A2 Aviator Patent Progression Over Time

[Masque]

It's quite possible that this has been sighted and cited before, but I found it interesting to note that, though the body has changed only twice, evidently the engraving on the A2 has changed a few more times:

So that's one, two, three, and six patents. Does anyone have a model with four or five listed?

 

[socom1970]

Yup! I've got a round body with five patents and a flat-side body with three patents.

 

[Illum]

3 on squares
5629105, 6222138, 6547415

6 on rounds
5629105, 6222138, 6547415, 6712485, 6841941, 6994449

 

[shroomy]

Yep, my round A2 has 5.

5629105
6222138
6547415
6712485
6841941

 

[Masque]

Perhaps someone with a five-patent round body could post a photo?

 

[Qoose]

Anyone look these numbers up? Interesting and very Jargony.

 

[shroomy]

Alright, I tried, I know it's not good; but all I have for a camera is the one that came built into my mac, and it's not terribly good. Not to mention I don't have a photo editing program so the pic is reversed. But if you squint you can count 5 patents. If you could see it, it would look more like this:

"US PAT 5629105 6222138
6547415 6712485 6841941"

Here's a close-up, not that it's any more legible.

 

[Chuck289]

That would be awesome if you actually had an A2 that was engraved backward.

 

[shroomy]

That would be awesome if you actually had an A2 that was engraved backward.

A purple 4 sided backwards printed U2 porcupine.

 

[Katdaddy]

A purple 4 sided backwards printed U2 porcupine.

I'll take it!!!

 

[DM51]

LOL!

 

[Sgt. LED]

How much would that uber rare go for?
1,000?
:green:

 

[KentuckyMike]

Anyone look these numbers up? Interesting and very Jargony.

I thought I was the only one to do that....

Quick sampling of various A2 patents:
"A battery-powered apparatus for holding and energizing an electric transducer"

"Battery operated appliance, flashlight and switching systems technical field"

"Flashlight with securement capability"

"Clip-type object attachment systems"

 

[WildChild]

Red LEDs A2, round body, bought on December 2007. 5 patents printed on it! The batteries that came with it expire on 05-2016 so it has been made/packaged in 2006! My red LEDs are dim with a hotspot surrounded by a dark ring surrounded by a red ring. It seems the LEDs on the newest A2 (red at least) are brighter and more floody with no more ring.

 

[Size15's]

From what I can gather (Patents aren't exactly easy reading!)

5629105 - incorporating transducer(s) and switching into flashlights [to switch outputs].
6222138 - two-stage pressure switch (with ability to LockOut the high output or both outputs)
6547415 - Clip-type object attachment systems
6712485 - Flashlight securement systems (the clip attachment system)
6841941 - two-stage pressure switch (with ability to switch between outputs)
6994449 - Flashlight with securement capability (the groove in the TailCap for the lanyard attachment ring)

 

[tussery]

From what I can gather (Patents aren't exactly easy reading!)

5629105 - incorporating transducer(s) and switching into flashlights [to switch outputs].

5629105 - is just fancy wording to explain the regulator, and having two different lighting sources in one reflector.

That is what I gathered from it.

 

[jufam44]

Mine's got 6 patents, and it's a round sided one. No special A2 for me

 

[Size15's]

5629105 - is just fancy wording to explain the regulator, and having two different lighting sources in one reflector.

That is what I gathered from it.

I seem to recall that SureFire have a patent for having offset additional light source(s) in one reflector (originally patented for the 9N) and also a patent for blending two different sized/shaped reflectors together (for the 10X) and another for surrounding a main source with a ring of smaller sources.

It's one thing to have a patent, but quite enough to enforce it. MagLite has demonstrated quite a resolve in this. It's using the patents as a stick that gives patents strength.

 

[Illum]

slapstick maybe...Patent for sick beams using smooth reflectors for one:shakehead

 

[BigBluefish]

Bringing this back from the dead.

I just purchased a NIB A2 red from a local gunshop. Round-body, with four patents under "A2 AVIATOR" on one flat, with the SureFire logo and serial number A34635 on the opposite flat.

Batteries included expire 09-2014, and both read fully charged on my ZTS. :thumbsup: Has this thing really been sitting around since '04????