US20240344811A1

US20240344811A1 - Rail Interface System for Mounting Accessories to Firearm

Info

Publication number: US20240344811A1
Application number: US18/298,960
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric Hostetler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-04-11
Filing date: 2023-04-11
Publication date: 2024-10-17

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rail interface system for mounting accessories to a firearm, including but not limited to, pistols and rifles. The present invention provides a means for mitigating the effects of recoil on rail interface systems by providing a lightweight mount, a clamp, and clamp screws that engage with the depressions and outermost edge of a firearm rail, while leaving the upwardly facing surface of the firearm rail open to an interior cavity. The upwardly facing surface of the rail interface system provides a means for fixedly mounting an accessory to the mount.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to firearms and firearms accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to a rail interface system for mounting accessories to a firearm, including but not limited to, pistols and rifles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rail interface systems (RISs) are a critical component of modern firearms, providing a secure and versatile platform for attaching a wide range of accessories including flashlights, laser sights, optical sighting devices, handgrips for improving control of the firearm, bipods/tripods, and other devices that improve the functionality of the firearm. With variations of rail interface systems, there are variations that have been standardized including Picatinny-type rail interface systems (MIL-STD M1913), Weaver-type rail interface systems, or a NATO STANAG 4694 rail interface systems. Rail interface systems, such as the aforementioned systems, have provided inexpensive and time-efficient means for mounting accessories to firearms. The Picatinny and NATO STANAG rail interfaces feature a consistent crosswise channel with a spacing of 0.394 inches between each slot, allowing for easy interchangeability of accessories between firearms. Of these rail interface systems, high rail mounts are designed to provide a higher line of sight and allow for the use of larger optics without compromising accuracy and stability. Although rail interface systems and high rail mounts provide many benefits, there are problems that exist within the prior art that many firearm users experience. Given the way that many rail interface systems and high rail mounts are manufactured and designed, the weight and construction of these existing designs often add additional weight to the firearm which can affect balance, recoil, and the versatility of said firearm. Additionally, the durability of existing rail interface systems and high rail mounts has been known to become compromised overtime due to the stresses from recoil. Because of these stresses, which is exacerbated by the weight of existing designs, firearm users often have to replace their rail interface systems and rail mounts periodically to ensure stability and reliability.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a rail interface system for firearms that is constructed in a manner as to reduce the effects of recoil in regard to the durability and reliability of the RIS. The present invention, unlike the prior art, provides a lightweight RIS with a hollow interior. Furthermore, unlike the prior art references, the present invention does not have a center portion that directly interacts with the upward-facing surface of the Picatinny, NATO, or other rail system of the firearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a rail interface system for attaching accessories to a firearm rail. Unlike the prior art, the present invention is designed to limit the comprising effects of recoil by providing a lightweight define, relative to the prior art, most significantly by negating the need for a rail interface system that engages the top portion of the firearm rail. The present invention engages only the outermost angled edge of the firearm rail and the utilizes the series of depressions to mitigate lateral movement. The clamp screws, the front side, and the rear side of the mount, fit within the depression, eliminating a need for the rail interface system to cover the top facing portion of the firearm rail and thus reducing the weight, and mass, that is affected by the recoil forces when firing the firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention secured to a firearm rail with an accessory attached to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention from the underside thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention secured to a firearm rail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention from the underside thereof.

FIG. 5 is an elevated perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a profile view of the present invention showing the clamp and the clamp side of the mount.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an alternative perspective view of the present invention secured to a firearm rail with an accessory attached to the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail.
Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.
Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description. It should be understood at the outset that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in the context of a rail interface system, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use only in this context.
The present invention is a rail interface system 1, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , that removable attaches to a firearm rail 50 for the means of securing an accessory 40 to the firearm, wherein the present invention comprises a mount 10, a clamp 20, and a plurality of clamp screws 30. The mount 10 and the clamp 20 are held tightly together by the clamp screws 30. The accessory includes, but is not limited to, optic sights, bipods, flashlights, laser sights, and the like. Furthermore, firearm rails 50 include, but are not limited to rail systems such as Picatinny rails, NATO STANAG rails, Weaver-type rails, and the like.
The mount 10, as shown in FIG. 2 , is a rigid body comprising a plurality of sides including a top side 100, a front side 110, a rear side 120, a clamp side 130, and a non-clamp side 140. The top side 100 is the upward facing side of the mount 10. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front side 110 is the side of the mount 10 that is forwardly facing when the mount 10 is attached to the firearm rail 50. The rear side 120 is the rearward facing side, opposing the front side 110 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The clamp side 130 is denoted by the outwardly facing side of the mount 10 that engages the clamp. The non-clamp side 140 is denoted by the outwardly facing side of the mount 10 that opposes the clamp side 130. The front side 110, the back side, the clamp side 130, and the non-clamp side 140 extend perpendicularly downward from the top side 100 of the mount 10.
In the preferred embodiment, the mount 10 is attached to the firearm rail 50, which is known in the art to have a series of elevations, depressions, and two parallel angled edges extending a length of the firearm from the rearward portion of a firearm to the front portion of the firearm, in which firearm accessories 40 are coupled to. In said embodiment, the front side 110 and the rear side 120 fit within two depressions of the firearm rail 50, as shown in FIG. 3 , thus preventing the rail interface system 1 from moving in a lateral forward and backward direction. Furthermore, in this same embodiment, the clamp side 130 of the mount 10 and the non-clamp side 140 of the mount 10 engage the outermost angled edges of the firearm rail 50, thus restricting the side-to-side lateral movement of the rail interface system 1 on the firearm rail 50. In the preferred embodiment, the preferred embodiment, the rail interface system 1 is secured tightly in place by the clamp 20 and the plurality of clamp screws 30. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp 20, comprising a rail engagement surface 210, and the mount 10, which also comprises a rail engagement surface 150, couple to the angled edges of the firearm rail 50. The clamp screws 30, which comprises a head 310, a shaft 320, and a series of threads 330, tightly secure the mount 10 and the clamp 20 to the firearm rail 50, the shafts 320 of the clamp screws 30 fitting within depressions of the firearm rail 50, as shown by the sectional view in FIG. 3 .
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4 , the mount 10 comprises a hollow internal cavity 160. The hollow internal cavity 160 reduces the weight of the rail interface system 1, and thus reduces the effects that recoil has on the structural integrity and durability of the present invention, when compared to the prior art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front side 110 of the present invention comprises a slot 111. In said embodiment, the rear side 120 also includes a slot 121, wherein the slot 121 of the rear side 120 is a mirrored image of the slot 111 of the front side 110. The slot 111 of the front side 110 and the slot 121 of the rear side 120 allow for passage into the hollow internal cavity 160 of the mount 10. In the preferred embodiment, the non-clamp side 140 of the mount 10, as shown in FIG. 4 , comprises a plurality of recesses 141, a plurality of clamp mount holes 142, a slot 144, and a plurality of mounting holes 145. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of recesses 141 are depressions that are sunk into the mount 10 inwardly from the outmost surface of the non-clamp side 140 of the mount 10. In some embodiments of the present invention, the recesses 141 comprise the mounting holes 145, wherein said mounting holes 145 are through holes into the internal cavity 160. In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 , the clamp mount holes 142 may comprise a recessed seat 143. The recessed seat 143 sits the head 310 of the clamp screws 30, thus providing a flush fit. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamp screws 30 are inserted through the clamp mount holes 142 and screwed into the clamp, which engages the clamp side 130 of the mount 10.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5 , the top side 100 of the mount 10 comprises a chassis 101, a plurality of fastener mounts 102, and a plurality of opposing accessory interface rails 103, 104. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chassis 101 is the upwardly facing surface of the mount 10 that directly engages and supports the accessory 40. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of fastener mounts 102 are through holes positioned on the chassis 101, allowing for the accessory 40 to be coupled to the mount 10. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opposing accessory interface rails 103, 104 are two adjacent elevations, on either side of the upward facing surface of the mount 10, providing a means for restricting the lateral side-to-side movement of the accessory 40 on the mount 10.
As shown in FIG. 6 , the clamp 20 engages the clamp side 130 of the mount 10. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamp side 130 of the mount 10 comprises a plurality of recesses 131, a plurality of mounting holes 132, and a slot 133. The plurality of recesses 131 is positioned on the outwardly facing portion of the clamp side 130. The plurality of mounting holes 132 and the slot 133 are positioned through the clamp side 130. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamp 20 comprises a plurality of threaded holes 220. In said embodiment, the series of threads 330 of the clamp screws 30, screw into the threaded holes 220 of the clamp 20 to tightly secure the clamp 20 to the mount 10, and thus coupling the rail interface system 1 to the firearm rail 50.
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the mount 10 and the clamp 20, each comprise a rail engagement surface 150, 210. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the non-clamp side 140 of the mount 10 is the only side of the mount 10 that comprises the rail engagement surface 150. The rail engagement surface 150 of the mount 10 and the rail engagement surface 210 of the clamp, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are angle as to match the angled edge of the firearm rail 50. It is an important aspect of the present invention, unlike in the prior art, that the front side 110, the rear side 120, the plurality of clamp screws 30, and the rail engagement surfaces 150, 210 are the only components of the present invention that interact or engage the firearm rail 50. Unlike the prior art, the present invention does not provide a piece that covers the upward facing portion of the firearm rail 50, thus leaving it exposed to the internal cavity 160 of the mount 10. In doing so, the present invention, provides a light-weight solution to mounting the accessory 40, limiting the compromising effects of recoil as it pertains to the durability of and reliability of the rail interface system 1, as is the present invention.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the accessory 40 may be coupled to the chassis 101 of the mount 10, as shown in FIG. 9 , however it is not limited to such. Furthermore, the present invention may be constructed using manufacturing methods known to those in the art including, but not limited to CNC machining and the like.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A rail interface system for attaching an accessory to a firearm rail comprising:

a mount;

a clamp; and

a plurality of clamp screws;

the mount comprising a single rail engagement surface and an internal cavity wherein the single rail engagement surface contacts the firearm rail on one side of the rail;

the internal cavity providing a void wherein a portion of the upwardly facing surface of the firearm rail is not in contact with the mount;

the clamp is positioned adjacent to the mount, opposite of the single rail engagement surface of the mount, wherein the clamp contacts an opposing side of the firearm rail; and

the plurality of clamp screws securely coupling the mount to the clamp.

2. A rail interface system as is claimed in claim 1, wherein the mount further comprises a top side comprising:

a chassis;

a plurality of fastener mounts; and

accessory interface rails;

the chassis being the surface of the mount that directly engages and supports the accessory;

the plurality of fastener mounts, wherein said fastener mounts are through holes positioned on the chassis, allowing for the accessory to be coupled to the mount;

the accessory interface rails positioned on either side of the top side, provide an elevated surface, restricting the lateral movement of the accessory while on the mount.

3. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a front side, positioned normally to the top side of the mount, comprising a slot;

the front side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing the forwardly.

4. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mount further comprises a rear side, positioned opposite to the front side, comprising a slot;

the rear side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing rearwardly.

5. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mount comprises a side, referred herein as the “clamp side,” wherein the clamp is adjacent, comprising:

a plurality of recesses;

a plurality of mounting holes; and

a slot;

said side being interposed normally between the front side and the rear side, providing a rigid structure to restrict lateral movement of the mount on the firearm rail;

the plurality of recesses positioned on the outwardly facing portion of said side;

the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side;

the clamp engaging the outward and bottom-most portion of said side.

6. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mount further comprises a side opposite of the clamp side, wherein said side comprises:

a plurality of recesses;

a plurality of clamp mount holes;

a slot; and

a plurality of mounting holes;

the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side;

the plurality of clamp mount holes being positioned at the bottom-most portion of said side of the mount, wherein the distance between said holes corresponds to the distance between depressions of the firearm rail.

7. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the clamp comprises a rail engagement surface and a plurality of threaded holes, wherein the threaded holes are located equidistant as the clamp mount holes of the mount;

the plurality of threaded holes of the clamp receiving the plurality of clamp screws.

8. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of clamp screws comprise a head, a shaft, and threads;

the head located on an end of the clamp screws having a radius that is greater than the radius of the mounting holes of the clamp side of the mount;

the threads positioned at an end opposite of the head; threading into the threaded holes of the clamp;

the shaft being interposed between the two ends, engaging with a depression of the firearm rail; and

the plurality of clamp screws providing a means of providing tension between the mount and the clamp, thus securing the mount to the firearm rail.

9. A rail interface system for attaching an accessory to a firearm rail comprising:

a mount;

a clamp; and

a plurality of clamp screws;

the mount comprising a single rail engagement surface, an internal cavity, a chassis, a plurality of fastener mounts, and a plurality of accessory interface rails, wherein the single rail engagement surface contacts the firearm rail on one side of the rail;

the chassis being the upwardly facing surface of the mount that directly engages and supports the accessory;

the accessory interface rails positioned on either side of the upwardly facing surface of the mount, providing an elevated surface, thus restricting the lateral movement of the accessory while on the mount,

the plurality of clamp screws securely coupling the mount to the clamp.

10. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a front side, positioned normally to the upwardly facing side of the mount, comprising a slot;

11. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mount further comprises a rear side, positioned opposite to the front side, comprising a slot;

12. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mount comprises a side, referred herein as the “clamp side,” wherein the clamp is adjacent, comprising:

a plurality of recesses;

a plurality of mounting holes; and

a slot;

the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side; and

the clamp engaging the outward and bottom-most portion of said side.

13. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mount further comprises a side opposite of the clamp side, wherein said side comprises:

a plurality of recesses;

a plurality of clamp mount holes;

a slot; and

a plurality of mounting holes;

the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side;

14. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the plurality of clamp mount holes comprise a recessed seat.

15. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 13, comprising:

the clamp comprising:

a rail engagement surface; and

a plurality of threaded holes; and

the plurality of screw clamps comprising:

a head;

a shaft; and

a series of threads;

the threaded holes of the clamp are located equidistant from each other as the clamp mount holes of the mount;

the plurality of threaded holes of the clamp receiving the plurality of clamp screws;

the head of the clamp screws are located on an end of the clamp screws having a radius that is greater than the radius of the mounting holes of the clamp side of the mount;

the threads of the clamp screws are positioned at an end opposite of the head; threading into the threaded holes of the clamp;

the shaft of the clamp screws being interposed between the two ends, engaging with a depression of the firearm rail; and

16. A rail interface system for attaching an accessory to a firearm rail comprising:

a mount comprising a single rail engagement surface and an internal cavity;

a clamp comprising a rail engagement surface and a plurality of threaded holes; and

a plurality of clamp screws comprising a head, a shaft, and a series of threads;

the head of the clamp screws are located on an end of the clamp screws;

the series of threads of the clamp screws are positioned at an end opposite of the head; threading into the threaded holes of the clamp;

the shaft of the clamp screws being interposed between the two ends, engaging with a plurality of depressions of the firearm rail;

the clamp is positioned adjacent to the mount, opposite of the single rail engagement surface of the mount, wherein the rail engagement surface of the clamp contacts an opposing side of the firearm rail;

the plurality of threaded holes of the clamp, engaging with the series of threads of the plurality of clamp screws; and

the plurality of clamp screws securely coupling the mount to the clamp, thus the plurality of clamp screws provides a means of providing tension between the mount and the clamp, securing the mount to the firearm rail.

17. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the mount further comprises a chassis, a plurality of fastener mounts, and a plurality of accessory interface rails;

18. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a front side, positioned normally to the upwardly facing side of the mount, comprising a slot;

19. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the mount further comprises a rear side, positioned opposite to the front side, comprising a slot;

20. The rail interface system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the mount comprises a clamp side and a non-clamp side wherein:

the clamp side is adjacent to the clamp, said side comprising:

a plurality of recesses;

a plurality of mounting holes; and

a slot; and

the non-clamp side, positioned opposite to the clamp side comprises:

a plurality of recesses;

a plurality of clamp mount holes;

a slot; and

a plurality of mounting holes;

the clamp side being interposed normally between the front side and the rear side, providing a rigid structure to restrict lateral movement of the mount on the firearm rail;

the plurality of recesses of the clamp side positioned on the outwardly facing portion of the clamp side;

the plurality of mounting holes of the clamp side and the slot of the clamp side positioned through said side;

the clamp engaging the outward and bottom-most portion of the clamp side;

the plurality of recesses of the non-clamp side positioned on the outwardly facing portion of the non-clamp side;

the plurality of mounting holes of the non-clamp side and the slot of the non-clamp side positioned through said non-clamp side; and

the plurality of clamp mount holes being positioned at the bottom-most portion of said non-clamp side of the mount, wherein the distance between said holes corresponds to the distance between depressions of the firearm rail.