US 5,052,138 A · Ammunition supply indicating system

Abstract

Several embodiments of ammunition supply indicating systems for firearms are disclosed. Each system (1) counts, either automatically or manually, the number of rounds in a magazine introduced into the firearm, (2) detects the movement of a reciprocally movable slide in the firearm to increment a count of "one" for the round entering the firing chamber, and (3) electronically combines the two digits, and (4) displays same on a display panel. The display panel is situated in a thin housing secured to the firearm along the line of sight of the user. A running total of the number of rounds remaining in the firearm is visible to the user. Slide movement may be detected by magnetic, mechanical, optical, or electrical devices, while the number of rounds remaining in the magazine may be monitored by position switches operated by the follower within the magazine. A flashing question mark symbol may be visible on the display panel to alert the user that the magazine has not been inserted into the firearm and/or that a round may be present in the firing chamber.

Claims26

Dependent claims

In combination, a firearm and an ammunition supply indicating system for counting the number of rounds available for discharge from a firearm, the combination comprising:

a) a firearm including a body, a handgrip, a barrel, a slide mounted for reciprocal movement along said barrel, a trigger, and means operated by said trigger for moving said slide in at least one direction,
b) a firing chamber defined in said barrel, and said slide having an aperture movable into alignment with said chamber during the travel of said slide,
c) a magazine adapted to receive cartridges to be discharged through the barrel upon actuation of the trigger,
d) a follower in said magazine, and a spring for urging the follower to deliver a cartridge into the firing chamber,
e) the ammunition supply indicating system comprising:
1) means operatively associated with said slide for detecting movement thereof to alternately expose and seal said firing chamber,
2) switch means in said magazine for monitoring the movement of the follower therewithin, and producing a signal indicative of the position of the follower,
3) electronic circuit means for combining the signals indicative of movement of said slide and said follower, and
4) display means operated by said electronic circuit means to display a running total of the number of rounds available in said firearm for discharge.

6 more elements

A method of counting and displaying the number of rounds available for discharge from a firearm,

1) said firearm including a body, a hollow handgrip, a barrel, a slide mounted for reciprocal movement along said barrel, a trigger, and means operated by said trigger for moving said slide in at least one direction,
2) a firing chamber defined in said barrel,
3) an aperture in said slide that exposes said firing chamber during its reciprocal movement, and
4) circuit means located within said firearm for counting and displaying the number of rounds available for discharge from the firearm,
the method comprising the steps of:
a) counting the number of rounds contained in said magazine when said magazine is inserted into said handgrip and entering such number into said circuit means,
b) automatically adding a count of "one" to account for the possibility that a round is present in the firing chamber when the slide moves in a first direction,
c) electronically combining in said circuit means the total number of rounds contained in the magazine and the firing chamber, and
d) displaying the total number of rounds on a display visible to the user of said firearm and in the line of sight from the user to a target.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ammunition supply indicating system

Life of this patent

Ammunition supply indicating system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26