Firearm illumination system and method

Abstract

A firearm illumination system that is selectively mounted to a firearm, includes an illumination device for emitting an illumination field. A mount housing incorporates a firearm coupling mechanism that is adapted for selectively coupling of the illumination device to a firearm. A swivel mechanism is coupled to the mount housing between the illumination device and the firearm coupling mechanism. The swivel mechanism defines an axis of rotation normal to the bore axis of the mounted firearm, for facilitating selective pivotal movement of an illumination axis of the illumination device above or parallel with, or below the bore axis of the firearm. In use, the illumination field is oriented within a search area by pivoting the illumination axis while orienting the firearm bore axis outside the search field. Upon threat identification, the firearm is brought to bear on it and the illumination axis is oriented parallel with the bore axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for illuminating a search area with a firearm-mounted illumination device, comprising:
 providing a firearm having a barrel that defines a bore axis and a muzzle at a distal tip thereof;   providing an illumination device that emits an illumination field, which defines an illumination axis;   coupling the illumination device to the firearm with a swivel mechanism whose axis of rotation is normal to the barrel bore axis; and   illuminating a search area with the illumination device by pivoting the illumination device about the rotation axis of the swivel mechanism to orient the barrel bore axis and the muzzle of the firearm outside of the illumination area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pivoting the illumination device about the rotation axis of the swivel mechanism to orient the barrel bore axis and muzzle of the firearm barrel downwardly away from the illumination axis of the illumination device, out of the illumination area, while illuminating the search area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pivoting the illumination device about the rotation axis of the swivel mechanism to orient the barrel bore axis and muzzle of the firearm barrel upwardly away from the illumination axis of the illumination device, out of the illumination area, while illuminating the search area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising gripping the illumination device while illuminating a search area, pivoting the illumination axis of the illumination device above the bore axis when orienting the barrel and muzzle downwardly out of the illumination area, or pivoting said illumination axis below said bore axis when orienting the barrel and muzzle upwardly out of the illumination area, and aligning said illumination axis parallel with said bore axis upon identification of an object in the illumination area that is potentially to be engaged with the firearm. 
     
     
         5 . A firearm-mounted illumination system, comprising:
 a firearm having a barrel defining a bore axis and a muzzle at a distal tip of the barrel;   an illumination device for emitting an illumination field, the illumination field defining an illumination axis;   a mount housing coupled to the firearm;   a swivel mechanism coupled to and oriented between the mount housing and the illumination device, the swivel mechanism defining an axis of rotation normal to the bore axis of the barrel, for facilitating selective pivotal movement of the illumination axis of the illumination device above or parallel with or below the bore axis of the firearm barrel.   
     
     
         6 . The firearm-mounted illumination system of  claim 5 , the swivel mechanism selected from the group comprising: a mating journal and axle, and/or a cam slot and follower riding in the cam slot, and/or a clevis pin. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm-mounted illumination system of  claim 6 , the swivel mechanism further comprising a biasing mechanism for resisting pivoting of the illumination device illumination axis relative to the bore axis. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm-mounted illumination system of  claim 7 , the biasing mechanism selected from the group comprising a spring-loaded plunger and mating detent, and/or a pawl and ratchet, and/or a compression screw, and/or a tensioning screw; and/or opposing friction surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm-mounted illumination system of  claim 5 , the mount housing having a firearm coupling mechanism for affixation of the housing to a the firearm, selected from the group comprising: a screw clamp, and/or adhesive tape, and/or cordage, and/or a cable tie, and/or a band of hook-and-loop closure material, and/or a band of elastic material, and/or interlocking male/female rail, and/or interlocking male stud/female aperture, and/or a screw, and/or a bolt, and/or a rivet, and/or a pin, and/or a push-type, spring-loaded release and/or magnets. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm-mounted illumination system of  claim 5 , the illumination device integrally incorporated within the mount housing. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm-mounted illumination system of  claim 5 , further comprising a standalone illumination device that is selectively coupled to the mount housing by an illumination coupling device. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm-mounted illumination system of  claim 11 , the illumination coupling device selected from the group comprising: a screw clamp, and/or adhesive tape, and/or cordage, and/or a cable tie, and/or a band of hook-and-loop closure material, and/or a band of elastic material, and/or interlocking male/female rail, and/or interlocking male stud and female aperture, and/or a screw, and/or a rivet, and/or a pin, and/or a push-type, spring-loaded release and/or magnets. 
     
     
         13 . A firearm illumination system adapted for selective mounting to a firearm, comprising:
 an illumination device for emitting an illumination field, the illumination field defining an illumination axis;   a mount housing adapted for selectively coupling the illumination device to a firearm having a barrel defining a bore axis and a muzzle at a distal tip of the barrel;   a firearm coupling mechanism adapted for affixation of the housing to the firearm, selected from the group comprising: a screw clamp, and/or adhesive tape, and/or cordage, and/or a cable tie, and/or interlocking male/female rail, and/or interlocking male stud/female aperture, and/or a screw, and/or a rivet, and/or a pin, and/or a push-type, spring-loaded release and/or magnets; and   a swivel mechanism coupled to and oriented between the mount housing and the illumination device, whereupon after mounting of the firearm coupling mechanism to the firearm, the swivel mechanism defines an axis of rotation normal to the bore axis of the barrel, for facilitating selective pivotal movement of the illumination axis of the illumination device above or parallel with or below the bore axis of the firearm barrel.   
     
     
         14 . The firearm illumination system of  claim 13 , the swivel mechanism selected from the group comprising: a mating journal and axle, and/or a cam slot and follower riding in the cam slot, and/or a clevis pin. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm illumination system of  claim 14 , the swivel mechanism further comprising a biasing mechanism for resisting pivoting of the illumination device illumination axis relative to the bore axis. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm illumination system of  claim 15 , the biasing mechanism selected from the group comprising a spring-loaded plunger and mating detent, and/or a pawl and ratchet, and/or a compression screw, and/or a tensioning screw; and/or opposing friction enhancement surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm illumination system of  claim 13 , the illumination device integrally incorporated within the mount housing. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm illumination system of  claim 13 , further comprising a standalone illumination device that is selectively coupled to the mount housing by an illumination coupling device. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm illumination system of  claim 18 , the illumination coupling device selected from the group comprising: a screw clamp, and/or adhesive tape, and/or cordage, and/or a cable tie, and/or interlocking male/female rail, and/or interlocking male stud/female aperture, and/or a screw, and/or a rivet, and/or a pin, and/or a push-type, spring-loaded release and/or magnets.