Guide rod with integrated illumination device

Abstract

An illumination source to assist in the identification and verification of a target is preferably contained within a hollow, waterproof tube that is similar in dimension and also performs the function of the conventional guide rod it is designed to replace in a pistol. An activation switch will, in its preferred form, make or break the circuit between the power source and the LED's that provide the illumination. The power source is also contained within the aforementioned tube that preferably resides within the pistol directly under the barrel.

1 . A pistol guide rod with an integrated illumination device for identifying a potential target, the device comprising: 
 a hollow guide rod housing having an open first end and an open second end;    at least one broad spectrum light emitting diode partially protruding from the first open end of the housing and having a first lead and a second lead, the partial protrusion providing diffused illumination of an area adjacent the first end of the housing;    a contact pin within the housing electrically connected to the first lead of the light emitting diode;    a hollow insulator tube within the housing surrounding a portion of the light emitting diode and the contact pin, the second lead of the light emitting diode positioned outside the hollow insulator;    an end cap sized and shaped to cover the second end of the housing having an aperture therethrough;    a contact button partially extending through the aperture of the end cap;    a biasing member within the insulator tube adjacent the contact pin;    a self contained power source within the housing biased against the contact button by the biasing member; and    a take down lever with a centrally located lobe along one side and a nonconductive portion centrally positioned adjacent the lobe, lateral movement of the take down lever against the contact button moving the nonconductive portion away from the contact button providing a conductive path for the power source to illuminate the light emitting diode.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the light emitting diode further comprises a rim about the light emitting diode engaging an internal shoulder of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electrical connection of the first lead to the contact pin comprises a multidirectional slot within an end of the contact pin frictionally receiving the first lead.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  further comprising a button sleeve about the contact button isolating the contact button from the end cap.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the end cap further comprises a set of internal threads for threaded engagement with external threads about the housing adjacent the second open end.  
   
   
       6 . A pistol guide rod with an integrated illumination device for identifying a potential target, the device comprising: 
 a hollow guide rod housing having an open first end and an open second end;    at least one broad spectrum light emitting diode partially protruding from the first open end of the housing, the partial protrusion providing diffused illumination of an area adjacent the first end of the housing;    a contact pin within the housing electrically connected to the light emitting diode;    an insulator insulating the contact pin and a portion of the light emitting diode;    an end cap sized and shaped to cover the second end of the housing having an aperture therethrough;    a contact button partially extending through the aperture of the end cap;    a biasing member within the insulator adjacent the contact pin; and    a take down lever with a centrally located lobe along one side and a non-conductive portion centrally positioned adjacent the lobe.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising a button sleeve about the contact button isolating the contact button from the end cap.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the electrical connection of the light emitting diode to the contact pin comprises a first lead extending from the light emitting diode frictionally engaged with a multidirectional slot within an end of the contact pin.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the light emitting diode further comprises a rim about the light emitting diode engaging an internal shoulder of the housing.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the end cap further comprises a set of internal threads for threaded engagement with external threads about the housing adjacent the second open end.  
   
   
       11 . A guide rod with integrated electric illumination device for a pistol providing diffused illumination for target identification activated by movement of a pistol take down lever completing an electric circuit of the illumination device.  
   
   
       12 . The guide rod of  claim 11  wherein the electric illumination device is a light emitting diode protruding from a flange of a slide of the pistol connected in the electric circuit.  
   
   
       13 . The guide rod of  claim 12  wherein the light emitting diode is powered by a power source within the guide rod.  
   
   
       14 . The guide rod of  claim 13  wherein the electric circuit contacts the power source through an electrically conductive biasing member biasing the power source against a contact button providing selective completion of the electric circuit during movement of the take down lever against the contact button.  
   
   
       15 . The guide rod of  claim 14  wherein the light emitting diode further comprises a rim about the light emitting diode engaging an internal shoulder of the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The guide rod of  claim 15  further comprising a button sleeve about the contact button electrically isolating the contact button from the guide rod.  
   
   
       17 . A pistol guide rod with an integrated illumination device for identifying a potential target, the device comprising: 
 a hollow guide rod housing having an open first end and an open second end;    a light emitting diode providing diffused illumination of an area adjacent the first end of the housing;    a contact pin within the housing electrically connected to the light emitting diode;    an insulator insulating the contact pin and a portion of the light emitting diode;    an end cap sized and shaped to cover the second end of the housing having an aperture therethrough;    a contact button partially extending through the aperture of the end cap;    a biasing member within the insulator connected to the contact pin providing an electrical connection to a power source during use; and    a take down lever with a centrally located lobe along one side and a non-conductive portion centrally positioned adjacent the lobe.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising a button sleeve about the contact button electrically isolating the contact button from the end cap.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the electrical connection of the light emitting diode to the contact pin comprises a first lead extending from the light emitting diode frictionally engaged with a multidirectional slot within an end of the contact pin.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the light emitting diode protrudes from the open first end of the housing through a flange of a slide of a pistol during use.