The present disclosure generally relates to firearm accessories, and more particularly to a firearm mount for mounting a firearm assembly.
Several types of firearm mounts are used for mounting firearms to hold them for various purposes. For example, a user may want to hold a firearm in position for cleaning, maintenance, or gunsmithing purposes.
In one aspect, a firearm mount is for supporting a firearm assembly including an upper receiver and a barrel having barrel lug structure. The firearm mount comprises a main body and a lock supported by the main body. The main body includes a rear portion and a forward portion. The forward portion is configured to be received in the upper receiver. The lock comprises at least one locking lug. The at least one lock is movable with respect to the forward portion between an unlocked position and a locked position. The lock is arranged with respect to the main body such that, when the forward portion is in the upper receiver and the at least one locking lug is in the barrel, the lock is movable from the unlocked position to the locked position to locate the at least one locking lug for engaging the barrel lug structure to obstruct removal of the firearm assembly from the main body.
Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to
Referring to
The firearm mount 10 includes a main body 12, a torque transmitter 14, and a lock assembly 16. The main body 12 and torque transmitter 14 are receivable in the upper receiver U for supporting the upper receiver. The lock assembly 16 is configured to selectively lock and unlock the firearm assembly F on the main body 12. Locking the firearm assembly F on the firearm mount 10 assists in maintaining the firearm assembly in position while various tasks are performed on the firearm assembly.
Referring to
The torque transmitter 14 extends upward from the forward portion 20 and is sized and shaped to be received in the charging handle recess CR. In the illustrated embodiment, the torque transmitter 14 comprises a lug protruding upward from the main body 12 configured for a close fit in the charging handle recess CR. The torque transmitter 14 limits the upper receiver U from rotating relative to the firearm mount 10 about the forward portion 20 because the torque transmitter obstructs the upper receiver from rotating. The arrangement is such that when torque is applied to the upper receiver U (e.g., by rotating the barrel nut), the torque is transferred from the upper receiver to the torque transmitter 14 and thus the vise holding the firearm mount 10. Other types and configurations of torque transmitters can be used, and the torque transmitter can be omitted, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The rear portion 21 includes a plurality of flats 34 arranged to be clamped by jaws of a vise for holding the mount 10 and thus the firearm assembly F securely in position with respect to the vise. The user can arrange the rear portion 21 between jaws of the vise and then reduce the space between the jaws to securely engage opposite flats 34 and thus grip the firearm mount. The rear portion 21 is exposed outside the upper receiver U to be engaged by the vise when the forward portion 20 is in the upper receiver and the alignment lugs 22A are in the barrel lug structure.
A gas tube alignment tool 40 is supported by the torque transmitter 14 for orienting the barrel nut N to properly align with a gas tube for cycling the action of the firearm. The gas tube alignment tool 40 includes a shaft 40A extending through a bore in the torque transmitter 14. The gas tube alignment tool includes a handle 40B connected to the shaft 40A for manipulating the shaft. In particular, a user grasps the handle 40B to slide the shaft 40A forward (e.g.,
The lock assembly 16 is configurable to selectively lock and unlock the firearm assembly F in position on the firearm mount 10. The lock assembly 16 includes a lock 50 and a lock actuator 52. The lock 50 is arranged to be received in the cylindrical cavity CC of the barrel extension BE in front of the barrel lug structure when the forward portion 20 of the main body 12 is in the upper receiver U and the alignment lugs 22A are in the barrel lug structure. The lock 50 includes a plurality of locking lugs 50A extending outward and spaced around a circumference of the lock. The locking lugs 50A are spaced from each other by recesses 50B. The locking lugs 50A each have an abutment surface 50A′ (
The lock actuator 52 is configured to permit a user to move the lock 50 between unlocked and locked positions. The lock actuator 52 includes a handle 60 and a shaft 62 connecting the handle to the lock 50. The shaft 62 extends down a bore in the main body 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 60, shaft 62, and lock 50 are conjointly rotatable about an axis of rotation A extending along and defined by the shaft 62. A pin 64 extends through the handle and rear end of the shaft 62 to connect the handle and shaft for conjoint rotation. The alignment lugs 22A and locking lugs 50A protrude radially outward away from the axis A. When the forward portion 20 of the main body 12 is received in the upper receiver U, and the alignment lugs 22A are meshed with the barrel lugs L, the handle 60 is exposed outside the upper receiver and accessible by a hand of the user for manually turning the handle about the axis A. The user turns the handle 60 by hand to cause the lock 50 to turn in the cylindrical recess CC in front of the barrel lug structure.
The handle 60 has an unlocked position (e.g.,
When the handle 60 is in the locked position, flats 60A on sides of the handle are in register with flats 34 on sides of the rear portion 21 of the main body 12 such that the flats of the rear portion and the flats of the handle can both be engaged by the jaws of the vise. Thus, in the locked position, the handle 60 does not obstruct the vise from flatly engaging the flats 34 of the main body 12, and engagement of the vise with the handle 60 prevents the handle from rotating out of the locked position. Other types and configurations of handles can be used, and the handle can be omitted, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
A retainer 70 is provided for retaining the lock 50 in the unlocked and locked positions. In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer 70 comprises a detent carried by the handle 60 and receivable in recesses 72, 74 in the rear end of the main body 12 for maintaining the handle in the unlocked and locked positions and thus for maintaining the lock 50 in the corresponding unlocked and locked positions. The detent 70 comprises a ball 70A biased forward by a spring 70B for protruding forward out of the handle 60 into a respective one of the recesses 72, 74. When the handle 60 is in the unlocked or locked position, reception of the spring biased ball 70A in the corresponding recess 72, 74 creates resistance against the handle rotating out of the position. When the user applies sufficient rotational force to the handle 60, the ball 70A dislodges from the recess, permitting the handle to be rotated to the other of the unlocked or locked positions. When the handle 60 arrives at the other of the unlocked or locked positions, the ball 70A engages the corresponding recess 72, 74 and thus retains the handle and lock 50 in position. Other types and configurations or retainers can be used, and the retainer can be omitted, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
In a method of using the firearm mount 10, the firearm mount is inserted in a firearm assembly F including an upper receiver U and a barrel B. The barrel B may or may not already be secured to the upper receiver U by a barrel nut N. The firearm mount 10 is moved forward into the cavity C of the upper receiver U such that the lock 50 passes through the barrel lug structure into the cavity CC and the alignment lugs 20A become meshed with the barrel lugs L. With the locking lugs 50A in the cylindrical cavity CC in front of the barrel lugs L, the user can turn the handle 60 to turn the lock 50 from the unlocked position to the locked position. The locking lugs 50A in the locking position are out of alignment with the alignment lugs 22A and are positioned to engage the barrel lugs L and thus obstruct forward movement of the barrel lugs and prevent removal of the firearm assembly F. The firearm mount 10 can be secured in a vise before or after the firearm assembly is installed thereon.
While the firearm assembly F is locked on the firearm mount 10, various tasks can be performed. The barrel nut N can be installed/removed. A hand guard can be installed or removed. An accessory can be installed on or removed from the firearm assembly. For example, a muzzle brake, flash hider, or other muzzle accessory can be a can be installed or removed. A sight (e.g., red dot sight, scope, laser, etc.), light, and/or bipod can be installed or removed. Forces applied to the firearm assembly F are transmitted to the firearm mount (e.g., via the torque transmitter 14, the alignment lugs 22A, and/or the main body 12 generally) and thus to the vise. This protects the upper receiver U from damage by distributing and transmitting force. If the firearm assembly F is pulled forward (e.g., the barrel B is pulled forward), the firearm assembly is prevented from sliding forward off the firearm mount 10 by the engagement of the locking lugs 50A with the barrel lugs L. After the cleaning, maintenance, gunsmithing and/or other tasks are completed, the firearm mount 10 can be removed from the vise, the lock 50 can be unlocked, and the firearm assembly F can be removed from the firearm mount.
It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210041195 A1 | Feb 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62883369 | Aug 2019 | US |