Patent Publication Number: US-4926576-A

Title: Mounting device adaptable on a weapon

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a mounting device for fixing an instrument on a weapon, for instance a marker or pointer, a view finder or the like. 
     All the prior art devices for fixing an instrument on a weapon include rather intricate spring arrangements for clamping the device onto the weapon. 
     The object of the invention is to allow the mounting of any instrument on a weapon, in a simple, rapid and secure manner, and by means of a device which is easily adaptable to any type of weapon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided a mounting device comprising a body adapted to carry an instrument, said body having an incurved bearing surface featuring at least an attachment edge or surface intended to cooperate with the surface of the weapon on one side of same; pivotal lateral leg means mounted on the body in order to cooperate with the surface of the weapon on the side thereof, which is opposite to the one where said attachment edge or surface fits, and locking means mounted on said body so as to be capable of keeping said pivotal lateral leg means in a state of pressure on the weapon, whereby when the pivotal lateral leg means is in engagement with the surface of the weapon, said body is rigidly fixed onto the weapon through clamping engagement on the opposite sides of the weapon. 
     In a preferred embodiment the locking means consists of a lever jointed round a pivot mounted on said pivotal lateral leg means, said lever having a projecting flange for cooperating with a pressure shoulder arranged on said body when said lever is in the clamping position, said projecting flange and said pressure shoulder being so shaped that, when the locking lever is in clamping position, the pressure shoulder exerts pressure on said flange such that the lever is caused to pivot thereby to maintain said pivotal lateral leg means in clamping engagement with the weapon. 
     Other particulars of the invention are described in the appended claims. 
     An embodiment by way of example of a mounting device according to the invention is illustrated in the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the frontal view of a mounting device located and fixed onto a weapon, said device carrying a miniature laser pointer. 
     FIG. 2 shows the mounting device as in FIG. 1 located on the weapon, but not yet fixed onto it. 
     FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the mounting device shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a lateral view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the locking lever in standing up position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows the mounting device 10 carrying for instance a miniature laser pointer 20 and the device 10 is fixed onto a weapon having an exemplary outline as shown in frontal view represented by the dotted line labelled 21. It will be appreciated that the device according to the invention can be adapted to any type of weapon of whatever outline. FIG. 2 shows the mounting device located on the weapon, but not yet fixed onto it. 
     The device 1 comprises an incurved body 1 having a bearing surface 2 for resting onto a weapon. At one lateral end of the incurved surface 2 the body 1 features an attachment edge or surface 3 intended to cooperate with the surface of the weapon onto which the body 1 is to be mounted, on one side of said weapon. 
     At the other lateral end of body 1 is mounted a pivotal lateral leg 4. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the lateral leg 4 is mounted on two pivots 5 fixed to the body 1. As shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pivots 5 are fixed in a cut or a recess 11 made in body 1 and the upper portion of the lateral leg 4 fits at least partially in said recess 11. The pivots 5 define a pivot axis for the lateral leg 4. 
     When the mounting device is located on a weapon (FIG. 2), the lateral leg 4 is suspended slack from the pivots 5 and the lower portion thereof is away from the surface of the weapon. In order to tighten the leg 4 on the weapon and thereby clamping the body 1 onto the weapon, there is provided clamping and locking means to exert and keep a pressure on the pivotal lateral leg 4. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings, said locking means comprises a locking lever 6 mounted round a pivot 7 fixed to the upper end portion of the lateral leg 4. The lever 6 has a projection or pressure flange 8 (shown in the cut-away portion of FIG. 1) shaped to cooperate with a pressure shoulder 9 formed on the body 1 when the lever 6 is in the clamping position. The pressure flange 8 and the pressure shoulder 9 are so shaped, in accordance with this invention, that when the locking lever 6 is pivoted down to the weapon, that is onto the lateral leg 4, the pressure shoulder 9 exerts a pressure on flange 8 thereby to cause the lever 6 to pivot so as to apply and keep a pressure onto the lateral leg 4, especially onto the lower portion of leg 4, whereby said leg 4 is kept in tighten engagement with the weapon. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings the pressure flange 8 is allowed to cooperate with the pressure shoulder 9 through a cut 16 made in the leg 4 as shown in particular in FIG. 4 which depicts the mounting device of the invention with the locking lever 6 in standing up position. 
     The mounting device according to this invention can be fixed on a weapon in a very simple manner. When the body 1 is located on the weapon, the locking lever 6 is pivoted down to the weapon whereby the leg 4 is pressed down in engagement with the weapon. The support 10 is hereby rigidly secured to the weapon by tightening and clamping under pressure of both its lateral ends to the opposite sides of the weapon. It can be appreciated from the exemplary drawings appended hereto that the pivotal lateral leg 4 has advantageously a width that provides a substantial engagement surface for cooperating with the surface of the weapon onto which the device can be mounted. 
     The tightening pressure exerted by the locking lever 6 on the leg 4 is maintained constant thanks to the shape of the pressure flange 8 which is preferably shaped so as to feature an upward nose whereby any tendency of the lever 6 to pivot away from the weapon when it is in the clamping position (FIG. 1) would cause the pressure exerted by said pressure shoulder 9 to increase. In this manner, any tendency of the leg 4 to pivot away from the weapon and to disengage from the weapon would automatically be counteracted by an increase in pressure on leg 4 and an improved clamping effect. 
     The arrangement according to the invention has the advantage that the pressing down, clamping and locking functions can be carried out in one single operation and one single action. A further advantage is that the mounting device can be adapted on any type of weapon while assuring a secure mounting and fixation. Yet another advantage of this arrangement is that it is simple and robust for it does not use any spring member. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the external surface of the body 1 features a trapezoidal shaped groove 12 for the fixing of a laser pointer 20 in an angular position staggered with reference to the vertical axial plane of the weapon 21, allowing the view finding device of the weapon to be free (the view finding axle is located in the vertical axial plane). A control lever 13 is mounted on the body 1, said lever revolving round an axle 14 which extends parallel to the axis of the pointer 20. The lever 13 serves to activate a contactor (not shown) turning on a laser cell in order to produce a laser beam. The lever 13 has an incurved shape to extend on a side of the weapon 21 so as to be capable of being operated with one hand and at the same time as the weapon is fired. Lever 13 can be locked by a bolt 15 in order to avoid unwanted turning on of the laser cell. 
     Although there has been described hereinbefore one particular embodiment in accordance with the invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art should be considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.