Sight clearing weapon mount

• US 6,637,144 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exelis Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, John Carl, Buchanan, Jr., Harrison Lewis, Lesniowski, Stephen, Nebarez, Hector Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomson, M.
• Application Number:
  US09/847,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 421/20, 421/27, 421/48, 421/46, 421/24
• US Class Current: 42/120
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A weapon mount for mounting a night vision device to the receiver rail of a weapon. A self-adjusting cam operated connection device is present at one end region of the mount for attaching to the receiver rail, while the night vision device is connected at the other end region of the mount with a knob operated mounting screw. The knob and mounting screw are a one piece design and the mounting screw is captivated by an E-clip. The cam operated connection device may be adjusted to accommodate different size receiver rails by the provision of compressible means, such as Belleville washers.

Claims

1. A weapon mount for mounting a night vision device to a receiver rail of a weapon, comprising;

a mounting member having first and second end regions, wherein the first end region bears a cam operated connection device for attaching to the receiver rail, and wherein the second end region bears a mounting screw which is operated by a T-knob to provide a mechanical advantage, for attaching to the night vision device, there being an intermediate portion between the first and second end regions having a right angle bend.

2. The weapon mount of claim 1 wherein the cam operated connection device includes a self adjusting cam.

3. The weapon mount of claim 2 wherein the intermediate portion of the mounting member has a second right angle bend which is co-planar with said right angle bend.

4. The weapon mount of claim 3 wherein the second end region has a pair of alignment protrusions for facilitating alignment with the night vision device.

5. The weapon mount of claim 3 wherein the mounting screw is prevented from separating from the mounting member by an E-clip.

6. The weapon mount of claim 1 wherein the cam operated connection device comprises a clamp which is connected to a bolt and, wherein the clamp is moved between extended and retracted positions by pushing and pulling the bolt, wherein the bolt is pushed and pulled by rotation of said cam.

7. The weapon mount of claim 6 wherein the cam is self adjusting.

8. The weapon mount of claim 7 wherein the cam rotates around a pivot pin and wherein the clamp is connected to the bolt at one end of the bolt and the other end of the bolt is connected to the pivot pin.

9. The weapon mount of claim 8 wherein the clamp includes a recess defined by a base surface, a first stationary side wall, and a second moveable side wall, and wherein the bolt, near said other end, extends through said first wall, wherein the cam is situated on and works against a ledge which is opposite said first wall.

10. The weapon mount of claim 9 wherein the clamp is spring biased away from the first wall.

11. The weapon mount of claim 10 wherein guide pins extend from said second wall, which engage bores in the base of the recess, wherein the spring biasing is effected by loading the guide pins with springs.

12. The weapon mount of claim 11 wherein the clamp has a wall opposite said second wall and wherein the bolt has a head and runs through compressible means which are compressed against said wall opposite said second wall by the bolt head.

13. The weapon mount of claim 12 wherein the compressible means are Belleville washers.

14. The weapon mount of claim 13 wherein said ledge comprises two parallel ledges and wherein said cam has two parallel ears separated by said pivot pin, which ears work against said respective ledges.

15. A weapon having a receiving rail bearing a close combat optic and back-up iron sight (BUIS), and a night vision device mounted thereto in such manner as to be in alignment with the close combat optic and to provide adequate clearance for the BUIS, by a mounting member comprised of first and second end regions, and an intermediate portion between the end regions having at least one right angle bead and being proportioned to provide said alignment and said clearance, the first end region bearing a clamping device having a moving surface for securely engaging the receiving rail when in a retracted position and moveable by a self-adjusting cam from an extended position to such retracted position, the cam including a pivot pin around which the cam rotates while working against a stationary surface of the clamping device, the pivot pin being connected to said moveable surface of the clamping device by a bolt.

16. The weapon of claim 15 wherein the bolt has a head, and a series of Belleville washers is disposed between such head and said moving surface, for compression of the Belleville washers against a surface intermediate the washers and said moving surface, the clamping device having a base with a plurality of bores, there being spring biased guide pins attached to said moveable surface for slidably moving in said bores.

17. The weapon of claim 16 wherein the second end region of the mounting member bears a knob operated mounting screw which is threaded into the night vision device for mounting it, wherein the mounting screw and knob are made of a single piece and wherein the mounting screw is captivated by an e-clip.

18. The weapon of claim 15 wherein the cam includes ears and it is the ears which work against the stationary surface while rotating.