Rail Attachment Mechanism

• US 20130333184A1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Couture, Eric D., Russell, Andrew D., Solinsky, Kenneth S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,931,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49899 by multiple cooperating aligning means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49966 with supplemental joining

Abstract

A rail mounting mechanism for coupling an auxiliary device to a weapon has an adjuster and a lever that can be used to overcome tolerances in mounting rails to provide a consistent grasp of the rail.

Claims

1. A method of setting up an auxiliary device to be mounted on a rail, comprising the steps of:

positioning a section of rail having a predetermined profile between a blade and a clamp member, the clamp member having an axis generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the blade;

rotating the blade and an eccentric rotation hub into predetermined first rotational positions;

securing the eccentric rotation hub in place with a fastener;

rotating the blade to a second rotational position;

rotating the eccentric hub to a predetermined minimum torque value; and

securing the fastener to the eccentric rotation hub.

2. The method of claim 11, wherein the fastener extends through an opening in the eccentric hub, an opening in the blade, and into an opening on a rail mounting member which is secured to the auxiliary device.

3. The method of claim 11, wherein the fastener is adhesively coupled to the eccentric hub.

4. The method of claim 11, wherein the eccentric hub is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and the blade is rotatable about a second axis of rotation, the first axis being parallel with, but spaced from the second axis of rotation.

5. The method of claim 11, wherein the rotation of the eccentric hub moves the blade closer to the clamp member.

6. A method of setting up an auxiliary device to be mounted on a rail, comprising the steps of:

positioning a section of rail having a predetermined profile between a blade and a clamp member, the clamp member having an axis generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the blade;

rotating the blade and an eccentric rotation hub into predetermined respective first rotational positions;

rotating the eccentric rotation hub to a second rotational position in which a surface of the blade is in contact with the section of rail;

rotating the blade to a third rotational position.