Firearm accessory with path light

Abstract

A firearm accessory with a primary light oriented in a first direction to assist a user in aiming the firearm and a path light oriented in a second direction to assist the user in seeing a travel path. A motion sensor may actuate the path light. The path light may be positioned below the primary light. The accessory includes a mount for mounting the accessory on a firearm. A housing of the accessory may include lug receivers spaced longitudinally, and a lug received by one of the lug receivers and adapted to engage the groove on a firearm rail for preventing longitudinal movement of the mounted accessory. Actuators for turning the primary light on and off may be positioned adjacent sides of a trigger guard of the firearm when the housing is mounted to the firearm. Mounting features and battery compartment features are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm accessory comprising:
 a housing comprising a mount configured to mount on an accessory rail of a firearm;   a first light source supported by the housing, wherein the first light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a first direction to assist a user in aiming the firearm;   a second light source supported by the housing, wherein the second light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a second direction to assist the user in seeing a travel path of the user, the second direction positioned at a non-zero angle with respect to the first direction;   a motion sensor configured to sense when the housing is moving; and   a controller electrically coupled to the motion sensor and the second light source, the controller configured to activate the second light source when the motion sensor senses that the housing is moving.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction extends outward from a front of the housing, and wherein the second direction extends outward from a bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is parallel to a rail axis of the accessory rail when the mount is mounted on the accessory rail, wherein a length of the accessory rail extends along the rail axis. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a front opening through which light from the first light source is emitted, and wherein the housing defines a bottom opening through which light from the second light source is emitted. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm accessory of  claim 4 , wherein one or more lenses cover the front opening and the bottom opening. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a front surface and a bottom surface extending from the front surface at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, wherein the first direction is generally perpendicular to the front surface, and wherein the second direction is generally perpendicular to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first light source includes at least one LED, and wherein the second light source includes at least one LED. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the second light source for an illumination time period when the motion sensor senses that the housing is moving, and wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the second light source at the end of the illumination time period. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm accessory of  claim 8 , wherein the illumination time period is reset when the motion sensor detects motion while the second light source is activated. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory rail of the firearm has opposite sides extending along a length of the accessory rail and a recess between the opposite sides, wherein the mount includes a first rail engagement arm and a second rail engagement arm, the first and second rail engagement arms being spaced from each other to define a gap for receiving the accessory rail therein, the first and second rail engagement arms being shaped and arranged to engage the opposite sides of the accessory rail when the accessory rail is received in the gap for mounting the housing on the firearm, wherein the housing defines at least one lug receiver positioned adjacent the first and second rail engagement arms, and further comprising at least one lug received by the at least one lug receiver, the at least one lug sized and shaped to interface with the recess of the accessory rail to prevent forward movement of the housing along the length of the accessory rail. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the housing has an accessory axis along which the length of the accessory rail extends when the housing is mounted on the firearm, wherein the housing defines a plurality of lug receivers that are spaced apart longitudinally along the accessory axis, each of the plurality of lug receivers configured to receive the at least one lug. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the mount is positioned at a top of the housing, wherein the housing defines a battery compartment configured to receive a battery, the battery compartment accessible through a battery opening in the bottom of the housing, and further comprising a battery door pivotably coupled to the housing adjacent the battery compartment, the battery door movable between a closed position, in which the battery door covers the battery opening and releasably engages a portion of the housing, and an open position, in which the battery compartment is accessible through the battery opening. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm accessory of  claim 13 , wherein the housing has an accessory axis along which the length of the accessory rail extends when the housing is mounted on the firearm, the firearm accessory further comprising first and second battery contacts positioned at opposite ends of the battery compartment and spaced apart longitudinally along the accessory axis, and wherein the battery door is pivotable with respect to the housing along a pivot axis that is transverse to the accessory axis. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a top, a bottom, and opposing sides extending between the top and bottom, wherein a width of the housing extends between the opposing sides, and wherein the second light source is positioned below the first light source. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the firearm is a pistol including a trigger guard positioned behind the accessory rail, and further comprising first and second actuators coupled to the housing and positioned adjacent left and right sides, respectively, of the trigger guard when the housing is mounted on the accessory rail of the pistol, each of the first and second actuators configured to be actuated by a finger of a user gripping the pistol for activating or deactivating the first light source. 
     
     
         17 . A firearm accessory for mounting on a firearm, the firearm including an accessory rail having opposite sides extending along a length of the accessory rail and having a recess between the opposite sides, the firearm accessory comprising:
 a housing comprising a mount including a first rail engagement arm and a second rail engagement arm, the first and second rail engagement arms being spaced from each other to define a gap for receiving the accessory rail therein, the first and second rail engagement arms being shaped and arranged to engage the opposite sides of the accessory rail when the accessory rail is received in the gap for mounting the housing on the firearm, wherein the housing defines at least one lug receiver positioned adjacent the first and second rail engagement arms;   at least one lug received by the at least one lug receiver, the at least one lug sized and shaped to interface with the recess of the accessory rail to prevent forward movement of the housing along the length of the accessory rail;   a first light source supported by the housing, wherein the first light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a first direction to assist a user in aiming the firearm; and   a second light source supported by the housing, wherein the second light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a second direction to assist the user in seeing a travel path of the user, the second direction positioned at a non-zero angle with respect to the first direction.   
     
     
         18 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the first direction extends outward from a front of the housing, and wherein the second direction extends outward from a bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the first direction is parallel to a rail axis of the accessory rail when the mount is mounted on the accessory rail, wherein the length of the accessory rail extends along the rail axis. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the housing defines a front opening through which light from the first light source is emitted, and wherein the housing defines a bottom opening through which light from the second light source is emitted. 
     
     
         21 . The firearm accessory of  claim 20 , wherein one or more lenses cover the front opening and the bottom opening. 
     
     
         22 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises a front surface and a bottom surface extending from the front surface at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, wherein the first direction is generally perpendicular to the front surface, and wherein the second direction is generally perpendicular to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         23 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the first light source includes at least one LED, and wherein the second light source includes at least one LED. 
     
     
         24 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the housing has an accessory axis along which the length of the accessory rail extends when the housing is mounted on the firearm, wherein the housing defines a plurality of lug receivers that are spaced apart longitudinally along the accessory axis, each of the plurality of lug receivers configured to receive the at least one lug. 
     
     
         25 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the mount is positioned at a top of the housing, wherein the housing defines a battery compartment configured to receive a battery, the battery compartment accessible through a battery opening in the bottom of the housing, and further comprising a battery door pivotably coupled to the housing adjacent the battery compartment, the battery door movable between a closed position, in which the battery door covers the battery opening and releasably engages a portion of the housing, and an open position, in which the battery compartment is accessible through the battery opening. 
     
     
         26 . The firearm accessory of  claim 25 , wherein the housing has an accessory axis along which the length of the accessory rail extends when the housing is mounted on the firearm, the firearm accessory further comprising first and second battery contacts positioned at opposite ends of the battery compartment and spaced apart longitudinally along the accessory axis, and wherein the battery door is pivotable with respect to the housing along a pivot axis that is transverse to the accessory axis. 
     
     
         27 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises a top, a bottom, and opposing sides extending between the top and bottom, wherein a width of the housing extends between the opposing sides, and wherein the second light source is positioned below the first light source. 
     
     
         28 . The firearm accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the firearm is a pistol including a trigger guard positioned behind the accessory rail, and further comprising first and second actuators coupled to the housing and positioned adjacent left and right sides, respectively, of the trigger guard when the housing is mounted on the accessory rail of the pistol, each of the first and second actuators configured to be actuated by a finger of a user gripping the pistol for activating or deactivating the first light source. 
     
     
         29 . A firearm accessory comprising:
 a housing comprising a top, a bottom, opposing sides extending between the top and bottom, and a mount at the top configured to mount on an accessory rail of a firearm, wherein a width of the housing extends between the opposing sides;   a first light source supported by the housing, wherein the first light source is positioned between the top and the bottom of the housing, wherein the first light source is positioned between the opposing sides of the housing, and wherein the first light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a first direction to assist a user in aiming the firearm; and   a second light source supported by the housing, wherein the second light source is positioned below the first light source, wherein the second light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a second direction to assist the user in seeing a travel path of the user, the second direction positioned at a non-zero angle with respect to the first direction.   
     
     
         30 . The firearm accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the first direction extends outward from a front of the housing, and wherein the second direction extends outward from the bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         31 . The firearm accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the first direction is parallel to a rail axis of the accessory rail when the mount is mounted on the accessory rail, wherein a length of the accessory rail extends along the rail axis. 
     
     
         32 . The firearm accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the housing defines a front opening through which light from the first light source is emitted, and wherein the housing defines a bottom opening through which light from the second light source is emitted. 
     
     
         33 . The firearm accessory of  claim 32 , wherein one or more lenses cover the front opening and the bottom opening. 
     
     
         34 . The firearm accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the housing comprises a front surface and a bottom surface extending from the front surface at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, wherein the first direction is generally perpendicular to the front surface, and wherein the second direction is generally perpendicular to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         35 . The firearm accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the first light source includes at least one LED, and wherein the second light source includes at least one LED. 
     
     
         36 . The firearm accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the firearm is a pistol including a trigger guard positioned behind the accessory rail, and further comprising first and second actuators coupled to the housing and positioned adjacent left and right sides, respectively, of the trigger guard when the housing is mounted on the accessory rail of the pistol, each of the first and second actuators configured to be actuated by a finger of a user gripping the pistol for activating or deactivating the first light source. 
     
     
         37 . The firearm accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the second light source is vertically aligned with the first light source across the width of the housing when the top is generally horizontal and positioned above the bottom. 
     
     
         38 . An illuminator configured for mounting on a pistol, the pistol including an accessory rail positioned forward of a trigger guard, the illuminator comprising:
 a housing comprising a pistol mount configured to mount on the accessory rail of the pistol;   a first light source supported by the housing, wherein the first light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a first direction to assist a user in aiming the firearm;   a second light source supported by the housing, wherein the second light source is oriented with respect to the housing to emit light away from the housing in a second direction to assist the user in seeing a travel path of the user, the second direction positioned at a non-zero angle with respect to the first direction; and   first and second actuators coupled to the housing and positioned adjacent left and right sides, respectively, of the trigger guard when the housing is mounted on the accessory rail of the pistol, each of the first and second actuators configured to be actuated by a finger of a user gripping the pistol for activating or deactivating the first light source.   
     
     
         39 . The firearm accessory of  claim 38 , wherein the first direction extends outward from a front of the housing, and wherein the second direction extends outward from a bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         40 . The firearm accessory of  claim 38 , wherein the first direction is parallel to a rail axis of the accessory rail when the mount is mounted on the accessory rail, wherein a length of the accessory rail extends along the rail axis. 
     
     
         41 . The firearm accessory of  claim 38 , wherein the housing defines a front opening through which light from the first light source is emitted, and wherein the housing defines a bottom opening through which light from the second light source is emitted. 
     
     
         42 . The firearm accessory of  claim 41 , wherein one or more lenses cover the front opening and the bottom opening. 
     
     
         43 . The firearm accessory of  claim 38 , wherein the housing comprises a front surface and a bottom surface extending from the front surface at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, wherein the first direction is generally perpendicular to the front surface, and wherein the second direction is generally perpendicular to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         44 . The firearm accessory of  claim 38 , wherein the first light source includes at least one LED, and wherein the second light source includes at least one LED.