The present invention relates to lighting devices for automatic pistols.
It is known to attach lighting devices, such as laser sighters, to guns in order to assist with properly sighting the gun. The addition of a lighting device, however, can require machining or altering components of the gun, or the lighting device may be a high-profile component that makes it difficult or impossible to place the gun into a holster or pocket, or that makes the gun off balanced.
The present invention is a lighting device that mounts onto the side of an automatic pistol (or “gun” or “pistol,” as used herein) by utilizing openings already formed in the pistol to receive insert pins, which are fasteners that connect a portion of the pistol's body to a frame rail of the gun. To install a lighting device of the invention in a retrofit application, one or more of the insert pins is first removed, usually using a simple tool such as a wrench, hex driver, or screw driver. This exposes the opening(s) into which the insert pin(s) had been positioned. Then, the lighting device (or “device,” as used herein) is positioned onto the side of the pistol so that each of one or more apertures in the device align with a respective opening into which an insert pin had been positioned. Then the same insert pin, or a different and slightly longer insert pin, is inserted through each aligned aperture and hole in order to secure the device to the side of the gun, and again secure the portion of the gun's body to the frame rail.
For new equipment applications a device according to the invention could be mounted to the pistol, in which case the insert pins would not have to be removed. The device could simply be mounted with proper sized insert pins as the pistol is assembled.
Preferably, a lighting device according to the invention has a low profile and extends outward from the side of the gun by ⅜″ or less. The laser used with the lighting device preferably pulses at a frequency of 1 KHz and a 50% duty cycle in order to utilize less power during operation.
Figure A is an exploded view of an automatic pistol with which a lighting device according to the invention may be used.
FIG. 2B1 is a front view of the main housing of the lighting device shown in
Turning now to the figures, wherein the purpose is to describe a preferred embodiment of the invention and not to limit same, Figure A shows an exploded view of an automatic pistol 50 on which a laser sighting device according to the invention may be used. Figure A was obtained from www.ruger.com/proudcts/_manuals/lcp.pdf.
Pistol 100 has a slide 1, a firing pin retainer 2, an extractor spring 3, and extractor plunger 4, an extractor 5, a firing pin spring 6, a firing pin 7, a guide rod 8, an inner recoil spring 9, an outer recoil spring 10, a barrel 11, a frame insert 12 having frame rails 12A, a trigger 13, a trigger pin 14, a trigger pivot 15, a hammer catch spring 16, a hammer pivot pin 17, a trigger bar 18, a hold open 19, a takedown pin detent 20, a hold-open detent 21, a hammer spring retainer pin 22, a hammer 23, a frame 24, a hammer spring 25, a trigger spring 26, a hammer catch 27, a magazine latch catch 28, two frame insert pin 29, a takedown pin 30, a hammer catch pin 31, a magazine latch spring 32, a hammer spring seat pin 33, a hammer spring seat 34 and a magazine 35.
A lighting device 100 according to the invention is shown in
Lighting device 100 also includes a module contact 106, module cushion ball (or ball socket) 102 (which receives the end of module 103 through which light is emitted), and laser module mount 105.
Reinforced sections 117 include apertures 117A that receive set screws 113. When device 100 is assembled, set screws 113 can be tightened or loosened to move laser light source 103 in the sideways and/or up-and-down directions in order to align it with the barrel of a gun to which device 100 is attached. Apertures 118 are configured to receive insert pins (also called frame insert pins) 29 in order to connect device 100 to a gun that is an automatic pistol, such as pistol 50, in the manner described herein. An insert pin may be threaded or have any attachment structure suitable of connecting device 100 to a gun, such as automatic pistol 50.
A backing 107 is also a circuit board that includes the circuitry that connects power from batteries 104 to laser module 103 and such circuitry is known to those skilled in the art.
A battery retention plate 110 is held in place by a screw (or other fastener) 112 that passes through opening 110, through opening 119 and is retained by thread insert 111. Plate 110 has a bottom ledge 110B that receives the bottom edge of main housing 101.
Circuit board 107 could also be designed to cause the laser to (1) operate at about 12 mA at 3V, and/or at a 50% duty cycle.
As shown in
Having thus described some embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof. Unless expressly stated in the written description or claims, the steps of any method recited in the claims may be performed in any order capable of yielding the desired result.
This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/433,874 entitled LOW-PROFILE SIDE-MOUNTED LASER SIGHTING DEVICE, filed on Jan. 18, 2011. To the extent not inconsistent with this disclosure, this application incorporates U.S. Pat. No. 8,006,428 entitled “Gun-Mounted Sighting Device” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/249,781 entitled “Slot-Mounted Sighting Device” by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61433874 | Jan 2011 | US |