US20160076846A1

US20160076846A1 - Firearms Weapon Rail Attachment Having Planar Rest

Info

Publication number: US20160076846A1
Application number: US14/854,254
Authority: US
Inventors: Terry Melancon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-16
Filing date: 2015-09-15
Publication date: 2016-03-17

Abstract

A firearm attachment that is mountable to a weapon rail system of a firearm, such as a Picatinny-type rail and Weaver rail, among others, that provides a substantially flat surface configured to improve stability when aiming and firing the firearm. The firearm attachment includes a housing having a first side, a second side, and a locking mechanism. The first side of the housing comprises a rail receiving channel allowing sliding engagement with a rail of a weapon rail system. Further, the locking mechanism secures the firearm attachment to a weapon rail system. The second side of the housing includes a planar, substantially flat surface configured to rest on a windowsill, tabletop, or other flat surface and provide stability when aiming and firing the firearm.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/050,955 filed on Sep. 16, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to attachments for firearms. More specifically, the present invention relates to a firearms attachment comprising a housing having a rail receiving channel for receiving a weapon rail system disposed on a first side and a substantially planar second side. The substantially planar second side of the firearms attachment is configured to rest on a windowsill, tabletop, or other flat surface and provide stability when aiming and firing the firearm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many firearms utilize a rail system, such as Picatinny-type rail and Weaver rail, for mounting various accessories to firearms. The Picatinny rail, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, a Standardization Agreement 2324 rail, or tactical rail, is weapon rail system that provides a standardized mounting platform on some firearms for mounting attachments and accessories. Typically, one or more rails are attached to the weapon and an accessory is mounted on the rail. The Picatinny rail system is a universal firearm accessory rail system that uses a standardized rail to accommodate various firearm accessories, including but not limited to tactical lights, laser aiming modules, night vision devices, reflex sights, fore grips, bipods and bayonets.
The underside of the Picatinny and Weaver rails is an uneven, non-planar surface that does not rest flush with a planar surface, such as a table top or windowsill. Further, when an accessory is mounted on the rail, the accessory will provide further instability when resting atop a planar shooting surface. The uneven, non-planar surface makes it difficult to accurately aim and fire firearms that utilize such firearm rail systems.
Military personal, law enforcement, hunters, marksmen, and other individuals may require additional accuracy and stability when resting the weapon against a flat shooting surface. It is common that these individuals will utilize weapons, including shotguns, assault rifles, submachine guns, and other tactical weapons. It is desirable to provide a firearms attachment that can be removably mounted onto a long barrel firearm weapon rail system, such as a Picatinny and Weaver rail systems, and provide a substantially planar surface so that the barrel of the firearm can be rested thereagainst and fired accurately from a flat shooting surface. It would be further desirable to provide a firearms attachment that provides a planar surface and which further firearm accessories can be removably attached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of firearm attachments now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new firearm attachment wherein the same can be utilized for providing a substantially planar surface for improved stability when aiming and firing a firearm.
The present invention relates to a firearm attachment comprising a housing and a locking mechanism, wherein the housing has a first and second side. The first side of the housing comprises a rail receiving channel for receiving a weapon rail system. The locking mechanism comprises a retaining bolt or detent pin that is configured to passes through a pair of guide hole. A first and second wing of the housing extend longitudinally along a lateral portion of the housing and are configured to provide a gripping surface for a user to handle.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved firearm attachment that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a firearm attachment that improves stability when aiming and firing a firearm from a flat shooting surface.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a housing comprising a first side and a second side, whereby said first side of said housing further comprises a rail receiving channel for receiving a weapon rail system.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a housing comprising a first side and a second side, whereby said second side is substantially planar and configured to provide stability when aiming and firing the weapon when rested upon a flat surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a firearm attachment that utilizes a locking mechanism to secure the firearm attachment to a weapon rail system.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the top of the firearm attachment.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bottom of the firearm attachment.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the firearm attachment.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a firearm attachment affixed to a weapon rail system of a weapon via a locking mechanism.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the firearm attachment affixed to a weapon, wherein a weapon operator is aiming the weapon and having the present invention rest atop a windowsill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the firearm attachment. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for helping a user to stabilize a firearm having a rail system on a flat surface. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is perspective view of the top of the firearm attachment. The present invention is a firearm attachment 10 comprising a housing 11, wherein the housing 11 has a first side 13 and second side. The first side 13 of the housing 11 comprises a rail receiving channel 15 configured for receiving a weapon rail system and a gripping element. The housing 11 further comprises a first end 20 and a second end 21, whereby the housing 11 and channel 15 have a length and width that is dimensioned to fit into a desired weapon rail system. In the illustrated embodiment, the rail receiving channel 15 extends the full length of the housing 11, wherein the channel 15 is configured for sliding engagement with a standard Picatinny-type rail and Weaver-type rail therein. In alternative embodiments, the channel 15 may be dimensioned to extend partially across length of the housing 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping element includes a first wing 16 and a second wing 17, wherein the first wing 16 and second wing 17 of the housing 11 extend longitudinally along opposing lateral portions of the housing 11 and are configured to provide a gripping surface for a user to handle. In alternative embodiment, the gripping elements may include handles, knobs, and the like. In one embodiment, the housing 11 is constructed from a unitary piece of metal, plastic, or other material.
The housing 11 further comprises a locking mechanism 12, wherein the locking mechanism 12 may include a retaining bolt 19, a quick release detent pin, clips, magnets, or other fastening elements. In the shown embodiment, the locking mechanism 12 comprises a retaining bolt 19 that is configured to pass through a pair of guide hole 18 and engage the weapon rail system so as to secure the weapon in a fixed position. The pair of guide holes 18 are disposed on opposing sides of the channel 15 and aligned to receive a substantially straight retaining bolt 19 therethrough. Further, the pair of guide holes 18 are dimensioned to receive the retaining bolt 19 therethrough. The locking mechanism 12 prevents axial movement of the firearm attachment 10 along the length of the weapon rail system, thereby effectively locking the position of the firearm attachment 10 to the weapon rail system.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is a perspective view of the bottom of the firearm attachment. The housing 11 of the firearm attachment 10 comprises a first side and second side 14. The second side 14 is substantially flat and is configured to rest approximately flush atop a planar surface, such as a bench, table top, windowsill, or the like. In this way, when the firearm attachment 10 is mounted to the underside of a weapon rail system of a firearm, the second side 14 of the housing 11 provides a stable platform for aiming and shooting the firearm by enabling a weapon operator to forward rest the weapon and reduce motion.
In the shown embodiment, the second side 14 is approximately rectangular. Further, the second side 14 should have a width slightly more than that of a weapon rail system, but should not be so small as to substantially impair the mounting of the firearm attachment 10 to the weapon rail system. When mounted to a weapon rail system, the firearm attachment 10 reduces weapon operator fatigue and permits the operator to use the firearm with greater accuracy and precision by providing a substantially flat surface that is configured to rest atop a planar surface.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is a cross-sectional view of the firearm attachment. In the shown embodiment, the rail receiving channel 15 is a dovetail channel allowing sliding engagement with a rail of a weapon rail system. The channel 15 comprises a base 22 and two opposing upstanding angled sidewalls 23 that extend approximately the length of the housing 11 that define the hollow interior rail receiving channel 15. The rail receiving channel 15 is configured to receive a corresponding weapon rail system therein. The angled sidewalls 23 are linearly or non-lineally tapered in such a way that the approximate width of the channel decreases as the sidewalls 23 extend away from the base 22 of the channel 15. In this way, the channel 15 is configured for sliding engagement with a rail of a weapon rail system.
When the rail of a weapon rail system is disposed within the channel 15 of the firearm attachment 10, the rail a weapon rail system is substantially flush with the base 22 and sidewalls 23 of the channel 15. In this way, the firearm attachment 10 may not move significantly relative to the weapon rail system. In order to prevent movement of the attached firearm attachment 10, the sidewalls 23 of the channel 15 restrict vertical movement of the firearm attachment 10 relative to the weapon rail system.
In the shown embodiment, the edges of the wings 16, 17 contain concave curved edges that face upward, thereby ensuring that the wings 16, 17 do not interfere with the normal operation of the firearm. The wings 16, 17 further include beveled edges that provide a comfortable gripping surface that a user may grasp when mounting, dismounting, or otherwise handling the firearm attachment 10. The first wing 16 and second wing 17 the firearm attachment 10 provide additional width to the firearm to provide a stable platform from which the firearm may be aimed and fired.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is a perspective view of a firearm attachment affixed to a weapon rail system of a weapon via a locking mechanism. In the shown embodiment, the firearm attachment 10 is slidingly engaged to a weapon rail system 100, whereby the weapon rail system 100 is a Picatinny rail. The Picatinny rail, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, Standardization Agreement 2324 rail, or tactical rail, is weapon rail system 100 that provides a standardized mounting platform on some firearms for mounting attachments and accessories. The Picatinny rail, and Weaver rail, comprises a plurality of substantially similar rails, whereby one rail comprises a plurality of mounting points having a plurality of protruding teeth interspersed with grooves.
In operation, a weapon operator may mount the firearm attachment 10 to a firearm having a weapon rail system by sliding the first end 21 of the rail receiving channel 15 axially, from the distal end of the weapon rail system to the proximal end. Once the second end 21 of the rail receiving channel 15 reaches the mounting points of the weapon rail system, the weapon operator may selectively insert the locking mechanism, such as a retaining bolt 19 or quick release detent pin, through the guide holes 18 that are aligned with the grooves of the weapon rail system to securely attach the firearm attachment 10 to the firearm.
In order to prevent movement of the attached firearm attachment 10, the retaining bolt 19 is fully or partially disposed within the guide holes 18 and the grooves of the weapon rail system. The retaining bolt 19 is dimensioned to fit in the grooves between adjacent protruding teeth of the Picatinny rail or Weaver rail to prevent axial movement of the firearm attachment 10, Thus, the retaining bolt 19 and the channel 15 prevent axial and vertical movement of the firearm attachment 10 and secure the firearm attachment 10 to the weapon rail system.
In addition, the firearm attachment 10 allows other weapon rail attachments such as tactical lights, laser aiming modules, night vision devices, reflex sights, fore grips, bipods and the like to be mounted to the weapon rail system 100 of a firearm provided that the weapon rail system 100 has sufficient space for such attachment. In this way, the firearm attachment 10 may be used in conjunction with other weapon rail attachments to further increase the versatility of the firearm.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is a perspective view of the firearm attachment affixed to a weapon, wherein a weapon operator is aiming the weapon and having the present invention rest atop a windowsill. In the shown embodiment, the firearm attachment 10 is mounted to the underside of the weapon rail system 100 of the firearm. The second side 14 of the firearm attachment 10 is substantially flat and configured to rest approximately flush atop a planar surface 102, such as a bench, table top, windowsill, or the like. In the shown embodiment, the attached firearm attachment 10 ensures stability and accuracy when a weapon operator aims and fires the firearm.
The firearm attachment 10 facilitates the use of firearms, such as a rifle, shotgun, and the like. The firearm attachment 10 provides a stable surface for supporting the firearm during target practice, marksmanship competition, hunting, cleaning of the firearm and the like. In addition, the firearm attachment 10 assists with the management of recoil that is created when a firearm is fired. Recoil can often cause human error and prevent accurate shooting because the recoil causes the firearm to bounce and alter position. When a shot is fired from a weapon having the firearm attachment 10 mounted thereon, the recoil is minimized because the planar second side 14 of the housing 11 returns to approximately the same position atop the flat shooting surface 102. Thus, the firearm attachment 10 mounted thereon may be fired repeatedly and accurately from the same location.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A firearm attachment, comprising:

a housing having a first side and a second side, said second side being substantially planar;

wherein said first side of said housing further comprises a rail receiving channel for receiving a weapon rail system;

a locking mechanism.

2. The firearms attachment of claim 1, wherein:

said locking mechanism comprises a retaining bolt that passes through a pair of guide holes positioned on opposing sides of said channel.

3. The firearms attachment of claim 1, wherein:

said rail receiving channel for receiving a weapon rail system is configured to receive a Picatinny rail system.

4. The firearms attachment of claim 1, wherein:

said rail receiving channel for receiving a weapon rail system is configured to receive a Weaver rail system.

5. The firearms attachment of claim 1, wherein:

said rail receiving channel for receiving a weapon rail system is a dovetail groove.

6. The firearms attachment of claim 1, wherein:

said housing further comprises a gripping element configured to provide a gripping surface along a lateral portion of the housing.