This disclosure relates to implementations of an electrical switch device for use with electrically powered firearm accessories.
Switch operated electrical accessories (e.g., lasers and illumination tools) have been adapted for being secured to firearms. Electrical accessories are frequently positioned on a firearm to be parallel with, and close to the barrel of the firearm. In general, a mount is used with the electrical accessory to releasably secure it to a mounting interface (e.g., a Picatinny rail) secured to the firearm. Accessory mounts and mounting interfaces are well known in the art pertaining to firearms.
A variety of switch apparatuses are available to operate firearm mounted electrical switch devices, including tail cap switches and plug-in remote switches with “constant on” and “momentary on” capabilities. User preference and tactical considerations often direct both the positioning and selection of a particular switch type.
Implementations of an electrical switch device are provided. In some implementations, the electrical switch device may be used to operate electrically powered firearm accessories (e.g., lasers and illumination tools). In some implementations, the electrical switch device may be conductively connected to a firearm accessory by a flexible cable having a connector thereon. In this way, the electrical switch device may be remotely positioned relative to the firearm accessory to which it is attached. In some implementations, the electrical switch device may be secured to a mounting interface (e.g., KeyMod or M-LOK® accessory mounting slots and/or a Picatinny rail) for firearm accessories. In some implementations, the electrical switch device may include user selectable programs that control the operation of connected firearm accessories.
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In some implementations, a gasket may be placed about the interior of each opening 116a, 116b. In this way, water may be prevented from entering the housing 102 through the openings 116 when the housing 102 is assembled. In some implementations, the gasket(s) may be manufactured from rubber. In some implementation, the gasket(s) may be manufactured from any suitable material.
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In some implementations, the program switch cover 109, the first switch cover 112a, and the second switch cover 112b may be configured to serve as gaskets and thereby prevent water from entering the housing 102 through their respective openings. In some implementations, the program switch cover 109 and the switch covers 112 may be manufactured from a rubber material. In some implementations, the program switch cover 109 and the switch covers 112 may be manufactured from a flexible synthetic material. In some implementations, the program switch cover 109 and the switch covers 112 may be manufactured from any suitable material.
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In some implementations, each cable 150 may include a connector 152a, 152b thereon configured to connect with an electrically powered firearm accessory (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the following steps may be taken to assemble the housing 102 of an electrical switch device 100 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. Initially, the switch covers 112 and the program switch cover 109 may be positioned in the top body portion 110 as described above. Then, the PCB 130 is oriented and positioned so that the first cable 150a and the second cable 150b extend through the first opening 116a and the second opening 116b, respectively, of the top body portion 110 (see, e.g.,
To disassemble the housing 102 of the electrical switch device 100, the above steps are performed in reverse.
To remove only the bottom body portion 120 from the top body portion 110, the fasteners 138 need only be removed from the lugs 125.
In some implementations, the lugs 125 described above may be replaced with lugs configured to interface with KeyMod and/or M-LOK® accessory mounting slots. In this way, the housing 102 of the electrical switch device 100 may be directly mounted to a mounting interface having KeyMod and/or M-LOK® accessory mounting slots.
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To use the clamp 170 to secure the housing 102 to a Picatinny rail, in some implementations, the housing 102 may be initially placed against the Picatinny rail.
Then, the first longitudinal flange 170a may be oriented so that the protrusions 175 thereon will be received within the recesses 129 on the first side of the bottom body portion 120 (see, e.g.,
Then, the second longitudinal flange 170b may be oriented so that the protrusions 175 thereon will be received within the recesses 129 on the second side of the bottom body portion 120 (see, e.g.,
Then, a fastener may be inserted through each bore 178 in the second longitudinal flange 170b, through the space between the ribs (not shown but well known in the art) of the Picatinny rail, and threadedly secured to the thread inserts 174 of the first longitudinal flange 170a (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the clamp 170 and/or the bottom body portion 120 may be configured to secure to any mounting interface for firearm accessories currently known or developed in the future.
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In some implementations, the activation switches 132 may be used for selectively closing a circuit thereby causing an attached electrically powered firearm accessory (e.g., a laser 190 or an illumination tool 192) to be energized by its internal power source. In some implementations, the first activation switch 132a and/or the second activation switch 132b may be constructed to operate as a pressure actuable “MOMENTARY ON” switch. In some implementations, the first activation switch 132a and/or the second activation switch 132b may be constructed to operate as a pushbutton actuable “CONSTANT ON/OFF” and “MOMENTARY ON” switch. In some implementations, the first activation switch 132a and/or the second activation switch 132b may be configured to provide tactile feedback during use. In some implementations, the activation switches 132 may be utilized even when the electronic circuitry 105 is not electrically powered (i.e. the power source 107 is dead). In some implementations, each activation switch 132 may be a dome switch.
In some implementations, the first activation switch 132a is co-mounted on the PCB 130 with the first program activation switch 142a and the second activation switch 132b is co-mounted on the PCB 130 with the second program activation switch 142b. In some implementations, the co-mounted first activation switch 132a and first program activation switch 142a are positioned on the PCB 130 so that both are located under the first switch cover 112a when the housing 102 is assembled. In this way, when the user depresses the first switch cover 112a both switches 132a, 142a are engaged. In some implementations, the co-mounted second activation switch 132b and second program activation switch 142b are positioned on the PCB 130 so that both are located under the second switch cover 112b when the housing 102 is assembled. In this way, when the user depresses the second switch cover 112b both switches 132b, 142b are engaged.
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In some implementations, one or more programs may be stored in the memory of the logic board 134. In some implementations, one or more programs may be created by the user and stored in the memory of the logic board 134. In some implementations, a program may be used to set the mode of operation (e.g., momentary on, constant on, strobe activation, or a combination thereof) for the electrically powered firearm accessories conductively connected to the electrical switch device 100 via the cables 150. In some implementations, through the use of a program, how a program activation switch 142a, 142b is pressed (e.g., length of time and/or number of times) may dictate the mode of operation for any conductively connected electrically powered firearm accessories operationally connected thereto. In some implementations, a program may be used to place all or a portion (e.g., the logic board 134) of the electronic circuitry 105 of the electrical switch device 100 into sleep mode (or auto shutdown mode) after a preset period of time has lapsed (e.g., one hour, five minutes, 10 minutes, etc . . . ). In this way, the life of the power source 107 may be preserved. In some implementations, the program switch 140 may be used to initiate the creation of a program and/or the selection of a program stored in the memory of the logic board 134 (discussed in greater detail below). One of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure would know how to construct a logic board 134 for use with the electrical switch device 100.
Additional example programs stored in the memory of the logic board 134 and the mode(s) of operation provided thereby are as follows:
In some implementations, pressing one of the two program activation switches 142 may momentarily energize the one or more operationally connected electrically powered firearm accessories. In this implementation, once pressure is released from the program activation switch 142 the one or more firearm accessories are turned off.
In some implementations, pressing and releasing one of the two program activation switches 142 may continuously energize (constant on) the one or more operationally connected electrically powered firearm accessories. In this implementation, the one or more firearm accessories remain energized until the program activation switch 142 is pressed and released a second time.
In some implementations, holding a program activation switch 142 down momentarily energizes the operationally connected electrically powered firearm accessories. In this implementation, pressing and releasing (i.e., tapping) the program activation switch 142 twice in a row may continuously energize the one or more conductively connected electrically powered firearm accessories.
In some implementations, a program may operationally connect the first program activation switch 142a with both the first cable 150a and the second cable 150b. In this way, firearm accessories connected to the electrical switch device 100 via the cables 150a, 150b will simultaneously activate when the first program activation switch 142a is actuated.
In some implementations, a program can be used to place the second program activation switch 142b into circuit with both the first cable 150a and the second cable 150b. In this way, firearm accessories connected to the electrical switch device 100 via the cables 150a, 150b will simultaneously activate when the second program activation switch 142b is actuated.
The above modes of operation provided by the programs stored in the memory of the logic board 134 are for example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention thereto.
The following programming routine is provided as an example and should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. The example programming routine may be used to create and store a program in the non-volatile memory of the logic board 134 and thereby associate one or more modes of operation with a program activation switch 142a, 142b and/or the electrical circuit 105 as a whole.
Step 1: Press program button 140. Both firearm accessories attached to the electrical switch device 100 flash three times simultaneously thereby indicating that the programming routine mode has been initiated.
The electronic circuitry 105 will reset to factory condition if the program button 140 is depressed for more than 10 seconds. When the reset is complete, both attached firearm accessories will flash five times.
The program selection mode ends if the program button 140 is depressed and no further action is taken within 60 seconds. Both attached firearm accessories will flash once, one after the other, thereby indicating that no program has been created or changed.
Step 2: Select Slave Mode (i.e. placing a program activation switch 142a, 142b into circuit with both cables 150). The attached firearm accessories will flash indicating the selection made (e.g., one flash “not slaved”, two flashes “slaved”).
Single press the first program activation switch 142a=Not Slaved.
Single press the second program activation switch 142b=Slaved.
Step 3: Select which program activation switch 142 is being programmed. Both firearm accessories will flash thereby indicating the selection made (e.g., one flash for the first program activation switch 142a and two flashes for the second program activation switch 142b).
Single press the first program activation switch 142a=first program activation switch 142a is being programmed.
Single press the second program activation switch 142b=second program activation switch 142b is being programmed.
Step 4: Select the mode of operation for the switch 142a, 142b selected during the previous step. Both firearm accessories flash the mode of operation selected (e.g., one flash=Momentary On, two flashes=Constant On, three flashes=double tap the switch for Constant On, and four flashes=hold switch down for Momentary On).
Single press first program activation switch 142a=Momentary On.
Double press first program activation switch 142a=Constant On.
Single press second program activation switch 142b=Double tap the switch for Constant On.
Double press second program activation switch 142b=Hold switch down for Momentary On.
Step 5: Select Auto Shutdown Mode delay for the electronic circuitry 105. Both firearm accessories flash the selection (one flash=one hour, two flashes=5 min, three flashes=10 min).
Single press first program activation switch 142a=one Hour.
Single press second program activation switch 142b=5 Min.
Double press first program activation switch 142a=10 Min.
In some implementations, the logic board 134 may be preset to Auto Shutdown the electronic circuitry 105 after one hour.
Step 6: The Program is now stored in the non-volatile memory of the logic board 134 thereby ending the programming routine. Upon ending the programming routine the attached firearm accessories (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the top body portion 110, the middle body portion 160, and/or the bottom body portion 120, may manufactured from a polymer. In some implementations, the top body portion 110, the middle body portion 160, and/or the bottom body portion 120 may manufactured from an aluminum alloy. In some implementations, top body portion 110, the middle body portion 160, and/or the bottom body portion 120 may be manufactured from any suitable material.
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Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.
The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.
While operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown, or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/104,889, which was filed on Jan. 19, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160211095 A1 | Jul 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62104889 | Jan 2015 | US |