[0008] The flashlight, once installed onto the interface rail may
include clamping means for tightening the rail formation against
the supplemental rail or an opening at the interior of the battery
compartment that allows the installation of a retainer screw that
engages through the flashlight with the interface rail. It can also
be seen that the remainder of the outer housing of the flashlight
is formed to replicate a hand guard such as the one it is installed
beneath in order that the flashlight itself serves as the lower
hand guard/handgrip for the firearm. This positions the flashlight
such that it is in a protected position beneath the barrel of the
firearm and locates it out of the way of the various sighting
devices that are typically positioned above the barrel.
[0009] The flashlight of the present invention is multi-functioned
in that it includes at least a white light flashlight and an
infrared illuminator. In addition, the flashlight may include
various different colored lighting elements such as red, green or
blue light emitting diodes. The flashlight may also include laser
diodes or infrared laser diodes for use in sighting, target
acquisition and for automatic directed fire systems. Additionally,
the flashlight includes a plurality of batteries arranged in two
functional banks and contained in a battery compartment within the
housing. It is of note that the batteries are positioned
transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight
causing them to be transverse to the longitudinal axis of the
firearm as well in order to preserve the batteries in operational
condition as will be described in detail below.
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a multi-function flashlight device that includes an
improved method of compactly and reliably mounting the flashlight
device onto a firearm. It is a further object of the present
invention to provide an interfaceable flashlight assembly that
includes an improved engagement method for firearms while also
having the ability to consistently and quickly engage with the
firearm in provides accurate alignment therewith, while further
still providing a reduced profile thereby reducing potential
interference with other devices and attachments. It is still a
further object of the present invention to provide a
multi-functional flashlight that eliminates the need for a user to
carry several different illumination devices by combining all of
the required functions into a single device that provides an
improved method of compactly and reliably mounting the flashlight
device onto a firearm.
[0011] These together with other objects of the invention, along
with various features of novelty that characterize the invention,
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently
contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-functional
flashlight of the present invention installed on a combat
firearm;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the multi-functional
flashlight of the present invention installed on a combat
firearm;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the multi-functional
flashlight of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the multi-functional
flashlight of the present invention installed on a combat
firearm;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the multi-functional
flashlight of the present invention installed on a combat
firearm;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the multi-functional
flashlight of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the multi-functional flashlight
of the present invention with the battery compartment closed;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the multi-functional flashlight
of the present invention with the battery compartment open; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment
mounting arrangement for the multi-functional flashlight of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Now referring to the drawings, the multi-functional
flashlight of the present invention is shown and generally
illustrated in the figures. The flashlight assembly of the present
invention that includes multi-functionality yet is rugged and is
configured to easily interface with modern combat weapons as will
be discussed in detail below.
[0023] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flashlight assembly 10
is fashioned to have an outer housing 12 that includes both an
integrated means for interfacing the flashlight 10 with a firearm
14 and a surface thereon that serves as a handgrip 16 for assisting
a user in holding the firearm 14 itself. Generally, modern type
firearms 14, such as the M-16 depicted herein, include an interface
rail 18 integrated thereon for the mounting of auxiliary devices.
The interface rail 18 is known in the art as a Weaver type
interface and takes the form of a rail having a dovetail
cross-sectional profile that extends over the receiver of the
firearm 14. Additionally, there are several supplemental rail
systems that mount onto such firearms 14 by interfacing with the
Weaver rail on the firearm and extending along and around the
barrel to provide additional interface rails 18 both along the top
of the firearm 14 as well as at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions
around the barrel 20. All of the interface rails 18 are provided
having a standardized profile and are configured specifically for
the mounting of various accessories depending on the type
environment in which the firearm 14 will be used.
[0024] The flashlight 10 of the present invention includes an outer
housing 12 that has a dovetail shaped interface profile 22
integrally formed therein and a recessed curvature 24 to an upper
surface thereof that makes the flashlight 10 particularly suited to
interface with the accessory rail 18 on the bottom hand guard of a
supplemental rail system. As can be seen in the drawings, the
housing 12 of the flashlight 10 is machined or molded to include a
housing 10 having a first end and a second end and a channel
serving as an interface 22 that extends from the first end to the
second end. It can also be seen that the channel interface 22 has a
dovetail profile configured to engage the dovetail rail mounting
interface 18 on the firearm 14. Turning to FIG. 3 in conjunction
with FIGS. 1 and 2, the flashlight housing 12 has an upper surface
that includes a curved recessed profile 24 that includes centrally
therein the dovetail interface 22 formed integrally with the
housing 12. In this manner, the flashlight 10 of the present
invention can be slidably received onto a rail interface 18 and
more preferably, onto the lower rail interface 18 located at the 6
o'clock position relative to the firearm barrel 20. The curved
surface 24 is provided to allow the flashlight housing 12 to
aesthetically blend with the lower portion of the firearm 14
supplemental rail system. This extension 26 of the flashlight
housing 12 is optional and may be cut back during manufacture in a
manner that allows a user to access the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock
rails 18 should a user need to mount accessories thereon. It can
also be seen that the remainder of the outer housing 12 of the
flashlight 10 is formed to replicate a hand guard such as the one
it is installed beneath in order that the flashlight itself serves
as the lower hand guard/handgrip 16 for the firearm 14. This
positions the flashlight 10 such that it is in a protected position
beneath the barrel 20 of the firearm 14 and locates it out of the
way of the various sighting devices that are typically positioned
above the barrel 20.
[0025] The flashlight 10 of the present invention is preferably
multi-functional in that it includes at least one light emitting
diode 28. Preferably, the at least one light emitting diode 28 is a
high powered white light emitting flashlight, however, the energy
emission of the light emitting diode may be selected from the group
consisting of: visible white, visible red, visible blue, visible
green, ultraviolet, infrared and laser. More preferably the
flashlight 10 of the present invention includes at least two energy
emitters wherein their emissions are different from one another and
selected form the group set forth above. Most preferably, the
flashlight 10 of the present invention includes a first white
visible light emitter 28, a second infrared emitter 30 and a third
laser emitter 32 as depicted with particularity in the figures. The
flashlight 10 may also include laser diodes or infrared laser
diodes for use in sighting, target acquisition and for automatic
directed fire systems. As can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a user
interface in the form of selector buttons 34 for choosing the
operational mode of the flashlight 10 as well as a switch element
for selectively energizing the flashlight 10 are preferably
positioned along the sides of the flashlight housing 12 at or near
the front of the flashlight 10 thereby positioning them
conveniently for easy access by a soldier's thumb or forefinger
when positioned about the outer housing 12 of the flashlight
10.
[0026] It is intended that the flashlight 10 of the present
invention is multi-functional, such that the flashlight 10 includes
commands programmed therein whereby if the user engages one of the
selector buttons 34 for less than a predetermined period of time
the flashlight 10 is energized in a first mode while engaging the
selector button 34 for longer than the predetermined period of time
causes the flashlight 10 to be energized in a second mode. In this
application such first and second modes may be selected from the
group consisting of: programming, momentary, strobe, constant on,
high brightness and low brightness. More preferably, the first and
second modes are selected from the group consisting of: momentary
and constant on. Additionally, while the predetermined time
threshold may be any duration, in the context of the present
invention the predetermined time is of a value that is less than 1
second. More preferably, the predetermined period of time is less
than one half second.
[0027] Turning now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, it can be further seen that
the flashlight 10 includes a compartment 36 therein for a power
supply. A cover or hinged door 38 is provided on the bottom of the
flashlight housing 12 that can be opened to provide the user access
to the power supply. It can be seen that the preferred power supply
of the present in invention is at least one battery 40. More
preferably, the flashlight 10 includes a power supply in the form
of a plurality of batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d arranged in a
battery compartment 36 within the housing 12.
[0028] It is of note that the batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d are
positioned transversely relative to the longitudinal axis 42 of the
flashlight 10 causing them to be transverse to the longitudinal
axis of the firearm 14 as well. In other words, the flashlight 10
has a longitudinal axis 42 extending from its first end to its
second end and the batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d also include a
longitudinal axis 44 extending from a first terminal to a second
terminal thereof such that when the batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d
are received within said housing 12, the longitudinal axis 44 of
the battery 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d is transverse to the longitudinal
axis 42 of the flashlight 10 and transverse to a longitudinal axis
on which the flashlight 10 is mounted. This positioning of the
batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d relative to the flashlight 10 is more
than a mere design choice in that the present invention has found
that the recoil energy travelling along the linear axis of the
firearm causes batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d that are positioned in
linear series relative to the firearm 14 to repeatedly bang into
one another. Over time this transfer of recoil energy into the
batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d causes the ends of the batteries 40a,
40b, 40c, 40d to become dented. If the batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d
are dented badly enough, eventually they no longer make contact
with one another thereby rendering the flashlight 10 inoperable. In
the present invention, the transverse positioning of the batteries
40a, 40b, 40c, 40d prevents this end-to-end banging thereby
preserving the batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d in operational
condition.
[0029] In addition, the present invention is configured such that
the plurality of batteries 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d is arranged in at
least two separate battery banks, a primary battery bank including
batteries 40a and 40b and a reserve battery bank including
batteries 40c and 40d. In this manner, a selector switch 46 is
provided as can be seen at the rear of the flashlight 10 adjacent
the battery compartment 36 to allow the user to select between the
primary and reserve battery banks. This allows the user to install
at least two batteries wherein one of the batteries is used to
operate the flashlight 10 while the second is maintained in reserve
until a fresh battery is needed. At that point in time, the user
simply turns the selector 46 to operate the flashlight 10 using the
reserve battery. While the illustrations show four batteries 40a,
40b, 40c, 40d wherein two are primary and two are reserve, the same
type arrangement can be accomplished with any even number of
batteries. Similarly, a third bank of batteries may be provided as
a second reserve wherein in six total batteries are provided with
two batteries allocated to each of three battery banks.
[0030] As can best be seen in FIG. 7, the flashlight 10, once
installed onto the interface rail 18 may include clamping means for
tightening the rail interface formation 22 against the supplemental
rail 18 or an opening 48 at the interior of the battery compartment
36 that allows the installation of a retainer screw 50 that engages
through the flashlight 10 with the interface rail 18. Further,
closing the cover 38 against the screw 50 serves as a locking
feature that prevents accidental rotation thereof. In an alternate
embodiment, as depicted at FIG. 9, rather than slidably mounting
the flashlight onto the interface rail, the channel can be seen to
have one fixed side 52 and one movable side 54 such that the
movable side 54 can be opened relative to the fixed side 52 to
install the flashlight 10 onto the rail 18 and the movable side 54
can be closed to engage the dovetail rail mounting interface 18.
Further the movable side 54 can be fixed in place by a screw
56.
[0031] It can be appreciated that all of the components may be
milled or cast from metallic materials. Similarly, the materials
may be molded from high strength polymer materials. Finally, the
materials may be insert molded using a combination of metallic and
polymer components as may be necessary to create the durability and
strength demanded by the application.
[0032] It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides
a multi-function flashlight device that includes an improved method
of compactly and reliably mounting the flashlight device onto a
firearm that includes an improved engagement method for firearms
while also having the ability to consistently and quickly engage
with the firearm in provides accurate alignment therewith, while
further still providing a reduced profile thereby reducing
potential interference with other devices and attachments. In
addition, the present invention provides a multi-functional
flashlight that eliminates the need for a user to carry several
different illumination devices by combining all of the required
functions into a single device that provides an improved method of
compactly and reliably mounting the flashlight device onto a
firearm. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed to
represent a significant advancement in the art, which has
substantial commercial merit.
[0033] While there is shown and described herein certain specific
structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of
the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not
limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except
insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *