System for luminescing and propelling a projectile

• US 6,048,280 A
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sierra Innotek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sierra Innotek, Inc.
• Inventors: Palmer, William R., Palmer, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLAYTON, SHEILA
• Application Number:
  US08/891,185
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 473/416, 473/578, 473/570, 362/84, 362/112, 362/113, 273/DIG. 24, 124/16, 124/20.1, 124/20.2, 124/20.3, 124/21, 124/22, 124/26, 124/27
• US Class Current: 473/416
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/57 Electronic or electric systems for feeding or loading F41B11/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/642 the piston being spring operated
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/71 Electric or electronic control systems, e.g. for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/24 Luminescent, phosphorescent

Abstract

A projectile having photoluminescent properties is exposed to light within a gun when propelled from the gun to excite the photoluminescent surface and provide a visual display by the propelled projectile. The projectile is illuminated by a flash lamp, such as a xenon flash lamp, having a high level ultraviolet light component and relatively low or non-existent red, orange and infrared components.

Claims

1. Projectile propelling and illuminating apparatus for luminescing and propelling a projectile at least partially comprised of photoluminescent material having an excitation band of determinable wavelength, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

means including a gun barrel defining an interior at least partially comprising a gun barrel interior for receiving and temporarily accommodating therein at a selected location a projectile at least partially comprised of photoluminescent material, said gun barrel additionally defining an open end spaced from said selected location and defining a path of movement for a projectile extending between said selected location and said open end;

projectile propulsion means for propelling a projectile at least partially comprised of photoluminescent material from said selected location, along said path of movement, out of said open end, and away from said apparatus;

non-incandescent light emitting means for illuminating a projectile at least partially comprised of photoluminescent material with an intense short burst of light having a high level ultraviolet light component within the wavelength of the excitation band of the photoluminescent material of the projectile and relatively low or non-existent red, orange and infrared components of longer wavelength than that of the excitation band of the photoluminescent material of the projectile at said selected location to excite the photoluminescent material with said light having a high level ultraviolet light component and relatively low or non-existent red, orange and infrared light components, said light emitting means including at least one flash lamp for illuminating a projectile at said selected location, said flash lamp containing a gas for producing an intense short burst of light having a high level ultraviolet light component and relatively low or non-existent red, orange, and infrared light components when electrically actuated;

an electrical energy source; and

actuator means including a trigger operatively associated with said projectile propulsion means and said light emitting means for substantially simultaneously completing an electrical connection between said at least one flash lamp and said electrical energy source and actuating said projectile propulsion means to propel a projectile at least partially comprised of photoluminescent material from said selected location at substantially the same time the photoluminescent material of the projectile is excited by the ultraviolet light component from the flash lamp of said light emitting means whereby said projectile will emit visually observable light when propelled from said apparatus from the open end of the gun barrel and whereby there will not be significant quenching of said visually observable light caused by the flash lamp.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flash lamp is a xenon lamp.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally comprising a reflective surface located in said barrel interior for reflecting light from said at least one flash lamp onto the projectile.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said trigger is a manually movable trigger.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally comprising signal means for indicating when said electrical energy source is capable of operating said light emitting means.

6. A portable battery operated gun and illuminated projectile apparatus comprising in combination:

a projectile, said projectile comprising a photoluminescent material having an excitation band of determinable wavelength;

gun barrel means, said gun barrel means including a hollow interior for receiving and temporarily accommodating said projectile therein at a selected location and an open end spaced from said selected location, said gun barrel means further defining a path of movement for said projectile within said hollow interior that extends between said selected location and said open end;

non-incandescent light emitting xenon flash lamp means for producing a short burst of high intensity light within said gun barrel means, responsive to actuation, to expose said photoluminescent material of said projectile means when said projectile means is accommodated at said selected location, said short burst of high intensity light being no greater than about two milliseconds in duration, and said high intensity light comprising a spectral characteristic having a predominant ultraviolet component within the wavelength of the excitation band of the photoluminescent material to excite said photoluminescent material and minimal components if any of red, orange and infrared of longer wavelength than that of the excitation band of the photoluminescent material of the projectile as would also quench said excitation of said photoluminescent material;

light reflector means, said light reflector means located in said interior of said gun barrel and at least surrounding said selected location for reflecting said high intensity light produced by said xenon flash lamp means onto said photoluminescent material of said projectile;

projectile propulsion means for propelling said projectile from said selected location in said gun barrel means, along said path of movement, out of said open end, and away from said gun barrel means;

actuator means operatively associated with said projectile propulsion means and with said non-incandescent light emitting xenon flash lamp means for substantially simultaneously actuating said projectile propulsion means and actuating said non-incandescent light emitting xenon flash lamp means, whereby said photoluminescent material of said projectile is excited by said ultraviolet component of said burst of light produced by said xenon flash lamp means and, responsive thereto, generates a visible light, said generated visible light being of sufficient intensity to be visually observable when said projectile is propelled from said open end of said gun barrel means and throughout said projectile'"'"'s flight therefrom;

said actuator means comprising at least;

a trigger;

an electrical energy source;

said electrical energy source including a battery for supplying DC; and

capacitive discharge means, coupled to said battery, for providing electrical power to said xenon flash lamp means, responsive to actuation of said trigger.