Airgun with Predetermined Selectable Impact Energy

Abstract

An airgun is configured to launch a variety of less lethal projectiles such that they are delivered on target with a predetermined amount of impact energy, regardless of range and projectile type. The airgun includes a range finder, an adjustable air mass system, a trigger system, and a controller. The range finder determines a distance to target, and the controller uses the distance to target to determine an energy level for the adjustable air mas system. The adjustable air mass system provides an air mass corresponding to the energy level to the projectile when prompted by the trigger system. The projectile is launched by the airgun with the provided air mass to deliver the projectile on target with a predetermined amount of energy.

Description

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63 / 459,607 entitled “AIRGUN WITH PREDETERMINED IMPACT ENERGY AND PRECISION NONSHATTERING PROJECTILE” filed on Apr. 15, 2023. This application is a Continuation-in-Part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18 / 500,355 entitled “PRECISION NON-SHATTERING LESS-LETHAL PROJECTILE” filed on Nov. 2, 2023.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates generally to less-lethal projectile devices. More particularly, this invention relates to controlling impact energy of a projectile and less-lethal projectiles which avoid inadvertent injury to targeted people.

[0005] Protests and riots are common around the world. Often times, some protestors will begin vandalizing property or become particularly threatening to other protestors, authorities, or third parties. In the past tear gas canisters, smoke canisters, flash bangs, and other devices have been used to disperse a crowd in hopes of ending the destructive activities of such overzealous protestors. However, these devices are indiscriminant and often do not deter the particular protestor(s) of interest. Pepper sprays have been developed to better target these particular protestors, but a law enforcement official must be in close proximity to the targeted protestor to deliver the spray, and pepper spray often takes a moment to have the desired irritant effect. It is also common for the law enforcement official to accidentally pepper spray a number of individuals (often including the official himself) while targeting the problematic protestor. In recent years, less lethal projectiles such as bean bags and pepper balls fired from firearms have become more commonly used to deter such protestors. These devices have the advantage of increased distance between the law enforcement official and targeted protestor, but they often result in delivering injurious or even lethal levels of energy to the targeted individual. Lower energy projectiles are often of too little energy to have the intended effect, and due to unknown variances in these projectiles and their muzzle velocities, these devices become difficult to sight in and effectively put projectiles on target (i.e., hit the targeted protestor).SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Aspects of the present invention provide an airgun configured to launch a variety of less lethal projectiles such that they are delivered on target with a predetermined amount of impact energy, regardless of range and projectile type. The airgun includes a range finder, an adjustable air mass system, a trigger system, and a controller. The range finder determines a distance to target, and the controller uses the distance to target to determine an energy level for the adjustable air mas system. The adjustable air mass system provides an air mass corresponding to the energy level to the projectile when prompted by the trigger system. The projectile is launched by the airgun with the provided air mass to deliver the projectile on target with a predetermined amount of energy.

[0007] In one aspect, an airgun includes a range finder, an adjustable air mass system, a trigger system, and a controller. The range finder is configured to determine a distance to a target. The adjustable air mass system configured to provide an adjustable amount of pressurized air as a function of an energy level. The trigger system is configured to release the adjustable amount of pressurized air form the adjustable airmass system in response to receiving input from the user such that a projectile is launched from the airgun in response to the input from the user. The controller includes a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value. The controller is configured to receive the distance to the target from the range finder; determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target such that when the projectile is launched by the airgun, the projectile reaches the target with a predetermined amount of impact energy; and provide the determined energy level to the adjustable air mass system.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an airgun according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the airgun of FIG. 1 shown determining a distance to a target.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side perspective cutaway view of the airgun of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an adjustable sight.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an arc traveled by a projectile launched by the airgun of FIG. 1 to a target.

[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawing and in the description referring to the same or like parts.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

[0015] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims.

[0016] As described herein, an upright position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described herein. The upright position of the airgun is when being held with the barrel generally level with the trigger and grip extending generally vertically. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation unless otherwise specified. The term “when” is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified. The terms “above”, “below”, “over”, and “under” mean “having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesser than” and are not intended to imply that one object or component is directly over or under another object or component.

[0017] The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,”“might,”“may,”“e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and / or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and / or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting, whether these features, elements and / or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[0018] The terms “coupled” and “connected” mean at least either a direct electrical or mechanical connection between the connected items or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices.

[0019] Terms such as “providing,”“processing,”“supplying,”“determining,”“calculating” or the like may refer at least to an action of a computer system, computer program, signal processor, logic or alternative analog or digital electronic device that may be transformative of signals represented as physical quantities, whether automatically or manually initiated.

[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, in one embodiment, an airgun 100 includes a range finder 103, an adjustable air mass system 105, a controller 107, and a trigger system 109. In one embodiment, the airgun 100 is configured to launch different types of projectiles 113 (e.g., bean bags, pepper balls, etc.). The airgun 100 includes a user interface 140 (e.g., a selector switch, an array of switches, or a user interface on a connected device) configured to enable the user to indicate the projectile type of the projectile 113 to the airgun 100 (i.e., to the controller 107). The airgun 100 is configured to adjust an amount of air used to propel the projectile 113 such that the projectile 113 is delivered to the target 111 with a predetermined amount of impact energy (i.e., a selected constant amount of impact energy) which is constant regardless of range to target, so long as the target 111 is within an effective range of the airgun 100. In one embodiment, the user interface 140 includes a selector switch 141 for receiving a predetermined impact energy level (e.g., 0, 30 joules, 40 joules, or unregulated) and a projectile switch 143 for receiving a projectile type.

[0021] The range finder 103 is configured to determine a distance to a target 111. In one embodiment, the range finder 103 is configured to continuously measure the distance to the target 111. In another embodiment, the range finder 103 is configured to determine the distance to the target 111 only when actuated. In one embodiment, the airgun 100 further includes a range button 115 configured to receive input form the user to actuate the range finder 103 in response to (e.g., while) receiving the input from the user (i.e., while the range button 115 is depressed by the user). In one embodiment, the range button 115 is located on a foregrip 117 of the airgun 100. In another embodiment, the range button 115 is located on a rear grip or pistol grip 119 of the airgun 100. In another embodiment, the range button 115 is in the butt stock such that the range button 115 is activated by shouldering the airgun 100. In one embodiment, the range finder 103 emits a visible laser when actuated. This may be used to deter a target 111 from action. The range finder 103 may be an integral unit attached to the foregrip 117 or the range button 115 may be separate from the laser unit with the laser unit located in, for example, the rear sight 133.

[0022] The adjustable air mass system 105 is configured to release an adjustable amount of pressurized air as a function of an energy level. The adjustable air mass system 105 includes at least one of an adjustable air pressure regulator 106 or an adjustable shot cylinder volume. In one embodiment, the adjustable air mass system 105 adjusts a regulated shot pressure via the adjustable air pressure regulator 106 as a function of the energy level determined by the controller 107. In one embodiment, the adjustable air mass system 105 includes a precharged pneumatic cylinder 150 for storing pressurized air and providing the pressurized air to the adjustable air pressure regulator 106. The adjustable air mass system 105 may also include an air pressure gauge to determine a charge level of the precharged pneumatic cylinder 150. The precharged pneumatic cylinder 150 may be attached to the forend or foregrip 117 of the airgun 100 or internal to a buttstock 151 of the airgun 100. In one embodiment, the adjustable air mass system 105 includes the precharged pneumatic cylinder 150, the adjustable regulator 106, a shot cylinder, and the air pressure gauge.

[0023] The trigger system 109 is configured to release the adjustable amount of pressurized air from the adjustable air mass system 105 in response to receiving input from the user (e.g., the user pulling trigger 110) such that a projectile 113 is launched from the airgun 100 in response to the input from the user. In one embodiment, the trigger system 109 is a two stage trigger having a first stage (i.e., takeup stage) and a break, and the trigger system 109 includes the range button 115 such that the range finder 103 is actuated during the first stage of the two stage trigger.

[0024] The controller 107 includes a computer readable storage media (e.g., on chip memory) storing a ballistics value. The controller 107 receives the distance to the target from the range finder 103 and determines the energy level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target. The controller provides the determined energy level to the adjustable air mass system 105. When the projectile 113 is launched by the airgun 100, the projectile reaches the target with a predetermined amount of impact energy. In one embodiment, the ballistics value is a variable of a predetermined (i.e., pre-calculated or measured) lookup table including energy levels corresponding to the received distance to the target 111 and a type of the projectile 113. In another embodiment, the ballistics value stored in the controller 107 is a constant associated with the airgun 100 and a type of the projectile 113 such that the controller 107 calculates the energy level as a function of the ballistics value and the received distance to target using a predetermined algorithm (i.e., formula). The controller 107 is shown in the receiver 165, but the controller 107 may be integral with the rear sight 133 or located elsewhere (e.g., in the pistol grip 119). It is contemplated within the scope of the claims that all determinations (e.g., distance to target) may be calculated in the controller 107 from a signal indicative of the distance to target provided by the range finder 103.

[0025] In one embodiment, the airgun 100 further includes an adjustable sight 130, and the controller 107 is further configured to determine an elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target 111. The controller 107 may also determine the energy level as a function of the projectile type. In one embodiment, the sight is a holographic or red dot sight. In another embodiment, the adjustable sight 130 includes a front sight 131 and a rear sight 133. The adjustable sight 130 adjusts an elevation of the sight 130 as a function of the elevation level determined and provided by the controller 107. The sight 130 thus compensates for varying energy levels, ranges, and projectile types launched by the airgun 100 to the target 111. If the sight 130 is a holographic sight or red dot, the sight adjusts the reticle automatically. If the sight is an “open” sight or standard sight, the sight 130 includes a front sight 131 and a read sight 133. The rear sight 133 has a plurality of pairs of markers on opposing sides of an opening of the rear sight 133. The rear sight 133 lights up or indicates a pair of markers corresponding to the elevation level provided by the controller 107. As shown in FIG. 5, the aimpoint of the range finder 103 is different from that of the adjustable sight 130 because the projectile 113 drops as the projectile 113 travels to the target 111. Generally, this drop and the resultant arc is what the controller 107 is calculating to deliver the projectile 113 on target 111 with the selected, predetermined impact energy.

[0026] In on embodiment, the airgun 100 is configured similar to a modern sporting rifle or AR-15 style rifle. The airgun 100 further includes a magazine 160, a battery 161, a barrel 163, and a receiver 165. The receiver 165 may include an upper receiver and a lower receiver as is typical in AR-15 style arms, or the receiver 165 may be unitary. The magazine 160 is configured to provide the projectile 113. The magazine 160 is configured to successively provide a plurality of the projectiles such that the airgun 100 may fire in a semi-automatic or fully automatic function. The battery 161 is configured to provide power to the controller 107 and the adjustable air mass system 105. In one embodiment, the battery 161 provides power to the adjustable air mass system 105 via the controller 107. In one embodiment, the user interface 140 (e.g., selector switch 141) is configured to switch between a regulated (i.e., predetermined energy level) mode and an unregulated mode (e.g., maximum power). The precharged pneumatic cylinder 150 is configured to provide pressurized air to the adjustable air mass system 105. The barrel 163 is configured to receive the projectile 113 and pressurized air from the adjustable air mass system 105 and direct the projectile 113 toward the target 111. The receiver 165 is configured to support the magazine 160, the trigger system 109, and the barrel 163. The battery 161 is shown in the pistol grip 119, but the battery 161 may be located in, for example, the butt stock 151 for weight and balance.

[0027] It will be understood by those of skill in the art that providing data or input to the system or the user interface may be accomplished by clicking (via a mouse or touchpad) on a particular object or area of an object displayed by the user interface, or by touching the displayed object in the case of a touchscreen implementation, by pressing a particular button, by pressing a series of buttons, or by manipulating one or more switches.

[0028] It will be understood by those of skill in the art that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques (e.g., data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof). Likewise, the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both, depending on the application and functionality. Moreover, the various logical blocks, modules, and circuits described herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor (e.g., microprocessor, conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, state machine or combination of computing devices), a digital signal processor (“DSP”), an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Similarly, steps of a method or process described herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0029] A controller, processor, computing device, client computing device or computer, such as described herein, includes at least one or more processors or processing units and a system memory. The controller may also include at least some form of computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media may include computer storage media and communication media. Computer readable storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology that enables storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media may embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. Those skilled in the art should be familiar with the modulated data signal, which has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media. As used herein, server is not intended to refer to a single computer or computing device. In implementation, a server will generally include an edge server, a plurality of data servers, a storage database (e.g., a large scale RAID array), and various networking components. It is contemplated that these devices or functions may also be implemented in virtual machines and spread across multiple physical computing devices.

[0030] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

[0031] It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0032] All of the compositions and / or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and / or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0033] Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful AIRGUN WITH PREDETERMINED SELECTABLE IMPACT ENERGY it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0014]While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

[0015]To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, excep...

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63 / 459,607 entitled “AIRGUN WITH PREDETERMINED IMPACT ENERGY AND PRECISION NONSHATTERING PROJECTILE” filed on Apr. 15, 2023. This application is a Continuation-in-Part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18 / 500,355 entitled “PRECISION NON-SHATTERING LESS-LETHAL PROJECTILE” filed on Nov. 2, 2023.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates generally to less-lethal projectile devices. More particularly, this invention relates to controlling impact energy of a projectile and less-lethal projectiles which avoid inadvertent injury to targeted people.

[0005] Protests and riots are common around the world. Often times, some protestors will begin vandalizing property or become particularly threatening to other protestors, authorities, or third parties. In the past tear gas canisters, smoke canisters, flash bangs, and other devices have been used to disperse a crowd in hopes of ending the destructive activities of such overzealous protestors. However, these devices are indiscriminant and often do not deter the particular protestor(s) of interest. Pepper sprays have been developed to better target these particular protestors, but a law enforcement official must be in close proximity to the targeted protestor to deliver the spray, and pepper spray often takes a moment to have the desired irritant effect. It is also common for the law enforcement official to accidentally pepper spray a number of individuals (often including the official himself) while targeting the problematic protestor. In recent years, less lethal projectiles such as bean bags and pepper balls fired from firearms have become more commonly used to deter such protestors. These devices have the advantage of increased distance between the law enforcement official and targeted protestor, but they often result in delivering injurious or even lethal levels of energy to the targeted individual. Lower energy projectiles are often of too little energy to have the intended effect, and due to unknown variances in these projectiles and their muzzle velocities, these devices become difficult to sight in and effectively put projectiles on target (i.e., hit the targeted protestor).SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Aspects of the present invention provide an airgun configured to launch a variety of less lethal projectiles such that they are delivered on target with a predetermined amount of impact energy, regardless of range and projectile type. The airgun includes a range finder, an adjustable air mass system, a trigger system, and a controller. The range finder determines a distance to target, and the controller uses the distance to target to determine an energy level for the adjustable air mas system. The adjustable air mass system provides an air mass corresponding to the energy level to the projectile when prompted by the trigger system. The projectile is launched by the airgun with the provided air mass to deliver the projectile on target with a predetermined amount of energy.

[0007] In one aspect, an airgun includes a range finder, an adjustable air mass system, a trigger system, and a controller. The range finder is configured to determine a distance to a target. The adjustable air mass system configured to provide an adjustable amount of pressurized air as a function of an energy level. The trigger system is configured to release the adjustable amount of pressurized air form the adjustable airmass system in response to receiving input from the user such that a projectile is launched from the airgun in response to the input from the user. The controller includes a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value. The controller is configured to receive the distance to the target from the range finder; determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target such that when the projectile is launched by the airgun, the projectile reaches the target with a predetermined amount of impact energy; and provide the determined energy level to the adjustable air mass system.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an airgun according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the airgun of FIG. 1 shown determining a distance to a target.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side perspective cutaway view of the airgun of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an adjustable sight.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an arc traveled by a projectile launched by the airgun of FIG. 1 to a target.

[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawing and in the description referring to the same or like parts.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

[0015] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims.

[0016] As described herein, an upright position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described herein. The upright position of the airgun is when being held with the barrel generally level with the trigger and grip extending generally vertically. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation unless otherwise specified. The term “when” is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified. The terms “above”, “below”, “over”, and “under” mean “having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesser than” and are not intended to imply that one object or component is directly over or under another object or component.

[0017] The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,”“might,”“may,”“e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and / or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and / or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting, whether these features, elements and / or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[0018] The terms “coupled” and “connected” mean at least either a direct electrical or mechanical connection between the connected items or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices.

[0019] Terms such as “providing,”“processing,”“supplying,”“determining,”“calculating” or the like may refer at least to an action of a computer system, computer program, signal processor, logic or alternative analog or digital electronic device that may be transformative of signals represented as physical quantities, whether automatically or manually initiated.

[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, in one embodiment, an airgun 100 includes a range finder 103, an adjustable air mass system 105, a controller 107, and a trigger system 109. In one embodiment, the airgun 100 is configured to launch different types of projectiles 113 (e.g., bean bags, pepper balls, etc.). The airgun 100 includes a user interface 140 (e.g., a selector switch, an array of switches, or a user interface on a connected device) configured to enable the user to indicate the projectile type of the projectile 113 to the airgun 100 (i.e., to the controller 107). The airgun 100 is configured to adjust an amount of air used to propel the projectile 113 such that the projectile 113 is delivered to the target 111 with a predetermined amount of impact energy (i.e., a selected constant amount of impact energy) which is constant regardless of range to target, so long as the target 111 is within an effective range of the airgun 100. In one embodiment, the user interface 140 includes a selector switch 141 for receiving a predetermined impact energy level (e.g., 0, 30 joules, 40 joules, or unregulated) and a projectile switch 143 for receiving a projectile type.

[0021] The range finder 103 is configured to determine a distance to a target 111. In one embodiment, the range finder 103 is configured to continuously measure the distance to the target 111. In another embodiment, the range finder 103 is configured to determine the distance to the target 111 only when actuated. In one embodiment, the airgun 100 further includes a range button 115 configured to receive input form the user to actuate the range finder 103 in response to (e.g., while) receiving the input from the user (i.e., while the range button 115 is depressed by the user). In one embodiment, the range button 115 is located on a foregrip 117 of the airgun 100. In another embodiment, the range button 115 is located on a rear grip or pistol grip 119 of the airgun 100. In another embodiment, the range button 115 is in the butt stock such that the range button 115 is activated by shouldering the airgun 100. In one embodiment, the range finder 103 emits a visible laser when actuated. This may be used to deter a target 111 from action. The range finder 103 may be an integral unit attached to the foregrip 117 or the range button 115 may be separate from the laser unit with the laser unit located in, for example, the rear sight 133.

[0022] The adjustable air mass system 105 is configured to release an adjustable amount of pressurized air as a function of an energy level. The adjustable air mass system 105 includes at least one of an adjustable air pressure regulator 106 or an adjustable shot cylinder volume. In one embodiment, the adjustable air mass system 105 adjusts a regulated shot pressure via the adjustable air pressure regulator 106 as a function of the energy level determined by the controller 107. In one embodiment, the adjustable air mass system 105 includes a precharged pneumatic cylinder 150 for storing pressurized air and providing the pressurized air to the adjustable air pressure regulator 106. The adjustable air mass system 105 may also include an air pressure gauge to determine a charge level of the precharged pneumatic cylinder 150. The precharged pneumatic cylinder 150 may be attached to the forend or foregrip 117 of the airgun 100 or internal to a buttstock 151 of the airgun 100. In one embodiment, the adjustable air mass system 105 includes the precharged pneumatic cylinder 150, the adjustable regulator 106, a shot cylinder, and the air pressure gauge.

[0023] The trigger system 109 is configured to release the adjustable amount of pressurized air from the adjustable air mass system 105 in response to receiving input from the user (e.g., the user pulling trigger 110) such that a projectile 113 is launched from the airgun 100 in response to the input from the user. In one embodiment, the trigger system 109 is a two stage trigger having a first stage (i.e., takeup stage) and a break, and the trigger system 109 includes the range button 115 such that the range finder 103 is actuated during the first stage of the two stage trigger.

[0024] The controller 107 includes a computer readable storage media (e.g., on chip memory) storing a ballistics value. The controller 107 receives the distance to the target from the range finder 103 and determines the energy level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target. The controller provides the determined energy level to the adjustable air mass system 105. When the projectile 113 is launched by the airgun 100, the projectile reaches the target with a predetermined amount of impact energy. In one embodiment, the ballistics value is a variable of a predetermined (i.e., pre-calculated or measured) lookup table including energy levels corresponding to the received distance to the target 111 and a type of the projectile 113. In another embodiment, the ballistics value stored in the controller 107 is a constant associated with the airgun 100 and a type of the projectile 113 such that the controller 107 calculates the energy level as a function of the ballistics value and the received distance to target using a predetermined algorithm (i.e., formula). The controller 107 is shown in the receiver 165, but the controller 107 may be integral with the rear sight 133 or located elsewhere (e.g., in the pistol grip 119). It is contemplated within the scope of the claims that all determinations (e.g., distance to target) may be calculated in the controller 107 from a signal indicative of the distance to target provided by the range finder 103.

[0025] In one embodiment, the airgun 100 further includes an adjustable sight 130, and the controller 107 is further configured to determine an elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target 111. The controller 107 may also determine the energy level as a function of the projectile type. In one embodiment, the sight is a holographic or red dot sight. In another embodiment, the adjustable sight 130 includes a front sight 131 and a rear sight 133. The adjustable sight 130 adjusts an elevation of the sight 130 as a function of the elevation level determined and provided by the controller 107. The sight 130 thus compensates for varying energy levels, ranges, and projectile types launched by the airgun 100 to the target 111. If the sight 130 is a holographic sight or red dot, the sight adjusts the reticle automatically. If the sight is an “open” sight or standard sight, the sight 130 includes a front sight 131 and a read sight 133. The rear sight 133 has a plurality of pairs of markers on opposing sides of an opening of the rear sight 133. The rear sight 133 lights up or indicates a pair of markers corresponding to the elevation level provided by the controller 107. As shown in FIG. 5, the aimpoint of the range finder 103 is different from that of the adjustable sight 130 because the projectile 113 drops as the projectile 113 travels to the target 111. Generally, this drop and the resultant arc is what the controller 107 is calculating to deliver the projectile 113 on target 111 with the selected, predetermined impact energy.

[0026] In on embodiment, the airgun 100 is configured similar to a modern sporting rifle or AR-15 style rifle. The airgun 100 further includes a magazine 160, a battery 161, a barrel 163, and a receiver 165. The receiver 165 may include an upper receiver and a lower receiver as is typical in AR-15 style arms, or the receiver 165 may be unitary. The magazine 160 is configured to provide the projectile 113. The magazine 160 is configured to successively provide a plurality of the projectiles such that the airgun 100 may fire in a semi-automatic or fully automatic function. The battery 161 is configured to provide power to the controller 107 and the adjustable air mass system 105. In one embodiment, the battery 161 provides power to the adjustable air mass system 105 via the controller 107. In one embodiment, the user interface 140 (e.g., selector switch 141) is configured to switch between a regulated (i.e., predetermined energy level) mode and an unregulated mode (e.g., maximum power). The precharged pneumatic cylinder 150 is configured to provide pressurized air to the adjustable air mass system 105. The barrel 163 is configured to receive the projectile 113 and pressurized air from the adjustable air mass system 105 and direct the projectile 113 toward the target 111. The receiver 165 is configured to support the magazine 160, the trigger system 109, and the barrel 163. The battery 161 is shown in the pistol grip 119, but the battery 161 may be located in, for example, the butt stock 151 for weight and balance.

[0027] It will be understood by those of skill in the art that providing data or input to the system or the user interface may be accomplished by clicking (via a mouse or touchpad) on a particular object or area of an object displayed by the user interface, or by touching the displayed object in the case of a touchscreen implementation, by pressing a particular button, by pressing a series of buttons, or by manipulating one or more switches.

[0028] It will be understood by those of skill in the art that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques (e.g., data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof). Likewise, the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both, depending on the application and functionality. Moreover, the various logical blocks, modules, and circuits described herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor (e.g., microprocessor, conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, state machine or combination of computing devices), a digital signal processor (“DSP”), an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Similarly, steps of a method or process described herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0029] A controller, processor, computing device, client computing device or computer, such as described herein, includes at least one or more processors or processing units and a system memory. The controller may also include at least some form of computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media may include computer storage media and communication media. Computer readable storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology that enables storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media may embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. Those skilled in the art should be familiar with the modulated data signal, which has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media. As used herein, server is not intended to refer to a single computer or computing device. In implementation, a server will generally include an edge server, a plurality of data servers, a storage database (e.g., a large scale RAID array), and various networking components. It is contemplated that these devices or functions may also be implemented in virtual machines and spread across multiple physical computing devices.

[0030] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

[0031] It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0032] All of the compositions and / or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and / or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0033] Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful AIRGUN WITH PREDETERMINED SELECTABLE IMPACT ENERGY it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0014]While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

[0015]To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, excep...

Claims

1. An airgun, comprising:a range finder configured to determine a distance to a target when actuated;a range button configured to receive input form a user and actuate the range finder when receiving the input from the user, wherein the range button is located on a foregrip of the airgun or a rear grip of the airgun;an adjustable air mass system configured to provide an adjustable amount of pressurized air as a function of an energy level;a trigger system configured to release the adjustable amount of pressurized air from the adjustable airmass system in response to receiving input from the user such that a projectile is launched from the airgun in response to the input from the user;a magazine configured to provide the projectile, said magazine extending down from a receiver of the airgun when the airgun is assembled and in an upright position; anda controller comprising a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value, wherein the controller is configured to:receive the distance to the target from the range finder;determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target such that when the projectile is launched by the airgun, the projectile reaches the target with a predetermined amount of impact energy; andprovide the determined energy level to the adjustable air mass system.

2. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the ballistics value is a variable of a predetermined lookup table comprising energy levels corresponding to the received distance to target and a type of the projectile.

3. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the ballistics value is a constant associated with the airgun or a type of the projectile; andthe controller calculates the energy level as a function of the ballistics value and the received distance to target.

4. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the predetermined amount of impact energy is constant regardless of range to target within an effective range of the airgun.

5. (canceled)6. (canceled)7. (canceled)8. (canceled)9. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the range finder is configured to determine the distance to the target when actuated;the airgun further comprises a range button configured to receive input from a user and actuate the range finder when receiving the input from the user; andthe range finder emits a visible laser when actuated.

10. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;the controller is further configured to determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media, and the distance to the target; andthe controller is further configured to provide the determined elevation level to the adjustable sight target such that the adjustable sight compensates for varying energy levels to deliver the projectile launched by the airgun onto the target.

11. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;the controller is further configured to determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media, the distance to the target, and a projectile type of the projectile; andthe controller is further configured to provide the determined elevation level to the adjustable sight target such that the adjustable sight compensates for varying energy levels and projectile types to deliver the projectile launched by the airgun onto the target.

12. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;the controller is further configured to determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media, and the distance to the target;the controller is further configured to provide the determined elevation level to the adjustable sight target such that the adjustable sight compensates for varying energy levels to deliver the projectile launched by the airgun onto the target; andthe adjustable sight is used by the user to aim the airgun at the target.

13. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating a projectile type of a plurality of projectile types;the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to each projectile type of the plurality of projectile types;the controller is further configured to:receive the indicated projectile type via the user interface; anddetermine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target.

14. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating a projectile type of a plurality of projectile types;the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to each projectile type of the plurality of projectile types;the controller is further configured to:receive the indicated projectile type via the user interface;determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target; anddetermine the elevation level as a function of the received projectile type, the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target.

15. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating a projectile type of a plurality of projectile types;the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to each projectile type of the plurality of projectile types;the controller is further configured to:receive the indicated projectile type via the user interface;determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target; anddetermine the elevation level as a function of the received projectile type, the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target;the user interface comprises one or more switches having a plurality of positions, each position of the plurality of positions corresponding to a projectile type.

16. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating the predetermined amount of impact energy, wherein the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy is one of a plurality of predetermined amount of impact energies;the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to the amount of impact energy indicated via the user interface;the controller is further configured to:receive the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy via the user interface;determine the energy level as a function of the received predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target;determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target;determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target; anddetermine the elevation level as a function of the predetermined amount of impact energy, the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target.

17. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating the predetermined amount of impact energy, wherein the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy is one of a plurality of predetermined amount of impact energies;the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to the amount of impact energy indicated via the user interface;the controller is further configured to:receive the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy via the user interface;determine the energy level as a function of the received predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target;determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target;determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target.

18. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the adjustable air mass system comprises at least one of:an adjustable air pressure regulator; oran adjustable shot cylinder volume.

19. The airgun of claim 1, wherein:the adjustable air mass system comprises an adjustable air pressure regulator; andthe airgun adjusts a regulated shot pressure as a function of the determined energy level.

20. The airgun of claim 1, said airgun further comprising:a battery configured to provide power to the controller and the adjustable air mass system;a user interface comprising a selector switch configured to switch between a regulated and an unregulated shot mode;a precharged pneumatic cylinder configured to provide pressurized air to the adjustable air mass system;a barrel configured to receive the projectile and pressurized air from the adjustable air mass system and direct the projectile toward the target; anda receiver configured to support the magazine, trigger system, and barrel.

Images