Patents Examined by Stewart T. Knox
  • Patent number: 7493844
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated vehicle and personal ballistic protection system providing a combination of space utilization, portability and increased personal safety. Also disclosed are kits for up-fitting the shield to an existing installed partition, and a kit for the trunk. The embodiment s depicted and suggested include a vehicle partition integrated with a hand-carry, quickly deployable, self-supporting, ballistic shield including a handle, and shaped to cooperate with a vehicle security partition and is part of the partition when temporarily stowed. An additional optional design feature of the shield is a shape that cooperates with removable mounting hardware for stowing on the underside of the trunk lid, under the rear deck, or on the trunk floor. A benefit of unitary construction, is that governmental safety forces can issue the same shield for cruisers and unmarked detective vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Chad Brian Martin
  • Patent number: 7458322
    Abstract: A cartridge for firearms includes a bullet connected to a casing. The casing includes a cylindrical wall that extends to an end member opposite the bullet, a hollow interior formed by the wall and the end member, and a receptacle for receiving a priming composition. Anvils or projections are provided in the casing to compress the priming composition between the end member and the projection or anvil with a firing pin engaging the end member. Propellant in the hollow interior is ignited by the compressed priming composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventors: S. Paul Reynolds, George L. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7451755
    Abstract: A paintball marker has an inline cylinder that includes a gas governor that reduces gas flow from a compressed gas source to a valve area when the bolt is in a firing position; this increases efficiency in the marker because only the required air is used to fire the paintball. This bolt operates independent of the valve pin, which increases cycle speed and enables the governor to open and close at an optimum time in the firing cycle. Further, when the bolt/piston is recocking, the gap between the valve pin and governor valve pin enables low pressure gas driving the piston to start pressurizing the cylinder and driving the piston rearwards without resistance from the high pressure gas. The marker also allows a user to remove the inline cylinder without the use of tools, and gives the user a convenient carrying handle for holding the paintball marker, which is commonly called a “snatch grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: KEE Action Sports
    Inventors: Jerrold M. Dobbins, Gerald Dobbins
  • Patent number: 7451681
    Abstract: Paintball or non-lethal gun or marker apparatuses are disclosed to prevent projectiles from being inadvertently discharged from a paintball or other non-lethal gun or markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Avalon Advanced Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Ho, Kheng Phang
  • Patent number: 7430829
    Abstract: An accessory mounting device for use with firearms is disclosed. The mounting device includes a first pin having a first head and a second pin having a second head, wherein the second head projects radially beyond the second pin only on one side of the second pin. The device further includes first and second apertures to receive the first and second pins, respectively, and a first undercut associated with the first aperture, wherein the first undercut is compatible with the first head and a second undercut associated with the second aperture, wherein the second undercut is compatible with the second head. Also included is a spring-loaded locking device attached to the second pin and a handle associated with the spring-loaded locking device. The handle moves the second pin against the force of the spring axially in the direction of the second head so that when the second pin is turned by the handle, the second head pushes against the force of the spring on the second undercut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Murello
  • Patent number: 7430827
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gun trigger for use with a bolt-action gun. The trigger of the present invention has a finger element with an extension and a catch. The catch has a front strap and a rear strap. One or more openings are between the front and rear straps. One or more braces can be across the one or more openings. The trigger also has a head. A socket is formed in the top of the head, and a ball is received within the socket. The height of the ball relative the bottom of the socket can be adjusted. There is practically no friction between the trigger and a sear. The trigger of the present invention may be made by remanufacturing existing conventional triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: John F. Huber
  • Patent number: 7421935
    Abstract: Paintball or non-lethal gun or marker apparatuses are disclosed to prevent projectiles from being inadvertently discharged from a paintball or other non-lethal gun or markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Avalon Advanced Products, Inc
    Inventors: Stephen Ho, Kheng Phang
  • Patent number: 7404398
    Abstract: A propulsion system consisting of a handle, trigger, receiver, hammer assembly, spring, fastener and plunger used for propelling small portions of semi-solid biodegradable objects such as a potato or apple. The combination of these parts provides a compact yet easy to use system for loading and shooting a small piece (otherwise known as the Slug) of the semi-solid biodegradable object. It also is a platform to generate, store and release in a controlled manor potential energy with the end result being to compress a separate, self resetting compression chamber filled with air and propel the small portions of the semi-solid biodegradable object from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Matthew Joseph Henricks
  • Patent number: 7404268
    Abstract: A precision targeting system for a firearm has an image capturing scope, a processor, and an actuator. In one embodiment, a user indicates when he wants to lock onto the target, and then readjust his aim after receiving feedback from the system. In another embodiment, the system automatically locks onto the target. After lock on, the system compares successive images, and determines if the target has moved in the firearm sight. If movement has occurred, the system calculates the degree of the movement, and sends appropriate signals to an actuator which corrects the aim of the firearm. The system thereby converts reasonably good aim into precision aim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Edward A. Page
  • Patent number: 7395819
    Abstract: A paintball marker has an inline cylinder that includes a gas governor that reduces gas flow from a compressed gas source to a valve area when the bolt is in a firing position; this increases efficiency in the marker because only the required air is used to fire the paintball. This bolt operates independent of the valve pin, which increases cycle speed and enables the governor to open and close at an optimum time in the firing cycle. Further, when the bolt/piston is recocking, the gap between the valve pin and governor valve pin enables low pressure gas driving the piston to start pressurizing the cylinder and driving the piston rearwards without resistance from the high pressure gas. The marker also allows a user to remove the inline cylinder without the use of tools, and gives the user a convenient carrying handle for holding the paintball marker, which is commonly called a “snatch grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: KEE Action Sports
    Inventors: Jerrold M. Dobbins, Gerald Dobbins
  • Patent number: 7395747
    Abstract: Firearms, breechblock stops for firearms and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example firearm includes a trigger that requires a force to be released, a trigger guard, a breechblock, and a spring-loaded breechblock stop that is operable between a resting position and an operative position. The example breechblock stop includes a slider control that has a control extension in the trigger guard. The firearm also includes a removable ammunition magazine that includes a follower. The breechblock stop may be moved between an operative position and a resting position by one of engagement with the follower of the magazine or actuation of the slider in a direction of operation essentially perpendicular to force releasing the trigger. Furthermore, the breechblock is unlocked in a released position when the breechblock stop is in the resting position, and the breechblock is locked in an open position when the breechblock stop is in the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch, GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Murello
  • Patent number: 7392611
    Abstract: An improved firearm takedown mechanism is provided, which in a retention position prevents removal of both a slide and barrel assembly and a trigger assembly, but when manually positioned out of the retention position allows easy removal of both the slide and barrel assembly and the trigger assembly without the use of tools. A firearm takedown mechanism is provided having a first element with opposing ends separated by a longitudinal axis with a major and minor surface extending outwardly from the axis, and respectively adapted to prevent and allow removal of a slide and barrel assembly. An improved method for firearm takedown provides that after moving a takedown mechanism from a retention position, both a slide and barrel assembly and a trigger assembly are manually removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: Brett Curry
  • Patent number: 7387117
    Abstract: A gas powered toy gun comprises a gas supplying portion from which a gas leading passage extends, a valve for controlling the gas leading passage to be open and closed selectively, a slider provided to be movable to a barrel portion connected with a bullet holding chamber and provided with a pressure receiving portion for moving backward in order to supply the bullet holding chamber with a sham bullet, a movable member having an inner space formed therein and provided to be movable in the slider so as to be put selectively in a first state wherein the inner space is coupled with the gas leading passage and in a second state wherein the inner space is removed from the gas leading passage for guiding gas flowing through the gas leading passage to the bullet holding chamber through the inner space so that the sham bullet put in the bullet holding chamber is shot with pressure of gas acting thereon and for guiding further the gas flowing through the gas leading passage to the pressure receiving portion through th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Western Arms
    Inventor: Kenichi Kunimoto
  • Patent number: 7377274
    Abstract: An automatic, rapid-firing toy gun is powered by a fast moving air stream. The toy gun is simple in design and does not require a lot of effort and time to fire the projectiles or to load the projectiles between firing. The toy gun includes a barrel, a fan, a loading chamber, and a trigger. The barrel has a forward end, a rear end, and an inner passage between the two ends. The fan is arranged with respect to the barrel to direct an air stream through the inner passage from the rear end to the forward end. The loading chamber is mounted on the barrel and has an opening directed into the inner passage. The loading chamber is sized and shaped to hold a plurality of projectiles and the opening is sized and shaped to sequentially release the plurality of projectiles into the inner passage of the barrel one at a time. The trigger is electrically connected to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: High Tech High Foundation
    Inventors: Evan Takashi Morikawa, Patrick James Moore
  • Patent number: 7373886
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for discharging countermeasures from a carrier craft in the form of an aircraft or equivalent. The countermeasures are intended to be spread initially in the form of unit packs that, after they have left the carrier craft, are to screen the same from missiles approaching is guided by built-in sensors, or other threats. It is especially characteristic of the invention that the unit countermeasure packs are spread from the carrier transversely to the lying direction of the carrier craft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Christer Zätterqvist, Johan Friede
  • Patent number: 7370565
    Abstract: Described herein is apparatus for the mixing of explosive materials utilising a static mixer (26) for combining pre-mix explosive material and hardener prior to introducing the combined mixture into any ordnance (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Malcolm Pressley, Colin H. Bastow, Graham Hicks
  • Patent number: 7363742
    Abstract: An electronic control device includes an audio and/or video recorder, for example, packaged as a user-replaceable battery module. The audio and/or video recorder records audio and/or video information for a period beginning prior to receiving of a signal by the module. The signal may be a trigger signal, provided by the electronic control device. Use of the weapon module is documented by recorded audio and/or video information for the period, for example, extending a while before and after operation of the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: TASER International, Inc.
    Inventor: Magne H. Nerheim
  • Patent number: 7357128
    Abstract: A closed loop current controller for an electromagnetic rail gun. It is necessary to control the muzzle velocity of a rail gun accurately for the gun to be a good artillery device. The present invention provides a closed loop control system to accurately regulate the energy transfer to a rail gun projectile and control its muzzle velocity. The rail gun control system includes a state space (state domain) control concept adapted to discrete control events that transition the system from one state to another until the final desired state (i.e., muzzle velocity) is reached. The control regulator preferably generates state transition functions that transition the projectile from state to state according to a defined current profile to provide a specified projectile muzzle velocity. The rail gun closed loop current controller also includes current reference compensation to correct for errors in previous state transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation
    Inventor: Gary E. Baumgart
  • Patent number: 7353741
    Abstract: A firearm barrel assembly having a gun barrel with a muzzle opening on a distal end, a shroud coaxially surrounding at least a portion of the barrel, the shroud having a distal portion extending beyond the muzzle opening defining a shroud front region having a distal end portion, a proximal portion extending proximally from the muzzle opening defining an annular region between the barrel and shroud, the shroud front region and annular region in fluid communication with substantially no obstruction between the shroud front region and the annular region, and a front wall disposed at the distal end portion of the shroud. The wall has an opening to allow passage of a projectile fired from the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: John Brixius
  • Patent number: 7353739
    Abstract: An arrangement for a weapon including a countermass for reducing the pressure around the weapon. The countermass is enclosed in a countermass container that can be opened at both ends. The invention aims to bring about a symmetrical opening with favorable recoil in a better way than in previous constructions. This is achieved by the countermass including elements that can bind and retain the liquid symmetrically in a desired geometry over the cross section of the barrel and the cross section of any following expansion part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Lars Ax, Eje Lantz, Kent Norgren, Rolf Pettersson