Rail for inductively powering firearm accessories

• US 9,823,043 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colt Canada Corporation (Colt Defense Holding LLC)
• Original Assignee: Colt Canada Corporation (Colt Defense Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Compton, David Walter, Crocker, Gary Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US12/688,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20110173865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,867 Days
• Field of Search: 42 84, 42 94, 42 7101, 42 72, 42124
• 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 method and system for an inductively powering rail on a firearm to power accessories such as: telescopic sights, tactical sights, laser sighting modules, and night vision scopes. This is achieved by having primary and secondary electromagnets (U-Cores) on both the inductively powering rail and the accessory. Once the electromagnets are in contact, the accessory is able to obtain power through induction via the inductively powering rail. Accessories may be attached to various fixture points on the inductively powering rail and are detected by the firearm when attached and detached. When attached, power and data communications may flow between the accessory and a master CPU located on the firearm. Accessories that are attached to the inductively powering rail and have rechargeable power systems may be recharged via the inductive power rail. Further, accessories that have power that is not needed may be transferred to other accessories.

Claims

1. A system for providing inductive power to an accessory;

system comprising;

an inductively powering rail operatively connected to one or more batteries, said inductively powering rail comprising a plurality of inductively powering rail slots, each inductively powering rail slot having a primary U-Core, said accessory having secondary U-Cores designed to mate with each primary U-Core to provide an inductive power connection to said accessory, wherein said accessory includes at least one magnet and the inductively powering rail has at least one pin configured to magnetically couple the at least one magnet to a magnetic switch when the accessory engages the inductively powering rail.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said inductively powering rail comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) comprising a master CPU, said CPU configured to detect when an accessory is attached to the inductively powering rail.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said CPU is configured to detect when an accessory is detached from the inductively powering rail.

4. The system of claim 1, said system utilizing a master CPU connected to a plurality of power sources to distribute power to one or more accessories, connected to said inductively powering rail, said power distributed via conductive power path.

5. The system of claim 1, said system utilizing a master CPU to communicate with an accessory for the purpose of determining the power requirements of the accessory and providing power from one or more sources as needed.

6. The system of claim 1, said system utilizing a master controller to recharge said one or more batteries from an external power source.

7. The system of claim 1, said system utilizing a master controller to recharge said one or more batteries from an auxiliary power source.

8. The system of claim 1 said system utilizing a master CPU connected to said inductively powering rail via a control path to communicate data to and from said accessory via an inductive control path, said inductive control path flowing between said primary and secondary U-cores.

9. The system of claim 1 said system further comprising a multi-button pad for the user to directly control an accessory connected to said inductively powering rail.

10. The system of claim 1 said system utilizing a master CPU to control each inductively powering rail slot, said control comprising means for turning off power to a slot should an abnormality be detected.

11. The system of claim 1, said system utilizing a master CPU to transfer data between accessories.

12. The system of claim 1, said system utilizing a master CPU to send data to an external source.

13. The system of claim 1, said system utilizing a master CPU to receive information from a multi-button pad, said information indicating which accessories are to be powered on or off.