Laser firearm sight apparatus
10215530 ยท 2019-02-26
Inventors
Cpc classification
F41A21/32
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41G1/35
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41G11/001
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F41G1/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41G11/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41G1/54
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41G1/35
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
The present invention is a laser firearm sight apparatus that has a housing attachable onto the external threads of a firearm muzzle, a light source having at least two lasers emitting laser beams, and an activating mechanism for activating and powering the light source. The housing defines a longitudinal bore for universal attachment onto several different muzzles of different types of firearms of the same caliber barrel while keeping the laser sight accurate within an acceptable range without further adjustment. The lasers emit a beam that is concentric and parallel with the muzzle and bore of the firearm.
Claims
1. A firearm sight apparatus comprising: a. a housing comprising a body and a coupling member, with i. a proximal end of the housing defining an internally threaded bore configured for rotatably engaging onto a muzzle of a firearm barrel having external threads; ii. the body of the housing having a distal end with a bottom, and the body further defining a plurality of slots, defining an opening at the bottom of the housing body, and defining a hollow interior chamber, with the chamber having a distal opening and an opposing opening with the chamber openings each being aligned with the housing bore, with the chamber having a diameter larger than a diameter of the firearm barrel to create an air gap adapted as an insulator against heat from the firearm muzzle, and with the bottom of the housing body having the plurality of slots and the chamber distal opening each extending therethrough; and iii. the coupling member defining a hole corresponding to the bottom opening of the housing body for the chamber distal opening to receive a projectile therethrough, with the coupling member hole being affixed to the bottom of the housing body, and with the distal end of the housing body and the coupling member each being removably and slidably insertable over the threaded muzzle of the firearm barrel; b. a light source having a plurality of illuminating members, one of each of the plurality of illuminating members being positioned within one of each of the plurality of slots, with each of the plurality of slots configured and arranged around the housing in a concentric ring, wherein each of the plurality of illuminating members emit a beam of light; and c. an activating mechanism having a switching member and a power source, with the switching member being in operative communication with the plurality of illuminating members to actuate each of the illuminating members, and with the power source being in communication with the plurality of illuminating members to power each of the illuminating members; d. wherein, upon activation of the plurality of illuminating members, the firearm is aimed at a target of interest, with the target of interest being aligned within the concentric ring of the emitted beams from the illuminating members, wherein the beams from the illuminating members encapsulate the path of the projectile toward the target of interest at a distance X until the projectile begins to fall away from both the plane of the firearm barrel and the beams of the illuminating members as the projectile reaches a distance Y from the firearm; and e. wherein the housing is capable of being installed onto different muzzles of different firearms without further adjusting the housing for use as a sight apparatus.
2. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 1, the housing further comprising a frustoconical head with the housing bore defined centrally therethrough, with the housing body extending downwardly from the housing head, and with the coupling member further having a contoured distal portion.
3. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 1, the bottom of the housing body further comprising a rim and an upstanding externally threaded circular support member, with the circular support member being engageable with the coupling member, and with the bottom of the housing body further defining a recess.
4. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 1, the plurality of slots and the plurality of illuminating members comprising at least three slots and at least three illuminating members, with each of the illuminating members being selected from the group of lasers, LEDs, or infrared lights.
5. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 4, each illuminating member being a laser.
6. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 1, the switching member being in wired connectivity with each of the illuminating members via the power source, and with the coupling member further comprising an aperture to receive the switching member wire therethrough.
7. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 1, the switching member being in wireless connectivity with each of the illuminating members, wherein the activating mechanism further comprises a transmitter in communication with the switching member, and the light source further comprising a receiver that receives an actuating signal from the transmitter to actuate the light source.
8. The firearm apparatus of claim 1, the firearm being a rifle.
9. The firearm apparatus of claim 1, the firearm being a pistol.
10. The firearm apparatus of claim 1, the firearm being an air gun.
11. A laser firearm sight apparatus comprising: a. a housing comprising a body and a coupling member, i. a proximal end of the housing defining an internally threaded bore configured for rotatably engaging onto a muzzle of a firearm barrel having external threads, and a distal end of the housing; ii. the body of the housing having a bottom and a plurality of walls, and the body further defining a plurality of cutouts, defining an opening at the bottom of the housing body, and defining a hollow interior chamber, with the chamber having a distal opening and an opposing opening each of the chamber openings being aligned with the housing bore and with the chamber having a diameter larger than a diameter of the firearm barrel to create an air gap adapted as an insulator against heat from the firearm muzzle, with each of the plurality of walls defining a slot extending longitudinally therethrough to the bottom of the housing body, with distal opening of the chamber extending through the bottom of the housing body, and with the plurality of cutouts configured to expose the interior of the chamber; and iii. a coupling member defining a hole corresponding to the bottom opening of the housing body for the distal opening of the chamber to receive a projectile therethrough, with the coupling member hole being affixed to the bottom of the housing body, and with the distal end of the housing body and the coupling member each being removably and slidably insertable over the threaded muzzle of the firearm barrel; b. a light source having a plurality of lasers, one of each of the plurality of lasers being positioned within one of each of the plurality of slots, with each of the plurality of slots configured and arranged around the housing in a concentric ring, wherein each of the plurality of lasers emit a beam of light; and c. an activating mechanism having a controller, a switching member, and a power source, with the switching member being in operative communication with the power source, with the power source being in communication with the plurality of lasers to power each of the lasers, and with the lasers being actuated by activating the switching member housed within the controller; d. wherein, upon activation of the plurality of lasers, the firearm is aimed at a target of interest, with the target of interest being aligned within the concentric ring of the emitted lasers beams, wherein the laser beams encapsulate the path of the projectile toward the target of interest at a distance X until the projectile begins to fall away from both the plane of the firearm barrel and the laser beams as the projectile reaches a distance Y from the firearm; and e. wherein the housing is capable of being installed onto different muzzles of different firearms without further adjusting the housing as a sight apparatus.
12. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 11, the housing further comprising a frustoconical head with the housing bore defined therethrough, with the housing body extending downwardly from the housing head.
13. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 11, the bottom of the housing body further comprising a rim and an upstanding externally threaded support member, with the support member being engageable with the coupling member, and with the housing bottom further defining a recess.
14. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 11, the plurality of slots and the plurality of lasers comprising at least three slots and at least three lasers.
15. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 11, the switching member being in wired connectivity with each of the lasers via the power source, and with the coupling member further comprising an aperture to receive the switching member wire therethrough.
16. The firearm sight apparatus of claim 11, the switching member being in wireless connectivity with each of the lasers, wherein the activating mechanism further comprises a transmitter in communication with the switching member, and the light source further comprising a receiver that receives an actuating signal from the transmitter to actuate the light source.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
(1) The invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawing figures and the following description of the drawing figures. The reference numbers apply to each embodiment of the invention. In the drawing:
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
(26)
(27)
(28) The broken lines in the drawing concerning the firearm and flash hider are for illustrative purposes only.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(29) The present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention, and the accompanying drawing figures as described herein should not be construed as limited to the illustrated drawing. Rather the illustrated embodiment(s) are detailed to provide a thorough disclosure suitable to convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For the sake of simplicity, the conjunctive and may also be taken to include the disjunctive or, and vice versa, whenever necessary to give the claims of this patent application the broadest interpretation and construction possible. Likewise, when the plural form is used, it may be taken to include the singular form, and vice versa.
(30) Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, the figures depict an embodiment of the invention of a laser firearm sight apparatus comprising (a) a housing 1; (b) a light source 2 having a plurality of illuminating members, each preferably a laser, with the illuminating members arranged about the housing to emit concentric and parallel light beams with the muzzle of a firearm barrel and the bore of the firearm barrel, with the illuminating members being arranged and configured in a concentric ring to keep a projectile and a target in the center of the projected light beams; (c) a coupling means for removably coupling the housing to or onto the muzzle of a firearm barrel; and (d) an activating mechanism for activating and powering the light source when firing the firearm.
(31) In another embodiment, a laser firearm sight apparatus comprises (a) a housing 1 having a head and a body, with the housing having a plurality of grooves 7 spaced around the body of the housing, at least three slots 4 spaced around the housing head and body with each of the plurality of slots for receiving a light source 2, and a plurality of apertures 8 defined in the housing body for receiving one of a plurality of fasteners 9; (b) a coupling means having the plurality of fasteners 9 for fastening the housing to the muzzle of the firearm barrel, with the housing body further defining a longitudinal bore 3 for coupling the housing 1 to the muzzle; (c) a light source having three or more illuminating members 2, each positioned on or in the housing to circumscribe the housing bore 3; (d) an activating mechanism for selectively activating the light source and for powering the light source; and (e) wherein the housing may be installed on different muzzles of different firearm barrels without making further adjustments to the apparatus after installation. The firearm may be, but is not limited to, rifles, pistols, air guns, or air rifles. When the firearm is a rifle, the housing is installed behind the muzzle away from the hot gas and muzzle blast. When the firearm is a pistol the housing protrudes from the muzzle. The projectile includes, but is not limited to, a bullet, a BB, or a pellet. The apparatus can be attached to the end of a variety of muzzles and can be used as a sight device.
(32) The housing may be manufactured from aluminum. The housing may also be made from a cast metal material as a cost-effective alternative to aluminum. Alternatively, the housing may be made from molded plastic or a plastic-type material, or fabricated from a 3D printer. The housing is lightweight, compact, portable, sturdy, and easy to install onto the muzzle of a firearm barrel. The housing may be easily handled and installed as an auxiliary attachment to an existing firearm barrel. In
(33) The housing couples to the existing threaded end of the muzzle of the firearm barrel so that the line of sight of the light beams does not cross the path of the projectile. As shown in the figures, the housing is preferably configured into a frustoconical shape. Alternatively, the housing may have a square or rectangular configuration (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, the internally threaded bore of the housing is inch28. The housing bore can be manufactured to accommodate a larger or smaller caliber firearm. For example, the housing bore can be manufactured for coupling a inch 24 threaded coupling means to a standard .30 caliber barrel on a firearm. Adjusting the size of the housing bore to correspond with the respective size firearm barrel will not negatively impact the function the apparatus. There would be no shift in point of impact when the apparatus is installed.
(34) The head of the housing 1 has at least one slot 4 and a longitudinal bore 3 defined through the head of the housing and through the length of the body. Preferably, the head of the housing has a plurality of slots that are spaced apart and arranged around the head of the housing, with each of the slots receiving one of the plurality of illuminating members 2. The top of the housing 1 may further have a lip 5 that circumscribes the opening of the bore 3. In one embodiment, the lip may overhang over the downwardly contoured head of the housing.
(35) As shown in
(36) The plurality of slots is essentially arranged around the head of the housing to form a ring or a concentric configuration around the housing bore. Each of the slots may extend through the length of the housing. The slots may be arranged at any location on the housing, as long as the overall concentric configuration is maintained. The slots are essentially cutouts in the head of the housing, with each slot for receiving one of the illuminating members.
(37) In the embodiment shown in
(38) The housing 1 may further have a plurality of grooves 7 that are spaced around the body of the housing. The plurality of grooves creates surface area to dissipate heat. The grooves also minimize the overall weight of the housing. In one embodiment shown in
(39) The light source may have two or more of a plurality of illuminating members or light emitting members. In a preferred embodiment, the light source has three illuminating members. The illuminating members are preferably lasers. Each laser emits a beam from its location in a corresponding slot in the housing and is in the same plane as the firearm muzzle bore. The light emitted from the lasers may use different wattages. The lasers may also emit a red, green, or infrared beam. Each laser light may be replaced by the manufacturer rather than the user to maintain accuracy of the laser. The laser beams encapsulate the projectile's path until the projectile begins to fall away from the plane of the barrel and the laser beams due to gravity as the projectile reaches a distance far from the firearm. The plurality of laser beams that circumscribe the housing bore and the projectile provide more accuracy. This apparatus is distinguishable from sight light laser devices that only utilize a single laser. One laser will not encapsulate the muzzle bore and the projectile. For greater distances, other auxiliary sight line attachments are used with single laser devices. Also, the apparatus is distinguishable from conventional bore sights because bore sights are used to get a scope relatively close before live firing. Bore sights are not to be used during live firing projectiles. Alternative light sources include LEDs or infrared lights.
(40) The activating mechanism further includes a power source 10 and a switching member 11. The power source provides power to the illuminating members. The power source (not shown) may include a compartment that contains an internal battery, an external battery or power source, or both. The switching member 11 may be a pressure pad, toggle button or switch, or other switching member to selectively activate the illuminating members. The power source is in connectivity with or in communication with the switching member. The switching member is also in connectivity with or in communication with each of the illuminating members. The switching member may further include a circuit board or other electronic components for operating the light source (not shown). The switching member may be mounted to or positioned on the housing. Alternatively, as shown in
(41) In an embodiment shown in
(42) As shown in
(43) The light source in this embodiment has a plurality of illuminating members, with one of the plurality of illuminating members being positioned within one of the plurality of slots, with each illuminating member being in communication with and being controlled by the activating mechanism. Each of the illuminating members may be selected from the group of lasers, LEDs, or infrared lights, as shown in
(44) The activating mechanism in this embodiment has a power source, a switching member, and a controller. The power source powers the light source, with the power source also being in communication with the switching member. The switching member is in communication with the light source via the power source to selectively activate the light source. The controller contains the switching member and the compartment or enclosure member that contains the switching member, the power source, and any other electric and/or electronic components that aid in operating the apparatus. The light source may be wired to the switching member within the controller, or alternatively, connected wirelessly or remotely to the switching member within the controller.
(45) As shown in
(46) The power source (not shown) is preferably at least one battery coupled to or otherwise in communication with each of the illuminating members positioned within each of the housing slots. When the apparatus is used on certain firearms, for example, on an AR-15 rifle, the battery is preferably located within the controller compartment rather than directly on or within the apparatus housing because the heat generating from the barrel may compromise the structure of the battery. Therefore, in those situations, the battery is located within the controller compartment with a hardwire connection to the light source within the housing. The wiring extends from the controller compartment 110 through the coupling member aperture 114 and into the housing to connect to the light source. The apparatus would be mounted onto the firearm barrel independently from the power source, switching member, and controller. Preferably, the apparatus' light source is wired to and in direct communication with the power source and with the switching member, both of which are located within the controller. In this instance, the switching member is essentially a switch or relay coupled to a toggle member or pressure pad member at the controller for the user to selectively actuate the light source. The controller is preferably a handheld device.
(47) In a wireless version of the third embodiment of
(48) The exact sizing and dimensions of the housing, the housing bore, and the body chamber for the apparatus is configured for a particular caliber firearm barrel so that the apparatus can be used on different muzzles of the same caliber firearm barrel. Regardless of the dimensions of the apparatus for use with a particular caliber firearm barrel, the structure, arrangement, and function of the apparatus remains proportional to the example apparatus described herein. For an example as shown in the schematic drawing in
(49) To install and operate the sight line laser firearm sight apparatus shown in
(50) To install and operate the laser firearm sight apparatus shown in
(51) In each embodiment, the lasers may be activated by selecting or pressing a pressure pad, toggle switch, or other switching member. The user may make adjustments and check the sight line of the laser beam when compared with the target of interest. The ring of the plurality of laser beams is aimed at a target, with the target aligned within the central space of the laser beams. The apparatus is used for firing a projectile at a target with the aid of the laser beams or other light source, namely, LEDs or infrared lights. Now the firearm is ready for firing and accurately hitting the target at close distances. A user may remove an existing flash hider or suppressor from the muzzle before installing the instant apparatus. The user may then install the flash hider or suppressor onto or to the firearm muzzle after the apparatus. When the firearm is a pistol, the housing protrudes slightly from the muzzle due to the shortened length of the pistol muzzle.
(52) In an example, the housing may be mounted onto an AR15 style rifle that further has a scope. The existing rifle scope can be sighted for accuracy at a great distance, for example, approximately 200 yards. The apparatus makes the firearm accurate at shorter distances when a user needs to shoot a target between approximately 10-75 yards without making adjustments to the apparatus or to the firearm. Without the apparatus, the user will have to make adjustments to the existing rifle's scope in order to accurately shoot at shorter distances. The projection of the laser beams may be on each side of the target and projectile when only two lasers are used (
(53) Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that it may be used as the creative basis for designing devices or methods similar to those disclosed herein, or to design improvements to the invention disclosed herein; such new or improved creations should be recognized as dependent upon the invention disclosed herein, to the extent of such reliance upon this disclosure.