Multi-caliber laser firing cartridge

A multi-caliber laser firing cartridge (10) for use with a variety of different caliber conventional firearms (100) wherein the cartridge (10) employs an adjustable position switch housing member (71) which may be movably deployed within the cartridge base unit (11) to accommodate varying firing pin "throws" within conventional firearms (100) such that the impact of the firing pin (102) on the cartridge (10) will generate and project a laser beam from the cartridge and through the barrel (104) of the firearm.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to the field of light emitting cartridges in 
general, an in particular to a laser firing cartridge which has a range of 
usage with a variety of calibers. 
BACKGROUND ART 
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,241,458; 
1,795,401; 4,983,123; and 4,830,617; the prior art is replete with myriad 
and diverse light emitting cartridges for use in both simulated and real 
firearms. 
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than 
adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been 
specifically designed, these patented constructions all share one major 
drawback in that their usage is restricted to a single specific caliber. 
Furthermore, none of the above listed references are designed to emit a 
focused laser beam, which is a mandatory requirement in the specific 
environment in which the new cartridge construction that forms the basis 
of the present invention is intended to be employed (e.g. simulated 
situational law enforcement judgmental training apparatus). 
In this environment the cartridge will be placed in the chamber of a 
semi-automatic weapon or into the cylinder of a revolver. When the trigger 
of the weapon is engaged, the firing pin on the weapon strikes the 
activator pin (micro-switch) of the casing charging the diode and emitting 
a low-level infrared light. This light is directed on to a computer screen 
approximately the size of a room wall. Moving scenarios are projected onto 
the screen from a laser disc projector at a rate of 30 frames per second. 
The screen is reflecting the infrared light to a camera interfacing with 
the computer. Since each frame of the video sequence has been "mapped" 
with the outline of the moving target person silhouette, the computer 
correlates the shot to determine if it has fallen within the range of the 
silhouette and in what bodily location of the silhouette. The position of 
the "hit" is then located on the image on the screen. 
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a 
longstanding need among law agencies both in this country and abroad for a 
new type of light emitting cartridge that can be used in the law 
enforcement officers own firearm across a range of different caliber and 
types of handguns; and the provision of such a construction is a stated 
objective of the present invention. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, the multi-caliber laser firing cartridge that forms the 
basis of the present invention comprises in general a cartridge base unit, 
a firing pin impact unit disposed within the cartridge unit, a laser 
generating unit associated with the cartridge unit and a switch unit a 
power source unit disposed within the cartridge unit intermediate the 
firing pin impact unit and the laser generating unit. 
In addition the laser firing cartridge is dimensioned such that a single 
cartridge can be operatively and interchangeably deployed in 0.357 caliber 
0.38 caliber and 9 mm caliber handguns which are currently the most 
popular types of calibers favored by law enforcement officers. 
As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, 
both the firing pin impact unit and the switch unit have been specially 
designed to accommodate the different standard travel lengths between 
firing pins in each of the aforementioned popular calibers to insure that 
the firing pin impact unit will establish closing contact with the switch 
unit regardless of the particular caliber weapon employed within the 
aforementioned range of calibers.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 
and 2, the multi-caliber laser firing cartridge that forms the basis of 
the present invention is designated generally by the reference 
numeral(10). The laser firing cartridge (10) comprises in general: a 
cartridge base unit (11) a firing pin impact unit (12) a switch unit (13) 
a power source unit (14) and a laser generating and focusing unit (15). 
These units will now be described in seriatim fashion. 
As can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cartridge base unit 
(11) comprises a generally hollow cylindrical electrically conductive 
brass casing member (20) having a stepped shoulder internal bore 
designated generally as (21) which passes entirely through the casing 
member (20) along its longitudinal axis. In addition the inboard end (22) 
of the casing member (20) forms a restricted throat opening (23) whose 
purpose and function will be explained presently. 
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the longitudinal bore (21) in the cartridge 
casing member (20) forms a first enlarged chamber (24) adjacent the 
restricted throat opening (23) within the casing member (20) wherein the 
throat opening (23) and the first enlarged threaded chamber (24) are 
dimensioned to receive the firing pin impact unit (12). The firing pin 
impact unit (12) comprises in general a non-conductive firing pin impact 
member (40) having a reduced neck portion (41) which is dimensioned to be 
slideably received in the restricted throat opening (23) of the casing 
member (20). In addition the firing pin impact member (40) is further 
provided with a peripheral flange (42) at the terminus of reduced neck 
portion (41) and has an enlarged central recess (43) formed on its 
outboard end; wherein the enlarged central recess (43) is dimensioned to 
receive a first spring biasing element (44) for reasons that will be 
described further on in the specification. 
Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the switch unit (13) 
comprises a switch member (50) disposed within a hollow switch housing 
member (51) dimensioned to be received within the casing member (20) in a 
threaded fashion. The switch housing member (51) is further provided with 
a central stepped shoulder bore having: a first stepped shoulder (52) 
which acts as a stop limit for the inward travel of the peripheral flange 
(42) of the firing pin impact member (40); a second stepped shoulder (53) 
which forms a seat for the switch member (50); and a third stepped 
shoulder (54) which forms a seat for one of a pair of insulating washers 
(55) (56) which are disposed on the interior and exterior of the switch 
housing member (51), and dimensioned to receive an electrically conductive 
contact element (57). in addition the contact element (57) is further 
provided with an enlarged head (58) which is disposed intermediate the 
switch member (50) and the first insulating washer (55) and projects 
through the second insulating washer for reasons that will be explained 
shortly. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the power supply unit (14) comprises a pair of 
battery members (60)(61) disposed within an insulating sleeve element (62) 
which electrically insulates the power supply unit (14) from the brass 
casing member (20); wherein, the sleeve element (62) is disposed within a 
second enlarged chamber (25) within the casing member (20). 
As can be seen by reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the laser generating and 
focusing unit (15) comprises a laser emitting diode member (70) disposed 
within a hollow laser housing member (71) having a central bore with a 
restricted neck opening (72) disposed proximate to, but spaced from, the 
inboard end (73) of the laser housing member (71) which is disposed in a 
abutting relationship with the outboard end of the insulated sleeve 
element (62) of the power supply unit (14). 
In addition, the outer end (74) of the laser housing unit (71) is provided 
with a collimating lens (75) which will focus the output of the laser 
emitting diode member (70). The intermediate portion of the external 
surface of the laser housing member (71) is provided with a peripheral 
recess (76) which is designed to accommodate the crimped outboard end (27) 
of the casing member (20) to secure the laser generating and focusing unit 
(15) to the cartridge base unit (11); and, the inboard end (73) of the 
laser housing member (71) is provided with a stepped shoulder (77) which 
serves as a bearing surface for a peripheral portion of the laser emitting 
diode (70) to rest against under the influence of a second spring biasing 
element (78) which is disposed intermediate the power supply unit (14) and 
the laser emitting diode member (70). 
Turning now to FIGS. 6 through 9 it can be seen that the second spring 
bearing element (78) bears against an outwardly projecting shoulder (79) 
of the laser emitting diode (70); wherein, the inboard end of the laser 
emitting diode (70) is provided with an electrical contact tang (79'), an 
insulating washer (79"), and a plurality of rearwardly extending 
electrical contacts (80) which are dimensioned to engage the power source 
unit (14) upon actuation of the firing pin impact unit (12) as will be 
described in greater detail presently. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the cartridge (10) of this invention is intended to be 
employed in a conventional firearm (100) within a range of calibers that 
encompasses 0.357, 38 and 9 mm calibers; wherein the cartridge (10) is 
inserted into the firearm (100) in the conventional manner. When the 
trigger mechanism (101) of the firearm (100) is pulled, the firing pin 
(102) will contact the firing pin impact member (40) to overcome the 
resistance of the first spring biasing element (44) causing the firing pin 
impact member (40) to depress the switch member (50), and bring the switch 
member (50) into contact with the electrically conductive contact element 
(57) which subsequently engages the batteries (60)(61) then provide 
current to the laser emitting diode (70) which projects an infrared light 
through the collimating lens (75); wherein, the focused beam of light 
travels down the bore (103) of the barrel (104) of the firearm (100) and 
is projected onto a screen (200) disposed at a remote location for the 
reasons that have been outlined previously. 
In addition, the electrical contact tang (79') on the laser emitting diode 
(70) is in electrical contact with the conductive laser housing member 
(71); wherein the electrical current passes through the laser housing 
member (71) back through the conductive cartridge casing member (20) and 
the conductive switch housing member (51 ) to the switch member (50) to 
complete the electrical circuit. The duration of the light beam that is 
generated by this process is governed by the retraction strength of the 
first spring biasing element (44) and the spring coefficient of the switch 
member (50); and, the light beam duration of preferably 30 milliseconds 
can be adjusted by the rotation of the threaded switch housing member (51) 
within the interior of the complimentary threaded portion of the casing 
member (20). 
At this juncture it should be appreciated that the cartridge (10) that 
forms the basis of this invention has been specifically designed and 
dimensioned so that one such cartridge can be interchangeably deployed in 
a variety of firearms covering the range of 0.357, .38 and 9 mm calibers. 
Furthermore, the laser emitting diode (70) of this invention specifically 
comprises an 860 manometer low level infrared light emitting diode which 
does not require a special Federal license for use such is required in at 
least one prior art device. In addition the firing pin impact member (40) 
and associated components are designed to accommodate both the relatively 
short firing pin throw of a semi-automatic firearm, such as a 9 mm of 
10/1000 ths of an inch in a 0.357 revolver. 
It should also be noted that the switch member (50) in the preferred 
embodiment of the invention comprises a very thin Belville spring disk 
element. 
Having thereby described the subject matter of the present invention, it 
should be apparent that many substitutions, modifications and variations 
of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is 
therefore to be understood that the invention as taught and described 
herein is only to be limited to the extent of the breadth and scope of the 
appended claims.