Machine gun accessory mount adapter

• US 20060288626A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kim, Paul Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/73
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 23/24 Turret gun mountings feeding, loading or guiding ammunition F41A9/00; mechanical elevating or traversing systems for turret guns F41A27/18
• 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

An adapter for mounting an accessory on a shroud such as is found on an M2 machine gun includes a rigid block embracing the shroud. Blunt-nosed helically threaded plugs penetrate the block and intrude partly into perforations of the shroud. Retaining rings, threaded oppositely to the threaded plugs, prevent the plugs from backing out. A key tool is provided to tighten the plugs and retaining rings. A longitudinally oriented T-rail projects radially from the block. A slide body engages the T-rail and includes a locking mechanism, a lamp assembly, a logically switched power control, a power cable, and a control cable with interchangeable switches.

Claims

1. An adapter for removably securing an accessory to a firearm having a shroud about the firearm barrel, the adapter comprising:

a block adapted to embrace the shroud; and

at least one set of three plugs adjustably securable through said block and adapted to engage the shroud.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said block encircles said shroud.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plugs threadedly engage said block.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said plugs engage said block by means of ACME threads.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising retaining rings threadedly engageable in said block in abutting relation to said plugs.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plugs engage said block by means of threads having a first pitch angle and said retaining rings engage said block by means of threads having a second pitch angle opposite said first pitch angle.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plugs are blunt-nosed.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plugs have a diameter predetermined to exceed the diameter of an identified surface feature of the shroud.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said plugs are at least partly convex-nosed.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plugs are adapted for smooth spiral advance into bracing contact with a surface of a shroud.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plugs are bored out centrally.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plugs include tails adapted to engage a tool.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said plugs include tails adapted to engage a first tool and said retaining rings encircle said tails when in said abutting relation to said plugs.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said retaining rings are adapted to engage a second tool.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said three plugs of said at least one set are angularly spaced apart and located substantially within a first plane transecting the longitudinal axis of the shroud at a first point.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said block includes at least one rail adapted for mounting an accessory.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including at least one rail adapted for mounting an accessory, said at least one rail being securable to said block.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including at least one rail adapted for mounting an accessory, said rail being securable to said block when said plugs and said retaining rings are engaged in said block, said at least one rail, when secured to said block, covering at least one of said plugs and at least one of said retaining rings.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said block includes a plurality of rails adapted for mounting accessories, a first of said rails being securable to said block when said plugs and said retaining rings are engaged in said block;

said rail, when secured to said block, covering at least one of said plugs and at least one of said retaining rings;

a second of said rails being so located on said block as not to cover any of said plugs and retaining rings.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, including a second set of three plugs, adjustably securable through said block and adapted to engage the shroud, angularly spaced apart and located substantially within a second plane transecting the longitudinal axis of the shroud at a second point longitudinally spaced apart from said first point.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said second point is longitudinally separated from said first point by a distance equal to a longitudinal separation between recurrences of a predetermined surface feature of the shroud.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said plugs in each of said sets of plugs are angularly spaced apart an angle equal to a predetermined angular separation between recurrences of a predetermined surface feature of the shroud.

23. Block-bracing apparatus, comprising:

a block;

at least three plugs, engageable through said block via threads having a first orientation, said plugs having plug tails with a first tool-engaging adaptation; and

at least three retaining rings, said retaining rings being positionable in abutting relation to said plugs, respectively, and in surrounding relation to said tails, said retaining rings being engageable in said block via threads oriented opposite said first orientation, said retaining rings having a second tool-engaging adaptation.

24. Block-bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a single tool adapted alternatively to engage said first and second tool-engaging adaptations.

25. Block-bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said first tool includes a centrally located cruciform bit and said second tool includes a plurality of peripherally arranged pegs.

26. Block-bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said three plugs are angularly spaced apart and located substantially within a first plane transecting the longitudinal axis of the shroud at a first point, said apparatus further including a second set of three plugs, adjustably securable through said block and adapted to engage the shroud, angularly spaced apart and located substantially within a second plane transecting the longitudinal axis of the shroud at a second point longitudinally spaced apart from said first point.

27. Apparatus for controlling a light emitter, comprising:

a logical switch electrically coupled to the light emitter;

a power input cable electrically connectable to said logical switch and to an electric power source;

a control input cable electrically connectable to said logical switch; and

at least one control input device electrically connectable to said control cable for signaling said logical switch via said control input cable.

28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein said control input device includes at least one switch.

29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said control input device includes a plurality of switches each having a plurality of states including an ON state, said control input device sending an ON signal only when at least two of said plurality of switches are set in said ON state.

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 28, further including a hand grip containing at least one switch.

31. Apparatus for mounting equipment, comprising:

a first component including a rail;

a second component including a slide adapted for longitudinal engagement to said rail, said slide having an open end adapted for receiving said rail endwise;

a lock movably confined in said second component proximate said open end, said lock having a closed position wherein said lock confines said rail in said open end and an open position wherein said open end may receive or release said rail;

an appendage projecting from said lock; and

a control pin movably confined in said second component proximate said lock, said control pin having a notch shaped and oriented to receive said appendage, said control pin having a free position wherein said notch is aligned to receive said appendage thereby allowing said lock to be in said open position, and a blocking position wherein said notch is misaligned with said appendage thereby preventing said lock from being in said open position.

32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 31, including:

a light emitter assembly carried by said second component.

33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said lock is biased in said closed position.

34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33, wherein said control pin is biased in said blocking position and manually movable to said free position.

35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said lock has lateral projections adapted for manually moving said lock between said closed and open positions.

36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said control pin is movable from said free position to said blocking position only when said lock is in said closed position.

37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 36, said apparatus further including a first surface feature on said appendage and a second surface feature on said control pin, said first surface feature and said second surface feature being adapted to cooperate to retain said lock in said open position while said appendage retains said control pin in said free position.

38. A key tool for tightening a plurality of types of bolts, comprising:

a rigid core having an axis of rotation;

a first side of said core, said first side including a first key bit aligned with said axis of rotation;

a second side of said core, said second side including a second key bit aligned with said axis of rotation; and

a rigid torque handle protruding from said core outside said axis of rotation.

39. A key tool as set forth in claim 38, wherein said torque handle is slidably disposed through said core and has enlarged ends for preventing said handle from sliding free of said core.

40. A method of attaching an accessory mounting block to a shroud of an M2 machine gun, comprising the steps of:

placing an accessory mounting block in embracing relation to the shroud;

inserting at least three plugs through said block until they contact the shroud; and

tightening said three plugs onto the shroud.

41. A method as set forth in claim 40, further including the step of placing said block in a preferred alignment with the shroud while tightening said plugs.

42. A method as set forth in claim 40, further including the step of securing a retaining ring behind each of said plugs after tightening said plugs.

43. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the steps of inserting and tightening include a rotation of said plugs in helically threaded engagement with said block resulting in an advancement of said plugs onto the shroud.

44. A method as set forth in claim 43, further including the step of securing a retaining ring behind each of said plugs after tightening said plugs.

45. A method as set forth in claim 44, wherein the step of securing said retaining rings includes a rotation of said retaining rings in helically threaded engagement with said block resulting in an advancement of said retaining rings into abutting contact with said plugs after tightening said plugs.

46. A method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the step of securing said retaining rings includes a rotation of said retaining rings opposite said rotation of said step of inserting and tightening said plugs.

47. A method as set forth in claim 40, further including a step of finding perforations on the shroud and aligning said plugs with the perforations before tightening said plugs.

48. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein first and second sets of three plugs each are so inserted and tightened.

50. Apparatus as set forth in claim 48, wherein said plugs are positioned in said block for being alignable with respective ones of said perforations when said block embraces said shroud.

49. A firearm in combination with an accessory adapter, comprising:

a firearm;

a shroud fixed to said firearm;

a plurality of perforations formed in said shroud;

a block adapted to embrace said shroud;

an accessory adapter removably secured to said block; and

at least one set of three plugs adjustably securable through said block and adapted to engage said perforations.