POWER SYSTEM FOR A FIREARM
A power system for a firearm includes a buffer tube adapter that attaches to a buffer tube of the firearm. A buttstock slidably engages with the buffer tube adapter along an axis, and the buttstock is adapted to adjust a length of the firearm. A power source is held by the buffer tube adapter and is at least partially covered by the buttstock. The power source is configured to power electronic accessories mounted to the firearm. The power system is mountable to the firearm without altering the buffer tube of the firearm.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/980,524, filed May 15, 2018, entitled “POWER SYSTEM FOR A FIREARM”, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/506,537, filed May 15, 2017, entitled “POWER SYSTEM FOR A FIREARM”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
INTRODUCTIONAccessories such as lights, cameras, laser range finders, infrared sensors, displays, and radios may be added to firearms to improve the situational awareness of the firearm user. However, firearm mounted accessories can increase the weight and bulk of a firearm because of the additional weight that results from each accessory having a separate battery system. Also, different firearm mounted accessories may require different types of batteries which can make it burdensome to carry multiple types of spare batteries for the firearm mounted accessories.
SUMMARYIn general terms, this disclosure is directed to firearms. In one configuration and by non-limiting example, a power system for a firearm enables attached accessory devices to draw power from a central power source and to communicate with the user and/or other devices.
In one aspect, the disclosed technology relates to a power system for a firearm that includes a buffer tube adapter configured to attach to a buffer tube of the firearm. A buttstock is slidably engaged with the buffer tube adapter along an axis, and the buttstock is configured to adjust a length of the firearm. A power source is held by the buffer tube adapter and at least partially covered by the buttstock. The power source is configured to power electronic accessories mounted to the firearm. The power system is mountable to the firearm without altering the buffer tube of the firearm.
In some examples, the power system includes a mounting bracket that secures the buffer tube adapter to the buffer tube of the firearm. In some examples, the power source is held inside a compartment of the buffer tube adapter, and the compartment is axially aligned with a channel in the buttstock. In some examples, the buffer tube adapter includes indexing notches that lock the buttstock in multiple intermediate positions along the axis. In some examples, the power source is configured to connect to a power socket mounted to a grip of the firearm. In some examples, the power source comprises AA batteries. In other examples, the power source comprises rechargeable batteries. In other examples, the power source comprises a fuel cell.
In some examples, the power source is housed inside a housing, and the housing includes a release lever that engages a latch on the buffer tube adapter for locking the power source in a fixed position with respect to the buffer tube adapter. In some examples, the release lever unlocks the housing from the buffer tube adaptor for removal of the power source from the firearm. In some examples, the housing includes a socket seal providing a watertight connection between an electrode terminal and a power socket in the firearm.
In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates a power system for a firearm, the power system comprising: a buffer tube adapter having a power source compartment and configured to be connected to an unaltered buffer tube of the firearm; a power source arranged inside the power source compartment of the buffer tube adapter and configured to power electronic accessories mounted to the firearm; and a buttstock coupled to the buffer tube adapter.
In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates a method of installing a power system for a firearm, the method comprising: connecting a buffer tube adapter to a stock buffer tube of a firearm without altering the buffer tube, the buffer tube adapter having a power source compartment; connecting a buttstock to the buffer tube adapter; and inserting a power source into the power source compartment.
In some examples, the method further includes mounting one or more electronic accessories to the firearm; electrically connecting the plurality of electronic accessories to the power source; and powering the electronic accessories from the power source.
In some examples, the method further includes actuating a release lever to release the power source from the buffer tube adapter; and removing the power source from the power source compartment by sliding the power source through an opening in the buttstock.
In some examples, the method further includes inserting a second power source through the opening in the buttstock; sliding the second power source into the power source compartment; and engaging the second power source with a latch coupled to the release lever to secure the second power source in the power source compartment.
A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combination of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.
The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.
Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims.
The adjustable buttstock 5 provides a compartment underneath the buffer tube 1 which allows insertion and removal of the battery pack 4 through the rear of the firearm 20. The battery pack 4 mounts on the buffer tube 1 independent of the adjustable buttstock 5 which telescopes along the firearm 20. The adjustable buttstock 5 is collapsible and can be extended in various multiple intermediate positions providing an adjustable overall length of the firearm 20.
As shown in
A pull of the release lever 8 disengages the latch arm 9 and slides the latch arm 9 away from an interface with an indexing notch 6 of the buffer tube 1. This allows free adjustment of the adjustable buttstock 5 guided by the slide guide slot 14 until stopped by the release stop tab 13. When the release lever 8 is released, the torsion spring 10 forces the latch arm 9 into position which automatically engages into one of the interfaces of the indexing notches 6 and locks the adjustable buttstock 5 into position.
A disadvantage of the previous power system 3 of
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The buffer tube adapter 17 holds the power source 23 when it is inserted through the buttstock 25. This allows modification of the firearm 20 to include the power system 30 without having to modify or replace the stock buffer tube 36. Instead, a firearm user can replace the stock buttstock and the stock grip of the firearm 20, with the power system 30.
In some examples, the holder 43 is shaped to hold 12 AA batteries. In other examples, the holder 43 can be shaped to hold more than 12 AA batteries or fewer than 12 AA batteries. In alternative examples, the holder 43 can be configured to hold batteries that are of a different size and shape than AA batteries. Furthermore, in alternative examples, the holder 43 can be shaped to hold different types of energy sources such as, for example, rechargeable batteries, and the housing 37 could be modified to hold the rechargeable batteries.
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As described above, primary batteries such as AA batteries can be used as the power source 23 for powering the firearm 20 due to the reliability and maturity of primary battery technology. While primary batteries can be used as the power source 23 of the powering system, additional power sources are contemplated such as fuel cells. In some examples, fuel cells can also be used to supplement primary batteries in a hybrid system.
It is also contemplated that secondary batteries which can be recharged after use, and are hence re-usable, can be used as the power source 23. Secondary batteries such as lead-acid, silver-zinc, and metal hydride types of secondary batteries can be used as the power source 23. Also, advanced technologies including, for example, Li-ion and Li polymer chemistries, nickel metal hydride, and lithium sulfur can be used as the power source 23 for powering the firearm mounted accessories. Li-ion batteries may include several different chemistries, including LiCoO2, LiNiO2, and LiMn2O4 positive electrodes. Capacitors, including supercapacitors, ultracapacitors, or banks of capacitors could also be used.
In some examples, the method 500 may include additional steps of mounting one or more electronic accessories to the firearm, electrically connecting the electronic accessories to the power source, and powering the electronic accessories from the power source.
In some examples, the method 500 may include additional steps of actuating a release lever to release the power source from the buffer tube adapter, and removing the power source from the power source compartment by sliding the power source through an opening in the buttstock. In some examples, the method 500 may include further steps of inserting a second power source through the opening in the buttstock, sliding the second power source into the power source compartment, and engaging the second power source with a latch coupled to the release lever to secure the second power source in the power source compartment.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and application illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. A system for powering one or more accessory devices when the one or more accessory devices are attached to a firearm, the system comprising:
- a buffer tube adapter configured to attach to and surround a buffer tube of the firearm without replacing or modifying the buffer tube; and
- a power source held by the buffer tube adapter and separable from the buffer tube adapter while the buffer tube adapter remains attached to the buffer tube, the power source configured to provide the electrical power to the one or more accessory devices.
20. The power system of claim 19, wherein the power source is held inside a compartment of the buffer tube adapter, and the compartment is axially aligned with the buffer tube.
21. The system of claim 19, wherein the buffer tube adapter includes a guide channel configured to slidably engage a buttstock of the firearm.
22. The system of claim 21, further comprising the buttstock.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein the buffer tube adapter includes indexing notches that lock the buttstock in multiple intermediate positions to adjust a length of the firearm.
24. The system of claim 19, wherein the power source is configured to connect to a power socket mounted to a grip of the firearm.
25. The system of claim 19, wherein the power source comprises AA batteries, rechargeable batteries, or a fuel cell.
26. The system of claim 19, wherein the power source is housed inside a housing, and the housing includes a release lever that engages a latch on the buffer tube adapter for locking the power source in a fixed position with respect to the buffer tube adapter.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the release lever unlocks the housing from the buffer tube adaptor for removal of the power source from the firearm.
28. The system of claim 26, wherein the housing includes a socket seal providing a watertight connection between an electrode terminal and a power socket in the firearm.
29. A firearm comprising the system of claim 19.
30. A buffer tube adapter for a firearm, the buffer tube adapter comprising:
- a body configured to surround an unaltered buffer tube of the firearm;
- a mounting arrangement configured to secure the body to the unaltered buffer tube; and
- a compartment defined by the body, the compartment configured to hold a power source to power accessory devices mounted to the firearm, the power source being separable from the compartment while the buffer tube adapter remains secured to the unaltered buffer tube.
31. The buffer tube adapter of claim 30, further comprising:
- a guide channel configured to slidably engage a buttstock of the firearm.
32. The buffer tube adapter of claim 31, further comprising:
- indexing notches that are configured to lock the buttstock in multiple intermediate positions to adjust a length of the firearm.
33. The buffer tube adapter of claim 30, further comprising:
- a latch for locking the power source within the compartment.
34. The buffer tube adapter of claim 30, wherein the compartment is axially aligned with the unaltered buffer tube.
35. A method of installing a power source on a firearm, the method comprising:
- connecting a buffer tube adapter to a stock buffer tube of a firearm without altering or replacing the buffer tube;
- inserting a power source into a compartment of the buffer tube adapter; and
- locking the power source in place once completely inserted into the compartment.
36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
- using the power source to power an accessory device mounted to the firearm.
37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
- actuating a release lever to release the power source from the compartment of the buffer tube adapter; and
- removing the power source from the compartment while the buffer tube adapter remains connected to the stock buffer tube.
38. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
- connecting a buttstock to the buffer tube adapter; and
- sliding the buttstock along the buffer tube adapter to adjust a length of the firearm.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 6, 2021
Publication Date: Jul 22, 2021
Applicant: T-Worx Holdings, LLC (Sterling, VA)
Inventors: Tyler Miller (Dickerson, MD), Ben Feldman (Reston, VA), Joseph Ellena (Herndon, VA), Martin Fisher (Annapolis, MD), Wayne Taylor (Ashburn, VA), Eric Cabahug (Fairfax, VA), Gary Callsen (Ashburn, VA)
Application Number: 17/142,940