Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6185854
-
Patent Number
6,185,854
-
Date Filed
Thursday, July 2, 199826 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 13, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 042 103
- 042 101
- 042 100
- 033 247
- 033 248
- 033 249
- 033 250
- 033 252
- 362 110
- 362 113
- 362 114
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An attachment system is provided for attaching an auxiliary apparatus to a weapon having a frame, and in particular to a weapon frame in the area forward of the trigger guard. An attachment mechanism on the auxiliary apparatus is adapted to be engageable with a rail on the weapon to selectively attach the auxiliary apparatus. The weapon may include a transverse slot which can be engaged by a portion of the auxiliary apparatus to prevent the auxiliary apparatus from sliding relative to the weapon due to recoil forces associated with firing the weapon.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to an auxiliary (e.g., illumination) device for a weapon and, more particularly, to attaching an auxiliary device to a weapon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The need to be able to effectively see a target and aim a weapon in the direction of the target is well recognized. Auxiliary devices to facilitate illuminating a target or aiming a weapon, especially under low light conditions, are known. Examples of known auxiliary devices include scopes, illuminators, lasers, aiming lights and combined illuminator/laser units. For convenience, these (and other) devices are generally referred to herein as auxiliary devices. Attaching auxiliary devices to a weapon typically requires separate brackets or other mechanical components, which may necessitate tools, e.g., screwdrivers, coins, hex wrenches or bullets, for attaching the auxiliary device itself or the mechanical component. Alternatively, attaching and detaching the device or mechanical components to the weapon requires partial disassembly or modification of the weapon. Further, such systems typically require use of two hands to mount the device on the weapon, with both hands performing a function beyond merely gripping the weapon. This requirement presents several disadvantages. For instance, the user may be required to remove the trigger hand from the trigger area of the weapon. Moreover, attachment and detachment of these devices can be time consuming and, in law enforcement and military applications, such time may be critical to the safety of the weapon's operator or others.
As a result of these and other problems with conventional devices, the user typically leaves the auxiliary device mounted on the weapon or performs a time consuming operation to mount the device when needed. These alternatives are undesirable. For example, if the device is left mounted on the weapon, it cannot be used independently of the weapon despite the fact that in some situations, it is desirable to illuminate an area without pointing a weapon toward that area. Also, in the context of handweapons, for example, many holsters do not readily accommodate weapons having auxiliary devices mounted thereon. Thus, it is often difficult to holster or carry a weapon having such a device attached to it. This presents special problems for law enforcement officers and others. Additionally, the user may not want to use the device during daylight hours, but may want to attach the device to a weapon at night. Further, the user may want to be able to readily remove the device when it is no longer needed. Moreover, depending on the configuration of the auxiliary device, the user may need to replace its batteries. Preferably, the user should be able to perform this procedure quickly without the need for tools.
Another problem with conventional auxiliary devices is that the device is often wider than the weapon, or the device protrudes beyond the front end of the weapon. In the case of handweapons, a device mounted below the frame may protrude below the trigger guard. These characteristics often result in subjecting the auxiliary device to greater wear and tear because the auxiliary device often contacts various obstructions in the environment where the weapon is being used. For instance, a device extending beyond the end of a barrel of a weapon may collide with doorways, clothing, tree branches, or other objects, tending to tear the device apart from the weapon and possibly damaging, or rendering inoperable, the device or the weapon itself. Another problem is that an assailant may more easily disarm a user by grabbing an auxiliary device which extends substantially beyond the weapon. The danger of these and other problems occurring are greater at night or when ordinary vision is impaired.
Additionally, many prior auxiliary devices, especially illuminators, are bulky. This characteristic also is undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,967 addresses some of these issues for an auxiliary device for a weapon. The device described therein is provided with a clamping mechanism for attaching an auxiliary apparatus to a weapon having a frame. The clamping mechanism has projections which are biased by a flexible member toward corresponding recessed portions formed in the frame of the weapon. A retaining member is also provided. The retaining member may be moved between an open and a closed position. While the'967 Patent overcomes some of the problems traditionally associated with the attachment of an auxiliary device to a weapon, it too leaves room for improvement.
For example, the existence of a flexible biasing mechanism results in the auxiliary device being somewhat flexibly attached to the weapon. This flexible attachment is not ideal in some circumstances, for example, for use with auxiliary devices requiring precise boresight alignment. Also, the attachment mechanism is relatively bulky, causing the auxiliary device to be relatively wider, resulting in an increase in the size of the device in at least one dimension. Moreover, the engagement of portions of the auxiliary device with the corresponding portions of the weapon is limited by the degree of flexibility of the flexible mechanism. Furthermore, the spring-loaded mechanism also limits the biasing force holding the auxiliary device to a weapon. As a result, this attachment approach may be successful on weapons, such as handweapons, which have relatively modest recoil forces, but may be somewhat less successful on other weapons, such as shotguns, where the greater recoil forces may cause the auxiliary device to dislodge from the weapon.
While lights and other devices primarily have been mounted to weapons, many weapons are not specifically designed to facilitate this. As a result, special brackets and other mounting devices often need to be used. Some weapons have mounting racks, but various drawbacks exist even with these types of devices. In many cases, it is difficult to mount a device to the weapon and/or complex mechanical structures are necessary.
Other problems and drawbacks with prior approaches exist.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks of known devices.
Another object of the invention is to provide a weapon and auxiliary device system that includes complementary mounting members on the weapon and on the auxiliary device to enable the auxiliary device to be easily and securely attached to the weapon, for example, by relative sliding movement.
Another object of the invention is to provide a weapon and auxiliary device system that includes complementary mounting members on the weapon and on the auxiliary device to enable the auxiliary device to be easily and securely attached to the weapon, for example, by relative sliding movement to a predetermined position, and which further includes a mechanism to fix the auxiliary device in the predetermined position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary device such as an illuminator or aiming light, or combination thereof, with a mechanism for attaching the device to a weapon and particularly a handweapon, such that the actual attachment or removal can be accomplished by a user with one hand, while the second hand is free to grip the weapon.
Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for attaching an auxiliary device to a weapon such that the device will maintain or better maintain boresight alignment even after the shocks of repeated weapon fire recoils.
Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for mounting an auxiliary device to a weapon without temporary or permanent disassembly or removal of any parts from the weapon to which the device is attached.
Another object of the invention is to reduce or minimize the size of an auxiliary device, for example, by providing an auxiliary device which may be attached to the frame of a weapon such that when the device is attached to the weapon, protrusion of the device beyond the overall dimensions of the weapon is reduced or minimized. Preferably, the width of the auxiliary device does not extend beyond the overall width of the weapon to any appreciable degree. Also, the auxiliary device has minimal or no protrusion beyond the front end of the weapon.
Another object of the invention is to provide a battery operated auxiliary device in which the batteries can be easily and readily replaced and such replacement can be performed without tools.
Another object of the invention is to provide a weapon comprising a frame to which an auxiliary device can be easily attached to and removed from the weapon by a user with one hand, while the second hand is free to grip the weapon (without tools) and when attached will hold boresight alignment to a high degree of precision.
These and other objects may be carried out according to various embodiments of the invention. According to one embodiment, the invention comprises a weapon and auxiliary device system that facilitates attachment of the auxiliary device to the weapon and removal therefrom. Preferably the auxiliary device may be attached to the weapon by relative sliding movement therebetween, to guide the auxiliary device to a predetermined position. According to one aspect of the invention, the system preferably further includes a mechanism for maintaining the auxiliary device in the predetermined position, for example, by providing a mechanism that automatically fixes the position once the predetermined position is reached. One advantage of this combination is that, once mounted, undesired movement of the auxiliary device relative to the weapon (e.g., due to recoil shock caused by firing the weapon) can be reduced or eliminated. Another advantage is that the auxiliary device can be easily mounted to or removed from the weapon with single-handed operation without tools. Various aspects of the invention relate to the system. Other aspects may be used alone on a weapon or an auxiliary device.
According to one embodiment, the auxiliary device comprises a housing with mounting members extending therefrom. The mounting members preferably, but not necessarily, are complimentarily-shaped with respect to mounting members of the weapon to which the auxiliary device is to be attached. Preferably, the mounting members are designed to provide a first positioning mechanism, where one is a male member and the other is a female member, spaced and oriented such that the auxiliary device may be mounted to the weapon by relative sliding movement between the weapon and auxiliary device to a predetermined position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the weapon and auxiliary device are provided with a second positioning mechanism. In one embodiment, the second positioning mechanism includes a male portion and a female portion. For example, a spring-loaded bar at the top of the auxiliary device may project for engagement into a transverse slot in the bottom of the weapon frame to prevent the auxiliary device from sliding forward or aft, e.g., when the weapon fires. Alternatively, the second positioning mechanism may include an opening on the weapon frame and a complementary projection on the auxiliary device that is engagable with the opening. Other alternatives exist. For example, the weapon alone may have a latch that engages a portion of the auxiliary device when in a predetermined position.
In any of the embodiments the male portion of the second positioning mechanism may include a biasing mechanism, e.g., a spring-biased mechanism, whereby the user manipulates a latch, button or other release mechanism which, under the influence of a spring or other biasing device, is typically maintained in a normally locked or a normally unlocked position. The spring-loaded projection may be contoured such that the auxiliary device can slide onto the weapon without having to manually depress the projection.
To remove the auxiliary device from the weapon, the spring biasing the second positioning mechanism is manually depressed (or otherwise moved) to allow disengagement of the second positioning mechanisms. Then, the auxiliary device may be slid forward for removal from the weapon.
In another embodiment, the grooves or tongues along the side of the weapon frame are not parallel to the frame and may or may not be parallel to each other. For example, the grooves can be located at an incline or angle with respect to the axis of the barrel of the weapon. In another embodiment, the grooves or tongues may be replaced by other suitable complementary engaging surfaces which allow relative sliding motion between the frame of the weapon and the auxiliary device.
In another embodiment, the grooves or tongues along the side of the weapon frame may be replaced with a rail along the bottom of the frame. A transverse slot or hole may be located in the bottom or side(s) of the rail.
In another embodiment, the male portion (e.g., bar or pin) is not spring-loaded. Rather it is mechanically moved to engage the female portion (e.g., slot or hole) in the bottom of the weapon frame and is mechanically lowered or allowed by gravity to fall to disengage the slot or hole when removal of the auxiliary device from the weapon is desired.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a weapon frame is provided with a pair of elongated side rails of a predetermined geometry formed along opposite sides of the frame extending from forward of a trigger guard to about the forward most end of the barrel. An auxiliary device comprising a housing is provided with structural members that extend from or form part of the housing, and have a predetermined geometry to enable the auxiliary device to mate with the rails of the weapon for attachment thereto. These structures cooperate to locate and align the auxiliary device at a predetermined position with respect to the weapon.
According to another aspect of the invention, the predetermined position of the auxiliary device with respect to the weapon may be fixed by providing a second positioning mechanism on one or both of the weapon or auxiliary device to prevent or reduce mounted undesired movement of the auxiliary device relative to the weapon (e.g., due to recoil shock caused by firing the weapon). This mechanism may include a female portion and a male portion. For example the female portion may comprise a recess, transverse slot, circular opening or other female portion, formed in the bottom of the frame forward of the trigger guard. The male portion may comprise a pin, bar elongate projection or other male portion on the auxiliary device. The male portion may be biased to at least partially enter the female portion in the weapon frame once the predetermined position is reached. Preferably, the second positioning mechanism may lock the auxiliary device to the weapon frame without manipulation of that mechanism by the person attaching the auxiliary device to the weapon. Alternatively, the second positioning mechanism may tend to prevent the movement of the auxiliary device, without locking it to the weapon frame. In this case, the second positioning mechanism could include, for example, a detent ball mechanism or other structure.
According, to one embodiment, the auxiliary device is slid onto the frame of a weapon (in a first direction) via the first positioning mechanism and a second positioning mechanism is actuated to fix the position of the auxiliary device relative to the frame in at least the first direction. The second positioning mechanism preferably includes one component that moves in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
Preferably at least a portion of the second positioning mechanism comprises a springloaded projection that projects from either the auxiliary device or the weapon into a portion of the other, without having to manually depress the projection. This facilitates the ease with which an auxiliary device can be reliably secured to a weapon. To remove the auxiliary device from the weapon, the spring biasing the second positioning mechanism is manually depressed (or otherwise moved) to allow disengagement of the second positioning mechanism. Then, the auxiliary device may be slid forward for removal from the weapon.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the embodiments will become readily apparent when the detailed description of the embodiment is read in conjunction with the drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an auxiliary device mounted to a weapon.
FIG. 2
is a front elevational view of the auxiliary device mounted to the weapon as in FIG.
1
.
FIGS. 3 and 3A
are a perspective views of weapons in accordance with two embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of the auxiliary device of
FIG. 1
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary device attached to the weapon frame and specifically depicting the latching mechanism as being upwardly biased by a leaf spring.
FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary device's transverse bar being upwardly biased by a biasing mechanism according to another embodiment.
FIG. 7
shows a further attachment technique used to mount a scope or other auxiliary device above the weapon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
With reference to
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
4
, there is depicted an auxiliary device
10
mounted to a pistol-type weapon
20
. For convenience, the description that follows refers to the auxiliary device as an illuminator, which is a device generally used to cast light upon a target area or a portion thereof. This should not be construed as a limitation of the invention, however, as this embodiment is for illustrative purposes only. As those skilled in the art will appreciate from this disclosure, the novel features described herein may readily be applied to other auxiliary devices and weapons. Moreover, the figures are provided as examples only. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particulars depicted in the figures.
According to one embodiment, weapon
20
comprises a weapon frame
21
with rails or grooves
22
a
and
22
b
, located in and extending along at least a portion of the weapon frame
21
, preferably parallel with an axis
23
of the barrel
24
. Preferably, the rails extend from about a trigger guard
30
, to substantially the forward most end of frame
21
. The weapon frame
21
also preferably includes a slot (or other recess), for example, an elongate transverse slot
25
, aligned substantially perpendicular to the rails
22
a
,
22
b
. The slot
25
is preferably located between trigger guard
30
and the forward most portion of the frame
21
.
Auxiliary device
10
, as shown in
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
4
, also preferably comprises a housing and structural members extending therefrom, e.g., rigid elongated projections
5
a
and
5
b
, extending along at least a portion of the auxiliary device
10
. Preferably, the rigid elongated projections comprise tongues
5
a
,
5
b
designed to be compatible with grooves
22
a
,
22
b
of weapon
20
. For example, the longitudinal tongues
5
a
,
5
b
may be spaced and sized such that they fit snugly within the grooves
22
a
,
22
b
, but are capable of being slid therealong. Together, the rails
22
a
,
22
b
and projections
5
a
,
5
b
cooperate to function as a first positioning mechanism.
The auxiliary device
10
preferably further comprises a projection, e.g., spring-loaded elongated bar
6
(FIGS.
1
and
4
). The spring-loaded bar
6
is illustrated as being oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal tongues
5
a
,
5
b
, but other orientations are possible. Preferably, spring-loaded bar
6
has a geometry that is complimentary to elongate transverse slot
25
. For example, spring-loaded bar
6
may extend substantially across the width of auxiliary device
10
. Spring-loaded bar
6
preferably has one or more ends
62
protruding through an opening
64
formed in a portion of auxiliary device
10
(e.g., an upright extension projecting from the housing). A spring
70
(
FIG. 4
) or other biasing mechanism preferably biases bar
6
upwardly. When the auxiliary device is being slid relative to the weapon, a portion of the weapon may overcome the bias force of the spring, until the auxiliary device is at a predetermined position with respect to the weapon, for example when the spring-loaded bar
6
is positioned in alignment with slot
25
, whereupon, the spring causes the bar
6
to project into slot
25
to fix the auxiliary device in the predetermined position relative to the weapon. The engagement of bar
6
and slot
25
forms a second positioning mechanism and secures auxiliary device
10
onto frame
20
to prevent inadvertent removal or misalignment of auxiliary device
10
due to external influences such as recoil.
FIG. 5
depicts a cross-sectional view of an auxiliary device mounted to a weapon. In this embodiment, the first positioning mechanism includes, e.g., tongues
5
a
,
5
b
formed on the auxiliary device
10
in complementary engagement with corresponding grooves
22
a
,
22
b
formed on the weapon frame
21
. Both the tongues and grooves are rigid structural elements to provide a rigid attachment between the auxiliary device
10
and the weapon frame
21
. A second positioning mechanism is depicted in
FIG. 5
, including a transverse bar
6
which, under the biasing force of leaf-spring
60
, is inserted into a transverse slot
25
formed on the weapon frame
21
. The leaf-spring
60
is preferably securely positioned within an opening
64
formed in the top of the auxiliary device
10
, and held in place in a suitable manner. The leaf-spring
60
normally biases bar
6
upwards and away from recess
64
; When removing the auxiliary device
10
from the weapon frame
21
, the user grasps opposing ends
64
of bar
6
and pulls downwardly to cause the partial compression of leaf-spring
60
and move bar
6
out of engagement with the groove
25
.
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-4
, the auxiliary device
10
is mounted on the weapon by aligning the tongues (
5
a
and Sb) with the weapon's grooves (
22
a
and
22
b
) and sliding the auxiliary device
10
on the weapon
20
to a predetermined position. The transverse bar
6
and slot
25
are located such that when the auxiliary device
10
at the predetermined position, the bar
6
is aligned with transverse slot
25
, such that the bar
6
projects into slot
25
by spring pressure or in other convenient ways (e.g., manually, under the influence of gravity or other mechanisms).
The mating of longitudinal tongues
5
a
,
5
b
and grooves
22
a
,
22
b
provides alignment of the auxiliary device
10
with the weapon barrel
24
and stability in the horizontal and vertical directions. Additionally, the tongues and grooves constrain the auxiliary device
10
in roll, pitch and yaw relative to the weapon. The second positioning mechanism (e.g., engagement of the transverse bar
6
and slot
25
) prevents the auxiliary device
10
from sliding forward or aft during use and particularly during weapon fire due to weapon recoil.
According to another embodiment, male portions (e.g., longitudinal tongues
5
a
,
5
b
) may be located on the weapon frame and the female portion (e.g., longitudinal grooves
22
a
,
22
b
) may be located on the auxiliary device
10
. The geometry of the portions making up the first and second positioning mechanism need not be exactly as disclosed. Various other geometries can be used to accomplish the above-identified objects of the invention.
For example, transverse slot
25
and the transverse bar
6
can be replaced by any other engaging devices position fixers. and/or position fixer receptacles, which tend to prevent relative movement of the auxiliary device
10
with respect to the weapon frame. For instance, a recessed counterbore may be formed in the weapon frame and a pin provided in the auxiliary device
10
such that the pin engages the counterbore when the auxiliary device
10
is installed on the weapon. A spring biased latch may project downwardly from the front portion of the weapon to lock over an edge portion of the auxiliary device, once in a predetermined position, to prevent relative movement. For example, such a latch may fix the position of the auxiliary device between the latch and the trigger guard. In this way, only the weapon needs to be provided with a second positioning mechanism. Other alternatives can be used.
FIG. 6
depicts a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the second positioning mechanism. In this embodiment, the weapon frame
21
has, as in the other depicted embodiment, a transverse slot
25
extending at least partially across the bottom of the weapon frame
21
. In this alternative embodiment, the secondary complementary engaging mechanism formed on the auxiliary device
10
comprises a latching mechanism
66
which, under the influence of cantilevered spring
70
, is upwardly biased into complementary engagement with transverse slot
25
. Cantilevered spring
70
includes first and second ends, only one of which,
71
, is attached to the auxiliary device
10
.
The latching mechanism
66
preferably has at least one end of which is accessible by the weapon operator and may be manually manipulated to overcome the biasing force of cantilevered spring
70
. When removing the auxiliary device
10
from the weapon, the user pulls the transverse bar
66
downwardly to overcome the influence of cantilevered spring
70
. Cantilevered spring
70
then tends to come into contact with tapered surface
72
, at which time transverse bar
66
is freed from slot
25
and the auxiliary device
10
may be slid forwardly and removed from the weapon.
Another aspect of the embodiments of
FIGS. 4 and 6
is that the latching mechanism
66
may be formed with an inclined surface
68
at the rear end thereof. The inclined surface
68
facilitates the installation of the auxiliary device on the weapon. Specifically, when the first positioning mechanisms of the auxiliary device
10
and the weapon
20
are initially engaged, and the auxiliary device
10
is slid further onto the weapon, the inclined surface
68
is sized to contact the front end of the weapon. Under further sliding action of the auxiliary device
10
, the front end of the weapon slides upwardly along inclined surface
68
, causing latching mechanism
66
to overcome the biasing force of cantilevered spring
70
and to enter a recess
74
formed in the auxiliary device
10
. Then, upon further sliding action, the latching mechanism
66
is eventually aligned with transverse slot
25
, at which time the cantilevered spring
70
causes latching mechanism
66
to rise and lock within transverse slot
25
. This (and other techniques for) automatic retraction as the auxiliary device
10
is slid onto the weapon simplifies installation, as it eliminates the need to manually retract the transverse bar
6
as the auxiliary device
10
is being installed. This automatic retraction of the transverse bar
6
can also be accomplished by contouring the leading edge of the weapon frame instead of or in addition to contouring the latching mechanism
66
, and by other techniques.
As will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the mechanisms for attaching the auxiliary device to the frame of the weapon may take different configurations. In a generic form, the auxiliary device is attached to the weapon frame using a first positioning mechanism and a second positioning mechanism. The first positioning mechanism preferably comprise complementary engaging surfaces on the auxiliary device and weapon frame. In a specific embodiment disclosed above, these complementary engaging features comprise longitudinal tongues
5
a
,
5
b
on the auxiliary device and complementary grooves
22
a
,
22
b
on the weapon frame
21
. Other complementary engaging surfaces on the auxiliary device
10
and weapon frame
21
are readily contemplated by the embodiments of the invention. For example, the relative positioning of the tongues and grooves may be reversed such that the weapon frame
21
is formed with tongues, whereas the auxiliary device
10
is formed with complementary grooves. The first positioning mechanism may comprise other suitable complementary engaging mechanisms.
The second positioning mechanism preferably comprises a device which, under normal conditions, sufficiently retains the auxiliary device in a predetermined position relative to the weapon frame. The second positioning mechanism is preferably designed to secure the auxiliary device against movement when the weapon is subjected to recoil forces and other jarring influences which may be expected to be encountered in use and in the field. The second positioning mechanism in the embodiments has been described with respect to a biased transverse bar
6
which engages with an elongate slot
25
formed in the weapon frame. The second positioning mechanism of this particular embodiment acts to prevent the auxiliary device from movement during use. However, other second positioning mechanisms are within the scope of the invention, including spring biased bars or pins or other structures that engage a feature of the weapon from the side or sides or from below, detent mechanisms, latching mechanisms, locking mechanisms and other suitable mechanisms which releasably secure two relatively sliding parts.
For example, the second positioning mechanism may include the weapon barrel being formed with a recessed counter-bore into which a corresponding biased member, e.g., a ball bearing or a post, formed on the auxiliary device may be inserted. As shown in
FIG. 3A
, the second positioning mechanism may optionally be formed from a spring-biased retractable bar
6
A, post, or ball bearing or other structure integrally formed on the weapon frame which engages a portion of auxiliary device
10
, for example, but without limitation, a correspondingly shaped recess
25
A formed in the auxiliary device
10
or another portion of the auxiliary device
10
. In each of the foregoing and other embodiments, depending on the application, the second positioning mechanism may be designed to lock or otherwise secure the auxiliary device with respect to the weapon frame or alternatively may, such as in the case of a detent mechanism, simply act to deter, but not completely prevent, relative movement between the auxiliary device and the weapon frame under abnormal conditions. For example, a detent could be of sufficient retention capability to resist relative movement due to weapon recoil forces but not be so strong as to prevent deliberate removal of the auxiliary device from the weapon, without first “un-locking” it.
Another aspect of the invention relates to the mounting members, e.g., grooves
22
a
,
22
b
, formed along the weapon frame. Preferably, the grooves extend from a point substantially at the trigger guard to the front of the weapon. These grooves
22
a
,
22
b
or other mounting members extend along the weapon frame to securely hold and retain the auxiliary device with respect to the weapon and facilitate locating the auxiliary device thereon. This further allows the secure fastening of the auxiliary device to the weapon frame without the use of spring hinges or other such devices which could result in the inadvertent dislocation of the auxiliary device from the weapon frame. The complementary mounting members comprising the first positioning mechanism thus form a rigid and secure mechanism for mounting the auxiliary device to the weapon frame.
In various embodiments depicted, grooves
22
a
,
22
b
are depicted as extending substantially parallel to the axis
23
of barrel
24
. The invention, however, is not so limited. For instance, grooves
22
a
,
22
b
may be positioned at an incline with respect to the longitudinal axis
23
of barrel
24
. Alternatively, grooves
22
a
,
22
b
may be replaced other suitable engaging surfaces which allow relative sliding motion between the weapon frame
21
and the auxiliary device
10
.
FIG. 7
depicts another embodiment of the invention. In
FIG. 7
, an auxiliary device
10
is positioned above the weapon frame
21
. The auxiliary device
10
preferably includes bar
6
(or other second positioning mechanism) which is adapted for complementary engagement with a corresponding portion of weapon
21
, e.g., transverse slot
25
formed at the bottom of the weapon frame
21
. Weapon frame
21
preferably includes a first positioning mechanism, e.g., rails or grooves
22
a
,
22
b
, located in and extending along at least a portion of the weapon frame
21
, preferably parallel with an axis
23
of the weapon frame
21
. The auxiliary device
10
of the embodiment of
FIG. 7
includes a hollow frame having first and second sides
102
,
103
connected by an upper section
104
to a housing for the auxiliary device. An aiming light or other illuminating device
106
may be positioned in or on the housing and preferably is boresighted with the longitudinal axis
23
of the barrel
24
.
Though the embodiment of
FIG. 7
has been depicted in connection with a hollow arched housing through which the weapon frame
21
penetrates, other configuration s for locating the auxiliary device
10
so that the aiming light or other illuminating device
106
is positioned above the weapon frame
21
are possible. For example, the weapon frame
21
could be formed with a pair of longitudinally extending tongues on opposite sides of barrel
24
. Likewise, in such an alternative embodiment, a transverse slot or other second positioning mechanism
25
could be formed on top of the weapon frame
21
or on top of the barrel. In any event, no matter the configuration of the second positioning mechanism, preferably, the auxiliary device
10
preferably has a first positioning mechanism (according to various embodiments discussed herein or other positioning mechanisms) such that the auxiliary device
10
is engageable to mount on the weapon frame
21
. The precise positioning and configuration of the positioning mechanisms can vary.
The leaf-spring
60
of the embodiment of FIG.
5
and the cantilevered spring
70
in the embodiment of
FIG. 6
are but two of many possible biasing mechanisms that may be used in the embodiments of the invention. In addition to the springs for upwardly biasing the bar
6
, other mechanical arrangements or combinations thereof, such as alternative forms of springs, wedges, screws or cams, which could cause the bar or other structural member to engage the slot
25
in the weapon, are within the scope of the invention.
This invention has been described in connection with various embodiments. These embodiments are for example only and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention encompasses all devices and equivalents which are within the scope of the claims which follow.
Claims
- 1. A weapon system with a mechanism for mounting an auxiliary device to a weapon, said system comprising:the weapon, wherein the weapon comprises a frame, a barrel, and a trigger guard; and the auxiliary device, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a housing; said weapon system further comprising: i) elongated rails, unitarily formed in the frame of the weapon at a location adjacent to an underside of the barrel, wherein the elongated rails extend from a location near the trigger guard to a location near an end of the barrel, and complementary grooves formed in the housing of the auxiliary device, the elongated rails and the complementary grooves enabling the auxiliary device to be mounted to the weapon at a predetermined position by relative sliding movement therebetween, wherein the predetermined position is located such that an end of the auxiliary device abuts the trigger guard; and ii) a positioning mechanism for fixing the location of the auxiliary device at the predetermined position, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a position fixer, a position fixer receptacle and a biasing mechanism that biases the position fixer into the position fixer receptacle, and wherein the biasing mechanism biases the position fixer in a direction that is substantially normal to the underside of the barrel.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises an illuminator.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the position fixer receptacle comprises a female portion in said weapon and the position fixer comprises a male portion on said auxiliary device.
- 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the position fixer receptacle comprises an elongate slot on the weapon and the position fixer comprises an elongate projection on the auxiliary device.
- 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the position fixer receptacle comprises an elongate slot on the weapon and the position fixer comprises an elongate projection on the auxiliary device and the biasing mechanism comprises a spring.
- 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the position fixer receptacle comprises a female portion in said auxiliary device and the position fixer comprises a male portion on said weapon.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the position fixer receptacle comprises an elongate slot on the auxiliary device and the position fixer comprises an elongate projection on the weapon.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the position fixer receptacle comprises an elongate slot on the auxiliary device, the position fixer comprises an elongate projection on the weapon, and the biasing mechanism comprises a spring.
- 9. A weapon system with a mechanism for mounting an auxiliary device to a weapon, said system comprising:the weapon, wherein the weapon comprises a frame, a barrel, and a trigger guard; the auxiliary device, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a housing; the weapon system further comprising: i) elongate grooves unitarily formed in the frame at a location adjacent to an underside of the barrel, wherein the elongate grooves extend from a location near the trigger guard to a location near an end of the barrel, for enabling the auxiliary device to be mounted to the weapon at a predetermined position using one hand and no tools; and ii) positioning means for fixing the location of the auxiliary device at the predetermined position, wherein the positioning means comprise a position fixer, a position fixer receptacle and a biasing mechanism that biases the position fixer into the position fixer receptacle, and wherein the biasing mechanism biases the position fixer in a direction that is substantially normal to the underside of the barrel.
- 10. A weapon for use in a weapon system wherein said weapon system comprises a mechanism for mounting an auxiliary device to the weapon, said weapon comprising:a frame; a barrel; a trigger guard; elongate grooves unitarily formed in the frame, at a location adjacent to an underside of the barrel, wherein the elongated grooves extend from a location near the trigger guard to a location near an end of the barrel, for enabling the auxiliary device to be mounted to the weapon at a predetermined position using one hand and no tools; and a position fixer on the frame for fixing the location of the auxiliary device at the predetermined position.
- 11. The weapon of claim 10 wherein the position fixer comprises a biasing mechanism that automatically retracts when the auxiliary device is being mounted to the weapon, and when the auxiliary device is located at the predetermined position, is biased into a position that fixes the location of the auxiliary device at the predetermined position.
- 12. A system for mounting an auxiliary device to a weapon, the system comprising:the weapon, wherein the weapon comprises a barrel and a frame, the frame having rails formed substantially parallel to the barrel; a transverse slot, formed in the weapon at a location adjacent to an underside of the barrel, wherein the transverse slot is substantially perpendicular to the rails; the auxiliary device, wherein the auxiliary device comprises: a housing having projections formed thereon which mate with the rails; a transverse bar, which mates with the transverse slot, to assist in fixing the position of the auxiliary device on the weapon; and a biasing member that biases the transverse bar into engagement with the transverse slot.
- 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the rails are located on a portion of the frame which is substantially below the barrel.
- 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the biasing member further comprises a spring.
- 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the weapon further comprises a trigger guard and wherein the auxiliary device is mounted substantially forward of the trigger guard.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
274620 |
Dec 1968 |
AT |
1101223 |
Mar 1961 |
DE |
13444 |
Nov 1885 |
GB |