Patents Examined by J. Woodow Eldred
  • Patent number: 8701325
    Abstract: A duplex weapon system that is capable of firing a high-mass/low-velocity (“HMLV”) projectile followed by a conventional projectile such as a bullet. A barrel adapter is aligned with the bore of the barrel of a conventional firearm. The barrel adapter includes an adapter bore running completely through its length, with the adapter bore terminating in an exit in the forward portion of the barrel adapter. The HMLV projectile is slidably attached to the exterior of the barrel adapter. The HMLV projectile includes a launch tube that covers the exit of the barrel adapter. When a first cartridge is fired b the firearm, expanding propellant gas rushes down the adapter bore and out the exit The expanding gas forces the launch tube and the attached HMLV projectile away from the barrel adapter. The HMLV projectile then flies toward a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventor: William V. S. Rayner
  • Patent number: 8656820
    Abstract: An automatic weapon system that closely controls the operation of a weapon, such as a cam rotor gun. The system has, among other things, an actuator for firing ammunition, a feeder for supplying ammunition to be fired, and a counter for determining the amount of fired ammunition. An actuator sensor is in communication with the actuator and a counter sensor is in communication with the counter. A controller is in communication with the actuator sensor, the counter sensor and the feeder to control the operation of the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ares, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Kertis, Jr., Steven C. Genet
  • Patent number: 8656625
    Abstract: A device for mounting more than one accessory to a weapon includes a clamp, a circular opening, and a weapon mount. The clamp receives a first accessory and the circular opening receives a second accessory. The clamp has a yoke and a strap securable around the first accessory. The circular opening is spaced laterally from the clamp such that the first accessory and the second accessory can be received in a parallel configuration. The weapon mount is located centrally between the clamp and the circular opening for attaching the device to the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Larry Holmberg
  • Patent number: 8646201
    Abstract: A firearm training tool having a shot indicating system in further in one form a trigger take-up indicating system. The trigger module is adjustable to adjust various properties of the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: NextLevel Training, LLC
    Inventors: Michael F. Hughes, Jack Kettlestrings, Gregory Davis, Britt Lentz
  • Patent number: 8640590
    Abstract: An armor system includes a ceramic armor layer and a ceramic composite armor layer adjacent to the ceramic armor layer. The ceramic composite armor layer includes a ceramic matrix and unidirectionally oriented fibers disposed within the ceramic matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Holowczak, William K. Tredway, Robert A. Barth
  • Patent number: 8632036
    Abstract: There is provided an integrated articulating thermal isolation system having an articulating actuator assembly, a support frame assembly, and a thermal blanket assembly. The thermal blanket assembly has a pair of non-articulating blankets positioned on exterior surfaces of the support frame assembly and a pair of articulating blankets disposed between the non-articulating blankets. Each articulating blanket has a plurality of stiffener elements. The system further has a harness assembly, a deployable assembly interface element, and a vehicle interface element. When the articulating actuator assembly is actuated, the articulating blankets are guided by the support frame assembly from a stowed position to a deployed position through motion of the articulating actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel M. Bianca, Jr., Valeda B. Scribner, John Jay Hartlage, Howen Mak, Sung H. Kang, Teofilo R. El Masri, Sara Ly, Thomas Rust, III, Brian K. Smith, Arthur R. Zapf, Jesse C. Villegas, Rachid Nedjar
  • Patent number: 8607494
    Abstract: A novel firearm pull-through cleaning tool with an integrated foldable handle. The handle is pivotable at a first tool end between a closed position wherein a portion of the handle occupies a longitudinal well in the tool body and an open position wherein the handle is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of body. When in closed position the diameter of the tool is less than the bore diameter of a weapon to be cleaned. In use, the handle is pivoted in a first direction to place the tool in the closed position; the tool is inserted into the firearm bore; a cleaning tool is attached to the attachment portion; the tool is passed through the bore; the handle is pivoted in a second direction to place said tool in the open position; and the handle is pulled to cause the cleaning tool to be passed through the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: The Otis Patent Trust
    Inventors: Kel Shipman, Steven C. Buxton
  • Patent number: 8601735
    Abstract: A side lock action firearm has a frame with an attached side lock action. The frame includes a rearwardly protruding portion including a mating feature. A stock including a mating element is removably connected to the frame when the mating element is engaged with the mating feature. The mating feature may be a threaded boss. The mating element may be a draw bolt. A forward portion of the stock may be shaped to closely receive the rearwardly protruding portion of the frame. The stock may include a central bore, and the draw bolt may be received by the central bore in the stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Corsi, Jonathon Dale Scott
  • Patent number: 8595971
    Abstract: A viscoelastic barrel dampener operable to increase the accuracy of a weapon having a shroud, the shroud defining a shroud wall and a chamber within the shroud wall, a barrel, the barrel disposed within the chamber of the shroud and defining a barrel wall having an outer surface, and a viscoelastic dampening material, the viscoelastic dampening material disposed within and substantially filling a volume defined by the outer surface of the barrel and the shroud wall, wherein the barrel further includes one or more contour features adapted to disrupt the axial propagation of acoustic energy along the barrel wall. In at least one embodiment, the one or more contour features may include a plurality of parallel barrel walls, radial grooves, or steps formed in the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Christopher David Johnson
  • Patent number: 8596184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic charge magazine (1) for storage and handling of propellent powder charges of the modular charges and/or powder bag charges type, also termed increment charges (4), for projectiles, for example shells, which are arranged in a fireable manner, together with the increment charges (4), in an artillery gun, preferably of the vehicle-mounted artillery gun type, wherein the charge magazine (1) comprises a plurality of charge containers (5, 5?, 5?) arranged in a drivable revolving track, which charge containers (5, 5?, 5?) are arranged to assume feed-in and feed-out positions (2, 11) for the feed-in and feed-out of at least one increment charge (4) to and from the charge containers (5, 5?, 5?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Bofors AB
    Inventor: Lars-Olov Lindskog
  • Patent number: 8579237
    Abstract: A system for setting a span load distribution of a wing of an aircraft with a base flap system comprises at least one inboard flap element and one outboard flap element, which elements in the direction of the span are arranged on the trailing edge of the wing, and can be positioned relative to the span direction of the wing. The flap elements are not mechanically coupled with each other and are controlled independently of each other for the purpose of setting the span load distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel Reckzeh
  • Patent number: 8572878
    Abstract: A cocking/de-cocking mechanism for semi-automatic striker-fired pistols having a multi-function cocking lever for controlling, by rotational movement, the cocking or arming of the tiring pin, while effecting de-cocking by the lateral displacement of the cocking lever on its support pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Beretta USA Corp.
    Inventors: Claudio Gentilini, Jason Kellogg
  • Patent number: 8561519
    Abstract: A multi-weapons system comprising: an active defense system (ADS) comprising a mortar launch tube mounted on a support base-plate rotatable 360 degrees; a weapons system comprising a machine gun mounted alongside the active defense system (ADS) on the support base, a motor with mechanism to rotate the support base-plate with the active defense system (ADS) 360 degrees, drive means to adjust the power capacity of the motor between that required for the active defense system and that required for the machine gun, control means to rotate and adjust the elevation of the launch tube and adjust the directional movement of the machine gun, computer and electronic means to automatically rotate and fire the active defense system display and control means to manually operate the machine gun, control means to override the manual operation of the machine gun and prevent its firing when the active defense system is automatically activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Israel Military Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuval Karakookly
  • Patent number: 8549980
    Abstract: A handling system is for a weapon (2) placed on a turret. The weapon is provided with a barrel (21) from which the bullets are shot and with a handle (22) through which the operator determines the traverse of the weapon. The weapon is mounted on a circumferential fifth wheel including a fixed portion (31) integral with the turret and a movable portion (32) on which the weapon is mounted, in order that the movable fifth wheel rotates on the fixed one, permitting the movement of the weapon along the circumference (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: OTO Melara S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Alberto Iardella
  • Patent number: 8510982
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light assembly for placement inside a handgun, with the battery of the light assembly replacing the recoil spring guide of the handgun. The recoil spring of the handgun fits over the battery of the disclosed lighting assembly. The light provides a primary or alternative light source for the user of a handgun, and may provide white light or infrared light. The light assembly disclosed may be mounted inside a handgun without making permanent modifications to the handgun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: William Squires
  • Patent number: 8495832
    Abstract: The invention discloses a safety mechanism of a handgun which depends on a magazine and which prevents the triggering of a handgun when the magazine is removed. Additionally, a mechanism enables handgun disassembly without need for the triggering after the magazine has been removed from the handgun. A safety mechanism is positioned inside the handgun receiver; including a magazine, sear catcher, sear catcher spring, grip safety pin, sear, sear pin, firing pin safety lever and firing pin. When the magazine is inserted into the handgun, the sear catcher is pushed into position in which it cannot block the firing pin safety lever nor catch the sear. When the magazine is removed from the handgun, the sear catcher spring pushes the sear catcher into position in which it blocks the firing chain by blocking the firing pin safety lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: HS Produkt D.O.O.
    Inventor: Marko Vukovic
  • Patent number: 8448373
    Abstract: Various gun sights for firearms and related methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the sight includes an apparatus adapted to be mounted at a rear end of a firearm and arranged to occlude one eye of a user of the firearm and to generate an illuminated dot that is disposed such that it is generally centered on the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm. The gun sight produces a collimated beam of light that creates an image of an illuminated dot by either a refractive method or a reflective method. In use, a dominant eye of the user is occluded by the sight and the other eye of the user is focused on the target. The user then adjusts the position of the gun relative to the target such that the user perceives the illuminated dot of the sight to be positioned on the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: SureFire, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Matthews, Mark Buczek, Mark Squire
  • Patent number: 8434713
    Abstract: An aircraft front nose landing gear having both elastomeric and nonelastomeric elements is provided along with a method of making the same. The aircraft front nose landing gear includes the ability to reduce/inhibit oscillating shimmy rotation vibrations. The method further provides for making a landing gear with a shimmy damper for further reducing oscillating rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Bachmeyer, Doug A. Hodgson
  • Patent number: 8403259
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of taxiing an aircraft having at least one nose undercarriage at the front of the aircraft and main undercarriages, each undercarriage having wheels, the method comprising the steps of: fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the nose undercarriage with a main taxiing motor member, and fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the main undercarriages with an auxiliary taxiing motor member; and in response to a taxiing order, powering the main taxiing motor member to cause the aircraft to taxi, and in particular if the driving force developed by the main taxiing motor member on the aircraft is insufficient, powering the auxiliary taxiing motor member, as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Hervé Charuel, David Delloue
  • Patent number: 8398017
    Abstract: A duct having a continuous C-shaped cross section slidably attached to a strut supporting an aircraft engine. The duct may comprise an inner wall, an outer wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, at least one slider, a thrust reverser, and an outer cowl panel of a thrust reverser. The inner wall may comprise a forward section and an aft section. The aft section may be integral with the first end wall, the second end wall, the outer wall, and the at least one slider. The forward section may comprise a right half and a left half which may be pivotally attached to the strut and may pivot to an open position when the rest of the fan duct is slid aftward away from the engine. The duct, excluding the forward section of the inner wall, may slide aftward on its at least one slider, providing engine access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Welch