Laser aiming device for weapon foregrip

Abstract

A modular multi-accessory foregrip configured to mount on a rail on a weapon. The modular foregrip includes a grip assembly and a tang or center shaft. The grip assembly configured to be removably coupled with the tang. In some embodiments, the modular foregrip having a power supply disposed in the tang. In some embodiments, the grip assembly comprising two or more component grips, each with a different accessory. In some embodiments, one of the grips has a switch to control power in an accessory in that grip and a second switch to control power to an accessory in another grip.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A powered modular foregrip comprising:
 a tang configured to removably couple with an accessory rail;   an electrical power source disposed in the tang;   a first set of power contacts disposed in the tang;   a first grip removably coupled with the tang;   a first set of power pads disposed in the first grip, the first set of power pads configured to contact the first set of power contacts when the first grip is coupled with the tang;   a first accessory disposed in the first grip, the first accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source; and   a second grip removably coupled with the tang.   
     
     
         2 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second set of power contacts disposed in the tang; 
 a second set of power pads disposed in the second grip, the second set of power pads configured to contact the second set of power contacts when the second grip is coupled with the tang; and 
 a second accessory disposed in the second grip, the second accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source. 
 
     
     
         3 . The modular foregrip of  claim 2  wherein the first and second accessories are independently adjustable for windage and elevation. 
     
     
         4 . The modular foregrip of  claim 2  wherein the second accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light. 
     
     
         5 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1  wherein the first accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light. 
     
     
         6 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1 , further comprising a butt plate removably coupled with the first and second grips, the butt plate configured to hold the first and second grips together. 
     
     
         7 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1  further comprising a power port coupled with the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug. 
     
     
         8 . The modular foregrip of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first switch disposed in the first grip, the first switch configured to control power to the first accessory; and   a second switch disposed in the second grip, the second switch configured to control power to the second accessory.   
     
     
         9 . The modular foregrip of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third switch disposed in the second grip, the third switch configured to control power to the first accessory; and   a fourth switch disposed in the first grip, the fourth switch configured to control power to the second accessory.   
     
     
         10 . The modular foregrip of  claim 9  wherein the first and third switch are similarly located on their respective grips, wherein the second and fourth switch are similarly located on their respective grips. 
     
     
         11 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first switch coupled with the first grip, the first switch configured to generate a first control signal;   a first set of signal contacts disposed in the tang;   a first set of signal pads coupled with the first grip, the first set of signal pads configured to contact the first set of signal contacts, the first set of signal pads configured to receive a second control signal; and   a first remotely actuated switch coupled with the first grip, the first remotely actuated switch configured to control power to the first accessory based on the first and second control signals.   
     
     
         12 . The modular foregrip of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second switch coupled with the first grip, the second switch configured to generate a third control signal; and   a second set of signal pads coupled with the first grip, the second set of signal pads configured to contact a second set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the second set of signal pads configured to carry the third control signal.   
     
     
         13 . The modular foregrip of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a third switch coupled with the second grip, the third switch configured to generate the second control signal; and 
 a third set of signal pads coupled with the second grip, the second set of signal pads configured to contact the first set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the third set of signal pads configured to carry the second control signal. 
 
     
     
         14 . The modular foregrip of  claim 13  wherein the signal contacts are pogo pins. 
     
     
         15 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1  wherein the power source is a battery. 
     
     
         16 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1  wherein the power source is a capacitor. 
     
     
         17 . A modular multi-accessory foregrip comprising:
 a center shaft configured to removably couple with an accessory rail;   a grip assembly removably coupled with the center shaft; and   a first accessory coupled with the grip assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 17  further comprising an electrical power supply. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 18  wherein the electrical power supply is disposed in the center shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 18  wherein the electrical power supply is disposed in the grip assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 18 , further comprising a power port connected to the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug. 
     
     
         22 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 17  wherein the first accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light. 
     
     
         23 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 17 , further comprising a second accessory coupled with the grip assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 23  wherein the first accessory and second accessory are independently adjustable for windage and elevation. 
     
     
         25 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 23  wherein the second accessory is removably coupled with the grip assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 17  wherein the first accessory is removably coupled with the grip assembly 
     
     
         27 . The multi-accessory foregrip of  claim 17  wherein the center shaft is a hollow tang, wherein the grip assembly further comprises a first grip and a second grip, wherein the first grip is removably coupled with the center shaft and with the second grip, wherein the second grip is removably coupled with the center shaft and with the first grip. 
     
     
         28 . A powered foregrip tang comprising:
 a mount configured to removably couple to an accessory rail;   a housing coupled to the mount;   an electrical power source disposed within the housing;   a mechanical mount coupled to the housing and configured to removably couple to a grip assembly; and   a set of power contacts coupled to the housing and configured to contact a set of power pads in the grip assembly.   
     
     
         29 . The powered tang of  claim 28 , further comprising a power port connected to the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug. 
     
     
         30 . The powered tang of  claim 28 , further comprising a set of signal contacts penetrating through the tang, the set of signal contacts configured to contact with signal pads in the grip assembly and configured to carry signals from one part of the grip assembly to another part of the grip assembly. 
     
     
         31 . The powered tang of  claim 30  wherein the set of signal contacts is a set of pogo pins. 
     
     
         32 . A panel grip assembly comprising:
 a first panel grip configured to removably couple to a tang;   a second panel grip configured to removable couple with the tang; and   a first accessory coupled with the first panel grip.   
     
     
         33 . The panel grip assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising a first set of power pads in the first panel grip configured to contact a first set of power contacts in the tang. 
     
     
         34 . The panel grip assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising a first set of signal pads in the first panel grip configured to contact a first set of signal contacts in the tang. 
     
     
         35 . The panel grip assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a second accessory coupled to the second panel grip;   a second set of power pads in the second panel grip configured to contact a second set of power contacts in the tang.   
     
     
         36 . The panel grip assembly of  claim 35  wherein the accessories are each one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light. 
     
     
         37 . The panel grip assembly of  claim 32  wherein the second panel grip is a blank grip without an electrically powered accessory. 
     
     
         38 . A panel grip comprising:
 a panel grip body configured to removably couple to a tang;   a set of power pads disposed in the panel grip body configured to contact power contacts on the tang when the panel grip body is coupled to the tang; and   an accessory coupled with the panel grip body and coupled with the set of power pads, the accessory configured to draw electrical power from the tang.   
     
     
         39 . The panel grip of  claim 38  wherein the accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light. 
     
     
         40 . The panel grip of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a first switch coupled with the panel grip body, the first switch configured to generate a first control signal;   a first set of signal pads coupled with the panel grip body, the first set of signal pads configured to contact a first set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the first set of signal pads configured to receive a second control signal; and   a remotely actuated switch coupled with the panel grip body, the remotely actuated switch configured to control power to the accessory based on the first and second control signals.   
     
     
         41 . The panel grip of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 a second switch coupled with the grip panel grip body, the second switch configured to generate a third control signal; and   a second set of signal pads coupled with the panel grip body, the second set of signal pads configured to contact a second set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the second set of signal pads configured to carry the third control signal.   
     
     
         42 . The panel grip of  claim 38 , further comprising a first switch disposed in the panel grip body, the first switch configured to control power to the accessory. 
     
     
         43 . A powered modular handheld device comprising:
 a tang;   an electrical power source disposed in the tang;   a first set of power contacts disposed in the tang;   a second set of power contacts disposed in the tang;   a first grip removably coupled with the tang;   a first accessory disposed in the first grip, the first accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source through the first set of power contacts; and   a second grip removably coupled with the tang.   
     
     
         44 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 43 , further comprising a second accessory disposed in the second grip, the second accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source through the second set of power contacts. 
     
     
         45 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 44  wherein the first accessory is adjustable for windage and elevation independent of the second accessory. 
     
     
         46 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 44  wherein the accessories are each one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light. 
     
     
         47 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 43  wherein the first accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light. 
     
     
         48 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 43 , further comprising a power port coupled with the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug. 
     
     
         49 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 43  wherein the first grip comprises a first switch that controls power to the first grip and comprises a second switch that controls power to the second grip. 
     
     
         50 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 49  wherein the second grip comprises a third switch that controls power to the first grip and comprises a fourth switch that controls power to the second grip. 
     
     
         51 . The powered modular handheld device of  claim 50  wherein the first and third switch are similarly located on their respective grips, wherein the second and fourth switch are similarly located on their respective grips. 
     
     
         52 . The modular foregrip of  claim 1  wherein the second grip is a blank grip.