Patents Examined by Michael Carone
  • Patent number: 8276498
    Abstract: A modular ballistic shield design includes a viewport which extends from a first lateral edge of the shield to the second lateral edge providing unobstructed viewing. The three modules are connected together in a manner enabling replacement of any particular damaged module. No fastener protrudes through to the front face in a region fronting the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Composiflex
    Inventors: Alan J. Hannibal, Kurt Gunther
  • Patent number: 8276305
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems, methods and devices for controlling the dispersion of shot or other projectiles fired from a weapon such as a shotgun. Embodiments according to the invention employ an inner cylindrical chamber that is divided at a median transverse plane into forward and rear sections. The rear section of the chamber tapers toward the median transverse plane and includes a number of radial vents that open into an outer chamber that provides one or more gas bypass channels into the forward section of the tubular chamber. Alternatively, channels function as unitary vents and outer chamber to provide for a gas bypass. The forward section tapers toward a forward muzzle opening. When a multiple projectile load/wad is fired from the weapon, expanding gas is sealed behind the load until it has advanced past the radial vents at which point, gas is allowed to expand into the outer chamber resulting in a momentary pressure drop and reduced propulsion force behind the wad/load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: Larry Leutenegger, Gerald E. Poe
  • Patent number: 8276519
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to cartridges for use in projectile-launching devices, such as ammunition cartridges, flare cartridges, and the like, including components of the cartridges, and methods for their manufacture. For example, the cartridges of this disclosure can be ammunition cartridges such as shotshell cartridges, which include an obturating medium which functions to seal the compressed but expanding hot gases and can be used without a pre -formed gas seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Polywad, Inc.
    Inventors: James Y. Menefee, III, Kenneth G. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8276495
    Abstract: A kit of modular explosive ordnance disposal components may include five components. The five components may be assembled in various configurations to fire solid slugs, water shots, or fin-stabilized projectiles. Each assembled configuration may include a first component having a generally cylindrical shape, a through-bore, a muzzle end, and a breech end. The muzzle end of the first component may include external threads. The breech end of the first component may include an internally-threaded portion for receiving a .50 caliber breech plug. A .50 caliber cartridge chamber may be formed adjacent the internally-threaded portion. A bore of about one inch in diameter may extend from the .50 caliber cartridge chamber to the muzzle end of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Peter Chiu, Hansen Lukman, Laurie A. Florio, Brent Donahue, Kevin Russell, Eddy K. Tsui
  • Patent number: 8272311
    Abstract: Reactive armor that includes a casing having a plurality of walls, a back, and a cavity formed therebetween; a cover that closes the cavity and forms a strike face; a filler placed within the cavity, the filler comprising a disruptive material; and an explosive. To defeat projectile or projectile related threats, the reactive armor substantially, but not necessarily wholly, implements laterally oriented force mechanisms, erosion mechanisms, and bulking mechanisms, e.g., explosive forces, with respect to the strike face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Joseph P. Cannon
  • Patent number: 8272312
    Abstract: The invention relates to a breech for a repeating rifle with a breech guide, a locking chamber arranged in the breech guide, and a locking sleeve that is arranged concentrically about a rear part of the locking chamber and that has several locking elements that can be moved by an expansion device between an inner unlocked position and an outer locked position for engaging in a locking groove of a barrel. The expansion device has, according to the invention, a support sleeve that can move in the axial direction between the rear of the locking chamber and the locking sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Blaser Finanzholding GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Kneppler, Meinrad Zeh, Hans-Peter Schwärzler, Jürgen Rothärmel, Christian Scherpf
  • Patent number: 8272157
    Abstract: A device for directing a beam of radiation at a target. The device includes a fiber laser for producing the beam of radiation, an aiming mechanism, for aiming the beam of radiation at the target, that moves independently of the fiber laser, and an optical fiber for conveying the beam of radiation to the aiming mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
    Inventor: Yehuda Nachshon
  • Patent number: 8272309
    Abstract: A composite truss armor and a method of manufacturing the same. The composite truss armor includes a filler material and a three-dimensional (3D) ordered truss structure. The 3D ordered truss structure includes: a plurality of first truss elements defined by a plurality of first self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a first direction; a plurality of second truss elements defined by a plurality of second self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a second direction; and a plurality of third truss elements defined by a plurality of third self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a third direction. The first, second, and third ordered truss elements interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a continuous material. The first, second, and third truss elements define an open space. The filler material occupies at least a portion of the open space, and the 3D ordered truss structure is self-supporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Cumberland, Alan J. Jacobsen, Adam F. Gross, William B. Carter
  • Patent number: 8267077
    Abstract: A pneumatic paintball marker has, for example, a sleeve that controls the passage of air through the longitudinal barrel or opening within the marker. By sequentially filling separate chambers defined within the opening and the sleeve, the sleeve is able to translate axially through the opening in a sequential manner. When the sleeve is in a forward position, air is caused to be released through the barrel, propelling the paintball. A sear member engages the sleeve and prevents it from inadvertently moving to a forward position. Air filling the chambers returns the sleeve to the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Dye Precision, Inc.
    Inventors: Eero Kaakkola, Richard Corlett, William Wing, Adam H. Thorp
  • Patent number: 8266835
    Abstract: A firearm security device including a surface mountable frame to which a first plate and a second movable plate are attached. A grip pad is attached to each of the opposing inner sides of the fixed and movable plates. A trigger guard stud is attached to and projects from the inner face of the fixed plate. The movable second plate is movable with respect to the first plate from an open position wherein a firearm is positioned with the trigger guard stud projecting through the trigger guard of the firearm, to a closed position where the movable plate is positioned substantially parallel to the fixed plate and at least a portion of the receiver of the firearm is held in a compressive grip between the grip pads. A lock selectively restricts movement of the second movable plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin B. Pintar, Robert W. Corrigan
  • Patent number: 8267001
    Abstract: A composite armor panel and a method for making the armor is disclosed. In one embodiment the armor consists of a plurality of ceramic tiles (21) individually edge-wrapped (52) with fiber or edge-wrap fabric, which are further wrapped with a face-wrap fabric, and encapsulated in a hyperelastic polymer material (31) permeating the fabric and fibers, with a back plate (41) adhered to the encapsulated tiles. In one embodiment the hyperelastic polymer (31) is formed from a MDI-polyester or polyether prepolymer, at lease one long-chain polyester polyol comprising ethylene/butylene adipate diol, at least one short-chain diol comprising 1,4-butanediol, and a tin-based catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Jay Sayre, Scott Versluis, Kary Valentine
  • Patent number: 8261479
    Abstract: A bolt action rifle with safety latching mechanism has an upper receiver including a movable bolt assembly, a lower receiver having a trigger assembly and releasably attached to the upper receiver, the bolt assembly movable between a cocked position and an uncocked position, and the upper receiver and the lower receiver including a latching mechanism operable to prevent the lower receiver from being detached from the upper receiver while the bolt assembly is in the cocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher Gene Barrett
  • Patent number: 8256152
    Abstract: A laser alignment assembly has two or more lasers aligned relative to one or more reflective surfaces to generate coaligned and collimated light beams. The assembly may further make the light beams collinear. The orientation of the reflective surface may be controlled by an electrically controllable actuator. The laser alignment assembly may be disposed in a weapon aiming system having visible and infrared lasers and may be coupled to a weapon to aid in aiming of the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventors: Steven E. Morin, Brian W. Cranton
  • Patent number: 8256406
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for regulating pneumatic gas propulsion. More specifically, some embodiments include a first spring that exerts a spring force, where the spring set point increases as the first spring is compressed. Similarly, some embodiments include a piston that is in physical communication with the first spring and a valve. The valve mechanism may receive the gas, where upon the gas being received by the valve mechanism at a pressure that meets the spring set point, the gas causes the piston to move in the longitudinal direction. Further, movement of the piston creates a cylinder space between the piston and the valve mechanism, where a volume of the cylinder space is defined by a position of the piston. The pressure causes the piston to compress the first spring until an equilibrium exists between the gas force and the spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Kevin Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 8256337
    Abstract: An initiator for initiating detonation in a detonation cord of a perforating system, where the initiator comprises a modular electronic igniter that quick connects into a portion of high explosive. The high explosive is disposed in a housing having an end of detonation cord crimped therein. The electronic igniter may be shipped to the field and/or stored separate from the high explosive then the two may be assembled just prior to deploying the perforating gun assembly in a wellbore. Various methods of quick connecting the electronic igniter to the high explosive may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Freeman L. Hill, Randy L. Evans
  • Patent number: 8250962
    Abstract: A bullet velocity enhancing rifle attachment assembly a sleeve having a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall. The sleeve has an aperture therein extending into the first end and outwardly of the second end. The aperture is defined by an inner wall including a first portion adjacent to the first end, an second portion adjacent to the second end and a central portion positioned between the first and second portions. The central portion has an toroidal shape. A coupler attached to the second end of the sleeve is releasably engageable with a gun barrel to align the aperture with the gun barrel. Pressure from a front side of a bullet traveling down the gun barrel is forced into the central portion to travel around the toroidal shape and back into the aperture toward the first portion, behind the bullet, as the bullet travels through the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Isaac Guenther, Tina Guenther
  • Patent number: 8250978
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor bridge, an igniter, and a gas generator each of which satisfies a high-speed responsiveness required of, for example, an automotive side inflator. The semiconductor bridge includes a bridge part heated by being supplied with a current. The bridge part is disposed on a substrate. The bridge part includes a first layer and an ignition bridge layer. The first layer is formed on the substrate and has insulating properties. The ignition bridge layer serves as a second layer disposed on the first layer. The width of the bridge part at the first layer and the width of the bridge part at the second layer are substantially equal to each other. A space is provided around the bridge part. With this structure, the diffusion of current and heat into the substrate can be restricted to the minimum level, and the ignition time can be quickened as an ignition characteristic. Each of the igniter and the gas generator includes the semiconductor bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Mukunoki, Shigeru Maeda, Hiroki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8250988
    Abstract: The invention relates to a subcaliber projectile, particularly for a dart projectile, having a resistance-stabilizing, conically designed guide mechanism having a frustum-shaped recess, wherein a guide cage has a substantially hollow cylindrical design in which a propulsion element is integrated therein on a rear side. To allow the propulsion element to be produced in a simple fashion and the guide cage to be lighter weight than comparable known drive cages, the propulsion element is designed substantially only as a disk-shaped metal plate extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the guide cage, wherein the drive element is mounted on an edge in an annular groove-shaped recess of the inner wall of the guide cage, wherein the disk-shaped metal plate comprises a central through hole, the diameter of which is as large as possible, but smaller than the maximum diameter of the frustum-shaped recess of the guide mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Heitmann
  • Patent number: 8245426
    Abstract: An article including an article including a firearm including a safety that moves between a safe position that does not permit firing of the firearm and a fire position that permits firing of the firearm, the firearm further including a light indicator, and a loaded chamber indicator in electrical communication with the light indicator, wherein when the safety moves to the fire position, the light indicator emits a first distinct color if a round is loaded in a chamber of the firearm, and the light indicator emits a second distinct color if a round is not loaded in the chamber of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Dov Pikielny
  • Patent number: 8245645
    Abstract: A mine defeating projectile includes a housing defining an inner cavity, a plurality of channels extending through a front surface of the housing and to the inner cavity, and a plurality of cutout sections extending through as side wall thereof. The projectile further includes a fragmentation sleeve disposed in the inner cavity of the housing and a slider sleeve disposed in the inner cavity of the housing abutting an aft end of the fragmentation sleeve. The slider sleeve includes an explosive train and the slider sleeve is frangibly attached to the housing. The projectile further includes a finned section attached to an aft end of the housing. The finned section defines a protrusion for initiating the explosive train. The protrusion is spaced apart from the explosive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio Paulic, Lance Benedict