Offset mountable accessory

• US 8,453,369 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• 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., Lamb, Craig Adam, Todd, Birten L., Yeates, Eric M., Gregory, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): KLEIN, GABRIEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/154,126
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 42/90, 421/24, 421/25, 421/26, 421/27, 421/48, 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.4, 403/323, 403/325, 403/373, 403/374.5, 403/374.3, 248/226.11, 248/228.2, 248/228.4, 248/231.31, 248/231.51, 248/229.13, 248/316.1, 248/316.2, 248/689
• 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 offset mountable accessory, including an accessory having an accessory body; and an accessory mounting clamp coupled to the accessory body, wherein the accessory mounting clamp is capable of mounting the accessory body to an accessory rail, such that the accessory body is mounted offset from the accessory rail.

Claims

1. An offset mountable accessory, comprising:

an accessory having an accessory body; and

an accessory mounting clamp, wherein the accessory mounting clamp comprises;

a primary locking arm coupled to the accessory body in a fixed position relative to the accessory body;

a secondary locking arm pivotably coupled to the accessory body;

a threaded adjustment rod anchored, proximate a first end, to the primary locking arm and threadedly coupled to a cam lever pin;

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;

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 the closed position, the secondary locking claw is pivoted towards the primary locking claw, and

wherein the accessory mounting clamp is capable of mounting the accessory body to an accessory rail, such that the accessory body is mounted offset from the accessory rail.

2. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, wherein the accessory rail is included on a frame of a handgun and wherein, when the accessory body is mounted to the accessory rail, via the accessory mounting clamp, at least a portion of a trigger guard of the handgun is exposed.

3. The offset mountable accessory of claim 2, the exposed portion of the trigger guard is sufficient to allow engagement of at least a portion of the exposed portion of the trigger guard by a retention system of a holster.

4. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, further comprising a primary locking claw formed proximate an upper end of the primary locking arm.

5. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, further comprising a secondary locking claw formed proximate an upper end of the secondary locking arm.

6. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, wherein the secondary locking arm is pivotably coupled to the accessory body such that the secondary locking arm is pivotable relative to the primary locking arm.

7. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, wherein the threaded adjustment rod extends through an aperture in the secondary locking arm.

8. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, 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.

9. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, wherein when the accessory body is mounted to an accessory rail, the accessory 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.

10. The offset mountable accessory of claim 1, 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.

11. An offset mountable accessory, comprising:

an accessory having an accessory body; and

an accessory mounting clamp, wherein the accessory mounting clamp comprises;

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

a secondary locking arm, wherein the secondary locking arm includes a secondary locking claw formed proximate an upper and of the secondary locking arm, and wherein the secondary locking arm is pivotably coupled to the accessory 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, proximate 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 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;

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 body so as to provide offset mounting of the accessory body on the accessory rail such that the accessory mounting clamp is capable of mounting the accessory body to an accessory rail, such that the accessory body is mounted offset from the accessory rail.

12. An offset mountable accessory, comprising:

an accessory having an accessory body; and

an accessory mounting clamp, wherein the accessory mounting clamp comprises;

a primary locking arm coupled to the accessory body in a fixed position relative to the accessory body;

a secondary locking arm pivotably coupled to the accessory body;

an adjustment rod anchored, proximate a first end, to the primary locking arm and attached to a cam lever pin wherein the cam lever pin includes a threaded aperture formed so as to allow the adjustment rod to be threadedly attached to the cam lever pin;

a cam lever, wherein the cam lever includes at least one camming surface;

wherein the cam lever pin is adjustably attached to the adjustment rod, and wherein the cam lever pin is pivotably attached to the cam lever, and

wherein the accessory mounting clamp is capable of mounting the accessory body to an accessory rail, such that the accessory body is mounted offset from the accessory rail.

13. The offset mountable accessory of claim 12, wherein the cam lever pin is pivotably attached to the cam lever such that when the cam lever is in the closed position, the secondary locking claw is pivoted towards the primary locking claw.

14. The offset mountable accessory of claim 12, 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 adjustment rod.