Patent Application
20100275489
The present invention is related to weapons systems. In particular, the present invention is directed to accessory attachment systems for rifles and small arms weapons that enable attached accessory devices to draw power from a central power source and communicate with the user and/or other devices.
The current rifles and small arm weaponry in use by US armed forces can be equipped with numerous combat optics, laser designators/sights, and flashlights; all comes with different power requirements and battery supplies. The result is a heavy weapon and a heavier field load of batteries to accommodate the various accessories, which ultimately impacts the soldiers' effectiveness, particularly on longer missions. One of the US Army focus areas is improving the performance of their soldiers' combat equipment while reducing the load that each soldier has to carry. One of these efforts is concentrated on providing advanced technologies to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative communications rail and power transfer system. The resulting system will be backwards compatible with current mission support devices and accessories that mount to small arms weapons during operational procedures and it will reduce the overall weight penalties of the current system.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the disadvantages of previous firearm accessory rails.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a firearm accessory mounting rail for attachment of a firearm accessory to the barrel of a firearm. The accessory rail is for providing a connection for the firearm accessory.
One embodiment of the present invention provides an accessory attachment system for rifles and small arms weapons that enables attached accessory devices to draw power from a central power source and communicate with the user or other devices without exposed wires.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referring to various exemplary embodiments thereof. Although the preferred embodiments of the invention are particularly disclosed herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to, and can be implicated in other compositions and methods, and that any such variation would be within such modifications that do not part from the scope of the present invention. Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of any particular embodiment shown, since of course the invention is capable of other embodiments. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Further, although certain methods are described with reference to certain steps that are presented herein in certain order, in many instances, these steps may be performed in any order as may be appreciated by one skilled in the art, and the methods are not limited to the particular arrangement of steps disclosed herein.
One of the US Army focus areas is improving the performance of their warfighters' combat equipment while reducing the load that each warfighter has to carry. One of these efforts is concentrated on providing advanced technologies to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative communications rail and power transfer system. The resulting system will be backwards compatible with current mission support devices and accessories that mount to small arms weapons during operational procedures and it will reduce the overall weight penalties of the current system.
There are several commercial butt stock products that take advantage of available space within and around the buttstock assembly.
The present invention provides a means to incorporate the battery pack into the buttstock/recoil tube shown in
The collapsible buttstock (3A02) is formed with a single molded polymer material and contains an interior cavity to accommodate the battery pack, buffer tube/extension receiver, mounting provision for the release lever (3A03), sling bracket (3A04) and sling slot (3A05) so the rifle can be carried using a sling.
The collapsible buttstock is mounted similar to the existing system which is supported by the buffer tube/extension receiver and is connected to the lower receiver of the rifle on which the collapsible buttstock is mounted.
A buttstock/buffer tube battery pack assembly includes a collapsible buttstock, locking and quick release mechanism and a removable battery pack. The buttstock provides a compartment on the underside of the buffer tube assembly which allows the battery pack to be installed and withdrawn for removal through the rear of the rifle. The battery pack mounts on the buffer tube independent of the buttstock which telescopes along the rifle. The buttstock is collapsible and can be extended in various multiple intermediate positions providing an adjustable overall length of the firearm.
The buttstock has locking and quick release mechanisms, shown in
The mechanism is transversely mounted into the buttstock (3C07) in a manner that interfaces with the latch arm (3C05) and indexing notches (3C02). The indexing notches (3C02) have at least six preset settings, as the release lever (3C04) is pulled to disengage the latch arm (3C05) interface which slides away from the indexing notch (3C02) interface. This setting allows free adjustment of the buttstock (3C07) until stopped by the release stop tab (3C12) and guided by the slide guide slot (3C13). When the release lever (3C04) is released, the torsion spring (3C06) forces the latch arm (3C05) into position which automatically engages into the interfaces of the indexing notches (3C02) and locks the buttstock (3C07) into position. A sling mount may be attached using sling mount shoulder screw (3C10).
The location of the battery pack within the buttstock provides the most advantageous location. This location offers functional advantages toward the overall balance, usability, and ergonomics of the rifle. Additionally the location provides a convenient method of replacing and charging the batteries. As shown in
The cam assembly shown in
The battery compartment for the batteries must be able to securely hold the batteries under severe environmental conditions such as vibration, shock and underwater. The battery pack (3H01) shown in
The battery pack assembly in shown
The attachment structure of the spring contact connector can accommodate several configurations shown in
The second method for the power source is in Pistol Grip shown in
The third method of powering the rifle is to mount the battery pack in the Fore Grip. The present invention provides several methods of mounting the battery pack in this position, examples of which are shown in
The second method is to mount the battery pack (502) on the top Fore Grip. The Fore Grip would be redesigned to allow for two battery packs to fit between the top and side rails. This option allows for a universal mounting location that does not interfere or complicate mounting of the accessories to the Fore Grip.
A fourth method to mounting the battery pack is a design that attaches to the Picatinny Rails shown in
A fifth method of attachment is through an external battery power source as shown in
Meeting the needs of present and future Land warrior has been one military's greatest challenges. Soldier requirements for power are changing as fast as new electronics are being developed. In addition to radio communications and computers, a myriad of equipment such as weapon accessories; laser-designator, night vision scopes, electronic optical gun sights, sensors and etc. requires portable power which are critical to soldier combat effectiveness.
Primary batteries now provide the main energy source, but the acquisition, storage, distribution, and disposal of over hundred different types poses logistical challenges in the battlefield. New technologies have at the same time increased the number of and variety of power-driven functions that require the soldier to carry increasing amounts of portable power. The army has recognized that it must approach equipping dismounted soldier from integrated system vantage. The concept of the soldier as system led the army to look for system solutions which would combine electronics, weapon and power source in a single ensemble.
Most primary battery technologies are very mature, but there are several systems that might be improved to the point where they could have a significant impact on the military. Primary batteries are used until fully discharged and then must be discarded.
Fuel cells which are in various stages of development can be used to replace batteries as well as to supplement batteries in a hybrid system. Fuel cells are currently under intense research and development as power sources for a range of applications, including portable power, automobiles, and large-scale power plants in the future.
Secondary batteries can be recharged. There are numerous commercially available secondary batteries that are used commercially, such as lead-acid, silver-zinc, and metal hydride systems. There are systems that have advanced technologically since the late 90's; including Li-ion and Li polymer chemistries, nickel metal hydride, and lithium sulfur. Li-ion batteries encompass several different chemistries, including LiCoO2, LiNiO2, and LiMn2O4 positive electrodes. Secondary batteries have quickly captured the consumer electronic market such as digital cameras, camcorders, cell phones, and notebook computers, etc.
Use of disposable batteries in training and field operations has proven to be substantially expensive. Employment of rechargeable batteries for many applications promises to reduce life cycle cost. Fueled hybrid and energy harvesting solutions offer even greater promise in reducing weight for longer missions. These have operational advantages and limitations but add logistical task to be carry recharging platform in forward battlefield.
These and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art, all within the scope of the present invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61145211 | Jan 2009 | US |
