U.S. patent application number 10/861406 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for optical accessory with mounting rail.
Invention is credited to Pikielny, Dov.
Application Number | 20050268519 10/861406 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34978710 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050268519 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pikielny, Dov |
December 8, 2005 |
Optical accessory with mounting rail
Abstract
An optical accessory including a first attachment device for
mounting another optical accessory thereto, the first attachment
device including a mounting rail, which may be formed with grooves.
The optical accessory may further include a second attachment
device adapted to be attached to a mounting rail external to the
optical accessory.
Inventors: |
Pikielny, Dov; (Herzliya,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dekel Patent Ltd.
Beit HaRofim
18 Menuha VeNahala Street, Room 27
Rehovot
IL
|
Family ID: |
34978710 |
Appl. No.: |
10/861406 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 11/003 20130101;
F41G 1/35 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/124 |
International
Class: |
F41G 001/38 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus comprising: an optical accessory comprising a first
attachment device for mounting another optical accessory thereto,
said first attachment device comprising a mounting rail.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mounting rail
is formed with grooves.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second
attachment device adapted to be attached to a mounting rail
external to said optical accessory.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second
attachment device comprises an attachment mechanism attachable to a
weapon light rail.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said attachment
mechanism comprises spring-biased lugs.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical
accessory comprises a flashlight.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said optical
accessory further comprises a battery and switch, said flashlight,
battery and switch being disposed in a casing.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical
accessory comprises a sighting device.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of
said optical accessories connected to one another, wherein the
first attachment device of one of said optical accessories is
mounted to the second attachment device of the other optical
accessory.
10. Apparatus comprising: an optical accessory comprising a first
attachment device for mounting another optical accessory thereto,
said first attachment device comprising a mounting rail; and a
second attachment device adapted to be attached to a mounting rail
external to said optical accessory.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second
attachment device comprises an attachment mechanism attachable to a
weapon light rail.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to optical
accessories, e.g., for weapons, such as but not limited to,
flashlights and telescopic sights, and particularly to such
accessories with mounting rail features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Police officers and other individuals who use guns in dark
conditions often desire a portable light to illuminate their
surroundings. A handheld light, such as a flashlight, can provide
illumination, but it becomes unmanageable when the gun user must
use both hands to control the gun. Accordingly, many weapon
manufacturers today manufacture and market weapons with provisions
for mounting a light on the weapon. For example, the major handgun
manufacturers, such as Springfield Armory, Glock, SIG and many
others, make handguns with a light mounting rail formed on the
pistol/rifle frame, such as on the underside or top or both sides
of the barrel. Such a mounting rail is often referred to in the art
as a "light rail" (or a MIL-STD M-1913 (Picatinny) rail, or
"universal rail", or "tactical rail", the terms being used
interchangeably throughout the specification and claims). The light
rail has been used for mounting whitelights, infrared and laser
illuminating devices and telescopic sights, for example. In many
weapons, the mounting rail is integral with the weapon and has a
dovetail recess. A mounting base with a complementary profile is
employed on the light or sighting device (or other accessory) which
permits a sliding engagement on the rail with little play.
[0003] It has been recognized in the art that the light should be
easily detached from the weapon, and should be attachable to
different objects other than the weapon. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
6,612,714 to Morre et al. describes an adapter for mounting a light
source to a gun and for alternatively attaching the light source to
a second object. The device includes a clip and detachable mount.
The clip has a flexible clip arm that allows the flashlight to be
clipped to a belt, a shirt pocket or other convenient location. The
mount attaches to a gun, weapon, tool or other implement and
cooperates with the clip arm on the clip so that the flashlight can
be easily connected to the gun, weapon, tool or other implement
when desired. The clip disconnects easily from the mount so that
the flashlight and clip can readily be removed from the mount and
clipped to another object.
[0004] An example of a sighting device mountable on a mounting rail
is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,893 to Spinner, in which a
mounting apparatus that has a rail is disposed on part of the
weapon in a longitudinal direction. The rail has a pair of
longitudinally extending opposed sides and a longitudinally
extending first attachment element on each of the opposed sides. A
removable mounting base has a pair of longitudinally extending side
edges and a longitudinally extending second attachment element on
each side edge. Each second attachment element is complimentary to
a corresponding one of the first attachment elements. The mounting
base is slidingly and longitudinally engaged with the rail via the
complimentary first and second attachment elements. The mounting
base is formed of at least two parts which are slidable against one
another in a transverse direction. A spring mechanism produces a
spring force and is arranged to bias the two parts of the mounting
base into engagement with the rail. The spring force is overcome by
manually squeezing the two parts to release the mounting base from
the rail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention seeks to provide novel optical
accessories, such as but not limited to, flashlights and telescopic
sights, with mounting rail features, as is described more in detail
hereinbelow. The optical accessories (e.g., flashlight or sighting
device) of the invention permit modularly mounting the accessories
to one another and to another object, such as a weapon. One or more
accessories may be mounted on the mounting rail, such as but not
limited to, a non-coherent light device, a coherent light device, a
telescopic sight, and/or an outdoors sport device (e.g., a mounting
climbing tool).
[0006] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention apparatus including an optical accessory
including a first attachment device for mounting another optical
accessory thereto, the first attachment device including a mounting
rail, which may be formed with grooves. The optical accessory may
further include a second attachment device adapted to be attached
to a mounting rail external to the optical accessory (such as
telescope with small magnification to telescope with large
magnification, telescope to laser pointing device or sighting
device to spotting light, for example). Other features may be
provided without limitation. For example, the second attachment
device may include an attachment mechanism attachable to a weapon
light rail. The attachment mechanism may include spring-biased
lugs. A pair of the optical accessories may be connected to one
another, wherein the first attachment device of one of the optical
accessories is mounted to the second attachment device of the other
optical accessory.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will be understood and appreciated
more fully from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an optical
accessory, in this case a flashlight, constructed and operative in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of another
optical accessory, in this case a sighting device, constructed and
operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the optical
accessories mounted on a weapon, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates an
optical accessory 10, constructed and operative in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] Optical accessory 10 may comprise a flashlight (e.g., weapon
light) having a casing 12, which includes a light 14 and a battery
16 disposed therein. A switch 18 may be used to operate the light
14, such as but not limited to, a momentary toggle/push switch or a
constant-on shuttle switch. Light 14 may comprise any suitable
light, such as but not limited to, a directional light, an infrared
light, an ultraviolet light, and/or a blinking light, with any
power and output of lumens.
[0013] Optical accessory 10 may be manufactured as one integral
unit, with casing 12 supplied with light 14, battery 16 and switch
18. Alternatively, any commercial light may be mounted in casing
12. For example, light 14 may include the X200 weapon light,
commercially available from SureFire, which includes a total
internal refection focusing lens and a tempered window with an
anti-reflective coating. Thus, optical accessory 10 may be sold as
an interchangeable body (accessory), or as a complete hand held
light.
[0014] Optical accessory 10 may include a first attachment device
for mounting another accessory thereto. For example, the first
attachment device may comprise, without limitation, a mounting rail
20, which may be integrally formed with case 12 or attached
thereto. Mounting rail 20 may be formed with grooves 22, such as
but not limited to, dovetail grooves, as in universal or Picatinny
rails, for example. Mounting rail 20 thus comprises a "female
attachment device" onto which other accessories may be mounted
(e.g., piggyback mounting thereon).
[0015] Optical accessory 10 may also include a mounting base 24
with an attachment mechanism 26 for attaching to a light rail 50 of
a weapon 52 (seen in FIG. 3). The attachment mechanism 26 may be
configured for attachment to dovetail recesses 54 of the weapon
light rail 50. The attachment mechanism 26 may include, without
limitation, a spring mechanism that produces a spring force and is
arranged to bias lugs 28 of the mounting base 24 into engagement
with the weapon light rail 50. The spring force may be overcome by
manually squeezing the lugs 28 to release the mounting base 24 from
the rail 50. Mounting base 24 thus comprises a "second attachment
device" for attaching to a mounting rail (in this case, a male
attachment device, the lugs 28 being the male fasteners that mate
with the dovetail grooves of the mounting rail, which are the
female fasteners).
[0016] The above are just some non-limiting examples of attachment
devices and others are also within the scope of the invention
(e.g., screws, wing nuts, clips, VELCRO straps and many
others.)
[0017] Optical accessory 10 may be manufactured of any suitable
material, such as but not limited to, metal or engineering plastics
and polymers. Optical accessory 10 may be used for any kind of
weapon (e.g., rifles and pistols), as well as in conjunction with
adapters for belts, holsters and other accessories.
[0018] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates another
optical accessory 30, constructed and operative in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Optical accessory 30 may comprise a sighting device (e.g.,
telescopic sight) having a casing 32, which includes one or more
lenses 34 (which may have any kind of coating) and a focusing
device 36, for example. Here too, optical accessory 30 may be sold
as an interchangeable body (accessory), or as a complete sighting
device.
[0020] Optical accessory 30 may include a first attachment device
for mounting another accessory thereto. For example, the first
attachment device may comprise, without limitation, a mounting rail
31, similar to the mounting rail 20 described hereinabove in FIG.
1, formed with grooves 29. Mounting rail 31 is a "female attachment
device" onto which other accessories may be mounted (e.g.,
piggyback mounting thereon).
[0021] Optical accessory 30 may also include a mounting base 35
with an attachment mechanism 38 with lugs 39 for attaching to light
rail 50 of weapon 52, as described hereinabove. for mounting base
24 and attachment mechanism 26 in FIG. 1. Mounting base 35 thus
comprises a second attachment device for attaching to a mounting
rail.
[0022] The optical accessories of the invention permit modularly
mounting the accessories to one another and to the weapon.
[0023] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly
shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present
invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the
features described hereinabove as well as modifications and
variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the
art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the
prior art.
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