SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL POWER TO ACCESSORIES MOUNTED ON THE POWERED RAIL OF A WEAPON
First Claim
1. A Weapons Accessory Power Distribution System which extends along at least a portion of a length of a barrel of a weapon, for providing a supply of electrical power for use by at least one power-consuming accessory operatively associated with said weapon, said Weapons Power Distribution System comprising:
- a power source; and
at least one powered rail, extending along at least a portion of a length of said barrel and electrically connected to said power source, comprising;
a plurality of mechanical features formed on the outer surface of said powered rail in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship for mechanically positioning a power-consuming accessory,an aperture formed of a slot of uniform size cut in each of a plurality of sequential ones of said mechanical features, the aperture extending lengthwise along the barrel,a printed circuit board, mounted in said aperture, and which has formed thereon a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact positioned between at least two of said mechanical features for providing a first and a second electrical connection to said power source, respectively; and
wherein mechanical mounting of a power-consuming accessory between said two mechanical features electrically connects said power-consuming accessory to said first and said second electrical contacts.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapons Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided on the handguard, which encircles the barrel of the weapon, to provide a point of mechanical and electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories to provide quick connect mounting and dismounting of the power-consuming accessory, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The powered rail(s) are electrically interconnected with a power source, which typically is a battery mounted in the butt stock of the weapon.
19 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A Weapons Accessory Power Distribution System which extends along at least a portion of a length of a barrel of a weapon, for providing a supply of electrical power for use by at least one power-consuming accessory operatively associated with said weapon, said Weapons Power Distribution System comprising:
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a power source; and at least one powered rail, extending along at least a portion of a length of said barrel and electrically connected to said power source, comprising; a plurality of mechanical features formed on the outer surface of said powered rail in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship for mechanically positioning a power-consuming accessory, an aperture formed of a slot of uniform size cut in each of a plurality of sequential ones of said mechanical features, the aperture extending lengthwise along the barrel, a printed circuit board, mounted in said aperture, and which has formed thereon a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact positioned between at least two of said mechanical features for providing a first and a second electrical connection to said power source, respectively; and wherein mechanical mounting of a power-consuming accessory between said two mechanical features electrically connects said power-consuming accessory to said first and said second electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. A Weapons Accessory Power Distribution System for providing a supply of electrical power for use by at least one power-consuming accessory operatively associated with a weapon, said Weapons Power Distribution System comprising:
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at least one powered rail, which is structured to extend along at least a portion of a length of a barrel of a weapon; a power source; a power distribution system for electrically connecting said power source to said at least one powered rail; and wherein said at least one powered rail comprises; a plurality of mechanical features formed on the outer surface of said at least one powered rail in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship for mechanically positioning said at least one power-consuming accessory, an aperture formed of a slot of uniform size cut in each of a plurality of sequential ones of said mechanical features, the aperture extending lengthwise along the barrel, a printed circuit board, mounted in said aperture, and which has formed thereon a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact positioned between two of said mechanical features for providing a first and a second electrical connection to said power source, respectively; and wherein mechanical mounting of a power-consuming accessory between said two mechanical features electrically connects said power-consuming accessory to said first and said second electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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13-18. -18. (canceled)
Specification