Blank firing laser attachment

• US 9,417,035 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradica Investments Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Northern Optotronics, Inc. (SBE Canada, Inc.)
• Inventors: Poirier, Jean Marc, Poirier, Bradley Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): TILLMAN, JR, REGINALD S
• Application Number:
  US13/906,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 421/14, 421/16, 421/17, 434/21, 434/22, 434/16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/32 Muzzle attachments or glands F41A21/26, F41A21/30, F41A21/46 take precedence ; for projectile velocity measurements G01P3/665, G01P3/685
• 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 9/38 Loading arrangements, i.e. for bringing the ammunition into the firing position
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74

Abstract

The disclosure is directed at a method and system for improving situational awareness and accuracy of a user with a firearm. The system includes a blank firing laser attachment which is mounted to an end of the firearm and emits a laser when the trigger is pulled.

Claims

1. A blank firing laser attachment apparatus for use with a firearm comprising:

a laser module for producing a laser output, wherein the laser output is configured to be in axial alignment with a barrel housing of the firearm when the blank firing laser attachment is mounted to the firearm;

a trigger actuation module including a switching mechanism for sensing a gas discharge when a blank cartridge has been discharged by a pulling of a trigger of the firearm;

an electronic module for modulating the laser output;

a set of sensors for sensing conditions within the blank firing laser attachment apparatus;

a processor for activating and controlling the laser output based on a signal from the trigger actuation module; and

a barrel end housing module for mounting the blank firing laser attachment apparatus to the barrel housing;

wherein the switching mechanism is a micro switch or a pressure switch.

2. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one exhaust port for allowing exhaust gases to escape.

3. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switching mechanism is pressure activated.

4. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrel end housing module comprises an alignment pin for aligning the blank firing laser attachment apparatus with the barrel housing.

5. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrel end housing module comprises a flash suppressor.

6. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trigger actuation module comprises a separation area for the gas discharge.

7. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic module modulates the laser output by pulsating the laser output.

8. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 7 wherein the modulated laser output contains identification information.

9. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 8 wherein a sensor demodulates the laser output to obtain the identification information.

10. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic module comprises a notification element.

11. The blank firing laser attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor controls a wavelength of the laser output based on user input.