Patents Examined by Joshua Semick
  • Patent number: 9458670
    Abstract: One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impact a working face. In some implementations a purge gas may be used to form a ullage between the endcap and the working face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Hypersciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark C. Russell
  • Patent number: 9453714
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing subsonic ammunition articles from conventional supersonic ammunition articles are provided. The apparatus includes devices for controllably introducing a filler material to reduce the inner volume of a conventional supersonic ammunition article. Method are also provided for converting a conventional supersonic ammunition article to a subsonic ammunition article including defining a new subsonic propellant volume within said conventional supersonic ammunition article and controllably introducing a filler material therearound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: MAC, LLC
    Inventors: John Francis Bosarge, Nikica Maljkovic
  • Patent number: 9448019
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for firing a belt-fed closed-bolt firearm by delivering an impulse from an impulse source along a first axis to a firing pin on a second axis. The first axis and second axis are not coaxial, allowing the impulse source to be disposed away from and not in direct contact or alignment with the firing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: MACHINEGUNARMORY, LLC
    Inventors: John Steven Kokinis, Paul Edward Gettings
  • Patent number: 9435611
    Abstract: This invention describes an ergonomic combination sight for small arms. According to one embodiment, the combination sight comprises a reflector sight mounted on top of a telescopic sight. A refracting wedge prism is included in the optical layout of the telescopic sight to tilt the viewing axis of the telescopic sight towards the viewing axis of the reflector sight. This feature provides better ergonomics since a shooter can aim through the reflector sight or the telescopic sight using the same head position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Lucida Research LLC
    Inventor: Omid S. Jahromi
  • Patent number: 9429405
    Abstract: Less lethal ammunition is disclosed for inhibiting activities of a living target, and marking the living target. The ammunition comprises a cylindrical casing, a charged disposed within the cylindrical casing, a cylindrical body defining a bottom cap and a top section. The cylindrical body has first portion disposed within the casing and a second portion extending from the casing. An inhibiting agent is disposed within the casing substantially adjacent the bottom cap, and at least one marking capsule is disposed within the cylindrical body substantially adjacent a top section. A spacer is disposed within the cylindrical body intermediate the inhabiting agent and the marking capsule(s). The ammunition may be fired from a conventional handgun, rifle or shotgun. The cylindrical body is formed of a substantially transparent material to allow a user to visual identify the marking capsules and inhibiting agent within the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Alfiero Balzano
  • Patent number: 9429382
    Abstract: An ambidextrous rifle system, method and apparatus are provided. The rifle system may comprise a receiver configured to receive and carry a switch bolt system. The switch bolt system may comprise a first bolt and a second bolt. The first bolt may be configured for a right handed shooter. The second bolt may be configured for a left handed shooter. The first bolt and the second bolt may be moveable within the receiver between the battery and out of battery positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: David Ives
  • Patent number: 9417037
    Abstract: This invention teaches a weapon sight whose eyepoint is offset with respect to the sight's main optical axis. A refracting wedge prism is added to the optical layout of a telescopic sight to tilt the viewing axis and provide an offset eyepoint. The invention has several advantages including better ergonomics when used in combination with other type of sights such as open sights or reflex sights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lucida Research LLC
    Inventor: Omid S. Jahromi
  • Patent number: 9400158
    Abstract: A tactics support apparatus includes an operation unit configured to calculate a friendly military power necessary for each of defense areas which are set between an enemy and a target of the enemy based on a total quantified military power of deployed movable weapons of the enemy and a friend, and determine friendly movable weapons to be deployed in each of the defense areas. An output unit is configured to visibly output deployment positions of the friendly movable weapons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Komukai
  • Patent number: 9395134
    Abstract: A magnetically actuated sear for simulated firearm training is disclosed. The magnetically actuated sear includes a magnet and a magnet catch. The magnetically actuated sear facilitates a crisp trigger break thereby replicating the actual sear release of a firearm. The application of a suitable external trigger force causes the magnet catch to travel along the fulcrum away from the magnet. The greater the difference between the holding force when the magnet is in direct contact with the magnet catch and the attraction force between the magnet and the magnet catch, the crisper the magnetically actuated sear will feel. The magnetically actuated sear can be designed so that slack or trigger creep of the magnetically actuated sear can be matched to the actual firearm's slack or trigger creep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Frederick B. Swensen
  • Patent number: 9383150
    Abstract: Provided is a charge feeding apparatus including: a plurality of containers storing a plurality of charges; a chain link configured to connect the containers extending in a first direction and arranged in parallel to one another and configured to rotatably change positions of the containers; a chain driver configured to transmit a rotational force to the chain link to transfer a container of the containers to a discharge position; a rod configured to transfer at least one charge of the charges in the first direction of the container to discharge the at least one charge from the container located at the discharge position; a loading container configured to store the at least one charge discharged from the container located at the discharge position and comprising an opening which exposes the charge; and an extractor configured to extract the charge from the loading container via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jinkook Lim
  • Patent number: 9383153
    Abstract: A striker-fired firearm in one embodiment includes a trigger assembly including a trigger and trigger bar supported by a frame, a rotatable sear operable to hold a spring-biased striker in a cocked ready-to-fire position, and a rotatable sear blocker operable to prevent rotation of the sear. The trigger bar is operably linked to the sear and blocker such that pulling the trigger rotates the sear and blocker. When the blocker is in a blocking position, the blocker engages and prevents movement of the sear and release of the striker in the absence of a trigger pull. When the blocker is in a non-blocking position effectuated by pulling the trigger, the blocker disengages the sear which rotates and releases the striker to fire the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventors: Darin Nebeker, Joseph J. Zajk, Sam Vavro
  • Patent number: 9366493
    Abstract: A precision guided handgun includes a handgun and includes a sensor circuit coupled to the handgun and configured to capture optical data associated with a view area. The precision guided handgun further includes a controller coupled to the handgun and configured to process the optical data to detect a foreground object within the optical data. The controller automatically selects the foreground object as a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TrackingPoint, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hancock Lupher
  • Patent number: 9366149
    Abstract: A compressor case assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things, includes a case. A plurality of vane stages circumscribe an interior of the case. Each of the plurality of vane stages include a vane guide and at least one window for inserting a respective at least one vane there through. The at least one window is axially aligned with each of the vane guides The at least one window extends from an outer surface of the case into each of the vane guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Neil L. Tatman
  • Patent number: 9360263
    Abstract: A propellant charge magazine having a magazine housing in which propellant charges are disposed and that can be cooled by a device for distribution and/or discharge of cooling air disposed in, or within the immediate vicinity of, the propellant charge magazine. A cooling air distribution system can be disposed in a combat compartment housing, with an air discharge device thereof being disposed in an upper portion of the housing for guiding cooling air into a lateral area of the housing. A deflector guides the cooling air downwardly in the lateral area and upwardly in a central area of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: KRAUSS-MAFFEI WEGMANN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Raczek, Heinrich Heldmann
  • Patent number: 9354011
    Abstract: A magazine-based firearm interlock that can be added to a commercial firearm, with a release/locking device on the firing mechanisms enabled by an electro-permanent magnet, control electronics in the removable magazine, and authorized through a wearable authorization device. Modifications are applied to the trigger bar or sear mechanism which enables it to be changed to an unlocked state, which allows a shot to be fired, and to a locked state, which prevents a shot from being fired. A communication system includes a chip set in the firearm magazine that communicates with a FOB carried by the user, which authenticates the user and activates the electro-permanent magnet to enable the firearm to fire. This system is preferably a near field communication system that couples to and transmits across the body of the user. Indicators can be included to indicate the operational state of the interlock and to detect and record discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ANFCS, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Cooke, George Andy Erickson, Robert Borgeson, Jacob Borgeson, Daniel Seitz, Douglas William Bench
  • Patent number: 9354012
    Abstract: A pistol grip bipod for a gun may include a bipod assembly that can be attached to a pistol grip of a gun. The bipod assembly may include a housing, a chassis, a port side leg including a port side foot, a starboard side leg including a starboard foot. The bipod assembly further may include first and second operable states such that in the first operational state, the port side foot and the starboard side foot are secured in the housing below the pistol grip, and such that in the second operable configuration the port side foot and the starboard side foot are unlatched from the housing and the port side foot and the starboard side foot are positioned in front of the housing. The pistol grip bipod may be deployed by an operator's dominant hand which remains secured to the pistol grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: Sagi Faifer, Tamir Porat
  • Patent number: 9341439
    Abstract: Firearm fore end grips and grip assemblies have a generally planar and flexible heat resistant grip which is configured for attachment or securement to a fore end of a fire arm or to a barrel cover and engaged with a Picatinny rail of the firearm or barrel cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventors: Frank Michal, Michael E. Stein
  • Patent number: 9341428
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automatic cleaning apparatus for a gun barrel having cleaning means, wherein the cleaning means includes: a cylindrical tube having a plurality of insertion holes along the circumference thereof; a rotary gear connected to and driven by a motor; and cleaning members each of which includes a rotary shaft inserted into the insertion hole and a bevel gear joined to the lower portion of the rotary shaft and interlocking with the rotary gear, wherein the insertion hole includes a small hole and a large hole communicating laterally with the small hole, and wherein a fixing member fixes the cleaning member by making the cleaning member come into contact with the small hole when the cleaning member is fixed and does not prevent that the cleaning member is separated to the outside of the cylindrical tube through the large hole when the fixed cleaning member is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SooSung Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Jin An
  • Patent number: 9341158
    Abstract: Noise produced by the blades of a wind turbine electric generator is reduced by creating randomly varied serrations on the trailing edge of the blade, thereby creating vortices of varying size, energy, and distance from the trailing edge. This configuration creates vortices that tend to cancel one another while avoiding the creation of adjacent, mutually reinforcing vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Inventus Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Smith, Daniel Brake
  • Patent number: 9334848
    Abstract: A wave power generator is provided, and, more particularly, a wave power generator, which has a simple structure leading to improved cost efficiency and high energy conversion rate and is able to be installed in anywhere, so that practicality and a value of wave as a clean energy resource may be enhanced, is provided. The wave power generator includes a raft vessel configured to be in a shape of disk and filled with water; a water turbine configured to be installed on a central axis of the raft vessel; and a mooring chain configured to be connected to the raft vessel to thereby determine a location where the raft vessel is to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Chang-Hui Jo