Offset accessory mount

• US 7,735,255 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackhawk Industries Products Group Unlimited LLC (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Gregory, Thomas M., Kincaid, Robert A., Yeates, Eric M., Marx, Thomas A., Cook, Clifton L., Todd, Birten L., Proc, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Stephen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troy; Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US11/985,659
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 42/90, 421/15, 421/24, 421/25, 421/26, 421/27, 421/46, 362/109, 362/110, 362/114, 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.4, 403/323, 403/325, 403/373, 403/374.5, 403/374.3
• US Class Current: 42/146
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0254 with accommodation for auxiliary devices mounted on the small arm, e.g. telescopic sights, flashlights or laser-devices
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/041 for connecting a holster to a belt, webbing or other object
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/004 Mountings with clamping means on the device embracing at least a part of the firearm, e.g. the receiver or a dustcover F41G11/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/591 having operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/595 Lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7071 Lever actuator

Abstract

An adjustable accessory mounting clamp for mounting an accessory to an accessory rail, including a primary locking arm; a secondary locking arm; a threaded adjustment rod that is anchored, at a first end, to the primary locking arm, extends through an aperture in the secondary locking arm, and is threadedly coupled to a cam lever pin of a cam lever, wherein the cam lever includes at least one caming surface, such that when the cam lever is in a closed position, the caming surface contacts an outer surface portion of the secondary locking arm to provide tension to the threaded adjustment rod; such that a distance between the primary locking claw and the secondary locking claw is adjusted to accommodate varying width accessory mounting rails.

Claims

1. An adjustable accessory mounting clamp for mounting a light body to an accessory rail, comprising:

a primary locking arm, wherein the primary locking arm includes a primary locking claw formed at an upper end of the primary locking arm, and wherein the primary locking arm is coupled to the light body such that the primary locking arm is maintained in a fixed position relative to the light body;

a secondary locking arm, wherein the secondary locking arm includes a secondary locking claw formed at an upper and of the secondary locking arm, and wherein the secondary locking arm is pivotably coupled to the light body such that the secondary locking arm is pivotable relative to the primary locking arm;

a threaded adjustment rod, wherein the threaded adjustment rod is anchored, at a first end, to the primary locking arm, wherein the threaded adjustment rod extends through an aperture in the secondary locking arm, and wherein the threaded adjustment rod is threadedly coupled to a cam lever pin;

a cam lever, wherein the cam lever includes at least one caming surface, such that when the cam lever is in a closed position, the caming surface contacts an outer surface portion of the secondary locking arm to provide tension to the threaded adjustment rod;

wherein the cam lever pin includes a threaded aperture formed so as to allow the threaded adjustment rod to be threadedly coupled to the cam lever pin, and wherein the cam lever pin is pivotably positioned within the cam lever such that when the cam lever is in an open position, the secondary locking claw is pivoted away from the primary locking claw and when the cam lever is in a close position, the secondary locking claw is pivoted towards the primary locking claw, and wherein when the cam lever is in the open position, the cam lever may be rotated, via the cam lever pin, so as to travel along the threaded adjustment rod such that a distance between the primary locking claw and the secondary locking claw is adjusted to accommodate varying width accessory rails; and

wherein the primary locking arm and the secondary locking arm are coupled to the light body so as to provide offset mounting of the light body on the accessory rail such that the light body is not centered along a central axis of the accessory rail, but is offset some distance away from the central axis of the accessory rail.

2. The offset mountable light of claim 1, wherein the threaded adjustment rod includes at least one spring portion that provides an amount of spring tension to the threaded adjustment rod.

3. The offset mountable light of claim 2, wherein the secondary locking arm is biased to an open position.

4. The offset mountable light of claim 1, wherein the cam lever includes a first caming surface and a second earning surface, such that when the cam lever is in a closed position, both the first caming surface and a second earning surface independently contact separate outer surface portions of the secondary locking arm.

5. The offset mountable light of claim 1, wherein the primary locking arm is removably attached to the light body via a clamp attachment pin.

6. The offset mountable light of claim 1, wherein the secondary locking arm is removably attached to the light body via a clamp attachment pin.

7. The offset mountable light of claim 1, wherein the primary locking arm and the secondary locking arm are permanently attached to the light body via clamp attachment pins.

8. The offset mountable light of claim 1, wherein the primary locking arm is formed as an integral part of the light body.

9. The offset mountable light of claim 1, wherein the accessory rail is an accessory rail of a handgun and wherein the primary locking arm and the secondary locking arm are coupled to the light body so as to provide offset mounting of the light body on the accessory rail of the handgun such that the light body is not centered along a central bore axis of the handgun, but is offset some distance away from the central bore axis of the handgun to allow access to at least a portion of a trigger guard of the handgun.

10. An adjustable accessory mounting clamp for mounting an accessory to an accessory rail, comprising:

a primary locking arm, wherein the primary locking arm includes a primary locking claw formed at an upper end of the primary locking arm, and wherein the primary locking arm is coupled to the accessory such that the primary locking arm is maintained in a fixed position relative to the accessory;

a secondary locking arm, wherein the secondary locking arm includes a secondary locking claw formed at an upper and of the secondary locking arm, and wherein the secondary locking arm is pivotably coupled to the accessory such that the secondary locking arm is pivotable relative to the primary locking arm;

a threaded adjustment rod, wherein the threaded adjustment rod is anchored, at a first end, to the primary locking arm, wherein the threaded adjustment rod extends through an aperture in the secondary locking arm, and wherein the threaded adjustment rod is threadedly coupled to a cam lever pin;

a cam lever, wherein the cam lever includes at least one earning surface, such that when the cam lever is in a closed position, the caming surface contacts an outer surface portion of the secondary locking arm to provide tension to the threaded adjustment rod;

wherein the cam lever pin includes a threaded aperture formed so as to allow the threaded adjustment rod to be threadedly coupled to the cam lever pin, and wherein the cam lever pin is pivotably positioned within the cam lever such that when the cam lever is in an open position, the secondary locking claw is pivoted away from the primary locking claw and when the cam lever is in a close position, the secondary locking claw is pivoted towards the primary locking claw, and wherein when the cam lever is in the open position, the cam lever may be rotated, via the cam lever pin, so as to travel along the threaded adjustment rod such that a distance between the primary locking claw and the secondary locking claw is adjusted to accommodate varying width accessory rails; and

wherein the primary locking arm and the secondary locking arm are coupled to the accessory so as to provide offset mounting of the accessory on the accessory rail such that the accessory is not centered along a central axis of the accessory rail, but is offset some distance away from the central axis of the accessory rail.

11. The offset mountable light of claim 10, wherein the threaded adjustment rod includes at least one spring portion that provides an amount of spring tension to the threaded adjustment rod.

12. The offset mountable light of claim 11, wherein the secondary locking arm is biased to an open position.

13. The offset mountable light of claim 10, wherein the cam lever includes a first caming surface and a second earning surface, such that when the cam lever is in a closed position, both the first earning surface and a second caming surface independently contact separate outer surface portions of the secondary locking arm.

14. The offset mountable light of claim 10, wherein the primary locking arm is removably attached to the accessory via a clamp attachment pins.

15. The offset mountable light of claim 10, wherein the secondary locking arm is removably attached to the accessory via a clamp attachment pin.

16. The offset mountable light of claim 10, wherein the primary locking arm and the secondary locking arm are permanently attached to the accessory via clamp attachment pins.

17. The offset mountable light of claim 10, wherein the primary locking arm is formed as an integral part of the accessory.

18. The offset mountable light of claim 10, wherein the accessory rail is an accessory rail of a handgun and wherein the primary locking arm and the secondary locking arm are coupled to the accessory so as to provide offset mounting of the accessory on the accessory rail of the handgun such that the accessory is not centered along a central bore axis of the handgun, but is offset some distance away from the central bore axis of the handgun to allow access to at least a portion of a trigger guard of the handgun.