Abstract:
A tactical illuminator has a first switch for providing a lesser amount of visible light on an area of interest than a second switch. The first switch being in close proximity to the second switch to allow an operator to quickly and easily move his finger or thumb from the first switch to the second switch when a need for greater light is encountered. A tactical illuminator has a rotatable switch moveable from a first position that provides a lower level of light output to a second position that provides a greater level of light output. The operator actuating the switch by sliding his finger or thumb parallel to a longitudinal axis of a weapon barrel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent applications Ser. No. 60/602,254, filed Aug. 17, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is generally related to tactical illuminators and, more particularly, to a switch assembly and method for illuminating an area of interest at two or more illumination levels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The need to be able to effectively see a target and aim a weapon in the direction of the target is well recognized. Tactical illuminators to facilitate illuminating a target and aiming a weapon, especially under low light conditions, are known. Tactical illuminators have an incandescent lamp or light emitting diode (LED) to provide general illumination of an area or person of interest. The output is typically a white light capable of projecting 40 to 150 lumens, although higher output lights are also known. The tactical illuminator may be attached to a weapon, for example a handgun, long gun, or shotgun, in a variety of different ways. 
     Known tactical illuminators have a “creep” light that allows a law enforcement officer to approach a hide out with enough light to navigate and a separate bright light for illuminating the area or person of interest. 
     The tactical illuminators typically have one or more switches to turn the light on or off. The switches have been located on the sides and ends of the devices. Some tactical illuminators combine one or more different type switches to accomplish the switching function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tactical illuminator for use on a weapon having a barrel having a longitudinal axis. The illuminator has a housing for enclosing at least a portion of a power source, at least one source of illumination at least partially disposed in the housing, a first switch disposed on the housing and configured to couple the power source to the at least one source of illumination when actuated to project a first amount of visible light, and a second switch disposed on the housing in juxtaposition to the first switch and configured to couple the power source to the at least one source of illumination when actuated to project a second amount of visible light. The first switch configured to be actuated by a compressive force generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the weapon and the second switch configured to be actuated by a compressive force at an angle other than generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the weapon. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a tactical illuminator for use on a weapon having a barrel having a longitudinal axis. The illuminator has a housing for enclosing at least a portion of a power source, a first source of illumination at least partially disposed in the housing, a second source of illumination at least partially disposed in the housing, a first switch disposed on the housing and configured to couple the power source to the first source of illumination, and a second switch disposed on the housing in juxtaposition to the first switch and configured to couple the power source to the second source of illumination. The first switch configured to be actuated by a compressive force generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the weapon and the second switch configured to be actuated by a compressive force at an angle other than generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the weapon. 
     According to a yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a tactical illuminator for use on a weapon having a barrel having a longitudinal axis. The tactical illuminator has a housing for enclosing at least a portion of a power source, a least one source of illumination at least partially disposed in the housing, and a switch disposed on the housing and rotatable about an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. The switch rotatable between a first position in which a first amount of visible light projects and a second position in which a second amount of visible light projects. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the embodiments will become readily apparent from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a tactical illuminator consistent with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an electrical schematic for the tactical illuminator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an alternative electrical schematic for the tactical illuminator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a second tactical illuminator consistent with the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic for the tactical illuminator of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a plot consistent with the invention of force versus angular position of a switch for use in the tactical illuminator of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is an alternative electrical schematic for the tactical illuminator of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a side view and  FIG. 2  is an electrical schematic of a tactical illuminator  100  consistent with the invention. The tactical illuminator  100  may have a power source  102 , for example a dry cell battery, a first source of illumination  104 , for example an incandescent lamp, an LED, or other visible light source, a second source of illumination  106 , for example an incandescent lamp, an LED, or other visible light source, a first switch  108 , and a second switch  110  at least partially disposed in a housing  112 . The switches  108 ,  110  may employ a silicone overlay over tactile dome switches. The overlay may be coupled to the housing  112  to seal out moisture and particulates. Although the switches  108 ,  110  have been shown as being dome switches, other switches, including, but not limited to, touch sensitive, proximity sensitive, rocker and linear switches, may be used without departing from the invention. Although the switches  108 ,  110  are shown as momentary switches, they may be maintained or a combination of maintained and momentary without departing from the invention. The switches  108 ,  110  may include protrusions or indentations for tactile feedback to the operator. Alternatively, the switches may be coupled to a microcontroller that in turn controls the sources of illumination. 
     The first switch  108  may be in series with the first source of illumination  104  and the second switch  110  may be in series with the second source of illumination  106 . The first source of illumination  104  may be used to provide sufficient light to navigate ( 5 - 75  lumens) under darkened conditions and the second source of illumination  106  may be used as a bright light (40-250 lumens) for illuminating the area or person of interest. The first source of illumination  104  may be a white or non white light, for example a red, blue, or green light and the second source of illumination  106  may be a white light. The range of lumen output for the first source and second source of illumination are provided for illustrative purpose and are not intended to be limiting. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tactical illuminator  100  may be coupled to a weapon  200  having a barrel  202  with a longitudinal axis LA. The tactical illuminator  100  may be mounted to the side of (as shown), on top of, or below the barrel  202  without departing from the invention. The light emanating from the tactical illuminator  100  may be directed generally parallel to the barrel  202 . The tactical illuminator  100  may be coupled to the weapon  200  in any known manner, for example with a side clamping mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,901, entitled Auxiliary Device for a Weapon and Attachment Thereof, discloses a method of securing an auxiliary device to a weapon and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The first switch  108  and the second switch  110  may be juxtaposed along a surface of the tactical illuminator. The second switch  110  may be twice as large in surface area as the first switch  108  and may be oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis LA. The first switch  108  may be separated from the second switch  110  by a divider  130 . The first switch  108  may be actuated by a force F, aligned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA of the weapon  200  and the second switch  110  may be actuated by a force F 2  aligned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis LA or a force F 3  aligned at an angle to the longitudinal axis LA. 
     Because of the difference in size and location, the separate switches  108 ,  110  may accommodate, not only two separate elements, but also two separate operational modes, (fine motor skills and gross motor skills). During periods of low stress, fine motor skills are available to manipulate the smaller switch  108  to activate the lower light output source of illumination  104 , for example an LED. This may be used when the operator is trying to approach an area of interest while not being detected (“creep” mode). During periods of higher stress, when fine motor skills rapidly degrade, gross motor skills are still available and employed against the larger angled switch  110  to activate the higher light output source of illumination  106 . This may be used when the operator enters the area of interest or encounters the person or target of interest. 
     The close proximity of the first switch  108  and the second switch  110  may allow an operator to approach an area of interest with his/her thumb  120  or other finger located a spaced distance from the first switch  108 . The operator may press the first switch  108  with his or her thumb  120  when necessary to provide sufficient light to navigate while also having his/her thumb  120  a spaced distance from the second switch  110 . The operator can simply slide his/her thumb  120  along the longitudinal axis LA of the weapon  200  when s/he has a need for a brighter light. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tactical illuminator  100  may have a power source  102 , for example a dry cell battery, a source of illumination  106 , for example an incandescent lamp, an LED, or other visible light source, a first switch  108 , a second switch  110 , and an electrical component  114  at least partially disposed in a housing. The first switch  108  may be in series with the electrical component  114  which may be capable of manipulating, for example increasing, or more preferably decreasing, the power to the source of illumination  106  and the second switch  110  may be in series with the source of illumination  106 . The electrical component  114  may include, but is not limited to, a resistor, inductor, capacitor, diode, transformer, or controllably conductive device, for example back-to-back SCRs, a triac, a MOSFET, and an IGBT. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first switch  108  and the second switch  110  may be incorporated into a rocker switch  140  with its axis of rotation aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA of the weapon  200  such that a force F 4  applied generally parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the weapon  200  turns on the first source of illumination  104  and the second source of illumination  106 . Rotation of the rocker switch  140  through a first angle Φ 1  may couple the power source  102  to the first source of illumination  104  and further rotation of the rocker switch  140  through a second angle Φ 2  may couple the power source  102  to the second source of illumination  106 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the rocker switch  140  may have a first spring constant K 1  from position A (off) to a second position B (low light) and a second spring constant K 2  from position B to position C (bright light). 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , rotation of the rocker switch  140  through the first angle Φ 1  may couple the power source  102  to the source of illumination  106  through the electrical component  114  and further rotation of the rocker switch  140  may couple the power source  102  to the source of illumination  106 . 
     Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, the invention is not limited hereto. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without materially departing from the novel and advantageous teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are by way of example. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby.