BLANK FIRING LASER ATTACHMENT

• US 20130319216A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradica Investments Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Northern Optotronics, Inc. (SBE Canada, Inc.)
• Inventors: POIRIER, Jean Marc, POIRIER, Bradley Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,417,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/125
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/32 Muzzle attachments or glands F41A21/26, F41A21/30, F41A21/46 take precedence ; for projectile velocity measurements G01P3/665, G01P3/685
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/38 Loading arrangements, i.e. for bringing the ammunition into the firing position
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74

Abstract

The disclosure is directed at a method and system for improving situational awareness and accuracy of a user with a firearm. The system includes a blank firing laser attachment which is mounted to an end of the firearm and emits a laser when the trigger is pulled.

Claims

1. A blank firing laser attachment apparatus for use with a firearm comprising:

a laser module for producing a laser output, wherein the laser output is in axial alignment with a barrel housing of the firearm;

a trigger actuation module comprising a switching mechanism for sensing when a blank cartridge has been discharged by a pulling of a trigger of the firearm;

an electronic module for modulating the laser output;

a processor for activating the laser output when the trigger is pulled; and

a barrel end housing module for mounting the blank firing laser attachment apparatus to the barrel housing.

2. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one exhaust port for allowing exhaust gases to escape.

3. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switching mechanism is pressure activated.

4. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrel end housing module comprises an alignment pin for aligning the blank firing laser attachment apparatus with the barrel housing.

5. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrel end housing module comprises a flash suppressor.

6. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trigger actuation module comprises a separation area for gases produced by the firearm.

7. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to automatically reload a cartridge into the chamber of the firearm after trigger actuation.

8. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic module modulates the laser output by pulsating the laser output.

9. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 8 wherein the modulated laser output contains identification information.

10. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 9 wherein a sensor demodulates the laser output to obtain the identification information.

11. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic module further comprises a notification element.

12. A method for shooting a blank firing laser attachment in use with a firearm comprising:

sensing actuation of a discharged blank cartridge via a trigger of the firearm;

emitting a laser output after sensing actuation of the trigger; and

modulating the laser output.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving indication that a target has been hit; and

notifying user of the firearm that target has been hit.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein modulating the laser output comprises encoding the laser output with identifying information.