Patents Examined by Denise J. Buchley
  • Patent number: 6701656
    Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a hard chromium layer provided on an inner barrel surface. The hard chromium layer contains at least 500 fissures/cm in a cross-sectional plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
    Inventors: Gert Schlenkert, Hartmut Wagner, Horst Reckeweg
  • Patent number: 6223460
    Abstract: A trigger safety for a pistol includes a laterally slidable plug incorporated into the trigger that, when slid laterally to extend beyond the confines of the trigger, will prevent rearward movement of the trigger by the plug's interference with the pistol frame. A spring internal to the trigger, imparts a force on plug to retain it positioned in either the safety position or the fire position and resist movement. The plug can be reversed for left-handed users so that the pistol can be placed in a “safe” or a “fire” position with the trigger finger of either hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventors: Edward P. Schmitter, Zdenek Prisovsky, Gary A. Sniezak, Frank A. Spaniel
  • Patent number: 6082666
    Abstract: A system (30) for determining a missile kinematic property. The inventive system includes a radar system (36) for obtaining radar range measurements (34). An inertial reference unit (40) tracks changes in missile acceleration without the use of the radar range measurements and provides a signal (38, 42) in response thereto. An altitude Kalman filter (32) and a subtractor circuit (48) are used to combine the signal (38, 42) and the radar range measurements (34) to provide an accurate estimate (50) of the property. In a specific embodiment, the kinematic property includes missile vertical velocity and missile altitude. A radar system (36) supplies radar range information (34) to the Kalman filter (32). A loop (52) from the Kalman filter (32) to the radar system (36) facilitates estimating the radar range measurements (34) when invalid radar range measurements are provided by the radar system (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Windhorst, Stephen V. Sosinski