FIREARM ASSEMBLY

• US 20100031552A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LMD Applied Science LLC
• Original Assignee: LaserMax Incorporated
• Inventors: Houde-Walter, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,225,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the foregrip is electrically connected to a powered rail of the firearm.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory is mechanically coupled to the firearm and the programmable button controls the accessory.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory is electrically connected to a powered rail of the firearm and the programmable button controls the accessory.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the foregrip is mechanically coupled and electrically connected to a powered rail of the firearm, such that at least one of data and power may be transmitted between the foregrip and the rail.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the accessory is mechanically coupled and electrically connected to an additional powered rail of the firearm, the programmable button controlling the accessory.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the foregrip and the accessory comprises a first portion of an inductive coupling device, and a rail of the firearm comprises a second portion of the inductive coupling device, the first portion configured to mate with the second portion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the foregrip and the accessory comprises a first portion of an optical data link, and a rail of the firearm comprises a second portion of the optical data link, the first portion configured to mate with the second portion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the additional device is located remote from the firearm.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the foregrip transmits an emission to the additional device and the additional device activates upon receipt of the emission.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the emission comprises a radio frequency.

12. The system of claim 10, the foregrip further comprising a transmitter controllably connected to the programmable button, wherein the emission is sent by the transmitter.

13. 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 therebetween; and

(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.

14. The system of claim 13, the firearm further comprising a powered rail transmitting the information between the first and second accessories.

15. The system of claim 13, further including an inductive coupling device, a first portion of the inductive coupling device connected to the firearm and a second portion of the inductive coupling device connected to the first accessory.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second portions of the inductive coupling device comprise mating portions of an inductor/transmitter.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the inductive coupling device transmits at least one of data and power between the firearm and the first accessory.

18. The system of claim 13, further including an optical data link, a first portion of the optical data link connected to the firearm and a second portion of the optical data link connected to the first accessory.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first portion of the optical data link comprises a transmitter portion and the second portion of the optical data link comprises a receiver portion.

20. The system of claim 13, further including an additional device wirelessly connected to at least one of the foregrip and the first accessory.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the additional device is located remote from the firearm.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the one of the foregrip and the first assembly transmits an emission to the additional device and the additional device activates upon receipt of the emission.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the emission comprises a radio frequency.

24. The system of claim 22, the foregrip further comprising a transmitter controllably connected to the programmable button, wherein the emission is sent by the transmitter.

25. 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 therebetween;

(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

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

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a component of the power generator is disposed within the firearm.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the power generator provides power to the first and second accessories via a rail of the firearm.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the power generator provides power to the foregrip via a rail of the firearm.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the power generator comprises a loading bolt movably disposed within the firearm, and an induction coil disposed proximate the loading bolt.

30. The system of claim 29, further including a permanent magnet fixedly connected to the loading bolt.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the loading bolt comprises an electromagnetic coil disposed therein.

32. The system of claim 29, 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.

33. The system of claim 29, 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.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein energizing the induction coil induces movement of the loading bolt.

35. The system of claim 29, further including a position sensor monitoring a position of the loading bolt within the firearm.

36. The system of clam 35, 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.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the servo controller is activated in response to the monitored position of the loading bolt.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein activation of the servo controller energizes the induction coil.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the induction coil is powered by energy stored within a power source of the power generator.

40. The system of claim 36, further including a microprocessor operably connected to the servo controller and the position sensor.

41. A method of controlling a firearm system, comprising:

(a) removably connecting a foregrip to a firearm; and

(b) directing a control signal from the foregrip to an accessory of the firearm by manipulating a programmable button of the foregrip.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising transmitting information from the accessory to an additional accessory of the firearm.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising directing a wireless signal from the foregrip to an additional device of the firearm system located remote from the firearm.

44. The method of claim 41, further including directing power to a power source of the firearm by moving a loading bolt of the firearm.

45. The method of claim 41, further including sensing a position of a loading bolt of the firearm and inducing movement of the loading bolt based on the sensed position.

46. A firearm system, comprising:

(a) an accessory connected to a firearm, the accessory configured to perform a first function; and

(b) a foregrip removably connected to the firearm, the foregrip including a button programmable to effect performance of the first function in response to actuation of the button.

47. The system of claim 46, further including an additional accessory connected to the firearm, the additional accessory configured to perform a second function different than the first.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the button is selectively programmable to effect performance of either the first or the second function in response to activation of the button.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the foregrip includes an additional button programmable to effect performance of the second function in response to activation of the additional button.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the foregrip includes a component configured to perform a second function different than the first.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the button is selectively programmable to effect performance of either the first or the second function in response to activation of the button.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the foregrip includes an additional button programmable to effect performance of the second function in response to activation of the additional button.

53. A firearm system, comprising:

(a) a loading bolt disposed within a firearm;

(b) an induction coil disposed proximate the loading bolt; and

(c) a rechargeable power source electrically connected to at least one of the loading bolt and the induction coil such that relative movement between the loading bolt and the induction coil directs power to the rechargeable power source.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the induction coil is fixed relative to the loading bolt.

55. The system of claim 53, further including a permanent magnet fixedly connected to the loading bolt.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the loading bolt comprises an electromagnetic coil disposed therein.

57. The system of claim 53, 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.

58. The system of claim 53, further comprising rail mechanically coupled to the firearm and electrically connected to the rechargeable power source.

59. The system of claim 58, further comprising a foregrip mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the rail such that at least one of data and power may be transmitted between the foregrip and the rail.

60. The system of claim 53, further comprising a position sensor monitoring a position of the loading bolt within the firearm.

61. The system of claim 60, further comprising a servo controller configured for activation in response to the monitored position of the loading bolt.

62. A method of controlling a firearm system, comprising:

(a) inducing relative motion between a loading bolt of a firearm and an induction coil disposed proximate the loading bolt, wherein the relative motion generates power;

(b) directing the generated power to a rechargeable power source; and

(c) energizing a rail engaging the firearm and electrically connected to the rechargeable power source with power stored in the rechargeable power source.

63. The method of claim 62, further including sensing a position of the loading bolt and moving the loading bolt based on the sensed position.

64. The method of claim 62, further including energizing an accessory of the firearm mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the rail with the power stored in the rechargeable power source.

65. The method of claim 62, further including energizing a foregrip of the firearm mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the rail with the power stored in the rechargeable power source.

66. The method of claim 62, further including energizing the induction coil in response to a sensed position of the loading bolt.