Devices, systems and methods for firearms training, simulation and operations

• US 8,827,706 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Practical Air Rifle Training Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Practical Air Rifle Training Systems LLC
• Inventors: Hogan, Richard Russell Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gishnock, Nikolai A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRENWELGE, RANDALL NEAL
• Application Number:
  US12/383,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20090253103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 434/24, 434/11, 434/12, 434/18, 434/19, 434/16, 434/74, 434/22, 463/36, 463/49, 446/473, 42/84, 42/51, 361/232, 89/7, 345/633, 124/73, 124/74, 244/63, 181/120
• US Class Current: 434/18
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/58 Electric firing mechanisms F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence
• 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 33/06 Recoil simulators
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/61 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/50 Magazines for compressed-gas guns; Arrangements for feeding or loading projectiles from magazines
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/57 Electronic or electric systems for feeding or loading F41B11/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/71 Electric or electronic control systems, e.g. for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing firearms training without using traditional firearms. Replicas of firearms have control systems in communication with magazines inserted into the replicas to control the number of rounds that can be fired for each magazine. The control systems can also monitor, record and communicate data relating to all use of the replica to centralized control units. Additionally, the control systems can include location sensors to monitor the location of the replicas and only authorize firing of the replicas in approved locations.

Claims

1. A firearm replica comprising:

a control processing unit in the replica;

a magazine designed to be received by the replica;

a magazine processing unit in the magazine;

communications systems providing communication between the processing unit in the magazine and the control processing unit in the replica when the magazine is inserted into the replica; and

a recoil device comprising a recoil piston, recoil cylinder body, and a recoil anvil; and

an actuator solenoid; and

wherein;

the replica is adapted to utilize compressed gas to fire projectiles;

the recoil piston travels under pressure of compressed gas to strike the recoil anvil; and

the recoil device is coupled to the actuator solenoid via a flexible substrate.

2. The firearm replica of claim 1 wherein:

the control processing unit is provisioned to receive data from the magazine processing unit in a magazine inserted into the replica and adjust firing operations of the replica in response to the data received from the magazine processing unit in the magazine.

3. The firearm replica of claim 2 wherein the firing operations adjusted includes a firing rate of the replica.

4. The firearm replica of claim 2 wherein the firing operations adjusted includes the number of times the replica is authorized to be fired while the magazine is in the replica.

5. The firearm replica of claim 2 wherein the data received includes an identity of an authorized operator for the replica.

6. The firearm replica of claim 1, wherein:

the replica is adapted to utilize;

a first compressed gas from a first reservoir to fire projectiles; and

a second compressed gas from a second reservoir to cause the recoil piston to strike the recoil anvil.

7. The firearm replica of claim 1, wherein the compressed gas comprises nitrogen.

8. The firearm replica of claim 1,

wherein the compressed gas comprises compressed air.

9. The firearm replica of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir to store the compressed gas.

10. The firearm replica of claim 9, wherein the reservoir is tethered to the firearm replica.

11. The firearm replica of claim 1;

further comprising

a feed fire solenoid.

12. The firearm replica of claim 11, wherein the control processing unit is configured to fire the feed fire solenoid a short time before firing the actuator solenoid.