Modular rail cover

• US 7,562,483 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Falcon Industries (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steve Hines
• Inventors: Hines, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US11/706,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20080190002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 42/90, 42/96, 42/85, 42/710.1
• 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

A modular rail cover can have rail cover modules and rail cover sections that can be snapped onto or slid onto a mounting rail. Rail cover modules have recoil sockets into which recoil plugs are inserted. The recoil plugs engage recoil grooves such as those in Picatinny type mounting rails to fix the rail cover modules into position. The rail cover sections have section couplers that engage corresponding module couples on the rail cover modules. The section couplers and module couplers lock rail cover sections to rail cover modules. Section couplers can also lock rail cover sections to one another.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a rail cover module comprising a recoil socket; and

a recoil plug;

wherein a mounting rail comprises at least one recoil groove; and

wherein the recoil plug plugs into the recoil socket and engages the at least one recoil groove to fix the rail cover module to the mounting rail.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a firearm comprises the mounting rail.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein a hinge engages the recoil plug to the rail cover module such that the recoil plug rotates on the hinge to plug into the recoil socket and engage the recoil groove.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein rotating the recoil plug into the recoil socket when the recoil socket and the at least one recoil groove are misaligned disengages the recoil plug from the rail cover module.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein pressing the recoil plug into the recoil socket results in the in the recoil plug snapping into position such that the recoil plug cannot freely disengage from the recoil groove.

6. The system of claim 2:

wherein pressing the recoil plug into the recoil socket results in the in the recoil plug snapping into position;

wherein the recoil plug cannot freely disengage from the recoil groove when snapped into position; and

wherein snapping the recoil plug into position forms a hinge connecting the recoil plug to the rail cover module.

7. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a module coupler and a rail cover section comprising a section coupler; and

wherein the module coupler and the section coupler engage to join the rail cover module and the rail cover section end to end.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the mounting rail is a Picatinny rail.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein a toy firearm replica comprises the mounting rail.

10. A method comprising:

providing a rail cover module comprising a recoil socket;

wherein a mounting rail comprises at least one recoil groove;

wherein inserting a recoil plug into the recoil socket when the recoil socket is aligned to the at least one recoil groove locks the rail cover module in place on the mounting rail.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the mounting rail is a Picatinny rail.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein a firearm comprises the mounting rail.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein a toy firearm replica comprises the mounting rail.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a rail cover section comprising a section coupler;

wherein the rail cover module further comprises a module coupler; and

wherein the module coupler and the section coupler engage to join the rail cover module and the rail cover section end to end.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a hinge engages the recoil plug and the rail cover module such that the recoil plug rotates on the hinge to plug into the recoil socket and engage the recoil groove.

16. A system comprising:

a rail cover module comprising a module coupler;

a rail cover section comprising a section coupler;

wherein a mounting rail comprises at least one recoil groove; and

wherein the module coupler and the section coupler engage to join the rail cover module and the rail cover section end to end.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the mounting rail is a Picatinny rail.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein a firearm comprises the mounting rail.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein a toy firearm replica comprises the mounting rail.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising a recoil plug;

wherein the rail cover module further comprises a recoil socket; and

wherein the recoil plug plugs into the recoil socket and engages the at least one recoil groove to fix the rail cover module to the mounting rail.