Patents Examined by Michael Carone
  • Patent number: 8464624
    Abstract: A blast treatment method and an apparatus, which can perform the blast treatment of a treatment subject by using and securely initiating a blasting explosive having fluidity. The blast treatment method includes: a blasting preparation operation of housing a blasting explosive having fluidity in a container and placing the blasting explosive around a treatment subject as well as attaching an initiation device to the container; a housing operation of housing the container, the blasting explosive, and the treatment subject in a chamber; a decompression operation of decompressing the inside of the chamber; and a blasting operation of initiating the blasting explosive and blasting the treatment subject with the blasting explosive. In the decompression operation, the inside of the chamber is decompressed while a gas vent portion regulates the escape of the blasting explosive to the outside of the container and permits the escape of gases in the container to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Asahina, Kenji Koide, Takashi Gotou, Hideaki Shimoda, Ryusuke Kitamura, Nakaba Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8464457
    Abstract: A clamping mechanism for attaching a handguard to a firearm includes a barrel nut having radially outwardly directed tines, a tubular body having a plurality of longitudinal grooves separated by lands forming an inner surface of the tubular body, and a pair of circumferentially extending grooves traversing the lands, formed forward from a rearward end of the tubular body. A clamp element is carried by the tubular body and includes a body with a beveled end and a heel extending substantially perpendicularly from an opposing end of the body. The clamp element is adjustably positioned within the tubular body with the heel extending radially outwardly and received in the second groove and the beveled end engages the barrel nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Troy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Troy, David A. Hewes
  • Patent number: 8459168
    Abstract: Provided is a semi-fabricated armor layer for use in the production of an armor panel configured to protect a body from an incoming projectile, including a carrier and a plurality of armor elements. Each armor element has front and rear end surfaces and a side surface extending therebetween along a height axis of the element. The carrier is flexible and each of a majority of the armor elements is bonded to the carrier at one of its end surfaces and is free of bonding to adjacent armor elements at its side surface. When the carrier has a planar orientation, at least a majority of the armor elements has their height axes essentially parallel to each other and, when the carrier is at least slightly bent, the height axis of at least one of the elements is inclined relative to the height axis of another of the armor elements adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Plasan Sasa Ltd
    Inventors: Yoav Hirschberg, Idan David, Ofer Medem
  • Patent number: 8459166
    Abstract: A seal is proposed between the drum (2) having a plurality of cartridge chambers (3) and a weapon barrel (1) of a drum cannon, wherein the seal comprises at least one elastically pretensioned obturation ring (4). Each cartridge chamber (3) has an obturation ring (4) for drum-side integration, while one obturation ring (4) suffices for barrel-side integration. The obturation is integrated between the two and is pressed against the face (9) of the weapon barrel (1) or the face of the cartridge chamber (3) that is aligned with the bore axis of the weapon barrel (1) such that immediate sealing occurs even at low gas pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Joachim Herrmann, Hans Hülsewis, Heiner Schmees
  • Patent number: 8459589
    Abstract: An airship system, including an inflatable airship of predetermined volume adapted to be filled with gas and to rise to a predetermined altitude, said airship having a hull formed from an inflated flexible gas containment primary envelope, at least one lifting envelope located within the primary envelope for containing the lifting gas, where the lifting envelope will expand to substantially occupy the space of the primary envelope when the airship is at its predetermined high altitude, at least one secondary envelope located within the primary envelope, which can be inflated when said lifting envelope is at lower altitudes to fill the balance of the space of the primary envelope, and air handling means external to the primary envelope and communicating with the secondary envelope for filling and emptying the secondary envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Barnes, Jonathan M. Peritt
  • Patent number: 8458947
    Abstract: A device for cleaning tubular passageways of a firearm that carries ignition products of a firearm propellant includes a relatively rigid hollow, tubular guide and a compliant cleaning rod within the bore of the hollow guide. The cleaning rod travels within the hollow guide before entering the tubular passageway to be cleaned. The cleaning rod is sufficiently flexible so as to be unable to support its own weight without substantial bending when supported at one end in a cantilever fashion. A cleaning kit is also provided including the cleaning device and a plurality of related cleaning items, such as brush-like cleaning elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: International Processing Company of America
    Inventors: Richard C. Iosso, Marianne Ortmann
  • Patent number: 8453365
    Abstract: A firearm with movable cheek riser is a rifle stock having a stock body having a facility for receiving a rifle action and a rear extending portion, a stock butt portion telescopically connected to the rear extending portion, the butt portion being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, a cheek riser having a rear portion connected to the butt portion and a front portion connected to the stock body, and the cheek riser being movable between an elevated position and a lower position. The cheek riser may be pivotally connected to the butt portion. The cheek riser may include a downwardly-depending post received in a post bore defined in the stock body, wherein the post is curved such that a pivoting motion of the stock is facilitated. The invention may be a rifle including the rifle stock receiving a barreled rifle action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Brookshire Tool & Mfg Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Ballard
  • Patent number: 8453364
    Abstract: A semi-automatic or automatic rifle. The rifle has a receiver having a receiver frame, a barrel removably connected to the receiver frame and a cover coupled to the barrel. A removable hand guard section extends over and generally surrounds the barrel, the removable hand guard section removably connected to the receiver. The removable hand guard section has a locating feature adapted to engage with the cover and locate the hand guard relative to the cover. The barrel has a locking collar adapted to removably position and lock the removable hand guard section relative to the receiver frame and the barrel. The removable hand guard floats in position relative to the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Colt Defense LLC
    Inventor: Grzegorz Kucynko
  • Patent number: 8453550
    Abstract: A blast treatment method for blasting a treatment subject having an outer shell and a chemical agent charged into an interior of the outer shell includes the steps of: disposing an explosive to cover a periphery of the treatment subject; and detonating the explosive from respective end portions of a specific direction toward a predetermined cutting position of the treatment subject between the respective end portions so that detonation waves of the explosive advancing from respective sides of the cutting position collide in the cutting position, wherein, in the step of detonating the explosive, the chemical agent is exposed by cutting the outer shell in the cutting position through detonation of the explosive, and the chemical agent is decomposed using the detonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Koide, Ryusuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8453571
    Abstract: A multiple warhead fuzing apparatus including first warhead and a second warhead. Operation/detonation of the first and second warheads is controlled using safe and arming logic and an onboard weapon computer that communicates triggering and fire signal parameters to fire signal logic located on the weapon. For a hard target application, the initiation module(s) of each warhead will initiate when commanded by the warhead's fuze after specific criteria has been satisfied, as determined by the fuze programming from the weapon computer. Soft target applications will require the warheads to initiate simultaneously after a delay from impact. The large area target settings will initiate all warheads upon receipt of a fire command from the weapon computer or height of burst sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brian Dwayne Dutton, John Kevin Kandell, Gabriel Henry Soto
  • Patent number: 8448573
    Abstract: A multiple warhead fuzing apparatus including a first warhead and a second warhead. Operation/detonation of the first and second warheads is controlled using safe and arming logic and an onboard weapon computer that communicates triggering and fire signal parameters to fire signal logic located on the weapon. For a hard target application, the initiation module(s) of each warhead will initiate when commanded by the warhead's fuze after specific criteria has been satisfied, as determined by the fuze programming from the weapon computer. Soft target applications will require the warheads to initiate simultaneously after a delay from impact. The large area target settings will initiate all warheads upon receipt of a fire command from the weapon computer or height of burst sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brian Dwayne Dutton, John Kevin Kandell, Gabriel Henry Soto
  • Patent number: 8448554
    Abstract: Provided is a blast treatment method that can be implemented simply and efficiently blast a treatment subject while preventing fragments of the subject from scattering outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Kenji Koide, Ryusuke Kitamura, Michel H. Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 8443538
    Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using a rear pistol handle on a rifle with a rapidly extendable and height adjustable monopod for enhancing stability and shot accuracy, where the monopod is retracted and concealed inside the rear grip handle when not used, and supports and stabilizes the firearm when the monopod is extended. A spring biased button can be depressed to allow for springs on top of retracted telescoping cylinders to spread apart and extend out from beneath a grip handle on the rifle. The invention can be used to create a triangulation configuration effect when used with a forward bipod, such as a forward grip bipod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph Moody
  • Patent number: 8439303
    Abstract: An undercarriage for a rotary wing aircraft, includes a tubular structure (7) with skids, the tubular structure (7) being designed to be mounted under or in a bottom portion (4) of the aircraft, the undercarriage being characterized in that the tubular structure (7) includes left and right longitudinal portions that are retractable, each of which portions is suitable for moving between a retracted position in a cruising flight configuration and a deployed configuration in a landing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfram Koletzko
  • Patent number: 8438977
    Abstract: A supercavitating projectile is disclosed that has deployable fins. The fins are pivotally coupled to the body of the projectile. The fins have two primary states: stowed within a recess at the surface of the projectile and deployed to a radially-extended position relative to the body of the projectile. The fins deploy as the projectile leaves its launch tube. The fins function as a control surface, interacting with the wall of the vapor cavity in which the supercavitating projectile travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio Paulic, Robert M. Krass
  • Patent number: 8438770
    Abstract: A firearm includes a receiver with a socket defined by a forwardly extending circumferential rim having an inner surface, a barrel extending from the socket of the receiver and terminating in a muzzle, and a cocking lever housing carried above the barrel. A partial tubular body is received over the barrel with a rearward end abutting the receiver at the forwardly extending circumferential rim. A clamp element is carried by the partial tubular body and is movable between a release position and an engaged position in which a clamp end of the clamp element frictionally engages the inner surface of the circumferential rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Stephen P. Troy
  • Patent number: 8434412
    Abstract: A launchable unit including a warhead for generating non-nuclear electro magnetic pulses and a thermobaric warhead without dangerous fragments. The warheads in combination are arranged to operate in different modes dependent on target types and/or objectives with engagement controlled by the aiming and setting of the weapon by a gunner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Christer Regebro
  • Patent number: 8434252
    Abstract: A recoil absorption system for a long gun is provided that includes at least one fluid-filled piston shock attached between the body of the rifle and the stock to provide a damped connection between the two. When large caliber rounds are fired, the shocks are permitted to compress, so that the buffer tube is correspondingly permitted to travel rearward within the buffer tube bore of the stock. The stocks detent pin is normally captured within a slot on the buffer tube, such that the long gun recoil causes the buffer tube slot to move relative to the pin, the pin restricts the buffer tube movement and compression of the shocks to the length of the slot. In this way, the recoil energy of large caliber rounds is effectively absorbed, providing a more comfortable and accurate shooting experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Gregory J. Holmberg
  • Patent number: 8434394
    Abstract: An apparatus for adapting a rocket-assisted artillery projectile of a first caliber for firing from a smooth bore tube of a second caliber may include an adapter for connecting to an aft end of the rocket-assisted artillery projectile. The adapter may include a main channel for receiving rocket exhaust, a plurality of sub-channels that lead from the main channel to an exterior of the adapter, and an ignition channel that leads from the main channel to an ignition delay disposed in the adapter. A tail boom may be fixed to an aft end of the adapter. The tail boom may include an opening in a fore end that communicates with the ignition delay in the adapter. Lifting surfaces, such as fins, may be attached to the tail boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gregory Malejko, Daniel Pascua, Peter Burke, Keith Fulton
  • Patent number: 8434395
    Abstract: A protective shield may include an inboard shield assembly having an inboard shield and an inboard base. The inboard shield may include a forward plate fixed at an angle to a center plate and a rear plate fixed at an angle to the center plate. The center plate may include a window opening and a window fixed over the window opening. The protective shield may also include an outboard shield assembly having an outboard shield and an outboard base. The outboard shield may include a forward plate fixed at an angle to a center plate and a rear plate fixed at an angle to the center plate. The center plate may include a window opening and a window fixed over the window opening. A splice plate may connect portions of the inboard and outboard bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Frank Petrosillo, Daniel Gennarelli, Louis Campanile, Chad Young