U.S. patent application number 13/093655 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-25 for accessory mounting mechanism for small arms.
Invention is credited to James J. Farquhar, William G. Gnesda.
Application Number | 20120266513 13/093655 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47020180 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120266513 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gnesda; William G. ; et
al. |
October 25, 2012 |
Accessory Mounting Mechanism for Small Arms
Abstract
A bipod attachment mechanism for small arms that is releasably
attached to an elongated rail adaptor is disclosed. The attachment
mechanism removably mounts an accessory to a small arms weapon. The
bipod attachment mechanism includes a rail attachment mechanism and
a grip element having an upper end and a lower end, and including a
hollow interior cavity. A pin-receiving section includes an
aperture for receiving an accessory mounting pin, and a
spring-biased catch mechanism for securing the accessory mounting
pin.
Inventors: |
Gnesda; William G.;
(Imperial Beach, CA) ; Farquhar; James J.;
(Coronado, CA) |
Family ID: |
47020180 |
Appl. No.: |
13/093655 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/72 ; 224/149;
42/71.01; 42/90; 42/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/12 20130101;
F41G 11/003 20130101; F41A 23/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/72 ; 42/71.01;
42/90; 42/94; 224/149 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/12 20060101
F41C023/12; F41C 33/00 20060101 F41C033/00; F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00; F41C 23/00 20060101 F41C023/00; F41C 23/22 20060101
F41C023/22 |
Claims
1. An accessory mounting mechanism for small arms comprising: a
grip element including a pin-receiving section and an attaching
element, the attaching element securing the grip element to a small
arm; and a mounting pin secured to a small arms accessory, the
mounting pin being received in the pin-receiving section of the
grip element, the mounting pin releasably locking the accessory
onto the grip element.
2. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the pin-receiving
section includes an aperture to receive the mounting pin and a
pin-engaging element.
3. The mounting mechanism of claim 2, wherein the mounting pin
includes a tapered tip forming a head, a base of the head having a
first diameter, the mounting pin further including a neck having a
second diameter smaller than the first diameter, such that the
pin-engaging element is received in the neck in a locked position
that secures the mounting pin in the pin-receiving section.
4. The mounting mechanism of claim 3, wherein the pin-engaging
element is spring-biased toward the locked position.
5. The mounting mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a
pushbutton that when depressed overcomes the spring-bias of the
pin-engaging element to disengage the pin-engaging element from the
mounting pin so that the mounting pin can be removed from the pin
receiving section, thereby releasing the accessory from the small
arm.
6. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the small arms
accessory is a bipod comprising a head section, a pivot section,
and two extendable legs, the legs being mounted to allow pivotal
movement of the pivot section relative to the head section, the
pivot section moving from a use position to a carry position.
7. The mounting mechanism of claim 6, wherein the mounting pin is
fixed to the head section.
8. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grip element
further comprises a handgrip with an interior cavity, the interior
cavity including a lower end with a threaded opening, the grip
element further including a threaded cap secured in the threaded
opening to enclose the cavity.
9. The mounting mechanism of claim 8, further comprising an
elongate sling member having a first end secured within the cavity
of the handgrip and a second end secured to the threaded cap.
10. The mounting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the threaded cap is
mountable on a butt stock of the small arm, the sling member
thereby extending from the handgrip to the butt stock.
11. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the
grip element includes an attaching element that secures the grip
element to an accessory attachment rail on the small arm.
12. A mounting mechanism adapted to secure an accessory to a
weapon, the mounting mechanism comprising: a grip element; a rail
attachment mechanism to secure the grip element to a rail of the
weapon; a pin-receiving section having an aperture to receive a
mounting pin of the accessory; and a spring-biased pin-engaging
element to selectively engage the mounting pin of the
accessory.
13. The mounting mechanism of claim 12, wherein the mounting pin
includes a tapered tip forming a head, a base of the head having a
first diameter, the mounting pin further including a neck having a
second diameter smaller than the first diameter, such that the
pin-engaging element is received in the neck in a locked position
that secures the mounting pin in the pin-receiving section.
14. The mounting mechanism of claim 13, wherein the pin-engaging
element is spring-biased toward the locked position.
15. The mounting mechanism of claim 13, further comprising a
pushbutton that when depressed overcomes the spring-bias of the
pin-engaging element to disengage the pin-engaging element from the
mounting pin so that the mounting pin can be removed from the pin
receiving section, thereby releasing the accessory from the small
arm.
16. The mounting mechanism of claim 12, wherein the small arms
accessory is a bipod comprising a head section, a pivot section,
and two extendable legs, the legs being mounted to allow pivotal
movement of the pivot section relative to the head section, the
pivot section moving from a use position to a carry position.
17. The mounting mechanism of claim 16, wherein the mounting pin is
fixed to the head section.
18. The mounting mechanism of claim 12, wherein the grip element
further comprises an interior cavity, the interior cavity including
a lower end with a threaded opening, the grip element further
including a threaded cap secured in the threaded opening to enclose
the cavity.
19. The mounting mechanism of claim 18, further comprising an
elongate sling member having a first end secured within the cavity
of the handgrip and a second end secured to the threaded cap.
20. The mounting mechanism of claim 19, wherein the threaded cap is
mountable on a butt stock of the small arm, the sling member
thereby extending from the handgrip to the butt stock.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to firearm
accessories. The invention relates more specifically to an
attachment mechanism to attach a bipod to a weapon, a small arm
that is typically a military weapon.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Military small arms must serve multiple purposes in the
field. A soldier in the field desires that his rifle be effective,
lightweight and easily maneuverable. This is particularly true when
the soldier is operating in an urban combat environment, where
maneuverability in close quarters can be a matter of life and
death. However, since the military small arm is also used in other
environments, it must versatile enough to fulfill multiple combat
roles. One such role requires stability not generally found in the
short-barreled rifle that is the standard issue military weapon. To
maximize the stability of his weapon, the soldier looks for a
stable rest in order to increase the accuracy of his weapon.
[0005] The most reliable stable rest comes in the form of a bipod
mounted to the military small arm. A distinct disadvantage to a
permanent mounting of the bipod, however, arises due to the
increased weight and reduced maneuverability of the weapon with the
bipod mounted. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a
bipod mounting system that is readily adapted to current military
small arms. More particularly, it would be advantageous to provide
a bipod that is readily removable, and that is easily stowed for
carry when it is removed from the small arm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Various embodiments of the accessory mounting mechanism for
small arms disclosed herein may include a grip element including a
pin-receiving section and an attaching element. The attaching
element is adapted to secure the grip element to the small arm. A
mounting pin secured to the small arms accessory is received in the
pin-receiving section of the grip element. The mounting pin
releasably locks the accessory onto the grip element.
[0007] The pin-receiving section may include an aperture to receive
the mounting pin and a pin-engaging element. The mounting pin may
include a tapered tip forming a head. The base of the head has a
first diameter. A neck of the mounting pin has a second diameter
smaller than the first diameter. This allows the pin-engaging
element to be received in the neck. When the pin-engaging element
is received in the neck of the mounting pin, the mechanism is in a
locked position that secures the mounting pin in the pin-receiving
section.
[0008] The pin-engaging element may be spring-biased toward the
locked position. A pushbutton may be provided that when depressed
overcomes the spring-bias of the pin-engaging element to disengage
the pin-engaging element from the mounting pin. The mounting pin
may then be removed from the pin receiving section, thereby
releasing the accessory from the small arm.
[0009] The accessory to be attached to the weapon may be a bipod
comprising a head section, a pivot section, and two extendable
legs. The legs are mounted to allow pivotal movement of the pivot
section relative to the head section. This provides the mechanism
to move the accessory back and forth between a use position and a
carry position. The mounting pin may be fixed to the head
section.
[0010] The grip element may include a handgrip with an interior
cavity. The interior cavity may include a lower end with a threaded
opening. A threaded cap may be used to secure the threaded opening
to enclose the cavity. An elongate sling member may be stored
within the cavity in the grip element. A first end of the sling
member may be secured within the cavity of the hollow grip portion,
and a second end of the sling member may be secured to the threaded
cap. The threaded cap may be mountable on a butt stock portion of
the small arm, the sling member thereby extending from the hollow
grip portion to the butt stock portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bipod attachment mechanism
for small arms according to various embodiments of the invention,
with a bipod in a deployed position.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bipod attachment
mechanism of FIG. 1, with the bipod in a maneuvering position.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bipod attachment
mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the bipod detached.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a
connecting pin of the bipod attachment mechanism of FIGS. 1-3.
[0015] FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial perspective view of an
attaching element of the bipod attachment mechanism of FIGS.
1-3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of the bipod attachment mechanism of
FIGS. 1-4.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bipod attachment
mechanism taken through line VI-VI of FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the latch
mechanism of the bipod attachment mechanism taken through line
VII-VII of FIG. 6, with the latch mechanism in the engaged
position.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the latch
mechanism of the bipod attachment mechanism taken through line
VII-VII of FIG. 6, with the latch mechanism in the disengaged
position.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bipod of FIGS. 1-3 in a
storage position.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sling that may be stored
in grip element.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a small arm with a sling
deployed between the grip element to the butt stock.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Various embodiments of a bipod attachment mechanism 100 for
small arms according to the invention include a grip element 110
that may be adapted to mount to the forward section 120 of a weapon
125, typically a military small arm. The attachment mechanism 100
is shown generally in FIGS. 1-3, with portions detailed in FIGS.
4-4A. The grip element 110 may include an attaching element 130, a
pin-receiving section 140, and a handgrip 150. The grip element 110
may be configured to be attachable to an accessory attachment rail
160 on the weapon. The pin-receiving section 140 is configured to
receive a mounting pin 170 for attachment of additional weapon
accessories, such as a bipod 175, to the bipod attachment mechanism
100. The handgrip 150 serves as a forward handgrip position for
operation and maneuvering of the small arm.
[0024] A common accessory attachment rail 160 found on military
small arms is the "picatinny" rail, also know as a "NATO" rail,
depicted in FIGS. 1-3, for which a plethora of accessories have
been created, including weapon optics, lights, and grips. The
accessory attachment rail 160 is an elongate structure extending
from a lower surface of the weapon. The accessory attachment rail
160 may have a flat face 180 with periodic transverse grooves (not
shown) defining multiple mounting positions. The accessory
attachment rail 160 may further include a continuous lateral recess
190 (see FIG. 5) on each opposing side. The attaching element 130
may include protruding upper elements that engage the lateral
recesses 190 of the accessory attachment rail to prevent the
attachment mechanism 100 from being unintentionally detached from
the accessory attachment rail 160.
[0025] The grip element 110 may be configured to project
perpendicularly from the accessory attachment rail 160, although a
non-perpendicular orientation may also be utilized. The handgrip
150 may be generally rigid and contoured for comfort, and may
include a plurality of circumferential ridges 230 to aid in
gripping.
[0026] The handgrip 150 may further include an internal cavity 240
and an end grip cap 250 sealing the cavity 240. An elongate cord or
web 260 (see FIG. 10) may be retained within the cavity 240, with a
first end 270 of the cord 260 attached within the cavity 240 and a
second end 280 of the cord 260 attached to the end grip cap 250.
The end grip cap 250 may be received in a threaded manner on the
handgrip 150 to secure the cavity 240. When deployed, the elongate
cord or web 260 may serve as a sling. The end cap 250 may be
configured to attach to a butt stock 265 of the small arm as
illustrated in FIG. 11, the cord 260 then forming a sling between
the butt stock 265 and the handgrip 150.
[0027] Referring chiefly to FIGS. 5-8, the pin-receiving section
140 may be formed in an upper end of the grip element 110. The grip
element 110 includes a longitudinally oriented passage 280 having a
forward-facing aperture 290 and a transverse aperture 300. A
spring-loaded catch mechanism 310 may be mounted in the transverse
aperture 300. The catch mechanism 310 may include a pin-engaging
element 320, a pushbutton 330, and a pair of compression springs
340. The pin-engaging element 320 includes a central aperture 350
to receive a pin 170. The pin 170 may include a lead-in taper 370,
an enlarged head 380, and a neck 390 having a diameter smaller than
the head 380 (see FIG. 4).
[0028] The bipod 175 has a head section 400, a pivot section 410,
and two legs 420, 430. The pin 170 may be fixedly mounted to the
head section 400. The pivot section 410 may provide pivot axes for
rotation of the head 410 and the legs 420, 430. The legs 420, 430
are pivotally mounted to the pivot section 410 so as to be movable
between a spread position (FIGS. 1 and 3) and a retracted position
(FIGS. 2 and 9). The legs 420, 430 are extendable and include feet
425, 435 adaptable to different support surfaces, as is well known
in the art.
[0029] In the spread position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the legs 420,
430 are rotated with the pivot section 410 into a plane
perpendicular to the pin 170 and the accessory attachment rail 160.
A clearance gap between upper ends of the legs 420, 430 and the
head section 400 allows the legs to pivot outward to the spread
position. A spring 440 may be positioned between the legs 420, 430
for biasing the legs 420, 430 into the spread position.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows the pivot section 410 as having been rotated
away from the grip element 110 to a carry position parallel to the
accessory attachment rail 160 and the pin 170. In the carry
position of FIG. 2, the legs 420, 430 are in the retracted
position. The clearance gap between the upper ends of the legs 420,
430 and the head section 400 is reduced in this position, so that
the legs are restricted from rotating outwardly to the spread
position. In order to rotate the pivot section 410 from the spread
position of FIG. 1 to the retracted, carry position of FIG. 2, the
legs 420, 430 must be squeezed inwardly against the bias of the
spring 440. With the legs 420, 430 pressed inwardly, the upper ends
of the legs 420, 430 clear the head section 400, permitting the
rotation of the pivot section 410 with the legs 420, 430 to the
carry position. Once in the carry position, the legs 420, 430 can
be released. The bias of the spring 440 presses the upper ends of
the legs 420, 430 against the head section 400, effectively locking
the pivot section 410 and the legs 420, 430 in position until the
legs are again pressed to together.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 9, the head section 400 can be seen to be
symmetrical about a transverse axis, so that the pivot section 410
can be rotated in a direction opposite to that of FIG. 2. In the
position of FIG. 9, the pivot section 410 and legs 420, 430 are
rotated alongside and parallel to the pin 170. In this storage
position, the bipod 175 is in its most compact configuration, with
the legs 420, 430 in the retracted position and the head section
400 and pin 170 rotated into close proximity to the legs 420,
430.
Operation
[0032] To install the bipod 175 on the weapon 125 in various
embodiments of the invention, the pin 170 is inserted into the
aperture 290 in the forward face of the pin-receiving section 140
of the grip element 110. The tapered end 370 of the pin 170 bears
against the pin-engaging element 320 and pushes it aside,
overcoming the bias of the springs 340. As the enlarged head 380
clears the pin-engaging element 320, the pin-engaging element 320
is driven into the reduced diameter neck 390 of the pin 170, biased
by the springs 340 (FIG. 7). With the pin-engaging element 320
aligned with the neck 390, the pin 170 cannot be removed due to the
obstruction of the enlarged head 380.
[0033] In order to remove the bipod 175 from the weapon 125, the
pin 170 is removed from the pin-receiving section 140 of the grip
element 110. The pin 170 is released by disengaging the
pin-engaging element 320 from the neck 390 of the pin 170. The
pushbutton 330 is depressed to overcome the bias of the springs
340. When the pushbutton 330 is sufficiently depressed, the
pin-engaging element 320 is pushed clear of the enlarged head 380
of the pin 170 so that the pin 170 can be removed (see FIG. 8).
[0034] When the bipod 175 is installed on the weapon 125 with the
pin 170 engaged in the pin-receiving section 140 of the grip
element 110, the bipod 175 may be placed in either the carry (FIG.
2) or deployed (FIG. 1) positions as desired. If the user desires
to remove the bipod 175 from the weapon 125, the user may simply
depress the pushbutton 330 to release the pin-engaging element 320
from the pin 170. Once the bipod 175 is removed from the weapon
125, the pivot section 410 and the legs 420, 430 can be rotated
relative to the head section 400 to the storage position shown in
FIG. 9, and stored in a convenient manner, such as in a compact
carrying case, or an empty magazine pouch.
[0035] While the present invention has been described in connection
with a series of preferred embodiments, these descriptions are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular
forms set forth herein. It will be understood that the methods of
the invention are not necessarily limited to the discrete steps or
the order of the steps described. To the contrary, the present
descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and
otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
* * * * *