U.S. patent application number 12/957066 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-31 for remotely activated illuminator for a shoulder fired firearm.
Invention is credited to Ronald Toole.
Application Number | 20120131840 12/957066 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46125688 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120131840 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Toole; Ronald |
May 31, 2012 |
REMOTELY ACTIVATED ILLUMINATOR FOR A SHOULDER FIRED FIREARM
Abstract
An illumination system for a shoulder fired firearm includes an
illuminator, such as a laser sight, which is wirelessly activated
by a user control remote from the illuminator.
Inventors: |
Toole; Ronald; (Oregon City,
OR) |
Family ID: |
46125688 |
Appl. No.: |
12/957066 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/114 ;
42/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/114 ;
42/146 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20060101
F41G001/35; F41C 23/22 20060101 F41C023/22; F41G 1/00 20060101
F41G001/00 |
Claims
1. An illumination system for a shoulder fired firearm, said
illumination system comprising: (a) a transmission unit comprising:
(i) a transmission unit controller outputting a datum including a
function code in response to actuation of a function transducer by
a user of said firearm; and (ii) a transmitter wirelessly
transmitting said datum outputted by said controller; (b) a
receiving unit comprising: (i) a receiver for receiving said
transmitted datum; (ii) a receiving unit controller outputting an
activation signal corresponding to said function code included in
said transmitted datum; and (c) an activation transducer responsive
to said activation signal from said receiving unit controller to
alter an output of an illuminator.
2. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said illuminator
comprises a flashlight.
3. The illumination system of claim 2 wherein said flashlight
further comprises said receiving unit.
4. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said illuminator
comprises a laser.
5. The illumination system of claim 4 wherein said laser further
comprises said receiving unit.
6. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said illuminator is
attached to one of a rifle, a shotgun and a submachine gun.
7. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said transmission
unit is contained within a firing handgrip of said firearm.
8. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said datum further
comprises a security code stored by said transmission unit
controller and said receiver outputs said activation signal only if
said security code corresponds to a receiving unit security code
stored by said receiving unit.
9. An illumination system for a shoulder fired firearm, said
illumination system comprising: (a) a transmission unit comprising:
(i) a transmission unit controller outputting a datum including a
first function code in response to actuation of a first function
transducer by a user of said firearm and outputting a datum
including a second function code in response to actuation of a
second function transducer; and (ii) a transmitter wirelessly
transmitting said datum outputted by said controller; (b) a
receiving unit comprising: (i) a receiver for receiving said
transmitted datum; and (ii) a receiving unit controller outputting
a first activation signal corresponding to said first function code
if said first function code is included in said transmitted datum
and outputting a second activation signal corresponding to said
second function code if said second function code is included in
said transmitted datum; (c) a first activation transducer
responsive to said first activation signal from said receiving unit
controller to alter an output of a first illuminator; and (d) a
second activation transducer responsive to said second activation
signal from said receiving unit controller to alter an output of a
second illuminator.
10. The illumination system of claim 9 wherein said transmitted
datum further comprises a security code stored by said transmission
unit controller and said receiving unit outputs one of said first
activation signal and said second activation signal only if said
security code in said transmitted datum corresponds to a receiving
unit security code.
11. The illumination system of claim 9 wherein one of said first
illuminator and said second illuminator comprises a flashlight.
12. The illumination system of claim 11 wherein said flashlight
further comprises said receiving unit.
13. The illumination system of claim 9 wherein one of said first
illuminator and said second illuminator comprises a laser.
14. The illumination system of claim 13 wherein said laser further
comprises said receiving unit.
15. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said transmission
unit is contained within a stock of said firearm.
16. An illumination system for a shoulder fired firearm, said
illumination system comprising: (a) a transmission unit comprising:
(i) a transmission controller outputting a first datum comprising a
first security code and a first function code in response to
actuation of a first function transducer and outputting a second
datum comprising a second security code and a second function code
in response to actuation of a second function transducer; and (ii)
a transmitter wirelessly transmitting said one of said first datum
and said second datum outputted by said transmission controller;
(b) a first receiving unit comprising: (i) a first receiver for
receiving a datum transmitted by said transmitter; (ii) a first
receiving unit controller outputting a first activation signal if a
transmitted datum received by said first receiver includes said
first function code and a security code corresponding to a first
receiver security code stored by said first receiving unit
controller; (c) a first activation transducer responsive to said
first activation signal to alter an output of a first illuminator.
(d) a second receiving unit comprising: (i) a second receiver for
receiving a datum transmitted by said transmitter; (ii) a second
receiving unit controller outputting a second activation signal if
a transmitted datum received by said second receiver includes said
second function code and a security code corresponding to a second
receiver security code stored by said second receiving unit
controller; and (e) a second activation transducer responsive to
said second activation signal to alter an output of a second
illuminator.
17. The illumination system of claim 16 wherein one of said first
illuminator and said second illuminator comprises a flashlight.
18. The illumination system of claim 17 wherein said flashlight
further comprises said receiving unit.
19. The illumination system of claim 16 wherein one of said first
illuminator and said second illuminator comprises a laser.
20. The illumination system of claim 19 wherein said laser further
comprises said receiving unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to shoulder fired firearms
such as rifles, shotguns and submachine guns and, more
particularly, to an apparatus for a shoulder fired firearm enabling
remote activation of a laser sight or other device.
[0003] Demand for laser sights and other firearm mounted
illuminating devices has increased substantially. It is estimated
that 85% of firearm discharges by police occur at night or under
other low light conditions, such as in a dimly or unlit building.
Likewise, there has been increased military emphasis on urban and
nighttime warfare. Laser sights and other illumination systems are
also used by hunters; competition shooters; military, police and
other firearm trainers and by garners, such as paint ball and
airsoft gun enthusiasts. An illuminator for a firearm typically
comprises a laser sight; a flashlight, also known as a tactical
light, or a combination of a laser sight and a flashlight.
[0004] When installed on a shoulder fired firearm such as a rifle,
shotgun or submachine gun, the illuminator may be mounted below,
alongside or on top of the barrel, commonly in front of the
forestock; on top of the firearm's receiver or on a telescopic
sight. Typically, the illuminator is clamped to the barrel of the
firearm or engaged with a mounting rail, such as a Picatinny rail,
which is, in turn attached to the firearm.
[0005] Illuminators are typically activated by a switch or a
plurality of switches which are either mounted on the body of the
illuminator or on an activating pad that is attached to the
illuminator. To actuate a switch on the illuminator's body, the
firearm's user must move one hand from the stock of the firearm to
the illuminator's body, locate and activate the illuminator and
return the hand to the stock. In tactical situations, the user may
be vulnerable during and following activation of the illuminator
because the firearm is not in a ready to use condition and movement
of the firearm while the user is activating the illuminator may
require reacquisition of a target.
[0006] To reduce the amount of movement required to activate a
firearm mounted illuminator, the illuminator may be incorporated
into a mounting that includes a vertical handgrip arranged for
grasping with the firearm supporting hand. The switches for the
illuminator typically are incorporated in the handgrip enabling
activation of the illuminator without relinquishing support of the
firearm. However, to activate the illuminator the user must have
both hands on the firearm making activation of the illuminator
difficult when the user is repelling, moving an object for a better
view, or opening a door with the non-firing hand or has injured one
hand. In addition, the handgrip is typically mounted under the
barrel of the firearm and near the forestock to provide a
comfortable, stable, supportive grip for the user which can
interfere with the installation of a bi-pod to aid the shooter,
particularly when firing from the prone position.
[0007] To further improve the utility of shoulder fired firearm
mounted illuminators, the illuminator may be activated by a switch
that is part of an activating pad attached to the firearm in a
location remote from the illuminator. The activating pad is
commonly attached to the firearm's forestock for operation with the
supporting hand or attached to the grip portion of the stock for
operation by the firing hand. The remote activating pad is
typically attached to the firearm by an adhesive or may be attached
by a hook and loop fastener enabling easy removal when the
illuminator is detached from the firearm. While the remote
activating pad can be mounted in a position that is more convenient
for the user, the switches in the activating pad are connected to
the illuminator by a cable which may snag on obstacles in the
environment interfering with movement of the firearm; giving away
the shooter's location; separating the activating pad from the
firearm; or pulling the illuminator out of position.
[0008] What is desired, therefore, is an apparatus for activating
an illuminator for a shoulder fired firearm, such as a rifle,
shotgun or submachine gun, that enables operation of the firearm,
including activation of the illuminator with a single hand, and
reduces the likelihood of detrimental interaction between the
firearm and its surroundings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a rifle with an attached
illumination system.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remotely activated
illumination system.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a portion of a stock of a
shoulder fired firearm including firing handgrip.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a shotgun with an attached
illumination system.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an activation method for an
illumination system.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a
remotely activated illumination system.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a firearm including an
illuminator activation pad.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring in detail to the drawings where similar parts are
identified by like reference numerals, and, more particularly to
FIGS. 1 and 4, a rifle 20, a shotgun 84, submachine gun or other
shoulder fired firearm is commonly equipped with a laser sight 22,
a flashlight 24, also known as a tactical light, or both,
individually and collectively referred to herein as an illuminator.
An illuminator may emit light of one or more wavelengths including
light in the visible and infrared spectra and may emit light at a
single, continuous intensity; a varying intensity or
intermittently, such as a strobe light. As illustrated in FIG. 1,
an illuminator 22, 24 is commonly mounted under the barrel 26 and
in front of the forestock 28 of a shoulder fired firearm. However,
the laser sight, the tactical light or both are often mounted on
the side of the barrel, above the barrel, on the receiver or
adjacent to a telescopic sight on the firearm. The illuminator may
be clamped to the barrel of the firearm but is often mounted on a
rail which is, in turn, attached to the firearm. For example, a
Picatinny rail system comprises a T-shaped rail attached to the
firearm which is engageable by a complementary "rail grabber" on
the illuminator, telescopic sight or other firearm mountable
accessory.
[0017] Illuminators are typically activated by a switch or a
plurality of switches which are incorporated in the body of the
illuminator or a handgrip extending from the body of the
illuminator or in an activating pad that is attached to the
illuminator by a cable and temporarily affixed to the firearm. To
actuate a switch on the body of an illuminator, a user must have
two hands on the firearm and must move one hand to the body of the
illuminator and then back to the ready to fire position. A handgrip
mounted switch similarly requires the user to have both hands on
the firearm to activate the illuminator but does not require the
user to release the firearm while reaching for a switch. Reaching
can also be reduced by using an activating pad that can be mounted
remote from the body of the illuminator in a position that is
convenient to the user's hands. The activation pad can be affixed
to the stock or the receiver enabling activation of the illuminator
without moving the firearm supporting hand or the firing hand.
However, the cable connecting the switches of the activating pad
and the illuminator can interfere with the operation of the
firearm. The cable can snag on obstacles interfering with movement
of the firearm, giving away the user's position or causing
detachment of the activating pad or misalignment of the
illuminator. The inventor concluded that activating an illuminator
with a device that was not physically connected to the illuminator
would enable locating the activating switch or other activating
transducer in a position convenient for the user and would
eliminate a potential source of interference with the operation of
the firearm.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, the wireless illumination system 50
comprises, generally, a receiving unit 52, a transmission unit 54,
one or more activating transducers 69 and one or more illuminators
56, 58. Typical illuminators are a flashlight 56, also known as a
tactical light, for general illumination and a laser sight 58.
However, an illuminator may be any other type of light emitter,
such as a strobe light. An illuminator with two or more lights,
such as a flashlight and a laser sight may be secured to a shoulder
fired firearm, such as a rifle, a shotgun or a submachine gun as a
unitary assembly or the light emitters may be separately mounted on
the firearm. Flashlights and the laser sights are commonly mounted
under, above or alongside the barrel of the firearm but are also
commonly mounted on the receiver 30 of the firearm or adjacent to a
telescopic sight.
[0019] The transmission unit 54 comprises, generally, a power
source 60, a transmitter 62 and a controller 64. Referring also to
FIG. 7, the transmission unit 54 may be included in an activation
pad 250 temporarily attached to the firearm in a location
convenient to the user by, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener or
by an adhesive or the transmission unit may be incorporated into
the structure of the firearm. By way of examples only, referring to
FIG. 3, the transmission unit 54, including the power source 60,
may be built into a firing handgrip 73 attached to the firearm or
incorporated as part of the stock of the firearm or, referring to
FIG. 4, the transmission unit 54 may built into or attached to a
cover plate 82 of the firearm's receiver or built into the
firearm's stock 32. The user interface of the illumination system
comprises one or more function transducers 69. The function
transducers may be switches 70, such as the function switches 70A,
70B, 71A, 71B but could be any form of transducer capable of
converting a user input to a signal to the transmission unit, such
as a capacitive or resistive sensor. Function transducer may be
located on either side or both sides of the firearm for convenient
activation by either hand. For example, function switches 70A, 70B
may be located on one side of the firing handgrip 75 and function
switches 71A, 71B may be located on the opposite side of the hand
grip enabling the user to operate the firearm and the illuminator
with either hand as dictated by a tactical situation or desired
shooting position. A selector 73 permits the user to select which
pair of function switches 70A, 70B, or switches 71A, 71B is
active.
[0020] The receiving unit 52 may be attached to or included in the
mounting for the illuminator(s) or may be incorporated into an
illuminator. The illuminators 56, 58 and the receiving unit may
each be powered by its own power source 88, 86, and 78,
respectively; the illuminators may be powered by a power source for
the receiving unit or the receiving unit may be powered by the
power source(s) of one or more illuminators.
[0021] The transmitter 62 is preferably a radio-frequency
transmitter but could be another wireless signal emitter such as an
infra-red light emitter or an ultrasound emitter. The power source
60 for the transmission unit and the power source 78 of the
receiving unit are typically batteries but could be any other
compact power source such as a super capacitor or fuel cell.
[0022] The controller 64 of the transmission unit preferably
includes an encoder 66. The controller and the encoder preferably
respond to actuation of a function transducer 69 by encoding a data
frame that is transmitted to the receiving unit 52 by the
transmitter 62. The data frame includes a function code
corresponding to the function switch 70A, 71A, 70B, 71B that has
been actuated and indicating to the receiving unit which function
is to be activated. For example, a first push of a function switch
may produce a function code applying power to an illuminator and a
second push of the function switch may encode a function to
interrupt power to the illuminator. Preferably, the encoder also
encodes a security code such as a hopping code with each data
frame. A hopping code comprises a security code word encrypted by
an algorithm that renders the code word unique for each
transmission. Referring also to FIG. 5, the transmission unit
controller checks the state of the function switch(es) 102. Each
time a function switch is activated 102, the encoder fetches a
security code stored in the encoder 104. The controller assembles a
data frame 106 comprising the security code and the appropriate
function code which is, typically, encrypted, and then sent to the
transmitter for transmission 108. After the controller outputs the
data frame the encoder, using the hopping code algorithm,
increments the security code and stores a new value for the
security code 110. With the next actuation of a function switch,
the encoder will encode the data frame with the new security
code.
[0023] When a transmission is received 120 by the receiver 72 of
the receiving unit 52, it is transmitted to the receiving unit's
controller 74 which preferably comprises a decoder 76. The decoder
decrypts the data frame 122 comprising the transmission and
compares 126 the security code in the data frame to a security code
stored by the controller 124. If the security code in the
transmitted data frame equals the stored security code 126, the
transmitted data frame is declared valid and the function code in
the data frame is decoded 128. If the function code is valid, the
controller outputs an activation signal to cause the specified
function to be performed 130. The activation signal may cause an
activation transducer, for example an activation switch 80, 82, to
connect or to disconnect the appropriate illuminator 56, 58 from
its power source 86, 88 or to otherwise change a characteristic,
for example, resistance, effecting the output of an illuminator. If
the security code included in a transmission does not agree with
the security code stored in the decoder, the transmission is
rejected and the function designated in the transmission is not
performed.
[0024] The decoder applies the same algorithm as was applied by the
encoder to the security code received with the transmission to
generate a new security code which is stored in anticipation of the
next transmission 132. While the new security code will appear to
an outsider to be randomly generated, the application of the same
algorithm to the security code in both the controller of the
transmission unit and the controller of the receiving unit will
result in identical new security codes to be applied by both of the
controllers to the next transmission. Since the hopping code
changes with each transmission, the receiving unit's controller
will reject a security code that is transmitted in sequential
transmissions preventing interference with the operation of the
illuminator by a person who might intercept transmissions from the
firearm.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 6, in another embodiment of a wireless
illumination system 150 each illuminator 152, 172 includes its own
receiving unit 154, 174, respectively. Each receiving unit
comprises a receiver 156, 176 and a controller 154, 174 which
includes a decoder 160, 180. The transmission unit 200 comprises
plural controllers 202, 206 including, respectively, encoders 204,
208 enabling a separate security code for each illuminator 152,
172. However, the transmission unit might incorporate a single
controller controlling a single encoder capable of processing and
storing separate security codes for the respective illuminators
152, 172 or a single controller controlling plural encoders, each
providing a security code for one of the plural illuminators. The
transmission unit 200 also comprises a transmitter 210 to transmit
signals to the receivers 156, 176 of the illuminators and a power
supply 212 which is typically a battery but might be any compact
power source.
[0026] The transmission unit 200 comprises a single function switch
214 for the controller 202 and plural function switches 216 and 218
for the controller 206. Actuating the function switch 216 causes
the controller to encode a data frame comprising a security code
and a first function code and actuating the function switch 218
causes the controller to encode a data frame comprising a security
code and a second function code. When a data frame, including the
security code, is received by the receiving unit 174 and decoded,
the controller 178 will activate the activation switch 184 or the
activation switch 186 to connect or disconnect the respective light
source 188, 190 to or from the power supply 182 as directed by the
function code. The illuminator 172 may, for example, include an
emitter of visible light and an emitter of non-visible light for
signaling that may be selected by actuating the appropriate
function switch. Wireless activation of an illuminator containing
its own receiving unit and power source also permits activation of
the illumination device, for example, illuminator 172, while the
illuminator is detached from the firearm permitting, for example,
the user to illuminate an environment without giving away the
user's position.
[0027] Wireless activation of illumination device for shoulder
fired firearms permits convenient location of the user operable
function switches for greater utility of the illumination system
and avoids connecting cables that can snag on obstacles interfering
with use of the firearm and endangering its user.
[0028] The detailed description, above, sets forth numerous
specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the present
invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the present invention may be practiced without these specific
details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures,
components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to
avoid obscuring the present invention.
[0029] All the references cited herein are incorporated by
reference.
[0030] The terms and expressions that have been employed in the
foregoing specification are used as terms of description and not of
limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and
expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and
described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope
of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that
follow.
* * * * *