Light beam generator apparatus

• US 7,438,430 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kim, Paul Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US11/999,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 362/110, 362/111, 362/112, 362/113, 362/114, 362/202, 362/205, 362/206, 362/208, 421/17, 421/46, 200/18, 200/60
• US Class Current: 362/110
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/34 combined with light source, e.g. spot light
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A light beam generator including a remote dual switch device preferably including a remote momentary tape switch including a resilient housing and a remote pushbutton actuable CONSTANT ON/OFF switch carried by the resilient housing, the resilient housing configured with resilient members removably securable to a rail of a rail structure which may be secured to a firearm or other gun.

Claims

1. Light beam generator apparatus securable to a rail structure, the light beam generator apparatus comprising:

a battery housing;

a light emitter assembly carried by said battery housing;

a battery carried by said battery housing in circuit for energizing said light emitter assembly when switch actuated;

a switch device including a remote momentary tape switch having a switch housing configured with resilient members adapted to engage a rail of the rail structure for removably retaining said switch housing to the rail, said switch device including a remote CONSTANT ON/OFF switch carried by said switch housing, a first connector device, and a cable conductively coupling said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch to said first connector device; and

a second connector device carried by said battery housing complementary to said first connector device for removably connecting said first connector device to said second connector device with said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch in circuit with said battery.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, including:

a tail cap assembly carried by said battery housing and including said second connector device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said tail cap assembly is removably secured to said battery housing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said switch device includes an actuator for said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch actuable for placing said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch in a closed circuit condition and actuable for placing said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch in an open circuit condition.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch are connected in parallel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch are connected in said circuit such that said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch is actuable by said actuator for placing said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch in a CONSTANT ON or OFF position when said first connector device is connected to said second connector device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/off switch are connected in series.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch are connected in said circuit such that said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch is actuable by said actuator for enabling and alternatively disabling said momentary tape switch when said first connector device is connected to said second connector device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said actuator is a pushbutton actuator.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said actuator is a pushbutton actuator.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first connector comprises a plug; and

said second connector comprises a jack.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said switch housing comprises a resilient housing.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, the rail comprising a longitudinal rail, wherein:

said resilient members comprise resilient flanges for transversely retaining said switch housing to the rail.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, the longitudinal rail including spaced-apart transverse ribs, wherein:

said switch housing includes at least one lug for being received by at least one space between two adjacent ones of the ribs for longitudinally retaining said switch housing to the rail.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said switch housing comprises a resilient housing including tactile indicia thereon indicating a pressure actuable portion of said tape switch.

16. Light beam generator apparatus securable to a rail structure, comprising:

a battery housing;

a light emitter assembly;

a battery carried by said battery housing in circuit for energizing said light emitter assembly when switch actuated;

a switch device including a remote momentary tape switch having a switch housing with resilient members adapted to grasp a rail of said rail structure for removably retaining said switch housing to the rail, said switch device including a remote CONSTANT ON/OFF switch carried by said switch housing and a cable conductively coupling said remote momentary tape switch and said remote CONSTANT ON/OFF switch in said circuit.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said switch housing comprises a flexible housing.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said rail comprises a longitudinal rail; and

said resilient members of said switch housing include longitudinally extending resilient flanges adapted to engage said rail for transversely retaining said switch housing to said rail.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein:

said rail includes longitudinally spaced transverse ribs; and

said switch housing includes a least one lug for being received by at least one space between two adjacent ones of said ribs for longitudinally retaining said switch housing to said rail.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, including:

tactile indicia on said switch housing indicating a pressure actuable portion of said tape switch.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:

said tactile indicia include two raised boundaries on said switch housing separated by said pressure actuable portion.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said switch device includes a first connector device and said cable conductively connects said remote tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch to said first connector device; and

a tail cap assembly removably secured to said battery housing and including a second connector device complementary to said first connector device and removably connecting said first connector device to said circuit.

23. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch is pushbutton actuable.

24. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch are electrically connected in series.

25. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said momentary tape switch and said CONSTANT ON/OFF switch are electrically connected in parallel.