MXPA06011318A

MXPA06011318A - Light assembly of pre-defined shape.

Info

Publication number: MXPA06011318A
Application number: MXPA06011318A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Ira Kay; Rodney Miller
Original assignee: Quantum Leap Res Inc
Priority date: 2004-04-01
Filing date: 2005-03-31
Publication date: 2007-03-21
Also published as: CA2463009A1; IL178367A0; KR20070024503A; WO2005095852A1; HK1102467A1; CN100510519C; CN1938545A; TW200602612A; RU2006137951A; BRPI0508756A; JP2007536699A; AU2005228922A1; EP1730439A4; JP4996455B2; EP1730439A1

Abstract

A light assembly having a pre-defined shape is provided to be removably attached to a mating guide provided on any convenient device' but advantageously provided on a weapon. The light assembly comprises a housing provided with suitable optics having a light source at one end thereof and batteries for powering the light source through a switch. The housing has a pair of lateral members which are movable between a retracted position and an extended position so that, when the members are in the retracted position, the light assembly has the above-mentioned pre-defined shape and when the members are in the extended position, they are adapted to engage the mating guide. Means for preventing the longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the mating guide are also provided with the light assembly. In a particularly advantageous application, the light assembly can thus be easily mounted and used as a target illumination and/or aiming device with a weapon or be readily used as a separate and independent entity.

Description

MOUNTING LIGHT IN A PREDEFINED FORM Field of the Invention The present invention relates, in general, to the field of lighting devices. More particularly, it refers to a light assembly in a predefined manner, for removable mounting to a coupling guide.

Background of the Invention In art, there are numerous designs of single-purpose light assemblies that are mounted or can be mounted on specific devices. There are also numerous designs of light assemblies that are used as independent light assemblies. However, few of them are designed to be mounted in easily removable form on any suitable device while they can be easily used separately, as an independent light assembly.

More particularly, in the specific field of weapons, there have been numerous lighting fixtures and / or target targets, such as lasers, sights, flashlights or other accessories that can be mounted on firearms since, in this case, the main i-concern is the lighting of the target and / or aiming at the target of interest. Most of these accessories use different forms of fixing screws, captive screws, nut and bolt clamps or other similar techniques to staple the attachment to the weapon, as opposed to a catch and rail groove mechanism that guides and locks in shape sure the accessory to the weapon. Examples of these prior art accessories are given in US Patents or patent applications No.US 2001/0027620 Al; US 2001/0045046 Al; US 5,555,662; U.S. 5,584,137; US 5,941,4189; and US 6,565,226.

As can be seen, the lighting accessories of the target and / or pointing to the target that have just been mentioned present numerous warnings. Therefore, these accessories can not be easily mounted and removed from the weapon. In many cases, that assembly and disassembly requires the use of specific tools, or both hands. As a result, the user of the weapon can not simply grab the lighting device and / or aim at the target with one hand and easily mount it on his weapon to shoot accurately.

Other related documents of the prior art also present significantly different types of weapons mounting methods or consist of weapons that do not have a standard rail that can be interconnected with lighting fixtures and / or target targets. Examples of those prior art accessories are given in U.S. Patent Nos. 2002/0007581 Al; ÜS 2002/0100204 To the; US 4,707,772; US 4,777,754; US 5,040,322; US 5,727,346, US 5,816,663; US 5,822,905; US 6,318,014; and US 6,574,901. The problem of those prior art devices is again the cumbersome mounting process as well as the volume of those devices. More specifically, if the accessories can not be mounted quickly on the weapon, they should be provided with their 10 specific mount device thus reducing the motility of the user of the weapon.

It is also known in the prior art that a stapling mechanism for mounting an auxiliary apparatus to the frame of a weapon, which is also characterized in that the user can perform the actual assembly or removal of the apparatus with one hand, without using brackets or other mechanical components separately These elements are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,430,967 (Woodman et al.) In addition, the lighting and / or target pointing devices are all suitable for use as a mounting assembly. manual light independent, due to its stapling mechanism, which makes them non-ergonomic.In addition, its exposed stapling mechanism is often prone to rupture if it is hit and to contamination from exposure to dust, water and other pollutants Therefore, it is evident, from the prior art documents mentioned above, that there is a lack of a light assembly that can be easily mounted on a coupling guide, which, in a preferred patent application, is provided on a weapon, and that can be easily used separately, as an independent light assembly.

Extract of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a light assembly that meets the needs mentioned above.

More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a light assembly that must be easily mounted on a coupling guide provided in a convenient device and that must be easily removed from it while recovering its original predefined shape, to be usable as an entity by separated. i, According to the present invention, this objective is achieved with a light assembly having a predefined shape, for removable mounting to a coupling guide provided in a weapon or other device in which the light assembly must be mounted . The light assembly comprises a cabinet, provided with optical elements having a light source at one of its ends and batteries for feeding the light source through a switch. The light mounting cabinet has a pair of side members that can both move between a retracted position and an extended position. When the side members are in the retracted position, the light assembly has the predefined shape mentioned above. When the side members are in the extended position, these members are adapted to be attached to the coupling guide provided in the weapon or other device in which the light assembly is to be mounted. When the side members are in the extended position they lock into place in a detent latch. Preferably, each of the side members is provided with a longitudinal rail groove having a shape and dimension for slidably attaching to a corresponding flange on the coupling guide. The light mounting cabinet of the present invention also has means for preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the rail guide.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coupling guide is provided with a plurality of cross grooves and each of the side members further includes a retainer having an upper part and a lower part. The upper part and the lower part of the retainer have an interior face adjacent to the cabinet side and an exterior face. The lower part of the retainer has a detent projection projecting inwardly from the inner face of the lower part of the retainer, to join any of the aforementioned crossed grooves. The detent can pivot between an operative position and a non-operative position in such a way that the detent is in the operative position, it is normally biased inwards, the projection of the detent protrudes towards the cabinet side, thus providing the means to prevent the movement longitudinal of the light assembly on the coupling guide. When the detent is in the inoperative position, the upper part pivots inward towards the cabinet while the lower part pivots outwards out of the cabinet, thus preventing the projection of the retainer from the junction to the crossed grooves.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coupling guide is provided on a weapon.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for the removable mounting of the light assembly defined above is also provided to a coupling guide.

The method for the removable assembly of the light assembly, defined above, to a coupling guide comprises the steps of: a) providing a light assembly described above; b) pressing the detents towards the inoperative position in such a way as to allow the lateral members to slide until they are in the extended position and the retainer is joined with a lock; c) joining the longitudinal rail grooves of the light assembly to the flanges of the coupling guide; d) moving and holding the detents in their inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly over the coupling guide; and e) moving the detents in their operative position in such a manner as to lock the light assembly in place on the coupling guide.

Preferably, the method for removably assembling the light assembly further comprises the step of disassembling the light assembly from the coupling guide, the step of disassembling comprises the substeps of: f) moving and holding the detents in their inoperative position , while sliding the light assembly longitudinally out of the tabs of the coupling guide; and g) depressing the detent lock in such a way that the detents slide back into the light assembly, so that the light assembly recovers its predefined shape.

In another preferred embodiment, the method also comprises the initial step of mounting the coupling guide on a weapon.

As can be seen, the light assembly according to the invention is very versatile, since it can be mounted on any suitable coupling guide (integrated or mounted through appropriate fasteners) provided on any suitable device while it can still be used as an entity separate from the device and the coupling guide.

These and other features, objectives and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following non-exhaustive description of preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1A is a side view of a light assembly, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure IB is a front view of the light assembly shown in Figure 1A, the side members are in the extended position.

Figure 1C is a front perspective view of the light assembly of Figure IA.

Figure ID is a perspective front view of the light assembly shown in Figure IB.

Figure 2A is a perspective side view of the light assembly of Figure 1A which is mounted on a guide of the generic weapon.

Figure 2B is a perspective side view of the light assembly of Figure IA that is mounted on a long gun such as a rifle guide.

Figure 2C is a perspective side view of the light assembly of Figure 1A which is mounted on a handgun guide.

While the invention is described in conjunction with preferred embodiments. It is understood that it is not desired to limit the scope of the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is desired to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included, as defined by the appended claims. lf) Description of Preferred Embodiments In the following description, similar reference numbers have been given to similar characteristics in the drawings and to clarify the figures, no reference is made to some elements in some figures if they were already identified in the previous figure.

Throughout the present description, the light assembly of the present invention is described and illustrated primarily with respect to a coupling guide provided on a weapon, but it must be understood that such a coupling guide can be provided on any suitable device, such such as, for example, in a non-exhaustive way, a paintball gun, a bicycle, a protective helmet (for use in mining, excavation or other applications) or another helmet, a boat, a fist, a diving suit, a sports bra belt, a building, a pillar or other construction, a tent, or any other device that can be used to sell a lighting assembly.

Referring to Figures 1A to ID, and 2A to 2C, a light assembly 10 is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The light assembly 10 has a predefined shape, and can be removably mounted to a coupling guide 20, which is preferably provided on a weapon. Any coupling guide, preferably provided with parallel flanges 22 can be used to slidably join the longitudinal rail groove 32 on the side members of the light assembly cabinet. This allows any guidance, such as a rail system (an example of which is lane M-1913 (Picatinny)) or any equivalent thereof, to attach to a light assembly while riding on the device of interest, advantageously over the weapon of interest.

The light assembly 10 comprises a cabinet, preferably with two sides. Each side of the light assembly cabinet 10 is provided with a pair of side members 30, preferably received by corresponding channels 40 provided on each side of the cabinet. As shown in Figures IA to ID, each channel 40 preferably comprises a rear face 42 and a stop screw 41 for maintaining the side member 30 within each channel 40. Alternatively, and as shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the channel 40 may be substantially U-shaped and be sized to receive a corresponding lateral member 30. This channel 40 is provided with guide members 46 projecting from the channel 40, preferably from the rear side 42 thereof, to join in shape slidable to the corresponding grooves 48.

The side members 30 can move between a retracted position, which is shown in Figure 1C, and an extended position, which is shown in Figure ID, at a distance at least equal to the distance x. The distance x is the distance between the longitudinal rail groove 38 and the lowest point A of the cabinet, as shown in Figures IB and ID.

For side members 30 to remain in the retracted position, locking members are provided with each detent lock 31. Similarly, locking members are provided to prevent side members 30 from extending out of the extended position with screws of retention 41.

When the side members 30 are locked in their retracted position, these side members 30 are adapted to join the cabinet. With particular reference to Figure ID, it can be seen that each channel 40 comprises a rear face 42 and side walls 44.

When the side members 30 are locked in their extended position, they are positioned such that the lowest point A of the cabinet is as close as possible to the coupling guide 20 to allow the final sliding movement of the light assembly 10 onto The coupling guide 20. Referring more specifically to Figure IB, it can be seen that each side member 30 comprises a substantially planar interior face 32. The inner planar face 32 of the side members 30 is also characterized in that it is adjacent to the side of the body. cabinet and is provided with a longitudinal rail groove 38. The longitudinal rail groove 38 has a shape and dimension for slidably attaching to a corresponding flange 22 of the coupling guide 20.

Preferably, the coupling guide is provided with a plurality of cross slots 60 and each side member 30 also includes a retainer 70 with an upper part 72 and a lower part 74. Each of the upper part 72 and the lower part 74 has a interior face, adjacent to the side of the cabinet, and an exterior face. Each detent further has a detent projection 78 projecting inwardly from the interior face of the lower part 74 of the detent, to join any of the cross slots 60. Each retainer 70 is further characterized in that it preferably can rotate about a pivot between an operative position and a non-operative position.

Without departing from the scope of the present invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the means for preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly may comprise at least two, and preferably a plurality of projections protruding downwards and outwards from the area below the cabinet closest to the guide. These projections fulfill the same purpose as the detent projections 78 in their operative position.

Referring again to Figures IB to 1C, the cabinet is provided with a suitable optical element 12 having a light source 14 at one end thereof and batteries 16 for powering the light source 14, such as an LED assembly, an incandescent light bulb and / or a laser beam or a combination of them, through a switch, such as a push-button switch 19. The switch can be any type of electromechanical switch device that includes, in a manner not restrictive, a mechanically activated switch, electronically activated, or controlled by radio frequency. The light assembly 10 is further characterized in that the suitable optical element, the batteries and the switch, enclosed in the cabinet, predefine the shape of the light assembly 10. By "predefined shape", it is understood that the light assembly 10 has a advantageously uninterrupted profile when considered as a whole. More specifically, the uninterrupted profile of the light assembly 10 means that all the components of the cabinet have the same general shape, even when the optical part is larger than the part of the battery which, in turn, is smaller than the switch part of the cabinet. The light assembly 10 can advantageously have an ergonomic shape in such a way that the user can grip it comfortably with one hand. The light assembly 10 may then have a rectangular, oval or triangular shape, but preferably, a substantially cylindrical shape.

As can also be seen from Figures IA to 1C, the uninterrupted profile of the light assembly is best illustrated when the side members 30 are in the retracted position. More specifically, the outer face of the upper and lower parts 72, 74 of the retainer, as well as the outer face of the side members, have a shape such that they form this uninterrupted profile with the rest of the cabinet. Moreover, the light assembly 10 can advantageously have dimensions similar to the dimensions of the coupling guide 20, as best shown in Figures 2A to 2C. More specifically, the width of the light assembly 10 is preferably somewhat similar width of the coupling guide. As can be understood, the width of the light assembly and the guide is determined along the axis perpendicular to the main axis of each of these elements. It is therefore clear that, in the particular field of lighting and / or aiming at a target, the present invention alleviates the need to use bulky light assemblies as accessories of lighting devices and / or to aim at a target , which are not practical in places where vigilance, precision and speed are essential.

The present invention also provides a method for removably mounting the light assembly, defined above, to a coupling guide, preferably provided on a weapon. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a light assembly described above; b) pressing the detents towards the non-operative position so as to allow the lateral members to slide towards the extended position and the retainer to be joined in a locked manner; c) joining the longitudinal rail grooves of the lateral members to the flanges of the guide; d) move and hold the detents in their inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly over the guide; and e) moving the detents to their operative position so as to lock the light assembly in place on the guide.

Preferably, the method for removably mounting the light assembly also comprises the step of disassembling the light assembly from the coupling guide. This step comprises the following substeps: f) moving and holding the detents to their inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly longitudinally out of the guide flanges; and g) depressing the detent lock so that the detents slide back into the light assembly so that the light assembly recovers its predefined shape.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. invention. It is clear from the present invention that the proposed light assembly is particularly useful for mounting it on a weapon. However, it should be understood that the light assembly of the present invention is not limited to being used on a weapon and that any convenient application such as riding on a bicycle, or in a protective helmet, for example, is also provided and understood by the present invention.

Claims

1. A light assembly having a predefined shape, for removably mounting to a coupling guide, the light assembly comprising a cabinet provided with a suitable optical element having a light source at one of its ends and batteries for feeding the light source through a switch, the cabinet has: a) a pair of side members that can move between a retracted position and an extended position, where: - when the members are in the retracted position, the assembly of Light has a predefined shape; and - when the members are in the extended position, the members are adapted to join the coupling guide; and b) means for preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the coupling guide.

2. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein • the cabinet has two sides, each of the two sides is provided with a channel for receiving a respective one of said side members, wherein each of the side members comprises a face The substantially planar interior is joined by a retaining screw, and wherein the coupling guide is planar, parallel to the cabinet and perpendicular to the planar interior face of the side members, the coupling guide comprises parallel grooves of rail which are parallel to one another. project outward, planar to the coupling guide; said inner face of the lateral members is adjacent to the cabinet and is provided with a longitudinal groove proximate and parallel to the lower edge, the longitudinal groove has a shape and dimension to be slidably joined to the flange.

3. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein when the side members are further provided with a means for locking the side members in the retracted position and in the extended position.

4. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein each channel has a shape and a dimension for receiving a corresponding lateral member, said channel comprises a rear face for keeping the side member within the channel.

5. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein each channel has a substantially U-shaped and a dimension for receiving a lateral member, said U-shaped channel is provided with guide members projecting outwardly and perpendicularly from the channel, to join it in the form > l, slidable to corresponding grooves extending from the upper edge to the lower edge of the side members.

6. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein the coupling guide is provided with a plurality of cross slots and wherein each of the side members further includes a retainer having:. an upper part and a lower part, the upper part and the lower part have an inner face adjacent to the side of the cabinet and an outer face; and - a detent projection projecting inwardly from the inner face of the lower part of the detent, to join it to any one of the crossed slots, - said detent is biased towards the inside, where the retainer can pivot between an operative position and a non-operative position such that: a- when the detent is in the operative position, the detent projection protrudes on the cabinet side, thus providing the means to prevent the longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the coupling guide; and b- when the retainer is in the inoperative position, the upper part is pivoted inward towards the cabinet while the lower part is pivoted outwards towards i. outside the cabinet, thus preventing the projection of retainer from the union to any one of the crossed slots.

7. The light assembly according to claim 6, wherein each channel comprises a lower face and side walls, said rear face comprises a cavity with a shape and dimension to receive a respective one of the detent projections in such a way that when the side members are in the retracted position, each of the respective detent projections is joined to the respective cavity.

8. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a push button.

1. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the predefined shape is a substantially cylindrical shape.

10. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED assembly.

11. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser beam. * v

12. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a combination of an LED and a laser beam.

13. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a combination of an incandescent light source and a laser beam.

14. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupling guide is provided on a weapon.

15. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupling guide is provided on a device on which the light assembly is to be mounted. fifteen;

16. A method for removably assembling a light assembly, said light assembly having a predefined shape, for mounting removably to a coupling guide, the light assembly comprises a cabinet provided with an appropriate optical element that 20 has a light source at one of its ends and batteries to power the light source through a switch, the cabinet has a pair of side members that can move between a retracted position and an extended position and a means to prevent the longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the coupling guide, the method comprises the steps of: a) providing the light assembly; b) pressing the detents to the inoperative position in such a manner as to allow the lateral members to slide until they are in the extended position and until the retainer is joined in a locked manner; c) joining the longitudinal rail grooves of the side members to the guide flanges; d) moving and maintaining the detents of the side members in a non-operative position, while sliding the light assembly over the coupling guide; and e) moving the detents in an operative position in such a manner as to lock the light assembly in place on the coupling guide.

17. the method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of disassembling the light assembly from the coupling guide, said dismounting step comprising the substeps of: f) moving and holding the detents in the inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly longitudinally of the tabs of the coupling guide; and g) pressing the detent lock in such a way that the detents slide back towards the light assembly, in such a way that the light assembly recovers the predefined shape.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the initial step of mounting the coupling guide on a weapon.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the initial step of mounting the coupling guide on a device on which the light assembly is to be mounted.