Picatinny rail attachment

• US 7,797,875 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Leaman, Bruce B., Jack, Scott I., Keicher, Craig A., Joswiak, Nathan D., Carrier, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers; Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdosh; Samir
• Application Number:
  US12/152,121
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 42 12-128, 421/38, 211/85.7
• US Class Current: 42/124
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

An interface device is provided for securing a range finder to a Picatinny rail. The device has a longitudinal direction with first and second mounts, which are pivotably connected to open and closed configurations. The mounts are in substantially parallel and coaxial mutual positions along the longitudinal direction while in the closed configuration, and instead rotated along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in the open configuration. The device further includes a stock onto which the Picatinny rail attaches along the longitudinal direction, the stock being pivotably connecting to the first mount along a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis to one of a lock configuration to be substantially parallel to the first mount and a release configuration to pitch said stock relative to the first mount.

Claims

1. An interface device for securing a range finder to a Picatinny rail, said device having a longitudinal direction and comprising:

first and second mounts being pivotably connected to a closed configuration with substantially parallel and coaxial mutual positions along the longitudinal direction and an open configuration with said mounts being rotated along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

a stock onto which the Picatinny rail attaches along the longitudinal direction, said stock pivotably connecting to said first mount along a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis to one of a lock configuration to be substantially parallel to said first mount and a release configuration to pitch said stock relative to said first mount, whereas said stock in said lock configuration applies tension to said first mount to maintain said mounts in said closed configuration, and said stock in said release configuration relaxes said first mount to enable said mounts to rotate into said open configuration;

a first member rigidly disposed on said first mount; and

a second member rigidly disposed on said second mount, wherein said first and second members mechanically engage the range finder therebetween by disposing said first member against one end of the range finder while said mounts are in said open configuration, rotating said second mount to conform to said closed configuration, thereby disposing said second member against opposite end of the range finder.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a slide connector that translates in the longitudinal direction along said first mount;

a pivot pin that rotates within said slide connector along a third axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and said first axis; and

a cross-beam connected to said first mount by said pivot pin, wherein said cross-beam is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction in a stowage configuration and disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a deployed configuration to engage the range finder.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge link having a mount pin that pivotably connects said first and second mounts and a stock pin that pivotably connects said first mount to said stock.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said stock further includes a latch that engages said first mount in said lock configuration, the latch being releasable to said release configuration in response to force applied to a button disposed on the stock.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said second mount and said second member are rigidly connected by at least one screw.