U.S. patent application number 13/286835 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-02 for battery adaptive device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steve Hines. Invention is credited to Steve Hines.
Application Number | 20130104438 13/286835 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48170932 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130104438 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hines; Steve |
May 2, 2013 |
BATTERY ADAPTIVE DEVICE
Abstract
An empowered mounting rail is, essentially, an electrical power
source, a powered mounting rail capable of passing electrical power
to a firearm accessory, and a mounting base. The mounting base can
attach the empowered mounting rail to a firearm's mounting rail. An
electrically powered firearm accessory can be powered by the
electrical power source when fastened to the powered mounting rail
portion of the empowered mounting rail.
Inventors: |
Hines; Steve; (Edgewood,
NM) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hines; Steve |
Edgewood |
NM |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48170932 |
Appl. No.: |
13/286835 |
Filed: |
November 1, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/84 ;
362/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20130101;
F41G 11/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/84 ;
362/110 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00; F41G 1/34 20060101 F41G001/34; F41G 1/00 20060101
F41G001/00 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: an empowered mounting rail comprising a
powered mounting rail, a battery compartment, and a mounting base
wherein the powered mounting ran, the battery compartment, and the
mounting base are fixedly attached together, wherein the mounting
base provides for removably attaching the empowered mounting rail
to a firearm mounting rail, and wherein the powered mounting rail
provides for passing electrical power supplied by at least one
battery in the battery compartment to a firearm accessory when the
firearm accessory is mounted on the powered mounting rail.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a firearm comprising
the firearm mounting rail wherein the mounting base is removably
attached to the firearm mounting rail.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the firearm accessory is a
flashlight.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the firearm accessory is a laser
designator.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the firearm accessory is an
optical sight requiring electrical power.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a switch wherein the
switch controls the passage of electrical power between the at
least one battery and the firearm accessory.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power level
indicator.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising an indicator control
wherein the power level indicator has a plurality of modes
comprising an operative mode and an inoperative mode and wherein
the indicator control determines which of the modes the power level
indicator is in.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the firearm mounting rail is a
Picatinny rail.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the powered mounting rail, the
battery compartment, and the mounting base are formed together as a
single piece.
11. A system comprising: an empowered mounting rail comprising a
powered mounting rail, a battery compartment, a sliding base, and a
base locking mechanism wherein the powered mounting rail, the
battery compartment, and the sliding base are fixedly attached
together, wherein the sliding base is configured to slide with one
degree of freedom on a firearm mounting rail, wherein the base
locking mechanism locks the sliding base onto the firearm mounting
rail, wherein the powered mounting rail provides for passing
electrical power supplied by at least one battery in the battery
compartment to a firearm accessory when the firearm accessory is
mounted on the powered mounting rail.
12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a tensioner wherein
the firearm mounting rail comprises a slot, wherein the tensioner
presses the base locking mechanism into the slot to thereby lock
the sliding base onto the firearm mounting rail.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein a force applied counter to the
tensioner unlocks the sliding base to slide with one degree of
freedom on the firearm mounting rail.
14. A system comprising: an empowered mounting rail comprising a
powered mounting rail, a battery compartment, and a powered
mounting base wherein the powered mounting rail, the battery
compartment, and the mounting base are fixedly attached together,
wherein the powered mounting base provides for removably attaching
the empowered mounting rail to a powered firearm mounting rail, and
wherein the powered mounting rail is configured to pass electrical
power supplied by at least one battery in the battery compartment
to a firearm accessory when the firearm accessory is mounted on the
powered mounting rail, wherein the powered mounting base is
configured to pass the electrical power to the powered firearm
mounting rail.
15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a base locking
mechanism wherein the mounting base is a sliding base configured to
slide with one degree of freedom on a firearm mounting rail and
wherein the base locking mechanism locks the sliding base onto the
firearm mounting ran.
16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a tensioner wherein
the firearm mounting rail comprises a slot, wherein the tensioner
presses the base locking mechanism into the slot to thereby lock
the sliding base onto the firearm mounting rail and wherein a force
applied counter to the tensioner unlocks the sliding base to slide
with one degree of freedom on the firearm mounting rail.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising: a firearm comprising
the firearm mounting rail, wherein the firearm mounting rail is a
Picatinny rail, and wherein the mounting base is removably attached
to the Picatinny rail; a switch wherein the switch controls the
passage of electrical power between the at least one battery and
the firearm accessory; a power level indicator and an indicator
control wherein the power level indicator has a plurality of modes
comprising an operative mode and an inoperative mode and wherein
the indicator control determines which of the modes the power level
indicator is in; and wherein the powered mounting rail, the battery
compartment, and the mounting base are formed together as a single
piece.
18. The system of claim 14 further comprising a switch wherein the
switch controls the passage of electrical power between the at
least one battery and the firearm accessory.
19. The system of claim 14 further comprising a power level
indicator and an indicator control wherein the power level
indicator has a plurality of modes comprising an operative mode and
an inoperative mode and wherein the indicator control determines
which of the modes the power level indicator is in.
20. The system of claim 14 further comprising a firearm comprising
the firearm mounting rail, wherein the firearm mounting rail is a
Picatinny rail, and wherein the mounting base is removably attached
to the Picatinny rail.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments are generally related to firearms, Picatinny
rails, firearm rail systems, batteries, and firearm
accessories.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Firearms, particularly military style carbines and rifles,
are often outfitted with rail systems. Historically, Picatinny
rails were attached to or formed into the upper receivers of M-16
style firearms to which sights such as scopes, red dots, and even
iron sights have been mounted. Over time, more and more mounting
rails have been added with current models having mounting rails on
the receiver and four mounting rails on the forward hand guard. The
reason is that a vast number of rail mountable firearm accessories
have become available. Examples of these firearm accessories
include the aforementioned sights as well as lasers, flashlights,
bayonets, grenade launchers, sling swivels, cameras, bipods,
vertical fore grips, and other items.
[0003] A number of the firearm accessories are electrically
powered. Many solutions simply include battery compartments. For
example, a flashlight accessory is basically a battery powered
flashlight with rail compatible mount points. More recently,
solutions are being developed for electrifying the firearms and
rail systems. Hines (U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,975) and Thompson (US
Patent Application 2011/0000120) teach bringing electrical power to
forward mounted accessories. Darian (US Patent Applications
2010/0192446, 2010/0192448, and 2011/0131858) also teaches powering
firearm accessories from a firearm rail. Many of the current art
electrified rail systems use powered firearm mounting rails that
conduct electrical energy from an electrical input connection to
one or more rail mounted devices. Among the advantages of
electrified rail systems is that the batteries and the active
components can be located separately to reduce the weight at the
front of the firearm. A carbine can be unwieldy if it has numerous
accessories with batteries attached to the fore grip. Electrified
rail systems allow those forward mounted parts to be much lighter
because they themselves can be battery-less while electrically
powered by electrical power sources located elsewhere such as in
the butt stock. A new generation of firearms having electrified
rail systems and compatible accessories are being introduced.
[0004] A large number of parts and products for non-electrified
firearm systems have been in production and in the field for over a
decade. Systems and methods providing forward and backward
compatibility between the non-electrified firearm systems and the
new generation of electrified firearms and electrified rail systems
are needed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] The following summary is provided to facilitate an
understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the
present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A
full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments
disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification,
claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
[0006] It is therefore an aspect of the embodiments to have a
powered rail, a battery compartment, and a mounting base attached
together to form an empowered mounting rail. These three components
can be formed as a single unit or otherwise attached to one another
in a more or less permanent manner. The mounting base attaches the
empowered mounting rail to a firearm mounting rail such as a
Picatinny rail. Before being locked in place, mounting bases can
either slide along the firearm rail or can slot into position. Once
positioned, a mounting base is locked into position. A firearm
accessory that requires electrical power can be attached to the
powered rail and thereby be mounted to a firearm and also obtain
electrical power. Such powered accessories include, but are not
limited to, powered scopes, illuminated scopes, red dot sights,
other powered sights, lasers, laser designators, range finders,
flashlights, and cameras.
[0007] The battery compartment is designed to hold batteries and to
help pass electrical power to the powered rail. Some embodiments
can have switches that make-or-break the circuit between the
powered rail and the batteries (or single battery). Other
embodiments can have switches that control delivery of electrical
power to the powered rail.
[0008] It is an aspect of some embodiments to provide power
monitoring circuits. Batteries lose charge over time through use or
through degradation. A monitoring circuit can produce a visible
output indicative of the electrical power available in batteries
that are installed in the battery compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the
separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the
specification, further illustrate the embodiments and, together
with the detailed description, serve to explain the embodiments
disclosed herein.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an empowered mounting rail fastened to a
non-electrified quad-rail in accordance with aspects of the
embodiments;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an empowered mounting rail powering a
battery-less flashlight in accordance with aspects of the
embodiments;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates an empowered mounting rail with batteries
in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates an empowered mounting rail n accordance
with aspects of the embodiments;
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a firearm flashlight accessory for use
with empowered mounting rails in accordance with aspects of the
embodiments;
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates an empowered mounting rail with a power
level indicator in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates an empowered mounting rail with a sliding
mount and locking mechanism in accordance with aspects of the
embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a high level conceptualization of a
firearm with empowered mounting rails and accessories in accordance
with aspects of the embodiments;
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a way of dealing with a short circuiting
problem in accordance with aspects of certain embodiments; and
[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a flashlight accessory 1001 with a
powered base 1002 that can be slotted and damped into position in
accordance with aspects of certain embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The particular values and configurations discussed in these
non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to
illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit
the scope thereof.
[0021] An empowered mounting rail is, essentially, an electrical
power source, a powered mounting rail capable of passing electrical
power to a firearm accessory, and a mounting base. The mounting
base can attach the empowered mounting rail to a firearm's mounting
rail. An electrically powered firearm accessory can be powered by
the electrical power source when fastened to the powered mounting
rail portion of the empowered mounting rail.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an empowered mounting rail 101 fastened
to a quad-rail 103 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.
Quad-rails are typically mounted on a rifle or carbine in place of
a smooth handguard or forward stock. A quad-rail 103 has four
mounting rails 104. The mounting rails 104 illustrated are
Picatinny rails. An empowered mounting rail 101 is attached to the
top mounting rail 104 and a flashlight 102 accessory is attached to
the empowered mounting rail 101. The illustrated flashlight 102 has
no battery compartment because it is designed to obtain electrical
power from the empowered mounting rail. Note that the quad-rail can
be electrified or non-electrified.
[0023] Note that the powered rails can be intentionally compatible
with the currently available standard mounting rails. There are a
number of different mounting rails standards, The United States
defines the Picatinny rail with MIL-STD-1913 to be a standard small
arms mounting rail. The Weaver rail is similar to the Picatinny
rail with some accessories capable of using either the Picatinny or
the Weaver. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has at least two
rail specifications (STANAG 2324 and STANAG 4694) for mounting
rails that are largely compatible with the Picatinny. Yet another
mounting rail somewhat compatible with the Picatinny is the
"Canadian Weaver" that was developed by the Canadian Military.
Other world militaries such as the Chinese military and the Russian
military have similar standardized mounting rails. The important
point here is that the powered rails can be dimensionally
compatible with standardized mounting rails.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an empowered mounting rail powering 101
and a flashlight 102 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.
The empowered mounting rail has a battery compartment 201, a
powered rail 202, and a mounting base 203. The flashlight 102 has a
flashlight body 205 and a powered mounting base 206. A powered
mounting base is a mounting base that can transfer electrical power
from a powered mounting rail 202 to the body of an accessory such
as the flashlight body 205. A switch 204 can connect and disconnect
battery power from the powered rail 202. FIG. 3 illustrates the
empowered mounting rail of FIGS. 1 and 2 along with batteries 301.
The batteries 301 go into the battery compartment 201 to supply
electrical power.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates an empowered mounting rail 101 in
accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The empowered mounting
rail 101 is illustrated from a different angle to better illustrate
the mounting bases 203. These particular mounting bases are of a
variety that can slide along a mounting rail and then lock into
position with bolts. Other varieties can not be slid along the
mounting rail, but are "slotted in" by being placed such that part
of the mount fits into a rail slot and the mount clamped into
position.
[0026] An empowered mounting rail can be assembled by attaching
together a powered rail 202, battery compartment 201, and mounting
base 203. Alternatively, all three of those components can be
formed together. For example, a single injection molding can be
used to mold all three components at once such that they are
attached together by being part of the same molding.
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a firearm flashlight accessory for use
with electrified rails in accordance with aspects of the
embodiments. The accessory has a flashlight body 205 and a powered
mounting base 206. The body 205 can be a little more than a
reflector, a light source (bulb, LED, or other) and electrical
connections to the powered mounting base 206. A bolt 501 is shown
passing through one side of the powered mounting base 206 and
threaded into another side. Tightening the bolt 301 can force the
base to clamp onto the rail. Furthermore, the bolt 301 can be
positioned to pass through a slot in the rail to thereby set the
accessory to a particular slot position. Tightening the bolt
afterward can damp the accessory in position.
[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates an empowered mounting rail with a power
level indicator 601 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.
The battery compartment 201 and powered mounting rail 202 are
present, but placed differently in relation to one another. The
power level indicator 601 can be a small LED that lights when the
battery power level is high enough. Note that battery voltage is
typically used as an indication of power level. Another option is
that the LED lights up in one color, such as green, when there is
ample power and lights up in a different color, such as red, when
power is getting low. No power can be indicated by an unlit
LED.
[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates the empowered mounting rail of FIG. 6
from a different angle so that the locking mechanism 701 is more
easily visible. The sliding base 604 allows the empowered mounting
rail to be slid onto a firearm mounting rail and then locked into
position by the locking mechanism 701. The locking mechanism 701
can be pressed into a rail slot by a tensioner 602. The tensioner
602 can be attached by a bolt 603, by some other fastening means,
or can be molded as part of the unit during the molding
process.
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates a high level conceptualization of a
firearm 801 with empowered mounting rails 804, 805 and accessories
in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The firearm 801 has
two different types of firearm mounting rails. A non-powered
firearm mounting rail 104 does not transfer electrical power to
accessories while a powered mounting rail 803 does. The two firearm
mounting rails are dimensionally similar with the same slot
spacing, etc. There are also two types of empowered mounting rails
804, 805 shown. One empowered mounting rail 804 has a non-powered
mounting base 203 while the other empowered mounting rail 805 has a
powered mounting base 206.
[0031] A powered mounting base 206 allows an empowered mounting
rail to share electrical power with a powered firearm mounting rail
803. As such, a flashlight 102 having its own powered mounting base
206 can be attached to the powered firearm mounting rail 803 and
can be powered by the empowered mounting rail 805. The electrical
power can pass from a battery compartment in the empowered mounting
rail 805, through a powered mounting base 206 and into the powered
firearm mounting rail 803. From there, the electrical power passes
through another powered mounting base 206 and into the flashlight
102. On the other hand, a non-powered mounting base 203 can not
transfer power.
[0032] In many cases the firearm mounting rail 104 will be a
Picatinny rail which is a standardized and well defined part
available from many sources. It is therefore desirable for the
powered firearm mounting rail to be either dimensionally similar or
dimensionally incompatible. When dimensionally similar, legacy
firearm accessories can be attached to the powered firearm rail.
The negative aspect there is that, unless carefully designed, a
non-powered mounting base 203 can cause an electrical short circuit
if made of conducting material like aluminum. Similarly, an
electrically conductive firearm mounting rail 104 can cause a short
circuit through a powered mounting base 206. The short circuiting
problem can be avoided by making the powered and non-powered
variants incompatible.
[0033] Other ways of dealing with the short circuiting problem is
through short circuit detection and shutoff, detection and
indication, or current limiting. Current limiting circuits allow
the passage of an electrical current as long as it remains below a
threshold. Detection and shutoff detects short circuits by
measuring resistivity or impedance and opening the circuit when
those values are too low. An indicator, such as an LED, can show
that a short is detected.
[0034] FIG. 9 illustrates another way of dealing with a short
circuiting problem in accordance with aspects of certain
embodiments. Dimensional features such as a keyway 903 or detent
along with a key 902 can be compatible with non-powered legacy
equipment while providing compatible equipment to form circuits. A
powered mounting base 901 can have a key 902 that is pushed into
the base by a non-powered rail, but is pushed by an internal spring
to extend into a socket 903 in a powered rail 904. If the key 902
carries power, then it can have a non-conductive tip 905. In order
to minimize clogging, the keyway 903 can be pushed open by the key
902 or can extend completely though the rail.
[0035] FIG. 10 illustrates a flashlight accessory 1001 with a
powered base 1002 that can be slotted and clamped into position in
accordance with aspects of certain embodiments. Loosening or
removing a bolt 1005 allows a clamping piece 1004 to move and open
up the base such that it can be slotted onto a rail cover. A cross
member 1003 fits into one of the recoil grooves in the mounting
rail. The bolt 1005 can thereafter be tightened to clamp the
powered base 1002 into position. The illustrated embodiment
indicates the bolt 1005 threading into the cross member 1003
although there are many other ways to provide the correct clamping
action. The cross member 1003 can have keys or keyways similar to
those discussed above, can have exposed conductive regions that
match up with similar regions on the rail, or can have other means
of bringing power into the powered base.
[0036] With the increased use of accessories drawing power through
the rail system, there will be devices that loose power when parted
from the host rail or when the powered rail or rail powering system
fails. Empowered rails or similar battery adaptive devices can
serve as power sources separate from firearm rail systems.
Similarly, the empowered rail can be the electrical power source or
a back-up electrical power source for an entire powered rail system
or firearm system. In fact, a battery compartment electrically
connected to a powered base and mounted to an electrified rail
system can power that electrified rail system.
[0037] It will be appreciated that variations of the
above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives
thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different
systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or
improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in
the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following
claims.
* * * * *