CN1938545A - Light assembly of pre-defined shape - Google Patents

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

Lighting components having a predetermined shape

technical field

The present invention generally relates to the field of lighting devices, and particularly relates to a lighting assembly with a predetermined shape, which is movably connected to an assembly guide.

Background technique

In the art, there are many single purpose lighting assembly designs that are or can be mounted on special fixtures. There are also many designs for use as stand-alone lighting components. However, there are few designs that can be easily mounted on any suitable device in a removable manner, so that they can be easily detached and used as independent lighting components.

In particular, in the special field of weapons, where there are a large number of target illuminators and/or aiming devices, such as lasers, sights, flashlights or other equipment that can be mounted on the firearm, a major consideration is that Find the appropriate target illuminator and/or sight for the target of interest. Many of these devices use various forms of locking screws, captive screws, nut and bolt clamps, or other features that serve the same purpose of clamping the device to the weapon, rather than securely guiding and locking the device to the weapon pin and slot mechanism on the Such prior art devices are disclosed in US patents or patent application numbers US 2001/0027620 A1, US 2001/0045046 A1, US 5,555,662, US 5,584,137, US 5,941,489 and US 6,565,226.

It can be appreciated that there are a number of problems with the above-described target illuminators and/or aiming devices. Therefore, such devices cannot be easily mounted on weapons, nor can they be easily detached from weapons. In most cases, such installation and detachment requires the use of special tools or the use of two hands. Thus, the user of the weapon cannot simply hold the target illuminator and/or aiming device with one hand, nor easily mount it on his/her weapon for precise aiming.

Other related prior art documents also describe different types of attachment methods for attaching the device to a weapon, or include weapons that do not have standard rails to which target illuminators and/or aiming devices can be attached. Such prior US patents disclosed in US 2002/0007581 A1, US 2002/0100204 A1, US 4,707,772, US 4,777,754, US 5,040,322, US 5,727,346, US 5,816,683, US 5,822,905, US 6,318,014 and US 90 Technical equipment. The problem with this existing device is its cumbersome installation process and the bulkiness of the device. In particular, if the device cannot be easily mounted on the weapon, special mounting devices have to be provided, thereby reducing the flexibility of the weapon user.

Also known in the art is a clamping mechanism for attaching an attachment to a weapon structure, which is further characterized in that the user can complete the attachment and detachment of the device with one hand without the need for a separate bracket or other institutions. U.S. Patent No. 5,430,967 (Woodman et al.) discloses these elements.

Additionally, prior art target illuminators and/or aiming devices are not ergonomically suitable for use as stand-alone hand-held lighting assemblies due to their protruding clamping mechanisms. Furthermore, these exposed clamping mechanisms are often damaged when subjected to shock and become contaminated when exposed to dust, water or other contaminants.

It is thus evident that the above-mentioned prior art lacks a lighting assembly that can be easily mounted on the mounting guide preferably provided on the weapon, and also lacks a lighting assembly that can be easily detached for independent use.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a lighting assembly that can meet the above needs.

In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a lighting assembly that can be easily mounted on an assembly guide provided on a convenient device, and easily detached from the assembly guide to restore its original predetermined shape to be used as an independent entity use.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a lighting assembly having a predetermined shape, which is connected in a removable manner to an assembly guide provided on a weapon or other device on which the lighting assembly is mounted. The lighting assembly includes a housing provided with a suitable optical element having a light source at one end thereof and a battery for powering the light source via a switch, the housing of the lighting assembly has a pair of movable and lateral members between the extended position. The lighting assembly has the predetermined shape when the side members are in the retracted position. When the side member is in the extended position, the side member is adapted to engage a mounting guide provided on a weapon or other device to which the lighting assembly is mounted. When the side members are in the extended position, they are locked by a locking pin. Preferably, each side member is provided with a longitudinal channel shaped and dimensioned for sliding engagement with a corresponding flange on the fitting guide. The housing of the lighting assembly of the invention also has means for preventing longitudinal movement of the lighting assembly on the assembly guide.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fitting guide is provided with a plurality of intersecting slots, and wherein each side member further includes a pin having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper and lower portions of the pin have inner and outer surfaces respectively, the inner surfaces being adjacent to the sides of the housing. The lower portion of the pin also has a pin protrusion projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the lower portion of the pin to engage any one of the aforementioned cross slots. The pin pivots between an operative position and an inoperative position such that when the pin is in the operative position it is generally deflected inwardly, providing protection against this illumination by means of pin projections protruding inwardly into the side of the housing. Device for longitudinal movement of components on assembly guides. When the pin is in the inoperative position, the upper portion pivots inwardly of the housing and the lower portion pivots outwardly from the housing, thereby preventing the pin projection from engaging either of the cross slots.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said assembly guide is provided on the weapon.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for movably connecting the above lighting assembly to the assembly guide.

Said method of removably attaching said lighting assembly to a mounting guide comprises the steps of:

a) provide the above-mentioned lighting components;

b) depressing the pins to the inoperative position, allowing the side members to slide until they are in the extended position and the locking pins are engaged;

c) engaging the longitudinal channel of the lateral member with the flange of the guide;

d) moving and holding the pins of the side members in the inoperative position while sliding the lighting assembly on the assembly guide; and

e) moving the pin in the operative position, locking the lighting assembly on the assembly guide.

Preferably, the method for movably connecting the lighting assembly further includes the step of detaching the lighting assembly from the assembly guide, and the detaching step includes the following steps:

f) moving and holding the pin in the inoperative position while sliding the lighting assembly longitudinally on the flange of the assembly guide; and

g) Depressing the locking pin such that the pin slides back into the lighting assembly such that the lighting assembly returns to a predetermined shape.

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

It can be appreciated that the lighting assembly according to the present invention is universal, it can be mounted on (or integrally formed with, or installed by suitable fixing means) any fitting guide with a suitable shape provided on any suitable device, and It can also be used as a separate entity from the device and assembly guide.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

Figure 1A is a side view of a lighting assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 1B is a front view of the lighting assembly shown in Figure 1A with its side members in an extended position;

Figure 1C is a front perspective view of the lighting assembly shown in Figure 1A;

Figure 1D is a front perspective view of the lighting assembly shown in Figure 1B;

Figure 2A is a side perspective view of the lighting assembly shown in Figure 1A mounted on a guide of a conventional weapon;

2B is a side perspective view of the light assembly shown in FIG. 1A mounted on a guide of a long gun, such as a rifle;

2C is a side perspective view of the light assembly shown in FIG. 1A installed on the guide of the pistol.

The present invention will be described below with preferred embodiments, and it should be understood that these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, on the contrary, they will cover all replacements, modifications and equivalent changes that may be included as determined by the claims.

Detailed ways

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for similar features in the drawings, and in order to simplify the description of the drawings, some reference numerals that have been defined in the previous drawings will not be used in some drawings. mentioned.

Throughout the description, the lighting assembly of the present invention is primarily described in conjunction with mounting guides provided on the weapon, but it will be appreciated that such mounting guides may be provided on any suitable device, to name a few non-limiting examples, Such as paintball guns, bicycles, hardhats (for mining, mines and other applications) and other helmets, boats, cuffs, submersibles, entrainment, buildings, pillars or other constructions, tents or any other convenient lighting Components of the device.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1D , and FIGS. 2A to 2C , there is shown a lighting assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The lighting assembly 10 has a predetermined shape and is movably connected to a mounting guide 20 which is preferably provided on a weapon. Any fitting guide preferably provided with parallel flanges 22 may be used to slideably engage longitudinal channels 32 on the side members of the lighting assembly housing. This allows any guide, such as a rail system (e.g. M-1913 (Picatinny) rail) or any similar, to engage the lighting assembly while the guide is mounted on the device of interest, preferably the weapon of interest superior.

The lighting assembly 10 includes a housing, which preferably has two sides. A pair of side members 30 are provided on each side of the housing of the lighting assembly 10, and the side members 30 are preferably accommodated in corresponding channels 40 provided on each side of the housing. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D , each channel 40 preferably includes a back face 42 and a set screw 41 for retaining the side members 30 in each channel 40 . Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C , the channel 40 may be substantially U-shaped, sized to receive a corresponding side member 30 . This channel 40 is provided with a guide member 46 protruding from said channel 40 , preferably protruding from the rear face 42 , for sliding engagement with a corresponding slot 48 .

The lateral members 30 are movable between a retracted position as shown in FIG. 1C and an extended position as shown in FIG. ID by a distance at least equal to the distance x. The distance x is the distance between the longitudinal channel 38 and the lowest point A of the housing, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1D .

In order to retain the lateral members 30 in the retracted position, locking means are provided by a locking pin 31 . A likewise locking means is provided to prevent extension of the lateral member 30 beyond the extended position by means of the set screw 41 .

The side members 30 are adapted to engage the housing when the side members 30 are locked in their retracted position. With particular reference to FIG. 1D , it can be seen that each channel 40 includes a back surface 42 and side walls 44 .

To allow the lighting assembly 10 to eventually slide over the fitting guide 20 when the side members 30 are locked in their extended position, they are positioned such that the lowest point A of the housing is as close as possible to the fitting guide 20 . Referring more particularly to FIG. 1B , it can be seen that each side member 30 includes a substantially planar inner surface 32 . The inner plane 32 of the lateral member 30 is further characterized by its adjacent side of the housing and is provided with a longitudinal channel 38 . The longitudinal channel 38 is shaped and dimensioned for sliding engagement with a corresponding flange 22 of the mounting guide 20 .

Preferably, the fitting guide is provided with a plurality of intersecting slots 60 and each side member 30 further comprises a pin 70 having an upper portion 72 and a lower portion 74 . Each upper portion 72 and lower portion 74 has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface proximate the sides of the housing.

Each pin further includes a pin projection 78 projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the lower portion 74 of the pin to engage any one of the intersecting slots 60 . Each pin 70 is further characterized in that it preferably rotates about a pivot between an operative position and an inoperative position.

Any person skilled in the art will appreciate that the means for preventing longitudinal movement of the lighting assembly may include at least two, and preferably a plurality of projections extending from the The area under the body closest to the guide protrudes downward and outward. Such projections serve the same function as pin projections 78 in their operative position.

Referring again to Figures 1B to 1C, the housing is provided with a suitable optical element 12 having at one end a light source 14, such as an LED assembly, incandescent lamp groups and/or lasers, or combinations thereof. The switch may be any type of electro-mechanical switch including, but not limited to, a mechanically activated, electronically activated or radio frequency controlled switch. The lighting assembly 10 is further characterized in that the shape of the lighting assembly 10 is predetermined by said suitable optical elements, batteries and switches enclosed in the housing. By "predetermined shape", it is understood that the lighting assembly 10, when considered as a whole, has an advantageous continuous profile. In particular, the continuous profile of the lighting assembly 10 means that all elements in the housing have approximately the same shape, even though the optics portion is larger than the battery portion, which in turn is smaller than the switch portion of the housing. The lighting assembly 10 may advantageously have an ergonomic shape so that a user can comfortably hold it with one hand. Thus, lighting assembly 10 may be rectangular, oval or triangular in shape, but preferably it is substantially cylindrical.

As can be seen from Figures 1A and 1C, the continuous profile of the lighting assembly is best illustrated when the side members 30 are in the retracted position. In particular, the outer surfaces of both the upper and lower portions 72, 74 of the pin and the outer surfaces of the side members are shaped such that they form a continuous contour with the rest of the housing.

In addition, the size of the lighting assembly 10 can advantageously be similar to the size of the assembly guide, as shown in the preferred solution in FIGS. 2A to 2C . In particular, the width of the lighting assembly 10 is preferably somewhat similar to the width of the assembly guide. It will be appreciated that the width of the lighting assembly and guide is determined along an axis perpendicular to the respective major axes of these elements. Thus, it can be clearly seen that in the particular field of target illuminators and/or sights, the present invention alleviates the need for a large number of lighting assemblies for target illuminators and/or sighting devices, which require a large number of lighting assemblies Not practical where alertness, precision and speed are required.

The invention also provides a method of removably attaching a lighting assembly as described above to an assembly guide, preferably on a weapon, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a lighting assembly as described above;

b) depressing the pins to the inoperative position, allowing the side members to slide until they are in the extended position and the locking pins are engaged;

c) engaging the longitudinal channel of the lateral member with the flange of the guide;

d) moving and holding the pin in the inoperative position while sliding the lighting assembly on the guide; and

e) moving the pin in the operative position to lock the lighting assembly on the guide.

Preferably, the method for movably connecting the lighting assembly further includes the step of detaching the lighting assembly from the assembly guide, and the detaching step includes the following steps:

f) moving and holding the pin in the inoperative position while sliding the lighting assembly longitudinally on the flange of the assembly guide; and

g) Depressing the locking pin such that the pin slides back into the lighting assembly such that the lighting assembly returns to a predetermined shape.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Apparently, the lighting kit mentioned in the description is especially useful when mounted on a weapon. However, it is also understood that the lighting assembly of the present invention is not limited to use on weapons, for example, any convenient application such as mounting on a bicycle or on a helmet is also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (19)

1, a kind of light fixture, have predetermined shape, be movably connected on the assembling guide, described light fixture includes housing, this housing is provided with suitable have the optical element of light source and gives the battery of described light source power supply by switch at the one end, and described housing has:

A) a pair of lateral elements, movably between punctured position and extended position, wherein:

When described lateral elements was positioned at punctured position, this light fixture had described reservation shape; And

When described lateral elements was positioned at extended position, described lateral elements was to be suitable for engaging with described assembling guide; And

B) be used to prevent that this light fixture from assembling the device that vertically moves on the guide.

2, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described housing has two sides, described each side is provided with the passage that is used for holding respectively a described lateral elements, described each lateral elements comprises the inner plane that is subjected to the stop screw constraint of substantially flat, and wherein should assembling guide in the same plane, be parallel to described housing, and perpendicular to the inner plane of described lateral elements, described assembling guide comprises the outwards outstanding guide groove that is parallel to each other, this guide groove and assembling guide isoplanar; The inner surface of described lateral elements is near described housing, and be provided with near and be parallel to the cannelure of lower limb, the shape and size of described cannelure are arranged to be slidably engaged with flange.

3, light fixture according to claim 2, wherein, lateral elements further is provided with the locking device that is used for locking in punctured position and extended position described lateral elements.

4, light fixture according to claim 2, wherein, the shape and size of each passage are arranged to hold corresponding lateral elements, and described passage includes the back side that is used for described lateral elements is remained on described passage.

5, light fixture according to claim 2, wherein, each passage is U-shaped substantially, it is sized to hold corresponding lateral elements, described U-shaped passage is provided with outwards outstanding and perpendicular to the ways of described passage, is used for being slidably engaged with the corresponding groove that extends to lower limb from described lateral elements top edge.

6, light fixture according to claim 2, wherein, described assembling guide is provided with a plurality of cross-slot, and wherein said each lateral elements further includes pin, and this pin has:

The upper and lower, described top and described bottom have inner surface and outer surface respectively, and this inner surface is near the side of housing; And

The pin projection, this pin projection is inwardly outstanding from the inner surface of the described bottom of pin, engages with any described cross-slot;

Described pin is to bias internal;

Wherein, described pin pivots between operating position and off position, makes:

When a is positioned at operating position when described pin,, provide the device that prevents that this light fixture from vertically moving on the assembling guide by pin projection outstanding in the housing side; And

When b was positioned at off position when described pin, described top pivoted in housing, and the bottom outwards pivots from housing, thereby prevented that described pin projection from engaging with any described cross-slot.

7, light fixture according to claim 6, wherein, each passage includes the back side and sidewall, the described back side includes the recess that shape and size are arranged to hold accordingly each described pin projection, make that when described lateral elements is positioned at punctured position each corresponding pin projection engages with corresponding described recess.

8, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described switch is a button.

9, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described reservation shape is cylindrical substantially.

10, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described light source is the LED assembly.

11, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described light source is a laser instrument.

12, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described light source is the combination of LED and laser instrument.

13, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described light source is the combination of incandescent source and laser instrument.

14, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described assembling guide is arranged on the weapon.

15, light fixture according to claim 1, wherein, described assembling guide is arranged on the device that described light fixture is installed.

16, a kind of method that movably connects light fixture, described light fixture has predetermined shape, be movably connected on the assembling guide, described light fixture includes housing, this housing is provided with suitable has the optical element of light source and the battery of giving described light source power supply by switch at the one end, described housing has a pair of rotatable lateral elements and being used between punctured position and extended position prevents that this light fixture from vertically moving on the assembling guide device, said method comprising the steps of:

A) provide described light fixture;

B) pin is depressed into off position, allows lateral elements to slide, be positioned at extended position and described lockweight joint up to them;

C) with the vertical guide groove of lateral elements and the flange engages of guide;

D) pin with lateral elements moves and remains on the off position, and described light fixture simultaneously slides on the assembling guide; And

E) at the moving described pin of active position up, described light fixture is locked on the described assembling guide.

17, method according to claim 16 comprises that also described separating step may further comprise the steps with described light fixture separation steps from the described assembling guide:

F) pin with lateral elements moves and remains on the off position, simultaneously the described light fixture of longitudinal sliding motion on the flange of assembling guide; And

G) press down described lockweight, make described pin slide and get back in the described light fixture, make described light fixture recover reservation shape.

18, method according to claim 16 also comprises described assembling guide is installed in initial step on the weapon.

19, method according to claim 16 also comprises described assembling guide is installed in initial step on the device that described light fixture is installed.

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