The present invention relates to ammunition magazines and other components for firearms, more particularly to firearm components that are capable of changing color and/or opacity based on the introduction of energy, for example light, heat, or electricity.
Firearms magazines generally extend outwardly from the body of a firearm, and therefore are generally visible when the firearm is in use. In order to provide adequate camouflage for the firearm for different environments, magazines are presently offered in different colors and prints. If a firearm user must move from one environment to another, they currently must change their magazine in order to maximize the effectiveness of the camouflage. This represents both a cost and operational burden for the firearm user. During bright-light environments, clear-bodied magazines have the further disadvantage of exposing the metal cartridges contained within the magazine to reflected light, which can present an operational disadvantage by giving away a user's position.
Optics components, such as scope lenses and covers therefor, are sometimes subjected to reflected light that could cause noticeable glint in certain settings. This can likewise present an operational disadvantage by giving away a user's position.
Accordingly, there is a need for firearm components that address these problems and overcome the limitations of the prior art devices.
In one respect, the present application discloses a magazine for a firearm, the magazine comprising a body having a feed end, a bottom end, and a wall that extends between the feed end and bottom end; a follower; and a follower spring; wherein at least a portion of the body is comprised of a color-changing material.
In another respect, the present application discloses a method of constructing a photochromatic component for a firearm, the component having a body, the method comprising: mixing together a photochromatic filler and a carrier to form a photochromatic slurry; and applying the photochromatic slurry to at least a portion of the body.
In yet another respect, the present application discloses a method of constructing a photochromatic magazine for a firearm, the magazine having a body, a follower, and a follower spring, the method comprising: mixing together a photochromatic filler, a carrier, and a polymer material to form a mixture; and forming the mixture into at least a portion of the body.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention disclosed herein, certain embodiments in accordance with the herein disclosed invention are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the herein disclosed invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown. It should also be understood that, in the drawings, the parts are not necessarily drawn to scale. The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. In the drawings:
The ensuing detailed description provides preferred exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the herein disclosed inventions. Rather, the ensuing detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the preferred exemplary embodiments in accordance with the herein disclosed invention. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
To aid in describing the invention, directional terms may be used in the specification and claims to describe portions of the present invention (e.g., upper, lower, left, right, etc.). These directional definitions are merely intended to assist in describing and claiming the invention and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. In addition, reference numerals that are introduced in the specification in association with a drawing figure may be repeated in one or more subsequent figures without additional description in the specification in order to provide context for other features.
For purposes of this specification and the appended claims, the term “color-changing material” has the meaning of a material having a different color, transparency, and/or opacity when exposed to a specific form of energy then when not exposed to that form of energy, and includes but is not limited to the terms “photochromatic,” “thermochromatic,” and “electrochromatic” as defined herein below.
For purposes of this specification and the appended claims, the term “photochromatic” has the meaning of a material that changes color, transparency, and/or opacity when exposed to light, most commonly a light in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum.
For purposes of this specification and the appended claims, the term “thermochromatic” has the meaning of a material that changes color, transparency, and/or opacity when exposed to a change in temperature. The term “thermochromatic” is interchangeable with the term “thermochromic.”
For purposes of this specification and the appended claims, the term “electrochromatic” has the meaning of a material that changes color, transparency, and/or opacity when exposed to an electrical current. The term “electrochromatic” is interchangeable with the term “electrochromic.”
For purposes of this specification and the appended claims, the term “ultraviolet light” or “UV light” means light in the band of 280-400 nanometers.
Referring now to the Figures,
The change in haze, transparency, and/or total transmittance of the body 12 of the magazine 10 can be measured using known transparency and haze meters produced by BYK-Gardner GmbH of Geretsried, Germany while applying known testing standards, for example ASTM D1746-15, entitled “Standard Test Method for Transparency of Plastic Sheeting,” which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety. A copy of this Standard is available online at http://www.astm.org/Standards/D1746.htm as of the date of filing of this application. In various embodiments according to the present invention, the transparency of the body 12 of the magazine 10 can change by between 1-10%, between 10-25%, between 25-50%, or greater than 50%.
In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments according to the present invention, the body of the magazine will meet the relevant specifications for luminous transmittance, neutrality, chromaticity, and haze as set forth in paragraphs 3.5.2.8-3.5.2.14 of Military Performance Specification No. MIL-PRF-31013, published 25 Apr. 1996, entitled “Spectacles, Special Protective Eyewear Cylindrical System (SPECS)”, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety. A copy of this Specification is available online at: http://everyspec.com/MIL-PRF/MIL-PRF-030000-79999/MIL-PRF-31013 20540/ as of the date of filing of the present application.
There are many types of photochromatic material known in the art, such as spiroxazines and spiropyrans. In the embodiment shown in
If one or more hardcoat layer(s) are applied to the magazine 10 at optional step 30, silicone may be used as the hardcoat. The hardcoat layer(s) add scratch and abrasion resistance to the body 12 of the magazine 10, and can also be used to modify the exterior appearance of the body 12 of the magazine 10, for example by increasing or decreasing the reflectivity of the body 12 or altering the texture of the exterior surface of the body 12.
In an alternate method for constructing a photochromatic magazine, the photochromatic slurry may be mixed directly into the substrate material that forms the body of the magazine prior to the body of the magazine being formed. In this method, the annealing and hardcoating steps may optionally be omitted.
In the embodiment of the magazine 10 shown in
In further alternate embodiments, the magazine body could be coated, sprayed, or formed with an electrochromatic paint or dye that changes color due to the introduction of an electrical current. Because many modern firearms are designed to support power source(s) for operating lights, scopes, and other accessories, said power source(s) can be used to selectively introduce an electrical charge to the body of the magazine, thereby altering its color based on the environment in which the firearm is being used. For example, in an unpowered state the magazine may be a clear or light color and in a powered state may become a darker color, or vice-versa. Because power sources can fail during operations, an important consideration in selecting what the default (i.e., unpowered) color of the magazine should be is which color state is more generally acceptable in a particular environment. For example, while a dark-colored magazine body may be preferable to a light-colored or clear magazine body during nighttime use, in general it may be preferable to have the default (i.e., unpowered) color of the magazine body be light-colored or clear, because a light-colored or clear magazine at night is generally preferable to a dark-colored magazine during the day.
In further alternate embodiments, only a portion of the body of the magazine (e.g., one or more vertical windows aligned with all or a portion of the height of the magazine in which the cartridges are located) may be provided with color-changing properties, and the remainder of the magazine may be provided in a solid (e.g., opaque) color. In that way, the window can provide a transparent view into the magazine in low-light or nighttime environments, but will become sufficiently opaque during daytime environments such that no reflection of light occurs off of the metal cartridges located inside the cartridge.
In further alternate embodiments, the materials and methods disclosed herein could be used to construct all or portion(s) of any firearm component for which it would be desirable to reduce the risk of reflective glare or glint. A non-exhaustive list of additional firearm components that could be all or partially constructed using the materials and methods taught herein includes: scope lenses and covers for scope lenses; sunshades for all optic types; non-magnified optic lenses and covers (such as various holographic, red dot, and laser weapon sights); and any other weapon-mounted aiming or sight-aiding device for which it would be desirable to reduce the risk of reflective glare or glint.
It should be appreciated that the foregoing is presented by way of illustration only, and not by way of any limitation, and that various alternatives and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62074884 | Nov 2014 | US |