Patent Application
20150276347
The present invention relates to a portable light that may include an illumination source and may optionally include a second light source or laser. The present invention also relates to a switching arrangement for controlling the portable light and the circuitry for controlling the light.
Lights may be mounted to various objects, such as tools or implements so that they provide light directed toward the work area of the tool or implement. One object to which lights may be mounted is a firearm, such as a handgun or pistol, a long gun or rifle, a shotgun, or another type of gun or weapon, any one or more of which are typically referred to as a gun.
For a typical gun, the arrangement for mounting a portable light on a gun is similar to the arrangement for mounting a telescopic sight on a gun. A gun mount, also called a gun rail or a mounting rail, is typically provided in a convenient location that affords a forward-looking view for a light mounted thereon. Because a telescopic sight or other sight is typically mounted on the top or upper surface of the gun barrel, a separate mount is often provided on the side or underside (bottom) surface of the gun barrel, typically near to the muzzle end thereof.
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a portable light mountable on a mounting rail of a firearm. The light includes a housing configured to house a source of electrical energy and a light assembly that includes a first light element, a second light element and a reflector for focusing light of at least one of the first and second light elements. A mounting assembly connected with the housing is operable to releasably connect the housing to the mounting rail of the firearm. An actuation switch is mounted on a rearward end of the housing so that when the light is mounted on the firearm the actuation switch has an actuation surface adjacent a trigger of the firearm.
The light also includes a selector switch for selecting which of the first and second light elements is energized when the actuation switch is actuated. The selector switch may be a non-contact switch comprising an actuator and a sensor in a switching compartment sealingly separated from the actuator.
The foregoing summary and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:
Referring now to the figures in general and to
Referring now to
The housing 40 includes a forward wall 44 generally enclosing the forward end of the battery compartment 42. Forward of the wall 44 is a chamber 45 for housing the light assembly 90. A pair of contacts 50 extend through the forward wall 44 and are in circuit with the light assembly 90 and the batteries 190 in the battery compartment 42.
The light assembly 90 may include a single light source; however in the present instance the light assembly includes a primary light element 125 and a secondary light element 130. For example, the primary light element 125 may be a high intensity light source for providing white illumination light, such as a C4 LED delivering from 100 to over 600 lumens. The secondary light 130 may be any of a variety of light elements, such as green or red light elements to limit the impact of the light on the user's night vision. Alternatively, the secondary light element may be a coherent light source such as a laser diode. However, in the present instance, the secondary light source is an LED providing an infra red invisible light source for use with night vision equipment. Accordingly, it should be understood that the term light element is used to refer to any of a variety of elements that may provide a variety of visible or invisible light in a coherent or dispersed beam.
Referring to
As mentioned above, the light assembly 90 includes a reflector 100 to focus the light from one or both of the light elements 125, 130. However, in the present instance, the reflector 100 primarily provides focusing for only the primary light element. Specifically, the primary light element protrudes through a primary aperture 102 so that the primary light element 130 is positioned along the focal axis of the reflector. The secondary light element 130 protrudes through a secondary aperture 104, which is spaced radially outwardly from the focal axis of the reflector as can be seen in
As shown in
The rearward end of the housing 40 comprises a cover or hatch 60 that encloses the battery compartment 42. The hatch 60 includes a plurality of contacts to provide an electrical connection between the batteries. The hatch 60 further includes a tab that engages a slot in the lower wall of the housing 40, as shown in
In
The hatch 60 further includes a primary switch 70 for controlling operation of the light 30. As shown in
The primary switch 70 may be actuable in a variety of manners. For example, in the present instance, pivoting the switch clockwise using either actuation surface pivots the switch into an ON position in which the switch is latched. Conversely, pivoting the switch counterclockwise pivots the switch into a momentary ON position. By momentary, it is meant that the switch is not latched; the switch will remain in the ON position only as long as the user holds the switch in the ON position. Additionally, a biasing element, such as a torsion spring, biases the switch from the momentary ON position to an OFF position. It should be noted that the terms “clockwise” and “counterclockwise” used in the foregoing description are with respect to the perspective of
The switch 70 may be operable to independently control the two light elements. However, in the present instance, the switch 70 operates in connection with the selector switch 140 as described further below.
As shown in
The selector actuator 150 rides in a slot or window 146 formed adjacent the rearward end of the switch cover 142. Specifically, the actuator 150 is laterally displaceable within the slot 146 between a plurality of positions. In the present instance, the selector switch comprises three separate selector positions. When the actuator is in a first position, the primary light element 125 is selected. When the actuator 150 is in a second position, neither of the light elements is selected; and when the actuator is in a third position, the secondary light 130 is selected. The actuator 150 is displaced between the three positions by sliding the actuator laterally within the slot 146. Additionally, it should be understood that the light can be programmed so that the various switch positions control the light elements differently than described above. For instance, in the first position, the primary light element is selected, in the second position, the second light element is selected and in the third position both light elements are selected. As another example, in the first position the first light element is selected, in the second position neither light element is selected and in the third position both light elements are selected. Other variations are possible depending on the types of light elements used and the use of the light 30.
Referring to
The selector actuator 150 may include a retainer 160 for releasably retaining the actuator in each of the three positions. For instance, a plurality of separate recesses may be formed in the bottom surface of the actuator, wherein each recess corresponds to one of the three switch positions. A spring loaded retainer 160 projects upwardly from a recess in the housing 40. The retainer bears against the underside of the actuator 150 so that when the actuator is displaced into one of the switching positions, the retainer extends into the corresponding recess in the actuator to hold the actuator in position.
In the present instance, the selector switch 140 is a non-contact switch. A first element of the switch is connected to the actuator 150 outside the sealed switch compartment 144 while a second element of the switch is disposed within the sealed switch compartment. Since the switch is a non-contact switch, the first and second elements operate to control the switching without the first and second elements being physically connected. For example, in the present instance the switch includes a magnet 155 connected to the actuator 150. A sensor circuit 170 operable to detect the magnetic field of the magnet is positioned within the switch compartment 144. The sensor circuit is operable to detect the position of the actuator 150. More specifically, the output voltage from the sensor circuit changes in the presence of the magnetic field from the magnet 155.
Referring to
Configured as described above, in the present instance, the selector switch 140 includes three positions: a left position, a center position and a right position (from the perspective of
Any of a variety of mounting elements may be used for releasably connecting the light 30 to an implement. One exemplary mounting assembly 80 is illustrated in the figures for releasably mounting the light 30. In the present instance, the mounting assembly 80 is particularly suited for connecting the light 30 to a firearm 10. Referring to
The mounting assembly 80 comprises a clamp that includes at least one moveable jaw. For instance, the mounting assembly includes a fixed jaw 82 rigidly connected with the top of the housing 40. A moveable jaw 84 is connected to the top of the housing 40 spaced apart from fixed jaw 82. An adjustment bolt 86 threadedly engages the moveable jaw 84 to drive the moveable jaw toward or away from the fixed jaw 82. In this way, operating the adjustment bolt is operable to tighten or loosen the mounting assembly. As can be seen in
Referring to
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 9-10, several features of the light can be seen. For instance, as shown in
Additionally, referring to
In the present instance, the primary switch 70 is configured so that the actuation surfaces 74 protrude rearwardly from opposing sides of the trigger guard. In this way, if the user is left-handed, the user can readily actuate the actuation surface 74 protruding from the left side of the trigger guard 18, while if the user is right-handed, the user can actuate the actuation surface protruding from the left side of the trigger guard. Further still, the light 30 is configured so that when the light is mounted on a firearm, the light does not substantially hang below the trigger guard 18. Specifically, the opening of the trigger guard 18 has a height “h” as shown in
To accommodate a range of voltages produced by different types of batteries, light 30 preferably includes electronic circuitry that can receive and operate over a range of input (e.g., battery) voltages, e.g., a range of about 0.5 to about 8.4 volts, and that can transform a voltage in that range to a preferred output voltage suitable for operating light sources 125, 130 at a desired operating condition, typically at a desired current level. In the present instance, the circuitry is operable over a range of input voltages of between approximately 2.5-6.5 volts.
The circuit includes first and second driven loads 125, 130 driven by switching transistors Q1 and Q2. The drive control to the gates of Q1 and Q2 is provided by the microcontroller U2 designated 310. Controller 310 is preferably an integrated circuit U2 that includes processing for controlling and operating light 30 and a memory for storing instructions for controlling and operating light, e.g., software instructions. Integrated circuit U2 preferably is a digital processor, such as a microprocessor, that receives signals at several of its terminals, that processes those received signals in accordance with software instructions stored in its memory, and that provides controlling signals at others of its terminals for controlling electronic circuits connected thereto that control and operate light sources 125, 130, selector detectors 174, 176, and current controller U1.
The circuit 300 includes a single regulator circuit 320 that controls the current to primary light element 125 and secondary light element 130. The regulator circuit 320 includes integrated circuit U1 along with two inductors L1 and L2, wherein the inductance of L2 is significantly higher than the inductance of L1.
Sensor circuit 340 includes two sensors 174, 176 that provide a voltage to U2 in response to the position of the selector switch. For instance, sensors 174, 176 may be Hall Effect sensors operable to provide a voltage in response to being in proximity to the magnetic field of magnet 155 (shown in
The operating program for U2 selects the appropriate gate of Q1 or Q2 in response to the position of the selector switch. In the present instance, when neither sensor 174, 176 detects the magnetic field from the magnet 155 in the actuator 150, a first voltage is provided to the pin AN1. In response, the controller U2 controls Q1 and Q2 so that both are off. When the selector switch is disposed in a position in which the primary light source 125 is selected, a second voltage is provided to pin AN1 of the controller U2 from the first sensor 174 of selector circuit 340. In the present instance, the first voltage is less than the first voltage due to resistor R102 in series with sensor 174. In response, controller U2 controls transistors Q1, Q2 so that Q1 is on and Q2 is off. When the selector switch is disposed in a position in which the secondary light source is selected, a third voltage is provided to pin AN1 of controller U2 from the second sensor 176 of the selector circuit 340. In the present instance, when the second sensor 176 detects the magnetic field of magnet 155, the output of selector circuit 170 goes to ground so that the third voltage provided to pin AN1 is essentially zero.
In a typical embodiment of circuit 300, power controller 320 may employ, e.g., a type ST1 CC40 synchronous boost converter integrated circuit available from ST Microelectronics, Inc. located in Santa Clara, Calif. However, it should be understood that any other suitable DC converter integrated circuit may be utilized, such as a type LED2000 step-down current source integrated circuit available from ST Microelectronics, Inc. Controller 310 may employ, e.g., a type PIC12F752 embedded micro-controller integrated circuit available from Microchip Technology, Inc., located in Chandler, Ariz., or any other suitable processor circuit of which many are available commercially from several different suppliers.
Typically, controller integrated circuits (IC) have various “ports” at which data may be received by controller IC 310 and/or provided by controller IC. Each port commonly connects to plural terminals of controller IC and the functioning thereof may be configured or programmed by instructions stored in the memory of IC so as to have different characteristics, e.g., to serve as an analog input, as an analog output, as a digital input or as a digital output. Typically each port corresponds to plural terminals (pins) of the physical integrated circuit, wherein when the port is configured as a digital port, each pin carries one bit of a multi-bit digital signal received and/or outputted as a parallel multi-bit digital “word” when the data output is digital, and as plural analog terminals wherein the port is configured as an analog port. One common format provides ports as, e.g., an eight-bit port (a port using eight terminals of the physical IC). In some instances, the terminals of controller IC may be configured individually or in groups partly as digital terminals and partly as analog terminals.
A user or operator of light 30 controls the operation of light by actuating a switch S1, e.g., of an ON/OFF signaling circuit. Instructions from the operator or user of light 30 are provided to controller 310 U2 via ON/OFF signaling circuit that includes a user actuated switch S1, e.g., the primary switch 70, to signal input RA3 of controller U2. Blocking diode D1 is connected to voltage VDD through resistor R3 so that voltage VDD is applied to controller U2.
Switch S1, 70 may be actuated one or more times and/or for various times and durations for signaling a desired operating condition. For example, in a first position, the switch S1 may act as a momentary switch so that light 30 is switched ON as long as the user holds switch S1 in the first position. A sequence of momentary actuations of switch S1 into the first position may be employed to signal controller U1 to operate in a blinking mode or in a flashing mode or in a strobe mode, or in another desired mode.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61971841 | Mar 2014 | US |
