Firearm assembly

• US 8,225,542 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LMD Applied Science LLC
• Original Assignee: LaserMax Incorporated
• Inventors: Houde-Walter, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US12/504,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 42/10.1, 42/10.2, 42/10.3, 42/10.4, 42/10.5, 42/710.1, 42/710.2, 42/72, 42/73, 42/74, 42/84
• US Class Current: 42/72
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/00 Accessories or details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/00 Sighting devices for indirect laying of fire F41G3/16; bombsights F41G3/24 ; structurally associated with laser telemeters F41G3/065; mounting tubular or beam shaped aiming devices on firearms F41G11/001

Abstract

A firearm system includes a foregrip removably mountable to a firearm, the foregrip having a programmable button controlling at least one of an accessory of the firearm and a component of the foregrip.

Claims

1. A firearm system, comprising:

(a) a first accessory mounted to a firearm;

(b) a second accessory mounted to the firearm, the first and second accessories transmitting information between the accessories;

(c) a foregrip removably mounted to the firearm, the foregrip having a programmable button controllably connected to at least one of the first and second accessories, and a microprocessor in communication with the programmable button, the the microprocessor directing a control signal to the at least one accessory mounted to the firearm in response to manipulation of the programmable button; and

(d) a power generator providing power to the first and second accessories.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a component of the power generator is disposed within the firearm.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power generator provides power to the first and second accessories via a rail of the firearm.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power generator provides power to the foregrip via a rail of the firearm.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power generator comprises a loading bolt movably disposed within the firearm, and an induction coil disposed proximate the loading bolt.

6. The system of claim 5, further including a permanent magnet fixedly connected to the loading bolt.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the loading bolt comprises an electromagnetic coil disposed therein.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the power generator further comprises a rechargeable power source configured such that motion of the loading bolt relative to the induction coil directs electrical power to the rechargeable power source.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein movement of the loading bolt in a first direction ejects a spent cartridge from the firearm, and movement of the loading bolt in a second direction loads an unspent cartridge for firing.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein energizing the induction coil induces movement of the loading bolt.

11. The system of claim 5, further including a position sensor monitoring a position of the loading bolt within the firearm.

12. The system of claim 11, further including a servo controller controllably connected to the at least one of the first and second accessories, wherein activation of the servo controller induces movement of the loading bolt.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the servo controller is activated in response to the monitored position of the loading bolt.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein activation of the servo controller energizes the induction coil.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the induction coil is powered by energy stored within a power source of the power generator.

16. The system of claim 12, further including a microprocessor operably connected to the servo controller and the position sensor.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the foregrip further comprises a plurality of programmable buttons, each of the programmable buttons controlling a unique function of the at least one accessory.

18. A firearm system, comprising:

(a) a first accessory mounted to a firearm;

(b) a second accessory mounted to the firearm, the first and second accessories transmitting information between the accessories;

(c) a foregrip removably mounted to the firearm, the foregrip having a programmable button controllably connected to at least one of the first and second accessories;

(d) a power generator providing power to the first and second accessories, wherein the power generator comprises a loading bolt movably disposed within the firearm, and an induction coil disposed proximate the loading bolt; and

(e) a servo controller controllably connected to the at least one of the first and second accessories, wherein activation of the servo controller induces movement of the loading bolt.

19. A firearm system, comprising:

(a) a first accessory mounted to a firearm;

(b) a second accessory mounted to the firearm, the first and second accessories transmitting information between the accessories;

(c) a foregrip removably mounted to the firearm, the foregrip having a programmable button controllably connected to at least one of the first and second accessories;

(d) a power generator associated with the firearm, the power generator comprising an induction coil and a permanent magnet, wherein one of the induction coil and the permanent magnet is moveable with a loading bolt of the firearm and the other of the induction coil and the magnet is fixed to the firearm such that relative movement between the induction coil and the permanent magnet generates power; and

(e) a power source receiving the generated power and selectively providing the generated power to the at least one of the first and second accessories.