Flip attachment adapters, devices, systems and methods for firearms

• US 8,341,866 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grip Pod Systems International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grip Pod Systems International, LLC
• Inventors: Gaddini, Joseph D., Best, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US13/279,054
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 42/72, 42/94, 42/710.1, 89/14.2, 89/370.4
• US Class Current: 42/72
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/04 Folding or telescopic stocks or stock parts articulated or collapsible guns F41A11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

Foldable and flippable adapter devices, apparatus, systems and methods of attaching accessories to firearm rails. Accessories can include fore grips, and lights. Adapters can include a slidable thumb switch for locking a swinging plate with side rails to a main plate, and spring loaded detents for locking the swinging plate in substantially vertical orientations. A folding rail adapter can be substituted for the existing rail system on firearms to allow the rail to be directly attached to the firearm. A flipping rail adapter can have a pivotal lever which supports a folding rail in an open position. Springably biased detent pins allow the lever to lock open. Pushing the lever back will overcome the springs so that the pins can pass out of the detents allowing the folding rail to move to a folded position.

Claims

1. A firearm flip adapter for mounting accessories thereon, comprising:

an adapter member having an upper side and a lower side;

a clamp on the upper side of the adapter member for allowing the member to be clamped to picatinny rails located beneath a firearm; and

a swing plate pivotally attached to the lower side of the adapter member, the swing plate having picatinny side edges for supporting an accessory thereon;

a pivoting lever for holding the swing plate in a substantially vertical open position; and

a switch for allowing the swing plate to be released from a horizontal locked position to be able to rotate to the substantially vertical open position, wherein the switch includes a pivoting switch having a free end protruding sideways from the adapter assembly for allowing a finger of a user to move the switch.

2. The firearm adapter of claim 1, wherein the pivoting switch includes:

a spring for biasing the pivoting switch to the locked position.

3. The firearm adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a catch on a free end of the swinging plate for catching onto a protruding end on the pivoting switch, so that the swinging plate is held in the locked position.

4. The firearm adapter of claim 1, wherein the pivoting lever includes:

a lock position for locking the swinging plate in the substantially vertical position.

5. The firearm adapter of claim 4, further comprising:

a longitudinal slot down the lower side of the adapter member, the longitudinal slot for allowing a portion of the lever to rest therein when the swinging plate is in the locked closed position.

6. A method of attaching a foldable accessory mounting plate to a firearm, comprising the steps of:

providing a firearm having opposite facing picatinny rails underneath the firearm;

clamping upper sides of a top plate member about the picatinny rails;

pivotally attaching one end of a bottom plate member to the top plate member;

pivotally attaching a lever between the top plate member and the bottom plate member;

folding the bottom plate member into a folded horizontal position parallel to the top plate member by pivoting the top plate member relative to the bottom plate member, and pivoting the lever between the top plate member and the bottom plate member;

locking the bottom plate member into a substantially vertical position by a switch, which allows for the bottom plate member to pivot relative to the top plate member, and allows for the lever to pivot between the bottom plate member and the top plate member; and

pressing a detent pin into a detent surface on a side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

biasing the detent pin into the detent surface by a spring.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

pressing a first detent pin into a first detent surface on a side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position; and

pressing a second detent pin into a second detent surface on another side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

biasing the first detent pin into the first detent surface by a first spring; and

biasing the second detent pin into the second detent surface by a second spring.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

providing a longitudinal slot down the lower side of the adapter member; and

resting a portion of the lever into the longitudinal slot when the swinging plate is in the locked closed position.

11. A firearm flip adapter for mounting accessories thereon, comprising:

an adapter member having an upper side and a lower side;

a clamp on the upper side of the adapter member for allowing the member to be clamped to picatinny rails located beneath a firearm; and

a swing plate pivotally attached to the lower side of the adapter member, the swing plate having picatinny side edges for supporting an accessory thereon;

a pivoting lever for holding the swing plate in a substantially vertical open position wherein the pivoting lever includes a lock position for locking the swinging plate in the substantially vertical position;

a first detent surface on a side of the lever;

a first moveable detent pin forming the lock position by pressing an end of the detent pin into the detent surface on the side of the lever; and

a switch for allowing the swing plate to be released from a horizontal locked position to be able to rotate to the substantially vertical open position.

12. The firearm adapter of claim 11, further comprising:

a first spring for biasing the detent pin into the lock position.

13. The firearm adapter of claim 11, further comprising:

a second detent surface on another side of the lever; and

a second moveable detent pin forming a second lock position with an end of the second detent pin pressed into the second detent surface on the another side of the lever.

14. The firearm adapter of claim 13, further comprising:

a first spring for biasing the first detent pin into the first lock position; and

a second spring for biasing the second detent pin into the second lock position.

15. A method of attaching a foldable accessory mounting plate to a firearm, comprising the steps of:

providing a firearm having opposite facing picatinny rails underneath the firearm;

clamping upper sides of a top plate member about the picatinny rails;

pivotally attaching one end of a bottom plate member to the top plate member;

pivotally attaching a lever between the top plate member and the bottom plate member;

folding the bottom plate member into a folded horizontal position parallel to the top plate member by pivoting the top plate member relative to the bottom plate member, and pivoting the lever between the top plate member and the bottom plate member;

locking the bottom plate member into a substantially vertical position by a switch, which allows for the bottom plate member to pivot relative to the top plate member, and allows for the lever to pivot between the bottom plate member and the top plate member

pressing a first detent pin into a first detent surface on a side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position; and

pressing a second detent pin into a second detent surface on another side of the lever to lock the bottom plate member into the substantially vertical position.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

biasing the first detent pin into the first detent surface by a first spring; and

biasing the second detent pin into the second detent surface by a second spring.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

biasing the first detent pin into the first detent surface by a first spring; and

biasing the second detent pin into the second detent surface by a second spring.