Abstract:
Device for removable attachment to a mounting rail including a body having first and second lateral members movable along respective first and second slots between a retracted position and an extended position; the first and second lateral members in the extended position include portions extending beyond the body for attachment to the mounting rail; a first lock to lock the first and second lateral members in the extended position with third and fourth lateral members depressible into respective third and fourth slots in the body when the first and second lateral members are in the retracted position and having respective bottom portions that engage respective top edge portions of the first and second lateral members when in the extended position; first and second springs to outwardly bias the respective third and fourth lateral members; and a second lock to prevent longitudinal movement of the body on the mounting rail.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/339,138, filed Jan. 25, 2006, hereby incorporated by reference, which claims the priority benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/647,024, filed Jan. 27, 2005, hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of firearms, and more particularly, to the field of storage devices, as it concerns a container of a predefined shape that can form its own attachment interface for mounting to a predetermined configuration of firearm mounting rail. 
     The present invention permits the storage container to be used by itself as a standalone device or, in combination with a mounting rail that may be attached to a firearm or other device. Additionally the storage housing can be part of any device whose other components are compatible with it. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most accessory storage containers for firearms do not have the capability to readily mount and dismount from a firearm. There have been components of firearms, such as butt stock, and pistol grip assemblies that have contained internal storage compartments. However these compartments are not readily removable from the firearm for separate portability. Additionally these containers if removed from the firearm will generally render the firearm unserviceable. Most accessory devices that attach to a firearm rail use various forms of clamping mechanisms to attach, and generally require the use of tools. Additionally these accessories, whether they are storage containers or associated devices are unable to assume a pre-defined shape of a standalone configuration where the attachment mechanism is not readily apparent. A storage container of a pre-defined shape with a hidden attachment apparatus for mounting to firearm accessory rail has been lacking from prior art. 
     Within the field of firearms there have been various accessories which can be mounted to specific firearms. Most of these systems use locking and clamping devices that either require the use of tools, are difficult or impossible to attach or detach with one hand, or have firearm specific interfaces. 
     Other prior art documents also present very different attachment methodology or are specific to firearms that do not have a standard rail mount, and cannot alternate from a pre-defined shape to a mounted configuration: 
     U.S. Pub. No. US 2005/0246936 A1 to Ira M. Kay (Filed Apr. 1, 2004) discloses a flashlight assembly with a pre-defined shape that has extendable and retractable lateral members for attachment to a guide. A positive lateral member locking device in the extended position is not provided, nor is a dovetail track for the lateral members to travel through that gives maximum stability to the lateral members through maximum engagement. Additionally the use of the housing assembly is only in combination with components consistent with an illumination device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,137 to James W. Teetzel (Dec. 17, 1996) discloses a mounting interface that is attached to a firearm that in turn becomes the mounting rail for an accessory with a non-standard mount. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,967 to Woodman et al. (Jul. 11, 1995) discloses a dedicated illumination device that is specific to a proprietary closed rail design. This device cannot mount to various firearms using a standard rail mount. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,226 to Thomas Allen Cummings (May 20, 2003) discloses a mount that can be attached to a shotgun, which in turn can act as a mounting clamp for a flashlight. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,489 to Fanelli et al. (Aug. 24, 1999) discloses a firearm mount that can attach to standard rail mount using hand tightened thumbnuts, so that it can receive a device that itself has a rail attachment mount as either part of the device, or as an intermediary component. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,346 to Lazzarini et al. (Mar. 17, 1998) discloses a mount that can be attached to a shotgun component through modification to the host firearm, and then it in turn can receive a handheld flashlight. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,901 to Solinsky et al. (Jun. 10, 2003) discloses a flashlight with a deployed rail mount that is a part of the unit; which cannot be hidden from view. 
     A storage container with a hidden integral mounting apparatus that can transition between an independent device and a device mounted to a firearm or other device has largely been unaddressed heretofore. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     The storage container according to the invention is extremely versatile, and can be mounted on any firearm or device that has a mounting rail affixed to it, and can be readily attached and detached, and transition between a handheld device with no visible rail mount and a storage container with a deployed rail mount. 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are to provide a storage container that can be mounted on any firearm or device that has a mounting rail affixed to it, and can be readily attached and detached, and transition between a handheld device with no readily visible rail mount and a storage container with a deployed rail mount. The storage container housing is extremely versatile, and can be used for storage or in combination with other devices, such as illumination and communication that can take advantage of the readily available mounting system that is contained within the pre-defined shape of the storage housing. The storage container can be attached to a mounting rail without the use of tools, and with one hand. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front and top perspective of a flashlight made in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a is a front elevational of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a is a perspective view of the flashlight of  FIG. 1 , shown attached to a mounting rail  12 , which in turn is attached to the body of a firearm (not shown). 
         FIG. 6  is a right side elevational view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 9A-9D  is a sequence of figures showing the downward movement of the clamp members  4  for attachment of the flashlight to the rail mount  12 . 
         FIG. 10  is an assembly view of the flashlight of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 11A ,  11 B, and  11 C are cross-sectional views taken through the clamp members  4 . 
         FIG. 12  is identical to  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 - 13 . 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  14 - 14 . 
         FIG. 15  is the flashlight shown in  FIG. 1  where the lens and lamp assembly  2  has been replaced with a plain threaded cap and the tail cap  3  has been similarly replaced with a plain cap to allow the hollow body to be used as a storage container 
         FIG. 16  is a front and top perspective of a storage container made in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a removable storage container, that can be readily mounted on a firearm and in turn be readily removable from the firearm while returning to its original pre-defined shape, to be functional as a separate entity. In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished with a storage container comprised of a housing that has a pair of lateral members which can both be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. When the lateral members are in the retracted position, the storage housing has the aforementioned pre-defined shape. When the lateral members are in the extended position, they are locked in the extended position, and are adapted to engage the pre-defined firearm mounting rail configuration, and are prevented from movement in the long axis of the mounting rail. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description the housing assembly is shown configured as a flashlight and as a storage container. The description of the referenced features in the drawings that are common to both are the object of the present invention.  FIGS. 1 to 4  show the housing body assembly  11 , of  FIG. 10  with the lens and lamp assembly  2 , and the tail cap assembly  3  of  FIG. 10  attached to form a flashlight that is made in accordance with the present invention.  FIGS. 5 ,  7 , and  8  show said flashlight attached to a mounting rail  12  which in turn is attached to the body of a firearm (not shown). The mounting rail  12  will have one or more mounting rail cross-slots  26  as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 10  shows that each side of the housing body assembly  11  is provided with a pair of rail clamping members  4  (“first” and “second” lateral members), whereby their dual angle male dovetails  36  fit within the corresponding dual angle dovetails  32  (“first” and “second” slots) of housing body  1  so that this relationship permits them to slide downwardly to grip the mounting rail  12 . The clamping members  4  have a retracted position, shown in  FIG. 1 , and an extended position shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 10  shows stop screw slot  16  (“seventh” and “eight” slots) that encloses the projecting heads of stop screws  10  (“third” and “fourth” projections) to prevent removal of the rail clamping member  4  from the housing body  1 . A cross-section taken along line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 12  is shown in  FIG. 14  which depicts the stop screw  10  with its head projecting into stop screw slot  16  within rail clamping member  4  which also provides a stop to the rail clamping members  4  when they are moved downwardly to be attached unto the mounting rail  12 . 
       FIG. 10  also shows pivot locking foot  18  that cooperates with a correspondingly shaped housing slot  20  in housing body  1  to lock rail clamping members  4  in the retracted position. Also seen is rail clamping member window  34  wherein pivoting locking foot  18  passes as it engages housing slot  20  in housing body  1 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the V-shaped grooves  14  of rail clamping members  4  that grip the correspondingly V-shaped profile of the sides of the mounting rail  12 .  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B, and  11 C are cross-sectional views taken through rail clamping members  4  as they are unlocked and moved downwardly to clamp unto the mounting rail  12 . When the rail clamping members are moved downwards, the pivoting members  17  (“fifth” and “sixth” lateral members) locking feet  18  (“first” and “second” projections) lock into a mounting rail cross-slot  26  in the mounting rail  12  in  FIG. 11C  to prevent movement of the housing body  1  along the length of mounting rail  12 .  FIG. 10  shows the pivot pin  7  that pivoting locking foot  18  pivots around, and spring  15  (“third” and “fourth” springs) which provides positive spring pressure for the top of the pivoting members  17  outwards from housing body  1 . The locking feet  18  provide a “second” lock to prevent longitudinal movement of the housing body  1  on the mounting rail  12  when the clamping members  4  are in the extended position. 
     A cross-sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12  shows in  FIG. 13  the locking of the housing body assembly  11  relative to the rail clamping member  4 . The pivoting locking feet  18  can been seen received within a mounting rail cross-slot  26  of mounting rail  12 . 
       FIG. 11C  shows the top edges  22  of rail clamping members  4  in a locking relationship with the bottom edge  24  of the lock buttons  6  (“third” and “fourth” lateral members). The lock buttons  6  provide a “first” lock to lock the clamping members  4  in the extended position. Lock buttons  6  are under positive spring pressure away from housing body  1  by springs  8  (“first” and “second” springs).  FIG. 10  shows lock button screws  9  that control the range of motion of lock buttons  6  relative to housing body  1 . 
       FIGS. 11A-11C  are cross-sectional views taken through housing body assembly  11  show the hollow interior of housing body  1 . 
       FIG. 15  shows the housing body assembly  11  of  FIG. 10  where the lens and lamp assembly  2  has been replaced with a removable plain head cap  28 , and the tail cap assembly  3  has been replaced with a removable plain tail cap  30 , to allow the hollow housing body  1  to be used as storage container that can be readily attached to a mounting rail  12 . Both plain head cap  28  and plain tail cap  30  can be attached to housing body assembly  11  by a suitable means. 
       FIG. 16  shows an alternate storage container housing body  38  that is part of storage container housing body assembly  40 , where plain head cap  28  can be used at both ends of storage container housing body assembly  40 . 
       FIG. 15  shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention which provides the utilization of the housing body assembly  11  as a storage container of a pre-defined shape that can be readily attached and detached to a mounting rail  12  of the type that can be commonly found on firearms. The additional use of housing body assembly  11  as a component for an illumination device of a predefined shape is further shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Reduced to practice, the hollow housing body assembly  11  would have a plain head cap  28  and a plain tail cap  30  attached by any suitable means, such as male and female threads, friction fit, or others available for any person skilled in the art. Additionally plain head cap  28  and plain tail cap  30  could be the same part, as shown in  FIG. 16  which shows plain head cap  28  at both ends of storage container housing body assembly  40 . Housing body assembly  11 , or similarly storage container housing body assembly  40 , when configured as a storage container of pre-defined shape can be utilized independent of firearm usage. 
       FIGS. 9A-9B  show the process by which a storage container, illumination, or other device using housing body assembly  11  is transformed from a standalone device to a device that is ready to be attached to a mounting rail  12  without the use of tools or additional items. Firstly the end of the pivoting member  17  closest to the top edge of clamping member  22  shown in  FIG. 11C  is depressed, opposing spring pressure from springs  15  (“third” and “fourth” springs), which pivot pivoting locking feet  18  out of housing slots  20  (“fifth” and “sixth” slots) which are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 20 . At this juncture downwards pressure on rail clamping members  4  results in a re-configured device that has deployed the mounting rail  12  rail clamping members in a position to be attached as shown in  FIG. 9B . As the rail clamping members  4  moved downwards through the dual angle dovetails  34  contained within housing body assembly  11 , using their corresponding dual angle male dovetails  36 , the top edges  22  of rail clamping members  4  pass below lock buttons  6  which are now not confined to housing body assembly  11 , and are able to move outwards from spring pressure by springs  8  (“first” and “second” springs), as shown in  FIG. 11C . The lock buttons  6  are guided by lock button screws shown in  FIG. 10 . When lock buttons  6  move outwards from slots  42  (“third” and “fourth” slots) in the housing body  1 , their bottom edges  24  as shown in  FIG. 11C  are superior to the top edges  22  of rail clamping members  4 , and act as a lock (“first” lock) to prevent unintentional upwards movement of rail clamping members  4 . 
       FIGS. 9C-9D  show the object of the present invention in a configuration where it is about to be attached to a mounting rail  12 . The ends of the pivoting members  17  that are at the end of the pivot locking feet closest to the top edges  22  of rail clamping member  4  shown in  FIG. 11C  are depressed opposing spring pressure from springs  15  (“third” and “fourth” springs), which pivot pivoting locking feet  18  out of the rail clamping member windows  34  of rail clamping members  4  as in  FIG. 10 . 
     With the pivoting locking feet  18  out of the rail clamping member windows  34  of the rail clamping members  4 , the V-shaped grooves  14  of rail clamping members  4  of housing body assembly  11  configured as a storage container or illumination, or other device can now be slid along the correspondingly V-shaped profile of the sides of mounting rail  12  as shown in  FIG. 9D . After said device is slid to the desired location along mounting rail  12 , pressure is released from pivoting locking feet  18 , which allows them to move inwards towards the centerline of mounting rail  12 , whereby they are able to lock into a mounting rail cross-slot  26 .  FIG. 11  C shows pivot locking feet  18  locked into a mounting rail cross-slot  26  of mounting rail  12 , locking the housing body assembly  11 , relative to the length of mounting rail  12 .  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 - 13 , of  FIG. 12  which shows the locking of housing body assembly  11  relative to the length of rail clamping members  4 , whereby pivoting locking feet  18  are received within a mounting rail cross-slot  26  of mounting rail  12 . 
     Removal of housing body assembly  11  when configured as a storage container, illumination, or other device from a mounting rail  12  employment as shown in  FIGS. 5-8  is accomplished first, by depressing the ends of the pivoting members  17  (“fifth” and “sixth” lateral members) that are at the end of the pivot locking feet  18  closest to the top edges  22  of clamping members  4 . This pivots the pivoting locking feet  18  out of the mounting rail cross-slot  26  that they have engaged, and allows the rail clamping members  4  to be slid along mounting rail  12  until they are removed from the end of the mounting rail. Once removed from mounting rail  12 , housing body assembly  11  can be reconfigured to its standalone configuration by sliding the rail clamping members  4  upwards within the dual angle dovetails  32  of housing body  1 . This is accomplished by depressing lock buttons  6  while applying upwards pressure to the edge of rail clamping members  4  closest to V-shaped groove  14 . When rail clamping members  4  are returned moved upwards to create the pre-defined shape of the housing body assembly  11 , the pivoting locking feet  18  are able to engage the housing slots  20  (“fifth” and “sixth” slots) of housing body  1 , and retain the rail clamping members  4  in the standalone configuration of the storage container, illumination, or other device that housing body assembly  11  is used for. These pivoting locking feet  18  are retained within the housing slots  20  of housing body  1 , by springs  15  (“third” and “fourth” springs) that apply pressure against pivoting locking feet  18 . In this position, the locking feet  18  are understood to provide a “third” lock to lock the clamping members  4  in the retracted position. 
     When utilized as a storage container, the housing body assembly  11  in either the standalone, or attached configuration is employed in a manner similar to other storage containers, whereby either the plain head cap  28 , or plain tail cap  30  are removed from the housing body  1 , so that the hollow interior can be used for storage of desired items, and the cap can be replaced and removed as desired. Many means are available for the attachment of said caps to said housing, which can include threaded, friction fit, and others available to one skilled in the art. 
     When utilized as part of an illumination, or other device, the hollow interior of housing body assembly  11  allows the configuration of various devices that can benefit from the available internal space of housing body  1 , while the device benefits from the ability to transition between a pre-defined shape, and a firearm rail attachable configuration. 
     Accordingly, it can be seen that the housing body assembly of this invention affords a great degree of utility, flexibility and modularity to the configuration options available to various devices that would be desirable to employ in conjunction with a firearm as well as a standalone device. There is a significant benefit from not having a dedicated storage container, or device for a firearm, that is not suitable for standalone use since its configuration is encumbered either with the appurtenances necessary to attach to a firearm mounting rail, or by being manufactured as a replacement for an existing firearm component, while providing its utility function. 
     Furthermore the housing body assembly of this invention has many rail attachment capabilities that are desirable such as a mechanism which can be operated with one hand if desired; and the ability to attach and detach to a mounting rail without the use of tools. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possible within its scope. For example, the deployable mounting configuration can be used for other devices that require a mounting mechanism that is not apparent until it is used. These devices may include storage, illumination, communication, maintenance and many others that may be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     Additionally the rail clamping members can be configured to attach to mounting rails that have a profile with sides that are other than V-shaped. The transformable housing assembly readily lends itself to a multitude of devices where it may be desirable that they are attachable to a firearm, or other item that has a mounting rail. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and substitutions can be made to the preferred embodiment Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.