Adjustable Laser Aiming Light for Firearms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mountable lights, especially those with added features like laser aiming, are often bulky and inconvenient to use, particularly for smaller firearms, due to their size and complex switching arrangements that may not accommodate left-handed operation and lack efficient mode selection without turning on unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
A light design featuring a versatile switching arrangement with a tail cap assembly that includes actuators and a resilient material for flexible cantilevered supports, allowing for easy mode selection and operation, along with a laser adjustment mechanism that avoids increasing the light's vertical dimension, enabling convenient left-handed use and efficient mode switching without unnecessary illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a laser light source and operating mode selector are added to the light, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the size of the light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the laser light source, white light LED, infrared LED, and operating mode selector into a single integrated light housing. Multiple light sources and control functions are merged into one compact unit, allowing the device to provide laser aiming, white light illumination, infrared illumination, and mode selection without requiring separate devices, thus improving versatility while controlling size
Solution Approach 2:
The light device is designed to perform multiple functions within a single unit: it can emit laser light for aiming, white light for illumination, infrared light for night vision compatibility, and includes an operating mode selector for different operational configurations. This multi-functionality approach allows one device to replace several separate tools, improving adaptability while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for smaller firearms
2Adaptability or versatility
If the light includes multiple operating modes with sequential switching, then the versatility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to unintended mode changes and unnecessary illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The operating mode selector is configured to allow users to pre-select the desired operating mode (laser, white light, infrared, or off) before activating the light. This preliminary selection prevents unintended mode changes during operation, as the mode is determined in advance rather than changing sequentially during use, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The light device incorporates dynamic control through a momentary switch that activates light only while being pressed, combined with a separate operating mode selector that determines which light source is activated. This dynamic switching mechanism allows precise control over when light is produced and which mode is active, preventing unnecessary illumination and improving operational precision while maintaining multiple functioning modes
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional switching arrangements are used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates due to lack of support for left-handed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The tail cap assembly is designed with asymmetric actuator placement and configuration that accommodates both right-handed and left-handed operation. The actuators are positioned and shaped to be easily accessible from either side of the device, allowing users of either handedness to operate the momentary switch and mode selector intuitively without requiring mirrored configurations, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Data Source
Figure 1A~1F
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3A~3F
AI summary
A light 100 including a laser light source arrangement comprises a laser light source 510 including a laser housing and a laser source therein configured to emit laser light. Rotating a first laser aiming screw 520 in first and second directions causes the laser housing to move in a first and second directions respectively in opposition to, and under, the bias of a biasing spring 540. A second laser aiming screw 530 is in a threaded hole in the light body 200, 200' that is at an acute angle relative to a threaded hole for the first laser aiming screw 520. Each of the first and second laser aiming screws 520, 530 has a longitudinal axis that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the laser housing, wherein the longitudinal axis the second laser aiming screw 530 is at the acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first laser aiming screw 520. Rotating the second laser aiming screw 530 in a first and second directions causes the laser housing to move in first and second directions respectively in opposition to, and under, the bias of the biasing spring 540. The first and second laser aiming screws 520, 530 act upon first and second sides of the laser housing in substantially perpendicular directions.