U.S. patent application number 11/672763 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for accessory rail assembly for firearms.
Invention is credited to Michael D. Haugen.
Application Number | 20070199225 11/672763 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38442685 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199225 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haugen; Michael D. |
August 30, 2007 |
Accessory Rail Assembly for Firearms
Abstract
An accessory rail assembly includes an accessory rail and
mounting members that can be mounted to the accessory rail in a
variety of rotational and axial orientations.
Inventors: |
Haugen; Michael D.; (Yelm,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING 32ND FLOOR
P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Family ID: |
38442685 |
Appl. No.: |
11/672763 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60771544 |
Feb 8, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 11/003
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/085 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/02 20060101
F41C023/02 |
Claims
1. An accessory rail assembly, comprising: an elongated accessory
rail having at least one side mounting feature and at least one
multi-slot mounting portion on a top surface of the accessory rail,
the at least one multi-slot mounting portion being adapted to mount
a firearm accessory; and at least one mounting member, the at least
one mounting member being adapted for removable attachment to the
at least one side mounting feature and having a multi-slot mounting
portion, the multi-slot mounting portion being adapted to mount a
firearm accessory along a side of the accessory rail when the at
least one mounting member is mounted in the at least one side
mounting feature.
2. The accessory rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one
side mounting feature comprises at least one mounting aperture
formed in a side surface of the accessory rail.
3. The accessory rail assembly of claim 2, wherein each mounting
member comprises at least one mounting aperture.
4. The accessory rail assembly of claim 3, further comprising at
least one attachment member sized to be received in the at least
one mounting aperture in the accessory rail and the at least one
mounting aperture in the at least one mounting member.
5. The accessory rail assembly of claim 3, wherein each mounting
aperture in the at least one mounting member extends substantially
through the mounting member in which it is formed.
6. The accessory rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one
mounting member comprises a plurality of mounting members.
7. The accessory rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one
side mounting feature comprises a first side mounting feature
formed in a first side of the accessory rail and a second side
mounting feature formed in a second side of the accessory rail.
8. The accessory rail assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one
multi-slot mounting portion on a top surface of the accessory rail
comprises a front multi-slot mounting portion at a front of the
accessory rail and a rear multi-slot mounting portion at a rear of
the accessory rail.
9. The accessory rail assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one
mounting member comprises a plurality of mounting members each
comprising a base portion and an extension portion extending away
from the base portion.
10. An accessory rail assembly, comprising: an elongated accessory
rail, comprising: a first side mounting feature on a first side of
the accessory rail; a second side mounting feature on a second side
of the accessory rail; and at least one multi-slot mounting portion
on a top surface of the accessory rail, the multi-slot mounting
portion being adapted to mount a firearm accessory; and a first
mounting member adapted for removable attachment to the side
mounting features and having a first multi-slot mounting portion,
the first multi-slot mounting portion being adapted to mount a
firearm accessory at either side of the accessory rail when the
first mounting member is mounted in one of the side mounting
features.
11. The accessory rail assembly of claim 10, wherein the first
mounting feature comprises a plurality of first side mounting
apertures in the first side of the accessory rail.
12. The accessory rail assembly of claim 11, wherein the second
mounting feature comprises a plurality of second side mounting
apertures in the second side of the accessory rail.
13. The accessory rail assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least
one multi-slot mounting portion on a top surface of the accessory
rail comprises a front multi-slot mounting portion at a front of
the accessory rail and a rear multi-slot mounting portion at a rear
of the accessory rail.
14. The accessory rail assembly of claim 10, wherein each mounting
member includes at least one mounting aperture.
15. The accessory rail assembly of claim 14, wherein each mounting
member comprises a base portion and an extension portion extending
away from the base portion.
16. A method of mounting accessories to a firearm, comprising:
providing a firearm comprising a receiver and a barrel; mounting an
accessory rail to an upper surface of the firearm, the accessory
rail comprising: a first side mounting feature along a first side
of the accessory rail; a second side mounting feature at a second
side of the accessory rail; and at least one multi-slot mounting
portion at a top surface of the accessory rail, the multi-slot
mounting portion being adapted to mount a firearm accessory;
providing a plurality of mounting members; mounting one of the
mounting members at the first side mounting feature; mounting one
of the mounting members at the second side mounting feature; and
mounting a firearm accessory to each mounting member.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising mounting an optical
device to the at least one multi-slot mounting portion on a top
surface of the accessory rail.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one multi-slot
mounting portion on a top surface of the accessory rail comprises a
front multi-slot mounting portion at a front of the accessory rail
and a rear multi-slot mounting portion at a rear of the accessory
rail.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising mounting an optical
device to the at least one multi-slot mounting portion on a top
surface of the accessory rail.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein each mounting member comprises
a side multi-slot mounting portion.
21. A method of mounting accessories to a firearm, comprising:
providing a firearm comprising a receiver and a barrel; mounting an
accessory rail to an upper surface of the firearm, the accessory
rail comprising: a first side mounting feature at a first side of
the accessory rail; and at least one mounting portion at a top
surface of the accessory rail, the mounting portion being adapted
to mount a firearm accessory; providing at least one mounting
member; mounting the at least one mounting member at the first side
mounting feature of the accessory rail; and mounting a firearm
accessory to the at least one mounting member.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one mounting
portion at the top surface of the accessory rail comprises a front
multi-slot mounting portion at a front of the accessory rail and a
rear multi-slot mounting portion at a rear of the accessory
rail.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising mounting a first
optical device to the front multi-slot mounting portion.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising mounting a second
optical device to the rear multi-slot mounting portion.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein mounting the at least one
mounting member at the first side mounting feature comprises
securing the at least one mounting member to the accessory rail
using at least one threaded attachment device.
26. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one mounting
member comprises a multi-slot mounting portion.
27. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one mounting
member occupies a first axial position at the first side mounting
feature of the accessory rail.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: removing the at
least one mounting member from the first side mounting feature of
the accessory rail; and mounting the at least one mounting member
at the first side mounting feature of the accessory rail in a
second axial position.
29. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one mounting
member occupies a first rotational orientation with respect to the
accessory rail.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising: removing the at
least one mounting member from the first side mounting feature of
the accessory rail; and mounting the at least one mounting member
at the first side mounting feature of the accessory rail in a
second rotational orientation with respect to the accessory rail.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The technical field is related to an accessory rail mounting
system for mounting accessories to firearms.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Accessory mounting systems for firearms are known. Typical
accessory mounting systems are supported on a top surface of the
firearm, and are adapted to mount devices such as optical sights.
Conventional accessory mounting systems do not, however, provide a
mounting platform for various type and size firearm accessories to
be mounted at the sides of the firearm.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
accessory rail assembly comprises an elongate accessory rail that
can be mounted to a firearm. The accessory rail assembly can
include one or more mounting features that allow accessories to be
mounted at a top surface of the accessory rail. One or more
mounting members also can be releasably attached to one or both
sides of the accessory rail to provide additional mounting
platforms for firearm accessories.
[0004] According to a further aspect of the invention, the mounting
members can be mounted to the accessory rail in a variety of axial
and rotational orientations. The large number of mounting
configurations for the mounting members provides additional
flexibility in mounting accessories to the firearm.
[0005] Examples of accessories that can be mounted on the accessory
rail assembly include optical sights and other optical devices,
target illuminators, etc.
[0006] Other aspects, features, and details of the embodiments of
the present invention can be more completely understood by
reference to the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings figures and
from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0007] According to common practice, the various features of the
drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be
expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of
the invention.
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an accessory rail
assembly having modular mounting members according to a first
embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mounting member of the
accessory rail assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the accessory rail assembly
with the mounting members oriented in a first configuration.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the accessory rail assembly
with the mounting members oriented in a second configuration.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the accessory rail assembly
mounted to a firearm and with an accessory mounted on a rear
portion of the accessory rail.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the accessory rail assembly
mounted to a firearm with multiple accessories mounted on the
accessory rail assembly.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the accessory rail assembly
mounted to a firearm and with an accessory mounted on a rear
portion of the accessory rail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The accessory rail assembly according to the present
embodiments generally relates to a platform for attaching a variety
of accessories at upper and side portions of a firearm. The firearm
can be, for example, a rifle, a shotgun or other long gun, and can
be gas-actuated, inertia-actuated, semiautomatic, pump action, bolt
action, etc. The accessory rail assembly allows mounting of a
series of different type and configuration accessories such as, for
example, stand alone in-line clip-on night vision systems, optical
scopes, target pointer/illuminators (TPIAL) such as Mil Spec
AN/PEQ-2 or AN/PEQ-4, white light illumination devices, as well AS
other devices. The accessory rail assembly may be used, for
example, with Remington 700-based firearms such as, for example,
the M24 sniper rifle, the M24A2 sniper rifle, the M24A3 long range
sniper system, the Urban Sniper Rifle 700P, and the Light Tactical
Rifle (LTR).
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the individual
components of a first example embodiment of an accessory rail
assembly 100 according to the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a modular mounting member 80 of the
accessory rail assembly 100. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the
accessory rail assembly 100 generally includes an elongate
accessory rail 10 and one or more mounting members 80 that are
attachable to the sides of the accessory rail 10 in a variety of
axial and rotational orientations. Examples of the accessory rail
assembly 100 with various accessories mounted thereto are
illustrated in FIGS. 5-7.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, the accessory rail 10 generally is
divided into a front portion 12, a medial portion 14, and a rear
portion 16. The front portion 12 comprises a front multi-slot
mounting portion 20 having a plurality of spaced, transversely or
laterally extending rails 22 separated by slots 23 at an upper
surface of the rail 10. The alternating rails 22 and slots 23 may
have the configuration of a Picatinny rail mounting system
(MIL-STD-1913) and provide a platform for firearm accessories to be
mounted at a front end of the accessory rail 10. The front portion
12 of the accessory rail 10 further can have a first contoured
undersurface 54 that may be designed to generally conform to the
exterior contour of an upper surface of a firearm to which the
assembly 100 is to be mounted. For example, if the upper surface of
the firearm is generally cylindrical, such as at the surface of a
firearm barrel, the undersurface 54 can be concave cylindrical in
shape.
[0018] The medial portion 14 includes modular mounting recesses 30
located on each side of the medial portion 14. The mounting
recesses 30 are elongate recesses extending longitudinally or
axially through each side of the accessory rail 10. A plurality of
axially spaced transverse mounting apertures 32 extend through the
accessory rail 10 and terminate at the mounting recesses 30 on
either side of the accessory rail 10. Each mounting aperture 32 can
be, for example, formed from a single bore extending through the
accessory rail 10, or as a blind bore extending from a mounting
recess 30 into and partly through the sides of the accessory rail
10. The mounting recesses 30 serve as seats for accommodating the
mounting members 80. The side mounting recesses 30 may be, for
example, longitudinally extending stepped depressions milled into
the sides of the accessory rail 10. The medial portion 14 of the
accessory rail 10 may have a generally flat or planar upper surface
15. The first contoured undersurface 54 of the front portion 12 may
extend to a second contoured undersurface 56 (shown in FIG. 3) of
the medial portion 14.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting members 80 can have
mounting projections 88 sized and shaped to be accommodated within
and to slide longitudinally or axially within the mounting recesses
30. Each mounting member 80 includes a pair of spaced mounting
apertures 82 that are spaced a distance selected to correspond to
the spacing between associated pairs of the mounting apertures 32
in the mounting recesses 30. The series of spaced mounting
apertures 32 in the accessory rail 10 allow the mounting members 80
to be mounted at several axial positions in the mounting recesses
30 along the length of the rail 10. The mounting members 80 may be
secured in the mounting recesses 30 by attachment members 94
threaded through the mounting apertures 82 and into the apertures
32 extending through the accessory rail 10.
[0020] Each mounting member 80 includes a multi-slot mounting
portion 81 comprising spaced transversely or laterally extending
rails 84 separated by slots 85. The alternating rails 84 and slots
85 may have the configuration of a Picatinny rail mounting system
(MIL-STD-1913) and provide a platform for firearm accessories to be
mounted at the sides of a firearm. Each mounting member 80 includes
a base portion 90 and an extension portion 92, with a curved relief
surface 86 extending between the base portion 90 and the extension
portion 92. As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting members 80 can be
rotated so that the extension portions 92 point toward either end
of the accessory rail 10.
[0021] The rear portion 16 (FIG. 3) of the accessory rail 10
includes a rear multi-slot mounting portion 40 having a plurality
of axially spaced, transversely or laterally extending rails 42
separated by slots 43 at an upper surface of the rail 10. The
alternating rails 42 and slots 43 may have the configuration of a
Picatinny rail mounting system (MIL-STD-1913) and provide a
platform for firearm accessories to be mounted at a rear end of the
accessory rail 10. Pairs of mounting apertures 44, 46 may extend
vertically through the rear portion 16 of the accessory rail 10.
Threaded attachment members 50 can be advanced through the mounting
apertures 44, 46 and secured to an upper surface of a firearm to
secure the accessory rail 10 to the firearm. A recoil pin 58 may be
mounted at the underside of the rear portion 16, and may be
positioned to bear against the inside of a forward portion of a
firearm receiver. The recoil pin 58 minimizes the firing recoil
impulse transmitted to accessories mounted on the accessory rail
assembly 100.
[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the mounting members 80 mounted in
differing orientations in the side modular mounting recesses 30.
According to one aspect of the invention, the mounting members 80
can be rotated such that the extension portions 92 face toward
either the front or the rear of the firearm to which the accessory
rail 10 is mounted. The plurality of spaced mounting apertures 32
also allow the mounting members 80 to assume differing axial
locations along the length of the accessory rail 10. The large
number of possible rotational and axial orientations of the
mounting members 80 allows accessories to be attached to the
firearm via the mounting members 80 in a large number of
orientations, which increases the versatility and utility of the
firearm to which the accessory rail assembly 100 is attached. If
desired, the mounting members 80 may be identical, so that the
members 80 can be made interchangeable. The mounting members 80 may
also be wholly or partially asymmetric with respect to a bisecting
plane extending through a center of the mounting members 80 (e.g.,
a plane extending through and bisecting both mounting apertures
82). This feature allows the mounting members 80 to assume a larger
number of configurations on the accessory rail 10.
[0023] As also shown in FIG. 3, a clearance recess 62 can be milled
or otherwise formed in the lower surface of the rear portion 16 of
the accessory rail 10. The clearance recess 62 may be formed to
allow for access to the chamber of a firearm or to other firearm
components, to allow for cartridge ejection from the firearm firing
chamber, and for other purposes.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the accessory rail assembly
100 mounted to a firearm F and with an accessory A1 mounted on the
rear multi-slot mounting portion 40 of the accessory rail 10. Two
mounting members 80 are mounted to sides of the accessory rail 10.
The exemplary accessory A1 is a rifle scope having a mounting
device M1 that mates with or otherwise engages the transverse rails
42 and slots 43 of the rear multi-slot mounting portion 40. The
mounting device M1 may be of a known configuration, such as, for
example, a mounting device used in a 1913 Picatinny rail mounting
system (MIL-STD-1913), and may be designed to mate securely with
the rails 42 and slots 43. The axial position of the accessory A1
along the accessory rail 10 may therefore be determined by
engagement of the mounting device M1 with selected ones of the
axially spaced, transverse rails 42 and slots 43. One or both of
the mounting members 80 may be mounted in respective mounting
recesses 30 in any desired axial position along the recesses 30,
with the extension portions 92 facing either toward the barrel B or
the receiver R.
[0025] An exemplary method of mounting the accessory rail assembly
100 to a firearm F will now be discussed with reference to FIGS.
1-5. The accessory rail assembly 100 may be mounted to the firearm
F by first cleaning upper mounting surfaces on the firearm F. The
undersurfaces 56, 60 (FIG. 3) of the accessory rail 10 may also be
cleaned. An alcohol or acetone-based solvent, for example, can be
used for cleaning the contacting surfaces. An adhesive material,
such as LOCTITE.RTM., for example, additionally can be applied to
the undersurfaces 56, 60 of the accessory rail 10. The rear portion
16 of the accessory rail 10 is then placed on an upper surface of
the firearm F, such as at the upper surface of the firearm receiver
R, so that the undersurfaces 56, 60 of the accessory rail 10 are
adhered thereto. Attachment members 50 are then threaded downwardly
through the mounting apertures 44, 46 in the accessory rail 10 and
further advanced into corresponding threaded mounting apertures
(not shown) in the firearm F. The recoil pin 58 may be mounted to
bear against the inside of the forward portion of the firearm
receiver R. When the accessory rail assembly 100 is mounted as
shown in FIG. 5, the clearance recess 62 is located above an
ejection port P in the receiver R to provide clearance for ejected
shell casings during firing.
[0026] After securing the accessory rail 10 to the firearm F, the
mounting members 80 may be secured to the accessory rail 10 by
threading the attachment members 94 (FIG. 1) through the mounting
apertures 82 in the members 80 and into the mounting apertures 32
in the accessory rail 10. The mounting members 80 can be mounted to
the accessory rail 10 in a large number of axial and rotational
orientations and therefore provide versatile mounting platforms by
which accessories can be mounted at the sides of the firearm F.
Aiming light accessories such as, for example, AN-PEQ-2A, white
light illuminators such as weapons flashlights, and visible laser
systems can be mounted to the mounting members 80 before or after
the mounting members are attached to the accessory rail 10.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the accessory rail
assembly 100 mounted to a firearm F, with the rifle scope A1
mounted in the rear multi-slot mounting portion 40, and a second
accessory A2 mounted at the front of the accessory rail assembly
100. The exemplary second accessory A2 includes a mounting device
M2 that engages the rails 22 and slots 23 of the front multi-slot
mounting portion 20. The mounting device M2 may be of a known
configuration, such as a mounting device used in a 1913 Picatinny
rail mounting system (MIL-STD-1913). One exemplary accessory A2, as
shown in FIG. 6, is a Universal Night Sight.RTM. (UNS.RTM.) (Mil
Spec AN/PVS-22, available from Optical Systems Technology) mounted
for use in conjunction with the scope A1.
[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates the accessory rail assembly 100 mounted
to a firearm F and with an exemplary third accessory A3 mounted in
the rear multi-slot mounting portion 40 of the accessory rail
assembly 100. The exemplary accessory A3, shown in FIG. 7, is a
Leupold and Stevens Mark 4 M3 LR/T 3.5-10X variable power day
optic, although other accessories also can be used.
[0029] According to the above-described embodiments, accessories
can be mounted to firearms in a large number of configurations. For
example, the accessory rail assembly 100 allows accessories to be
mounted at an upper surface and along the sides of a firearm. The
mounting members 80 can be mounted to the accessory rail 10 in a
variety of rotational and axial orientations, allowing for a
variety of custom accessory arrangements. Examples of firearm
accessories that may be attached to the mounting members 80 include
laser illuminators, white light illuminators, sling mounts, and
other items.
[0030] The attachment members 50, 94 used for assembling and
mounting the accessory rail assembly 100 can be of any type or form
suitable for attaching individual members together. For example,
the attachment members 50, 94 can be threaded screws. The screws
can be, for example, hex head screws or other types of screws. A
threaded insert may be included in any of the mounting apertures
disclosed in this specification.
[0031] The exemplary multi-slot mounting portions 20, 40, 81
illustrated in the specification may correspond to the 1913
Picatinny rail mounting system. Other rail/slot mounting
arrangements may also be incorporated in the mounting portions 20,
40, 81.
[0032] The firearm F may be, for example, a gas actuated or
semiautomatic long gun, a pump action shotgun, a gas actuated
rifle, an inertia action firearm, a bolt action firearm, or other
type of firearm. The accessory rail assembly 100 can be configured
to work with either long and short action models and may be adapted
as degreed models for long range systems.
[0033] The components of the accessory rail assembly 100 can be
made from, for example, conventional durable, high strength
materials including metals, such as aluminum, hardened steel,
composites, and other materials.
[0034] The foregoing description of the invention illustrates and
describes the present invention. Additionally, the disclosure shows
and describes only selected embodiments of the invention, but it is
to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various
other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable
of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive
concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings,
and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art.
* * * * *