Front-grip lighting device

• US 9,182,194 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crimson Trace Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Larry E. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVID, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US14/182,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/22 Stocks having space for the storage of objects
• 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 fore grip for a firearm houses a light source and power source. The light source is preferably a laser and the power source is preferably one or more batteries. A first switch is connected to a PCB and can be moved to respective positions that correspond to each of various operating conditions, such as continuously on, continuously off, and on when a second switch is activated.

Claims

1. A fore grip of a firearm, the fore grip comprising:

(a) a light source;

(b) a power source physically separated from and behind the light source, wherein the power source provides power for activating the light source;

(c) a first PCB in electrical communication with a first switch and the power source;

(d) a second PCB in electrical communication with the first PCB and the light source;

(e) a first switch to activate the power source wherein the first switch has a first position wherein the light source is constantly off, a second position wherein the light source is constantly on, and a third position wherein the light source is on when a second switch is activated;

(f) wherein the fore grip has a first section that is attached to a gun and the light source is positioned inside of the first section; and

(g) wherein the fore grip has a second section that extends downward at an angle from the first section and the power source is positioned in the second section.

2. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser module.

3. The fore grip of claim 2 wherein the second switch is mounted on the laser module.

4. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the second switch is mounted on the light source.

5. The fore grip of claim 1 that includes a plurality of second switches and when the first switch is in its third position the light source can be activated by activating any of the plurality of second switches.

6. The fore grip of claim 1 that includes two second switches that are activated simultaneously to activate the light source when the first switch is in its third position.

7. The fore grip of claim 6 wherein both second switches are momentary switches.

8. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the second switch is a momentary switch.

9. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser module.

10. The fore grip of claim 9 wherein the laser module has a first end though which laser light is emitted, and further includes a lens slide juxtaposed the first end wherein the lens slide includes a plurality of openings and at least one opening includes a lens that modifies the travel of laser light passing through it, the slide movable to at least one position at which laser light emitted from the first end of the laser module passes through one of the plurality of openings.

11. The fore grip of claim 10 wherein at least one lens in the lens slide modifies the laser light emitted from the laser module into a circular pattern of individual laser light beams.

12. The fore grip of claim 9 that includes a plurality of second switches wherein when the first switch is in its third position the light source can be activated by activating any of the plurality of second switches.

13. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the light source is positioned in a first cavity of the fore grip.

14. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the power source is positioned in a second cavity of the fore grip.

15. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the power source is one or more batteries.

16. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the first switch is a slide switch.

17. The fore grip of claim 1 that has an outer housing having a first half connected to a second half.

18. The fore grip of claim 1 wherein the first PCB and second PCB are physically separated.

19. The fore grip of claim 1 that has an attachment portion configured to attach to the picatinny rail of a firearm.