Abstract: A firearm firing system substantially reduces the force necessary to fire the weapon yet enhances its ability to remain safe when a firing command is not issued. The sear and hammer interact at two distinct locations so as to reduce the force necessary for the sear to be removed from the sear ledge of the hammer resulting firing of the weapon. By redistributing forces to a secondary point on the hammer during firing the primary sear/hammer interaction can be maintained during non-firing modes to safe the weapon. Additionally a cavity is presented at the sear/sear ledge interaction such that residue and foreign material are removed so not to interfere with the firing mechanism.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may augment the utility of an electrically powered vehicle. A first electric motor (110a or 111a) may be provided with a first effective gear ratio, a second electric motor (110b or 111b) may be provided with a second effective gear ratio, and additional electric motors may be provided additional effective gear ratios. An electrically powered vehicle may be differentially powered by said electric motors at said different effective gear ratios. A transdisciplinary electrical diagnostic processor (440) may process electrically recondite operation parameters of one or more electrical components to provide transdisciplinary diagnostic output to a user. A standardized modular interface (540) supported on a trailer chassis (510) may be configured to accept multipurposed modular interchangeable trailer tops (560) at an interchange position (550) of said trailer chassis (510). A hand actuated accessory mount may be provided with a quick release interface (322).

Abstract: Select portions of product channel data collected by a product channel participant and stored in a data warehouse are periodically extracted based on a previously determined template. The extracted subset of product channel data is thereafter transformed so that the format of the data complies with that of the requesting enterprise. Once transformed, one or more rule sets is applied to the subset of transformed data to guarantee that the information complies with requirements set forth by the enterprise yet does not violate any disclosure rules of the product channel participant. Thereafter and on a scheduled basis, the transformed and validated data is delivered to a delivery server from which the enterprise can retrieve the data at its convenience.

Abstract: A system for enhanced lateral stability of an amphibious aircraft includes a buoyancy system laterally displaced from opposite sides of the fuselage of the aircraft and wingtip system having a hydrodynamic planing surface associated with each wingtip. The hydrodynamic planing surface on each wingtip prevents the submersion of an associated buoyancy structure. By supplementing the lateral stability of the buoyancy structures using hydrodynamic planing surfaces, the combined lateral width of the fuselage and buoyancy structures can be reduced without detrimentally impacting operational performance. This reduced lateral width enables the amphibious aircraft to be configured for storage and transportation on a trailer or shipping container.

Abstract: An aircraft control input apparatus is configured to accept and provide to the aircraft control inputs from a user regarding the magnitude and direction of the aircraft's thrust vector. The present invention enables a user to continually provide control inputs to an aircraft in which both the magnitude and the direction of thrust vary. A rotational throttle interface is configured to alter its orientation within the aircraft based on the directional component of the aircraft's thrust vector. The rotational throttle interface enables the user to provide continual control inputs to command both the directional component of the thrust as well as the magnitude component. Accordingly the user can provide inputs regarding direction and magnitude throughout the operating envelope of the aircraft's thrust vector while maintaining continuous physical contact with the throttle.

Abstract: A system for enhanced lateral stability of an amphibious aircraft includes a buoyancy system laterally displaced from opposite sides of the fuselage of the aircraft and wingtip system having a hydrodynamic planing surface associated with each wingtip. The hydrodynamic planing surface on each wingtip prevents the submersion of an associated buoyancy structure. By supplementing the lateral stability of the buoyancy structures using hydrodynamic planing surfaces, the combined lateral width of the fuselage and buoyancy structures can be reduced without detrimentally impacting operational performance. This reduced lateral width enables the amphibious aircraft to be configured for storage and transportation on a trailer or shipping container.

Abstract: An aircraft wing folding system folds an outboard wing section relative to an inboard wing section between a deployed position and a stored position in two discrete motions where each motion has an independent load path separate of the loading of the wing experienced by in-flight aerodynamic forces. The wing-fold mechanism of the present invention includes a fold assembly comprising a twist component and a fold component operable to fold the outboard wing section from the deployed position to the stored position that remains substantially unloaded with respect to in-flight aerodynamic forces when the wing is in the deployed or flight configuration.

Abstract: An amphibious aircraft trailer includes a frame supported on a wheel/suspension bearing axle for movements over a roadway surface. Incorporated into the trailer is a cradle configured to engage a hull of the amphibious aircraft when it is loaded and unloaded in water conditions. A lift mechanism interposed between and coupled to the frame and the cradle is operable to displace the cradle vertically with respect to the frame such that landing gear associated with the amphibious aircraft can be extended or retracted while on the trailer. The trailer may also include a plurality of wheel tracks aligned with the landing gear to facilitate the aircraft's loading and unloading in its ground based mode of operation.

Abstract: Multiple improvements dramatically increase the reliability and accuracy of a handgun. By combining a plurality of improvements, the accuracy and reliability of a M1911-A1 is dramatically increased. The improvements include a modified sighting system that enables the user to accurately adjust for varying target ranges without losing sight of the targets or altering contact with the weapon. Lubrication notches are incised into the slide/frame interaction regions to prevent fouling. An ambidextrous safety is added that is retained by an interaction with the sear chip shaft. The hammer is modified to provide a region in which foreign matter can migrate to prevent fouling and improve reliability. And the interaction between the sear chip and the hammer is modified to provide a decreased trigger pull that maintains a positive and safe contact between the sear and the hammer at the sear ledge.