Patent Application
20050188593
Embodiments of the present invention relate to weapons, accessories, and implements.
Conventional weapons directed to a human target include lethal weapons having mounted thereon a mechanically actuated chemical non-lethal weapon.
Implements and accessories have been mounted on weapons. These include sights, flashlights for illuminating the target, and dispensers for dispensing chemical agents toward the target. Rails including the picattiny rail provide for mounting of mission specific combinations of implements and accessories.
Without weapons of the present invention and without the apparatus and methods for attaching implements and accessories according to various aspects of the present invention, users of weaponry cannot suitably take advantage of electronic non-lethal implements.
A weapon, according to various aspects of the present invention, includes a circuit and an apparatus that provides lethal force and non-lethal force. The circuit includes a switch and a source of illumination, wherein: the circuit controls illumination from the source for aiming the non-lethal force; and the circuit controls release of the non-lethal force in response to operation of the switch.
By controlling from a circuit the illumination and the release, the arrangement of controls is suitable for reliable use of the weapon.
A weapon, according to various aspects of the present invention, for use by an operator, includes an apparatus that provides lethal force, non-lethal force, illumination, first and second triggers and a switch. The first trigger is operable with a first hand of the operator for releasing the lethal force. The switch is operable with a second hand of the operator when the second hand is in a position to operate the second trigger. The second trigger is for releasing the non-lethal force. The illumination is controlled in response to operation of the switch.
A support, according to various aspects of the present invention, is used for attaching an implement to a firearm where the firearm has a rail and a sight bracket. The support includes an apparatus for mechanically coupling the implement to the rail; and an apparatus for coupling the implement to the sight to reduce motion of the implement along the rail parallel to a direction of delivery of the lethal force.
A support, according to various aspects of the present invention, is used for attaching a non-lethal implement to a firearm where the firearm has a rail and a stop. The support includes a first channel that receives the rail to mechanically couple the non-lethal implement and the rail. The support further includes a first abutment surface that abuts the stop, a first fastener that maintains the first abutment surface against the stop, a second channel that receives the non-lethal implement; and a second fastener that retains the non-lethal implement in the second channel.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the drawing, wherein like designations denote like elements, and:
Weaponry is conventionally designed to operate with high reliability due to its ordinary use in life threatening situations. These situations include conditions that are adverse to mechanical and electronic apparatus such as high and low temperatures, high and low humidities, vibrations, severe mechanical shocks, exposures and submersions in fresh water, snow, salt water, mud, and sand to name a few. Another limitation on reliable operation is the ease with which an operator can properly operate the weapon amid situations that present mental and physical challenges. These include exhaustion, disorientation, warfare, police activity, and surprise to name a few. Generally, operators train and practice with particular weapons. According to various aspects of the present invention, training and practice with particular weapons having capability to deliver lethal and non-lethal force simplifies training and practice with other weapons due to operational similarities, such as placement of hands for arming, aiming, and firing either lethal or non-lethal force.
Weapons, according to various aspects of the present invention, perform as discussed above and provide lethal force and electronic non-lethal force. These weapons may be used offensively or defensively with respect to targets both animal and human. For example, weapon 100 of
Support 102 provides mechanical alignment and stability and provides ease of mounting for mission specific implements and accessories of conventional types such as scopes, sights, night vision, targeting, illumination, and other apparatus for lethal and non-lethal force. In various implementations of weapon 100, support 102 is integral or rigidly connected to apparatus 104 and provides support for apparatus 108. In other implementations, support 102 is integral or rigidly connected to a combination comprising apparatuses 104, 108 and 110. In other implementations of weapon 100, support 102 is omitted.
Apparatus 104 and actuator 106 cooperate to provide lethal force in any conventional manner, such as propelling a projectile. Actuator 106 may be a mechanical trigger that activates apparatus 104 to deliver lethal force. Consistent with the purposes for weapon 100, apparatus 104 may include conventional components (e.g., any hand gun, rifle, carbine, or grenade launcher).
Apparatus 108, circuit 112, and switches 114 cooperate to provide non-lethal force. In various implementations, apparatus 108 circuit 112 and switches 114 are electronic, for instance being of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,803,463; 5,654,867; 6,256,916; 6,636,412; and application Ser. Nos. 10/364,164; and 10/447,447. Electromechanical switches 114 may include a safety switch and a trigger switch that provide conventional electrical signals in response to manual operation by the operator of weapon 100. Operation of the safety switch arms weapon 100 for delivery of non-lethal force. Subsequent operation of the trigger switch activates apparatus 108 to deliver non-lethal force. Circuit 112 receives signals from switches 114, for example, including indicia of operation of the safety and trigger switches discussed above. According to various aspects of the present invention, circuit 112 may include a battery, a high voltage power supply, and control circuits for operating apparatuses 108 and 110.
Apparatus 110 provides illumination. In implementations according to various aspects of the present invention, illumination may be generally directed toward the target (e.g., a flashlight beam), and/or provide guidance for aiming weapon 100 (e.g., a laser targeting spot on the target). Apparatus 110 is controlled by circuit 112, for example, to provide illumination in response to arming of apparatus 108 (e.g., responsive to arm switch discussed above). Apparatus 110 may be disabled or omitted in other implementations of weapon 100, for example, when illumination may decrease operator safety.
By controlling one or more apparatuses of weapon 100 from a circuit and switches as discussed above, switches may be located economically at positions that are suitable for reliable operation. For example, actuator 106 for apparatus 104 may be located for use by an operator's right hand (e.g., for a right handed operator); and switches 114 may be located for use by the operator's left hand (or vice versa for a left handed operator). Training and practice may associate lethal force with the right hand and non-lethal force with the left hand. Such training and practice may simplify training with other weapons having different forms of lethal force, and/or different forms of non-lethal force. Illumination as discussed above is of a non-lethal nature. Consistently, operation of illumination apparatus 110 from switches 114 located for use by the operator's left hand reinforces the non-lethal functions served by the left hand.
Weapon 100 may include a conventional weapon for apparatus 104 and activator 106. For example, weapon 200 of
Electronic disabling device 230 (of
A cartridge 232 is mounted at the front of body 233 for operation; and, a spare cartridge 234 is stored at the base of hand grip 231 (
A support, according to various aspects of the present invention, reliably maintains the attachment and alignment of apparatuses for lethal force, for non-lethal force, and for illumination. Such a support may be manufactured using any conventional processes (e.g., casting, molding, machining). In the implementation shown in
For example, support 220 in weapon 200 receives rail 210 and abuts several surfaces of bracket 209. In weapon 200, support 220 slides on rail 210 but is stopped by being coupled to bracket 209 which serves in general as a stop for the sliding motion. Alignment may assure proper aiming of weapon 200 and proper delivery of lethal and/or non-lethal force. For example, cartridge 232 may deliver darts in a suitable vertical plane when fired in an orientation where device 230 is also aligned in that vertical plane. The support may be registered with each apparatus using any conventional mechanical technique (e.g., abutted, channeled, journaled, or using a key or post fitting a mating structure of the support or the apparatus).
Support 220, of
Support 220 in an alternate implementation attaches independently to one or more apparatuses (e.g., 104, 108, 110 in any combination of two groups) facilitating separation of apparatuses (e.g., by quick release fastener(s)) for change of mission, replacement, or functional substitution (e.g., upgrade). Support 220 may be implemented with a set of cooperating structures, each integral to any combination of apparatuses 104, 108, and 110. For example, in one such implementation, device 230 comprises an integral first structure for fastening with or to a rail (e.g., 210); apparatus 108 comprises a second structure (e.g., a rail and stop); and device 230 further comprises an integral third structure for fastening with or to the second structure.
Support 220 (
Support 220 (
The foregoing description discusses preferred embodiments of the present invention which may be changed or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. While for the sake of clarity of description, several specific embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the invention is intended to be measured by the claims as set forth below.
