Patents Examined by Michael J. Carone
  • Patent number: 7413145
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aerial fire suppression utilizing a potable fire retardant chemical dispensing system, readily adaptable, without extensive aircraft modification, to various makes of aircraft, for dispensing current types of forest and range fire fighting chemicals. The aerial delivery system is self contained and reusable. It enables cargo/utility aircraft to carry and dump a load, under control. The aerial delivery system is capable of attachment at the wing box, pressurized delivery from the nozzles, and nozzles directed straight downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Evergreen International Aviation, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Hale, Christopher B. Harris, Daniel A. Kottman
  • Patent number: 7409951
    Abstract: A handbill is rolled to form a coil that is retained within a collapsible cup as it is ejected from an elongated tube and delivered to its destination. The collapsible cup has a cylindrical wall and a bottom member at one end that does not contribute to the structural strength of the cup. The bottom member has an exposed adhesive within the cup that is encountered when the handbill is inserted within the cup. The elongated tube is connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid that is used to eject the handbill assembly from the tube. The handbill assembly and delivery system avoids the problems of prior assemblies and systems that projected cone-shaped paper flyers through the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Armando W. Benavides
  • Patent number: 7406926
    Abstract: A bird feeder port, especially suited for dispensing fine sized birdseed and configured for insertion through an exterior wall of a bird feeder; the port comprising a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and in addition having at least an upper portion and a lower portion; said lower portion having an aperture in the lowermost floor portion through which bird seed is in use presented and can be eaten by a feeding bird. The aperture preferably comprises a slot and has a width of between 5 and 13 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: C J Wildbird Foods Limited
    Inventor: Robert Kenneth Nock
  • Patent number: 7406793
    Abstract: A handgun has a reliable, integrated, lockable safety/hammer lock which is easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture. The handgun contains a frame having shaft receiving recesses, a hammer supported in the frame, and a lockable safety/hammer lock disposed in a slidable fashion in the frame. The safety/hammer lock has a locking shaft for engaging in the shaft receiving recesses and a hammer locking rail for preventing the hammer from actuating or cocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: W. Thomas McClellan
  • Patent number: 7404352
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for shielding a person's neck and head are disclosed. The exemplary device may have an exterior portion running lengthwise approximately the length of a forearm and at least two angled surfaces widthwise for deflecting a projectile. The system may also have an interior portion adapted to fit against a forearm. The person may shield the neck and head by positioning a palm against the forehead and aligning the forearm lengthwise in front of the person's face. The exemplary system may also have a coupling portion for coupling the shield to a rifle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Vadim E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7404398
    Abstract: A propulsion system consisting of a handle, trigger, receiver, hammer assembly, spring, fastener and plunger used for propelling small portions of semi-solid biodegradable objects such as a potato or apple. The combination of these parts provides a compact yet easy to use system for loading and shooting a small piece (otherwise known as the Slug) of the semi-solid biodegradable object. It also is a platform to generate, store and release in a controlled manor potential energy with the end result being to compress a separate, self resetting compression chamber filled with air and propel the small portions of the semi-solid biodegradable object from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Matthew Joseph Henricks
  • Patent number: 7404268
    Abstract: A precision targeting system for a firearm has an image capturing scope, a processor, and an actuator. In one embodiment, a user indicates when he wants to lock onto the target, and then readjust his aim after receiving feedback from the system. In another embodiment, the system automatically locks onto the target. After lock on, the system compares successive images, and determines if the target has moved in the firearm sight. If movement has occurred, the system calculates the degree of the movement, and sends appropriate signals to an actuator which corrects the aim of the firearm. The system thereby converts reasonably good aim into precision aim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Edward A. Page
  • Patent number: 7401432
    Abstract: A handgun tool for use with a handgun including a barrel, a recoil spring and associated spring plug adjacent the barrel, and a barrel bushing retaining the spring plug and being rotatable between locked and unlocked positions. The handgun tool may include a handle body having at least one bushing-receiving recess therein for engaging the barrel bushing and rotating the barrel bushing between the locked and unlocked positions as the handle body is rotated. The handgun tool may further include an elongate alignment member carried by the handle body to be positioned into the barrel to align rotation of the handle body with the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Perry Competition Inc.
    Inventor: Sue A. Perry
  • Patent number: 7401565
    Abstract: The port security barrier includes multiple barrier float assemblies connected to one another to form a barrier to stop, delay and discourage attacks by high speed boats of sixty five feet or less in length on high valued waterfront assets such as ports and docking facilities. The port security barrier includes multiple barrier floats coupled to one another by flange connectors. Each barrier float assembly also has a capture nylon net which is used to capture the high speeds and prevent an intrusion into restricted waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Laurence Nixon, William Seelig, Stephen Slaughter
  • Patent number: 7398616
    Abstract: A heavy-duty adjustable length butt stock assembly for a firearm such as an AR15 rifle or any other firearm that is made to accept an AR15 butt stock. The stock is designed to be stronger than any existing production AR15 butt stock. The butt stock has three major components, the butt, the receiver extension tube and the clamping gusset The front end of the butt stock has a primary bore hole that extends inwardly from its front end to the rear end of the butt stock. The receiver extension tube is telescopically received in the primary bore hole. An adjustment push button lock extends inwardly from one of the lateral sides of the butt stock and it actuates locking plunger pin that can mate with various longitudinally spaced transversely extending grooves on the bottom surface of the receiver extension tube. Various sling mount structures can be formed on the butt stock or on a clamping gusset that is removably inserted over the receiver extension tube adjacent its front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Weir
  • Patent number: 7398614
    Abstract: A firearm apparatus and a method of firing ammunition therefrom, where the method utilizes a barrel (12) having a breech end surface (40) and immovably affixed to frame (10), a stand pressure surface (32), and a cartridge container (16) with a cartridge case (26) therein and countermass main body (18) movable in opposite directions. Gas from a deflagrating propellant moves the movable members and applies directionally opposite forces upon the breech end surface (40) and the stand pressure surface (32), which results in the force cancellation and ensures that the barrel (12) remains stable during firing. This solves the problem of the angle of departure and contributes to a high accuracy of shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventors: Leonid Rozhkov, Igor Rozhkov
  • Patent number: 7398615
    Abstract: A magazine for a firearm having a magazine well has a body with the chamber for receiving ammunition. The body has an upper opening to the chamber, and has a contact portion with adjustable screws that contact a surface in the magazine well. Adjustment of the screws is used to establish a precise selected position of the magazine with respect to the receiver, permitting adjustment of the feed height, feed angle and ejector position. Four screws are provided, one at each corner of the upper surface of the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Craig Wheatley
  • Patent number: 7395819
    Abstract: A paintball marker has an inline cylinder that includes a gas governor that reduces gas flow from a compressed gas source to a valve area when the bolt is in a firing position; this increases efficiency in the marker because only the required air is used to fire the paintball. This bolt operates independent of the valve pin, which increases cycle speed and enables the governor to open and close at an optimum time in the firing cycle. Further, when the bolt/piston is recocking, the gap between the valve pin and governor valve pin enables low pressure gas driving the piston to start pressurizing the cylinder and driving the piston rearwards without resistance from the high pressure gas. The marker also allows a user to remove the inline cylinder without the use of tools, and gives the user a convenient carrying handle for holding the paintball marker, which is commonly called a “snatch grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: KEE Action Sports
    Inventors: Jerrold M. Dobbins, Gerald Dobbins
  • Patent number: 7395747
    Abstract: Firearms, breechblock stops for firearms and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example firearm includes a trigger that requires a force to be released, a trigger guard, a breechblock, and a spring-loaded breechblock stop that is operable between a resting position and an operative position. The example breechblock stop includes a slider control that has a control extension in the trigger guard. The firearm also includes a removable ammunition magazine that includes a follower. The breechblock stop may be moved between an operative position and a resting position by one of engagement with the follower of the magazine or actuation of the slider in a direction of operation essentially perpendicular to force releasing the trigger. Furthermore, the breechblock is unlocked in a released position when the breechblock stop is in the resting position, and the breechblock is locked in an open position when the breechblock stop is in the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch, GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Murello
  • Patent number: 7392611
    Abstract: An improved firearm takedown mechanism is provided, which in a retention position prevents removal of both a slide and barrel assembly and a trigger assembly, but when manually positioned out of the retention position allows easy removal of both the slide and barrel assembly and the trigger assembly without the use of tools. A firearm takedown mechanism is provided having a first element with opposing ends separated by a longitudinal axis with a major and minor surface extending outwardly from the axis, and respectively adapted to prevent and allow removal of a slide and barrel assembly. An improved method for firearm takedown provides that after moving a takedown mechanism from a retention position, both a slide and barrel assembly and a trigger assembly are manually removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: Brett Curry
  • Patent number: 7389717
    Abstract: A missile launch system is disclosed that allows for the rapid reloading of missiles in support of missions (e.g., littoral warship missions, etc.) that require a high-volume assault of one or more targets. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses a munitions module that is capable of launching missiles and is able to fit inside a warship. In addition to accommodating multiple missiles, the munitions module accommodates one or more missile types. The munitions module is configured with a door at a breech end to provide access to multiple launch cells for the rapid reloading of missiles. The door is physically configured to define a plenum that couples the launch cells to an exhaust duct for the purpose of venting exhaust gases. The munitions module mitigates some of the problems associated with launch systems in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Tushar K. Shah, Ashanna Randall, Chandler P. McCann
  • Patent number: 7387060
    Abstract: A projectile defense system uses a rocket exhaust generator to generate a rocket exhaust after an approaching projectile is detected/sensed. The rocket exhaust generator directs the rocket exhaust therefrom in a region that intercepts the trajectory of the approaching projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Matthew J. Sanford
  • Patent number: 7387072
    Abstract: A fluid jet apparatus includes a housing defining a propellant cavity, a fluid cavity, and a passage through the housing in fluid communication with the fluid cavity. The apparatus further includes a membrane separating the propellant cavity and the fluid cavity, a propellant disposed in the propellant cavity, and a fluid retained in the fluid cavity. The propellant urges the fluid from the fluid cavity through the passage upon initiation of the propellant. A munition system includes a munition and at least one fluid jet apparatus adapted to vent the munition. A method includes initiating a propellant to produce a rapidly expanding gas and urging a fluid through a passageway with the gas to produce a fluid jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Hunn, Ben T. Milam, Kenneth W. Havens
  • Patent number: 7386952
    Abstract: A modular gun stock includes a forestock supporting the action and barrel, and a buttstock assembly removably secured to the forestock. The length of the buttstock assembly is selected to provide a desired length of pull, such that replacement of the buttstock assembly provides ready customization of the length of the stock for different shooters, or for different shooting situations. The buttstock assembly includes two projecting locating pins that are received in complementary bores defined in the forestock. A rubber insert, located in the tip of each locating pin, and a gasket disposed between the buttstock assembly and the forestock, are respectively slightly compressed as the buttstock assembly is secured by a threaded fastener to the forestock. The durometer of the rubber insert and material of the gasket are preferably selected to lessen felt recoil and damp vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: Chris Henretty
  • Patent number: H2219
    Abstract: The coating method includes the steps of dissolving coating precursor(s) in a solvent to form a precursor solution: adding with mixing a miscible diluent to the precursor solution to form a coating solution; admixing solid particles to the coating solution to form a coating slurry, with the particles surrounded with the coating solution; spraying the coating slurry to form droplets containing at least one particle; passing the droplets through a drying zone where the droplets are dried and form dry particles coated with a coating material formed from the coating precursor(s); heat-treating the coating material on the particles emanating from the drying zone to remove volatile matter on the coating material, to improve integrity of the coating material and/or to effect another objective; and collecting dry coated particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Shyam S. Bayya, Guillermo R. Villalobos, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Ishwar D. Aggarwal