Mounting devices for firearms and methods of operating the same

• US 7,370,449 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Original Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Inventors: Beckmann, Rudi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred; John W
• Application Number:
  US11/506,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 42/90, 421/06, 421/24, 421/27, 244/55, 245/42, 245/68, 248/229.22, 248/226.11
• US Class Current: 42/90
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44744 with position locking-means for engaging faces

Abstract

Mounting devices for firearms and methods of mounting the same are disclosed. An example mounting device for use with a firearm includes a clamping device, with which the mounting device can be optionally clamped to the firearm. The clamping device includes a rigid clamping jaw arrangement, a movable clamping jaw arrangement opposite the rigid clamping jaw arrangement, and a swiveling lever. The swiveling lever is coupled to a spring device that locks the movable clamping jaw arrangement, and the spring device has a first spring arrangement, which loads the swiveling lever in an opening direction over an entire unlocking path, and a second spring arrangement, which applies a much greater spring tension than the first spring arrangement. The second spring arrangement also loads the swiveling lever via a spring travel in the opening direction and minimizes the spring travel to maintain the seat of the mounting device with respect to the firearm.

Claims

1. A mounting device for use with a firearm wherein the mounting device includes a clamping device, with which the mounting device can be optionally clamped to the firearm, wherein the clamping device comprises:

a rigid clamping jaw arrangement;

a movable clamping jaw arrangement opposite the rigid clamping jaw arrangement; and

a swiveling lever, wherein the swiveling lever is coupled to a spring device that locks the movable clamping jaw arrangement, wherein the spring device comprises;

a first spring arrangement, which loads the swiveling lever in an opening direction over an entire unlocking path; and

a second spring arrangement, which applies a much greater spring tension than the first spring arrangement and loads the swiveling lever via a spring travel in the opening direction, and minimizes the spring travel to maintain the seat of the mounting device with respect to the firearm.

2. The mounting device as defined in claim 1, wherein a profile rail is mounted to the firearm, the profile rail includes a first undercut and a second undercut, the first and second undercuts extend in the direction of fire, and the mounting device may be coupled thereto.

3. The mounting device as defined in claim 1, further including a snap-in locking device, wherein the snap-in locking device holds the swiveling lever in a resting position.

4. The mounting device as defined in claim 3, wherein the snap-in locking device comprises a hinged door that is pivotable within the swiveling lever, wherein the hinged door detachably fixes the swiveling lever to the mounting.

5. The mounting device as defined in claim 4, further comprising a slider that is placed in the mounting device, wherein the slider is spring-loaded from the outside and acts on a flange of the hinged door so that in the resting position of the swiveling lever the hinged door is pressed into locking engagement.

6. The mounting device as defined in claim 5, wherein the swiveling lever has a continuous recess in which the spring-loaded flange of the hinged door is seated and which can be pressed in from the outside.

7. The mounting device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an oblong base with a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, wherein the second longitudinal edge opposes the first longitudinal edge, the rigid clamp jaw arrangement is seated along the first longitudinal edge, and the movable clamp jaw arrangement is seat in a region in the middle of the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge.

8. The mounting device as defined in claim 7, wherein the spring device is placed at a right angle to the first and second longitudinal edges, and the spring device further comprises a piston that is coupled to the movable clamp jaw arrangement and upon which the first spring arrangement and the second spring arrangement are seated.

9. The mounting device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a swivel pin, wherein the swivel pin penetrates the mounting device near the second longitudinal edge and is pivotable around a vertical axis, and wherein to which the swiveling lever is pivoted.

10. A method of attaching an accessory to a mounting device on a firearm, wherein the mounting device includes a swiveling lever, a piston, a first spring arrangement, a rigid clamping jaw arrangement and a movable clamping jaw arrangement positioned opposite the rigid jaw arrangement, the method including:

providing a tensile force to the swiveling lever to open the lever, wherein movement of the swiveling lever causes the piston to initially compress the first spring arrangement followed a movement of the first spring arrangement and the piston toward the exterior of the mounting device which causes the movable clamping jaw arrangement to move away from the rigid clamping jaw arrangement;

placing an accessory between the rigid jaw arrangement and the movable jaw arrangement; and

providing a compressive force to the swiveling lever to close the lever, wherein of the swiveling lever causes the piston to compress the first spring arrangement which causes the movable clamping jaw arrangement to move toward the rigid clamping jaw arrangement and hold the accessory therebetween.

11. A method a described in claim 10, wherein the mounting device further comprises a snap-in safety device that includes an hinged door, a hook and a receptacle in which the hook is arranged when the mounting device is in a locked position, the method further comprising:

prior to the providing of a tensile force, providing a force to the hinged door to cause the hook to disengage the receptacle; and

subsequent to the providing of the compressive force, providing a force to cause the hook to engage the receptacle.

12. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the mounting device further includes a second spring arrangement and a slider wherein the second spring arrangement causes to the slider to act on the hinged door to keep the hinged door in the resting position, wherein the method further includes:

while providing a force to the hinged door to cause the hook to disengage the receptacle, causing the slider to retract into the mounting device against the force of the second spring arrangement.