Illuminating recoil guide rod

• US 6,892,488 B1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Serravalle
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Serravalle
• Inventors: Serravalle, Robert P
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US10/701,843
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 421/13, 421/14, 421/15, 421/17, 421/46
• US Class Current: 42/113
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/02 recoil-operated
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/36 with infrared light source

Abstract

The present invention 10 discloses an illuminating recoil guide rod for use on a handgun 12 modified to include a highly illuminating LED or infrared light 26 for a night vision light source, a tilt or mercury switch 22 that will allow for user selectable starting angles of illumination when the firearm is drawn from the holster comprising a lens 24, battery or batteries 30, housing compartment 32, mercury angle switch 28, electronics 56, 58 and a manual on/off switch 28. The illuminating recoil guide rod 10 of the present invention is completely unobtrusive and is activated simply by drawing the firearm 12 from the holster and raising the barrel 36. The present invention provides for an additional element in the form of a wireless transmitter 56 and receiver 58 for illuminating the LED 26 only while a pressure sensitive pad 60 is depressed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for illuminating the target of a handgun, comprising:

a) a handgun, said handgun having a front end and a rear end, said handgun having a handle disposed on said rear end for a user to grasp and a barrel disposed on said front end for directing a projectile, said handgun having a bore therein, said bore being adjacent to and parallel to said barrel, said bore being disposed on said front end of said handgun;

b) a housing disposed in said bore, said housing having a front end and a rear opposing end;

c) a light disposed in said front end of said housing, said light for illuminating the target of the handgun, wherein said light illuminates a field having a specified angle of light projection;

d) a light angle adjustment switch to permit the angle of light projection which is illuminated to be varied;

e) means for activating said light including a mercury switch whereby the light is automatically activated by raising the barrel of the handgun from a holstered position to a drawn position;

f) a manual light shutoff switch to permit the light to be controlled manually regardless of the position of the barrel of the handgun; and

,

g) a power supply including at least one battery for operating the apparatus to permit a target to be illuminated;

h) a lens for placement over said light to permit the light to be protected;

an end cap disposed on said rear end of said housing, wherein said light is a light emitting diode to permit the target to be illuminated said light being an infrared light to permit the target to be illuminated in darkness, wherein said mercury switch comprises;

i) a chamber disposed in said housing, said chamber having a first and second opposing end;

ii) a rotatable circular plate disposed in said chamber between said first and second ends, thereby forming a first front and second rear chamber, said plate being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, said plate having a plurality of spaced apart holes therein, said holes being disposed along about one-half of the outer periphery of the plate to permit mercury to flow therethrough as said handgun is raised from the holstered position to the drawn position

iii) an electrical contact disposed in said rear chamber;

iv) wherein all the mercury is disposed in said front chamber when said barrel of said handgun is in the holstered position; and

v) wherein said mercury passes through at least one of said holes in said plate as the handgun is raised from the holstered position to the drawn position, wherein said mercury physically contacts said contact completing an electrical circuit between said contact and said first front chamber and thereby between said light and said power supply causing said light to automatically light.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plate can be rotated to vary the angle of the handgun at which mercury begins to flow through said holes.

3. An apparatus for illuminating the target of a handgun, comprising:

a) a handgun, said handgun having a front end and a rear end, said handgun having a handle disposed on said rear for a user to grasp and a barrel disposed on said front end for directing a projective, said handgun having a bore therein, said bore being adjacent to and parallel to said barrel, said bore being disposed on said front end of said handgun;

b) a housing disposed in said bore, said housing having a front end and a rear opposing end;

c) a light, said light is a light emitting diode to permit the target to be illuminated and disposed in said front end of said housing, said light for illuminating the target of the handgun wherein said light illuminates a field having a specified angle of light projection;

d) a receiver disposed in said housing for activating said light upon receiving a signal;

e) a transmitter disposed on said handgun for transmitting an activation signal to said receiver;

f) a transmitter pad disposed on said handgun, said pad for being activated by the user, wherein said pad activates said transmitter to transmit an activation signal to said receiver; and

,

g) a power supply including at least one battery for operating the apparatus to permit a target to be illuminated;

h) a lens for placement over said light to permit the light to be protected;

i) an end cap disposed on said rear end of said housing wherein said light is an infrared light to permit the target to be illuminated in darkness and said transmitter and said transmitter pad are integrally constructed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said transmitter pad is pressure-activated by the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said transmitter pad is disposed on said handle of said handgun for being activated by the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said transmitter pad is activated to turn on said light only while pressure is being supplied to said pad by the user and allows said light to be turned off when pressure by the user is removed from said pad.