Modular flashlight apparatus for firearm

• US 7,866,083 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Inventors: Teetzel, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troy; Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US11/591,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 421/14, 421/17, 421/46, 421/13, 42/14, 421/15, 421/23, 421/24, 421/31, 421/91, 362/110, 362/114, 362/112, 362/113, 362/197, 362/198, 362/199, 342/45
• US Class Current: 42/146
• 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

The present disclosure relates to a flashlight apparatus including a base module having a mount adaptor mountable on a firearm, a reflector module removably attachable to the base module, a power source module removably attached to the base module, and a light source module removably attachable to the base module, the light source module including an illumination light source and a laser light source. In a further aspect, an identification friend or foe system is provided.

Claims

1. A modular flashlight apparatus, comprising:

a base module having a housing and a mount adaptor on a first side of said housing for removably mounting said flashlight apparatus to a firearm;

an upstanding mounting ring attached to a second side of said housing;

a reflector module removably attached to said mounting ring;

a light source module removably attached to said mounting ring, said light source module including an illumination light source;

said light source module attachable to and removable from said mounting ring without removal of said reflector module from said mounting ring; and

said light source module including a laser light source generating an encoded optical signal.

2. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply module removably attached to said base module, said power supply module including a housing defining a battery compartment; and

circuit components for electrically coupling said power supply module and said light source module.

3. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

said illumination light source including one or more light elements, each light element selected from among an LED, an incandescent lamp, and combinations thereof.

4. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

said illumination light source selected from a visible light source, an IR light source, or combinations thereof.

5. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

said laser light source selected from one or more visible laser light sources, IR laser light sources, or a combination thereof.

6. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a selector switch for selectively switching between said illumination light source, said laser light source, or both.

7. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, wherein the encoded optical signal is a pulse-encoded binary signal.

8. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch electrically coupled to the power supply module for selectively powering on and off the flashlight apparatus.

9. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

said light source module including a variable light source having a plurality of light sources selected from one or more light-emitting diodes, one or more incandescent lamps, one or more laser light sources, and any combinations thereof.

10. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

said plurality of light sources selectable to produce light having a wavelength in a visible region, an IR region, or combinations thereof; and

a display for selectively activating each one or more of said plurality of light sources.

11. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

said reflector module including features that slidingly engage grooves formed on said mounting ring to define a tongue-and-groove sliding engagement between said reflector module and said mounting ring.

12. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

said light source module including one or more fasteners for selectively and removably securing the light source module to said mounting ring, said light source module attachable to and removable from the mounting ring without removal of the reflector module from said mounting ring.

13. The modular flashlight apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

said light source module including a sleeve removably received within a complimentary aperture in said reflector module to secure said reflector module to said mounting ring when said light source module and said reflector module are attached in an operable position on said mounting ring.

14. An identification friend or foe system, comprising:

a flashlight apparatus having a base module having a housing and a mount adaptor on a first side of said housing for removably mounting said flashlight to a firearm;

an upstanding mounting ring attached to a second side of said housing;

a reflector module removably attached to said mounting ring; and

a light source module removably attached to said mounting ring including a laser light source for emitting an optical signal and illumination light source;

wherein said light source module is attachable to and removable from the mounting ring without removal of said reflector module from said mounting ring;

an identification friend or foe unit operable to emit a second optical signal which is detectable to identify a user as a friend; and

an optical receiver coupled to said identification friend or foe unit for receiving said first optical signal and to activate said identification friend or foe unit and cause said identification friend or foe unit to emit said second optical signal in response to receiving said first optical signal.

15. The identification friend or foe system of claim 14, wherein the identification friend or foe unit is remotely located from said flashlight apparatus.

16. The identification friend or foe system of claim 14, further comprising:

said laser light source selected from one or more visible laser light sources, IR laser light sources, or a combination thereof.

17. The identification friend or foe system of claim 14, wherein said first optical signal is selected from an encoded optical signal and a pulse-encoded binary optical signal.