Patents Examined by Stewart Knox
  • Patent number: 7293558
    Abstract: A system for projecting light elements in the air, including: a casing connected to a reservoir containing the light elements and including an opening extending along a determined direction; a slide capable of sliding in the opening along the determined direction; a striker arranged in the opening and fixed with respect to the casing; a spring for sliding the slide in the opening; a shoulder for blocking the slide with respect to the casing in a stop position; a compressed gas cartridge capable of being slid along with the slide and, when the slide is blocked in the stop position, of being projected against the striker to be opened by the striker; and a channel for leading the gases released on opening of the cartridge towards the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Inventor: Francesco Ambrico
  • Patent number: 7290539
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing a high-pressure gas cartridge of this invention comprises: a high-pressure gas cartridge attachment and detachment apparatus for an air gun comprising: a high-pressure gas cartridge housing provided in a clip of an air gun; a back grip panel for a grip formed as a clamp lever; a lever rotation axis constituting a rotation fulcrum for a back grip panel; and a pressing curved surface capable of pressing a bottom part of the high-pressure gas cartridge, wherein a side grip panel of the grip is provided in an attachable and detachable manner so as to open and close the high-pressure gas cartridge housing, the high-pressure gas cartridge may be attached and detached with the back grip panel of the grip rotated about the lever rotation fulcrum so as to be in an open state, and the back grip panel presses against the bottom of the high-pressure gas cartridge due to rotation centered about the lever rotation axis so as to be closed and so as to push up and install the high-pressure gas car
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Maruzen Company Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuo Maeda, Yoshiyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 7269919
    Abstract: Hammer disarmer for rifles, constituted of a cylindrical pin lodged in the hammer itself having an operable protruding head over the curved upper surface of the hammer spur, going downwards through a cylindrical portion provided with a frontal plane recess, within which a positioning transverse pin limiting the movements of the disarming axle operates, over which a small return spring lodged within the hole of the hammer also actuates, said hole whose diameter decreases downwards, lodging and guiding the whole elongated portion of the disarmer until its end emerges from the lower plane face of the hammer, where it actuates the disarming lever. If the hammer is armed, a thumb pressure on the actuation head, is sufficient to release the hammer disarmer, which is pushed by the corresponding spring to an interrupted rotation when fitted to the trigger, before the position of percussion. If the hammer is disarmed, it can be simply armed with the thumb to fire the gun, pulling the trigger when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Forjas Tauras S.A.
    Inventor: Ingo Alberto Neumann
  • Patent number: 7270069
    Abstract: The present invention is a dispenser mounted on the aft section of a torpedo for deploying an elongated, flexible article along a deployment axis. There is a molded elastomeric encasement over the exterior perimeter of the outer weldment of the dispenser for providing shock, impact, and force protection to the dispenser. A metal stiffener plate is secured to the top portion of the encasement for distributing localized compressive loads on weak sections of the dispenser. The encasement together with the stiffener plate enlarges the dispenser to approximately the same outer diameter as the torpedo to which it is attached. The encasement incorporates a fore and aft groove at a lower position with small notches for positioning and anchoring a torpedo power cable. The encasement further incorporates a pivoting retention door assembly for restraining the torpedo power cable within the groove in the encasement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert C. Thibodeau, David A. Abdow, George M. Kotas
  • Patent number: 7254913
    Abstract: A revolver for firing high velocity ammunition includes a frame, a cylinder, a barrel, and a firing mechanism. The revolver may include one or more of the following, each of which is especially adapted for use in the context of firing high velocity ammunition: spacers for adjusting a barrel-cylinder gap, for eliminating broaching of the rearward surface(s) of the barrel; a forcing cone formed in the rearward opening of the barrel for accommodating deformed projectiles; a reflective surface (e.g., mirrored surface) provided on the cone and/or barrel rearward surfaces, for reducing erosion resulting from using high velocity ammunition; gain-twist rifling in the barrel for a smoother transition to full projectile velocity; a larger diameter, hardened firing pin bushing for minimizing brass flow in the rearward direction; and a front sight assembly that minimizes lateral shift or drift of the sight pin during firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: Jason Robert Dubois, Simon Michael Muska, Gary E. Zukowski, John W. Avedisian, Brett Curry
  • Patent number: 7252079
    Abstract: A safe air-pressure-launched toy rocket system includes an air-pressure-launched toy rocket, a high pressure reservoir, a manual air pump connected to the reservoir and configured to enable a user to pump air into the reservoir to a high pressure, a valve connected to the reservoir and configured, when opened, to release high pressure air stored in the high pressure reservoir to the toy rocket to launch the toy rocket, and two releases configured to be operable by different hands of the user. The releases are connected to the valve in a series-open configuration, where the valve is closed only when both of the releases are operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Brian W. Walker
  • Patent number: 7243603
    Abstract: A shot pattern control wad structure for use in a cartridge for shotgun wherein the cartridge includes a case having a tubular outer wall and a wad structure located in the case between gunpowder and a charge of pellets. The wad structure of the present invention is a two-piece structure and includes a base wad having a tubular cylindrical body open at a forward end thereof and has a closed rearward end that faces adjacent to the gun powder. The cylindrical body of the base wad is provided with slits longitudinally extending from the open forward end. The second portion of the wad structure is a shot container having a tubular cylindrical body with open rear and front ends and contains the charge of pellets and is dimensioned to be slidably received within the base wad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Clifford G. Sheaffer
  • Patent number: 7237468
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projectile firing device used on a platform and comprising at least two tubes integral with a base. This device is characterized in that the base is mounted able to swivel on a turret around a first, substantially horizontal axis, such swiveling controlled by first drive means, the turret being able itself to pivot with respect to the platform around a second substantially vertical axis and being controlled by second drive means, the horizontal swiveling being made on either side of a median position in which the tubes are oriented with their axes substantially vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Giat Industries
    Inventor: Loic Laine
  • Patent number: 7225576
    Abstract: A single-mirror target viewing apparatus configured for enabling a gun to be fired at a desired target from a cover position in an aimed manner. The target viewing apparatus comprises a mirror assembly, a mounting base and a sighting device. The mirror assembly includes a single utilized mirror that provides a target imaging surface. The mounting base is configured for being attached to a gun and having the mirror assembly moveably attached thereto. The single utilized mirror is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and is rotatable between a plurality of rotational positions when in the deployed position. The sighting device is attached to a non-viewing portion of the mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Marlin Daniel Ballard
  • Patent number: 7168367
    Abstract: An improved fuze for a submunition grenade designed to be launched from a cargo projectile comprising a fuze, a charge and a casing; the improved fuze comprising a fuze housing; a threaded firing pin having a pointed tip, oriented coaxially with the submunition grenade, and threadedly engageable to a threaded hole in a weighted insert that is able to reciprocate within the fuze housing; a slider slidingly moveable in a substantially radial plane tangential to the axis of the firing pin, between a safe position and an armed position; the firing pin being able to rotatably reciprocate forwards and backwards by rotation of the firing pin with respect to the weighted insert along the threadedly engaged screw threads; the fuze further comprising a fully mechanical inertial releasable safety apparatus for preventing swiveling of the swivel mounted striker, to prevention initiation of the time delay detonator ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Israel Military Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Amir Levy, Asaf Hargaash, Ran Yerushalmi, Amnon Hay
  • Patent number: 7168199
    Abstract: A portable seat and platform support includes a shaft with a base mounted to its lower end to position the shaft to a generally vertical orientation. A removable platform can be attached to the upper end of the shaft, and a seat assembly is supported by a fastener assembly along the shaft for independent rotation about the shaft axis. The seat assembly includes a collar slidably attached to the shaft, a seat supported by the collar, and a bearing on the collar. The fastener assembly includes an adjustment device to support the collar at a selected location along the shaft axis, and a bearing portion supported by the adjustment device and journaled to the bearing on the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventors: Gary L. Krien, David A. Krien
  • Patent number: 7156085
    Abstract: A toy gun includes a barrel having a bay for receiving a soft projectile loaded within a cartridge. A stock is connected pivotally to the barrel and encases a pneumatic cylinder and piston that is primed upon pivotally opening the stock and barrel. The pneumatic cylinder and piston communicate with the bay when the stock and barrel are closed. A trigger releases the piston to force air into the bay for dispatching the projectile from the cartridge—leaving the cartridge within the bay for ejection upon opening of the stock and barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys (H.K.) Co., Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Lewis, Jeffrey C. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7150276
    Abstract: Paintball marker including a firing chamber having a barrel coupled to one end and a removable back plug coupled to an opposing end, a door surmounting a chamber loading hole disposed between back plug and barrel; a cam coupled to door; an actuator coupled to door cam; a pin valve interposed in a first gas path between a gas source and a passage leading to the chamber, and a trigger coupled to a second gas path between the gas source and actuator for opening the second gas path for actuating the actuator such that the door cam transforms motion of the actuator into pivoting motion of the door from an open position such that a paintball is loaded into the chamber to a closed position and then continuing to actuate the actuator to coact with the pin valve for opening the first gas path for firing the paintball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Jack V. Rice
  • Patent number: 7140142
    Abstract: A single-mirror target viewing apparatus configured for enabling a gun to be fired at a desired target from a cover position in an aimed manner. The target viewing apparatus comprises a mirror assembly and a mounting base. The mirror assembly includes a single utilized mirror that provides a target imaging surface. The mounting base is configured for being attached to a gun and having the mirror assembly moveably attached thereto. The single utilized mirror is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and is rotatable between a plurality of rotational positions when in the deployed position. When in the at least one of the rotational positions, the target imaging surface is in a skewed orientation with respect to at least one of a longitudinal axis of a barrel of the gun and an axis that extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Marlin Daniel Ballard
  • Patent number: 7137217
    Abstract: Automatic and semi-automatic firearms of remarkably reduced mass yet capable of long-range accuracy because of unique recoil reduction are characterized by (A) a temporary combination of a barrel, an integral breech and a separable chamber that in operation of the firearm is moved by a compressed spring distally before and while a chambered cartridge is fired, (B) run-out of such temporary operative combination diminishes firearm recoil, (C) recoil of the temporary operative combination recompresses the spring and (D) the separable chamber is loaded with a round while spatially separated from the breech and barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Knight's Armament Company
    Inventors: Douglas D. Olson, C. Reed Knight, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7121211
    Abstract: An ammunition projectile comprising a metal jacket containing a powder-based core incompletely filling the trailing end of the jacket, and a disc overlying the trailing end of the core within the jacket, the disc being frangible by reason of a plurality of indentations in at least one face of the disc. A method is claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Doris Nebel Beal Inter Vivos Patent Trust
    Inventor: Harold F. Beal
  • Patent number: 7117622
    Abstract: A two-piece snap-on magazine adapter for a handgun. This magazine adapter provides a relatively continuous surface between the handgun and locked extended length magazine to afford the handgun user with a comfortable grip among other benefits. In the preferred embodiment, the magazine adapter has two snap together pieces: a main body and an end cap. The main body has an interior pocket configuration contoured to capture the magazine floor plate. The main body of the device is then captured by an end cap that locks via a detent mechanism onto the main adapter body. The magazine adapter fits completely around the magazine such that when the magazine is locked into the handgun, the resulting grip provides a smooth, continuous and comfortable fit between the extended length magazine's floor plate and the butt of the handgun's grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventors: Robert M. Freed, Gregory M. Somers
  • Patent number: 7107980
    Abstract: A device for assisting a user in marking an overhead surface to correspond with a mark on a surface below includes a substantially hollow housing having pressurized gas containers received therein. The pressurized gas containers are in communication with a projection barrel extending upwardly from the housing. A lower laser module is positioned on the lower surface of the housing for projecting a laser beam downwardly onto a target mark on an underlying surface. The paint ball projection barrel is coaxial with the lower laser module such that when the laser beam is directed toward the target mark, a paint ball can be projected upwardly to produce an overhead mark that is axially aligned with the target mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Donald Lee Craig
  • Patent number: 7100489
    Abstract: For use in landmine clearing, a hitch system providing backup with anti-jack knife and anti-dive, the system includes a hitch assembly and a roller assembly. The hitch assembly has a hinge axis housing containing a hinge shaft and a connector shaft housing containing a stop block having a first side that engages a flat region on the hinge shaft and a second side that engages a biasing spring that is held in the connector shaft housing using an end cap. The roller assembly includes a roller frame that is rigidly mechanically coupled to the hinge shaft. The biasing spring is selected to provide a compressive bias to the stop block such that the roller assembly selective rotates about the hinge axis housing when the roller assembly is subjected to a landmine detonation, and such that rotation of the hinge shaft is prevented during normal forward, reverse, and turning maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Donald H. Kendall
  • Patent number: 7100512
    Abstract: A timed pyric chain apparatus, particularly for the ignition of pyrotechnical fireworks includes a main conduit (2) for a retard fuse (16) the main conduit (2) having lateral branch conduits (5). The apparatus consists of coupled modular elements, each modular element having a fuse holder (1) including a main conduit (2) in which a retard fuse (16) is to be placed. The main conduit is divided into a first portion (4), the cross section of the first portion (3) being smaller than the cross section of the second portion (4), the fuse holder further including a lateral branch conduit (5) for receiving a wick (17) retainer (11) for a part of its length. The wick is provided with a fire passing sheath (18), the coupling of a first fuse holder (1) to a second fuse holder (1?) resulting from the introduction of the first portion (3) of the first fuse holder (1) in a second portion (4?) of the second fuse holder (1?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventors: Carlo Monetti, Luigi Leone Paolo Monetti