Abstract:
An illumination source to assist in the identification and verification of a target is preferably contained within a hollow, waterproof tube that is similar in dimension and also performs the function of the conventional guide rod it is designed to replace in a pistol. An activation switch will, in its preferred form, make or break the circuit between the power source and the LED&#39;s that provide the illumination. The power source is also contained within the aforementioned tube that preferably resides within the pistol directly under the barrel.

Description:
PRIOR HISTORY  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/471,014, filed May 16, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to illumination devices integrated in pistols. In its preferred form, the invention replaces the factory guide rod of certain pistols and also performs as a guide rod with a device that, when activated, emits a beam of light from one or more LED&#39;s to aid target and threat verification in low or no-light conditions.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Statistics compiled by the United States F.B.I. show that the majority of gunfights take place in conditions of low ambient light or total darkness. Law enforcement and civilian firearms instructors currently teach two methods to search for and/or identify a target in low or no-light conditions prior to engaging it as a threat.  
         [0006]     The first method utilizes a pistol in the dominant hand and a flashlight in the opposite hand. Such techniques require the light and pistol to be accessed separately and simultaneously, then applied conjunctively. This is difficult and time consuming on a static training range (especially compared to simply drawing a pistol) and even more problematic in a high stress, reactive or dynamic encounter. If the pistol must be fired, it will be with one hand instead of the more accurate and preferred two-hand hold. It is not possible to use the weapon and light with one hand while the other hand opens a door, uses communication equipment, retrieves handcuffs, etc.  
         [0007]     The second method is mounting a light to the exterior of the weapon, either semi permanently affixing it to the weapon or mounting it on an accessory rail that is incorporated on the frame of the pistol. Multi-task capability is less affected, but at the cost of significant bulk and weight, which negatively affects the pistol&#39;s handling characteristics and balance. Existing holsters must be replaced or radically modified for use. Many law enforcement agencies are reluctant accept the financial burden to change holsters and reissue them, so while many models of weapon-mounted lights are currently in use, they are proactive by nature, meaning that the user must have the time and foreknowledge to equip a pistol with a light or access a weapon with a dedicated light. Furthermore, many current models of safety devices (e.g., trigger locks) are not compatible with exterior weapon-mounted lights. Still further, exterior mounted lights are exposed to and are therefore much more vulnerable to the elements and damage. It is also noted that flashlights using incandescent bulbs are only as durable as their relatively frail filament, which can break or burn up with a lifespan of 500 to 1,000 hours at best, compared the L.E.D. illumination device described herein, which has no filament and a life expectancy of 100,000 hours.  
         [0008]     Recognized cognoscenti in the field of firearms training and tactics, such as Louis Awerbuck, director of the Yavapai Firearms Academy, Clint Smith, director of Thunder Ranch, and Massad Ayoob, director of the Lethal Force Institute, all recommend that students carry not one flashlight, but whenever possible, two. An often-used maxim in training classes is, “If you carry a gun, carry a light.” There exists the need for a light source that is always present and available for use when the weapon is present, but does not sacrifice proper weapon handling, balance or portability.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In various embodiments, this invention meets those needs and others by providing a constantly and instantly available light source to aid in finding, identifying and assessing a target, while being contained within the pistol itself. The unit&#39;s ambidextrous on/off switch can be instantly activated by the primary or support hand, allowing for one or two-handed operation of the pistol and light as an integrated unit. Able to be installed by persons of ordinary skill, the preferred embodiment of the invention does not permanently alter the function, dimensions or handling characteristics of the pistol in any significant way. The use of existing holsters, safety devices, and the like are unaffected.  
         [0010]     As a device made and used according to this invention is ever present and primarily contained within the firearm, ready for activation, there are several advantages gained over conventional hand-held and/or exterior weapon-mounted lights. It deploys eminently faster than any hand-held flashlight and pistol technique. Contained within a watertight guide rod, the illumination device is not subject to nor affected by the elements. The risk of an external force damaging the device (without also destroying the pistol) is minimal.  
         [0011]     The guide rod of a pistol resides directly under the barrel. When the light source is also contained therein, only the muzzle of the pistol would need to be clear of an object of cover or concealment to further search for, identify, asses or engage a target. It should be noted that any part of the user or the pistol itself that is exposed beyond cover is also exposed to whatever threat lies beyond. With hand held (especially) or exterior mounted lights in general, a little to a lot more of the user and pistol must be exposed past the point of cover or concealment.  
         [0012]     Finally, by virtue of being constantly and instantly available, certain embodiments of this invention provide for the reactive use of a light with a pistol in a dynamic encounter to illuminate and identify a target.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1 . A cross sectional view of the guide rod with integrated illumination device.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2 . A side view of the guide rod with integrated illumination device.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3 . A perspective view of the LED.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4 . A perspective view of the contact pin.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5 . A perspective view of the insulator tube.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6 . A perspective view of the end cap.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7 . A perspective view of the contact button.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8 . A perspective view of the button sleeve.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9 . A perspective view of the take down lever.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10 . A perspective cross sectional view of the device with recoil spring.  
         [0023]      FIG. 11 . A perspective view of the device with recoil spring.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0025]     The Figures accompanying this specification illustrate one embodiment of the pistol guide rod with integrated illumination device  10  intended for use with the GLOCK 23 pistol. It should be understood that guide rods of differing shape and size used with other types of pistols may be assembled following the teachings of the claimed invention and are contemplated as being within the scope of the claimed invention.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the GLOCK 23 model of the device  10  generally comprising a guide rod housing  20 , at least one light emitting diode (LED)  30 , a contact pin  40 , an insulator tube  50 , an end cap  60 , a contact button  70 , a button sleeve  80 , a biasing member  90 , a power source  100 , and a take down lever  1   10 .  
         [0026]     The guide rod housing  20  shown in  FIG. 1  is preferably made of metal and is generally sized like a standard guide rod for a GLOCK 23 pistol. The housing  20  is hollow and has an open first  120  end and an open second end  130  with a plurality of through hole apertures  140  positioned adjacent the open first end  120  of the housing  20 . The housing  20  has an external set of threads  150  for receiving the end cap  60  adjacent the second open end  130  and an external flange  160  adjacent the threads  150  for receiving the recoil spring  165  of the pistol as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In commercial sales of the device  10 , a replacement recoil spring will also accompany the device  10  to replace the standard recoil spring. The internal hollow cavity  170  of the housing  20  has four different diameters providing three different shoulders  180 ,  190 ,  200  at different intervals along the length of the housing  20 .  
         [0027]     The LED  30  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  is a 5 mm through hole LED producing 10,000 milicandellas of illumination. The LED  30  has a first lead  210  that is connected to the contact pin  40  and a second lead  220  that is positioned between the insulation sleeve  50  and the inner walls of the housing  20 . A rim  225  about the LED  30  engages the third internal shoulder  200  of the housing  20  when assembled.  
         [0028]     The contact pin  40  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  is preferably made of metal and has a multidirectional slot  230  for receiving the first lead  210  of the LED  30 , an external rib  240  for frictionally engaging the insulator tube  50  during assembly and a stepped base  250  with a flattened side  260  for engagement with the biasing member  90 .  
         [0029]     The insulator tube  50  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5  is preferably made of a nonconductive plastic such as DELRIN and is hollow with an open first end  270  and an open second end  280 . The insulator tube  50  has an external flange  290  adjacent the open second end  280  for engaging the first internal shoulder  180  of the housing  20  during assembly and an external shoulder  300  for engaging the second internal shoulder  190  of the housing  20  during assembly.  
         [0030]     The end cap  60  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6  is made of metal and has a centrally located through hole aperture  310  for receiving the contact button  70  and button sleeve  80 . In other embodiments of the claimed invention, the end cap  70  is made of a nonconductive plastic such as DELRIN eliminating the need for the button sleeve  80 . The end cap  60  has internal threads  320  for fastening upon the external threads  150  of the housing  20  and a shoulder  330  adjacent the through hole aperture  310  for receiving the button sleeve  80 .  
         [0031]     The contact button  70  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7  is preferably made of metal and has a rounded first end  340  for engaging the take down lever  110  and a flat stepped based second end  350  for engaging the power source  100  and the button sleeve  80 .  
         [0032]     The button sleeve  80  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8  is preferably made of a nonconductive plastic such as DELRIN and is sized and shaped to engage the shoulder  330  and through hole aperture  310  of the end cap  60 . The button sleeve  80  has a skirt  360  surrounding a centrally located through hole aperture  370  for insulating the flat stepped base  350  of the contact button  70 .  
         [0033]     The biasing member  90  shown in  FIG. 1  is preferably a metal compression spring. The first end  380  of the spring  90  is connected to the contact pin  40  when assembled and the second end  390  simultaneously makes electrical contact with the power source  100  and biases the power source  100  toward the end cap  60  causing the contact button  70  to protrude through the through hole aperture  310  of the end cap  60 .  
         [0034]     The power source  100  shown in  FIG. 10  is preferably a number of 1.5 Volt dry cell batteries. When assembled, the batteries  100  make contact with the spring  90  and the contact button  70  to provide power to the device  10 .  
         [0035]     The take down lever  110  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9  is preferably made of metal and has many of the same features of a standard take down lever that would be included in a standard GLOCK 23 when sold. The take down lever  110  of the claimed invention has several additional features to facilitate operation. The take down lever  110  of the claimed invention has a centrally located lobe  400  along the bottom edge  410  defined by a pair of cutouts  420 . When assembled, the lobe  400  of the take down lever  110  rests upon the locking spring (not shown) within the receiver (not shown). During use, the take down lever  110  may be moved laterally in either direction such that the one of the cutouts  420  of the take down lever  110  rests upon the locking spring. The take down lever  110  of the claimed invention also has a centrally located nonconductive portion  430  positioned above the lobe  400  that is sized and shaped slightly larger than the diameter of the contact button  70  so that the contact button  70  does not make contact with the take down lever  110  when the take down lever  110  is centered over the locking spring. The nonconductive portion  430  shown in  FIG. 10  is a through hole aperture.  
         [0036]     The device  10  is assembled as shown in  FIG. 1  by first securing the spring  90  to the stepped base  250  of the contact pin  40 . The flattened side  260  of the stepped base  250  allows the first end  380  of the spring  90  to be rotated onto the stepped base  250  capturing the stepped base  250  between the first two turns of the spring  90 . The contact pin  40  is then inserted into the insulator tube  50  such that the external rib  240  frictionally engages the insulator tube  50  to hold the contact pin  40  within the insulator tube  50 . The insulator tube  50  is then inserted into the housing  20  through the open second end  130  until the external flange  290  engages the first internal shoulder  180  of the housing  20 . The LED  30  is then inserted through the first open end  120  of the housing  20  such that the first lead  210  of the LED  30  is inserted within the multidirectional slot  230  of the contact pin  40  to create a secure electrical connection. The second lead  220  of the LED  30  is preferably secured to the internal wall of the housing  20  by soldering or other method that results in an electrically conductive path being formed between the second lead  220  and the housing  20 . The LED  30  is then secured in place by placing epoxy about the LED  30  such that epoxy flows through the plurality of hole  140  adjacent the open first end  120  of the housing  20  so that, when dried, the LED  30  will be held in place. The plurality of batteries  100  are then inserted through the second open end  130  of the housing  20  adjacent the spring  90 . The contact button  70  is then inserted in the button sleeve  80  and the button sleeve  80  is in turn inserted in the through hole aperture  310  of the end cap  60 . The end cap  60  is then screwed onto the external threads  150  of the housing  20 .  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the assembled device  10 .  
         [0037]     Generally, to use the guide rod with integrated illumination device  10  according to the claimed invention, one field strips the pistol (that is, disassembles it down to its primary components), then reassembles the pistol using a guide rod and take down lever of the claimed invention adapted for use with the particular model of pistol according to the claimed invention. Disassembly and reassembly are performed according to the model-specific instructions provided by the manufacturer of the pistol, observing all proper safety recommendations, principles and procedures.  
         [0038]     With the exemplary embodiment above, which is tailored for use with a GLOCK model 23, one installs the guide rod with integrated illumination device  10  by removing the magazine and clearing the chamber of the pistol by retracting the slide. When all rounds have been removed, the pistol is pointed in a safe direction, and the trigger is pulled. The user secures the pistol by wrapping all fingers around the slide, with the thumb resting on the back side of the receiver. The slide is pulled back about ⅛ inch, and the slide lock is pressed to the bottom of its slide using the other hand. Noting that the recoil spring is under high pressure (so caution should be used); the user removes the slide from the receiver. He or she grasps the recoil spring, pushes forward, and lifts the recoil spring with guide rod out of the slide of the pistol.  
         [0039]     To remove the original take down lever, the user presses the locking spring down, then turns the pistol on its side and removes the take down lever. The user then inserts the take down lever  110  of the claimed invention. The user then places the replacement recoil spring  165  over the guide rod with integrated illumination device  10 . Then, while pushing forward and down, the user inserts the guide rod  10  and recoil spring  165 . The user reassembles the slide to the pistol with the new guide rod and recoil spring installed. It is recommended that the user cycle the slide several times to assure proper operation.  
         [0040]     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.