MOUNTING RAIL ASSEMBLY FOR FIREARMS

• US 20110010979A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LMD Applied Science LLC
• Original Assignee: LaserMax Incorporated
• Inventors: Houde-Walter, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,413,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/84
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/22 Stocks having space for the storage of objects
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A mounting rail assembly is provided for firearms, wherein the assembly includes a mounting rail, an electrical input contact, an electrical output contact and an embedded conductor electrically connecting the input contact and the output contact. Control circuitry can be embedded within the mounting rail to provide for data and power transmission at the electrical contacts. The mounting rail assembly can be integrated into a firearm, or can include a receptor channel for cooperatively engaging an existing mounting rail of the firearm.

Claims

1. A mounting rail assembly mountable on a firearm, the mounting rail assembly comprising:

(a) a mounting rail body having a longitudinal axis and including a mounting rail and a receptor channel, the mounting rail extending along the longitudinal axis and having a mounting profile transverse to the longitudinal axis, the mounting profile including opposing mating surfaces for engaging mating receiving surfaces of an accessory and the receptor channel extending along the longitudinal axis and having receiving surfaces for receiving mating mounting surfaces of the firearm or an accessory; and

(b) a plurality of electrical contacts exposed to an outer surface of the mounting rail body, the electrical contacts including an electrical input contact and at least a first and a second electrical output contact.

2. The mounting rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising an electrical conductor embedded in the mounting rail body, the electrical conductor electrically connecting the first and the second electrical output contacts.

3. The mounting rail assembly of claim 2, further comprising an electrical power source supported by the mounting rail.

4. The mounting rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the electrical power source is electrically coupled the electrical conductor.

5. The mounting rail assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second electrical output contacts is exposed on a mounting surface of the mounting rail.

6. The mounting rail assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrical contacts is formed on at least one of the receiving surfaces of the receptor.

7. The mounting rail assembly of claim 1, wherein one of the electrical contacts is formed on a mounting surface of the mounting rail and another electrical contact is formed on at least one of the receiving surfaces of the receptor.

8. The mounting rail assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one electrical contact is formed on at least one tapered sidewall of the mounting rail.

9. The mounting rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting rail includes a plurality of recoil grooves, and each of a set of the recoil grooves includes one electrical contact.

10. An electrically active mounting rail assembly of a firearm for attaching an accessory, the mounting rail assembly comprising:

(a) a mounting rail projecting from the firearm and having mounting surfaces for attaching an accessory; and

(b) a plurality of electrical contacts accessible for connection on at least one exposed surface of the mounting rail for electrically coupling the accessory to the firearm, the electrical contacts being one of recessed and flush with an adjacent surface of the mounting rail.

11. The mounting rail assembly of claim 10, in which the electrical contacts are electrically interconnected.

12. The mounting rail assembly of claim 10, further comprising a first accessory and a second accessory mounted to the mounting rail, and operation of the first accessory and the second accessory is coordinated through an electrical connection between at least two of the electrical contacts.

13. The mounting rail assembly of claim 12, wherein data acquired from the first accessory through a first electrical contact is communicated through a second electrical contact to the second accessory.

14. The mounting rail assembly of claim 10 further comprising a mechanical detent between an accessory and the mounting rail for locating the accessory along the mounting rail in a position at which the electrical contacts of the mounting rail engage the corresponding electrical contacts of the accessory.

15. A firearm mounting rail assembly for engaging a firearm accessory, the mounting rail assembly comprising:

(a) a mounting rail body having a mounting rail for engaging a firearm accessory, the mounting rail having an electrical input contact, an electrical output contact spaced from the electrical input contact and an embedded electrical conductor interconnecting the electrical input contact and the electrical output contact.

16. The mounting rail assembly of claim 15, wherein the mounting rail body is integral with the firearm.

17. The mounting rail assembly of claim 15, wherein the mounting rail body includes a receptor channel for cooperatively engaging a firearm.

18. An accessory mounting rail assembly for a firearm, the mounting rail assembly comprising:

(a) a mounting rail body supporting an accessory that enhances functionality of the firearm;

(b) a receptor channel in the mounting rail body having receiving surfaces for receiving mating mounting surfaces of a mounting rail attached at least indirectly to the firearm; and

(c) electrical contacts on at least one of receiving surfaces of the receptor channel.

19. The mounting rail assembly of claim 18, wherein one of the receiving surfaces of the receptor channel is relatively movable for clamping the receiving surfaces of the receptor.

20. The mounting rail assembly of claim 18, wherein one of the receiving surfaces of the receptor is fixed to the body, and the electrical contacts are formed on the fixed receiving surface.