INTEGRATED RAIL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING AND USING SAME

• US 20100287809A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Otis Patent Trust
• Original Assignee: The Otis Patent Trust
• Inventors: Williams, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 8,028,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/90
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

Embodiments of the application can include an integrated rail system construction for a firearm with transverse ribs or tabs (e.g., picatinny rail) to include an undercut or slot at a front and/or rear face to cooperate with mounting structure for a detachable accessory. Embodiments of a rail structure can include a channel to pass wires used to power accessories mounted to the rail. Embodiments of the application can include methods for manufacturing an integral rail system.

Claims

1. A rail system assembly for a firearm including a barrel, the rail system assembly comprising:

a tubular body to couple to the firearm over a portion of the barrel in a substantially coaxially and radially spaced relationship;

at least one accessory rail at a predetermined position of the tubular body, said at least one rail including a plurality of ribs separated to define opposing lateral surfaces; and

at least one groove in a lateral surface of a rib.

2. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 1, wherein a front lateral face of at least one rib comprises an anchor slot including said at least one groove.

3. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 2, wherein the anchor slot removes a portion of a corresponding rib.

4. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 3, wherein the anchor slot removes a portion of a bottom surface of a recess between adjacent ribs.

5. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 4, wherein the bottom surface of the recess is curved.

6. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 2, wherein selected anchor slots insulatingly intersect at least one longitudinal conduit configured to pass through the plurality of ribs.

7. The rail system assembly of claim 2, wherein the anchor slot is configured to include a curved surface, a right angle, a linear surface, a recessed engagement surface, or an engagement shoulder.

8. The rail system assembly of claim 2, wherein the anchor slot is configured to operate with an opposing lateral surface to mount an accessory.

9. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 2, wherein a plurality of anchor slots include pairs of corresponding anchor slots in opposing lateral faces of different ribs.

10. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 2, wherein the front lateral surface of comprises an additional anchor slot over the anchor slot.

11. The rail system assembly for a firearm of claim 1, wherein a rear lateral surface of at least one rib comprises the groove.

12. The rail system assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one accessory rail comprises a top rail, a bottom rail, or a side rail, and wherein said at least one accessory rail comprises a military-standard-1913 rail.

13. The rail system assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one accessory rail comprises:

opposing longitudinal side grooves, the side grooves to define external reference surfaces for mounting accessories; and

a longitudinal central groove between the opposing side grooves, the central groove to define internal reference surfaces for mounting accessories.

14. A rail system assembly for a firearm including a barrel, the rail system assembly comprising:

a mounting body to couple over a portion of a barrel in a spaced relationship thereto;

at least one accessory rail at a predetermined position of the mounting body, said at least one accessory rail including a plurality of ribs spaced by opposing lateral surfaces; and

a curved lower surface between at least one pair of adjacent ribs.

15. The rail system assembly of claim 14, wherein the curved lower surface is a prescribed radial distance from a central longitudinal axis of the mounting body.

16. The rail system assembly of claim 14, comprising at least one groove in a lateral surface of a rib, wherein a bottom surface of a recess between said plurality of ribs is a convex curved surface.

17. The rail system assembly of claim 16, wherein selected grooves intersect a plurality of longitudinal conduits that pass through a portion of said plurality of ribs.

18. An accessory mount for a firearm having a longitudinal barrel, the accessory mount comprising:

a longitudinal mount body, said mount body to mount to the firearm in a spaced relationship;

a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse ribs extending along a surface of said mount body;

a curved lower surface between at least one pair of adjacent transverse ribs; and

a groove at a lateral face of at least one transverse rib.