Patents Examined by J. Woodrow Eldred
  • Patent number: 11656045
    Abstract: An ammunition loading and storage assembly includes a housing and an upper cover rotatably arranged on the housing. The housing includes a plurality of discrete elongated cavities distributed in the housing along a center axis of the housing, a plurality of discrete grooves distributed on an outer surface of the housing. The upper cover includes a main body with a protruding buckle, a guide tube extending from the main body. The guide tube deviates from each of the plurality of elongated cavities for blocking the elongated cavity to prevent leakage of ammunition under the condition of the protruding buckle received in one of the plurality of discrete grooves. A straight channel is formed by the guide tube cooperatively with one of the plurality of elongated cavities under the condition of the protruding buckle detached from one of the plurality of discrete grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Xiaojie Chen
  • Patent number: 11644272
    Abstract: A detachable monolithic cheek riser for a firearm stock or brace comprises a top portion having an inside surface that is shaped to match the shape of the top of the stock or brace, and includes side portions that extend downward from the top such that each side portion rests on opposite sides of the stock or brace. At the bottom of the sides of the cheek riser there are retention tabs that extend inward, toward the opposite side, and which are configured to fit into recesses on the sides of the stock or brace when the check riser is attached to the stock or brace. No tool is required to install or remove the cheek riser, as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Slade Cutrer
  • Patent number: 11644260
    Abstract: A method for disassembling and converting a traditional AR-15 firearm into a bullpup configuration of an AR-15 firearm assembly includes releasing and removing at least a firearm but stock and a standard bolt carrier group from the AR-15 and then replacing the removed components with elements from a bullpup kit, namely a bullpup bolt carrier group that includes a bolt carrier and a spring assembly, the spring assembly having a plurality of radial spaced apart compression springs that are loaded when the bolt carrier recoils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Ryan Douvier
  • Patent number: 11644288
    Abstract: Nanocrystalline alloy penetrators and related methods are generally provided. In some embodiments, a munition comprises a nanocrystalline alloy penetrator. In certain embodiments, the nanocrystalline alloy has particular properties (e.g., grain size, grain isotropy, mechanical properties) such that the penetrator acts as a rigid body kinetic penetrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Christopher A. Schuh, Zachary Copoulos Cordero, Mansoo Park
  • Patent number: 11644261
    Abstract: Trigger groups for striker-fired firearms have a frame defining a medial plane, a slide connected to the frame and operable to reciprocate between a forward battery position and a rearward recoil position, a barrel connected to the slide and having a forward muzzle end, a trigger assembly connected to the frame and movable between a forward trigger position and a rearward trigger position, a firing pin assembly connected to the slide and operable to reciprocate between a rearward retracted position and a forward extended position, the firing pin assembly including a forward-facing retention surface, the trigger assembly including a sear surface configured to selectively engage the retention surface to releasably restrain the firing pin assembly, a selector movable between a first selector position and a second selector position, and a connector operably engaged to the trigger assembly and to the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FRANKLIN ARMORY HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Ryan Paul Fellows
  • Patent number: 11634229
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising: a hydrogen fuel cell; a fuel storage tank; a regulator coupled to the storage tank and the fuel cell; an electronic auto pilot; a rechargeable battery; a power electronics module for delivering power from the fuel cell to the autopilot and the battery; and a heat exchanger coupled to the fuel cell. The fuel cell is characterized by: a minimum continuous power output of no more than 25 W; a maximum continuous power output of no less than 5000 W; a specific power of at least 200 W/kg based on the mass of the fuel cell and any control electronics, cooling components, air delivery components, and water management components; an ability to operate at least 2 psig of hydrogen at an inlet; and an ability to operate at temperatures up to 90° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karen Swider Lyons, Richard J Foch, Gregory Page, Michael Schuette, Aaron D. Kahn, Richard Stroman
  • Patent number: 11635277
    Abstract: A toy dart gun is provided including a gun shell, a trigger assembly, and a compression assembly. The trigger assembly includes a swing arm coupled to the gun shell and movable between a safe position and a fire position, and a swing arm pusher extending from the gun shell and having an inclined surface. The compression assembly includes a compression chamber positioned within the gun shell and having a barrel opening and an opposite holder opening, and a plunger slidably insertable through the holder opening and movable between a retracted position and an extended position. As the swing arm moves toward the fire position, the swing arm engages the plunger and pulls the plunger toward the extended position. When the swing arm is in the fire position, the swing arm pusher deflects the swing arm from engagement with the plunger and the plunger is biased toward the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Hedeen International, LLC
    Inventors: Clemens V. Hedeen, Jr., Kay Lee Hedeen, Matthew P. Davis
  • Patent number: 11635267
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading cartridges into a firearms magazine includes a loader body comprising a retainer configured for holding a firearms magazine, and cooperating spring-loaded plungers coupled thereto. A first spring-loaded plunger coupled to the loader body is oriented for pushing one or more cartridges into the firearms magazine so as to depress a magazine spring thereof. A second plunger coupled to the loader body is oriented for inserting cartridges into the firearms magazine without further depressing the magazine spring while the first spring-loaded plunger is depressing the magazine spring. A mechanism automatically resets the first spring-loaded plunger after the second plunger completes insertion of each cartridge into the magazine. All of the foregoing moving parts may be manually or motor driven and fed with cartridges via a hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventors: Neal B. Rosenblum, Mark Presser
  • Patent number: 11629922
    Abstract: An AR-pattern firearm comprises an upper receiver, a housing positioned above the upper receiver and containing a recoil spring assembly, a bolt carrier assembly positioned in the upper receiver, and a bridge plate operably connecting the bolt carrier assembly to the recoil spring assembly. Discharge of the firearm causes rearward movement of the bolt carrier assembly out of battery and hence rearward movement of the bridge plate which stores energy in the recoil spring assembly, whereupon the stored energy in the recoil spring assembly causes the bolt carrier assembly to move forward back into battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Aviator Arms LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Mossman
  • Patent number: 11624569
    Abstract: A pistol having a frame and a slide assembly slideably coupled to the frame is disclosed. The slide assembly includes a plate including a housing and a button slideably coupled to the slide assembly near a rear of the pistol. The plate further includes a bearing surface for contacting the frame to limit the forward travel of the slide relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: O.F. MOSSBERG & SONS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee Cavanaugh, Peter Duperry, Salvatore Pietrzyk
  • Patent number: 11624583
    Abstract: A stock for a gun is disclosed which includes a butt stock body (12). The butt stock body may include a butt plate receptacle (108). The stock further may include a butt plate assembly (20) positioned in the butt plate receptacle (108), a cheek piece (18) releasably secured to the butt stock body (12) and the butt plate assembly (20), and a clamp (30). The stock may include first and second configurations such that in the first configuration the clamp permits independent movement of the butt plate assembly (20) and the cheek piece (18), and in the second configuration the clamp fixes movement of the butt plate assembly and the cheek piece relative to the butt stock body. The clamp (30) may be assembled within the stock body (12) to provide for variable adjustment of the butt stock with a dominant hand on the firearm grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Sagi Faifer
  • Patent number: 11619469
    Abstract: A device that causes a weapon to fire upon a target when the weapon is enabled by an operator, and when the weapon point of impact passes through a target or in a proximity thereto and when the target satisfies certain criteria as determined by one or more sensors/designations. This invention represents a significant paradigm shift. Some prior art (large scale) weapons automatically acquire/track/prioritize/target/fire upon targets without operator intervention (i.e. Phalanx). Most prior art weapons, especially but not limited to small arms, are manually aimed, and fire immediately upon an input (trigger pull, or equivalent) from the operator. The current invention is a novel approach which triggers the release of a round, multi-round burst, rocket, missile, or other projectile(s) when enabled by the operator, and when the target passes through the point of impact (or desired/computed proximity thereto), relieving the operator of the split second judgment in timing the release and/or cessation of such fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher J. Hall
  • Patent number: 11619473
    Abstract: The system and method of mixing pitch and roll commands from a flight control computer to produce fin deflections applied to as few as two fins to simultaneously produce both a rolling moment and a pitching moment. The system may be mechanical or digital where actuators can be linear or rotary, digital or analog. Deflections of the fins are generated which produce pitch and roll moments where addition of pitch and roll commands determines deflection commands to be sent to a first fin and subtraction of pitch and roll commands determines deflection commands to be sent to a second fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis B. Rath
  • Patent number: 11614293
    Abstract: Trigger module securing apparatus using internally threaded pins and threaded fasteners to secure a trigger module into the lower receiver of a rifle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Arthur Joseph Elftmann, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11614311
    Abstract: An explosive device, such as a missile, artillery round, aerial bomb, mortar round, or mine, that utilizes a wall structure that upon detonation provides displacement of smaller fragments interstitially between larger fragments. The displacement of the smaller fragments into the interstitial spaces at detonation creates an expanding fragmentation curtain that momentarily contains expanding gases to increase the impulse pressure of the explosion, thereby increasing the kinetic energy imparted to the fragments. In some embodiments, the wall structure includes ordered layers of preformed metal fragments encased in binder material that suspends the fragments in a desired arrangement prior to detonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel J. Bonnstetter, Richard M. Truitt, Reid W. Wagnild
  • Patent number: 11609054
    Abstract: An offset magazine release button includes a body portion and a generally stairstep-shaped end portion. The body portion may be inserted into a magazine release opening of a firearm. The stairstep-shaped end portion may include an indention portion providing or creating a floor or floor portion and a narrow stairstep riser. The floor, when part of the assembled firearm, is generally flush with the firearm's gripping surface to create an augmented gripping surface that may allow the operator to have a higher grip to help control recoil. The end portion also includes an offset contacting pad. The floor transitions to the riser, which then transitions to the pad. The pad has a generally perpendicular ledge or surface extending toward an actuating thumb position of the operator's grip. The pad surface may be textured to provide for better contact with the operator's thumb when depressing the button to release a magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventor: Joel Alson
  • Patent number: 11604054
    Abstract: A detonator which is initiated by a shock tube event which is validated if a processor determines that a fusible link was not fused by a shock tube event at a predetermined time interval before light generated by the shock tube event is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne
  • Patent number: 11597532
    Abstract: A method for determining airspeed of an aircraft that includes determining a rotor model relating a power coefficient of a propeller of the aircraft to an axial inflow velocity through the propeller as a function of a set of rotor operating parameters; determining the set of rotor operating parameters by sampling an electronic control signal associated with an electric motor actuating the propeller; computing the axial inflow velocity through the propeller based on the set of rotor operating parameters using the rotor model; and determining the airspeed based on the axial inflow velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, Jason Ryan, JoeBen Bevirt
  • Patent number: 11592261
    Abstract: A device implementable on a firearm includes an adjustable multi-angle grip. The grip includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is configured to be coupled to a receiver portion of the firearm. The lower portion is pivotably coupled to the upper portion via a hinge on a front side of the grip such that an angle between a longitudinal axis of the lower portion and a longitudinal axis of a barrel of the firearm is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Strike Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shanyao Lee, Shih-Ting Hung
  • Patent number: 11585641
    Abstract: An armor component that includes a ballistic tile made of, for example, boron carbide or silicon carbide, a plurality of wraps made of ballistic fibers such as carbon fiber, and a metal plate, for example, a steel plate, the metal plate being positioned behind the reverse side of the tile and the wraps being wrapped around the tile and the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: VERCO MATERIALS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Speyer, John Shupe