Offset accessory mount and mounting system

• US 8,132,355 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Kincaid, Robert A., Gregory, Thomas M., Proc, John E., Todd, Birten L., Yeates, Eric M., Cook, Clifton L., Marx, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/799,959
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 42/90, 421/15, 421/24, 421/25, 421/26, 421/27, 421/46, 362/109, 362/10, 362/114, 362/110, 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.4, 403/323, 403/325, 403/373, 403/374.5, 403/374.3
• US Class Current: 42/124
• 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 an accessory band, a primary locking arm, a secondary locking arm, and 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 camming surface, such that when the cam lever is in a closed position, the camming 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 an accessory to an accessory rail, comprising:

an accessory band defining at least a portion of an accessory aperture;

a primary locking arm, wherein said primary locking arm includes a primary locking claw, and wherein said primary locking arm is coupled to said accessory band such that said primary locking arm is maintained in a fixed position relative to said accessory band;

a secondary locking arm, wherein said secondary locking arm includes a secondary locking claw, and wherein said secondary locking arm is pivotably coupled to said accessory band such that said secondary locking arm is pivotable relative to said primary locking arm;

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

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

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

wherein said primary locking arm and said secondary locking arm are coupled to said accessory band so as to provide offset mounting of said accessory band on said accessory rail such that said accessory band is offset from said central axis of said accessory rail.

2. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 1, wherein said threaded adjustment rod includes at least one spring portion that provides an amount of spring tension to said threaded adjustment rod.

3. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 1, wherein said secondary locking arm is biased to an open position.

4. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 1, wherein said cam lever includes a first camming surface and a second camming surface, such that when said cam lever is in a closed position, both said first camming surface and a second camming surface independently contact separate outer surface portions of said secondary locking arm.

5. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 1, wherein said primary locking claw is formed at an upper end of said primary locking arm and said secondary locking claw formed at an upper and of said secondary locking arm.

6. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 1, wherein when said cam lever is in said open position said accessory aperture of said accessory band is expanded.

7. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 1, wherein said primary locking arm and said secondary locking arm are permanently coupled to said accessory band.

8. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 1, wherein said primary locking arm is formed as an integral part of said accessory band.

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

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

an accessory band;

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

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

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

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

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

wherein said primary locking arm and said secondary locking arm are coupled to said accessory band so as to provide offset mounting of said accessory band on said accessory ail such that said accessory band is offset from said central axis of said accessory rail.

11. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 10, wherein said threaded adjustment rod includes at least one spring portion that provides an amount of spring tension to said threaded adjustment rod.

12. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 11, wherein said secondary locking arm is biased to an open position.

13. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 10, wherein said cam lever includes a first camming surface and a second camming surface, such that when said cam lever is in a closed position, both said first camming surface and a second camming surface independently contact separate outer surface portions of said secondary locking arm.

14. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 10, wherein said primary locking arm and said secondary locking arm are permanently coupled to said accessory band.

15. The accessory mounting clamp of claim 10, wherein said primary locking arm is formed as an integral part of said accessory band.

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