Shooting Simulation Device for Pneumatic Guns

The present disclosure relates generally to firearm simulation, and more particularly, to a device and system for simulating shots for pneumatic guns.

Live fire with firearms necessitates the expense of ammunition and a facility or range suitable for live fire. Dry firing—repeated drawing, aiming, and firing a firearm without ammunition—is a practical and convenient way to improve and/or maintain shooting techniques. However, dry firing lacks the mechanical upset of a firearm when shot, known as recoil, does not “cycle” semi-automatic and/or automatic firearms, and is limited by the fact that the considered bullet impact point is a mere assumption; thus, the users are limited in their ability to evaluate their performance or/and improve their skills.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,734,156 describes a dry fire training device to be inserted into the chamber of a firearm including an illuminator that illuminates in response to the activation of a firearm trigger. In particular, the dry fire device includes a firing pad that is impacted by the striker of the firearm to activate the illuminator. U.S. Pat. No. 8,568,143 describes a training barrel configured for use with a blank cartridge and a light emitting training cartridge to simulate live fire training. U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,734,156 and 8,568,143 are incorporated herein by reference.

Such devices may be used with target systems that register “hits” during simulated exercises, training, or gaming. The terms “exercises,” “training,” and “gaming,” and their derivatives, are used interchangeably herein. An electronic target for use with a pulsed beam of laser light is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,303,960, which is incorporated herein by reference. Electronic targets allow for non-live fire training (drawing, aiming, and firing without ammunition) in a practical, convenient manner to improve and/or maintain shooting techniques.

Traditional firearms can be modified to simulate the recoil action without live fire by using blank cartridges. Also well known in the industry are conversion kits which are a compressed gas activated recoil system for semi-automatic and/or automatic firearms. These systems utilize compressed COor other gas to simulate recoil by acting on the firearm's bolt and/or slide to “cycle” the gun. In addition to traditional firearms, there are also pneumatic (gas- or air-powered) or electric guns which are often referred to in the industry as “Air” or “Airsoft” or “BB” or “Gel” or “pellet” guns. These guns generally shoot spherical projectiles such as plastic or metal pellets using compressed gas. All the examples above are referred to herein as pneumatic guns. U.S. Pat. No. 8,568,143 indicates that the training barrel disclosed therein may be implemented for use in a pneumatic gun or toy in which the pneumatic gun or toy creates (or supplies) the increase in barrel pressure and/or irrupt movement to actuate the light emitting device.

However, activating a light emitting device in pneumatic guns using only the irrupt movement of the barrel has drawbacks. Generally, the light emitting device must be sufficiently sensitive to be activated by the irrupt movement alone. This sensitivity can lead to inadvertent activations of the illumination device when the gun is been handled.

There is a need for improved devices for simulating live gun fire for training and gaming, and particularly for pneumatic guns. The present invention solves these and other problems in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved firearms training device for pneumatic guns that accurately and reliably responds to trigger pulls without being subjected to inadvertent activations.

In one exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure, a shooting simulation device for pneumatic guns is provided. The device includes a housing having a proximal end attachable to or formed integrally with an end of a barrel of a pneumatic gun, a piston having a head and a shaft, the head being slidable within the proximal end of the housing between a ready position and a firing position, and the shaft configured to extend into the end of the barrel of the pneumatic gun, an illuminator in the housing, and an input device in the housing for activating the illuminator in response to the movement of the piston into the firing position. The illuminator may direct light, such as infrared light, out of a distal end of the housing and along a longitudinal axis of at least one of the housing or the barrel.

The head of the piston has a first outer diameter, and the shaft of the piston has a second outer diameter, wherein the first outer diameter may be greater than the second outer diameter. The head of the piston may also have a distal surface including a protrusion for engaging the input device.

In some embodiments, the housing includes at least one exhaust hole configured to release gas from when the head of the piston is in the firing position. The head of the piston may be proximal to the at least one exhaust hole when the piston is in the ready position, and the head of the piston may be at least partially distal to the at least one exhaust hole when the piston is in the firing position. In some embodiments, the device further includes a biasing element positioned between the head of the piston and the input device biasing the piston toward the ready position. The biasing element may be a spring, such as a conical spring.

The illuminator and input device may be housed together in an illumination cartridge removably retained in the housing. The device may further include a retainer attached to a distal end of the housing to retain the illumination cartridge in the housing.

In some embodiments, the shaft of the piston includes a plurality of elongated grooves extending along an exterior of the piston. In some embodiments, the shaft of the piston is hollow and includes at least one gas outlet adjacent to the head of the piston.

Further provided is a pneumatic gun, including a barrel, a housing at an end of the barrel, a piston having a head and a shaft, the head being slidable within a proximal end of the housing between a ready position and a firing position, and the shaft extending into the end of the barrel, an illuminator in the housing, and an input device for activating the illuminator in response to the head of the piston moving into the firing position.

The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.

Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure.

show isometric and side views, respectively, of a shooting simulation deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The deviceincludes a housingincluding an interior channel defining a central axis A. The housingmay include an inlet portionfor receiving and/or attaching to a barrel of a gun. In some embodiments, the housingis formed integrally with the barrel of the gun. A retaineris engaged at least partially within the interior channel of the housingat a distal end of the housing. The housingfurther includes at least one exhaust holefor releasing gas from the barrel to the atmosphere after the gun is fired. A pistonis slidably engaged in a proximal end of the housingand movable along the central axis A.

shows the distal end of the device. The retaineris configured to engage with and retain an illumination cartridge, such as an illumination cartridgeincluding an illuminator, in the device. In some embodiments, the retainerand illumination cartridgemay be formed together as a single unit. In some embodiments, the housingand the retainerand illumination cartridgemay be formed together as a single unit. An illuminator of the illumination cartridgemay be activated to emit a beam of at least one wavelength of visible and/or invisible illumination along or parallel to the central axis A of the deviceand/or a central axis of a barrel of a gun and/or a central axis of the aiming sights of a gun.shows the proximal end of the devicewith the pistonin place. As discussed in more detail below, the illumination cartridgeis activated by the pistonbeing moved in the longitudinal direction by gas from a gun barrel.

The devicemay be adapted to attach to and work with various different types of pneumatic guns, including long guns and handguns.shows a gunwith the deviceattached thereto. The gunis only exemplary and not intended to limit the scope or application of the invention.shows an exploded view of a barrelof the gunand the device. In the exemplary embodiment, the barrelhas a distal endwith an attachment element which engages with a corresponding attachment element in the inlet portionof the device. For example, the distal endof the barreland the inlet portionof the devicemay threadably engage. Other means of attachment known in the art may also be used. Alternatively, the devicemay be formed integrally with the barrel.

shows a first sectional view of the deviceand barrel. The barrelhas a central channel. A shaft of the pistonis sized to fit at least partially within the central channelof the barrel. In a ready position shown in, the pistonis biased away from the illumination cartridgeby a biasing elementsuch as a spring. The head of the pistonis behind (i.e., proximal to) the exhaust holes. When the gunis fired (e.g., by pulling a trigger), pressurized gas is released down the central channelof the barrel. As discussed in more detail below, the pistonis shaped to permit gas to travel along side of or within the pistontowards the distal end of the barreland against the head of the piston. The gas pressurizes behind the head of the pistonto move the piston forward along the central axis A towards the illumination cartridge.

shows a second sectional view of the deviceand barrel. In, the pistonis in a firing position having been moved forward by pressurized gas expelled by the gun. The pistoncompresses the biasing element(not shown in) and moves toward (i.e., approaches) and/or impacts an input deviceof the illumination cartridgeto activate the illumination cartridge. In some embodiments, the input devicemay be operated by one of, but is not limited to, the following: vibration, mechanical displacement, electrical contact, magnetic sensor, optical proximity sensor. The central axis A of the housingpreferably aligns with a central axis of the barrel. Activation of the illumination cartridgeby the pistonresults in light being transmitted approximately parallel to the central axis A, simulating the trajectory and/or hitting point of a projectile being fired from the gun. As the head of the pistonmoves past the exhaust holesin the housing, the pressurized gas is released via the exhaust holes. The pistonis then returned to the ready position by the biasing element.

shows an illumination cartridgeaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As discussed above, the illumination cartridgeis removably retained within the housingby the retainer. The illumination cartridgeincludes a first housing portionand a second housing portion. The illumination cartridgemay have a plurality of O-rings,. The input devicemay include a firing padis positioned at a proximal end of the illumination cartridge.

is a partial exploded view of the illumination cartridge. The input devicemay be housed at least partially within the second housing portionand may extend at least partially out a proximal opening. Adjacent to the input deviceis an electronic circuit. When the pistonmoves into the firing position, the input devicecreates an indication recognizable by the electronic circuit. In some embodiments, the input deviceand electronic circuitmay be formed together as a single unit. An illuminator is positioned within the first housing portion. The illumination cartridgealso includes a power source, such as one or a plurality of batteries. The illuminator and power source are not shown infor purposes of clarity. However,is a sectional view of the first housing portionof the cartridgeshowing how an illuminatorand power sourcemay be positioned therein.is only exemplary and not intended to limit the type or configuration of the illuminatorand/or power supply.

The illuminatormay emit an infrared (IR) light toward a desired target, however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, illuminatormay emit visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light or any other type of desired optical signal and/or optical shape, such as any optical signal communicating with a training system configured to detect such an optical signal. For example, a particular simulative fire training system or target may be configured to identify, and the illuminatormay be configured to emit, one or more of different wavelengths of light, such as 635 nm light, 650 nm light, 780 nm light, 808 nm light, 850 nm light, 880 nm light, 905 nm light 940 nm light, and/or 980 nm light. However, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the illuminatormay emit light of any desired wavelength, and of any desired firing pattern, including any desired combination of light wavelengths, or pulse, or frequencies or patterns.

The illumination cartridgeis only exemplary. For example, cartridges such as those disclosed in the following commonly-owned patents may be used: U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,568,143; 8,584,587; 8,734,156; and 10,563,948, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The illuminatorand input devicemay also be secured directly in the housingwithout a cartridge. The illuminatorand input devicemay also be secured directly into the barrel, e.g., in guns intended for training or gaming only.

shows a retainerof the device. The retaineris configured to slide into an end of the housing. As such, the retainerhas an outer diameter along at least part of its length that is less than an inner diameter of the housing. The retainermay have one or more O-ringsto create a seal and/or friction with the housing. A proximal end of the retainerincludes an attachment element, such as threads, to engage a corresponding attachment element within the housing. The retainermay also include a plurality of fastenersto secure and/or allow alignment adjustment of the illumination cartridgein the retainer.

shows an exemplary biasing elementin the form of a conical spring that may be positioned between the head of the pistonand the input deviceof the illumination cartridge. The biasing elementbiases the pistontoward the ready position and returns the pistonto the ready position after a firing position.

show a pistonaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The pistonincludes a shaft,extending between a proximal endand a headof the piston. In the present example, the shaft,includes a first sectionwith a plurality of (e.g., three) longitudinal grooves along the exterior of the shaft,. Sidewalls of the first section, which define the grooves, slide against or adjacent to an inner surface of the central channelof the barrelwhile the grooves define channels for airflow. The sidewalls of the grooves define an outer diameter of the shaft,that is close to but less than an inner diameter of the central channelof the barrel, or any barrel for which it is intended to be used. For example, for an Airsoft gun having a 6 mm barrel, the outer diameter may be about 5.9 mm.

A second sectionof the shaft extends between the first sectionand the head. The second sectionmay have a substantially circular cross-section and may have bevelsto direct gas (e.g., CO) against a proximal surface of the head. In other embodiments, the sidewalls and grooves extend to the proximal surface of the head. The headmay include a protrusionon a distal surface. The protrusionand/or headmay include one of, but is not limited to, impact resistant, conductive, magnetic, or reflective materials, for engaging with the input deviceand/or firing pad.

For example, when the gun is fired (e.g., by pulling a trigger), pressurized gas is released down the central channelof the barreland travels along the grooves of the pistonto apply pressure to and translate the pistonforward. The protrusion, which in this example is made of an impact resistant material, hits firing padto engage the input device, which in this example contains a pressure activated switch, to activate the illumination cartridge. The gas is then expelled through the exhaust holesof the housing, which releases pressure and allows the pistonto return to the ready position (e.g., with the assistance of the biasing element).

show a pistonaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The pistonincludes a shaft,extending between a proximal endand of the pistonand a headof the piston. In the present example, the shaft,includes a first sectionthat is tubular. The exterior surface of the first sectionslides along or adjacent to an inner surface of the central channelof the barrelwhile the hollow interior defines channels for airflow. The first sectionmay have an outer diameter that is close to but less than an inner diameter of the barrel of the gun for which it is intended to be used. For example, for an Airsoft gun having a 6 mm barrel, the outer diameter may be about 5.9 mm. In an exemplary embodiment, the first sectionhas an inner diameter of about 4.5 mm.

A second sectionof the shaft extends between the first sectionand the head. The second sectionincludes a plurality of (e.g., three) outletsto release gas (e.g., CO) from the hollow interior of the first section. When the pistonis in the ready position and receives pressurized gas from the barrel, the gas is directed down the hollow interior and against an end of the hollow interior to move the piston. A distal end of the hollow interior may be concave to collect the gas. As the pistonmoves forward and enters the firing position, the outletsbecome exposed within the housing. Gas is released out of hollow interior, into the housing, and out of the exhaust holesto the atmosphere. The headmay include a protrusionon a distal surface. The protrusionand/or headmay include one of, but not limited to, impact resistant, conductive, magnetic, or reflective materials, for engaging with the input deviceand/or firing pad.

For example, when the gun is fired (e.g., by pulling a trigger), pressurized gas is released down the central channelof the barreland applies pressure to translate the pistonforward. The protrusionof the piston, which in this example contains a magnet which creates a magnetic field, approaches input device, which in this example contains a sensor such as a ‘hall effect’ to detect the change in the magnetic field and engages the input deviceto activate the illumination cartridge. The gas is then expelled through the exhaust holesof the housing, which releases pressure and allows the pistonto return to the ready position (e.g., with the assistance of the biasing element).

According to another example, the protrusionof the piston, which in this example is made of a conductive material, while in firing position is pressed against input device, which in this example contains exposed conductive electrical leads creating a momentary electrical connection between the leads to engages the input deviceto activate the illumination cartridge.

As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts. While illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.