A case is formed of a side wall with a front and rear end having a base. A projectile is formed of a side wall with a front end having a shaped section and a rear end with a base. The projectile is positioned within the case with the rear end of the projectile spaced from the rear end of the case to form a rearward chamber. A firing assembly includes a charge within the rearward chamber and a firing means. An illumining assembly is positioned within the projectile and includes a source of illumination. An electrical assembly includes a printed circuit board, a sensor, a timer, a battery, a controller, and a receiver to illuminate the sources of illumination following igniting the charge to activate the sensor and passage of time as determined by the timer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an illumining projectile system and more particularly pertains to a projectile which is launched from a distance for illuminating a structure or personnel training area following a controlled time delay. The launching and the illuminating are done in a safe, convenient, and reliable manner.

Description of the Prior Art

The use of lighting systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, lighting systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of providing illumination through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe an illumining projectile system that allows for launching a projectile from a distance for illuminating a structure or training area following a controlled time delay. The launching and the illuminating are done in a safe, convenient, and reliable manner.

In this respect, the illumining projectile system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of illuminating a structure or personnel training area from a distance following a controlled time delay. The illuminating from a distance is done in a safe, convenient, and reliable manner.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved illumining projectile system which can be used for launching an illumining projectile from a distance to illuminate a structure or personnel training area following a controlled time delay. The illumining projectile system provides law enforcement, military, and other defense agencies a valuable tactical munition which is intended for use in hazardous situations or during personnel training exercises. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lighting systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved illumining projectile system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved illumining projectile system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, from a broad perspective, the present invention essentially comprises an illumining projectile system. First provided is a hollow case. The hollow case is formed of a cylindrical side wall. The hollow case has a rear end and a front end. The rear end has a circular base formed integrally with the cylindrical side wall. The front end has an opening with an inwardly extending radial flange. The hollow case is fabricated of a rigid material selected from the class of rigid materials including steel, aluminum, beryllium, plastic, or other rigid synthetic materials that resist flexing.

A projectile assembly is provided next. The projectile assembly includes a hollow projectile formed of a cylindrical side wall. The projectile has a rear end and a front end. The rear end has a circular base coupled with the side wall. The front end has a frusto-conical shaped section extending forwardly from the side wall and terminating in a concave area. The concave area is formed with a recessed cavity. A forward chamber is formed within the hollow projectile between the front end and the side wall and the circular base. The projectile assembly further includes an impact dome. The impact dome is provided in the concave area of the front end. The projectile assembly is positionable within the case with the rear end of the hollow projectile spaced from the rear end of the case. In this manner a rearward chamber is formed. The projectile is fabricated of a transparent rigid material selected from the class of transparent rigid materials including plastic, polycarbonate, or other rigid thermoplastic polymers.

Provided next is a hollow sabot. The sabot is formed of a cylindrical side wall. The sabot has a rear end and a front end. The rear end has a circular base formed integrally with the side wall. The front end has an opening with a leading edge. The leading edge is in contact with the radial flange of the case. The side wall and base of the sabot have an interior. The interior is in contact with the side wall and base of the hollow projectile. The side wall of the sabot has an exterior. The exterior is in contact with the side wall of the case. The sabot is fabricated of a frangible material selected from the class of frangible materials including paper, cardboard, plastic, or other foam based materials.

Next, a firing assembly is provided. The firing assembly includes an explosive propellant charge. The explosive propellant charge is provided in the rearward chamber in contact with the base of the case. The firing assembly also includes a firing means and a plastic support. The firing means activates a primer (not shown) which is located at the base of the case in contact with the propellant charge. The plastic support is provided within the rearward chamber to contact and support the explosive propellant charge. An air space is in the rearward chamber between the base of the sabot and the explosive propellant charge.

Further provided is an illumining assembly. The illumining assembly is positionable within the forward chamber. The illumining assembly is formed of an equilateral rear end and an equilateral front end. Illumining side walls are formed integrally of the front end and rear end. The illumining assembly includes sources of illumination positioned along the illumining side walls. The illumining assembly further includes electrical leads. The electrical leads extend inwardly from the sources.

Provided last is an electrical assembly. The electrical assembly includes a printed circuit board, a sensor, a timer, a battery, and a controller. The movements caused when firing the projectile from the case activates the sensor which activates the controller to illuminate the sources of illumination following a passage of time as determined by the timer. Alternatively, the movements can be simulated manually by striking the projectile against a rigid surface to activate the sensor and the controller to illuminate the sources of illumination. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the electrical assembly further includes a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive commands from a remote wireless transmitter to override the controller for activating and deactivating the sources of illumination. The radio frequency receiver provides for the illumining projectile system to be used multiple times, specifically for military training purposes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illumining projectile system which has all the advantages of the prior lighting systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illumining projectile system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illumining projectile system which is reusable and of durable and reliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved illumining projectile system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale, thereby making such illumining projectile system economically available.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide an illumining projectile system for illuminating a personnel training area from a distance in a safe and reliable manner.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illumining projectile system. A hollow case is formed of a side wall with a front and rear end. The case has a base. A projectile assembly includes a hollow projectile formed of a side wall with a front and rear end. The projectile assembly has a base and an impact dome positioned in the front end. The projectile assembly is positioned within the case. The rear end of the projectile is spaced from the rear end of the case to form a rearward chamber. A firing assembly includes a charge within the rearward chamber and a firing means. An illumining assembly includes a source of illumination. An electrical assembly includes a sensor and a controller and a timer. In this manner the source of illumination may be illuminated following igniting the charge and activating the electrical assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention, the illumining projectile system10is comprised of a plurality of components. In their broadest context such include a case, a projectile assembly, a firing assembly, an illumining assembly, and an electrical assembly. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

In the preferred embodiment of the illumining projectile system10, first provided is a hollow case12. The case is formed of a cylindrical side wall14. The case has a rear end16and a front end18. The rear end has a circular base20. The circular base is formed integrally with the side wall. The front end has an opening22. The opening has an inwardly extending radial flange24. The case is fabricated of a rigid material selected from the class of rigid materials including steel, aluminum, beryllium, plastic or other rigid synthetic materials that resist flexing.

A projectile assembly25is provided next. The projectile assembly includes a hollow projectile26formed of a cylindrical side wall28. One skilled in the art would recognize that the cylindrical side wall could be any geometric cylindrical configuration. The projectile has a rear end30and a front end32. The rear end has a circular base34coupled to the side wall. The front end has a generally frusto-conical shaped section36. The shaped section extends forwardly from the side wall and terminates in a forward concave area38. The concave area has a recessed cavity40.

The projectile assembly includes an impact dome42. The impact dome is provided in the concave area of the projectile. The projectile assembly is positioned within the case. The rear end of the projectile is spaced from the rear end of the case. In this manner a rearward chamber44is formed. A forward chamber46is formed within the front end, side wall, and circular base of the hollow projectile.

The hollow projectile is fabricated of a transparent rigid material selected from the class of transparent rigid materials including plastic, polycarbonate, or other rigid thermoplastic polymers. The impact dome is fabricated of resilient elastomeric materials selected from the class of elastomeric materials including silicone, rubber, vinyl, or other elastically resilient materials.

Provided next is a hollow sabot48. The sabot is formed of a cylindrical side wall50. The sabot has a rear end52and a front end54. The rear end has a circular base56formed integrally with the side wall. The front end has an opening58with a leading edge60. The side wall and base of the sabot have an interior. The interior is in contact with the side wall and base of the hollow projectile. The side wall of the sabot has an exterior. The exterior is in contact with the side wall of the case. The sabot is fabricated of a frangible material selected from the class of frangible materials including paper, cardboard, plastic, or other foam based materials.

A firing assembly62is provided. The firing assembly includes an explosive propellant charge64. The explosive propellant charge is provided in the rearward chamber in contact with the base of the case. The firing assembly also includes a firing means66. The firing means activates a primer (not shown) which is located at the base of the case in contact with the explosive propellant charge. The firing assembly further includes a plastic support68. The plastic support is provided within the rearward chamber to contact and support the explosive propellant charge. An air space70is in the rearward chamber between the base of the sabot and the explosive propellant charge. One skilled in the art would recognize that the firing means may be any device that would activate the primer, such as an elected charge or current, firing pin, striker, or hammer.

Further provided is an illumining assembly72. The illumining assembly is positioned within the forward chamber. The illumining assembly has a front end74and a rear end76. Illumining side walls78are formed integrally of the front and rear end. A hollow compartment80is formed within the illumining side walls. The illumining assembly includes sources of illumination or light emitting diodes82positioned along the illumining side walls. The illumining assembly further includes electrical leads84. The electrical leads extend from the sources of illumination to and through the illumining side walls.

Provided last is an electrical assembly86. The electrical assembly includes a printed circuit board88, a sensor90, a timer92, a battery94, and a controller96. The sensor activates the controller when movements are detected from the projectile being fired from the case to illuminate the sources of illumination following a passage of time as determined by the timer. The controller is configured to regulate the illuminating pattern and activation sequence of the sources illumination.

In alternate embodiments of the invention, the electrical assembly further includes a radio frequency receiver98. The radio frequency receiver is configured to detect transmitted radio signals sent remotely from a corresponding device for overriding the controller to activate or deactivate the sources of illumination. One skilled in the art would recognize that the electrical assembly components may be hardened or receive a resilient coating while being positioned in the hollow projectile to withstand the forces generated when fired from the case to maintain functionality.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the sources of illumination provide light. The light is selected from the class of lights including ultraviolet light, infrared light, thermal, and visible light.

In another alternate embodiment of the invention, the circular base of the projectile is made of buoyant materials for allowing buoyancy when projected into a large body of fluids such as oceans or lakes for illumining, marking, and identifying areas from aerial distances.

Another alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, a impact suction cup110is provided. The impact suction cup is positioned in the forward concave area of the hollow projectile. The generally arcuate suction cup has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is formed of a concave face112. The outer surface is formed of a convex face114. The impact suction cup is fabricated of resilient elastomeric materials selected from the class of elastomeric materials including silicone, rubber, vinyl, and other elastically resilient materials. Illustrated inFIG. 6, when the concave face makes contact with a smooth material116such as glass, plastic, metal, or other like materials, the projectile assembly will temporarily adhere to the smooth surface118for illumining purposes.