Remote controlled safety catch or fire-mode selector for disablement of one or more firearms at live fire-ranges and related methods

Abstract

Disclosed are remote controlled safety catch or fire-mode selectors for disablement of one or more firearms at live fire-ranges and related methods.

Claims

1. A method of remotely controlling a safety catch or fire-mode selector for disablement of one or more firearms at live fire-ranges, said method comprising the steps of: providing a control rod of a safety selector lever through a control rod receiver of a lower receiver of a firearm so that a distal end of the control rod is accessible from one side of the lower receiver and a control lever is located on another side of the lower receiver, wherein the control rod is rotatable relative to the lower receiver to move the control lever from a fire position to a cease-fire position; securing a selector drive gear to the distal end so that the selector drive gear is rotatable relative to the lower receiver and so that rotating the selector drive gear relative to the lower receiver causes the control rod to rotate relative to the lower receiver to move the control lever from the fire position to the cease-fire position; providing a pistol grip drive gear to a pistol grip so that the pistol grip drive gear is rotatable relative to the pistol grip; connecting the pistol grip drive gear to the selector drive gear so that rotating the pistol grip drive gear causes the selector drive gear to rotate; providing a motor to the pistol grip so that operating the motor rotates the pistol grip drive gear relative to the pistol grip; and, remotely operating the motor so that the pistol grip drive gear rotates relative to the pistol grip, the selector drive gear rotates relative to the lower receiver, and the control rod rotates relative to the lower receiver to move the control lever from the fire position to the cease-fire position.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal end features a nub that extends from said one side of the lower receiver.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of securing a selector drive gear to the distal end so that the selector drive gear is rotatable relative to the lower receiver and so that rotating the selector drive gear relative to the lower receiver causes the control rod to rotate relative to the lower receiver to move the control lever from the fire position to the cease-fire position involves securing the selector drive gear to the nub.

4. A method of constructing a remotely controlled a fire-mode selector, said method comprising the step of: providing a control rod of a safety selector lever through a control rod receiver of a lower receiver of a firearm so that a distal end of the control rod is accessible from one side of the lower receiver and a control lever is located on another side of the lower receiver, wherein the control rod is rotatable relative to the lower receiver to move the control lever from a fire position to a cease-fire position; and, securing a selector drive gear to the distal end so that the selector drive gear is rotatable relative to the lower receiver and so that rotating the selector drive gear relative to the lower receiver causes the control rod to rotate relative to the lower receiver to move the control lever from the fire position to the cease-fire position.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of: installing a pistol grip in the lower receiver; and, providing a pistol grip drive gear to the pistol grip so that the pistol grip drive gear is rotatable relative to the pistol grip.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of: connecting the pistol grip drive gear to the selector drive gear so that rotating the pistol grip drive gear causes the selector drive gear to rotate.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of: Installing a motor within the pistol grip so that operating the motor rotates the pistol grip drive gear relative to the pistol grip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1A is a right-side view of a firearm 1000;

(3) FIG. 1B is a left-side view of the firearm 1000 with two (2) zoom-in views of alternate configurations of relevant parts of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of the fire arm 1000;

(4) FIG. 2A is a top-oriented and exploded prospective view of the right-side of a lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000;

(5) FIG. 2B is a is a bottom-oriented and exploded perspective view of the right-side of a lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000;

(6) FIG. 3A is a top-oriented and exploded perspective view of the left side of the lower receiver 1400 and safety selector lever 1410;

(7) FIG. 3B is a top-oriented and exploded perspective view of the right side of the lower receiver 1400 and the safety selector lever 1410;

(8) FIG. 4 is a side-by-side perspective view of alternate embodiments of safety selector levers 1410A, 1410B;

(9) FIG. 5 is a side-by-side perspective view of alternate embodiments of improved safety selector levers 1410C, 1410D;

(10) FIG. 6 is a top-oriented and exploded perspective view of the right side of the lower receiver 1400, the improved safety selector lever 1410, and the selector drive gear 1530;

(11) FIG. 7 is a schematic of mechanical correspondence of movement between the selector drive gear 1530 and the control lever 1411;

(12) FIG. 8 is a schematic of mechanical correspondence of movement between a driver 1550 and a pistol grip drive gear 1540;

(13) FIG. 9A is a front view of a pistol grip plate 1560;

(14) FIG. 9B is a bottom-oriented perspective view of the pistol grip plate 1560;

(15) FIG. 9C is a right-side diagram of the pistol grip plate 1560 and selector drive gear 1530 overlade on a silhouette of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000;

(16) FIG. 9D is a right-side diagram of the pistol grip plate 1560 and selector drive gear 1530 overlade on a silhouette of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000 with the pistol grip drive gear 1540, motor 1570, and driver 1580;

(17) FIG. 9E is a right-side diagram of the gear line 1530 tying the lever gear 1530 to the grip gear 1540;

(18) FIG. 10 is a schematic of mechanical correspondence of movement between the selector drive gear and the pistol grip drive gear 1540;

(19) FIG. 11A is a front view of a motherboard 1580;

(20) FIG. 11B is a left-side diagram of the motherboard 1580 and control lever 1411 overlade on a silhouette of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000;

(21) FIG. 12A is a front oriented perspective of a charging port 1582 that defines the butt of a pistol grip 1500 (not shown);

(22) FIG. 12B is a side view of a charging port 1582 that defines the butt of a pistol grip;

(23) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an assembly of the motherboard 1580, the batter 1581, and the charging port 1582;

(24) FIG. 14A is a front view of a right-side pistol grip case 1590;

(25) FIG. 14B is a back view of a right-side pistol grip case 1590;

(26) FIG. 14C is a diagram of installation of the right side pistol grip case 1590 over the lower receiver 1400, selector drive gear 1530, and pistol grip plate 1560;

(27) FIG. 15A is a front view of a left-side pistol grip case 1595;

(28) FIG. 15B is a back view of a left-side pistol grip case 1595;

(29) FIG. 15C is a diagram of installation of the right side pistol grip case 1595 over the lower receiver 1400, mother board 1580, and battery 1581;

(30) FIG. 16 is a logic flow diagram of control; and,

(31) FIG. 17 is a schematic of a pistol grip.

(32) In the figures, the following components and corresponding reference numerals are referred to in the drawings: 1000fire arm; 1100buttstock; 1200charging handle; 1300rear sight; 1400lower receiver; 1410safety selector lever; 1411control lever; 1412control rod; 1413nub; 1414control rod receiver; 1415safety detent spring; 1416safety detent; 1420trigger; 1500pistol grip; 1510lock washer; 1520pistol grip screw; 1530selector drive gear; 1531nub receiver; 1532gear line receiver; 1533gear line track; 1535gear line; 1540pistol grip drive gear; 1541spindle receiver; 1542gear line receiver; 1543gear line track; 1544gear teeth; 1550drive; 1551drive rod; 1552drive threads; 1560pistol grip plate; 1561electrical pathway; 1562spindle; 1563motor receptacle; 1570motor; 1580mother board; 1581battery; 1582charging port; 1590right-side grip casing; 1595left-side grip casing; 1600magazine; 1700hand guard; 1800front sight; and 1900barrel.

(33) It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(34) Disclosed may be an improvement to safety control levers and related systems for remotely controlling the safety control lever. In one embodiment, the system may be defined by a wireless (e.g., radio frequency or other wireless communication signal) remote and a remote-controlled safety or mode selector system that is assembled to the lower receiver and pistol grip of a firearm (e.g., a rifle such as an M4, M16 and AR15 platform). The more specific details of the system are described with reference to the drawings.

(35) FIG. 1A is a right-side view of a firearm 1000. The firearm 1000 is typical and consists of a buttstock 1100, a charging handle 1200, a rear sight 1300, a lower receiver 1400, a pistol grip 1500, a magazine 1600, a hand guard 1700, a front sight 1800, and a barrel 1900. FIG. 1B is a left-side view of the firearm 1000 with two (2) zoom-in views of alternate configurations of relevant parts of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of the fire arm 1000. Specifically, the zoom-in views of FIG. 1B show a safety selector lever 1410 in a FIRE position (top) and a SAFE position (bottom).

(36) Still referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the safety selector lever 1410 is positioned adjacent to the trigger 1200 and through the lower receiver 1400 of the fire arm 1000 so that it may be operated via the thumb of a gunman's trigger hand while gripping the pistol grip 1500. In operation, the safety selector lever 1410 may be switched from FIRE and SAFE positions via manual rotation from a downward position (top) to a lateral position (bottom). Alternatively, the safety selector lever 1410 may be switched between SAFE and FIRE positions via manual rotation from a lateral position (bottom) to a downward position (top).

(37) As set forth above, the safety selector lever 1410 is installed through the lower receiver 1400 and operated manually from the pistol grip 1500. FIG. 2A is a top-oriented and exploded prospective view of the right-side of a lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000. FIG. 2B is a bottom-oriented and exploded perspective view of the right-side of a lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of the same firearm 1000 of FIG. 2A. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pistol grip 1500 and lower receiver 1400 are coupled via a pistol grip screw 1510 through the butt of the pistol grip 1500 that fastens the grip 1500 to the receiver 1400. In some instances, a lock washer 1520 may be included with the pistol grip screw 1510 to reduce the risk that the fastening of the grip 1500 to the receiver 1400 unexpectedly fails. Additionally, a safety detent 1416 and safety detent spring may be installed or uninstalled via removal of the grip 1500. The safety detent 1416 operates via applying spring pressure to the safety selector lever 1410 so that it cannot be too easily or unintentionally rotated between FIRE and SAFE positions (see, e.g., FIG. 1B).

(38) As discussed above, a typical safety selector lever 1410 is operated via manual rotation of the lever 1410 within the lower receiver 1400. FIG. 3A is a top-oriented and exploded perspective view of the left side of the lower receiver 1400 and safety selector lever 1410. FIG. 3B is a top-oriented and exploded perspective view of the right side of the lower receiver 1400 and the safety selector lever 1410. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B a typical safety selector lever is defined by a control lever 1411 and a control rod 1412. Suitably, the control rod traditionally is pivotally passed through a control rod receiver 1414 of the lower receiver 1400. As shown in FIG. 4, the safety control lever 1410 can be customized relative to a particular firearm via longer or shorter control rods and levers (e.g., 1410A-1412A versus 1410B-1412B). In use, the safety selector lever is rotated around the control rod 1412 within the control rod receiver 1414 via thumb interaction with the lever 1411. Suitably, the rod 1412 features various grooves or other embellishments so that the detent 1416 (FIGS. 2A & 2B) may be applied to restrict easy movement of the safety control lever 1410 between FIRE and SAFE Positions. Suitably, the face of the control rod 1412 is visible on the opposite side of the receiver 1400 as the lever 1411 when installed.

(39) FIG. 5 is a side-by-side perspective view of alternate embodiments of improved safety selector levers 1410C, 1410D. As shown, the safety selector levers 1410C, 1410D feature a nub 1413C, 1413D on the face of the rod 1412C, 1412D. FIG. 6 is a top-oriented and exploded perspective view of the right side of the lower receiver 1400, the improved safety selector lever 1410, and the selector drive gear 1530. As shown, the nub 1413C, 1413D is configured such that the nub is exposed on the opposite side of the receiver 1414 when installed. Preferably, the nub 1413C, 1413D defines an attachment mechanism for securing the face of the control rod 1412C, 1412D to a selector drive gear 1530. As shown, the selector drive gear 1530 is suitably defined by a disc with a nub receiver 1531, a gear line receiver 1532, and a gear line track 1533 (around the sidewall of the disk). Preferably, the nub 1413C, 1413D and the nub receiver 1531 may interact (e.g., via weld, restriction fit, or other attachment mechanism) to mechanically fix the selector drive gear 1530 to the control rod 1412 of the safety selector lever 1410. Preferably, the mechanical fixation between the selector drive gear 1530 to the control rod 1412 results in the gear 1530 rotating whenever the lever 1410 is rotated and vice versa.

(40) FIG. 7 is a schematic of mechanical correspondence of movement between the selector drive gear 1530 and the control lever 1411. The figure shows a lever 1411 and gear 1530 superimposed over a generic lower receiver 1400. As shown in the top-to-bottom progression diagram, clockwise rotation of the gear 1530 results in counterclockwise rotation of the lever 1411.

(41) One objective of this disclosure is to describe a remote controlled drive system that is mechanically coupled to the selector drive gear 1530 so that the drive system can be remotely controlled to impart motion from the drive system to the drive gear 1530 whereby the safety selector lever 1411 may be manipulated from, e.g., a fire position to a safe position. In the preferred embodiment, the disclosed drive system features a rotatable pistol grip drive gear 1540 that can be turned via a motorized driver 1550 so that the pistol grip drive gear 1540 correspondingly turns the lever drive gear 1530 (see, e.g., FIG. 7). FIG. 8 is a schematic of mechanical correspondence of movement between a driver 1550 and a pistol grip drive gear 1540. In a preferred embodiment, a motor 1570 (not shown) may be installed on the driver 1550 to turn threaded 1552 drive rod 1551 so that the threads 1552 of the drive rod 1551 interact with teeth 1544 of the pistol grip drive gear 1540 to cause rotation. As discussed below, the drive gear 1540 and the drive rod 1551 may be installed in the grip 1500 and tied to the lever gear 1530.

(42) FIG. 9A is a front view of a pistol grip plate 1560. FIG. 9B is a bottom-oriented perspective view of the pistol grip plate 1560. The pistol grip plate operates to retain the drive system in the pistol grip 1500 (not shown). Suitably, the plate 1560 is defined by a flat plate with a electrical pathway defined by a hole through the plate, a spindle 1562 positioned outwardly from the plate, and a motor receptacle 1563. FIG. 9C is a right-side diagram of the pistol grip plate 1560 and selector drive gear 1530 overlade on a silhouette of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000. As shown in the figure, the drive system is not yet installed. FIG. 9D is a right-side diagram of the pistol grip plate 1560 and selector drive gear 1530 overlade on a silhouette of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000 with the pistol grip drive gear 1540, motor 1570, and driver 1580. As shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, the driver 1550 may be coupled to one or more motors 1570 configured to turn the drive rod 1551. The motors and driver 1550 may be disposed in the receptacle 1563 so that the threads of the drive rod 1551 cooperate with the teeth 1554 of the grip gear 1540. FIG. 9E is a right-side diagram of the gear line 1535 tying the lever gear 1530 to the grip gear 1540. Suitably, the gear line 1535 resides in the tracks 1543, 1533 and is secured to the gears via the receivers 1532, 1542. In one mode of operation the gear line 1535 transfers rotating motion between the gears 1530, 1540.

(43) FIG. 10 is a schematic of mechanical correspondence of movement between the selector drive gear and the pistol grip drive gear 1540. As shown in the top-down diagram, motorized rotation of the drive rod 1551 causes rotation of grip gear 1540 (see, e.g., FIG. 8). The rotation of the grip gear 1540 may correspondingly be transferred to the lever gear 1530 via the gear line 1535. As discussed above and shown in the boxed areas of FIG. 10, rotation of the lever gear 1530 correspondingly causes a change of position of the lever 1411 from a FIRE to a SAFE position.

(44) As alluded to above, the drive system may be remotely controlled. FIG. 11A is a front view of a motherboard 1580. Suitably, the mother board features a radio frequency or other receiver that may be operated to receive signals that initiate the motors 1570 (not shown) to turn the lever 1411 (not shown) as described above. Suitably, the mother board may be disposed on the backside of the grip plate 1560 (FIG. 9A) and electrical wiring passed from the mother board to the motor 1570 via the electrical pathway 1561 (FIG. 9A). Suitably, the motherboard 1580 has a power source (e.g., battery 1581). FIG. 11B is a left-side diagram of the motherboard 1580 and control lever 1411 overlade on a silhouette of the lower receiver 1400 and pistol grip 1500 of a firearm 1000. FIG. 12A is a front oriented perspective of a charging port 1582 that defines the butt of a pistol grip 1500 (not shown). FIG. 12B is a side view of a charging port 1582 that defines the butt of a pistol grip. The charging port 1582 may be used to provide electric charge to the battery 1581. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an assembly of the motherboard 1580, the battery 1581, and the charging port 1582.

(45) In a preferred embodiment, the drive system and lever gear 1530 may be kept in the pistol grip 1500. FIG. 14A is a front view of a right-side pistol grip case 1590. FIG. 14B is a back view of a right-side pistol grip case 1590. FIG. 14C is a diagram of installation of the right side pistol grip case 1590 over the lower receiver 1400, selector drive gear 1530, and pistol grip plate 1560.

(46) In the preferred embodiment, the motherboard 1580 and batter 1581 may be kept in the pistol grip 1500. FIG. 15A is a front view of a left-side pistol grip case 1595. FIG. 15B is a back view of a left-side pistol grip case 1595. FIG. 15C is a diagram of installation of the right side pistol grip case 1595 over the lower receiver 1400, mother board 1580, and battery 1581.

(47) As alluded to above, the remote control system may be mounted on a fire arm and used in a live fire exercise. FIG. 16 is a flow chart.

(48) Instructor Transmitter Safe Command:

(49) The following four conditions are based on the various situations that the Wheel and Drive Hall Sensors (and combinations of the two) might be in when a SAFE command is received from an instructor transmitter. The resulting motor activity is based on making sure that after the command is received, the weapon cannot be fired. (SEE FIG. 17 Re: diagram of HALL SENSOR/MAGNET LOCATIONS)

(50) Condition A: A shooter/student is firing the weapon Wheel Hall Sensor shows no magnetic presence. Drive Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Once the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence, and the Drive Hall Sensor does not, (After receiving the INSTRUCTOR command SAFE and the motors ran in direction one) the weapons selector lever is locked in the SAFE position, and cannot be fired.

(51) Condition B: A shooter/student is not firing the weapon, but they still can Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Drive Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the trip current is reached, and Wheel Hall Sensor STILL shows a magnetic prsence. Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence, and the Drive Hall Sensor does not, (After receiving the INSTRUCTOR command SAFE and the motors ran in direction one) the weapons selector lever is locked in the SAFE position, and cannot be fired.

(52) Condition C: Weapon was already locked by another instructor Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Drive Hal Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors do not need to run. This can only occur if another instructor has already sent the lock command, and the unit has already executed the command.

(53) Condition D: COMPLETE FAILURE (CORD IS BROKEN) Wheel Hall Sensor shows no magnetic presence. Drive Hall Sensor shows no magnetic presence. Motors do not need to run. Transceiver needs to send a complete failure alarm. This condition can only happen if the drive cord is broken.

(54) Did the Motor Drive Execute Direction One Without Problems? The following, second level conditions are based on the motors activity in response to the Instructor Transmitter SAFE Command from the previously described first level conditions. (TIME PERIOD, CURRENT LEVEL, JITTER MODE DEFINED IN APPENDIX B)

(55) Condition A.1: Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors were able to run in direction one for TIME PERIOD ONE. Motors were able to run in direction one at CURRENT LEVEL ONE. Motors were able to run in direction one, for the correct time at the correct current, and ended with the Wheel Hall Sensor showing a magnetic presence. This means that the operation was completed successfully and the weapons selector lever is locked in the SAFE position and cannot be fired.

(56) Condition A.1.a: Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors are able to run for a period of time, but were not able to run for the complete TIME PERIOD ONE Motors are able to run at CURRENT LEVEL ONE for a period of time, but reached stall current before the Wheel Hall Sensor showed a magnetic presence. Motors were able to run but were stopped before the Wheel Hall Sensor showed a magnetic presence; this means that the shooter (or possibly a malfunction?) interrupted the device. Motors execute JITTER MODE As long as JITTER MODE is active the Handle LED is ON If JITTER MODE is able to finish (Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence) Handle LED turns off. If JITTER MODE times out, Handle LED remains on for 30 seconds.

(57) Condition A.1.a.i: Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the Wheel Hall

(58) Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors were stopped before they were able to run AT ALL Motor current rose to stall current level IMMEDIATELY. Motors were not able to run at all, this means that the weapons hammer was forward and the weapons selector lever CANNOT be moved into the SAFE position until the weapon is charged. Motors will execute JITTER MODE As long as JITTER MODE is active the Handle LED is ON If JITTER MODE is able to finish (Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence) Handle LED turns off. If JITTER MODE times out, Handle LED remains on for 30 seconds.

(59) Condition B.1: Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors were able to run in direction one for TIME PERIOD ONE. Motors were able to run in direction one at CURRENT LEVEL ONE. Motors were able to run in direction one, for the correct time at the correct current, and ended with the Wheel Hall Sensor showing a magnetic presence. This means that the operation was completed successfully and the weapons selector lever is locked in the SAFE position and cannot be fired.

(60) Condition B.1.a: Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors are able to run for a period of time, but were not able to run for the complete TIME PERIOD ONE Motors are able to run at CURRENT LEVEL ONE for a period of time, but reached stall current before the Wheel Hall Sensor showed a magnetic presence. Motors were able to run but were stopped before the Wheel Hall Sensor showed a magnetic presence; this means that the shooter (or possibly a malfunction?) interrupted the device. Motors execute JITTER MODE As long as JITTER MODE is active the Handle LED is ON

(61) Condition B.1.a.i: Motors need to run in direction one. Motors will run until the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence. Motors were stopped before they were able to run AT ALL Motor current rose to stall current level IMMEDIATELY. Motors were not able to run at all, this means that the weapons hammer was forward and the weapons selector lever CANNOT be moved into the SAFE position until the weapon is charged. Motors will execute JITTER MODE As long as JITTER MODE is active the Handle LED is ON If JITTER MODE is able to finish (Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence) Handle LED turns off. If JITTER MODE times out, Handle LED remains on for 30 seconds.

(62) Jitter Mode If the motors reach stall/trip current (4.2 amps was our most recent attempt) during an operation in direction one, then the motor drive attempts to run in a rapid deteriorating succession (5 attempts per second for the first 5 seconds) then down to (1 attempt per second for the next 5 seconds). If at any point the attempt runs unimpeded the motors run in direction one until the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence.

(63) Time Period One (We Don't Know Exactly How Long This is) Motor run time when running in direction one the complete distance to the point the Wheel Hall Sensor shows a magnetic presence, without being impeded at any point. This measurement is used in conjunction with the motor run current to initiate JITTER MODE If the current does not rise to stall/trip level and the motor run time exceeds the time period one run time (by a safely large margin) this means that the drive cord is broken and represents a complete failure.

(64) Current Level One (We Don't Know Exactly What This is) The motors running unimpeded.

(65) Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.

(66) Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term including should be read as meaning including, without limitation or the like, the term example is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms a or an should be read as meaning at least one, one or more, or the like, and adjectives such as conventional, traditional, normal, standard, known and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

(67) The presence of broadening words and phrases such as one or more, at least, but not limited to or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term assembly does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations.

(68) Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.

(69) All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.