Patent Grant
8898948
The present invention relates to guns and firearms and more particularly to devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using foldable and flippable accessory adapters or folding rail assemblies for allowing a firearm to be attached to various devices such as but not limited to fore grip/gun handle that can have bipod type legs or only a vertical extension, and or other accessories such as a light or a combination fore grip and light to be foldable underneath the firearm.
For many years, there has been considerable amount of prior art for fore grips and bipod devices, that date back to pre-20th century times, with bipods having a familiar appearance, structure and configuration, where the fore grips and bipods are generally kept in a vertical orientation beneath the firearm.
For example, some known prior art includes but is not limited to U.S. Pat. Nos. 271,251; 1,295,688; 1,355,660; 1,382,409; 1,580,406; 2,386,802; 2,420,267; 2,436,349, and 3,235,997. These patents disclose the respective art in relation to bipods, but do not disclose a fore grip or gun handle with a concealable and collapsible bipod.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,807 describes a tripod gun handle that provides a combination pistol grip and pivotal tripod. An examination of this patent reveals a number of problems with this device, and the most obvious problem is that the tripod legs are positioned on the exterior of the handle when not deployed. If the gun with this device attached was being used in wet or muddy environments, either in a deployed or storage position, the ingress of mud and dirt into and around the handle could result in the deployment and storage of the tripod legs being severely restricted due to the mud or foreign matter. Another problem is that deployment requires the rotation of a disengagement cam to force the legs into their deployed position and then a leg locking assembly is rotated to lock the legs into a locked position. Two separate actions are required to deploy and lock the tripod legs into a locked position.
Another problem with these bipods and leg stands is that the fore grip type stands are generally locked in a fixed position, which means an operator would have to physically move and/or physically raise the stand to adjust the firearm to fire a shot. Such physical movements of having to physically cant, tilt and/or lift the stand would be naturally uncomfortable to the operator. In addition such physical movements can cause the firearm to be held in an unsteady position that makes both a steady and reliable shot at an intended target both difficult and potentially impossible.
Another problem with many firearms having fore grips and bipods is that the fore grips remain in fixed vertical type orientations beneath the firearm at all times. Thus, these firearms can be cumbersome to carry since the fore grip is sticking down which can hit or rub against the sides of the human carrier. Also the fixed vertically oriented fore grips make the firearms difficult to store and transport since the lower extending vertical fore grip takes up valuable space and room during transport.
Attempts over the years have been made to allow for allowing for some folding of portions of firearms. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,224 to Curtis; U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,620 to Harris; U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,188 to Harris; U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,433 to Parsons; U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,103 to Keng; U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,617 to Gregory; U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,133 to Seegmiller et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,627 to Kaempe. However, none of these references overcomes all of the problems with the prior art described above.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the problems addressed above.
The novel invention allows stands such as bipods to be able to fold as desired by the firearm operator.
A primary objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of attaching and using a firearm fore grip/gun handle that can fold up along the firearm when not being used.
A secondary objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of a detachable firearm fore grip/gun handle that can fold down to extend vertically below when the firearm is being used.
A third objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using a firearm fore grip/gun handle with extendable bipod legs.
A fourth objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of attaching and using a firearm fore grip/gun handle that allows for a light to be attached to the fore grip/gun handle.
A fifth objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of incorporating a light into a firearm fore grip/gun handle.
A sixth objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of attaching and using a firearm fore grip gun handle with a pivotable light.
A seventh objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of attaching and using a firearm fore grip gun handle with a foldable light.
An eighth objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using a folding plate assembly for attaching to existing picatinny rails on a firearm, that can support accessories such as fore grips, lights, and the like.
An ninth objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of substituting a folding rail assembly for the existing picatinny rails plate on firearms, where the folding rail plate assembly does not enlarge the existing picatinny rail plate used on firearms.
A tenth objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of substituting a folding rail assembly for the existing picatinny rails plate on firearms, that uses less material and is less expensive than a folding plate adapter.
An eleventh objective of the subject invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using a flip attachment and adapter assembly for attaching to existing picatinny rails on a firearm, that can support accessories such as fore grips, lights, and the like.
A firearm fore grip adapter having an adapter member, an upper portion on the adapter member for allowing the member to be attachable beneath a firearm, and a lower portion pivotally attached to the adapter member, the lower portion for supporting a fore grip thereon, wherein the fore grip can move between a vertical downward position for supporting the firearm to a folded position with fore grip adjacent to the firearm. The upper portion can be an upper clamp for clamping the adapter member underneath of the firearm.
The upper clamp can include clamp edges for sliding about picatinny rails underneath the firearm. The upper clamp can include compressible clamp edges for clamping about picatinny rails underneath the firearm with a rotatable knob/screw.
The lower portion can include rails for allowing the adapter to attach to detachable fore grip. The adapter can include a pullable button for releasing the pivotable lower portion. The adapter can include a depressible button for releasing the pivotable lower portion. The adapter can include a switch for releasing the pivotable lower portion.
The fore grip can have bipod legs. The fore grip can have a light.
The invention can include an adapter member, an upper portion on the adapter member for allowing the member to be attachable beneath a firearm, and a lower portion pivotally attached to the adapter member, the lower portion for supporting another component thereon, wherein the other component can move between a vertical downward position for to a folded position adjacent to the firearm.
The another component can include a light. The another component can include a vertical fore grip. The another component can include both a vertical fore grip and a light. The another component can include a vertical fore grip with a light integrated inside of the fore grip.
A novel method of attaching a foldable accessory mounting plate to a firearm, can include the steps of providing a firearm having opposite facing picatinny rails underneath the firearm, providing a top plate member with an upper surface having a pair of opposite facing grooves, providing a bottom plate member with opposite facing picatinny rails, hingedly attaching one end of the bottom plate member to the top plate member by the hinge, sliding and mating the opposite facing grooves on the upper surface of the top plate member about the picatinny rails underneath the firearm, providing a vertically extending elongated accessory having an upper surface having a pair of opposite facing grooves, sliding and mating the opposite facing grooves on the upper surface of the elongated accessory about the picatinny rails on the bottom plate member, and folding the vertically extending elongated accessory to a horizontal orientation underneath the firearm by the hinge between the top and the bottom plate member.
The accessory can include a light. The accessory can include vertical fore grip. The method can include the steps of deploying a pair of legs with feet beneath the vertical fore grip and expanding the feet on the legs apart from one another. The vertical fore grip can include a light.
Another embodiment of the invention can have telescoping extendable legs that can be individually extended from beneath the fore grip handle.
The invention can be used with fore grips having concealable and collapsible bipod legs. Alternatively, the accessory mount can be used with other types of fore grips such as basic vertical fore grips, or any stands that can be attached to rails such as picatinny rails beneath firearms.
A firearm fore grip with accessory mount holder, can include an elongated handle having a top end and a bottom end and outer sidewalls between the top end and the bottom end, and an accessory mount having a portion that is attached to a portion of the outer sidewalls of the handle, the accessory mount having rails for allowing an accessory to be removably attached to the rails on the accessory mount.
The accessory mount can be molded to a side portion of the outer sidewalls of the handle.
Another embodiment of the firearm adapter can include an adapter member having an upper side and a lower side, a clamp on the upper side of the adapter member for allowing the member to be clamped to picatinny rails located beneath a firearm, a swing plate pivotally attached to the lower side of the adapter member, the swing plate having picatinny side edges for supporting an accessory thereon, and a sliding switch for allowing the swing plate to be released from a horizontal locked position to be able to rotate to a substantially vertical position.
The sliding switch can include an angled raised surface for allowing a finger of a user to push against, and a spring for biasing the sliding switch to the locked position. The sliding switch can include a set screw for adjusting the biasing extension of the spring.
The adapter can include a catch on a free end of the swinging plate for catching onto a protruding end on the sliding switch, so that the swinging plate is held in the locked position, and a spring loaded latch for locking the swinging plate in the substantially vertical position.
The adapter can include both a first spring for biasing the sliding switch to the locked horizontal position, and a second spring for locking the swinging plate to the substantially vertical position.
The accessory supported by the adapter can be a vertical fore grip, a bipod, or a fore grip with collapsible bipod legs. Additionally, the accessory can include a light or laser source.
A novel method of attaching a foldable accessory mounting plate to a firearm, can include the steps of providing a firearm having opposite facing picatinny rails underneath the firearm, clamping upper sides of a top plate member about the picatinny rails, pivotally attaching one end of a bottom plate member to the top plate member, locking the bottom plate member into a folded horizontal position parallel to the top plate member by a sliding switch being moved in one direction, and releasing the bottom plate member to rotate to a substantially vertical position by moving the sliding switch in an opposite direction.
The method can include the steps of spring biasing the sliding switch toward the one position, and/or locking the bottom plate member to the substantially vertical position by a spring.
A folding rail for firearms can be a folding rail assembly that can be substituted for an existing picatinny rails on a firearm, The folding rail can include a plate shaped member having a first end, a second end, a first longitudinal picatinny rail along one side of the plate shaped member between the first end and the second end, and a second longitudinal picatinny rail along an opposite side of the plate shaped member between the first end and the second end, and a hinge for allowing a portion of both the first longitudinal picatinny rail and the second picatinny rail to pivot relative to the plate shaped member, from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, wherein the plate shaped member is attached to an undersurface of a firearm.
The folding rail can include a latch for locking the portion of both the first longitudinal picatinny rail and the second picatinny rail to be in the horizontal position relative to the plate shaped member, and mounting holes in the plate shaped member for allowing fasteners to attach the plate shaped member to the undersurface of the firearm.
The plate shaped member can include a forward end with picatinny rails on both sides, and a rearward end with picatinny rails on both sides, with a middle rail section between the forward end and the rearward end, the middle end being pivotally attached to one of the forward end or the rearward end. The pivotal middle rail section includes picatinny rails on both sides of the middle rail section.
Another embodiment can include a firearm flip adapter for mounting accessories thereon, which includes an adapter member having an upper side and a lower side, a clamp on the upper side of the adapter member for allowing the member to be clamped to picatinny rails located beneath a firearm, a swing plate pivotally attached to the lower side of the adapter member, the swing plate having picatinny side edges for supporting an accessory thereon, a pivoting lever for holding the swing plate in a substantially vertical open position, and a switch for allowing the swing plate to be released from a horizontal locked position to be able to rotate to the substantially vertical open position. The switch can be a pivoting switch having a free end protruding sideways from the adapter assembly for allowing a finger of a user to move the switch. The switch can have a spring for biasing the pivoting switch to the locked position.
The adapter can have a catch on a free end of the swinging plate for catching onto a protruding end on the pivoting switch, so that the swinging plate is held in the locked position. The pivoting lever can include a lock position for locking the swinging plate in the substantially vertical position. The lock can include a first detent surface on a side of the lever, and a first moveable detent pin forming the lock position by pressing an end of the detent pin into the detent surface on the side of the lever. The adapter can include a first spring for biasing the detent pin into the lock position. The adapter can include a second detent surface on another side of the lever, and a second moveable detent pin forming a second lock position with an end of the second detent pin pressed into the second detent surface on the another side of the lever. The adapter can include a first spring for biasing the first detent pin into the first lock position, and a second spring for biasing the second detent pin into the second lock position.
The adapter can include a longitudinal slot down the lower side of the adapter member, the longitudinal slot for allowing a portion of the lever to rest therein when the swinging plate is in the locked closed position.
The accessory can be a vertical fore grip. The accessory can be a bipod. The accessory can be a fore grip with collapsible bipod legs.
A method of attaching a foldable accessory mounting plate to a firearm, can include the steps of providing a firearm having opposite facing picatinny rails underneath the firearm, clamping upper sides of a top plate member about the picatinny rails, pivotally attaching one end of a bottom plate member to the top plate member, pivotally attaching a lever between the top plate member and the bottom plate member, folding the bottom plate member into a folded horizontal position parallel to the top plate member by pivoting the top plate member relative to the bottom plate member, and pivoting the lever between the top plate member and the bottom plate member, and locking the bottom plate member into a substantially vertical position by a switch, which allows for the bottom plate member to pivot relative to the top plate member, and allows for the lever to pivot between the bottom plate member and the top plate member.
The method can include the step of pressing a detent pin into a detent surface on a side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position. The method can include the step of biasing the detent pin into the detent surface by a spring. The method can include the step of pressing a first detent pin into a first detent surface on a side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position, and pressing a second detent pin into a second detent surface on another side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position. The method can include the step of biasing the first detent pin into the first detent surface by a first spring, and biasing the second detent pin into the second detent surface by a second spring.
The method can include the steps of providing a longitudinal slot down the lower side of the adapter member, and resting a portion of the lever into the longitudinal slot when the swinging plate is in the locked closed position.
A flippable adapter for mounting accessories thereon, can include a top plate member having an upper side and a lower side, a clamp on the upper side of the top member for allowing the top member to be clamped to picatinny rails located beneath a firearm, a bottom swing plate pivotally attached to the lower side of the top member, the bottom swing plate having picatinny side edges for supporting an accessory thereon, and a pivoting lever attached between the top plate member and the bottom plate member, the pivoting lever having a locked open position for holding the bottom swing plate in a substantially vertical open position relative to the top plate, and the pivoting lever having a locked closed position for holding the bottom swing plate in a sandwiched orientation to the top plate member.
The invention can attach to rail systems, such as picatinny rails underneath or to the side or on top of firearms.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the accompanying flow charts and drawings.
Referring particularly to the drawings for the purposes of illustration only, and not limitation:
Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
The invention claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/905,556 filed Mar. 7, 2007, and this invention is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/485,762 filed Jul. 13, 2006, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,082 filed Dec. 2, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,424, and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/259,347 filed May 5, 2006, all by the same inventors and assigned to the same assignee, which are all incorporated by reference.
The inventors of the subject invention have to date patented at least one U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,424 to Gaddini, which is incorporated by reference. This patent includes a replaceable mounting assembly that allows for mounting of the gun handle by various means to a gun. A fore grip or gun handle, designed with ergonomic reasons in mind, provides a stable means of holding the gun. A plurality of legs that are concealed within the fore grip are coupled via a hinge to a spring piston assembly. A spring-loaded fulcrum release mechanism holds the piston assembly in a compressed and locked position.
When the piston assembly is released upon activation of the spring-loaded fulcrum release mechanism, the legs are driven downwards by the piston and upon being released from the confinement of the fore grip are deployed outwards to a locked position by a hinge or pivot mechanism. The legs have feet that are designed so that, when the legs are concealed within the handle, the feet seal off the deployment and spreader mechanisms from entrance of any debris, material etc that may interfere with the deployment of the bipod.
As shown in the figures, the invention can be used with the inventors novel fore grip that has a mounting section or end having parallel rails that can be attached to rails, such as picatinny rails on a firearm such as a rifle, and the like, by adjusting the head piece clamps with rail clamp bolt. The fore grip can include of a machining or a casting that utilizes aluminum or a molding that utilizes high impact resistant polymer or a composite material. The fore grip is a grip for gripping by the hand of a user when the fore grip is attached to the firearm.
Although the mounting end is shown as being an integral part of the handle for illustration purposes only, it should be understood that the mounting end head piece can be a separate component that is then attached by other members, such as threads or a lock screw or locking bolt to the handle. For illustrative purposes, the mounting end head piece uses a picatinny mounting rail (MIL-STD-1913 rail), a mounting system widely used by military for attachment of various devices to military rifles. However, it should be understood that other methods of attachment to a firearm could be used.
As described in the parent patent applications that are incorporated by reference, the fore grip can have a handle portion, with bottom retaining cap have a concealable and collapsible bipod legs. One version can have a tubular recess consisting of a first cylindrical cutout housing the bipod legs when concealed and a sliding piston that deploys the legs and a second cylindrical cutout housing a release mechanism and a void space for other accessories. The release mechanism such as a depressible button has a compression spring positioned between the piston assembly and the bottom of the first cylindrical cutout and the compression spring. The legs are connected to the bottom of the piston assembly via a hinge and spring that when released from confinement within the fore grip, causes the legs to expand outward until deployed.
Another version of the fore grip with bipod uses only one spring, wherein the legs can be gravity and/or snap/shook released from the handle by a switch (such as the depressible button) and the spring expands the legs out to the fully deployed position.
To use the fore grip, a user simply attaches the fore grip to the firearm, regardless of whether or not the bipod legs are deployed. If the legs are deployed, then the user has the option of using the gun with the legs deployed or compressing or squeezing the legs together, and pushing them upwards into the fore grip until the male part of the spring-loaded fulcrum release mechanism catches and locks the bipod legs and the piston assembly into the closed position.
As described above, the invention can be used with the inventors' novel bipod fore grip shown in the figures. A preferred embodiment can have the head piece having a length of approximately 1.85 inches a width of approximately 1.29 inches and a height of approximately 1.15 inches. In a fully leg retracted/closed position, the fore grip can have a height of approximately 6.32 inches. The handle portion 110 can have a length of approximately 2.95 inches and a width of approximately 1.37 inches. The legs can have a width of approximately 0.73 inches along with the feet having a width of approximately 0.99 inches. In a fully deployed/expanded position, the fore grip can have an overall height of approximately 8.57 inches, with the legs 120 having a spread eagle angle therebetween of approximately 76 degrees, and the inside angle of the feet 128 to the rest of the legs being approximately 52 degrees. The feet can be spread apart from toe to toe at approximately 6.95 inches.
Although, the preferred embodiment lists specific dimensions, the invention can be practiced with different sized and shaped components.
The fore grip can be made from various components such as but not limited to polymeric materials, such as but not limited to plastic and/or glass filled nylon with and without metal inserts such as aluminum, galvanized metal, stainless steel, and the like Additionally, the fore grip can include void spaces where possible to decrease weight.
Although a depressible button is shown above, the invention can use other types of activation such as but not limited to toggle switches, pressure actuated switches, temperature actuated switches and the like, to release the inside legs to slide down and expand outward from beneath the housing.
Referring to
Referring to
The stacking unit 1000 can also include a lower plate member 1020 (pivot rail) having opposite facing side rails 1024, 1026 that can be similar to or replicate the existing picatinny rails underneath the firearm. The side rails 1024, 1026 can be used for mounting a vertical fore grip such as the inventor's novel bipod fore grip thereon, which is shown below in
The lower member 1020 of the stacking unit 1000 can be pivotally mounted to the rail mount plate 1010 by a pivot pin 1030 that passes through pin-hole 1029 of the bottom plate member 1020 and pin-hole 1019 of top plate member 1010. The fit can be a frictional fit where the operator pulling back on front tab 1028 can extend the pivot rail member (lower member) from a position horizontal to and within the top member (rail plate member) 1010 to a position substantially perpendicular to the rail mount plate member 1010, where it is held in place by friction. Tab 1028 rests inside of notch 1018 on the lower surface of top plate member 1010 while lower plate member 1020 is perpendicular to top plate member 1010.
Referring to
As shown in
A downwardly protruding pin 1074 in plate 1076 can fit into longitudinal top slot 1055 of pivot rail latch 1050 and be held in place by fasteners 1075, such as screws which lock plate 1070 to threaded receiving holes 1075R in top plate member 1010.
The downwardly protruding pin 1074 is useful so that pivot rail latch 1050 can move to the left and right by the slot 1055 sliding about the downwardly protruding pin 1074.
The operation of using the release button 1060 will know be described in reference to
The pivotable lower plate member 1020 can have a pair of opposite facing rails that can mount to the inventors' bipod with extendable legs, which is shown and described in their previous patent, and other patents pending.
Alternatively, the stacking unit 1000 can allow for other fore grips to be mounted thereon. Still furthermore, the stacking unit can be an integral part of a vertical fore grip.
While a pullout type switch is shown, the lower portion of the stacking unit can be released with other types of buttons, such as a depressible button, and the like.
Similar to the techniques for mounting the stacking unit 1000 to the firearm 1200, the fore grip 1090 can be mounted by sliding the grooves on the top of the fore grip 1090 about the side rails 1024, 1026 on the sides of the lower plate member (pivot rail member) 1020. Alternatively, the side plates on the top of the fore grip 1090 can be removed and the fore grip 1090 attached to the side rails of the pivot rail member 1020 similar to the technique described above.
Referring to
Light Embodiments
Referring to
The folding unit can also allow the light to fold frontward, so that the light is turned on in the direction of where the firearm is pointed. Additionally, the folding unit can allow the light to face rearward behind the firearm. Additionally, the folding unit can allow the light to face sideways to the left and to the right of the firearm, as well.
Still furthermore, the invention can allow for both a vertical fore grip with a light built 1550 into the fore grip 1500, so that it can have dual functions for use as a vertical fore grip and as light. The light can be useful for non firearm use, such as a map light to allow the operator to view maps, and the like, during dark conditions.
Referring to
A list of components for additional embodiments will now be described. 1700) Adapter assembly with one long clamp.
Referring to
Detent Plate in Front End
In the front end 1712 of the adapter body 1710 can be detente plate 1740 which holds a detent spring 1920 on inner side. See for example,
To rotate the pivoting plate 1720 back to a horizontal position, the user can press against the pivoting plate, often by grabbing the accessory clamped to the plate such as the fore grip to overcome the spring tension 1920 of the detent plate 1740.
Thumb Slide in Rear End
In the rear end 1718 of the adapter body 1710 can be a thumb slide 1830. See for example,
The freely moving protruding end 1848 of the plate latch 1840 when pushed by the thumb slide 1830 in the direction of arrow X1 can latch onto and catch the outer ledge catch step-shaped end 1728 of the freely moving end of the swing plate 1720. The upper surface of the protruding end 1848 can be sloped at an angle so as to lift against the catch step-shaped end 1728 of the swing plate 1720. The spring 1910 pushes the sloped surface of protruding end 1848 so that it takes up any play between itself and the catch step-shaped end 1728. This play can exist based due to manufacturing tolerances and/or regular wear of these parts. See for example,
The rear end 1844 of the plate latch 1840 can push against a slide spring 1910 and the length adjustable set screw 1860 so that the protruding end 1848 of the plate latch 1840 is being pushed in the direction of arrow X1. The spring is sandwiched between the set screw 1860 and the rear end 1844 of the plate latch 1840. By not fully seating the screw 1860 against the spring 1910, the tension of the spring 1910 can be adjusted. Tightening the length adjustable set screw 1860 can further lock the protruding end 1848 of the plate latch against the outer ledge catch end 1728 of the swing plate 1720.
Loosening the set screw 1860 can allow for the thumb slide 1830 to more easily slide in place. The user can release the swing plate 1720 from a horizontal position and rotate in the direction of arrow R, by pushing the thumb slide 1830 in the direction of arrow X2, shown in
A pair of clamp screws 1870 can pass through horizontal slots (1713 in the front end, and horizontal slot 1715 in the rear end 1718 of the adapter body 1710. See for example,
Adapter Assembly with Two Short Clamps
Folding Rail Assembly
Referring to
On the top of the rail assembly 1800 can be a longitudinal base 1935 having a generally flat surface for allowing the rail assembly to sit flush against the undersurface of a firearm.
The folding rail assembly 1800 can be a substitute for the picatinny rails that are often attached underneath of firearm. The folding rail assembly can be used underneath the gun or in other areas, such as but not limited to be attached to one side of the gun or on top of the gun.
The folding rail assembly 1800 has a lower profile than the folding stack embodiments that were previously described. The folding rail assembly 1800 would allow for accessories such as a fore grip to be located closer to the weapon, instead of being spaced away from the weapon. A problem with fore grips is that the lower end of a vertical fore grip can extend further than what is desired. For example the lower bottoms of fore grips have been known to catch on the ground, etc., and/or poke into the user.
The folding rail assembly 1800 is more ergonomic than a folding stack assembly since it does not lengthen the overall length of a fore grip that can be attached thereon.
The folding rail assembly 1800 would be similar in weight to an existing picatinny rail system The folding rail assembly 1800 would have substantially less weight and use less material and be less expensive than the folding stack embodiments.
Similar to the previous embodiments, the folding rail can be modified to lock in both the horizontal and vertical positions, using features similar to that of the previous embodiments.
Flip Attachment Adapter Assembly
Referring to
A down latch release lever (switch) 2004 can be pivotally attached to a head portion 202A of the main body 2002 by a latch lever pin 2005. A down latch cover plate 2010 attached to the head portion 202A by mount screws 2018 covers a rear end of the assembly 2000. Pivoting the switch 2004 from one side to another can move the down latch 2009 into the head portion 202A of the main body 2002 compressing spring 2024. Releasing the latch switch 2004 decompresses spring 2024 which pushes the down latch 2009 into a down latch catch surface (slot) 2010 in the free end of the folding rail 2001. Lugs 2015 on the main body 2002 can index the assembly 2000 to the picatinny rail on which the assembly 2000 can be mounted.
The down-latch adjustment screws 2017 provide an adjustable down stop for the folding rail 2001. Should there be manufacturing variances in any of the down-latch components, there might be space between the down-latch 2009 and the down-latch catch surface 2011 when the folding rail 2001 is in the latched position. Any space between these components would cause undesirable looseness and noise in the assembly 2000. The down-latch adjustment screws 2017 can be adjusted to move the down-latch catch surface 2011 closer to the down-latch 2009 removing any space and facilitating a tight fit.
In one embodiment there can be two detents 2020 and two spring (2022) loaded detent pins 2021, one on either side of the lock lever 2014. Only the facing detent pin 2021 can be seen in these views.
The down-latch adjustment screw 2025 threads into the down-latch 2009 and provides an adjustment for how far the down-latch 2009 can slide into down latch cavity 2034 before it bottoms and can go no further. This controls how far the front end of the down-latch 2009 protrudes from the opposite end of the cavity 2034 providing further latch adjustment over and above the down-latch adjustment screws 2017. The down-latch spring 2024 spring loads the down latch 2009 insuring that the latch will engage with the down-latch catch surface 2011 of the folding rail 2001 when it is in the latch position. The down-latch 2009, and spring 2024 are held in place by down-latch cover plate 2010. The down-latch cover plate 2010 is affixed to the main body 2002 using cover plate mounting screws 2018.
Although the invention mentions a plate and shows some rectangular configurations, the invention can include different shapes, such as but not limited to oblong shapes, rectangular shapes, cylindrical shapes, and the like.
Although the invention is shown as being attached to rails underneath firearms, the invention can also be attached to rails on both of the sides of firearm, and/or on top of a firearm.
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.
This invention is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/279,054 filed Oct. 21, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,341,866, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/986,374 filed Jan. 7, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,104, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/856,340 filed Aug. 13, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,987,623, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/700,887 filed Feb. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,457, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/934,392 filed Nov. 2, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,451, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/905,556 filed Mar. 7, 2007, and this invention is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,337 filed Jan. 11, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,568,304, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/485,762 filed Jul. 13, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,490,429, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,082 filed Dec. 2, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,424, and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/259,347 filed May 5, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. D566,219, all of which are incorporated by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Entry |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60905556 | Mar 2007 | US |
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| Parent | 11934392 | Nov 2007 | US |
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| Parent | 13656205 | US | |
| Child | 12700887 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 12986374 | Jan 2011 | US |
| Child | 13279054 | US | |
| Parent | 12700887 | Feb 2010 | US |
| Child | 12856340 | US | |
| Parent | 11652337 | Jan 2007 | US |
| Child | 13656205 | US | |
| Parent | 11485762 | Jul 2006 | US |
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| Parent | 10725082 | Dec 2003 | US |
| Child | 11485762 | US | |
| Parent | 13656205 | US | |
| Child | 11485762 | US | |
| Parent | 29259347 | May 2006 | US |
| Child | 13656205 | US |
