BORESIGHTER TRAINER FOR GUN
A boresighter/trainer fits into a distal end of a gun barrel and includes a sound sensor, a circuit, a laser, and a power source. The boresighter/trainer has at least two operational modes: one in which it continuously emits laser light and one in which it emits laser light for a short duration when the sound of a firing pin is detected. When in its first mode, the boresighter/trainer permits laser light to be projected along the longitudinal axis of a gun barrel in which it is portioned, for the purpose of aligning a sight on the firearm. When the boresighter/trainer is in its second mode and the firing pin of the gun is activated, the sound of the firing pin is detected by the sound sensor and activates a circuit in the boresighter/trainer to cause the light source to emit light along the longitudinal axis of the firearm barrel. The boresighter/trainer may have multiple bore adapters that fit different firearm bore diameters.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/804,229, filed on Nov. 6, 2017, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/963,475, filed on Dec. 9, 2015, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/459,274, filed on Aug. 13, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,297,614, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
This application incorporates by reference, to the extent they are not inconsistent with this disclosure, the disclosures of: U.S. Pat. No. 9,170,079 entitled LASER TRAINER CARTRIDGE and U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,947 entitled AXIS ALIGNMENT APPARATUS.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a firearm boresighter that may be used to align a gun barrel with a sight on the gun; and also used for firearm training, without requiring live ammunition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional firearm training can be dangerous, expensive (considering the prices for ammunition and replacement targets) and can only be performed in certain areas, such as shooting ranges. The present invention(s) allows firearm training to be performed safely, inexpensively, and almost anywhere without the use of live ammunition. Additionally, the present invention(s) is also a boresighter that functions to align the bore of a firearm barrel with a sight on the firearm. Until now, trainers and boresighters have been different products, requiring the owner of a firearm to purchase at least two separate products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA laser boresighter/trainer (or just boresighter/trainer) is configured to fit inside the end of a barrel (or bore) of a firearm. A boresighter/trainer according to aspects of the invention can be activated to emit laser light that indicates where a bullet fired from the firearm would strike. The emitted light projects the longitudinal axis of the firearm barrel in which the boresighter/trainer is positioned. It can be used to align a gun's sights with the bore's longitudinal axis. It can also be used to provide realistic firearms training, preferably allowing a user to practice tap, rack, bang and/or malfunction drills. The boresighter/trainer can be configured to operate with several firearm calibers.
The boresighter/trainer comprises a body (which can be a one-piece body or a multiple-piece body). The body is elongated along an axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the firearm bore when the boresighter/trainer is positioned in the gun bore. The body has a proximal end in which the laser is mounted and that remains outside of the firearm bore, and a distal end that is inserted into the firearm bore. Between the distal end and proximal end is a seating portion to form a first contact area with the inner surface of the firearm barrel at its distal end (which is the end farthest from a user and from where a fired bullet exits the barrel).
A bore adapter is attached to the distal end of the boresighter/trainer, and the bore adaptor is inserted into the gun barrel. The adapter has an outside diameter that forms a second contact area with the inner surface of the gun barrel. The first contact area and second contact area position and substantially center the boresighter/trainer in the firearm barrel, such that the body axis of the boresighter/trainer is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the firearm barrel.
The boresighter/trainer has at least two modes. In a first mode, the laser is on constantly so a user can align a sight (such as an optical scope or mechanical sight) with a laser light emitted by boresighter/trainer. In this manner, the sight can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the firearm barrel. In a second mode, the boresighter/trainer emits laser light for a short duration when it is activated by the sound of the firearm firing pin striking. The boresighter/trainer may also have a third mode in which it is turned off.
Utilizing a boresighter/trainer, the owner of a firearm need purchase only one product to (1) align a sight with the firearm barrel, and (2) train using laser light instead of live ammunition. Further, dealers could potentially reduce their inventory of products because only a single product is required for firearm bore alignment and firearm training.
Turning now to the Figures, where the purpose is to describe preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit same.
The boresighter/trainer 10 may be configured to operate in conjunction with firearms of essentially any desired caliber. In certain embodiments, boresighter/trainer 10 is configured to fit a firearm having a caliber of 9 mm, .32 cal, .38 cal, .40 cal., .44 cal., .45 cal., or .50 cal., and many other bore sizes—particularly bore sizes for rifles. The boresighter/trainer 10 is configured to be positioned in the end of the barrel (or bore) of essentially any desired firearm having a barrel long enough to receive the boresighter/trainer. The boresighter/trainer is most preferably used in the barrel of a rifle, although it may also be used in other firearms. The Laser boresighter/trainer preferably fits barrels with a caliber of .22 to .50 caliber and preferably fits barrels 2½ inches or longer. When in the boresighter mode it is more likely to be used in a rifle, whereas in training mode it is more likely used in a pistol. However, it could be used in any suitable firearm in either the boresighter or training mode.
Boresighter/trainer 10 comprises a body 12 with a generally elongated shape along a body axis 14. The body 12 has a proximal end 16 and a distal end 18. At the proximal end 16 the body surface has a first diameter 20, while at the distal end 18 there is a second diameter 22 which is less that the first diameter 20. Between the proximal end 16 and distal end 18 is a seating area 24. As shown, seating area 24 is a tapered portion of body 12.
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The first cavity 60 has a cavity diameter 72 (
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In some aspects of the invention the power source 110 is housed elsewhere in the body 12 (not shown). The switch 66 acts as a selectively engagable conductor that completes an electrical circuit between the second conductive area 90 and fourth surface area 102, which is also conductive, from power source 110 to the light source 62, with the return ground path from light source 62 being through the electrically conductant body 12. Switch 66 may be removed through channel 70.
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In one embodiment, the boresighter/trainer has a power source 100 that is three 377-type batteries, or three V393/SR754 W, or equivalent batteries to provide power to a circuit 8, which may utilize 4-4.5 V. In this embodiment, the batteries provide enough power for approximately 3,000 emissions of laser light that simulate the location of where a bullet being fired would strike.
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Using known methods of making circuitry, with an appropriate circuit, the switch 66 may have two or three positions, and the boresighter/trainer could operates differently in each position. In a preferred embodiment, the switch has a first position in which the boresighter/trainer 10 has a first operating mode (or mode). In the first mode, the boresighter/trainer is constantly on, and can be used to align the bore of the firearm in which boresighter/trainer 10 is positioned with a sight of the firearm.
Switch 66 has a second position that causes boresighter/trainer 10 to operate in a second mode. In the second mode, boresighter/trainer 10 emits a burst of laser light when it detects the sound of the firing pin of the firearm striking for a time of about 100 milliseconds, although any suitable time can be used, such as any duration between 0.05 and 0.20 seconds. Or, laser 62 may be illuminated for between about 7.5 milliseconds (ms) to about 12.5 ms per shot, i.e., each time the sound of the firing pin striking activates boresighter/trainer 10. The boresighter/trainer 10 can be used for rack, bang or malfunction training drills when in the second mode. The disclosure of U.S. Publication No. 2016/0161220, entitled Master Module Light Source and Trainer, to Moore et al. and published on Jun. 9, 2016 is incorporated herein by reference to the extent it is not inconsistent with this application. Paragraphs [0072]-[0075] and FIGS. 36-38 of U.S. Publication No. 2016/0161220 in particular disclose a structure and circuitry for detecting the sound of a firing pin and activating a laser module in response.
Switch 66 may also have a third position in which boresighter/trainer 10 has a third mode in which it is off. In this embodiment, the circuitry (not shown) is implemented using a printed circuit board. Alternate embodiments of the invention may utilize any other suitable circuit to cause the laser module 62 to illuminate.
In some embodiments, the boresighter/trainer 10 may be configured to produce a sound (e.g., a gunshot sound) when in the second mode and the firing pin strikes the backer. The boresighter/trainer may include a speaker or any other suitable device to produce a sound, and may produce any desired sound.
Having thus described some embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof. Unless expressly stated in the written description or claims, the steps of any method recited in the claims may be performed in any order capable of yielding the desired result.
Claims
1. A boresighter/trainer configured for use within a gun barrel of a gun, the gun barrel with a first end having a firing chamber and a second end, the boresighter/trainer comprising:
- (a) a body having an axis, a proximal end, a distal end configured to be inserted into the second end of the gun barrel, and a seating portion between the proximal end and the distal end, the seating portion configured to form a first contact area with an inner surface of the gun barrel;
- (b) a bore adapter attached to the distal end, the bore adaptor having a variable adapter diameter and configured to form a second contact area with the inner surface of the gun barrel;
- (c) a fastener attaching the bore adapter to the distal end, the fastener configured to apply force to the bore adapter;
- (d) a light source in the housing to emit a light beam aligned with the body axis;
- (e) a power source,
- (f) a sound sensor to detect the sound of a firing pin strike of the gun, and to activate a circuit in response, wherein when the circuit is activated, the power source provides power to the light source and the light source emits light; and
- (g) a switch, wherein the switch has a first position in which the boresighter/trainer is in a first mode whereby it constantly emits light, and the switch has a second position in which the boresighter/trainer is in a second mode whereby it emits light for a short duration when the sensor detects the sound of the firing pin strike, wherein when in the first mode, the boresighter/trainer permits laser light to be projected along a longitudinal axis of the gun barrel in which it is portioned, for aligning a sight on gun and wherein when the boresighter/trainer is in the second mode and the firing pin activated, the sound of the firing pin is detected by the sound sensor and activates the circuit in the boresighter/trainer to cause the light source to emit light along the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel.
2. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the circuit includes a capacitor.
3. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the bore adapter includes deformable members defining the variable adapter diameter, wherein the deformable members deform in response to force applied by the fastener.
4. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the power source is one or more batteries.
5. The boresighter/trainer of claim 5, wherein the power source includes three batteries.
6. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser.
7. The boresighter/trainer of claim 6, wherein the laser is activated for between about 7.5 to about 12.5 milliseconds, or about 0.1 seconds, when the circuit is activated.
8. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the circuit is a 4.5 V system.
9. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the boresighter/trainer is dimensioned to be received in either a 9 mm,.32 caliber,.38 caliber,.40 caliber,.44 caliber,.45 caliber or.50 caliber gun.
10. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the body has an surface with a first diameter at the proximal end and a second diameter less than the first diameter at the distal end, and wherein the seating portion is a tapered section of an outer surface of the body.
11. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the bore adapter diameter is variable.
12. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the body distal end is tapered and the bore adapter deforming members overly the distal end, and are configured to splay and move outward from the distal end when force is applied to them by the fastener.
13. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the body includes a first cavity having an axis aligned with the body axis, and the first cavity houses the light source.
14. The boresighter/trainer of claim 13, wherein the body includes a second cavity adjacent the first cavity, wherein the switch and power source are in the second cavity.
15. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the body includes an opening from which the light source beam is projected.
16. The boresighter/trainer of claim 14, wherein the switch has a third position, and when the switch is in its third position the boresighter/trainer is in a third mode in which it is off.
17. The boresighter/trainer of claim 1, wherein the body is one piece.
18. A kit comprising the boresighter/trainer of claim 1 and one or more additional bore adaptors, wherein each of the one or more additional bore adaptors is configured to fit different-sized firearm barrels.
19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the bore adaptors fit firearms having the following bore sizes: 9 mm,.32 caliber,.38 caliber,.40 caliber,.44 caliber,.45 caliber, or.50 caliber.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 4, 2019
Publication Date: Jan 23, 2020
Inventors: Larry E. Moore (Cottonwood, AZ), Aaron Moore (Cottonwood, AZ)
Application Number: 16/375,790