Patent Publication Number: US-2013227872-A1

Title: Laser Sight Firing Device Mountable To An Air Gun

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 101107312, filed on Mar. 5, 2012. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a laser sight firing device, and more particularly to a laser sight firing device that can be mounted to an air gun to form a simulated gun assembly that is operable to simulate a real shooting. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a simulated gun  1  disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. 320281 includes main body  11  having a compartment  111 , a sleeve tube unit  12  disposed in the compartment  111 , and a trigger unit  13  exposed partially from the compartment  111 . The main body  11  further has a microswitch  112  disposed in the compartment  111 , a gun barrel  113  extending from an end of the main body  11 , and a light emitter  114  disposed in the gun barrel  113  and activatable by the microswitch  112 . The sleeve tube unit  12  includes a pneumatic tube  121 , a resilient member  122  disposed on an end of the pneumatic tube  121  proximate to the gun barrel  113 , a valve rod  123  disposed in the pneumatic tube  121 , and a contact member  124  disposed on an end of the valve rod  123  proximate to the gun barrel  113 . The trigger unit  13  includes a trigger  131  exposed outwardly from the compartment  111 , and two movable members  132  disposed in the compartment  111  and connected to the trigger  131 . 
     Prior to firing, the pneumatic tube  121  is inflated to move the valve rod  123  toward the gun barrel  113  to thereby compress the resilient member  122 . At the same time, the contact member  124  of the valve rod  123  is obstructed by one of the movable members  132  nearer to the gun barrel  113  from moving away from the gun barrel  113 . 
     Subsequently, the trigger  131  of the trigger unit  13  can be operated to activate the movable members  132  to thereby release the contact member  124  from the one of the movable members  132  nearer to the gun barrel  113 . Hence, due to the biasing action of the resilient member  122 , the contact member  124  is returned to its original position at a highspeed so as to contact the microswitch  112 . Upon contact between the contact member  124  and the microswitch  112 , the microswitch  112  sends a sensing signal to the light emitter  114  so as to activate the light emitter  114  to emit light. 
     As such, the aforesaid conventional simulated gun  1  can cooperate with an electronic target (not shown) having a light receiver for providing a safety firing training in a cost-effective manner. However, the conventional simulated gun  1  suffers from the following disadvantages: 
     (1) Complicated structure: the conventional simulated gun  1  includes a laser sight firing device having a large number of components that are dispersed therein. Such a laser sight firing device cannot be mounted removably to an air gun to constitute the conventional simulated gun  1 , thereby increasing the molding cost of the simulated gun  1 . 
     (2) Inconvenient assembly and disassembly: when repair and maintenance of the laser sight firing device are required, since the laser sight firing device is not an integral unit, it is necessary to send the whole gun to the repair factory, and the repair factory must disassemble the whole gun for repair and maintenance. As such, the simulated gun  1  is not convenient to repair and maintain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of this invention is to provide a laser sight firing device that has a simple structure and that can be mounted easily and conveniently to an air gun. 
     According to this invention, a laser sight firing device is usable with an air gun, and includes a firing unit disposed on a gun barrel, a sensing unit, and a light emitter disposed on the firing unit. The firing unit includes a tubular member, and a position-limiting member extending from the tubular member. The tubular member has a tube wall formed with an air discharge hole and defining a passage. The sensing unit includes a piston disposed in the passage, a return mechanism disposed between the piston and the position-limiting member, a first chip module disposed on the piston, and a second chip module disposed fixedly in the passage. When air current flows from the air gun, the first chip module comes into contact with the second chip module to activate the light emitter to emit light. 
     Since the laser sight firing device is configured as an integral unit that has a simple structure and that can be mounted removably to an air gun, it is convenient to repair and maintain. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partially sectional side view of a conventional simulated gun disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. 320281 when a trigger is not operated, which includes a laser sight firing device; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially sectional side view of the conventional simulated gun when the trigger is operated; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a simulated gun assembly that includes an air gun and the first preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device according to this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a non-contact position of a piston; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating two contact members; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but illustrating a contact position of the piston; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but illustrating a modified connection between the air gun and the laser sight firing device; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but illustrating that two second chip modules are disposed on a position-limiting member; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional side view of the second preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device according to this invention, illustrating a non-contact position of a piston; 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  but illustrating a contact position of the piston; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view illustrating that the first or second preferred embodiment can be disposed on an air gun configured as a machine gun; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view illustrating that the first or second preferred embodiment can be disposed on an air gun configured as a pistol; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional side view of the third preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device according to this invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional side view of the fourth preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device according to this invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view illustrating that the third or fourth preferred embodiment can be disposed on an air gun configured as a rifle; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view illustrating that the third or fourth preferred embodiment can be disposed on an air gun configured as a machine gun; and 
         FIG. 17  is a side view illustrating that the third or fourth preferred embodiment can be disposed on an air gun configured as a pistol. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before the present invention is described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that similar elements and structures are designated by like reference numerals throughout the entire disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device  2  according to this invention is disposed on an air gun  3  for simulating a real shooting. In this embodiment, the air gun  3  is configured as a rifle. The air gun  3  includes a main body  31 , a gun barrel  32  connected to the main body  31 , and a trigger  33  connected to the main body  31  and operable for driving emission of a high-pressure air current from the main body  31  and through the gun barrel  32 . The gun barrel  32  is formed with a muzzle  321  at an end thereof distal from the main body  31 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 5 , the laser sight firing device  2  includes a firing unit  21  disposed on the gun barrel  32 , a sensing unit  22  disposed in the firing unit  21 , and a light emitter  23  disposed on the firing unit  21 . The firing unit  21  includes a tubular member  211  disposed removably on the gun barrel  32  of the air gun  3 . The tubular member  211  has a tube wall  210 , a firing aperture  213  defined by an end of the tube wall  210  distal from the gun barrel  32 , and a passage  212  defined by the tube wall  210  and disposed between the firing aperture  213  and the muzzle  321 . The tube wall  210  has two air discharge holes  217  formed therethrough, and a connecting section  214  adjacent to the muzzle  321  and connected to the gun barrel  32 . The firing unit  21  further includes a position-limiting member  215  extending from an inner wall surface of the tube wall  210  into the passage  212 , two contact members  216  extending from the inner wall surface of the tube wall  210  into the passage  212  and disposed between the position-limiting member  215  and the muzzle  321 , and a stop member  218  disposed on the tube wall  210  of the tubular member  211  and in the passage  212 . The position-limiting member  215  is disposed to close the passage  212  such that the muzzle  321  is not in spatial communication with the firing aperture  213 , so as to prevent water vapor and dust from moving from the firing aperture  213  into the air gun  3 . 
     The sensing unit  22  includes a piston  221  disposed movably in the passage  212  and disposed between the muzzle  321  and the contact members  216 , a return mechanism  222  connected between the piston  221  and the position-limiting member  215 , two first chip modules  223  disposed on the piston  221 , and two second chip modules  224  disposed respectively on the contact members  216 . The first chip modules  223  are aligned respectively with the second chip modules  224 . The return mechanism  222  has two end connected respectively to the position-limiting member  215  and the piston  221 . 
     The light emitter  23  is disposed on the inner wall surface of the tube wall  210  of the tubular member  211 , and is disposed between the position-limiting member  215  and the firing aperture  213 . It should be noted that, the air discharge holes  217  of the firing unit  21  are disposed between the stop member  218  and the contact members  216 , so as to allow the high-pressure air current to flow out of the passage  212  therethrough. Alternatively, the number of the air discharge holes  217  may be increased or reduced. The stop member  218  is disposed between the piston  221  and the muzzle  321  for preventing collision between the piston  221  and the gun barrel  32 . 
     In this embodiment, the connecting section  214  of the laser sight firing device  2  is threaded to the air gun  3  in such a manner that the laser sight firing device  2  is sleeved on the gun barrel  32 . 
     The piston  221  is movable relative to the position-limiting member  215  between a non-contact position shown in  FIG. 4  and a contact position shown in  FIG. 6 . When the trigger  33  is not operated, due to the biasing action of the resilient member  2222  of the return mechanism  222 , the first chip modules  223  on the piston  221  are spaced apart from the second chip modules  224  on the contact members  216  by a predetermined distance. At this time, the piston  221  is disposed in the non-contact position. With particular reference to  FIG. 6 , when the trigger  33  is operated, a high-pressure air current is sprayed out of the main body  31  through the gun barrel  32 . When the high-pressure air current flows from the muzzle  321  toward the firing aperture  213  along the passage  212 , it pushes and moves the piston  221  of the sensing unit  22  from the non-contact position toward the contact members  216 , so as to compress the resilient member  2222  and so as to move the first chip modules  223  into contact with the second chip modules  224 , respectively. At this time, the piston  221  is disposed at the contact position, and upon contact between the first and second chip modules  223 ,  224 , a sensing signal is emitted from the second chip modules  224  to the light emitter  23  in a wireless transmission manner. When the light emitter  23  receives the sensing signal from the second chip modules  224 , it emits light toward a target object (not shown). 
     On the other hand, when the piston  221  reaches the contact position, the air discharge holes  217  are in fluid communication with the muzzle  321  so as to allow for flow of the high-pressure air current from the passage  212  and through the air discharge holes  217  for discharging. Upon discharge of the high-pressure air current, the piston  221  is no longer pushed pneumatically, and thus is biased by the resilient member  222  to return to the non-contact position. During return of the piston  221  to the non-contact position, the stop member  218  can obstruct the piston  221  from impact on the gun barrel  32 . Alternatively, the number of the contact members  216 , the first chip modules  223 , or the second chip modules  224  may be increased or reduced. For example, if only one contact member  216  is provided, it may be an annular flange extending from the tube wall  210  of the tubular member  211 . 
     If the laser sight firing device  2  is used together with the air gun  3  to perform a shooting training, an electronic target (not shown) having a light receiver associated with the light emitter  23  can be provided for showing the contact point of light to allow the user to learn his or her shooting condition. Alternatively, the second chip modules  224  and the light emitter  23  are electrically connected to each other, so that the sensing signal is transmitted electrically from the second chip modules  224  to the light emitter  23 . That is, when the first chip modules  223  contact the second chip modules  224 , respectively, an electrical connection is established therebetween for activating the light emitter  23 . 
     In this embodiment, the tube wall  210  of the tubular member  211  has an annular groove (G) (see  FIG. 6 ), and the stop member  218  is configured as a C-shaped ring, and is received within the annular groove (G). The structure of the stop member  218  can be changed as long as it can prevent collision between the piston  221  and the gun barrel  32 . The connecting section  214  can be connected to the gun barrel  32  in other manners. For example, instead of the threaded connection, the firing unit  21  includes a high-strength magnet  2142  disposed on the connecting section  214  for attracting magnetically an end of the muzzle  321 . In this manner, the laser sight firing device  2  also can be sleeved on the gun barrel  32 . Alternatively, with further reference to  FIG. 8 , the contact members  216  may be omitted from the firing unit  21 , and the second chip modules  224  maybe disposed on the position-limiting member  215 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the second preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device  2  according to this invention, which is different from the laser sight firing device  2  shown in  FIG. 8  in that, the return mechanism  222  includes two magnetic members  2223  disposed respectively on the position-limiting member  215  and the piston  221  for repulsing magnetically each other. As such, the piston  221  is biased to the non-contact position. With particular reference to  FIG. 10 , through operation of the trigger  33  (see  FIG. 3 ), the high-pressure air current sprayed from the air gun  3  can overcome the repulsive magnetic force occurring between the magnetic members  2223  to push and move the piston  221  to the contact position. At this time, the first chip modules  223  on the piston  221  come into contact the second chip modules  224  to activate the light emitter  23  in a wireless transmission manner or an electrical connection manner. When the high-pressure air current is discharged through the air discharge holes  217 , the piston  221  is no long pushed so as to allow the piston  221  to return to the non-contact position by virtue of the repulsive magnetic force between the magnetic members  2223 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the outer appearance of the first or second preferred embodiment may be designed to have the shape of a silencer to allow an assembly of the laser sight firing device  2  and the air gun  3  to look more like a real gun. The air gun  3  of the first or second preferred embodiment may be configured as a rifle shown in  FIG. 11  or a pistol shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 13  shows the third preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device  2  according to this invention, which is similar to the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the tube wall  210  of the tubular member  211  is formed with a plurality of guide holes  219  in spatial communication with the passage  212 . With the above structure, the laser sight firing device  2  looks like a flash hider. Although the laser sight firing device  2  do not have the flash-concealing function of a flash hider, when it is mounted to an air gun  3  to form a simulated gun assembly, the user can be used to operate the same during a real shooting. 
       FIG. 14  shows the fourth preferred embodiment of a laser sight firing device  2  according to this invention, which is different from the laser sight firing device  2  shown in  FIG. 9  in that, the tube wall  210  of the tubular member  211  is formed with a plurality of guide holes  219  in spatial communication with the passage  212 . 
     The air gun  3  of the third or fourth preferred embodiment may be configured as a rifle shown in  FIG. 15 , a machine gun shown in  FIG. 16 , or a pistol shown in  FIG. 17 . The diameter of the passage  212  of the firing unit  21  can be adjusted so as to be fitted into various air guns  3 , thereby increasing largely the applicable range of the laser sight firing device  2 . 
     To sum up, the laser sight firing device  2  of this invention has the following advantages: 
     (1) Simple structure convenient to disassemble: the laser sight firing device  2  can be sleeved on an air gun  3  so that, when the air gun  3  is operated, the laser sight firing device  2  can emit light. When the light emitting function is not required, the laser sight firing device  2  can be removed easily from the air gun  3 , thereby resulting in convenience during use. 
     (2) Convenient to repair and maintain: when repair and maintenance of the laser sight firing device  2  are required, since the laser sight firing device is an integral unit, it is only necessary to send the laser sight firing device  2  to the repair factory for repair and maintenance. In other words, it is convenient for the user and the repair factory to repair and maintain the laser sight firing device  2 . 
     (3) Two use selections: when the laser sight firing device  2  is mounted to the air gun  3 , and when a magazine and bullets are removed from the air gun  3 , an assembly of the laser sight firing device  2  and the air gun  3  functions as a simulated gun capable of emitting light. Or, the laser sight firing device  2  may be replaced with the magazine and the bullets, so that the bullets can be shot from the air gun  3 . 
     (4) High simulation degree: the laser sight firing device  2  may be shaped as a flash hider or a silencer, so as to maintain a good outer appearance of the assembly of the laser sight firing device  2  and the air gun  3 . Furthermore, due to the presence of such a device, the user can learn how the flash hider or the silencer looks like, and feels that he or she is placed in a simulated shooting field. 
     (b  5 ) Preventing accession of water vapor or dust into the air gun  3 : numerous precision mechanical components mounted within the main body  31  of the air gun  3  are easily damaged when water vapor or dust enters the main body  31 . Since the laser sight firing device  2  is provided with a position-limiting member  215  for closing the passage  212 , when it is mounted to the air gun  3 , the position-limiting member  215  can prevent water vapor or dust from entering the main body  31 , thereby increasing the service life of the air gun  3 . 
     (6) Increased applicable range: by changing the inner diameter of the tubular member  211 , the laser sight firing device  2  is suitable for various air guns  3 . This results in a decrease in the molding costs of the laser sight firing device  2  and the air gun  3  and an increase in the applicable range of the laser sight firing device  2 . 
     With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.