Abstract:
An accessory mounting mechanism with a top portion consisting of a ring and a bottom portion consisting of a clamp is disclosed. The ring accepts an accessory. The ring is coupled to a clamp, which is configured to engage a firearm. The clamp further includes at least two detachable wedges, a cross bar, and a tightening mechanism, which may be either a thumb nut or a throw lever. The cross bar is threaded through both detachable wedges. Tightening by way of the thumb nut or the throw lever applies force against the wedges and the firearm simultaneously, which pushes the accessory upward into the ring and secures the clamp to the firearm.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The subject invention generally concerns firearm equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to an accessory mounting mechanism for a firearm. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Firearm users utilize a variety of accessories that are mountable to the firearm, including flashlights, otherwise known as tactical lights. Tactical lights are used to assist the user in identifying a target in low-light conditions. Tactical lights may also be flashed in the target&#39;s eyes to temporarily blind or disorient the target. Other accessories may include lasers (used for aiming) and cameras. 
     There are several known accessory mounting mechanisms. For example, the Scout Mount by Vltor utilizes a pivoting rail clamp with ring. The ring fits around the body of a light. The bottom of the ring contains a clamp that is designed to attach to a rail, such as a Picatinny rail. When the user mounts the clamp to the rail, the user applies force to the clamp against the rail and tightens the clamp. When the clamp cannot be tightened any further, the clamp pivots. The remaining force is applied to the clamping of the ring around the body of the light to ensure the light is securely coupled to the rail. 
     Another mechanism by Vltor, the Offset Scout Mount (U.S. Pat. No. 8,312,668, issued Nov. 20, 2012 to Eric Stephen Kincel), is ambidextrous and utilizes a throw lever and thumb knobs. Instead of being directly mounted over the rail, this mount is offset and allows the user to apply force equally to the rail and to the accessory during the mounting process. 
     The Adjustable Scout Mount, also by Vltor (U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,316, issued Jul. 23, 2013 to Eric Stephen Kincel et al.) utilizes a clamp, and further includes a single wedge and bracket. The user forces the wedge up a ramp on the clamp and secures the clamp by compressing the rail between a bracket. 
     The above-described mechanisms, incorporated herein by reference, allow the attachment and removal of accessories, such as flashlights, to the rail. However, the process of mounting the accessory to the rail is time-consuming and not user-friendly. This is especially detrimental under conditions where ease of use and speed are essential, such as when the user is actively engaged in combat, self-defense, or law enforcement activities. 
     The present invention is aimed at one or more of the problems identified above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with thumb nut for a Picatinny rail; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a Picatinny rail; 
         FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a Picatinny rail; 
         FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut on a partial exemplary Picatinny rail; 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail; 
         FIG. 2C  is a front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail in the “closed” position; 
         FIG. 2D  is a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail in the “closed” position; 
         FIG. 2E  is a front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail in the “open” position; 
         FIG. 2F  is a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail in the “open” position; 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with thumb nut for a KeyMod rail; 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a KeyMod rail; 
         FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional side view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a KeyMod rail; 
         FIG. 3D  is a cross-sectional front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a KeyMod rail; 
         FIG. 3E  is a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut on a partial exemplary KeyMod rail; 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail; 
         FIG. 4C  is a front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail in the “open” position; 
         FIG. 4D  is a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail in the “open” position; 
         FIG. 4E  is a front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail in the “closed” position; and 
         FIG. 4F  is a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail in the “closed” position. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An accessory mounting mechanism with a ring and a clamp is disclosed. A hollow ring accepts an accessory. The hollow ring is coupled to a clamp, which is configured to engage a rail, such as a Picatinny rail. The clamp further includes at least two wedges and a tightening mechanism, which may be a thumb nut. Tightening of the clamp by the thumb nut applies force against the wedges and the rail simultaneously, which pushes the accessory upward into the ring and secures the clamp to the rail. 
     An accessory mounting mechanism with a ring and a clamp is disclosed. A hollow ring accepts an accessory. The hollow ring is coupled to a clamp, which is configured to engage a rail, such as a Picatinny rail. The clamp further includes at least two wedges and a tightening mechanism, which may be a throw lever. Tightening of the clamp by the throw lever applies force against the wedges and the rail simultaneously, which pushes the accessory upward into the ring and secures the clamp to the rail. 
     An accessory mounting mechanism with a ring and a clamp is disclosed. A hollow ring accepts an accessory. The hollow ring is coupled to a clamp, which is configured to engage a rail, such as a KeyMod rail. The clamp further includes at least two wedges and a tightening mechanism, which may be a thumb nut. Tightening of the clamp by the thumb nut applies force against the wedges and the rail simultaneously, which pushes the accessory upward into the ring and secures the clamp to the rail. 
     An accessory mounting mechanism with a ring and a clamp is disclosed. A hollow ring accepts an accessory. The hollow ring is coupled to a clamp, which is configured to engage a rail, such as a KeyMod rail. The clamp further includes at least two wedges and a tightening mechanism, which may be a throw lever. Tightening of the clamp by the throw lever applies force against the wedges and the rail simultaneously, which pushes the accessory upward into the ring and secures the clamp to the rail. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings and in operation, the present invention overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of known accessory mounts. Various embodiments of the present invention allow the user to apply force equally to the body of the accessory and the rail interface at the same time. 
     Accessory Mount with Thumb Nut for Picatinny Rail 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with thumb nut for a Picatinny rail is shown. A mount  100  consists of a top portion including a hollow ring  102  and a bottom portion including a clamp  104 . Ring  102  is configured to accept a body of an accessory (not shown). The accessory may be any accessory with a body that fits into ring  102 , such as but not limited to a light, a laser, or a camera. Clamp  104  includes two teeth  106  to engage a rail (not shown). The rail may be a Picatinny 1913 MilSpec rail, also known simply as a MIL-STD-1913 rail or simply a Picatinny rail. Alternatively, the rail may be any rail having a similar trapezoidal design. 
     Clamp  104  includes two apertures  108 . The bottom of each aperture  108  comprises a ramp, one of which is labeled  110 . A first wedge  112  and a second wedge  114  are configured to fit into apertures  108  on top of ramps  110 . Each wedge  112  and  114  includes two ears  116 . When wedges  112  and  114  are placed inside apertures  108 , ears  116  connect wedges  112  and  114  to mount  100 . A thumb nut  118  is configured to connect to first wedge  112  through a first wedge aperture  120 . A screw  122  is threaded through second wedge  114  by second wedge aperture  124 , through clamp  104  and first wedge aperture  120 , and into thumb nut  118 . Screw  122  may be a square cut screw, which acts as a recoil lug. The square profile also provides torque resistance so that tools are not required to assemble the screw and thumb nut mechanism. In an alternate embodiment, a portion of thumb nut  118  that connects through first wedge aperture  120  may include a threaded shaft or a threaded screw. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a Picatinny rail is shown. As the screw-thumb nut mechanism of clamp  104  is being assembled by the user, as described above, force is applied against the accessory body and the upper 45-degree angles of the rail. As the wedges apply force to the upper rail, the wedges  112  and  114  are equally forced against the accessory body, which in turn forces the accessory body upward into ring  102  and pinches the rail between teeth  106 , securing mount  100  to the rail. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1C , a cross-sectional front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a Picatinny rail is shown. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1D , a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut on a partial exemplary Picatinny rail is shown. In this view, mount  100  is secured to a Picatinny rail  126 , using the mechanism described above and shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C . Picatinny rail  126  is then secured to a firearm (not shown), which may be, for example, a rifle or similar firearm, such as the M-16 rifle, AR-15 rifle, M-4 carbine, or Short Barreled Rifle (SBR). 
     Accessory Mount with Throw Lever for Picatinny Rail 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail is shown. A mount  200  consists of a top portion including a hollow ring  202  and a bottom portion including a clamp  204 . Ring  202  is configured to accept a body of an accessory (not shown). The accessory may be any accessory with a body that fits into ring  202 , such as but not limited to a light, a laser, or a camera. Clamp  204  includes two teeth  206  to engage a rail (not shown). The rail may be a Picatinny 1913 MilSpec rail, also known simply as a MIL-STD-1913 rail or simply a Picatinny rail. Alternatively, the rail may be any rail having a similar trapezoidal design. 
     Clamp  204  includes two apertures  208 . The bottom of each aperture  208  comprises a ramp, one of which is labeled  210 . A first wedge  212  and a second wedge  214  are configured to fit into apertures  208  on top of ramps  210 . Each wedge  212  and  214  includes two ears  216 . When wedges  212  and  214  are placed inside apertures  208 , ears  216  connect wedges  212  and  214  to mount  200 . 
     A throw lever  218  is configured to receive nut  220 . Throw lever  218  may be a quick detachable throw lever, pre-adjusted (by screw and nut) for proper tension. Nut  220  is placed adjacent to first wedge  212  by a first wedge aperture  222 . A cross bar  224  is threaded through second wedge  214  by second wedge aperture  226 , through clamp  204  and first wedge aperture  222 , and into nut  220  contained by throw lever  218 . Cross bar  224  may be adjusted to fine-tune the clamping mechanism. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail is shown. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2C-2D , a front view and a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail in the “closed” position are shown. Referring now to  FIGS. 2E-2F , a front view and a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a Picatinny rail in the “open” position are shown. 
     As lever  218  is moved from an “open” to a “closed” position, force is applied against the accessory body and the upper 45 degree angles of the rail. As the wedges  212  and  214  apply force to the upper rail, wedges  212  and  214  are equally forced against the accessory body, which in turn forces the accessory body upward into ring  202  and pinches the rail between teeth  206 , securing mount  200  to the rail. 
     Accessory Mount with Thumb Nut for KeyMod Rail 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with thumb nut for a KeyMod rail is shown. A mount  300  consists of a top portion including a hollow ring  302  and a bottom portion including a clamp  304 . Clamp  304  includes a detachable base  306 . Ring  302  is configured to accept a body of an accessory (not shown). The accessory may be any accessory with a body that fits into ring  302 , such as but not limited to a light, a laser, or a camera. 
     Base  306  includes two teeth  308  to engage the non-detachable portion of clamp  304 . Base  306  further includes at least two base apertures  310 , through which at least two anchors  312  are threaded. Anchors  312  are then threaded through at least two clamp apertures  314 . Anchors  312  are coupled to a rail (not shown), and are used to secure base  306 , clamp  304 , and ring  302  to the rail. The rail may be a KeyMod rail, as is well known in the art, or any other rail utilizing similar key-hole mounting slots. 
     The non-detachable portion of clamp  304  includes two apertures  316 . The sides of base  306  comprise ramps, one of which is labeled  318 . A first wedge  320  and a second wedge  322  are configured to fit into apertures  316  on top of ramps  318 . Each wedge  320  and  322  includes two ears  324 . When wedges  320  and  322  are placed inside apertures  316 , ears  324  connect wedges  320  and  322  to mount  300 . 
     A thumb nut  326  is configured to connect to first wedge  320  through a first wedge aperture  328 . The portion of thumb nut  326  that connects through first wedge aperture  328  may include a threaded shaft or a threaded screw. A screw  330  is threaded through second wedge  322  by second wedge aperture  332 , through between teeth  308  and first wedge aperture  328 , and into thumb nut  326 . Screw  330  may be a square cut screw. The square profile also provides torque resistance so that tools are not required to assemble the screw and thumb nut mechanism. 
     Shim  334  may optionally be placed within the hollow space of ring  302  to allow accessories with smaller bodies to fit through ring  302 . 
     In one embodiment, O-rings  336  may be utilized at either end of ring  302  to prevent rotation and friction of the accessory body. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a KeyMod rail is shown. As the screw-thumb nut mechanism of clamp  304  is being assembled by the user, as described above, force is applied against the accessory body and the rail. As wedges  320  and  322  apply force to the base, wedges  320  and  322  are equally forced against the accessory body, which in turn forces the accessory body upward into ring  302 . At the same time, base  306  is pushed downward, engaging the rail, and anchors  312  are effectively shortened as they are pulled up through base  306 . Base  306  further includes recoil lug  338 , which is located between anchors  312  and indexes mount  300  with the rail. Recoil lug  338  prevents mount  300  from shifting forward and aft on the rail, which may otherwise occur due to recoil and counter-recoil produced by the firearm. 
     Optionally, the inner surfaces of ring  302  may contain serrations  340  to prevent rotation and friction of the accessory body. Base  306  may optionally include relief apertures to avoid the buildup of dirt and debris, which could prevent the proper functioning of the mechanism. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3C , a cross-sectional side view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for a KeyMod rail is shown.  FIG. 3D  shows a cross-sectional front view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut for KeyMod rail. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3E , a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with thumb nut on a partial exemplary KeyMod rail is shown. In this view, mount  300  is secured to a KeyMod rail  340 , using the mechanism described above and shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D . KeyMod rail  340  is then secured to a firearm (not shown), which may be, for example, a rifle or similar firearm, such as the M-16 rifle, AR-15 rifle, M-4 carbine, or Short Barreled Rifle (SBR). 
     Accessory Mount with Throw Lever for KeyMod Rail 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4A , an exploded perspective view of an accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail is shown. A mount  400  consists of a top portion including a hollow ring  402  and a bottom portion including a clamp  404 . Clamp  404  includes a detachable base  406 . Ring  402  is configured to accept a body of an accessory (not shown). The accessory may be any accessory with a body that fits into ring  402 , such as but not limited to a light, a laser, or a camera. 
     Base  406  includes two teeth  408  to engage the non-detachable portion of clamp  404 . Base  406  further includes at least two base apertures  410 , through which at least two anchors  412  are threaded. Anchors  412  are then threaded through at least two clamp apertures  414 . Anchors  412  are coupled to a rail (not shown), and are used to secure base  406 , clamp  404 , and ring  402  to the rail. The rail may be a KeyMod rail, as is well known in the art, or any other rail utilizing similar key-hole mounting slots. 
     Ring  402  may be comprised of any suitable material. In one embodiment, ring  402  may be comprised of a polymeric material. In this embodiment, anchors  412  require threaded inserts for support (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, ring  402  may be comprised of aluminum, in which case no threaded inserts are required for support because anchors  412  thread directly into the aluminum. 
     The non-detachable portion of clamp  404  includes two apertures  416 . The sides of base  406  comprise ramps, one of which is labeled  418 . A first wedge  420  and a second wedge  422  are configured to fit into apertures  416  on top of ramps  418 . Each wedge  420  and  422  includes two ears  424 . When wedges  420  and  422  are placed inside apertures  416 , ears  424  connect wedges  420  and  422  to mount  400 . 
     A throw lever  426  may be a quick detachable throw lever, pre-adjusted (by screw and nut) for proper tension. Throw lever  426  may include an attached cam-style threaded shaft  428 , designed to receive nut  430 . Nut  430  is placed adjacent to second wedge  422  by a second wedge aperture  432 . Threaded shaft  428  is threaded through first wedge  420  by first wedge aperture  434 , through clamp  404  between teeth  408 , and through second wedge aperture  432 , and into nut  430 . Threaded shaft  428  may be adjusted to fine-tune the clamping mechanism. 
     Shim  436  may optionally be placed within the hollow space of ring  402  to allow accessories with smaller bodies to fit through ring  402 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4B , a perspective view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail is shown. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4C-4D , a front view and a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail in the “open” position are shown. Referring now to  FIGS. 4E-4F , a front view and a bottom view of a fully assembled accessory mount with throw lever for a KeyMod rail in the “closed” position are shown. 
     As throw lever  426  is moved from an “open” to a “closed” position, force is applied against the accessory body and the rail. As wedges  420  and  422  apply force to the base, wedges  420  and  422  are equally forced against the accessory body, which in turn forces the accessory body upward into ring  402 . At the same time, base  406  is pushed downward, engaging the rail, and anchors  412  are effectively shortened as they are pulled up through base  406 . 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.