US-12618635-B1 - Weapon emulator simulating a muzzle flash

US12618635B1US 12618635 B1US12618635 B1US 12618635B1US-12618635-B1

Abstract

A weapon emulator has a muzzle flash emulator attachment coupled to a first end of a barrel. The muzzle flash emulator attachment includes: a body defining a plurality of slots, a cover disposed in the body, a light source at least partially disposed in the cover, and a circuit coupled to the light source and including a power source and a switch. The switch is transitionable from an open state to a closed state to turn on the light source in response to pulling a trigger. In another embodiment, a muzzle flash emulator assembly includes a magnet operatively aligned with a reed switch. In a further embodiment, a muzzle flash emulator has a member coupled to a barrel and moveable to strike the switch in response to pulling the trigger to transition the switch from the open state to the closed state.

Inventors

Mike Casey
Thomas Melton

Assignees

OBSIDIAN DYNAMICS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20250206

Claims (15)

1 . A weapon emulator, comprising: a frame; a trigger and a barrel coupled to the frame; a power source coupled to the frame; a muzzle flash emulator attachment that is coupled to a first end of the barrel, the muzzle flash emulator attachment including: a body having a first end coupled to the first end of the barrel, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface extending from the first end to the second end, and defining a plurality of slots extending from the inner surface to the outer surface positioned between the first and second ends; a cover disposed in the body; and a light source at least partially disposed in the cover; and a circuit coupled to the light source and including a power source and a switch, the switch being transitionable from an open state to a closed state to turn on the light source to emit a light through the plurality of slots in response to pulling the trigger.
2 . The weapon emulator of claim 1 , wherein the muzzle flash emulator attachment includes the switch and the switch is transitionable from the open state to the closed state in response to a gas released into the barrel in response to pulling the trigger.
3 . The weapon emulator of claim 2 , wherein the switch comprises: a first contact disposed in the body that is connected to the light source; a second contact disposed in the body that is connected to the power source; a switch member including an electrode moveable from the open state where the electrode is separated from the first and second electrodes to the closed state where the electrode is engaged with the first and second contacts; and a biasing member disposed in the body and configured to bias the member toward the open state.
4 . The weapon emulator of claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a button coupled to the frame and positioned behind the trigger, wherein pulling the trigger depresses the button to transition the switch from the open state to the closed state.
5 . The weapon emulator of claim 4 , wherein the button at least partially extends into a trigger well configured to receive a finger and positioned exterior of the frame, wherein the trigger well is defined by the frame and a trigger guard coupled to the frame.
6 . The weapon emulator of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
7 . The weapon emulator of claim 1 , further comprising a member coupled to the frame and moveable relative to the barrel to strike the switch to transition the switch from the open state to the closed state in response to pulling the trigger.
8 . The weapon emulator of claim 7 , wherein the member is a bolt.
9 . The weapon emulator of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first portion having a first cavity containing the light source and the cover and a second portion having a second cavity separated from the first cavity by an inner wall of the body, wherein the plurality of slots lead to the first cavity.
10 . The weapon emulator of claim 9 , wherein the barrel is received in the second cavity.
11 . The weapon emulator of claim 9 , wherein the switch comprises: a first contact disposed in the body that is connected to the light source; a second contact disposed in the body that is connected to the power source; a switch member disposed in the second cavity including an electrode moveable from the open state where the electrode is separated from the first and second electrodes to the closed state where the electrode is engaged with the first and second contacts; and a biasing member disposed in the second cavity and configured to bias the member toward the open state.
12 . The weapon emulator of claim 9 , further comprising at least one vent formed in the inner wall connecting the first and second cavities.
13 . The weapon emulator of claim 1 , wherein the cover is formed from a light diffusion material.
14 . The weapon emulator of claim 13 , wherein the light diffusion material is either a frosted plastic or etched plastic.
15 . The weapon emulator of claim 9 , wherein the barrel is received in the second cavity.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to a weapon emulator and, more particularly, to prop firearms used during filming. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Real firearms that are modified to use blanks have often been used as props to film modern movies (or TV shows, videos, or the like) to attain the realism that audiences demand. Using real firearms to film, however, present several safety, legal, and cost concerns to the person or persons producing and directing the movie. Blanks can be relatively safe from as close as three feet away but are potentially dangerous or lethal up close or if fired while pressed against an object. There is the potential for the wrong type of blank to be loaded into the firearm which can lead to a misfire that can cause serious injury. The combustion of the gunpowder in the blank heats up the gun which can cause burns. Additionally, there is also the potential for accidental discharges of the blanks on set due to inadvertent pulling of the trigger which poses a danger to personnel. These physical dangers can lead to lawsuits. Using real guns and blanks also subjects the production to the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) which regulates firearm use. These regulations increase costs and can cause delays in the production. In addition to increased regulatory scrutiny, using real guns increases production costs due to the use of consumables (i.e. blanks, squibs, etc.) during production. Using real guns also increases the cost of insurance premiums and requires hiring and maintaining a staff of trained personnel to manage the firearms on set as well as security personnel to secure the transportation and storage of the firearms. Blanks also present practical issues in addition to the danger, legal, and cost concerns. For example, guns modified to use blanks can misfire or jam which can result in the need for multiple “takes” due to technical difficulties with a prop. Additionally, using blanks may necessitate car protection that must be edited out during post-production or be subject the production to noise regulations of the locality where the scene is being filmed. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a prop firearm (e.g., weapon emulator) that can simulate a muzzle flash and realistic operation of the firearm while omitting the use of blanks. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Various details of the present disclosure are hereinafter summarized to provide a basic understanding. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is neither intended to identify certain elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form prior to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. In one embodiment, a weapon emulator has a frame, a trigger and a barrel coupled to the frame, a power source coupled to the frame, and a muzzle flash emulator attachment coupled to a first end of the barrel. The muzzle flash emulator attachment includes: a body defining a plurality of slots, a cover disposed in the body, a light source at least partially disposed in the cover, and a circuit coupled to the light source and including a power source and a switch. The switch is transitionable from an open state to a closed state to turn on the light source in response to pulling the trigger. In another embodiment, a weapon emulator has a frame, a barrel and a trigger coupled to the frame, and a member coupled to the barrel and moveable relative to the barrel from a first position to the second position in response to pulling the trigger. A magnet is attached to the member, and a power source is coupled to the barrel. A muzzle flash emulator assembly includes a light source and a reed switch, wherein the magnet operatively aligns with the reed switch as the member moves from the first position to the second position, thereby closing the reed switch to complete a circuit between the power source and the light source. In a further embodiment, a muzzle flash emulator is coupled to an end of a barrel and includes a light source, a power source coupled to the frame, and a switch transitionable from an open state where a circuit between the light source and the power source is open to a closed state where the circuit is closed. The muzzle flash emulator further includes a member coupled to the barrel and moveable relative to the barrel to strike the switch in response to pulling the trigger to transition the switch from the open state to the closed state. Any combinations of the various embodiments and implementations disclosed herein can be used in a further embodiment, consistent with the disclosure. These and other aspects and features can be appreciated from the following description of certain embodiments presented herein in accordance with the disclosure and the accompanying drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF