Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

Other

Strum, Ruger & Company, Inc.

Gary W Hamilton

Louis M Galie

John Klebes

John M French

Rob Gilliom

Rafal Slezok

James Elliott Clayton

Charles P Hamilton

Robert Gilliom

A passively and naturally illuminated optical reflex sighting system for a firearm in one embodiment includes a housing configured for detachable coupling to the firearm and comprising a plurality of light collection and transmission windows, an optical lens supported by the housing, a fiber optic element, and a light-transmissible cover enclosing the fiber optic element. The cover and fiber optic element are in visual communication with the housing windows which collect and transmit ambient light to the fiber optic element through the cover. The fiber optic element may be disposed inside and protected by the cover which may be clear. In operation, the fiber optic element absorbs ambient light and generates a reticle on the lens for aiming the firearm. A red or other colored dot reticle may be projected on the lens in some embodiments. No onboard artificial light is used to illuminate the fiber optic element.

Passively illuminated fiber optic reflex sights for firearms

An illuminated reflex optical sighting system integrated directly into a firearm includes a lighting module comprising an illumination source mounted to a body of the firearm at a discrete first mounting location, an optical lens assembly mounted to the body of the firearm at a discrete second location spatially distanced from the first location, and a power source operably coupled to the illumination source. The illumination source is configured and operable to project a reticle onto a lens of the lens assembly for use in aiming the firearm. The illumination source and lens assembly are separately mounted to and independently removable from the body of the firearm thereby providing a low profile sighting system which substantially retains the aspects of the original firearm. The illumination source, power source, and lighting control circuitry may be housed inside the metal rear sight of the firearm in one embodiment.

Integrated optical sighting system for firearm

An electromagnetic actuator includes characteristics of very fast actuation, shock invariant design, and compact size. The actuator may be controlled via a small low voltage power source such as a battery and simple switching logic. Such characteristics are ideally suited for incorporating the actuator into the firing mechanism of a firearm, which are subjected to drop tests to confirm the firearm will not discharge in the absence of trigger pull. Very fast snap-like action is attained by balancing the magnetic forces of two opposing permanent magnets around a stationary yoke and rotating member to create three circulating magnetic flux circuits. A central electromagnet coil amplifies the magnetic flux of one side of the rotating member or the other depending on the power source actuation polarity, thereby creating two possible snap-like actuation positions. The actuator is usable in firing mechanism release or enabling/disabling applications, and interfacing with other type mechanical linkages.

Fast action shock invariant magnetic actuator

An interruptible electronic trigger system for firearms includes a trigger unit comprising an electromagnetic actuator operably coupled to the firing mechanism and a programmable trigger microcontroller. The actuator is changeable between a non-powered unactuated position and powered actuated firing position. Upon detecting user initiated trigger activity, the trigger microcontroller transmits a shot initiated signal to an adaptive optics unit of a fire control targeting system mounted to the firearm when the trigger activity exceeds a preprogrammed trigger setpoint. A targeting microcontroller returns a shot authorization signal to the trigger microcontroller after performing ballistics computations based on sensor input and displaying a corrected reticle on the optics unit sight for user visual alignment with the target. Multiple trigger setpoints may be programmed to confirm continued intent to fire. The trigger microcontroller may deactivate the actuator and permit manual firing when preprogrammed maximum trigger force/displacement limits are exceeded.

Electromagnetic firing system for firearm with interruptable trigger control

Fast action shock invariant magnetic actuator for firearms

An electromagnetically variable firing system for a firearm includes an electromagnetic actuator including a stationary yoke, a rotating member movable about a pivot axis relative to the stationary yoke and operably coupled to a firing mechanism of the firearm, a trigger operable when pulled by a user to move the rotating member between an unactuated position and an actuated position for discharging the firearm, and a magnetic coil when energized generating a user-adjustable magnetic field which changes a trigger pull force required to be exerted by a user on the trigger to discharge the firearm. A programmable microcontroller is configured to selectively energize the coil for discharging the firearm in response to detecting a trigger pull event. The microcontroller in one embodiment is configured to count each energization of the coil as indicative of a firing event and record the firing event and associated time/date stamp.

Electromagnetic firing system for firearm with firing event tracking

A magnetically variable firing system for a firearm includes a trigger mechanism allowing a user to selectively adjust the trigger pull force-displacement profile by changing the static magnetic field in the mechanism. In a closed magnetic loop configuration, the trigger mechanism includes a stationary yoke and pivotably movable trigger member. The trigger member includes a trigger portion and working portion operably interfaced with the firing mechanism of the firearm for discharging the firearm. An openable first air gap formed between the trigger member and yoke is maintained in a closed position via magnetic attraction therebetween absent a trigger pull. A control insert movable relative to a second control air gap in the yoke allows adjustment of the static magnetic field to alter the trigger pull force required to actuate the trigger mechanism. Other embodiments provide open magnetic loop trigger mechanism designs adjustable to magnetically vary the trigger pull force.

Dynamic variable force trigger mechanism for firearms

A hybrid magnetically variable firing system for a firearm includes a trigger mechanism configured to allow a user to selectively adjust the trigger pull force-displacement profile. In a closed magnetic flux loop configuration, the trigger mechanism includes a selectively energizable electromagnetic and mechanical biasing member providing a static holding torque which creates resistance opposing movement of the trigger. Energizing the electromagnetic at a user-preselected point during the trigger pull event creates a magnetic force opposing the static holding torque, which dynamically changes the trigger pull force required to discharge the firearm. The electromagnetic assists the user in completing the trigger pull thereby creating an adjustable lighter trigger pull. In one embodiment, the electromagnet is energized when the actual trigger pull force applied or trigger displacement reaches a corresponding trigger setpoint preprogrammed into a control circuit. A microcontroller may control operation of the trigger mechanism.

Single loop user-adjustable electromagnetic trigger mechanism for firearms

An electromagnetic actuator in one embodiment includes characteristics of very fast actuation, shock invariant design, and compact size. The actuator may be controlled via a small low voltage power source such as a battery and simple switching logic. Such characteristics are ideally suited for incorporating the actuator into the firing mechanism of a firearm, which are subjected to drop tests to confirm the firearm will not discharge in the absence of trigger pull. Very fast snap-like action is attained by balancing the magnetic forces of two opposing permanent magnets around a stationary yoke and rotating member to create three circulating magnetic flux circuits. A central electromagnet coil on the yoke amplifies the magnetic flux of one side of the rotating member or the other depending on the power source actuation polarity, thereby creating two possible snap-like actuation positions. The actuator is usable in firing mechanism release or blocking applications.

An electromagnetically variable firing system for a firearm is disclosed which may include a trigger assembly or mechanism comprising an electromagnetically-operated control device which allows the user to select and adjust the trigger pull force-displacement profile electronically. In one embodiment, the control device may be an electromagnetic trigger mechanism comprising an electromagnetic snap actuator operated via a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configurable by a user to adjust the trigger force-displacement profile according to preset user preferences. The microcontroller energizes the actuator during a trigger pull according to a preprogrammed trigger force and/or displacement setpoint aided by a trigger sensor(s). The energized actuator creates a magnetic field which dynamically increases or decrease the trigger force required to fully actuate the trigger to discharge the firearm. In other embodiments, the control device may be an electromagnetic magnetorheological fluid actuator.

A modular and user configurable PC Card which removably receives one or more add-in modules that provide selected functionality. The user inserts and removes selected modules in the PC Card to configure the PC Card to the desired functionality. The PC Card includes one or more slots for receiving PC Card modules. PC Card slot openings are located on the narrow back end of the PC Card opposite the PCMCIA adapter, or alternatively are located on the wide end of the PC Card. In the preferred embodiment, the PC Card includes an internal module connector having connectors on either side. The PC Card modules are removably inserted into one of the one or more slots and connect to the module connector contacts on the module connector within the PC Card. In one embodiment, the PC Card includes a rotating cam which is turned to connect the module connector contacts on the module connector within the PC Card to the contacts on the removable PC Card module. Therefore, the modular PC Card of the present invention allows the user to removably insert one or more modules in the PC Card to select desired functionality. This provides increased options to the user over current prior art multi-function PC Cards.

Modular PC card which receives add-in PC card modules

A flightless rock auger For drilling postholes through rock without the use of hydraulic pressure. The rock auger has a plurality of teeth extending downwardly at a selected angle from the edge of a cylinder connected to a quick connect shaft. The rock auger is utilized for drilling through rock and used in combination with a conventional flighted auger used for drilling postholes in dirt and clay. During a posthole drilling operation, the rock auger is substituted for the flighted auger as needed for drilling through and remove rock or other hard material such as concrete fron the posthole. The rock auger is designed for use at very low revolutions per minute and utilizes only the weight of the auger and shaft and does not require any additional hydraulic pressure for cutting a circular hole through the rock and forming a plug which is to be lodged in the cavity of the rock auger cylinder to be removed from the posthole. The quick connection shaft enables the conventional flighted auger to be quickly substituted for the rock auger to facilitate fast removal of soft dirt from the posthole. The rock auger provides an alternative method for utility companies to drill postholes for electric poles, telephone poles, pilings, and the like without the use of explosives, thereby providing for safer excavation.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Gary W Hamilton