SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL POWER TO ACCESSORIES MOUNTED ON THE POWERED RAIL OF A WEAPON

• US 20110283585A1
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Worx Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Prototype Productions Incorporated (Prototype Productions)
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Don, Frascati, Joseph, Dodd, James S., Feldman, Ben, Cabahug, Eric F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/73
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/22 Stocks having space for the storage of objects
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided to provide a point of electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The powered rail(s) are electrically interconnected with a power source, which typically is a battery mounted in the butt stock of the weapon.

Claims

1. A Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System for providing a supply of electrical power for use by at least one power-consuming accessory operatively associated with a weapon, said weapon power distribution system comprising:

a receiver extension attached at a distal end of said weapon;

an adjustable buttstock containing an aperture formed along a length thereof which aperture provides a slideable attachment of said adjustable butt stock to said receiver extension for positioning said adjustable butt stock at one of a plurality of predetermined positions on said receiver extension;

at least one battery mounted on said receiver extension;

a powered rail, extending along at least a portion of a length of said barrel, for providing a source of electrical power to said one or more power-consuming accessories; and

a power distribution system for electrically interconnecting said at least one battery and said powered rail.

2. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 1 wherein said battery comprises:

a housing;

a pair of exposed electrode terminals mounted on an exterior surface of said housing; and

a plurality of replaceable battery cells housed in said housing and electrically connected to said electrode terminals.

3. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 2 wherein said battery further comprises:

internal battery spring terminals which serve to engage one end of a plurality of replaceable battery cells and are electrically connected to said electrode terminals.

4. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 2 wherein said battery has formed on said housing a dovetail slide guide rail that mates with a dovetail slide channel formed on said receiver extension.

5. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one battery mounted on a bottom side of a pistol grip of said weapon.

6. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one battery mounted internal to a pistol grip of said weapon.

7. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one battery mounted on said powered rail.

8. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery located external to said weapon and including a connection for a mechanical and electrical attachment to said powered rail.

9. A Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System for providing a supply of electrical power for use by one or more power-consuming accessories operatively associated with a weapon, comprising:

a handguard, which extends along a length of a barrel of a weapon and which mechanically supports one or more power-consuming accessories;

a receiver extension attached at a distal end of said weapon;

an adjustable buttstock containing an aperture formed along a length thereof which aperture provides a slideable attachment of said adjustable butt stock to said receiver extension for positioning said adjustable butt stock at one of a plurality of predetermined positions on said receiver extension;

at least one battery mounted on said receiver extension;

a powered rail, extending along at least a portion of a length of said barrel, for providing a source of electrical power to said one or more power-consuming accessories; and

a power distribution system for electrically interconnecting said power source and said powered rail.

10. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 9 wherein said battery comprises:

a housing;

a pair of exposed electrode terminals mounted on the exterior surface of said housing; and

a plurality of replaceable battery cells housed in said housing electrically connected to said electrode terminals.

11. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 10 wherein said battery further comprises:

internal battery spring terminals which serve to engage one end of a plurality of replaceable battery cells and are electrically connected to said electrode terminals.

12. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 10 wherein said battery has formed on said housing a dovetail slide guide rail that mates with a dovetail slide channel formed on said receiver extension.

13. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one battery mounted on a bottom side of a pistol grip of said weapon.

14. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one battery mounted internal to a pistol grip of said weapon.

15. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one battery mounted on said powered rail.

16. The Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System of claim 9, further comprising:

a battery located external to said weapon and including a connection for a mechanical and electrical attachment to said powered rail.