1. An electronic ignition system for a firearm, the system comprising:
an electrode, the electrode being capable of producing an electric arc;
a battery electrically connected to said electrode for providing electricity to said electrode; and
a firing switch electrically connected between said battery and said electrode such that when said firing switch is closed said electricity from said battery produces an electric arc from said electrode;
wherein said electrode is sized and shaped so that said electric arc contacts a propellant charge in said firearm igniting said propellant charge.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a capacitor, said capacitor placed between said battery and said firing switch such that said capacitor is charged by said battery and discharges when said firing switch is closed.
3. The system of claim 2 further comprising an arming switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said battery wherein said capacitor cannot charge when said arming switch is open.
4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a safety switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said firing switch wherein said electric arc cannot be generated unless both said firing switch and said safety switch are closed.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising an indicator electrically connected to said capacitor, said indicator indicating when said capacitor is charged.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said system is retrofitted into an existing personal firearm.
7. The system of claim 5 which is originally manufactured into a new personal firearm.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said firearm is a rifle.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said firearm is a shotgun.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said firearm is a pistol.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said electric arc is generated between said electrode and a second electrode.
12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a breach plug physically supporting said electrode.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein said electric arc is generated between said electrode and said breach plug.
14. A firearm comprising
a barrel;
a breach plug;
at least two electrodes in said breach plug;
a source of electricity electrically connected to said at least two electrodes; and
a firing switch electrically connected between said at least two electrodes and said source of electricity such that when said firing switch is closed, an electric arc is created between said at least two electrodes, said electric arc being inside said barrel.
15. The firearm of claim 14 further comprising a capacitor, said capacitor electrically connected between said source of electricity and said firing switch such that said capacitor is charged by said source of electricity and discharges when said firing switch is closed.
16. The firearm of claim 15 further comprising an arming switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said source of electricity wherein said capacitor cannot charge when said arming switch is open.
17. The firearm of claim 16 further comprising a safety switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said firing switch wherein said electric arc cannot be generated unless both said firing switch and said safety switch are closed.
18. The firearm of claim 16 further comprising an indicator electrically connected to said capacitor, said indicator indicating when said capacitor is charged.
19. The firearm of claim 14 further comprising a propellant charge and projectile within said barrel wherein said electric arc ignites said propellant charge and the explosion of said propellant charge expels said projectile from said barrel.
20. The firearm of claim 14 wherein said firearm is a muzzleloader.
21. The firearm of claim 14 wherein said firearm is a rifle.
22. The firearm of claim 14 wherein said firearm is a shotgun.
23. The firearm of claim 14 wherein said firearm is a pistol.
24. A firearm comprising:
a barrel;
means for producing an electric arc in said barrel; and
switching means electrically connected to said means for producing said electric arc such that when said switching means is switched from a first state to a second state said electric arc is generated in said barrel.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of releasably locking a shank of an implement into a receiver, comprising the step of providing a locking mechanism having the shank having a pass-thru aperture allowing passage of a circumference of a magnetized ball therethrough when the shank is received within the receiver, said receiver comprising a cooperating pair of parallel walls defining a channel receiving the shank, said walls including a pass-thru wall defining a pass-thru portal allowing passage of the circumference of said ball therethrough, and a ball-stop wall defining a smaller ball-stop eyelet aligned concentrically with said portal and the aperture, said eyelet having a periphery sized for seating said ball, said mechanism further comprising said ball seating against said eyelet so that the channel equator of said ball is positioned on the side of the shank nearer the ball-stop wall, said mechanism further comprising a means of biasing said ball toward said seating, said method of use further comprising the step of urging the ball into the pass-thru portal and pass-thru aperture, seating it against the ball-stop eyelet, said seating including magnetic attraction.
2. A method of use described in claim 1 above, further comprising the releasing steps of unseating the ball from the eyelet enough to reposition the channel equator of the ball to the side of the shank nearer to the pass-thru wall, then moving the shank sufficient to essentially cause the perimeter of its aperture to shunt the ball toward and substantially through the pass-thru portal.
3. A method of use described in claim 2 above, said ball-stop wall having an outer surface including beveling around the ball-stop eyelet, said unseating achieved by the user’s fingertip contacting the pole of the ball protruding through the ball-stop eyelet.
4. A releasably locking mechanism for locking and releasing a shank of an implement snugly within a receiver, said shank having a pass-thru aperture allowing passage therethrough of a ball having opposite poles and an equator around a circumference, said mechanism comprising said receiver having a cooperating pair of parallel walls defining a channel receiving said shank, said walls including a pass-thru wall defining a pass-thru portal allowing passage of the circumference of said ball therethrough, and a ball-stop wall defining a smaller ball-stop eyelet aligned concentrically with said portal, said eyelet having a periphery sized for seating said ball, said mechanism further comprising said shank received within said channel and having the pass-thru aperture allowing passage therethrough of said ball equator, said ball seating against said eyelet so that said equator is positioned within said channel on the side of said shank nearer said ball-stop wall, said mechanism further comprising a means of biasing said ball toward said seating comprising magnetic attraction between said ball and said ball-stop eyelet.
5. A mechanism described in claim 1 above, said magnetic attraction resulting from a magnetic field of said ball, and said eyelet is metal attracted by said magnetic field.
6. A mechanism described in claim 1 above, said magnetic attraction resulting from a magnetic field of said ball-stop eyelet, and said ball is attracted by said magnetic field.
7. A mechanism described in claim 1 above, further comprising a means of releasing said shank from said receiver, said means of releasing said shank comprising a means of unseating said ball from said ball-stop eyelet.
8. A mechanism described in claim 7 above, said ball-stop wall having an outer surface, said means of unseating said ball comprising beveling of said outer surface around said ball-stop eyelet sufficient to facilitate contact by the user’s fingertip against the pole of the ball nearer to said ball-stop wall and urging of said ball with sufficient force to overcome said magnetic attraction and unseat said ball.
9. A mechanism described in claim 7 above, said means of unseating facilitating repositioning said ball so that the channel equator of said ball is on the side of the shank nearer the pass-thru wall.
10. A mechanism described in claim 7 above wherein the movement of said shank essentially causes the perimeter of said aperture to contact the converging surface of said ball and shunt it toward and mostly through said pass-thru portal.
11. A mechanism described in claim 10 above, said magnetic attraction essentially causing said ball to maintain magnetic connection with said receiver after passage of said ball through said pass-thru portal.
12. A releasably locking mechanism for snugly locking and releasing a shank of an implement within a receiver, said mechanism comprising:
(a) said receiver comprising a cooperating pair of parallel walls defining a channel receiving said shank, said walls including a pass-thru wall defining an essentially circular pass-thru portal allowing passage of a circumference of a ball therethrough, and a ball-stop wall defining a smaller ball-stop eyelet aligned concentrically with said pass-thru portal, said eyelet having a periphery sized for seating said ball;
(b) said shank defining a pass-thru aperture allowing passage of the circumference of said ball therethrough when said shank is received within said receiver;
(c) said ball seating against said eyelet so that the channel equator of said ball is positioned on the side of said shank nearer said ball-stop wall, and with a pole of the ball nearer the ball-stop wall and protruding within said ball-stop eyelet; and
(d) a means of biasing said ball toward said seating, comprising magnetic attraction resulting from a magnetic field of said ball.
13. A mechanism described in claim 12 above, said ball-stop wall having an outer surface, said mechanism further comprising a means of releasing said shank from said receiver, comprising beveling of said outer surface around said ball-stop eyelet sufficient to facilitate contact by the user’s fingertip against the pole of the ball within said ball-stop eyelet and urging of said ball with sufficient force to overcome said magnetic attraction and reposition said ball so that the channel equator of said ball is on the side of the shank nearer the pass-thru wall.
14. A mechanism described in claim 13 above, said means of releasing said shank from said receiver further comprising moving said shank sufficient to essentially cause the perimeter of its aperture to contact the converging surface of said ball and shunt it toward and mostly through said pass-thru portal.
15. A mechanism described in claim 14 above, said magnetic attraction essentially causing said ball to maintain magnetic connection with said receiver after passage of said ball through said pass-thru portal.