Patents Examined by Michael Carone
  • Dot sighting device with large caliber
    Patent number: 8087196
    Abstract: Provided is a dot sighting device with large caliber for binocular vision in which sighting can be performed rapidly and accurately by minimizing parallax. The dot sighting device is attached to and detached from a mount for a heavy machine gun. In addition, by using the dot sighting device with large caliber, a user can rapidly and accurately sight and fire a target by taking into consideration types and characteristics of the target and a distance to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: In Jung, Dong Hee Lee
  • Firearm buttstock assembly and method
    Patent number: 8087193
    Abstract: A buttpad assembly for use on a firearm includes a base wall, a cushion body and a guard element. A firearm buttstock assembly is also included that has a buttstock body and a buttpad assembly. A method of assembling a firearm buttstock assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Abrams Airborne Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric S. Kincel
  • Optical sight
    Patent number: 8082688
    Abstract: An optical sight is provided and may include an optical element, a reticle selectively displayed on the optical element, and a housing. The housing may include a base, a first post extending from the base, a second post extending from the base, and a cross member extending between the first post and the second post to define an opening receiving the optical element therein. The cross member may include a first surface opposing the optical element and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the cross member than the first surface, whereby the second surface has a substantially concave shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Trijicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Glen Sabaldan Elpedes, Darin W. Schick, Mark William Lister, Joshua Lee Varner
  • Projectile loading, firing and warning system
    Patent number: 8082911
    Abstract: Methods are presented which improve the performance of semi and fully automatic paintball guns include sensing paintball and gun bolt position during loading to coordinate and pace the gun for maximum automatic feed rate and minimal chopping. In addition, methods are presented for indicating a need for servicing through an alarm when the magazine nears empty based upon various conditions such as sensed magazine feed rate fall-off. Additional apparatus are discussed for carrying out the methods, and for performance of other tasks such as selection of pre-wind in spring-type forced-feed loaders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Joel A. Anderson
  • Missile with system for separating subvehicles
    Patent number: 8082848
    Abstract: A missile includes several subvehicles that are initially mechanically coupled to a missile main body, and a separation system for separating the subvehicles from the missile main body. The separation system has a single triggering mechanism to simultaneously provide energy to separate all of the subvehicles. This advantageously provides only a single shock to the system by actuating the system to separate the subvehicles. By limiting the shocks to the single shock of actuating the energy system and the shocks of the mechanical disengagement of the individual subvehicles, the disengagement system has improved performance. The subvehicles may be separated from the main body in radial directions substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the main body. This may provide for smoother disengagement, with less tipping, and may provide for greater, more uniform spacing between the disengaged subvehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gregg J. Hlavacek, Nigel B. Flahart, David A. Adang, Andrew D. Facciano
  • Method for monitoring the quality of crop material
    Patent number: 8086378
    Abstract: A method for estimating a portion of undesired particles in crop material includes taking a photograph of the crop material; identifying images of at least one type of undesired particle in the photograph that was taken; measuring the surface area covered by the image of every particle shown in the photograph; and determining the portion of undesired particles as a proportion of the surface area of the images, and may be used, in particular, in a harvesting machine on the crop material picked up in an on-going harvesting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Willi Behnke
  • Eroding particle armor
    Patent number: 8079297
    Abstract: A contained volume of particulate materials that is optimized for eroding ballistic penetrator, explosively formed penetrators, shaped charges, ballistic fragments, and other ballistic threats. The particulate materials include crushed garnet, crushed ceramics and sand. The volume of particulate materials may be mixed with explosive rods or pills. These explosive rods or pills ignite when the ballistic threat reaches a preset area within the armor box. Particulate material and armor boxes can consist of configurations using ballistic balls and irregular shaped stones or gravel. Alternate embodiments may contain configurations utilizing ballistic rods, electronic timing devices, and explosive detonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: The Right Problem LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Kocher
  • Muzzle loading rifle with centerfire cartridge ignition
    Patent number: 8079167
    Abstract: A muzzleloading rifle includes an action and a barrel assembly attached to a forward end of the action. The barrel assembly includes a barrel, a barrel extension and an intervening wall. The barrel has a breach end, a muzzle end and a primary chamber at the breach end for receiving a primary charge loaded through the muzzle end. The barrel extension is attached to the breach end of the barrel and includes a casing chamber positioned rearwardly from the primary chamber. The casing chamber is configured to receive a standard ammunition casing with an integral primer therein. The intervening wall separates the primary chamber from the casing chamber. The intervening wall includes a flash hole communicating between the casing chamber and the primary chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: John L. Overstreet
  • Hard-core projectile with penetrator
    Patent number: 8074574
    Abstract: A penetrator can substantially affect the fragmentation properties of a projectile. As a rule, the penetrator is enclosed by an envelope which combines the projectile core and penetrator in one unit. On hitting the target, a fragmentation of the projectile envelope must first occur which needs energy, influencing the further fragmentation of the projectile and the exit from the target. The invention thus relates to a hard-core projectile (1), with the penetrator (3) provided in a cylindrical drilling (4), in the projectile core (2), running centrally on the projectile axis (5), the length of the penetrator (3) extending over the middle (8) of the projectile, the core (2) enclosing the penetrator (3) in the ogival region (6) to the open tip (16) and the cylindrical part (7) of the core (2), serving as guide in operation, is enclosed by an envelope (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ruag Ammotec GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Riess, Erich Muskat
  • Apparatus including igniter
    Patent number: 8074571
    Abstract: An apparatus including and igniter comprises: an igniter, an igniter collar for fixing the igniter, a cylindrical housing forming an outer shell, the igniter collar and the cylindrical housing being assembled by laminating a wall surface at one end of the igniter collar to a wall surface at one end of the cylindrical housing in the thickness direction, and being fixed to each other by crimping from the outside the laminated part thereof, wherein igniter collar and the cylindrical housing are laminated, an outer diameter of the laminated part being within ±10% of a reference outer diameter when an outer diameter of at least one of the igniter collar and cylindrical housing is the reference outer diameter, a thickness (h2) of an inner layer in the crimped laminated part being 1.5 times or more than a crimping depth (h1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Hirooka, Mikio Yabuta
  • Impact release stun gun dart
    Patent number: 8074573
    Abstract: A stun-gun dart has a bullet shaped body that defines both a cavity and a front aperture. A spear is disposed within the cavity, is aligned to the aperture and has a sharp, barbed front tip and a rear mass-piece that is wider than the aperture, to prevent the spear from entirely passing through the aperture. Also, a spring has a first end attached to the body and a second end attached to the rear mass-piece of the spear, and is properly tensioned to entirely retain the spear within cavity until the dart undergoes rapid deceleration. But when the dart, after being fired into air and hitting a target, undergoes rapid deceleration, the spring permits the tip of the spear to protrude from the aperture to engage with and barb to flesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Global Pathogen Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Carson R. Linker
  • Firearm selector removal and installation tool
    Patent number: 8069606
    Abstract: This tool makes it possible to more conveniently handle the “selector” element on a conventional M16/M4 family weapon when the selector must be removed or reinserted. As will be appreciated by those in the gun repair trade, in the disassembly or reassembly of such weapons the handling of the selector element is a tricky and painstaking activity. This disclosed tool handily is an assist in such activities. The tool is inserted in the opening in the receiver of the selector element and rotated. An offset circular cam means on the tool when rotated will handily depress the detent element (which necessarily must be done and it also has a spring beneath it). A bumper end cap at the distal end of the tool will carefully engage the selector element to gently push on it if needed (or in the reverse operation for the tool to be gently backed away there from as the selector is repositioned into the weapon).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Thomas W. Saur
  • Methods and apparatus for attachment adapter for a projectile
    Patent number: 8069790
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mounting a secondary system on a projectile according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a collar. The collar is adapted to at least partially receive a fuze assembly or other projectile structure within the collar. The collar may be adapted to attach to a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Edgar R. Melkers
  • Gas-operated firearm
    Patent number: 8065949
    Abstract: A gas operating system for a firearm renders the firearm capable of firing a wide range of shot loads by passively or automatically compensating for different shot loads. The firearm includes a plurality of ports formed in the firearm barrel, and corresponding ports formed in a gas cylinder of the gas operating system. The ports tap gases generated during firing which are used to cycle the firearm. When firing different cartridge loads, differing combinations of the ports are selectively at least partially blocked or otherwise obstructed by the cartridge casing according to the size of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Remington Arms Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Gian Mario Molinari
  • Explosive device
    Patent number: 8065959
    Abstract: The present invention provides an explosive device for use with a warhead comprising a rupturable core having a spherical interior chamber which is filled with a volume of a flammable gas. A frequency generator resonates the gas at a high frequency to fully resonate the gas to produce a new and more powerful type of explosion. Means for securing the frequency generator to the core are also provided, as well as a detonator having a high-temperature metal as a conductive material and means for inserting the conductive material into the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: David J. Shulte
  • Firearm with cartridge pick-and-place mechanism
    Patent number: 8061255
    Abstract: A firearm comprising a frame, a barrel joined to the frame, and a cartridge magazine selectively joinable to the frame; at least one cartridge contained within the cartridge magazine with the cartridge having a casing and at least one projectile, the casing having a cartridge case flange at one end and a mouth on the opposite end; and mechanism for lifting in selective communication with the cartridge and the barrel, with the mechanism for lifting having a ramp that is located adjacent to the end of the cartridge at the cartridge case flange, where the ramp acts selectively on the flange and casing; an extractor rib and barrel rib cooperating to keep extractor locked during cartridge ignition and unlocked substantially after ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Arne Bengt Boberg
  • Retractable stock firearm system
    Patent number: 8061072
    Abstract: A main body portion has forward and rearward extents. A conversion assembly has laterally spaced rails. Recesses formed in the rearward extent adjustably receive the rails. A stock is secured to the rails. A cheek piece has first and second surfaces. Shift components allow for the moving of the cheek piece between first and second positions. The cheek piece is positionable above and in contact with the rails when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Dinora M. Crose
  • Systems and methods for a launch device and deployment unit
    Patent number: 8061073
    Abstract: An electronic weapon system includes a terminal for a local stun function, a deployment unit for a remote stun function, and a barrier, removal of which during deployment enables a circuit for the remote stun function that includes the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: TASER International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven N. D. Brundula, Milan Cerovic
  • Firing brakes for cannons or mortars
    Patent number: 8056464
    Abstract: The invention relates to firing brake assembly for weapons of the type incorporating an actual firing brake and means to modulate the function of said firing brake wherein the modulating means are in the form of a chamber equipped with a piston delimiting an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber, the upstream chamber communicating with the gun barrel by means of an upstream circuit ensuring that part of the combustion gases are taken up and a downstream chamber filled with a fluid and communicating with the firing brake by means of a downstream circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nexter Systems
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Cazalieres, Francois-Xavier Renard
  • Protection system for use with airbag inflators and initiators
    Patent number: 8056477
    Abstract: An inflator assembly may include an inflator housing and an initiator attached to the inflator housing. A varistor may be associated with the initiator and may be spaced apart from a surface of the inflator housing to define a first spark gap between the varistor and the surface of the inflator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: David Dean Hansen