Abstract: A coupling for a powered search light includes a body that has a power device that provides electrical power or access to electrical power and a head coupled to the body including an lighting device which provides light when electrically powered. An end is coupled to or included as part of the body. A receiving coupling is coupled to or included as part of the head. A plurality of tabs are defined on the end and extending radially therefrom. A corresponding plurality of flanges are defined in the receiving coupling and extending radially inward therefrom. The end is arranged and configured to engage the receiving coupling by capture of the plurality of tabs by the corresponding plurality of flanges. A lock locks the plurality of tabs with respect to the plurality of flanges.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a forend for a firearm includes an adapter module configured to mount below a barrel and in front of a receiver of a specific model of a firearm, such as a shotgun, and a universal firearm accessory module coupled to one or more surfaces of the adapter module. The adapter module can include an upper surface that substantially conforms to a lower surface of the barrel, a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tubular magazine of the firearm concentrically therein, and lower and external side surfaces defining a plug. The accessory module can include a firearm accessory and an upper and internal side surfaces defining a socket configured to receive the plug of the adapter module in a complementary plug-in engagement. The accessory can be a source of a light useful for illuminating a target or aiming the firearm.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for implementing a lighting device variable control using a variable inductor. In various examples, the variable control may be implemented with a plurality of continuous or stepped settings. The variable control may be adjusted by a user-actuated movement of a part of the lighting device, such as the depression of a tail cap or another appropriate physical control to change the inductance of the variable inductor. An oscillating signal may be induced in a variable inductor circuit that includes the variable inductor. The oscillating signal may exhibit characteristics, such as frequency, that change with the inductance of the variable inductor. Such characteristics may be measured to determine a setting of the variable control and which may be used to adjust the brightness or other attributes of the lighting device.

Abstract: A user wearable device may be implemented with a light source to provide illumination to an area of interest. In one example, the light source may be selectively operated by switches, physical displacement (e.g., movement) of the device, or other approaches. In another example, the device may be implemented as a wristwatch to display time, date, or related information to a user. In another example, the device may be implemented with appropriate processing or communication components to perform other tasks. In other embodiments, various methods of using, operating, or manufacturing such devices are provided.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to facilitate the indication of visual signals, such as SOS signals, strobe signals, and/or types of signals using a portable lighting system. The system may be implemented as a flashlight, a headlamp, or other type of lighting system. The system may be operated using a push-button switch, a rotatable potentiometer, or other appropriate types of user control interfaces. In one example, the system includes a light source adapted to emit light. The system also includes a user control interface adapted to receive user input and generate one or more control signals based on the user input. The system further includes a control circuit adapted to receive the one or more control signals from the user control interface, determine a function sequence based on a pattern provided by the one or more control signals, and cause the light source to operate in accordance with the function sequence.

Abstract: Hand guards for firearms and related methods are provided. In one example, a hand guard includes an elongated housing. The elongated housing comprises a lumen configured to substantially surround an intermediate portion of a barrel of a firearm, a lateral side wall, and a pair of inclined side walls respectively disposed on opposite sides of and inclined relative to the lateral side wall. Each of the inclined side walls comprises an elongated slot, wherein the elongated slots of the inclined side walls define a pair of angulated faces of a rail adapted to receive an accessory to be mounted thereon. For example, the rail may be a reduced-height Picatinny rail provided by the lateral side wall of the housing.

Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, novel quick draw hand gun holsters are described, together with methods for using them, that are capable, at a user's option, of activating a light accessory, such a light and/or laser sighting device, when the gun is drawn from the holster, and of deactivating it when the gun is inserted in the holster. Additional embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sight system is provided which may be selectively used in a variety of different ways. In one example, the sight system may be positioned on a rifle to provide a rifle sight system. In this example, the sight system may be positioned on the rifle barrel a substantial distance away from a user's eye. Advantageously, such an implementation may permit a user to effectively sight the rifle without compromising situational awareness. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide a telescopic sight with a reticle (e.g., a dot, crosshair, mark, or other appropriate shape) superimposed on an image (e.g., a zoomed or non-zoomed image) displayed from a camera. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide an occluded sight in which a camera and/or display of the sight system is disabled. As a result, a reticle may be displayed over an opaque background.

Abstract: A holster for a handgun includes a plurality of projecting features for engaging receiving features on a handgun component. The holster includes a locking feature controlled by a mechanism to selectively engage or disengage the handgun component from the holster.

Abstract: A cable assembly for electronic devices such as cellular telephones and music devices is disclosed. The cable assembly can comprise either one or two earpieces, each of which is configured to be received into the concha of a user's ear. The earpiece(s) can be configured so as to be held in place by at least one anatomical structure of the concha. A speaker can be in acoustic communication with each earpiece. A cable can be configured to communicate a signal representative of sound from the electronic device to each earpiece. A microphone can be permanently attached or removably attachable to the cable to facilitate use with a cellular telephone. The cable assembly can facilitate hands free operation of a cellular telephone and can facilitate listening to a music device. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various gun sights and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a gun sight includes a light source adapted to project light, a user-viewable interface, and an optical element. The optical element includes a first surface adapted to pass the light to provide a reticle at the user-viewable interface. The optical element also includes a second surface adapted to refract the light to provide a light guide at a peripheral area of the user-viewable interface to aid a user to substantially align the user's eye with the reticle. Various mechanisms for aligning gun sights, attaching gun sights, related methods, and other embodiments are also provided.