Abstract: A safe, quiet, easy to control, efficient, and compact aircraft configuration is enabled through the combination of multiple vertical lift rotors, tandem wings, and forward thrust propellers. The vertical lift rotors, in combination with a front and rear wing, permits a balancing of the center of lift with the center of gravity for both vertical and horizontal flight. This wing and multiple rotor system has the ability to tolerate a relatively large variation of the payload weight for hover, transition, or cruise flight while also providing vertical thrust redundancy. The propulsion system uses multiple lift rotors and forward thrust propellers of a small enough size to be shielded from potential blade strike and provide increased perceived and real safety to the passengers. Using multiple independent rotors provides redundancy and the elimination of single point failure modes that can make the vehicle non-operable in flight.

Abstract: A projectile 1 for ammunition is disclosed, said projectile 1 comprising an outer profile geometry on an ogive-shaped impact end portion 5 thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising two or more notches 2 extending in at least one of (i) an axial, (ii) parallel or (iii) slightly inclined orientation relative to a dissecting axis 3 extending longitudinally through said impact end portion 5 of said projectile 1, wherein each notch 2 (a) comprises notch surface portions 4,7 so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said ogive end portion 5 of projectile 1, and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery Sp extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis 3, and (b) is surrounded by an outer side surface 51 of said ogive-shaped impact end portion 5 of said projectile 1.

Abstract: An automatic or semi-automatic firearm including a trigger having a frame, at least one trigger sear extending from the frame, and a hammer having a hammer pivot axis, a head and at least one hammer sear disposed on a lateral side of the hammer between the hammer pivot axis and the head, wherein the frame includes a pivot axis and the at least one trigger sear includes a trigger sear surface, the at least one trigger sear extending from the frame such that the at least one trigger sear engages a corresponding one of the at least one hammer sear.

Abstract: A method to attenuate the blast wave/blast overpressure from a weapon discharge by leaking an effective quantity of propellant gas from behind the projectile, into the precursor gas flow in front of the projectile, while the projectile is still in the weapon barrel—whereby the exit pressure ratio of the projectile from the weapon is surprisingly reduced by about 95%—resulting in a reduction of from about 51.6 to about 58.2% in the peak pressure level/sound wave which impacts the user or crew of the weapon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle variants. The magazine well attachment includes a well attachment body having a slit configured to slide over a trigger guard of a firearm during the assembly process. The attachment may include a front retainer for securing the magazine well attachment to a front portion of the magazine opening of the firearm. A magazine release latch shield may be added as a modification to the magazine well attachment.

Abstract: A bore cleaning projectile cleans a bore of a firearm as the projectile is propelled down the bore. The projectile includes a frame including a lower charge cap, a tapered cone-shaped center shaft portion, and an end cap. The projectile further includes a propellant providing a force to push the device down the bore of the firearm and at least one cleaning agent situated around the tapered cone-shaped center shaft portion. The center shaft portion includes a narrower diameter at a longitudinally forward portion of the center shaft portion and a wider diameter at a longitudinally rearward portion of the center shaft portion. The cleaning agent is forced to move along the center shaft portion toward the longitudinally rearward portion of the center shaft portion as the frame is propelled down the bore. This movement along the center shaft portion causes intimate contact between the cleaning agent and the bore.

Abstract: A drum-type magazine in which a cartridge loading space for being loaded with cartridges can be formed in a drum unit when rotating a cartridge guide unit by an operation of a cartridge loading unit, and the cartridge loading unit can be immediately returned to an initial position thereof, so a user can easily load the magazine with cartridges using a small force. The drum-type magazine is also configured such that, even when the magazine is repeatedly used over a lengthy period of time and the elasticity of a tension member is reduced, the elasticity of the tension member can be increased by rotating a tension control unit, so the magazine can be efficiently loaded with cartridges and can efficiently support the loaded cartridges.

Abstract: A bolt for a firearm having a rotatable head and carrier body has a twisted polygonal keyed interface between the head and carrier body. A neck extending rearward from the head presents the keyed interface with a corresponding bore within the carrier body. This construction reduces torque moments between the head and carrier body as compared to prior art bolts. Camming loads on the neck may be constructed with inverses to create space for tolerance and lubricant.

Abstract: A fragmentable projectile casing for an explosive projectile (7) has an irregular wall thickness (W) and predetermined breaking points (2) distributed over the projectile casing (1) for formation of fragments. The predetermined breaking points (2) for obtaining uniform fragments are spaced irregularly from one another. The predetermined breaking points (2) can have a smaller distance from one another in a region of greater wall thickness (W) and can be arranged in the manner of a grid and/or are formed as lines. Further, the predetermined breaking points (2) can run parallel to a longitudinal axis (L) of the projectile casing (1) and/or along a circumference (U) of the projectile casing (1).

Abstract: An exploding foil initiator system comprises a substrate having a first side and a second side, an exploding foil initiator and surface mount pads. The exploding foil initiator is formed on the first side of the substrate and comprises a first contact, a second contact and a channel that electrically connects the first contact and the second contact. A first surface mount pad is formed on the second side of the substrate. As second surface mount pad is also formed on the second side of the substrate. A first via extends through the substrate to electrically connect the first contact with the first surface mount pad. Analogously, a second via extends through the substrate to electrically connect the second contact to the second surface mount pad.

Abstract: A configurable handgrip has a plurality of plates, the plates being arranged in a stack, a clamp element operably engaging the stack, and the clamp element being operable to transition between a first released position in which the plates are free to move with respect to each other, and a second clamped position in which the plates are secured against movement with respect to each other, such that the stack may be formed into a selected shape when the clamp is in the released position, and the plates are held in the selected shape when the clamp is in the clamped position. Each plate may define a plate aperture. The clamp element may be an elongated member received in the plate apertures. The plates may each have a contact edge and an opposed recessed edge.

Abstract: A pivot-axis, pin arrangement for rifle receivers can serve as a trigger or hammer pin therefor. A lower housing has a pair of sidewalls defining a gap and with a pair of bores spaced across the gap. The outer side of one sidewall has a slightly recessed channel which is elongated between spaced ends, at least one of which is rounded and centered on the axes of the spaced bores. The pivot axis pin has a cylindrical shaft and a T-slot head style head. The head has one portion forming an annular ring while the remaining portion is elongated to an end. In use, the pin is inserted through the bores, and is ‘simply supported’ by the ends thereof in the bores therefor. The head of the pin locks against rotation merely by settling in into at least one rounded end of the recessed channel.

Abstract: A vane includes a platform with a fixture overmolded by a sheath.

Abstract: A bolt carrier with integral adjustable gas key for use with a firearm is provided. The adjustable gas key includes a base portion and a tube portion coupled to the base portion. An inlet passage extends through the tube portion and an outlet passage angled from the inlet passage exits through the base portion. The adjustable gas key includes an inner volume located at a junction of the inlet passage and the outlet passage. The adjustable gas key also includes an adjustment device operatively coupled to the adjustable gas key, wherein the adjustment device adjusts a size of the inner volume. The adjustable gas key is integral and unitary with a bolt carrier of the firearm, wherein adjustment of the size of the inner volume adjusts the force of action of the bolt carrier.

Abstract: Interchangeable choke tube for the shot load of smoothbore shotgun which causes to the shot load gradually initial tightening of progressive form, expansion and final retightening (7), featuring internally initial tightening of progressive form section (8) followed by expansion section (9) and which is followed by final retightening section (10), which achieves the improvement of the effectiveness of the shot as, first, the initial tightening of progressive form section (8) featured applies to the shot charge, as it passes through it, vertical lateral pressure which splits the aggregates of shot pellets and second, the expansion section (9) which follows causes ameliorative rearrangement of the shot pellets as they are deploying in a space with larger diameter and, in this way, and their smoother entrance into the final retightening section (10) with result the improvement of their distribution within their pattern, something that is not happening with the hitherto existing ones.

Abstract: An electronic hand grenade is provided, which includes a body having at least one charge therein. An electronic detonation unit is attached to the body for detonating the at least one charge. A pull pin is removably attached to the electronic detonation unit, for activating the electronic detonation unit upon removal thereof. The electronic detonation unit includes an accelerometer for detecting movement and acceleration of the body, a controller containing an operating program for controlling operation of the electronic detonation unit, a detonator for providing a spark to ignite the at least one charge, and a power source for powering the electronic detonation unit.

Abstract: A non-lethal projectile for firing by a firearm by discharging a conventional bullet (5), the non-lethal projectile comprising a body (7), the interior of which contains a bullet trap (15, 22) for the bullet (5) which uses up a considerable part of the kinetic energy of the bullet by friction and deformation and converts a fraction of the kinetic energy into kinetic energy of the projectile. For that purpose the bullet trap consists of a plug (22) and a catching piece (15), wherein the rear part of the plug (22) is a peg (23) that can be inserted into the mouth of the barrel (4). The catching piece (15) is a hollow cylinder, which has a blind bore (17) closed at the front face of the hollow cylinder, the hollow cylinder being pressed for a part of the length thereof into a blind bore (10) of the body (7) that is closed at the front.

Abstract: A firearm 10 having a selectively movable slide portion 12 which includes at least one serrated radius or shoulder edge 14, 16 and which allows the firearm 10 to be selectively cycled by engaging the at least one serrated edge 14, 16 with a surface, such as table edge 32, thereby allowing for selective and relative movement between the frame 7 and the slide portion 12.

Abstract: Apparatus for rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable may include a containment structure having a first compartment that is configured to receive a device therein and a movable member configured to receive a cartridge having reactant material therein. The movable member is configured to be inserted into the first compartment of the containment structure and to ignite the reactant material within the cartridge. Methods of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable may include disposing the device into the first compartment of the containment structure, inserting the movable member into the first compartment of the containment structure, igniting the reactant material in the cartridge, and expelling molten metal onto the device.

Abstract: A firearm comprising an upper receiver and a charging handle is disclosed. A charging handle is coupled to the upper receiver and comprises a handle assembly rotationally coupled to a main body about a first and a second pivot point. The handle assembly includes a first handle having an edge nearest the main body and a latch extending from the first handle parallel to the main body for interfacing with the upper receiver in a first position, a second handle having an edge nearest the main body, and a plunger interfacing with the edge of the first handle and the edge of the second handle, and a spring, such that when force is applied to either handle, the plunger is pushed into the main body and energy is transferred to the handles, moving the latch into a second position.