Abstract: A needleless injection system and method for injecting a medical product comprises a needleless injection device having a nozzle assembly defining an ampule chamber for holding medication, an energy device for pushing medication out of the nozzle assembly, and an energy device actuating mechanism. These components are operatively contained in a housing configured for a hand held operation. The energy device is a self-contained gas spring operatively connected to a plunger operating within the ampule chamber. The gas spring is preferably stepped which can be used in many different applications, an air gun being one. The injection device can be provide with a coupling device for coupling a medication supply vial to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly is removably situated in the housing with the plunger removable therewith.

Abstract: A telescopic gun sight is clamped to a mount which is mounted on a base for limited relative sliding movement fore and aft of the barrel of a rifle, to which the base is secured. Resilient bushes of elastomeric material are disposed within bores in the mount, and fixing bolts pass through the bushes to clamp the mount to the base. The resilience of the bushes allows the mount to move slightly relative to the base, and returns the mount to its original datum position after such movement. In this way, shocks that may otherwise damage the sight and/or shift its position relative to the barrel of the rifle may be absorbed--particularly recoil shocks upon firing. In other embodiments, relative movement of a mount relative to a base is possible in more than one direction, thereby to absorb shocks in other directions, as may be caused by, for example, accidental knocks.

Abstract: A gas spring airgun in which the power system comprises a main cylinder which contains a piston and a hollow dummy piston. The piston is a sliding fit within the main cylinder while the dummy piston is fixed relative to the main cylinder, and is of considerably small diameter. A collar is located in the space between the dummy piston and the piston and is substantially fixed relative to the piston and slidable relative to the dummy piston, when the system is pressurized.

Abstract: A firing mechanism for an air weapon in which air is compressed in a cylinder and expelled through a discharge port in the cylinder to propel a projectile along a barrel by a piston executing a firing stroke. The mechanism comprises a piston slidably located within a cylinder with the crown of the piston facing towards the discharge port. A spring urges the piston towards the discharge port. A bobbin is located behind the piston crown, which is axially movable with the piston during at least a portion of the firing stroke and is axially movable relative to the piston at the end of the firing stroke.

Abstract: An air weapon air compression system of the type in which air is compressed in a cylinder and expelled through a discharge port, to propel a projectile along the barrel and fire it out of the weapon, by the rapid movement of a piston within the cylinder. Such a system incorporating grooves in one or both of opposed portions of the cylinder and piston, for the transfer of air towards the discharge port during the final compression stage, to enhance the performance of the weapon.

Abstract: An air rifle having a firing mechanism (12) which comprises a variable volume gas chamber (52) behind a piston (28) which moves within an outer cylinder (26) in front of a rear cylinder (36). The gas chamber (52) is defined between the piston and the rear cylinder and is sealingly closed. When the rifle is cocked, the piston is latched in its most rearward position in which the gas in the chamber (52) is most highly compressed. The trigger releases the piston latch, causing the piston to be driven forward as the gas expands in the variable volume chamber compressing the air in the outer cylinder (26) in front of the piston (28) until it exceeds a threshold which fires the pellet out of the breech. The semi-permanent charge of gas in the chamber (52) thus constitutes a pneumatic spring. A safety device is provided to relieve pressure in the chamber (52) before the firing mechanism can be dismantled.