Laser gunsight system for a firearm handgrip

Abstract

A laser sighting device for a firearm and a method for mounting a laser sighting device on a firearm. A laser sighting device for a firearm comprises a holder adapted to attach to the handgrip of the firearm such that the firearm may be held in a firing position by the handgrip with the device installed thereon, the holder including a first compartment for receiving a laser and holding the laser so as to propagate a beam of light substantially in the muzzle direction of the firearm, and a second compartment for receiving a battery to power the laser, a switch for activation of the laser by the user's hand holding the handgrip in firing position, and an electrical circuit disposed within the holder for interconnecting a laser disposed in the first compartment, a battery disposed in the second compartment and the switch.

1 . A laser sighting device for mounting on the handgrip of a firearm, the handgrip having a front, a back, and two opposing sides, the device comprising:
 a holder having a jacket shaped to conform to the shape of a portion of the handgrip and to wrap around the back and over respective portions of the two sides only part way toward the front thereof such that the firearm may be held in a firing position by the handgrip with the device attached thereto, said holder further having a first compartment for receiving a laser and holding the laser so as to propagate a beam of light substantially in the muzzle direction of the firearm, and a second compartment for receiving a battery to power the laser;   a switch, disposed in said holder, for activation of said laser by the user's hand holding the handgrip in firing position;   an electrical circuit disposed within said holder for interconnecting a laser disposed in the first compartment, a battery disposed in the second compartment and said switch, said holder, and said circuit comprising a self contained assembly that may be attached to the handgrip; and   a mechanism for engaging said holder and the handgrip so as to secure said holder to the handgrip.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said holder includes a first wing for positioning along one side of the handgrip, the wing including said second compartment for receiving a battery. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said holder includes a second wing for positioning along the opposite side of the handgrip. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said second wing includes a third compartment for receiving a second battery to power the laser. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said switch is disposed in said jacket at an upper central position thereof so as to be actuated by a firm grip of the user's hand holding the firearm by the handgrip. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said first compartment, for receiving a laser, is disposed above the said first wing so as to be disposed to the first side of the handgrip when the device is mounted on the handgrip of a firearm. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a laser disposed in said first compartment. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said first compartment includes means for adjusting the elevation and windage of a beam of light emitted from the laser. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said second compartment has a substantially disk-shaped interior for receiving a disk-shaped battery. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said holder comprises a backstrap of a handgrip adapted to be releasably attached to a firearm. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said holder includes a third compartment for receiving a battery to power the laser. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said switch is disposed in said holder at an upper central position thereof so as to be actuated by a firm grip of the user's hand holding the firearm by the handgrip. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first compartment, for receiving a laser, is disposed to the first side of the handgrip when the device is mounted on the handgrip of a firearm. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a laser disposed in said first compartment. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said first compartment includes means for adjusting the elevation and windage of a beam of light emitted from the laser. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said second compartment has a substantially disk-shaped interior for receiving a disk-shaped battery. 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said switch is imbedded in said holder and said holder includes a flexible membrane disposed over the switch for activation thereof by pressure on said membrane from the hand of a user. 
   
   
       24 . A firearm, wherein the structure of  claim 1  is mounted thereon. 
   
   
       25 . A method for mounting a laser sighting device on the handgrip of a firearm, the handgrip having a front, a back, and two opposing sides, the method comprising:
 providing a holder having a jacket shaped to conform to the shape of a portion of the handgrip and to wrap around the back and over respective portions of the two sides only part way toward the front thereof;   mounting a laser in said holder so as to propagate a light beam substantially in the direction of the muzzle of the firearm when said holder is attached to the handgrip thereof;   placing said holder on the handgrip over the back of the hand grip so as to wrap around said portion of the handgrip; and   engaging said holder and the handgrip with a mechanism for securing said holder to the handgrip.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising providing a switch on the holder for actuating the laser, and providing an electrical circuit for interconnecting the laser, the switch, and a battery. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising placing a battery in a compartment in said holder between the outer surface of the holder and the outer surface of the handgrip. 
   
   
       28 . A laser sighting device for mounting on the handgrip of a firearm, the handgrip having an upper portion, the device comprising:
 a holder conforming to the shape of and adapted to attach to the handgrip of the firearm such that the firearm may be held in a firing position by the handgrip with the device attached thereto, the holder including a first compartment for receiving a laser and holding the laser so as to propagate a beam of light substantially in the muzzle direction of the firearm, and a second compartment for receiving a battery to power the laser, said holder further comprising a jacket for placement over a part of the existing handgrip and having an upper portion that wraps around the upper portion of the back of the handgrip;   a switch, disposed in said holder, for activation of said laser by the user's hand holding the handgrip in firing position; and   an electrical circuit, disposed within said holder for interconnecting a laser disposed in the first compartment, a battery disposed in the second compartment and said switch, said holder, and said circuit comprising a self contained assembly that may be attached to the handgrip, the switch mechanism being disposed on the interior of the jacket within the upper portion thereof.   
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein said circuit comprises a membrane circuit. 
   
   
       30 . A laser sighting device for mounting on the handgrip of a firearm, the handgrip having an upper portion and a lower portion, the device comprising:
 a holder having a jacket shaped to conform to the shape of a portion of the handgrip and to wrap at least partially around the upper portion of the handgrip such that the firearm may be held in a firing position by the handgrip with the device attached thereto, said holder further having a first compartment for receiving a laser and holding the laser so as to propagate a beam of light substantially in the muzzle direction of the firearm, and a second compartment for receiving a battery to power the laser, a first wing for positioning along one side of the handgrip, the first wing including a second compartment for receiving a battery, and a second wing for positioning along an opposite side of the handgrip, wherein said first and second wings extend further toward the bottom of the handgrip than the upper portion of said jacket that wraps at least partially around the upper portion of the handgrip;   a switch, disposed in the holder, for activation of said laser by the user's hand holding the handgrip in firing position; and   an electrical circuit, disposed within the holder for interconnecting a laser disposed in the first compartment, a battery disposed in the second compartment and said switch, said holder, and said circuit comprising a self contained assembly that may be attached to the handgrip.   
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein said second wing includes a third compartment for receiving a second battery to power the laser. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein said jacket is a unitary, molded member. 
   
   
       33 . A laser sighting device for mounting on the handgrip of a firearm, the handgrip having an upper portion for receiving the web of the user's hand between the user's thumb and forefinger and a lower portion extending further rearward than the upper portion, the device comprising:
 a holder conforming to the shape of and adapted to attach to the handgrip of the firearm such that the firearm may be held in a firing position by the handgrip with the device attached thereto, said holder including a first compartment for receiving a laser and holding the laser so as to propagate a beam of light substantially in the muzzle direction of the firearm, and a second compartment for receiving a battery to power the laser, said holder having an upper portion that wraps at least partially around the upper portion of the handgrip without covering at least a portion of the back of the lower portion of the handgrip so as to make the combined rearward extension of said holder and handgrip more nearly the same;   a switch, disposed in said holder, for activation of said laser by the user's hand holding the handgrip in firing position; and   an electrical circuit, disposed within the holder for interconnecting a laser disposed in the first compartment, a battery disposed in the second compartment and said switch, said holder, and said circuit comprising a self contained assembly that may be attached to the handgrip.   
   
   
       34 . A method for mounting a laser sighting device on the handgrip of a firearm, the handgrip having an upper portion for receiving the web of the user's hand between the user's thumb and forefinger and a lower portion extending further rearward than the upper portion, the method comprising:
 molding a holder to wrap only partially around the back of the upper portion of the handgrip and partially over the sides of the handgrip so as to conform to the shape of the handgrip and make the combined rearward extension of the jacket and said holder more nearly the same;   mounting a laser in said holder so as to propagate a light beam substantially in the direction of the muzzle of the firearm when said holder is attached to the handgrip thereof; and   attaching said holder to the handgrip against that portion of the handgrip to which the shape of the holder conforms.