Patent Application
20240255258
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Firearms are frequently configured with means by which accessories may be attached. These means often conform to a defined standard to promote interoperability among various accessories and firearms. One such standard is known as a picatinny rail (MIL-STD-1913). Tolerances in manufacturing and finishing both picatinny rails and accessories are defined to allow installation and removal with relative ease. Accessories generally attach to a picatinny rail with a cross member which lies in a rail slot to limit length-wise movement and features which clamp the outer edges of the rail. When installing an accessory it is common practice to place the cross member as far forward in the slot as possible so when the firearm experiences recoil the accessory does not move forward relative to the firearm. The accessory is then clamped to the rail and tightened to a defined torque amount. This amount varies by manufacturer, but is often in the range of 15-70 inch pounds.
Not Applicable
An accessory mount apparatus for attaching an apparatus to a device by creating a friction fit in the slot of a device. The mount apparatus has features which are movable relative to each other. When the features are moved, they alter a dimension of a mount feature which interfaces with a slot of the device. The mount feature dimension may be increased until excess space is taken up and the mount cannot be moved relative to the device.
The apparatus of the current invention is a mount for attaching an accessory to a firearm. In a preferred embodiment, the firearm is configured with features conforming to an attachment standard such as a picatinny rail (MIL-STD-1913). The apparatus is configured with features by which a critical dimension may be altered. When the critical dimension is altered, space between the apparatus and the mounting standard is reduced and substantially eliminated thereby substantially eliminating motion of the apparatus relative to the firearm.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of a fixed member 100, a movable member 102, and an adjustment member 104. In a preferred embodiment, the fixed member 100 includes a feature which is a right trapezoid. In a preferred embodiment, the movable member 102 includes a cross member 500 which is generally a right trapezoid. In a preferred embodiment, the angled face 204 of the cross member 200 of the fixed member 100 is configured to abut the angled face of the cross member 500 of the movable member 102. In a preferred embodiment, the obtuse angle of the cross member 200 of the fixed member 100 trapezoid is equal to the obtuse angle of the cross member 500 of the movable member 102 such that the perpendicular face 202 of the fixed member cross member 200 is parallel to the perpendicular face 502 of the movable member 102 when the angled faces of fixed member 100 and movable member 102 are placed against each other.
The fixed member 100 is further configured with engagement features configured to interact with adjustment member 104. In a preferred embodiment, these engagement features comprise an aperture 304 in a side member 106 which is configured to permit passage of a portion of the adjustment member 104. In a preferred embodiment, these engagement features further comprise features which prevent a portion of the adjustment member 104. In a preferred embodiment, these features comprise a shoulder 302. In a preferred embodiment, fixed member 100 is further configured with features (oblong hole 300) which permit adjustment member 104 to move relative to fixed member 100 perpendicular to the perpendicular face 202 of the cross member 200.
In a preferred embodiment, the fixed member 100 is further configured with features which interact with perimeter features of the article to which the apparatus is to be attached. These features preferably comprise a shelf 206 which prevents the article from moving in at least one direction parallel to adjustment member 104 when adjustment member 104 is tightened.
The movable member 102 configured with engagement features to cooperatively interact with an adjustment member 104. In a preferred embodiment, these engagement figures are preferably threads in a threaded hole 600 generally parallel to the perpendicular face 502 of the cross member 500. In an alternative embodiment, these engagement figures are threads in a threaded hole 600 generally parallel to the angled face 502 of the cross member 500.
The apparatus further comprises an adjustment member 104 configured to cooperatively interact with the movable member. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment member 104 is a screw. When actuated, adjustment member 104 displaces the movable member 102 in a direction generally parallel to the perpendicular face 504 of the movable member 102. When actuated in one direction (tightened), the adjustment member 104 displaces movable member 104 in a direction which increases the distance between perpendicular face 202 of fixed member 100 and perpendicular face 502 of movable member 102. When actuated in a second direction (loosened), the adjustment member 104 displaces movable member 104 in a direction which decreases the distance between perpendicular face 202 of fixed member 100 and perpendicular face 502 of movable member 102.
When installed, the cross member of 200 of the fixed member 100 and the cross member 500 of the movable member 102 are placed in the same slot of a feature to which the article to which the apparatus is to be attached. In a preferred embodiment, the slot is a slot in a Picatinny rail. The adjustment member 104 is tightened, thereby applying outward pressure on the insides of the slot by the perpendicular bases (202 and 502) of the fixed member 100 and the movable member 102 respectively. The adjustment member is tightened to a desired torque to substantially prevent movement of the apparatus relative to the article to which the apparatus is to be attached. To remove the apparatus, the movable member 102 is loosened thereby permitting the movable member to move in the opposite direction thereby decreasing the outward pressure on the insides of the slot by the perpendicular bases (202 and 502) of the fixed member 100 and the movable member 102 respectively until the apparatus is removable from the article to which the apparatus is to be detached.
In certain embodiment, the cross members 200 and 500 are triangular instead of trapezoidal. In certain embodiments, the apparatus may be integral to an accessory to be attached to a device, such as a scope base. In other embodiments, the apparatus may be intermediary to the accessory and contain means for attaching the accessory to the device.
