Abstract:
An auxiliary device for use with a weapon has a plurality of detachable attachment assemblies that can be coupled to a receiver on the auxiliary device. Each attachment assembly has a positioning member engageable in the receiver, a moveable jaw for grabbing the sides of the rail, and a tightener. The different attachment assemblies may alternately be coupled to the same auxiliary device to provide tool and tool free installation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent applications Ser. No. 60/638,874, filed Dec. 22, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to attachment devices and methods for securing auxiliary devices (e.g., scopes, sights, lasers, lights) to a weapon and, more particularly, to an assembly for attaching an auxiliary device to a rail system of a weapon.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     The need to effectively see a target and aim a weapon in the direction of the target is well recognized. Auxiliary devices to facilitate illuminating a target or aiming a weapon, especially under low light conditions, are known. Examples of known auxiliary devices include scopes, illuminators, lasers, aiming lights and combined illuminator/laser units. For convenience, these (and other) devices are generally referred to herein as auxiliary devices. Attaching auxiliary devices to a weapon typically requires separate brackets or other mechanical components, which may necessitate tools, e.g., screwdrivers, coins, hex wrenches or shell casings, for attaching the auxiliary device itself or the mechanical component.  
         [0004]     Auxiliary devices, for example a scope, may be used by a variety of users on a variety of weapons and each user may prefer a different way of securing the scope to the weapon. One user may prefer securing the scope to the weapon with a screwdriver, where another user may desire a tool-free installation. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other objects, features and advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the following figures wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an auxiliary device spaced from a mounting rail consistent with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the auxiliary device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of a first attachment assembly consistent with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of a second attachment assembly consistent with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3C  is an exploded view of a third attachment assembly consistent with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3D  is an exploded view of a fourth attachment assembly consistent with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3E  is an exploded view of a fifth attachment assembly consistent with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4A  is a bottom view of an auxiliary device consistent with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4B  is a section view taken through line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 4A .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a bottom view of an auxiliary device consistent with yet another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a section view taken through line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the fifth attachment assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     Auxiliary devices include, but are not limited to scopes, illuminators, lasers, sights, aiming lights, and combined illuminator/laser units. These auxiliary devices may be secured to a rail on a weapon, for example a pistol or long gun, and aligned parallel with a longitudinal axis LA of the weapon. The auxiliary device may be secured to a rail disposed above, below, or on the side of the weapon, depending on its intended purpose. The rail may have a MIL-STD-1913, Weaver, or other profile and may include one or more cross slots. The cross slot may be used to assist in resisting movement of the auxiliary device along the longitudinal axis LA of the weapon during recoil.  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4 A,  4 B,  5 A, and  5 B, an auxiliary device  1000  may have a housing  1002  for enclosing optics and electronics. The housing  1002  may have an integral or removable mounting plate  1004 A,  1004 B with a receiver  1006 A,  1006 B disposed therein. One or more fasteners  1004 C (see  FIG. 4A and 5A ) may secure the mounting plate  1004 A,  1004 B to the housing  1002 . A gasket may provide a watertight seal between the housing  1002  and the mounting plate  1004 A,  1004 B. Receiver  1006 A may be sized to accept a positioning member  1008 A and receiver  1006 B may be sized to accept a positioning member  1008 B. The receiver  1006 A may include one or more openings  1026  for accepting one or more retainers  1010  for coupling the positioning member  1008 A to the mounting plate  1004 A. The retainers  1010  may be screws that allow the positioning member  1008 A to be removably coupled to the mounting plate  1004 A. The receiver  1006 A may include an upstanding wall  1012 A (see  FIG. 4B ) to prevent movement of the positioning member  1008 A in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAA of the auxiliary device  1000 . Alternatively, or in addition, the retainers may be relied upon to prevent movement of the positioning member  1008 A in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAA of the auxiliary device  1000 .  
         [0020]     Alternatively, a receiver  1006 B may be configured with a beveled wall  1012 B (see  FIG. 5B ) that cooperates with a positioning member  1008 B to prevent movement of the positioning member  1008 B in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAA of the auxiliary device  1000 . The positioning member  1008 B may be removably coupled to the mounting plate  1004 B, with or without retainer(s)  1010 .  
         [0021]     The positioning member  1008 A,  1008 B may include a transverse locator bar  1018  that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAA of the housing  1002 . The bar  1018  may have a generally rectangular cross section that is sized to cooperate with a cross slot  1052  on a rail  1050 . The bar  1018  may extend substantially across the width of auxiliary device  1000 . Alternatively, one or more pins may cooperate with the cross slot  1052  to prevent longitudinal movement of the auxiliary device relative to the weapon. The positioning member  1008 A may have one or more openings  1024  (for the retainer(s)  1010  to extend therethrough) aligned with the one or more opening(s)  1026  on the mounting plate  1004 A. Alternatively, movement of the auxiliary device  1000  along the longitudinal axis of a weapon may be prevented by a transverse bar formed as an integral or removable part of the mounting plate  1004 A,  1004 B.  
         [0022]     The positioning member  1008 A,  1008 B may have an end portion  1020  (discussed below) extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LAA of the housing  1002 .  
         [0023]     Extending from the mounting plate  1004  may be a structural member  1014 . The structural member  1014  may extend along at least a portion of the auxiliary device  1000 . The structural member  1014  may have a profile that cooperates with a MIL-STD-1913 rail, a Weaver rail, or other rail. Alternatively, the structural member may be secured to the mounting plate  1004 A,  1004 B with fasteners.  
         [0024]     A contoured jaw  1022 A,  1022 B may have a profile that cooperates with a MIL-STD-1913 rail, a Weaver rail, or other rail. The contoured jaw  1022 A,  1022 B may have a first portion  1022 E (see  FIG. 3A and 3B ) that grips the rail  1050  and a second portion  1022 F that may grip a wall  1004 D of the mounting plate  1004 A,  1004 B. The contoured jaw  1022 A,  1022 B may have an opening  1022 G sized to accept the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A,  1008 B. The contoured jaw  1022  may extend along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis LAA of the auxiliary device  1000 .  
         [0025]     A tightener  1030 A,  1030 B,  1030 C,  1030 D,  1030 E may be coupled to the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A,  1008 B. When rotated, the tightener  1030 A,  1030 B,  1030 C,  1030 D,  1030 E may cause the contoured jaw  1022 A,  1022 B to be drawn closer to the first structural member  1014 , thereby applying a clamping force on the rail  1050 .  
         [0026]     The positioning members  1008 A,  1008 B, the contoured jaws  1022 A,  1022 B, and the tighteners  1030 A,  1030 B,  1030 C,  1030 D,  1030 E may be combined to form one or more attachment assemblies  1060 A,  1060 B,  1060 C,  1060 D,  1060 E. The different attachment assemblies  1060 A,  1060 B,  1060 C,  1060 D,  1060 E may be coupled to the mounting plate  1004 A,  10004 B to provide options to the weapon operator or soldier.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 3A , attachment assembly  1060 A may have a positioning member  1008 A, a contoured jaw  1022 B, a washer  1062 , a throw lever tightener  1030 A, and a retainer  1064 . Retainer  1064  may have an externally threaded portion that cooperates with an internally threaded portion in the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A. The tightener  1030 A and the contoured jaw  1022 B may have cooperating cammed surfaces  1030 C,  1022 C respectively. As the tightener  1030 A is rotated about the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A, the cammed surfaces  1032 C,  1022 C may advance the contoured jaw  1022 B along the positioning member  1008 A. The tightener  1030 A and the contoured jaw  1022 B may have protrusions  1034 ,  1022 D respectively, that prevent the tightener  1030 A from being over rotated. Positioning member  1008 B may be substituted for positioning member  1008 A in any of the attachment assemblies.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 3B , attachment assembly  1060 B may have a positioning member  1008 A, a contoured jaw  1022 A, a washer  1062 , cooperating clutch hubs  1070 ,  1072 , an inner bushing  1074 , a spring  1076 , and a clutch knob tightener  1030 B. The inner bushing  1074  may be indexed to the tightener  1030 B along a flange  1080  to prevent relative rotation. The inner bushing may have an internally threaded portion that cooperates with an externally threaded portion in the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A. The spring  1076  may bias the tightener  1030 B away from the inner bushing  1074 . As the tightener  1030 B is pushed in and rotated about the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A, the cooperating clutch hubs  1070 ,  1072  ride along each other and advance the contoured jaw  1022 A along the positioning member  1008 A.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIG. 3C , attachment assembly  1060 C may have a positioning member  1008 A, a contoured jaw  1022 A, a washer  1062 , and a thumbscrew tightener  1030 C. Tightener  1030 C may have an internally threaded portion that cooperates with an externally threaded portion on the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 . The tightener  1030 C may have a knurled periphery and/or one or more slots for a screwdriver or other tool. As the tightener  1030 C is rotated about the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A it advances the contoured jaw  1022 A along the positioning member  1008 B.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 3D , attachment assembly  1060 D may have a positioning member  1008 A, a contoured jaw  1022 A, a washer  1062 , a pivot  1080 , a cam lever tightener  1030 D, and a retainer  1082 . The pivot  1080  may have outwardly directed posts  1088  and an internally threaded portion that cooperates with an externally threaded portion in the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A. The tightener  1030 D may have a cammed surface  1084  and openings  1086  sized to accept posts  1088 . As the tightener  1030 D is rotated about the posts  1088  of the pivot  1080 , the cammed surface  1084  advances the contoured jaw  1022 A along the positioning member  1008 A. The retainer  1082  may have an anti-rotation post  1094  that cooperates with a slot  1092  in the end portion  1020  in the positioning member  1008 A to prevent the tightener from rotating about the axis of the end portion  1020 . The retainer  1082  may have one or more openings  1090  sized to accept posts  1088 . As shown in  FIG. 3E , attachment assembly  1060 E may have a positioning member  1008 A, a contoured jaw  1022 A, one or more washers  1062 , a pivot  1090 , a cam lever tightener  1030 E, and a retainer  1092 . The pivot  1090  may have outwardly directed posts  1094  and a through-hole  1096  sized to slide over an externally threaded portion in the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A. The tightener  1030 E may have tabs  1104  having cammed surfaces  1102  and openings  1106  sized to accept posts  1094 . As the tightener  1030 E is rotated about the posts . 1094  of the pivot  1090 , the cammed surface  1102  advances the contoured jaw  1022 A along the positioning member  1008 A. The retainer  1092  may be internally threaded to cooperate with the externally threaded portion in the end portion  1020  of the positioning member  1008 A and may include a locking feature to resist removal. The retainer  1092  may be rotated about the externally threaded end portion to provide fine adjustment of the distance between the contoured jaw  1022 A and the first structural member  1014  on the mounting plate  1004 A. The tightener  1030 E may have an elongated opening  1106  to allow the tabs  1104  to be spaced apart while the tightener  1030 E is coupled to the posts  1094  of the pivot  1090 . A fastener  1108  may be used to urge the tabs  1104  back together. The elongated opening  1106  may have a portion  1114  sized to allow an end portion  1116  of a spring latch retainer  1110  to extend therethrough. The spring latch retainer  1110  may be used to prevent unintentional rotation of the tightener  1030 E. The end portion  1116  of the spring latch retainer  1110  may be aligned with the portion  1114  when rotation of the tightener  1030 E is desired. The spring latch retainer  1110  may be secured to the mounting plate  1004 A,  1004 B with a suitable fastener  1112 .  
         [0031]     To secure the auxiliary device  1000  to the rail  1050 , the installer may position the auxiliary device  1000  along the longitudinal axis LA of the rail  1050  with the bar  1018  aligned with a transverse slot  1052  located on the rail  1050 . The installer may then align the first structural member  1014  with an edge of the rail  1050  and then rotate the auxiliary device  1000  onto the opposing edge of the rail. The installer may then rotate the tightener until the contoured jaw securely clamps the rail  1050 . The process may be reversed to remove the auxiliary device.  
         [0032]     According to one embodiment, an auxiliary device includes a mounting plate having a receiver formed therein and a first structural member extending from a first side of the mounting plate and extending along at least a portion of a length of a first side of the housing, and a first and a second attachment assembly. Each attachment assembly having a positioning member configured to fit in the receiver, a contoured jaw, and a tightener that when rotated causes the first contoured jaw to be drawn closer to the first structural member.  
         [0033]     According to another embodiment, an auxiliary device includes a mounting plate having a receiver formed therein and a first structural member extending from a first side of the mounting plate and extending along at least a portion of a length of a first side of the housing, a positioning member configured to fit in the receiver, a contoured jaw, and a first and a second tightener coupleable to the positioning member such that when rotated causes the contoured jaw to be drawn closer to the first structural member.  
         [0034]     According to another embodiment, an auxiliary device includes a mounting plate having a receiver formed therein and a first structural member extending from a first side of the mounting plate along at least a portion of a length of a first side of the housing, a positioning member configured to fit in the receiver such that an end portion extends generally perpendicular to the first structural member, a contoured jaw with an opening sized to accept the end portion of the positioning. member, and a cam lever tightener rotatable about a pivot retained on the end portion of the positioning member by a retainer, rotation of the lever urging the contoured jaw to be drawn closer to the first structural member.  
         [0035]     This invention has been described in connection with various embodiments. These embodiments are for example only and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention encompasses all devices and equivalents which are within the scope of the claims which follow.