Picatinny - Home of American Firepower

Material science, manufacturing processes, virtual reality and simulation, image processing, and non-destructive testing are just a few of the capabilities available to the private sector at Picatinny Arsenal.

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Patent License Agreement (PLA)

A PLA is an agreement by which ARDEC may grant a party a non-exclusive, partially exclusive, or exclusive license to any existing ARDEC owned inventions. The terms and conditions included in the sample PLA are typical, but are usually negotiated on a case by case basis.

A PLA is governed by Army Regulations 70-57 and 27-60, and may be entered into by the ARDEC Technical Director. A PLA is granted only if the applicant has supplied the laboratory with a satisfactory plan for development or marketing of the invention, and with information about the applicant's capability to fulfill the plan. A PLA may be granted for all or less than all, fields of use or in specified geographical areas, or both. The license may extend to subsidiaries of the licensee and may provide the licensee the right to grant sub-licenses under the license.

  • Sample Patent License Agreement PDF

For more information, contact:
ARDEC Legal Office
Phone: (973)724-6590
Fax: (973)724-5552

Many of our patents have commercial applications, and are available for licensing to the private sector. The patents highlighted with a blue star Highlighted Patent might be of particular interest to the commercial sector.

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Patents Available for Licensing

Patent No Description
7954971 Offset mountable light accessory
7954270 Reversible rail for a firearm
7954268 Torsion spring recoil system for the for end of a firearm
7952109 Light-emitting crystal structures
7946210 Vehicle protective structure
7941961 System for receiving spent cartridge cases from a firearm
7941960 Rail clamp mount
7938065 Efficient exploding foil initiator and process for making same
D636836 Rail-mounted sling adapter
7927102 Simulation devices and systems for rocket propelled grenades and other weapons
7926218 Laser aiming apparatus using a rocker
7926217 Self-supporting composite material firearm stock
7911690 Firearm sighting device for viewing around obstacles
7909301 Grip with bipod
7908784 Accessory mount apparatus
7908782 Pivot mount for firearm sighting devices
7903011 Differential current-mode translator in a sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter
7900622 Paintball marker with user selectable firing modes
7900390 Light rail and accessory rail mount for vertical fore grip
7872747 Reflex sight
7870689 Mount for firearms
7866515 Paddle platform
7866083 Modular flashlight apparatus for firearm
7861452 Vertical foregrip leg extender
7861451 Folding stack plate for foregrips
7857921 Nontoxic noncorrosive phosphorus-based primer compositions
7856749 Rail cover panel for a firearm
7845105 Firearm grip panel with interchangeable switch insert
7841122 Adaptable leg support for bipod assemblies
7841120 Hand grip apparatus for firearm
7836625 Low profile mount and foregrip for firearm
7823855 Grip with bipod
7823498 Vehicle protective structure
7823316 Adjustable gun rail lock
7819547 End cap switch for flashlight
7819062 Safety and arming device for high-G munitions
7818986 Multiple autofrettage
7818911 Target marking system having a gas laser assembly and a thermal imager
7814698 Connecting pieces for weapon rails
7810480 Crossbow accessory for lower receiver of rifle and related method
7805776 Face protector and protective system
7802392 Tactical firearm systems and methods of manufacturing same
7797875 Picatinny rail attachment
7794102 LED dazzler
7779572 Bipod device for use with a firearm
7773111 System and method for perceived image processing in a gaze tracking system
7770317 Handguard system with clamp device
7765730 Assault rifle back-up sight rib and support structure
7762440 Ergonomic duty belt
7744710 Impact resistant explosive compositions
7743547 Firearm mount with embedded sight
7743545 Vertical foregrip leg extender
7739939 Direct drive retrofit for rifles
7735255 Offset accessory mount
7732767 Target marker having quantum cascade laser for thermally marking a target
7731380 Weapon mount tactical light trigger
7721481 Head up display for firearms
7716748 Ballistic shield
7712242 Rail clamp mount
7712241 Hand grip apparatus for firearm
7710081 Electromechanical energy conversion systems
7705319 CdZnTe device using constrained design for high-flux x-ray spectroscopic imaging applications
7699047 Paintball marker with tool box
7694450 Removable optical sight mount adapted for use with M14 M1A and similar rifles and method for removably attaching an optical sight to a rifle
D612970 Mountable light
7685761 Trigger activating tactical light grip
7685759 Three-point clamp for firearm mounting rail
7685758 Accessory rails for firearms and methods of operating the same
7685756 Vertical fore grip with bipod
7677755 Variable orientation appliance mount
7676977 Bipod
7669742 Systems for safe carriage and deployment of hand-held non-lethal/lethal deployable devices
7669359 Machine gun accessory mount adapter
7665218 Azimuth measuring apparatus and method
7661220 Firearm trigger assembly
7658030 Vertical fore grip with bipod
7658029 Vertical fore grip with bipod
7654458 Dual purpose munition
7647720 Bore-sight alignment device
7640691 Dual sight scope system and method
7640690 Stock interface
7640689 Hand guard system for use with a firearm
7640688 Adjustable cheek rest and accessory rail for firearms
7637199 Gas cylinder components for use with firearms
7634959 Forwardly-placed firearm fire control assembly
7631455 Quick disconnect bipod mount assembly with adjustable and lockable tilt pan and cant controls
7631432 Compact multifunction sight
7627975 Electrified handguard
7621065 Sight devices and related methods
7619549 Methods and systems for reducing a sign-bit pulse at a voltage output of a sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter
7614760 Mountable light providing illumination and optionally aiming
7614175 Method and apparatus for rapid mounting and dismounting of a firearm accessory
7600421 Instrumented ballistic test projectile
7595176 Methods and reagents for quantitative analysis of Dehalococcoides species
7591098 Accessory devices for firearms
7584567 Hand guard assembly for firearms
7581325 Optical sight
7578895 Perchlorate free flash bang compositions for pyrotechnic training rounds
7571562 Accessory rail for a rifle
7568304 Light rail and accessory rail mount for vertical fore grip
7563097 Stabilizing hand grip system
7562484 Clamp mount
7562483 Modular rail cover
7559167 Dual light rails and accessory rail mounts for vertical foregrips
7552558 Mirror sight apparatus with integral rear sight
7546806 Selectable output well perforator and method for producing variable hole profiles
7543405 Adjustable scope mounting system
7533612 Projectile height of burst determination method and system
7533483 Composite magazine for chambering ammunition in a firearm
7520083 Mount for firearms
7517109 Flashlight with rotary head brightness control and detachable tailcap mount
7506586 Munitions energy system
7478594 Laser primer
7478580 Sculpted transparent armor
7478495 Mechanical buffer for shouldered weapon
7469623 Remote firing mechanism to enable firing remotely from a weapon breech
7458304 Mortar bomb vacuum positioning apparatus
7451702 Electrically-fired multiple projectile large caliber round
7428782 Plotting board with magnetic pivot
7422102 Container for ammunition
7421934 Mortar tube for training
7418906 Dual spin canister ammunition
7409374 Explosive event discrimination method
7406908 Method of making a one-piece loop for ammunition cartridge
7406907 Coupling for connecting ammunition cartridge loops
7395922 Container for grenades
7380488 Blank firing adapter for combination gas and recoil operated weapon
7360489 Non-lethal cargo projectile
7357058 Safety latch assembly for use in a weapon breech
7353740 Rapid adjust muzzle system
7334466 Method and apparatus for predicting and evaluating projectile performance
7318369 Out-of-battery lock for automatic primer feed mechanism
7316186 Air-powered electro-mechanical fuze for submunition grenades
7314006 Nonlethal canister tank round
7275691 Artillery fire control system
7298255 Sensory systems employing non-uniformly spaced waveguide sensors for determining orientation and rotational speed of objects
7270060 Sleeve for structurally supporting a penetrator of a kenetic energy projectile
7258746 Coating Apparatus for Segments of Cylindrical Substrates
7258055 Machine Gun Mount
7246549 Automatic Primer Feed Mechanism
Highlighted Patent7244500 Smart Coating System
7243890 Dry Power Service unit and Method of use thereof
7240538 Hydro Test Apparatus and Method for Ammunition
7228779 Automatic Primer Feed Mechanism
7207276 A non-lethal ammunition utilizing a dense powder ballast and a two stage firing sequence
Highlighted Patent 7193556 System and Method for the measurement of full relative position and orientation of objects
7150852 System and method for reducing galvanic corrosion associated with a mechanical locking device
7150234 Finless training projectile with improved flight stability over an extended range
7121401 Packaging system for ammunition
7117626 Magazine feed lips gauge
7162822 Collapsible Buttstock for Firearm
Highlighted Patent 7150852 System and method for reducing galvanic corrosion associated with a mechanical locking device
7150234 A Finless training projectile with improved flight stability over an extended range
7121401 Packaging system for ammunition
7117626 Magazine Feed Lips Gauge
Highlighted Patent 7109359 Novel polyazido compounds
7089863 Non-lethal cartridges with dense powder ballast
Highlighted Patent 7069861 Micro-scale firetrain for ultra-miniature electro-mechanical safety and arming device
7062875 Barrel replacement or insert devices for firearm function conversion (convert grenade launcher to fire 12 gauge ammunition)
7061604 Mortar projectile inspection apparatus and method (inspects a composite structure prior to mortar assembly to ensure proper function)
7059251 Propelling charge support for a mortar cartridge (provides protection during storage, transportation and handling)
7055438 System and method for a flameless tracer/marker utilizing heat marking chemicals (to mark targets)
Highlighted Patent7055437 Micro-scale firetrain for ultra-miniature electro-mechanical safety and arming device
7055422 Reduced recoil anti-armor gun (anti-armor rifles)
7052562 Methods for making and using high explosive fills (loading explosives into very small components)
7040211 Mortar bomb retention apparatus (for breech loading)
7036434 Kinetic energy projectile with in-flight extended length
7025000 Mechanism for reducing the vulnerability of high explosive loaded munitions to unplanned thermal stimuli (fuse melts to prevent detonation)
7021219 Non-lethal telescoping cartridge (can be used in grenade machine gun) [relevant to warhead delivery]
7021187 Low velocity air burst munition and launcher system implemented on an existing weapon (e.g., used for 40mm grenade fired from a combat rifle)
7013811 Sabot for reducing the parasitic weight of a kinetic energy projectile (sabot is partially made of energetics)
7007607 A missile system for breaching reinforced concrete barriers utilizing hinged explosively formed projectile warheads
Highlighted Patent7005981 Method and apparatus for the extraction and compression of surveillance information to facilitate high performance data fusion in distributed sensor systems
7004424 Projectile flight altering apparatus
Highlighted Patent6998485 Polyazido compounds
6997996 High energy thermoplastic elastomer propellant
6990905 Marker projectile (fired by grenade launcher attached to rifle)
6988450 Anti-personnel ammunition
6983700 A variable drag stabilizer for limiting the flight range of a training projectile
6983699 Explosive fragmentation munition
6981450 Grenade dispense mechanism for non-spin dual purpose improved conventional munitions
6978967 Space saving fin deployment system for munitions and missiles (relevant to warhead delivery)
Highlighted Patent6967614 Projectile launch detection system utilizing a continuous wave radio frequency signal to confirm muzzle exit (for fuse arming purposes)
6965042 Polyazido compounds
Highlighted Patent6964231 Miniature MEMS-based electro-mechanical safety and arming device
6960319 Novel tungsten alloys for penetrator application and method of making the same
Highlighted Patent6959893 Light fighter lethality seeker projectile (fire and forget)
Highlighted Patent6957602 Parachute active protection apparatus ("N = "&Countermeasure for incoming RPGs by intercepting them with a parachute)
6955125 Practice projectile with smoke signature (provides realism to training)
Highlighted Patent6936456 Biodegradation of RDX (environmental remediation)
6931993 System and method for a flameless tracer/marker for ammunition housing multiple projectiles utilizing chemlucent chemicals
Highlighted Patent6914854 Method for detecting extended range motion and "N = "&Counting moving objects using an acoustics microphone array
Highlighted Patent6904838 Ballistically deployed restraining net (for people and animals)
6868791 Single stage kinetic energy warhead utilizing a barrier-breaching projectile followed by a target-defeating explosively formed projectile
6868789 Adaptor for securing a blasting cap initiator (in demolition and munitions devices)
Highlighted Patent6865977 Protective packaging for blast and fragmentation mitigation (grenades primarily)
Highlighted Patent6857535 Container interlocking device (for metal ammunition containers)
6843014 Weapon inhibit using nitinol wire (prevents weapon firing without proper authorization of user)
Highlighted Patent6841690 Polyazido compounds
Highlighted Patent6837164 Improved propelling charge increment protector for mortars (during storage and transportation)
6829857 Small arms weapon bipod
6826864 Forward mounting rails (for attaching weapon accessories)
6783615 Insensitive explosive for high speed loading application (without leaving residue on equipment)
6782829 Non-lethal cargo projectile (parachute to slow projectile descent, relevant to warhead delivery)
6779290 Semi permanent backup iron sight (for rifles)
6772877 Lightweight composite monopack container (ammunition packaging)
6767018 Machinable datum for a self-centering vacuum fixture (warhead lathe machining improvements)
Highlighted Patent6765160 Omnidirectional microscale impact switch
6758126 Apparatus for initially slowing a backwards movement of a bolt group (helps to extract fired cartridge cases from the firing chamber)
6725759 Integral containment electromagnetic gun (ice gun) (applies to the barrel assembly)
Highlighted Patent6724341 Autonomous onboard absolute position and orientation referencing system (incorporated into fins of munitions)
6722283 Controlled terminal kinetic energy projectile (non-lethal when fired from existing weapons)
Highlighted Patent6705231 Safing and arming device for artillery submunitions
6701848 Anti-personnel canister (gun launched ammunition)
6688233 System and method for effecting mechanical translation of projectiles in cased telescoped ammunition using smart material (relevant to warhead delivery)
6675693 Combat ammunition pack (applies to machine gun ammunition starter belt)
Highlighted Patent6665413 Infrasonic helmholtz resonator (sound source) (non-lethal?)
6644111 Apparatus and method for measuring exit velocity (gun apparatus useful for air burst munitions)
Highlighted Patent6640719 fuse explosive train device and method (e.g., use on TOW missile)
Highlighted Patent6629668 Jump correcting projectile system
Highlighted Patent6627839 Dual-torch gas metal arc pulse welding for overlay applications (affixing rotating band)
6626113 Long range trainer (LFT) for 120MM and 105MM tank ammunition (training round)
Highlighted Patent6626040 High-g hardened accelerometers
Highlighted Patent6607618 Novel propellant compositions
6606951 Bounding anti-tank/anti-vehicle weapon (mine)
Highlighted Patent6602605 Modified wood with surface coatings (e.g., for pallets and packaging)
6591534 Gun locking interface assembly for non-conforming components (adding new gun tube to existing gun mounts)
6587213 Nondestructive coating adhesion evaluation using surface ultrasonic waves and wavelet analysis (for gun bore coatings)
6578462 The radial venting baffled muzzle brake
6575097 105MM case telescoped ammunition (CTA) for use in multi-role armament ammunition system (MRAAS) - Title changed to LARGE CALIBER CASE TELESCOPED AMMUNITION
6568846 Pulsed laser heating simulation of thermal damage on coated surfaces
Highlighted Patent6568329 Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) safe and arm apparatus (applicable to submunitions in artillery round)
Highlighted Patent6565036 Technique for improving accuracy of high speed projectiles (example requires light beam projected on the target)
Highlighted Patent6536347 Time delay latch device (used in Navy Mine Clearing Program)
Highlighted Patent6524706 Reduction of energetic filler sensitivity in propellants through coating (i.e., CL-20, RDX, HMX, NQ)
Highlighted Patent6510797 Segmented kinetic energy explosively formed penetrator assembly
6497181 Flameless tracer
Highlighted Patent6467416 Combined high-blast/anti-armor warheads
6460694 Polyethylene-laminated fiber ammunition container (packaging)
6460448 Automated loader assist for mortars
6460446 Sonic rarefaction wave recoiless gun system
6443391 Fin-stabilized projectile with improved aerodynamic performance
6419235 Obturator ring
Highlighted Patent6417373 Preparation of azabicylobutane, precursors, and related compositions (relevant to TNAZ manufacture)
6412390 Low impulse firing adapter for combination gas and recoil operated weapons (includes gun modifications as well as blank cartridge)
Highlighted Patent6407539 Apparatus and method for determining lightning protection of a building
Highlighted Patent6402087 FCME (Fixed canards maneuverability enhancement)
Highlighted Patent6389976 Hard target fuse
6371030 Training projectile using shape memory alloy members (to reduce flight range)
6363829 Drum seal for primer feed mechanism
Highlighted Patent6361508 Personal event monitor with linear omnidirectional response (e.g., sensor that detects epileptic fit)
Highlighted Patent6336407 Pyrotechnic slide assembly (self destruct fuse suitable for all grenades)
6324984 Payload mechanism for low impulse cartridges (concept relevant to automatic weapons of any caliber)
6324983 Sub-caliber projectiles for low impulse cartridges (for automatic weapons)
Highlighted Patent6321654 Microelectronmechanical systems (MEMS)-type devices having latch release and output mechanisms
6321632 Three position bipod support for the carrier mounted 120MM mortar
Highlighted Patent6314887 Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-type devices having latch release and output mechanisms
Highlighted Patent6311622 Self-destruct fuse for munitions (for all grenade configurations)
6308634 Precursor - follow through explosively formed penetrator (EFP) warhead (two penetrators in same munition)
Highlighted Patent6304083 Sensors, systems and methods for measuring magnetic fields
Highlighted Patent6302025 Self-destruct fuse with improved slide assembly (for all grenade configurations)
Highlighted Patent6298788 Modular crowd control munition
6238501 TNAZ compositions and articles, processes of preparation, TNAZ solutions and uses thereof (for high loadings of TNAZ)
6232479 Novel substituted cyclotetraphosphazene compound and method of producing the same (for energetic compounds as well as primers)
6230628 Infrared illumination compositions and articles containing the same (flares invisible to human eye)
6222068 Nitrocubanes
6218554 Novel substituted cyclotetraphophazene compound and method of producing the same (environmentally friendly)
6207033 Process and apparatus for regeneration of chromium plating bath
6198097 Photocharge microscope (characterization of gun coatings, semiconductor wafers, etc.)
6186070 Combined effects warheads (against both armored and unarmored vehicles in one munition)
6178889 Low impulse cartridges (e.g., grenade machinegun)
6174391 Magnesium-fueled pyrotechnic compositions (prevents hydrogen outgassing)
6167811 Reverse Initiation Device
6167794 Gun barrel vibration absorber
6165307 Multi-Component 3-Dimensional Energetics Method and Construction
6160113 The Processes and Compositions for Nitration of N-Substituted Isowurtzitane Compounds
6155155 System for launched munition neutralization of buried land mines, subsystems and components thereof
6152012 Ammunition container bracket for machine gun
Highlighted Patent6142079 Area denial munition system (random time delay fuse for submunitions)
6123289 Dragula (training projectile)
6121462 Substitutions on azetidines by acylative dealkylation with lewis acid catalysis
Highlighted Patent6091868 Fiber optic magnetic switch (for security/intruder detection)
6072400 Smart electronic muzzle reference system (replaces tritium)
6061035 Frequency-scanned end-fire phased array antenna (e.g., missiles, smart munitions)
Highlighted Patent6050195 Self neutralizing fuse
Highlighted Patent6036794 Ignition Composition
6035783 High performance fuse
Highlighted Patent6018562 Apparatus and Method for automatic Recognition of Concealed Objects Using multiple energy computed tomography
Highlighted Patent6015898 The Processes and Compositions for Nitration of N-Substituted Isowurtzitane Compounds
5998661 Preparations of Organic Nitro Compounds through Mixed Oxidizing Agents
5994792 Electrical power management system
5989494 Heat treatable tungsten alloys with improved ballistic performance and method of making the same
5977418 Regioselective nitration of aromatic compounds by dinitrogen pentoxide and the reaction products thereof
5969155 Conversion of Trinitrotoluene into High Value Compounds
Highlighted Patent5956604 Ohmic contact to gallium arsenide using epitaxially deposited cobalt digermanide (applicable to semiconductors?)
5946638 Regioselective nitration of aeromatic compounds and the reaction products thereof (e.g., DNT and TNT)
5939664 Heat treatable tungsten alloys with improved ballistic performance and method of making the same
5932834 Auto-Destruct Fuze
5929364 Obturator sealing means for a split wedge/breech block gun
5929338 Thickness Measurement of In-Ground Culverts
Highlighted Patent5924799 Segmented pilot ball for use in a spherical bearing and methods for assembling the same
5879468 Solvent Treatment of Electronic Articles
Highlighted Patent5879309 Personal motion event monitor (e.g., detect epileptic fit)
5874691 Kinetic energy collapsible training projectile
5841062 Tank Cartridge
5837921 Gun barrel with integral midwall cooling
Highlighted Patent5834477 Opiate analgesic formulation with improved safety
5810528 Automatically tunable anti-vibration boring system (gun boring)
5802755 Ratchet-locking collar (locks bore evacuator onto gun barrel)
5798481 High energy TNAZ, Nitrocelulose Gun Propellant
5760317 Flow Softening Tungsten Based Composites
5747723 Modular Artillery Charge System
5725179 Expansion Wave Spin Inducing Generator
5716557 Method of Making High Energy Explosive Propellants
5567912 Insensitive energetic compositions and related articles and systems and processes
5563365 Case base/combustible cartridge case joint
5557970 Automated thickness measurement system (for gun barrels)
5540156 Selectable effects explosively formed penetrator warhead
5526730 Automated ammunition transfer device (mechanized transfer of ammunition)
5498160 Training projectile
5476045 Limited range projectile
5472536 Tracer mixture for use with laser hardened optics
5472531 Insensitive explosive composition
5467681 Cannon launched reconnaissance vehicle (projectile with drogue chute)
5414198 Degradation of nitrocellulose by combined cultures of sclerotium rolfsil ATCC 24459 and fusarium solani IFO 31093 (demil and environmental remediation)
5398614 Ram air inflated decelerator deployment flaps (protects ballute on submunition)
Highlighted Patent5387257 Self-destruct fuse for improved conventional munitions
5353711 Extended range artillery projectile (contains "unique" multi-functional fuzing)
5328130 Stabilizer for a cannon projectile (eliminates need for fins)
5325785 Strand ignition for propellant of shell-coated projectile
5153371 Ribbon stabilizer for a weapon (grenade submunition)
5151557 Additive for propelling charge
Highlighted Patent5147973 Multi-option fuse system
5125344 Limited range training projectile
5107766 Follow-thru grenade for military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) (taget breach + anti-personnel follow-through)
5105031 Energetic material
5099764 Propulsion unit fireable from an enclosure (applicable to both medium and large caliber projectiles)
Highlighted Patent5081929 Projectile having a movable interior fuse (for gun-launched grenades)
5070791 Projectile Tail Cone (improved impact dispersion)
5067410 Flexible wing (allows for electronic fuse and controlled descent of submunition)
5033217 Round "N = "&Counter for small arms weapons (also applicable to large caliber)

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