Adjustable throw-lever picatinny rail clamp

• US 7,272,904 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark C. Larue
• Original Assignee: Mark C. Larue
• Inventors: Larue, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jasmin; Lynda
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUCAB, JAMIE R
• Application Number:
  US11/008,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 42111-148, 292/43, 292/145, 292/155, 292/176
• US Class Current: 42/127
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0847 Screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0998 Screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1022 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1033 Screw

Abstract

A throw-lever releasable mounting system for mounting a device in quick-release relation to a support member has a mounting base having a configuration fitting opposed angulated rail surfaces and having a locator key engaging a positioning slot of the rail. Each mounting base provides for mounting and stabilization of optics mounting rings. A locking platform projects from the mounting base and defines a locking opening having a circular hard metal insert therein that defines a receptacle receiving a resilient member and providing for location of the spline/spindle shaft of a rotatable locking plate. A locking plate of a throw-lever that is rotatable between locking and unlocking positions has angulated and curved cam surfaces for forcibly engaging correspondingly angulated surfaces of the rail to achieve cam energized precision locating and locking engagement with the rail. A non-circular section of a spline/spindle shaft of the throw-lever is receives a drive member in non-rotatable and linearly moveable relation. Resilient members are interposed between the drive member and the hardened insert and prevent free throw-lever movement at the release position thereof.

Claims

1. An adjustable mounting system, comprising:

a mounting rail attached to a structure and defining a plurality of upwardly facing mounting projections each having oppositely angulated clamping surfaces;

at least one mounting base having an angulated clamp surface and defining a locking platform having a lock opening therein;

a locking lever having a rotary cam plate and a pivot shaft integral therewith, said pivot shaft being rotatable within said lock opening, said rotary cam plate having a peripheral angulated cam surface being moveable into force transmitting locking engagement with one of said oppositely angulated clamp surfaces upon rotation of said locking lever and cam plate from an unlocking position to a locking position; and

an adjustment nut being threaded to said pivot shaft and upon rotation on said pivot shaft adjusting the locking position of said rotary cam plate relative to one of said oppositely angulated clamp surfaces.

2. The adjustable mounting system of claim 1, comprising:

a drive member being received for linear movement on said pivot shaft; and

at least one resilient member being interposed between said drive member and said locking platform and providing resistance to free rotation of said locking lever at the unlocked position of said locking lever.

3. The adjustable mounting system of claim 1, comprising:

said pivot shaft defining a threaded section receiving said adjustment nut and defining an external non-circular section;

a drive member having non-rotatable and linearly moveable relation with said external non-circular section; and

said adjustment nut having adjustment engagement with said drive member.

4. The adjustable mounting system of claim 3, comprising:

said at least one resilient member being interposed between said drive member and said locking platform and preventing free rotational movement of said locking lever at said unlocking position.

5. The adjustable mounting system of claim 1, comprising:

said pivot shaft defining a threaded section receiving said adjustment nut and having an external non-circular section;

a drive member being received in non-rotatable and linearly moveable relation by said external non-circular section;

said at least one resilient member being interposed between said drive member and said locking platform and developing a spring force retarding free rotation of said locking lever at the unlocking position thereof; and

said adjustment nut being received by said pivot shaft and being rotatable for adjustment of the locking position of said cam plate.

6. The adjustable mounting system of claim 5, comprising:

said at least one resilient member being an annular wave spring.

7. The adjustable mounting system of claim 5, comprising:

said at least one resilient member being at least one O-ring composed of resilient material.

8. The adjustable mounting system of claim 1, comprising:

one of said oppositely angulated clamping surfaces having a predetermined angle;

said rotary cam plate defining first and second substantially straight cam surfaces being joined by a curved cam surface; and

said first and second substantially straight cam surfaces and said curved cam surface each having a taper substantially corresponding to said predetermined angle.

9. The adjustable mounting system of claim 1, comprising:

said mounting rail defining spaced positioning receptacles and spaced upwardly extending mounting projections; and

said mounting base having at least one locator key having engagement within one of said spaced positioning receptacles and selectively locating said mounting base on said mounting rail.

10. The adjustable mounting system of claim 9, comprising:

said mounting base having a pair of downwardly projecting locator keys disposed in spaced relation and having locating engagement within two of said spaced positioning receptacles.

11. The adjustable mounting system of claim 1, comprising:

said mounting base defining a ring mounting receptacle;

a pair of mounting ring sections each defining arcuate internal surface sections and each having a mounting tongue being received within said ring mounting receptacle; and

retainer members securing said mounting tongues in fixed relation within said ring mounting receptacles and being selectively adjustable to position said arcuate internal surface sections in frictional retention with a supported device.

12. The adjustable mounting system of claim 11, comprising:

a plurality of connector receptacles being located within said mounting ring sections;

a plurality of hardened inserts being fixed within said plurality of connector receptacles and defining internally threaded connector sections; and

a plurality of retainer screws being in threaded connection within said internally threaded connector sections and retaining said mounting ring sections in friction supported engagement with a supported object.

13. The adjustable mounting system of claim 12, comprising:

said plurality of connector receptacles each defining internal insert support shoulders; and

said plurality of hardened inserts being seated on and supported by said internal insert support shoulders.

14. The adjustable mounting system of claim 1, comprising:

said mounting base having a mounting pedestal defining an upwardly extending mounting projection having transverse mounting openings therein, said mounting pedestal defining mounting ring support shoulders;

a pair of mounting ring sections being seated on said mounting ring support shoulders and defining internal arcuate surfaces for frictional retaining engagement with a supported device; and

retainer members extending through said mounting ring sections and through said transverse mounting openings of said upwardly extending mounting projection and retaining said mounting ring sections in immoveable assembly with said support pedestal.

15. The adjustable mounting system of claim 14, comprising:

said upwardly extending mounting projection defining at least one transverse bore extending therethrough;

at least one of said mounting ring sections having a hardened insert therein defining an internally threaded ring locator member projecting into said at least one transverse bore;

another of said mounting ring sections defining at least one mounting screw opening having an internal shoulder surface; and

a mounting screw being located within said mounting screw opening and being seated on said internal shoulder surface, said mounting screw having a threaded section having threaded engagement with said internally threaded ring locator member and securing said mounting ring sections in supported assembly with said upwardly extending mounting projection of said support pedestal.

16. An adjustable mounting system, comprising:

a mounting rail attached to a structure and defining a plurality of upwardly facing mounting projections each having oppositely angulated clamping surfaces;

at least one mounting base having an angulated clamp surface and defining a locking platform having a lock opening therein;

a locking lever having a rotary cam plate and a pivot shaft integral therewith and being rotatably moveable between locking and unlocking positions, said pivot shaft being rotatable within said lock opening, said rotary cam plate having a peripheral angulated cam surface being moveable into force transmitting locking engagement with one of said oppositely angulated clamp surfaces upon rotation of said locking lever and cam plate from an unlocking position to a locking position;

a drive member being received in non-rotatable linearly moveable relation on said pivot shaft;

an adjustment nut being threaded to said pivot shaft and providing for adjustment of the locking position of said rotary cam plate relative to one of said oppositely angulated clamp surfaces; and

at least one resilient member being interposed between said drive member and said locking platform and providing resistance to free rotation of said locking lever at the unlocked position of said locking lever.

17. The adjustable mounting system of claim 16, comprising:

an annular insert being seated within said lock opening and defining a circular pocket;

said drive member being at least partially located within said circular pocket; and

said at least one resilient member being located within said circular pocket and being engaged by said drive member and providing resistance preventing free rotation of said locking lever.

18. The adjustable mounting system of claim 16, comprising:

said peripheral angulated cam surface of said rotary cam plate having a pair of substantially straight cam sections disposed in angular relation and having a curved cam section merging with said substantially straight cam sections.

19. The adjustable mounting system of claim 16, comprising:

said pivot shaft defining a threaded section receiving said adjustment nut and having an external non-circular section;

a drive member being received in non-rotatable and linearly moveable relation by said external non-circular section;

said at least one resilient member being interposed between said drive member and said locking platform and developing a spring force retarding free rotation of said locking lever at the unlocking position thereof; and

said adjustment nut being received by said pivot shaft and being rotatable for adjustment of the locking position of said cam plate.

20. The adjustable mounting system of claim 16, comprising:

said mounting base having a mounting pedestal defining an upwardly extending mounting projection having transverse mounting openings therein, said mounting pedestal defining mounting ring support shoulders;

a pair of mounting ring sections being seated on said mounting ring support shoulders and defining internal arcuate surfaces for frictional retaining engagement with a supported device; and

retainer members extending through said mounting ring sections and through said transverse mounting openings of said upwardly extending mounting projection and retaining said mounting ring sections in immoveable assembly with said support pedestal.

21. The adjustable mounting system of claim 20, comprising:

said upwardly extending mounting projection defining at least one transverse bore extending therethrough;

at least one of said mounting ring sections having a hardened insert therein defining an internally threaded ring locator member projecting into said at least one transverse bore;

another of said mounting ring sections defining at least one mounting screw opening having an internal shoulder surface; and

a mounting screw being located within said mounting screw opening and being seated on said internal shoulder surface, said mounting screw having a threaded section having threaded engagement with said internally threaded ring locator member and securing said mounting ring sections in supported assembly with said upwardly extending mounting projection of said support pedestal.