Cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms which makes it possible to reliably detect the presence or non-presence of a cartridge in the chamber whilst making it possible to supply this information to the user intuitively and comprising at least two plates wherethrough it is possible to determine the variation of the electrical capacity between two possible states of the system, when there is no cartridge in the chamber and when there is a cartridge in the chamber.

Claims

1. Cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms comprising at least one first plate, a second plate and a dielectric disposed between the first plate and the second plate, and a sensor circuit connected to a microprocessor where the at least one first plate is displaceable or the dielectric varies, between a first position corresponding to a presence of a cartridge in a chamber and a second position corresponding to a non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber, or vice-versa, and where the microprocessor, through the sensor circuit, detects a capacitive variation between the first plate and the second plate, between the first position corresponding to the presence of the cartridge in the chamber and the second position corresponding to the non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber, or vice-versa, making possible to determine in this way the presence or non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a movement sensor which activates the system when a weapon is subject to a movement.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light indicator which indicates to a user the presence or the non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber.

4. The system of claim 1, where the second plate is disposed on the sensor circuit connected to the microprocessor.

5. The system of claim 1, where the first plate is an extractor of a weapon.

6. The system of claim 1, where in the first position corresponding to the presence of the cartridge in the chamber, the first plate is closer to the second plate than in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber, and therefore a capacity associated to the first position is greater than a capacity associated to the second position, or where in the first position corresponding to the presence of the cartridge in the chamber, the first plate is further from the second plate than in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber, and therefore the capacity associated to the first position is less than the capacity associated to the second position.

7. The system of claim 1, where the first plate is an element belonging to a weapon and the second plate is an element external to the weapon.

8. The system of claim 1, where the first plate is a plunger disposed in a slide of a weapon, said plunger which is in contact with an extractor of the weapon.

9. The system of claim 8, where the first plate or said plunger passes through a support piece of an elastic element which maintains a tension on the first plate or said plunger.

10. The system of claim 9, where the first plate or said plunger, the support piece and the elastic element are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the slide of a weapon.

11. The system of claim 1, where the first plate is an elastic element disposed in a slide of a weapon, which is in contact with a plunger which in turn is in contact with an extractor of the weapon and where the first plate or elastic element maintains a tension on the plunger as it is in contact with a support piece which is disposed inside the first plate or elastic element in the slide of the weapon, where the second plate is disposed inside the support piece.

12. The system of claim 11, where the first, plate or elastic element, the plunger, the support piece and the second plate are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the slide of a weapon.

13. The system of claim 1, where in the first position corresponding to the presence of the cartridge in the chamber, an opposing area between the first plate and the second plate is greater than in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber, and therefore a capacity associated to the first position is greater than a capacity associated to the second position, or where in the first position corresponding to the presence of the cartridge in the chamber, the opposing area between the first plate and the second plate is less than in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber, and therefore the capacity associated to the first position is less than the capacity associated to the second position.

14. The system of claim 1, where the first plate has a shape of a cylinder, whilst the second plate has a hollow cylinder shape, said second plate which is a support piece of an elastic element which maintains a tension on the first plate with said cylinder shape.

15. The system of claim 1, where in the first position corresponding to the presence of the cartridge in the chamber, the dielectric varies between the first plate and the second plate with respect to the second position corresponding to the non-presence of the cartridge in the chamber, and therefore a capacity associated to the first position is different to a capacity associated to the second position.

16. The system of claim 1, where at least the first plate or the second plate are an element belonging to a weapon.

17. The system of claim 1, where at least the first plate or the second plate are a modified element belonging to a weapon.

18. The system of claim 1, where at least the first plate or the second plate are an element external to a weapon.

19. The system of claim 1, where at least the first plate or the second plate are displaceable.

20. The system of claim 1, where at least the first plate or the second plate are fixed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention according to a first example of embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a detail of the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention in the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge in the chamber according to the first example of embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge in the chamber according to the first example of embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention according to a second example of embodiment.

(5) FIG. 5a shows a view of a detail with cartridge in the chamber of the second example of embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 5b shows a view of a detail without cartridge in the chamber of the second example of embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention according to a third example of embodiment.

(8) FIG. 7a shows a view of a detail with cartridge in the chamber of the third example of embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 7b shows a view of a detail without cartridge in the chamber of the third example of embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 8 shows a detail of the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention in the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge in the chamber according to a fourth example of embodiment.

(11) FIG. 9 shows a detail of the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge in the chamber according to the fourth example of embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(12) Below, the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms of the present invention is described in detail.

(13) In a first example of embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the system comprises a first plate (1), which in this example of embodiment corresponds to an extractor of the weapon which is in contact with a cartridge (20), a second plate (2), a dielectric (22) disposed between the first plate (1) and the second plate (2) and a sensor circuit (3) connected to a microprocessor (4), where the first plate (1) or extractor is displaceable between a first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (20) in the chamber (21) and a second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (20) in the chamber(21).

(14) The microprocessor (4), through the sensor circuit (3) detects the capacitive variation between the first plate (1) or extractor and the second plate (2), between the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (20) in the chamber (21) and the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (20) in the chamber (21), making it possible to determine in this way the presence or non-presence of a cartridge (20) in the chamber (21).

(15) The second plate (2) is disposed on the sensor circuit (3) connected to the microprocessor (4).

(16) In the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (20) in the chamber (21), the first plate (1) or extractor is closer to the second plate (2) disposed on the sensor circuit (3) than in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (20) in the chamber (21), and therefore the capacity associated to the first position is greater than the capacity associated to the second position.

(17) In this first example of embodiment, the first plate (1) or extractor is an element belonging to the weapon and the second plate (2) is an element external to the weapon.

(18) In this first example of embodiment, the first plate (1) or extractor and the second plate (2) are located outside the chamber (21).

(19) In a second example of embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5a and 5b, the system comprises a first plate (101) or plunger disposed in a slide (110) of the weapon, a second plate (102), a dielectric (122) disposed between the first plate (101) and the second plate (102) and a sensor circuit (103) connected to a microprocessor (104), where the first plate (101) or plunger is displaceable between a first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (120) in the chamber (121) and a second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (120) in the chamber (121).

(20) The microprocessor (104), through the sensor circuit (103), detects the capacitive variation between the first plate (101) or plunger and the second plate (102), between the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (120) in the chamber (121) and the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (120) in the chamber (121), making it possible to determine in this way the presence or non-presence of a cartridge (120) in the chamber (121).

(21) The first plate (101) or plunger is in contact with an extractor (111) of the weapon, where the first plate (101) or plunger is disposed in the slide (110) of the weapon. The first plate (101) or plunger passes through a support piece (114) of an elastic element (113) which maintains the tension on the first plate (101) or plunger. Preferably, the first plate (101) or plunger, the support piece (114) and the elastic element (113) are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the slide (110) of the weapon.

(22) When a cartridge (120) is in the chamber (121), the extractor (111) pushes the first plate (101) or plunger towards the outside of a closure piece (105) through an orifice (106) thereof.

(23) The second plate (102) is disposed on the sensor circuit (103) connected to the microprocessor (104).

(24) In the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (120) in the chamber (121), the first plate (101) or plunger is closer to the second plate (102) disposed on the sensor circuit (103) than in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (120) in the chamber (121), and therefore the capacity associated to the first position is greater than the capacity associated to the second position.

(25) In this second example of embodiment, the first plate (101) or plunger is a modified element belonging to the weapon and the second plate (102) is an element external to the weapon.

(26) In this second example of embodiment, the first plate (101) or plunger and the second plate (102) are located outside the chamber (121).

(27) In a third example of embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 7a and 7b, the system comprises a first plate (201) disposed in a slide (210) of the weapon, a second plate (202) disposed on the slide (210) of the weapon, a dielectric (222) disposed between the first plate (201) and the second plate (202) and a sensor circuit (203) connected to a microprocessor (204), where the first plate (201) is displaceable between a first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (220) in the chamber (221) and a second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (220) in the chamber (221).

(28) The microprocessor (204), through the sensor circuit (203), detects the capacitive variation between the first plate (201) and the second plate (202), between the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (220) in the chamber (221) and the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (220) in the chamber (221), making it possible to determine in this way the presence or non-presence of a cartridge (220) in the chamber (221).

(29) The system further comprises a plunger (212) in contact with an extractor (211) of the weapon, where the plunger (212) is disposed in the slide (210) of the weapon, and where the first plate (201) is an elastic element which is in contact with the plunger (212) and maintains the tension on the plunger (212) as it is in contact with a support piece (214) which is disposed inside the first plate (201) or elastic element, where the second plate (202) is disposed inside the support piece (214).

(30) Preferably, the first plate (201) or elastic element, the plunger (212), the support piece (214) and the second plate (202) are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the slide (210) of the weapon.

(31) In the first position corresponding to the presence of a cartridge (220) in the chamber (221), the extractor (211) pushes the plunger (212) and in consequence compresses the first plate (201) or elastic element towards the support piece (214), so that the capacity between the number of turns of the first plate (201) or elastic element that are opposite the second plate (202) disposed inside the support piece (214) is greater than in the second position corresponding to the non-presence of a cartridge (220) in the chamber (221).

(32) In this third example of embodiment, the first plate (201) or elastic element is an element belonging to the weapon and the second plate (202) is an element external to the weapon.

(33) In this third example of embodiment, the first plate (201) and the second plate (202) are located outside the chamber (221).

(34) In a fourth example of embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first plate (101) or plunger of the second example of embodiment becomes a first plate (301) with cylinder shape, whilst the support piece (114) of the second example of embodiment becomes a second plate (302) with hollow cylinder shape, second plate (302) which is the support piece of an elastic element (not shown) which maintains the tension on the first plate (301) with cylinder shape, so that two opposing plates (301, 302) are generated, whose capacity depends on the opposing area between the two plates (301, 302). A dielectric (322) is disposed between the first plate (301) and the second plate (302).

(35) Optionally, for any of the embodiments disclosed above, the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms further comprises a movement sensor (23, 123, 223) which activates the cartridge detection system when the weapon is subject to any type of movement.

(36) Optionally, for any of the embodiments disclosed above, the cartridge-in-chamber detection system for firearms further comprises a light indicator (24, 124, 224) which indicates to the user the presence or non-presence of a cartridge (20, 120, 220) in the chamber (21, 121, 221) where the light indicator (24, 124, 224) is visible from the user's shooting position without taking his eyes off the target, and where the light intensity is sufficient to be seen by the user in high luminosity conditions, but not excessive so as to dazzle the user.