Adjustable gun rail lock

• US 7,823,316 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Defense Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Defense Manufacturing, LLC
• Inventors: Gross, John, Kincel, Eric Stephen, Orne, William III, Storch, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TILLMAN, JR, REGINALD S
• Application Number:
  US12/024,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20080178511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 42/90, 421/24, 421/27, 421/40, 421/25
• US Class Current: 42/90
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

Systems and methods for mounting accessories to a firearm are disclosed. The systems include a rail connector and quick release device for mounting on a firearm. The connector includes at least one mounting rail and a fastening member for securely fastening the connector directly to the firearm. The quick release is then mounted to the mounting rail.

Claims

1. A mount configured to receive a rail of a firearm and for attaching an accessory thereto, comprising:

a mounting structure comprising

a first wall; and

a base defining a cavity for receiving the rail and defining a second wall, the base biased with respect to the first wall by at least one compressible member;

a yoke for coupling the base to the first wall and including a cam member having a notch on a surface thereof and extending through the first wall, wherein a portion of the yoke is retained within a groove disposed in the cavity;

a nut for adjustably securing the yoke to the second wall;

a lever rotatably coupled to the cam member by a pin, wherein the lever is configured to rotate between at least a first position and a second position; and

a button pivotably coupled to the lever and configured to matingly cooperate with the notch of the cam to secure the lever with respect to the cam member when the lever is rotated to one of the first position and the second position, wherein the button is depressible to rotate relative to the lever to allow the lever to rotate with respect to the cam member.

2. A mount configured to receive a rail of a firearm and configured to receive an accessory, the mount comprising:

a two piece mounting structure comprising a base and a frame coupled to one another and having a bottom cavity for receiving the rail of the firearm;

a shaft assembly that extends laterally between the base and the frame;

a lever mechanism operably coupled to the shaft assembly on a side of the two piece mounting structure that is adjacent the frame and offset from the rail;

wherein the lever mechanism is pivotably connected to the shaft assembly by a pin that extends through the shaft and in a direction that is generally transverse to an axis of the shaft assembly, the lever mechanism being configured to adjustably define a distance between the base and the frame to accommodate the rail therebetween;

wherein the lever mechanism comprises, a lever arm having opposing sides that are eccentrically engaged with the pin and a button disposed on a surface therebetween;

a notch formed on a surface of a yoke received between the opposing sides of the lever arm; and

wherein the button is configured to be selectively received by the notch thereby locking the base with respect to the frame.

3. The mount of claim 2 wherein the shaft assembly further comprises the yoke and the yoke is disposed between the base and the frame to couple the base and the frame to one another.

4. The mount of claim 3 wherein the base includes an aperture on a side thereof for receiving an end of the yoke.

5. The mount of claim 4 further comprising a nut disposed within the aperture configured to receive the end of the yoke therein and wherein the shaft assembly is toollessly rotatable relative to the nut to define a minimum distance between the base and the frame when the lever mechanism is closed.

6. A mounting device for mounting an accessory to a rail of a firearm comprising:

a base member having a rail receiving cavity formed in a rail facing side of the base member;

a first groove formed along the rail facing side of the base member to engage the rail;

a frame member having a rail facing side that also faces the base member;

an opening formed in the frame member;

a second groove formed along the rail facing side of the frame member, the second groove having a first wall that cooperates with the base member and a second wall that engages the rail;

a shaft extending between the base member and the frame and passing through the opening formed in the frame member;

a fastener that engages a first end of the shaft proximate the base member;

a lever assembly secured to a second end of the shaft and isolated from the receiving cavity by the frame member, the lever assembly including a lever that is pivotably attached to the shaft, the lever being rotatable relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position so as to alter a distance between the first groove and the second groove and the fastener being rotatable relative to the shaft so as to define a distance between the first groove and the second groove associated with the closed positioned of the lever;

a pin that secures the lever assembly to the shaft; and

a lock that is pivotably connected to the lever and cooperates with a notch formed on the shaft to secure the lever in the closed position.

7. The mounting device of claim 6 further comprising a spring that biases the lock into the notch.

8. The mounting device of claim 6 further comprising at least one spring that biases that frame member toward the lever assembly and away from the base member.

9. The mounting device of claim 6 further comprising a projection that extends across the rail receiving cavity and that cooperates with a groove formed in the rail to define a position of the mounting device along a longitudinal length of the rail.

10. The mounting device of claim 9 wherein the projection is formed by the shaft.

11. A device for mounting to a rail of a firearm, the device configured to receive an accessory for mounting thereto, the device comprising:

a base member shaped to flank a top side and a first lateral side of the rail;

a frame configured to cooperate with the base member and a second lateral side of the rail;

a shaft extending laterally across the rail between the base member and the frame;

a lever that is pivotably attached to the shaft adjacent the frame and being rotatable between an open position wherein the frame and base member can be disengaged from the rail and a closed position wherein the frame and base member directly engage the rail such that the frame compresses the base member into engagement with the top side of the rail and biases the frame into the second lateral side of the rail and biases the frame into engagement with the second lateral side of the rail;

a fastener engaged with an end of the shaft that is opposite the lever to define a position of the base member relative to the frame when the lever is closed;

a pivot pin that engages the shaft and extends in a crossing direction relative to an axis of the shaft, the pivot pin being eccentrically attached to the lever; and

a notch formed in the shaft proximate the pivot pin that is configured to cooperate with a lock that is pivotably attached to the lever and prevent rotation of the lever relative to the frame when the lock is engaged with the notch.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the fastener cooperates with the shaft such that a combined length of the shaft and fastener is toollessly adjustable to change the position of the base member relative to the frame when the lever is closed.

13. The device of claim 11 further comprising at least one spring disposed between the base member and the frame to generate a separating bias therebetween as the lever moves from the closed position to the open position.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the fastener cooperates with a cavity formed in the base member.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the shaft only partially overlies the base member so as to cooperate with the top side of the rail in an interfering manner.