Abstract: An anatomical hand grip for a firearm is disclosed providing a trigger finger support protrusion for the positioning of the mid-portion of the distal phalanx of the index trigger finger directly on the trigger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a latch device, in particular for latching an airplane landing gear or an airplane landing gear hatch, the device comprising a box containing a set of hinged elements mounted to pivot about respective parallel axes, said assembly including at least one hook and a locking lever connected to said hook by associated elastically deformable return means, said hook being capable of being unlocked by acting on said locking lever either via first actuator means in a normal mode of operation, or via a second actuator means in an emergency mode of operation when said first actuator means fails to unlock the hook. In accordance with the invention, the first actuator means associated with the normal mode of operation is a low power electromechanical actuator under independent electrical control.

Abstract: The Mixed Mine Alternative (MMA) System is a military system designed for use in mechanized warfare. The MMA System has three components, MMA smart Antitank mines, MMA Antihandling Sensors linked to the MMA smart Antitank mines, and MMA Remote Control Units (RCU). The MMA smart Antitank (AT) mines contain a primary sensor system hardened against countermeasures and a kill mechanism similar to existing scatterable AT mines. The MMA AT mine is capable of transmit and receive communications with a Remote Control Unit and with the MMA Antihandling Sensors (AH). The communications capabilities and processors in the MMA AT and the MMA AH allow the system to establish MMA AT to MMA AH links after the mines have been scattered. MMA AT will be linked to MMA AH that are within their lethal radius. The MMA AT mine processors allow the mine primary antitank sensor to be on or off. The mine may receive and act on detonate instructions from the primary antitank sensor, from the antihandling sensors, or from the MMA RCU.

Abstract: A safety lock against an undesired pulling of a short firearm out from its scabbard consists of a flat element with components for its attachment to a side of the scabbard on the user's side, and an active element in the form of a double-arm lever, one end of which is arranged to be located in a bow of a short firearm to be placed in the scabbard and an action release end located close to the user's thumb, while the axis around which the double-arm lever of the active element turns, is attached to the flat element, and a spring element for keeping the active element in its working position is attached to the active element.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (10) is provided including an aircraft fuselage (12). A plurality of hubs (20) are mechanically coupled to the fuselage (12) and are rotated by at least one engine (22). A plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14) are mechanically coupled to the plurality of hubs (20) and propel and lift the aircraft fuselage (12). A transitional lift wing (16) is mechanically coupled to the fuselage (12) and enables lift on the fuselage (12) during off-loading lift of the plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14). A main controller (24) is coupled to the plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14) and switches the plurality of tandem rotor/wings (14) between a vertical lift mode and a fixed wing mode. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: In a wing of an airplane, a front spar having a C-shape in section includes a web, flanges, and a reinforcing partition wall. An intermediate spar having an I-shape in section includes a web, flanges, and a reinforcing partition wall. Ribs can be positioned in a span direction by coupling front and rear portions of the ribs to the reinforcing partition wall of the front spar and the reinforcing partition wall of the intermediate spar, without the provision of an assembling jig having a positioning function and without the use of a special positioning member. In addition, the ribs can be positioned in a cord direction by bringing rear ends of the ribs into abutment against a front surface of the web of the intermediate spar. Thus, it is possible to assemble the wing of the airplane using an inexpensive assembling jig having no rib-positioning function.

Abstract: A TASER and a vertical grip are combined to be attached to the stud post under the forend or the barrel of a conventional long arm. A TASER may also be combined with the forend or barrel of a conventional long arm itself. Stud posts come standard on certain long arms like the M-16 rifle. Stud posts can be installed on single shot and pump action shotgun forends as well. The TASER power supply can serve as a power source for a strobe lamp, which may be sighted by rescuers either visually or with infrared night viewing or other special viewing equipment for miles. The optical signal could be produced in the infrared, visible light and ultraviolet light regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The signal lamp is inserted into a TASER's firing chamber in lieu of an ammunition cartridge.

Abstract: An obturator having redundant surfaces for sealing between a projectile and a gun tube, where the obturator has at least one gun tube side cannelure. At least one projectile side cannelure is located opposite to the at least one gun tube side cannelure, where the at least one gun tube side cannelure is conformed to seal around the projectile. A tail protrudes from a rearward end of the at least one gun tube side cannelure, where the tail makes an interference fit with the smooth gun bore to make a low pressure seal.

Abstract: The center of pressure of a projectile is caused to move upon the occurrence of an event that changes the static margin, such as the jettisoning of a body previously attached to the projectile, as noted above. In particular embodiments, this is achieved by a flare disposed toward the rear of the projectile. The flare has petals that deploy from a first, stowed position to a second, deployed position upon the occurrence of said event. In the stowed position, the petals are aligned with the air stream, in order to minimize drag. In the deployed position, the petals project into the air stream in such a way as to move the lift center rearward. A slide ring within the flare has sufficient inertia that it shifts aft in response to an acceleration that occurs when the attached body and the projectile are separated from one another. The slide ring is linked to the petals in such a way that the petals are deployed by the displacement of the slide ring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-range artillery shell (1) that is fin-stabilised in its trajectory and which is designed to be fired in a rifled gun barrel and thus has a slipping driving band (8) as main contact surface with the inside of the barrel, and has a so-called base-bleed unit (3) with a number of stabilization fins (9-14) that are deployable after the shell has left the barrel.

Abstract: A projectile body having a groove-shaped recess (2), in which a guide band (3) is disposed. To permit use of a relatively wide guide band (3), while preventing the band from being destroyed as the projectile body (1) passes through the gun barrel, and preventing significant copper-plating of the barrel, the guide band (3) is assembled from two partial guide bands (5, 6), with the relatively narrow, first partial band (5), which faces the base (7) of the projectile, comprising copper or a copper alloy and providing a seal against the propellant gases acting on the projectile rear under high pressure. The second, considerably wider partial guide band (6) essentially comprises plastic, and includes at least one hollow space (11), which lends it adequate deformation reserves with respect to the high surface pressure acting on this partial guide band (6) when the projectile body (1) passes through the barrel.

Abstract: An accessory mounting rail for a firearm, which enables mounting of firearm accessories to the barrel of the firearm and reduces the potential for parallax error in mounted sights is disclosed herein. The accessory mounting rail is formed from a complementary pair of mounting bracket sides that are hinged together and have an aperture for receiving the barrel of the firearm. The accessory mounting rail is secured to the firearm through the use of a fastener to connect the complementary mounting bracket sides, which have provided upon them accessory rails.

Abstract: A parachute has a canopy and rigging lines with skirt assist lines connected between a point on each rigging line adjacent a lower edge of the canopy and a point on the interior of the canopy spaced from the lower edge. The arrangement is such that a portion of the canopy between the point and the lower edge is relieved of tension as the canopy is deployed to assist the opening of the canopy. The skirt assist lines are frangible. This prevents rapid deployment of the canopy to lower g-forces on the load in high speed opening.

Abstract: An inflatable emergency evacuation slide system comprises a slide pack (60) with an emergency evacuation slide (10) stored in an uninflated, folded condition together with an inflator (30). A manual inflation lanyard (38) having a mechanical stop (44), such as a crimped ferrule located along its length, is routed in a conventional manner to a point proximal the girt bar (64) securing the evacuation slide (10) to the aircraft (20). The manual inflation lanyard (38) is routed through a grommet (46) at one end of an automatic inflation lanyard (50), the other end of which is attached to the aircraft exit door (18). In operation, when the aircraft exit door (18) is opened in the armed condition, the evacuation slide pack (60) is released from its storage compartment and is dropped from the emergency evacuation exit.

Abstract: A separating connector assembly system for a two-stage reusable launch vehicle. The system includes a plurality of separating connector assemblies each having a gas pressurizable first chamber within a first stage of the launch vehicle and a second chamber within a second stage of the launch vehicle. The system further includes a bolt and nut assembly including a bolt and a pressure-expandable nut, with the bolt projecting from the second chamber into the first chamber and engaged under atmospheric pressure with the nut which is disposed in the first chamber. Pressurized gas is made available from a single manifold in communication with each first chamber such that pressurized gas is simultaneously delivered to all first chambers for substantially simultaneously expanding all pressure-expandable nuts and releasing all respective bolts from these nuts for subsequent disconnected separation of the two stages.

Abstract: The center of pressure of a projectile is caused to move upon the occurrence of an event that changes the static margin, such as the jettisoning of a body previously attached to the projectile, as noted above. In particular embodiments, this is achieved by a flare disposed toward the rear of the projectile. The flare has petals that deploy from a first, stowed position to a second, deployed position upon the occurrence of the event. In the stowed position, the petals are aligned with the air stream, in order to minimize drag. In the deployed position, the petals project into the air stream in such a way as to move the lift center rearward. A slide ring within the flare has sufficient inertia that it shifts aft in response to an acceleration that occurs when the attached body and the projectile are separated from one another. The slide ring is linked to the petals in such a way that the petals are deployed by the displacement of the slide ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of bonded wing construction in which skins (35, 39) having shaped protrusions (37, 41) are bonded to rib members having correspondingly shaped intrusions (33). The skins may also include differently shaped protrusions (53, 55) which are bonded to K-shaped spars (51) having correspondingly shaped intrusions (61, 63).

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements for supersonic aircraft, joined-wing aircraft and sonic boom reduction, separately and in combination, for long range supersonic cruise aircraft with reduced sonic boom loudness. Several designs for integrating and supporting a propulsion system with reduced transonic and supersonic drag are disclosed. A tail-braced wing configuration for supporting a propulsion system installation with minimum draft interference and reduced structural weight is provided. A method for designing an improved wing in the presence of a propulsion system supersonic pressure disturbance is also provided. The drag reducing features synergistically help in meeting a shaped sonic boom minimized lift and area distribution. The tail-braced wing design and other asymmetric area distribution features further reduce the shaped sonic boom minimum. For example, boom pressure at audible frequencies may be reduced 30 to 100 times for business jets.

Abstract: A supporting arm of a passenger door of an aircraft, has a curved structure which forms hollow chambers and movably connects the passenger door to a frame on the fuselage. Receiving means one for the supporting arm for receiving connecting means which enable a movable connection on the one hand to the passenger door and a pivoting drive and on the other hand to the frame on the fuselage, so that the door is movable by means of the supporting arm on a linear-displacement path and a pivoting path. The structure of the supporting arm is formed from fiber composite, the structure-forming fiber composite being formed from individual structural elements. This fiber composite structure further improves the thermal insulation of the supporting arm and nevertheless achieves a further weight reduction of the supporting arm, while maintaining exacting structural safety requirements for the latter.

Abstract: A blocking device is provided for a firearm barrel. The blocking device has a cover member, which may be substantially moisture-proof and may be embroidered, embossed, or silk-screened. The cover member has a closed end and an open end, the open end receiving an end of the barrel. A retaining device is affixed to the cover member and releasably holds the end of the barrel in the closed end of the cover member.