Patent ID: 8322064

Claim:
A Weapons Accessory Power Distribution System which extends along at least a portion of a length of a barrel of a weapon, for providing a supply of electrical power for use by at least one power-consuming accessory operatively associated with the weapon, the Weapons Power Distribution System comprising: a power source; and at least one powered rail, extending along at least a portion of a length of the barrel and electrically connected to the power source, comprising: a plurality of mechanical features formed on the outer surface of the powered rail in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship for mechanically positioning a power-consuming accessory, an aperture formed of a slot of uniform size cut in each of a plurality of sequential ones of the mechanical features, the aperture extending lengthwise along the barrel, a circuit board, mounted in the aperture, and which has formed thereon a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact positioned between at least two of the mechanical features, a mechanically activated electrical switch formed in the circuit board and located in the aperture, wherein a first contact of the electrical switch is electrically connected to the power source, and a second contact of the electrical switch is electrically connected to the first electrical contact, wherein the second electrical contact is electrically connected to the power source; and wherein mechanical mounting of a power-consuming accessory between the two mechanical features electrically connects the power-consuming accessory to the first and the second electrical contacts, while also mechanically activating the electrical switch to conduct electrical power from the first contact of the electrical switch to the second contact of the electrical switch.