Coupled dual switch actuators with lockout feature for a lighting attachment to a firearm

• US 10,451,384 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayco Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bayco Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Conner, James, Shoulders, Aaron P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yabut, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US15/459,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20170268849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/06 Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/001 Means for mounting tubular or beam shaped sighting or aiming devices on firearms
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/08 Interlocking of members, e.g. locking member in a particular position before or during the movement of another member

Abstract

An ambidextrous actuating mechanism configured as a mechanical interlock may be adapted to a battery operated light emitting device for mounting forward of the trigger guard of a firearm. The mechanism includes first and second mechanically coupled pivotable switch actuators disposed under and on either side of the barrel of the firearm. Operation of either one of the first and second actuator levers locks the other actuator from pivoting, thereby eliminating ambiguity and overridden operations in the control of the light emitting device. The operating motion of both actuators, either up for ON or down for MOMENTARY, is the same for both actuators. An alternate embodiment provides functionally equivalent electronically interlocked actuators.

Claims

1. An illuminator for use with a firearm having a trigger disposed below and aligned longitudinally with a barrel of the firearm, comprising:

a housing including the illuminator and a battery, the housing mountable under the barrel and forward of and proximate the trigger of the firearm; and

a first and a second mechanically coupled, pivoting switch actuator are each mounted at a respective pivot center disposed along a common transverse centerline on a rearward surface of the housing, one on either side of the plane of the trigger;

wherein

the first and second mechanically coupled, pivoting switch actuators are operable such that pivoting of either the first or the second pivoting switch actuator about its respective pivot center locks the other of the first or second pivoting switch actuators from pivoting.

2. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein each first and second pivoting switch actuator comprises:

a disc portion having a radius R and a lever portion extending from the edge of each disc portion in a direction opposite the other switch actuator; and

the pivot centers of the disc portions of the first and second switch actuators are spaced D=1.5 R apart.

3. The illuminator of claim 2, wherein the first pivoting switch actuator further comprises:

a first arcuate section removed from the disc portion thereof along a radius R centered at the pivot center of the second switch actuator at a distance D=1.5 R from the center of the first actuator along the common transverse centerline.

4. The illuminator of claim 2, wherein the second pivoting switch actuator comprises:

a second arcuate section removed from the disc portion of thereof along a radius R centered at the pivot center of the first switch actuator at a distance D=1.5 R from the pivot center of the second switch actuator along the common transverse centerline; and

a tenon member disposed in the second arcuate section along the common transverse centerline and extending toward the center of the first actuator to a distance R from the center of the second switch actuator.

5. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

a first and a second arcuate section of each first and second pivoting switch actuator face each other to define a neutral OFF state in their respective unpivoted neutral positions along the common transverse centerline; and

the tenon member of the second pivoting switch actuator is disposed along the common transverse centerline into the first arcuate section of the first pivoting switch actuator.

6. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

pivoting of one of the first and second pivoting switch actuators about its respective pivot center locks the other pivoting switch actuator from pivoting until the one of the first and second pivoting switch actuators that was pivoted is returned to its unpivoted neutral position.

7. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

pivoting of either of the first and second pivoting switch actuators in an either upward or downward direction away from an unpivoted neutral position defines an ON state of the illuminator.

8. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

pivoting of either of the first and second pivoting switch actuators in a downward direction away from the unpivoted neutral position defines a MOMENTARY ON state of the illuminator; and

release of the switch actuator to the neutral position defines an OFF state of the illuminator.

9. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

the housing includes at least one light source operated by the battery and controlled by the first and second pivoting switch actuators to provide connections between the battery and the at least one light source.

10. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising:

a first pivoting switch actuator pivotably coupled to the housing and operable from a first side of the trigger; and

a second pivoting switch actuator pivotably coupled to the housing and operable from a second side of the trigger;

wherein

the first and second pivoting switch actuators pivot independently about separate parallel axes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second switch actuators include a Z-axis push button operable along the respective pivot axes of the first or second control actuators to provide an additional control function.

12. An ambidextrous electronic actuating mechanism for a tactical light, comprising:

first and second control actuators pivotably mounted on a panel at respective first and second pivot centers disposed along a common centerline;

wherein

the first and second control actuators are coupled with a mutual electronic interlock wherein the pivoting of each first and second control actuator is detected by the mutual electronic interlock such that the function of only one of the control actuators is operational at one time as it pivots about its respective pivot center.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

a clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW) pivot of either first or second control actuator from a neutral position to an active position inhibits the function of the other control actuator to ensure that only one control actuator can be in an active CW or CCW position at one time; and

the return of a control actuator from an active CW or CCW position to the neutral position frees either control actuator to be pivoted to an active CW or CCW position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the neutral position comprises:

an inactive condition of either the first or second control actuator when aligned along the common centerline.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first control actuator comprises:

a lever oriented laterally along the common centerline leftward from the pivot center and operable upward when active CW and operable downward when active CCW.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second control actuator comprises:

a lever oriented laterally along the common centerline rightward from the pivot center and operable upward when active CCW and operable downward when active CW.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mutual electronic interlock comprises:

a first and second interlocking subroutine programmed into a microprocessor coupled to and respectively responsive to each first and second control actuator.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the first and second control actuators include a Z-axis push button operable along the respective pivot axes of the first or second control actuators to provide an additional control function.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

a pivot angle of the first and second control actuators is limited to a predetermined angle relative to the common centerline; and

the common centerline is disposed laterally.