Turret System and Related Methods

Abstract

A turret system for allowing remote aiming and/or discharging of a hand-held weapon includes a base assembly and a rotatable frame, carried by the base assembly. The rotatable frame is capable of rotating relative to the base assembly about a vertical axis. A carrying ring is carried by the base assembly, the carrying ring capable of rotating relative to the base assembly about a horizontal axis. Attachment structure is associated with the carrying ring, the attachment structure operable to allow attachment of a hand-held weapon to the carrying ring to thereby allow the carrying ring to alter a position of the hand-held weapon relative to the base assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turret system for allowing remote aiming and/or discharging of a hand-held weapon, the system comprising:
 a base assembly;   a rotatable frame, carried by the base assembly, the rotatable frame capable of rotating relative to the base assembly about a vertical axis;   a carrying ring, carried by the base assembly, the carrying ring capable of rotating relative to the base assembly about a horizontal axis;   attachment structure associated with the carrying ring, the attachment structure operable to allow attachment of a hand-held weapon to the carrying ring to thereby allow the carrying ring to alter a position of the hand-held weapon relative to the base assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rotatable frame and the carrying ring are continuously rotatable in two opposing directions of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a weapon triggering assembly, coupleable to the weapon and operable to allow remote actuation of the weapon. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more mechanical stops removably attachable to one or both of the carrying ring and the rotatable frame, the mechanical stops operable to limit rotation of the carrying ring or the rotatable frame, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical stops are positionable about substantially an entirety of a span of the vertical ring. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one abutment carried by the base, the at least one abutment operable to engage the one or more mechanical stops to limit movement of the carrying ring or rotatable frame. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless controller, carried by the base assembly, the wireless controller operable to allow remote control of at least one of: a position of the carrying ring; a position of the rotatable frame; and an actuation of the weapon. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shock absorber associated with the carrying ring and the base, the shock absorber operable to dampen recoil movement created by actuation of the weapon. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension bracket, attachable to the carrying ring and to the weapon, the extension bracket operable to fix the weapon in position relative to the carrying ring. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a series of differing extension brackets, each having a differing size or shape and being configured to attach a differing weapon to the carrying ring. 
     
     
         11 . A turret system for allowing remote aiming and/or discharging of a hand-held weapon, the system comprising:
 a base assembly;   a rotatable frame, carried by the base assembly, the rotatable frame capable of continuously rotating in opposing directions relative to the base assembly about a vertical axis;   a carrying ring, carried by the base assembly, the carrying ring capable of continuously rotating in opposing directions relative to the base assembly about a horizontal axis;   attachment structure associated with the carrying ring, the attachment structure operable to allow attachment of a hand-held weapon to the carrying ring to thereby allow the carrying ring to alter a position of the hand-held weapon relative to the base assembly;   two or more mechanical stops removably attachable one each to the carrying ring and the rotatable frame, the mechanical stops operable to limit rotation of the carrying ring or the rotatable frame, respectively, at least one of the mechanical stops being attachable about substantially an entirety of a span of the vertical ring; and   at least two abutments carried by the base, each operable to engage one of the two or more mechanical stops to limit movement of the carrying ring or rotatable frame.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a shock absorber associated with the carrying ring and the base, the shock absorber operable to dampen recoil movement created by actuation of the weapon. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an extension bracket, attachable to the carrying ring and to the weapon, the extension bracket operable to fix the weapon in position relative to the carrying ring. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a series of differing extension brackets, each having a differing size or shape and being configured to attach a differing weapon to the carrying ring. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a weapon triggering assembly, coupleable to the weapon and operable to allow remote actuation of the weapon. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the carrying ring is carried by the rotatable frame and is rotatable with the rotatable frame about a vertical axis. 
     
     
         17 . A method of retrofitting a weapon to allow remote aiming and triggering of the weapon, comprising:
 obtaining a weapon;   attaching the weapon to attachment structure associated with a carrying ring of a turret system, the turret system including:
 a base assembly; 
 a rotatable frame, carried by the base assembly, the rotatable frame capable of rotating relative to the base assembly about a vertical axis; 
 the carrying ring being carried by the base assembly and being capable of rotating relative to the base assembly about a horizontal axis; and 
 the attachment structure being associated with the carrying ring to allow attachment of a hand-held weapon to the carrying ring to thereby allow the carrying ring to alter a position of the hand-held weapon relative to the base assembly; and 
   remotely activating a wireless controller carried by the base assembly to cause one or both the rotatable frame and carrying ring to rotate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising remotely activating a wireless controller carried by the base assembly to actuate the weapon. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the weapon is attached to the carrying ring by an extension bracket, the extension bracket offsetting and fixing the weapon relative to the carrying ring. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising removing the weapon and the extension bracket from the carrying ring and attaching a different weapon and a different extension bracket to the carrying ring.