Ergonomic electrical current switching systems

• US 5,654,594 A
• Filed: 02/27/1996
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Laser Products Ltd.
• Inventors: Hauk, Peter, Bjornsen, Bernie E. III, Matthews, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/607,696
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/115, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/512, 200/513, 200/61.41, 200/61.43, 200/85, 200/61.57, 200/293.1, 42/66, 42/70.01, 42/71.01
• US Class Current: 307/115
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/06 Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

In order to enable switching electric currents with a part of a human hand for an accessory of a firearm having a firearm handle, that firearm handle is complemented with an arcuate member, which is formed in similarity to a portion of that human hand in a clenched position at the mentioned part. An electric switching device on that arcuate member is at a location corresponding to the mentioned part of the human hand in its clenched position. The arcuate member may be provided with a mount. A bidirectional electric circuit extends along or through the arcuate member and may extend along or through the mount to and from the electric switching device.

Claims

1. In a method of switching electric current with a part of a human hand for an accessory of a firearm having a firearm handle,

the improvement comprising in combination:

complementing said firearm handle with an arcuate member bent in similarity to a portion of said human hand in a clenched position at said part;

providing an electric switching device on said arcuate member at a location corresponding to said part of the human hand in said clenched position; and

forming a bidirectional electric circuit along said arcuate member and said mount to and from said electric switching device.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

said electric switching device is provided with distinct electric switches for actuation by different parts of human hands.

3. A method as in claim 1, including:

forming a mount for said arcuate member.

4. A method as in claim 3, including:

suspending said arcuate member from said mount at an apex of said arcuate member.

5. A method as in claim 3, including:

providing said mount with a bifurcated end opposite said arcuate member.

6. A method as in claim 3, including:

extending said bidirectional electric circuit from said arcuate member along said mount.

7. A method as in claim 3, including:

extending said bidirectional electric circuit at least partially through said mount.

8. A method as in claim 3, including:

extending said bidirectional electric circuit at least partially through said mount and through said arcuate member.

9. A method as in claim 3, including:

forming at least part of said bidirectional electric circuit by composing said mount of at least partially coextending electrical conductors electrically insulated from each other.

10. A method as in claim 9, including:

forming said electrical conductors into a bifurcated end portion of said mount opposite said arcuate member.

11. A method as in claim 3, including:

forming at least part of said bidirectional electric circuit by composing said mount and said arcuate member of at least partially coextending electrical conductors electrically insulated from each other.

12. A method as in claim 11, including:

forming said electric switching device from said electrical conductors.

13. A method as in claim 3, including:

forming said mount of a laminate structure including an electrically insulating layer, a first electrically conductive layer on one side of said insulating layer, and a second electrically conductive layer on an opposite side of said insulating layer; and

providing said bidirectional electric circuit through said first and second electrically conductive layers.

14. A method as in claim 3, including:

forming said mount and said arcuate member of a laminate structure including an electrically insulating layer, a first electrically conductive layer on one side of said insulating layer, and a second electrically conductive layer on an opposite side of said insulating layer; and

providing said bidirectional electric circuit through said first and second electrically conductive layers.

15. A method as in claim 14, including:

forming said electric switching device from said electrically conductive layers.

16. In apparatus for switching electric current with a part of a human hand for an accessory of a firearm having a firearm handle,

the improvement comprising in combination:

an arcuate member bent in similarity to a portion of said human hand in a clenched position at said part and complementing said firearm handle;

an electric switching device on said arcuate member at a location corresponding to said part of the human hand in said clenched position; and

a bidirectional electric circuit along said arcuate member to and from said electric switching device.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein:

said electric switching device comprises distinct electric switches at different locations on said arcuate member.

18. Apparatus as in claim 16, including:

a mount for said arcuate member.

19. Apparatus as in claim 18, including:

said mount and said arcuate member interconnected at an apex of said arcuate member.

20. Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein:

said mount has a bifurcated end opposite said arcuate member.

21. Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein:

said bidirectional electric circuit extends at least partially through said mount.

22. Apparatus as in claim 18, including:

an extension of said bidirectional electric circuit from said arcuate member along said mount.

23. Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein:

said bidirectional electric circuit extends at least partially through said mount and through said arcuate member.

24. Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein:

said mount comprises at least partially coextending electrical conductors electrically insulated from each other and forming at least part of said bidirectional electric circuit.

25. Apparatus as in claim 24, wherein:

said electrical conductors include a bifurcated end portion of said mount opposite said arcuate member.

26. Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein:

said mount and said arcuate member comprise at least partially coextending electrical conductors electrically insulated from each other and forming at least part of said bidirectional electric circuit.

27. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

said electric switching device includes said electrical conductors.

28. In apparatus for switching electric current with a part of a human hand for an accessory of a firearm having a firearm handle,

the improvement comprising in combination:

a laminate structure including a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer insulated from each other and bent into an arcuate member in similarity to a portion of said human hand in a clenched position at said part and complementing said firearm handle; and

an electric switching device on said arcuate member at a location corresponding to said part of the human hand in its clenched position.

29. Apparatus as in claim 28, including:

a mount for said arcuate member including said laminate structure having an electrically insulating layer between said first and second electrically conductive layers; and

a bidirectional electric circuit through said first and second electrically conductive layers and electric switching device.

30. Apparatus as in claim 28, wherein:

said electric switching device includes said electrically conductive layers.

31. Apparatus as in claim 30, including:

insulating spacers between said electrically conductive layers at said electric switching device.

32. Apparatus as in claim 30, including:

one of said electrically conductive layers biased relative to the other of said electrically conductive layers.

33. Apparatus as in claim 30, including:

an elastomeric enclosure of said electrically conductive layers.