US20090038198A1

US20090038198A1 - Rail arrangement for firearm

Info

Publication number: US20090038198A1
Application number: US11/891,595
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-09
Filing date: 2007-08-09
Publication date: 2009-02-12

Abstract

A rail arrangement, which is adapted for mounting one or more accessories on a frame portion of a firearm, includes a supporting frame for attaching to the frame portion of the firearm along a longitudinal axis thereof and a rail system. The supporting frame includes a top mounting rail arranged for longitudinally extending on the frame portion, and two angled mounting rails inclinedly and sidewardly extended from the top mounting rail. The rail system includes one or more mounting structures providing of the top mounting rail and two angled mounting rails of the supporting frame for detachably mounting the accessory at one of the top mounting rail and the angled mounting rails of the supporting frame so as to selectively adjust a position of the accessory with respect to the firearm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a firearm, and more particularly to a rail arrangement for a firearm, wherein the rail arrangement provides a plurality of rail surfaces extending longitudinally for the accessory selectively mounting thereat so as to enhance the practical use of the accessory.
2. Description of Related Arts
A conventional firearm generally comprises a firing assembly which includes a barrel and a butt stock extended from a rear end of the firing assembly. For a long gun, such as rifle, the butt stock is adjacent to the shooter's shoulder during firing. Firearm tools or implements, such as an aiming sight for assisting aim by guiding the eye of the shooter to the target, are provided to mount on top of the firing assembly.
Accordingly, the firearm further comprises a mounting rail longitudinally formed a top surface of the firing assembly, wherein the firearm tool is detachably mounted at the mounting rail. For example, the aiming sight is detachably mounted at the mounting rail. The shooter is able to aim the target by aligning the eye to the eyepiece of the aiming sight. However, such configuration of the mounting rail to mount the firearm tool on the firearm has a major drawback.
When the shooter aims the target and shoots, he or she is under an uncover position. In other words, when the eye of the shooter aligns with the eyepiece, a relatively large head portion of the shooter is exposed in a wide-opened manner. However, the shooter should remain out of a line of enemy fire while being able to shoot at the target in an aimed manner. It is impossible to put the shooter at risk in such uncovered position to increase the shooting accuracy via the aiming sight. In other words, in order to fire in a cover position, the shooter may not precisely aim the target through the aiming sight which may reduce the shooting accuracy, waste the ammunition, and even loss his or her life.
In addition, other firearm tools, such as a long-range telescope sight, a short-range telescope sight, a laser sight, a handgrip, a sling adapter, or a flash light, cannot be effectively mounted at the firing assembly at the same time via the mounting rail. In other words, the shooter may merely need to change one firearm tool to another firearm tool for operation.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a rail arrangement for a firearm, wherein the rail arrangement provides a plurality of rail surfaces extending longitudinally for the accessory selectively mounting thereat so as to enhance the practical use of the accessory.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail arrangement for a firearm, wherein the rail arrangement comprises two or more angled rails for the firearm accessories detachably and selectively mounting thereto such that the accessory, such as an aiming sight, is slantedly supported on the firearm for the shooter to aim the target so as to minimize the uncover position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail arrangement for a firearm, wherein the shooter is able to selectively mount the firearm accessory, especially for the aiming sight, at one of the angled rails such that both left-hand shooter and right-hand shooter are able to select the position of the aiming sight to shoot from a cover position in an aimed manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail arrangement for a firearm, wherein the supporting frame of the rail arrangement has a hexagonal cross section defining a bottom mounting side mounting to the firearm, a top rail, two upper angled rails and two lower angled rails for the firearm accessory selectively mounting thereto such that the shooter is able to precisely aim the target by selectively adjusting the position of the accessory with respect to the rail arrangement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail arrangement for a firearm, which does not require to alter the original structural design of the firearm, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the firearm incorporating with the rail arrangement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail arrangement for a firearm, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for providing a multiple angle section for mounting the accessory. For example, when the aiming sight is used, the present invention provides a solution for providing a multiple-aiming angle selection for the shooter but also minimizing the uncovered position in an aimed manner during firing.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a rail arrangement for mounting one or more accessories on a frame of a firearm, comprising:
a supporting frame which is adapted for attaching to the frame of the firearm along a longitudinal axis thereof, comprising a top mounting rail arranged for longitudinally extending on the frame of the firearm, and two angled mounting rails inclinedly and sidewardly extended from the top mounting rail; and
a rail system comprising one or more mounting structures providing of the top mounting rail and two angled mounting rails of the supporting frame for detachably mounting the accessory at one of the top mounting rail and the angled mounting rails of the supporting frame so as to selectively adjust a position of the accessory with respect to the firearm.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm with a rail arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rail arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the rail arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the accessories mounting at the mounting sides of the rail arrangement for the shooter according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a rail arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the rail arrangement is adapted for mounting one or more accessories on the firearm 10.
Accordingly, the firearm 10 comprises a firing assembly 11 having a frame portion 111 and defining a longitudinal axis X thereat and comprising a barrel 12 supported by the frame portion 111 along the longitudinal axis X. The firearm further comprises a stock 12 extended from a rear end of the firing assembly 11 and a trigger 13 operating the firing assembly 11.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rail arrangement comprises a supporting frame 20 which is adapted for attaching to the frame portion 111 of the firearm along a longitudinal axis X thereof, and a rail system 30 for mounting the accessory on the frame portion 111 of the firearm 10. Accordingly, the accessory can be a long-range telescope sight, a short-range telescope sight, a laser sight, target illuminator, a flash light, a handgrip, sling adapter, or other firearm accessories.
The supporting frame 20 has a top mounting side 211, a bottom mounting side 241, and two angled mounting sides, wherein each of the angled mounting sides has an upper slanted mounting side 221, 231, and a lower slanted mounting side 251, 261. The supporting frame 20 comprises a top mounting rail 21 arranged for longitudinally extending on the frame portion 111 of the firearm and two angled mounting rails 22, 23 inclinedly and sidewardly extended from the top mounting rail 21.
The rail system 30 comprises one or more mounting structures 31 providing of the top mounting rail 21 and two angled mounting rails 22, 23 of the supporting frame 20 for detachably mounting the accessory at one of the top mounting rail 21 and the angled mounting rails 22, 23 of the supporting frame 20 so as to selectively adjust a position of the accessory with respect to the firearm.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top mounting rail 21 forms on the top mounting side 211 defining two top longitudinal edges 212, wherein each of the angled mounting rails 22, 23 forms at one of the upper slanted mounting sides 221, 231. According to the preferred embodiment, the angled mounting rails 22, 23 are integrally and downwardly extended along the top longitudinal edges 212 of the top mounting rail 21 respectively such that the mounting structure 30 is adapted for detachably holding the accessory at one of the angled mounting rails 22, 23 in a radially inclined manner with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the firearm so as to inclinedly mount the accessory at the upper portion of the firearm at the frame portion 111 thereof. In other words, each of the top longitudinal edges 212 is a common edge between the top mounting rail 21 and the respective angled mounting rail 22, 23.
As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting frame 20 further comprises an upper bracket 201 defining the top mounting rail 21 and the angled mounting rails 22, 23 thereat, and a lower bracket 202 detachably affixing to the upper bracket 201 to form a handguard having a tubular cavity for detachably encircling the frame portion 111 of the firearm.
The lower bracket 201 comprises a bottom mounting rail 24 arranged for longitudinally extending underneath the frame portion 111 of the firearm, and two lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 inclinedly and sidewardly extended from the bottom mounting rail 24 to alignedly engage with the lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 edge-to-edge respectively. In other words, the supporting frame 10 provides six different mounting angles, i.e. the top mounting rail 21, the two angled mounting rails 22, 23 as two upper angled mounting rails, the bottom mounting rail 24, and the two lower angled mounting rails 25, 26, for the user to selectively mount the accessory at the frame portion 111 of the firearm. Therefore, each of the angled mounting sides contains two mounting rails thereat.
The bottom mounting rail 24 forms at the bottom mounting side 241 defining two bottom longitudinal edges 242, wherein the lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 form at the lower slanted mounting sides 241, 251. The lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 are integrally and upwardly extended along the bottom longitudinal edges 242 of the bottom mounting rail 25, 26 respectively, wherein the mounting structures 30 are also provided on the bottom mounting rail 24 and the lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 respectively such that the mounting structure 30 is adapted for detachably holding the accessory at one of the lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 in a radially inclined manner with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the firearm 10 so as to inclinedly mount the accessory at the lower portion of the firearm at the frame portion 111 thereof. In other words, each of the bottom longitudinal edges 242 is a common edge between the bottom mounting rail 24 and the respective angled mounting rail 25, 26.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the angled mounting rails 22, 23 is downwardly and sidewardly extended from the top mounting rail 21 at 120°. In other words, each of the upper slanted mounting sides 221, 231 is downwardly and sidewardly extended from the top mounting side 211 at 120°. In addition, each of the lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 is upwardly and sidewardly extended from the bottom mounting rail 24 at 120° such that the supporting frame 20 has a hexagonal cross section. Each of the lower slanted mounting sides 251, 261 is upwardly and sidewardly extended from the bottom mounting side 241 at 120°. Therefore, the supporting frame 20 provides six mounting surfaces, i.e. the top mounting surface 211, the two upper slanted mounting surfaces 221, 231, the bottom mounting surface 241, and the two lower slanted mounting surfaces 251, 261, to mount the accessory at the frame portion 111 of the firearm.
It is worth to mention that the six mounting surfaces of the supporting frame 20 provide the optimum configuration for maximizing the number of the accessories mounting thereto because each of the mounting surfaces is wide enough to support the accessory and the inner circumferential size of the supporting frame 20 fits for the frame portion 111 of the firearm.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mounting structure 31 comprises a plurality of rail flanges 311 spacedly and integrally provided on the top mounting rail 21, the angled mounting rails 22, 23, the bottom mounting rail 24, and the lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 for detachably engaging with the accessory thereat. According to the preferred embodiment, the rail flanges 311 are integrally protruded from the top mounting surface 211, the two upper slanted mounting surfaces 221, 231, the bottom mounting surface 241, and the two lower slanted mounting surfaces 251, 261 such that the accessory is adapted to detachably mount on one of the mounting surfaces via the rail flanges 311. Accordingly, the rail system 30 can be “Picatinny rail” that each of the rail flanges 311 has a T-shaped cross section.
As shown in FIG. 4, the telescope sight is mounted at one of the angled mounting rails 22, 23 such that the telescope sight is inclinedly and radially mounted at the frame portion 111 of the firearm at the 60°. Therefore, the shooter is able to aim the target through the telescope sight to minimize the uncover position in comparison with the telescope sight being mounted on the top mounting rail 21. In other words, the shooter is able to select the position of the telescope sight with respect to the frame portion 111 of the firearm to maximize the cover position of the shooter.
As shown in FIG. 4, for a right-hand shooter, a long-range telescope sight A is mounted at the top mounting side 211. A short-range telescope sight B is mounted at the upper slanted mounting side 221 with respect to the left side of the frame portion 111 of the firearm to maximize the cover position of the shooter. A laser sight C is mounted at another upper slanted mounting side 231 with respect to the right side of the frame portion 111 of the firearm. A handgrip D is mounted at the bottom mounting side 241 for the shooter to hold the firearm in a stable manner. A sling adapter E is mounted at the lower slanted mounting side 251 with respect to the left side of the frame portion 111 of the firearm. A flash light F is mounted at the lower slanted mounting side 261 with respect to the right side of the frame portion 111 of the firearm to minimize the blind shot of the shooter.
It is worth to mention that the shooter is able to control the laser sight C via the handgrip D when a switch G, such as a pressure pad or a pressure switch, is provided at the handgrip D. Accordingly, a connecting cable H is operatively extended from the switch G to the laser sight C such that when the switch G is actuated, the laser sight C is switched on. Regarding to the present invention, when the laser sight C and the handgrip D are respectively mounted at the supporting frame 20, the connecting cable H can be hidden within the interior of the supporting frame 20, as shown in FIG. 4, so as to prevent the connecting cable H from being tangled or pulled accidentally. It is worth to mention that the flash light F can also be coupled with the switch G via the connecting cable H for operation.
Furthermore, the right-hand shooter is able to inclinedly mount the telescope sight at the angled mounting rail 22 with respect to the left side of the frame portion 111 of the firearm while the left-hand shooter is able to inclinedly mount the telescope sight at the angled mounting rail 23 with respect to the right side of the frame portion 111 of the firearm. In other words, the angled mounting rails 22, 23 and the lower angled mounting rails 25, 26 form the universal mounting configuration for both the right-hand and left-hand shooters to selectively mount the telescope sight to the frame portion 111 of the firearm in a cover position during firing.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A rail arrangement for mounting one or more accessories on a frame portion of a firearm, comprising:

a supporting frame, which is adapted for attaching to said frame portion of said firearm along a longitudinal axis thereof, having a top mounting side, a bottom mounting side, and two angled mounting sides, and comprising a top mounting rail provided on said top mounting side for longitudinally extending on said frame portion of said firearm, a bottom mounting rail provided on said bottom mounting side, and two or more angled mounting rails which are provided at said two angled mounting sides and are inclinedly and sidewardly extended from said top mounting rail; and

a rail system comprising one or more mounting structures providing of said top mounting rail, said bottom rail, and said angled mounting rails of said supporting frame for detachably mounting said accessory at one of said top mounting rail and said angled mounting rails of said supporting frame so as to selectively adjust a position of said accessory with respect to said firearm.

2. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said angled mounting sides contains an upper slanted mounting side longitudinally extended from said top mounting side and a lower slanted mounting side longitudinally extended between said upper slanted mounting side and said bottom mounting side.

3. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said upper slanted mounting sides is downwardly and sidewardly extended from said top mounting side at 120°.

4. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said lower slanted mounting sides is upwardly and sidewardly extended from said bottom mounting side at 120°.

5. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said lower slanted mounting sides is upwardly and sidewardly extended from said bottom mounting side at 120°.

6. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said supporting frame further comprises an upper bracket defining said top mounting side thereat and a lower bracket defining said bottom mounting side thereat, wherein said upper bracket is detachably affixing to said lower bracket form a handguard having a tubular cavity for encircling said frame portion of said firearm, and defining said two angled mounting sides.

7. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said supporting frame further comprises an upper bracket defining said top mounting side thereat and a lower bracket defining said bottom mounting side thereat, wherein said upper bracket is detachably affixing to said lower bracket form a handguard having a tubular cavity for encircling said frame portion of said firearm, and defining said two angled mounting sides.

8. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 5, wherein said supporting frame further comprises an upper bracket defining said top mounting side thereat and a lower bracket defining said bottom mounting side thereat, wherein said upper bracket is detachably affixing to said lower bracket form a handguard having a tubular cavity for encircling said frame portion of said firearm, and defining said two angled mounting sides.

9. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 7, wherein said two upper slanted mounting sides are longitudinally formed at said upper bracket and said two lower slanted mounting sides are longitudinally formed at said lower bracket.

10. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 8, wherein said two upper slanted mounting sides are longitudinally formed at said upper bracket and said two lower slanted mounting sides are longitudinally formed at said lower bracket.

11. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 6, wherein said supporting frame has a hexagonal cross section when said upper bracket is affixed to said lower bracket.

12. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 8, wherein said supporting frame has a hexagonal cross section when said upper bracket is affixed to said lower bracket.

13. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 10, wherein said supporting frame has a hexagonal cross section when said upper bracket is affixed to said lower bracket.

14. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said mounting structure comprises a plurality of rail flanges spacedly and integrally provided on said top mounting rail, said angled mounting rails, said bottom mounting rail, and said lower angled mounting rails for detachably engaging with said accessory thereat.

15. The rail arrangement, as recited in claim 13, wherein said mounting structure comprises a plurality of rail flanges spacedly and integrally provided on said top mounting rail, said angled mounting rails, said bottom mounting rail, and said lower angled mounting rails for detachably engaging with said accessory thereat.

16. A firearm, comprising:

a firing assembly having a frame portion and defining a longitudinal axis thereat; and

a rail arrangement, which is adapted for mounting one or more accessories on said frame portion of said firing assembly, comprising:

a supporting frame, which is attached to said frame portion of said firing assembly along said longitudinal axis, having a top mounting side, a bottom mounting side, and two angled mounting sides, and comprising a top mounting rail provided on said top mounting side for longitudinally extending on said frame portion of said firearm, a bottom mounting rail provided on said bottom mounting side, and two or more angled mounting rails which are provided at said two angled mounting sides and are inclinedly and sidewardly extended from said top mounting rail; and

17. The firearm, as recited in claim 16, wherein each of said angled mounting sides contains an upper slanted mounting side longitudinally extended from said top mounting side and a lower slanted mounting side longitudinally extended between said upper slanted mounting side and said bottom mounting side.

18. The firearm, as recited in claim 17, wherein each of said upper slanted mounting sides is downwardly and sidewardly extended from said top mounting side at 120°, wherein each of said lower slanted mounting sides is upwardly and sidewardly extended from said bottom mounting side at 120°.

19. The firearm, as recited in claim 18, wherein said supporting frame further comprises an upper bracket defining said top mounting side thereat and a lower bracket defining said bottom mounting side thereat, wherein said upper bracket is detachably affixing to said lower bracket form a handguard having a tubular cavity for encircling said frame portion of said firearm, and defining said two angled mounting sides, wherein said two upper slanted mounting sides are longitudinally formed at said upper bracket and said two lower slanted mounting sides are longitudinally formed at said lower bracket.

20. The firearm, as recited in claim 19, wherein said mounting structure comprises a plurality of rail flanges spacedly and integrally provided on said top mounting rail, said angled mounting rails, said bottom mounting rail, and said lower angled mounting rails for detachably engaging with said accessory thereat.