Patent Publication Number: US-2015068094-A1

Title: Weapon Rail Attachment

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/875,441 filed Sep. 9, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     This invention relates to weapon attachment, and in particular a weapon rail attachment that mounts to Picatinny style accessory rails and allows weapon accessories to be securely mounted to a weapon using hook and loop fasteners. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Picatinny style tactical rails and mounts (United States Military standard MIL-STD-1913) provide a standardized platform for affixing weapon accessories, such as optics, laser, lights, hand grips and stops to small arms, such as rifles, shotguns, pistols and other weapon systems. Picatinny rails are mounted or machined into the weapon body and generally consist of an elongated series of ridges with a T-shaped cross-section interspersed with flat “spacing slots.” Weapon accessories are clamped directly to the rails or affixed to special “Weaver” style mounts, which are clamped to the rail with bolts, thumbscrews or levers. 
     The weapon mount of the present invention integrates a Picatinny style weapon mount connection mechanism with a hook and loop attachment surface. The weapon mount allows weapon accessories, such as light and lazer switch pads and other items to be quick and securely affix to Picatinny style accessory rails using hook and loop fasteners. The mount is constructed of a light weight resilient material that allows the mount to be press fit upon a standard Picatinny rail. The weapon mount has a molded body having a flat top platform and an integral pair of opposed clamp members. The mount also includes a patch of hook fasteners bonded to the outer surface of the top platform. 
     The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the weapon mount of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the weapon mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the weapon mount of  FIG. 1  affixed to a typical Picatinny rail; 
         FIG. 4  is an end sectional view of the weapon mount of  FIG. 1  being fitted over a typical Picatinny rail; and 
         FIG. 5  is an end sectional view of the weapon mount of  FIG. 1  and the Picatinny rail taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-5  illustrate an embodiment of the weapon mount of this invention, which is designated generally as reference numeral  100 . As shown if  FIGS. 3-5 , weapon mount  100  detachably mounts to a weapon&#39;s accessory rail  10 . For simplicity of illustration and explanation only, weapon mount  100  is designed and intended for use on a conventional Picatinny style (United States Military standard MIL-STD-1913) accessory rail. However, it should be understood that the teachings of this invention may be modified or adapted so that weapon mount  100  will mount to any style or type of accessory rail or mounting system and may be adapted for any weapon system as desired. Rail  10  includes an elongated flat rail body having a series of mounting projections  12  with evenly spaced transverse slots  13  therebetween to provide for selective location of the various accessories. Each of the mounting projections  12  has a flat top mounting surface and opposite transverse edges that are beveled to form a “dove tail” cross sectional profile with proximal (top) inclined surfaces  15 , which are generally outward facing, and distal (bottom) inclined surfaces  17  which are inward facing. 
     Weapon mount  100  has a body that is molded or formed from a light-weight polymer or rubber material. The body of weapon mount  100  is configured to have a substantially flat top platform  112 , a pair of parallel opposed clamp members  114  integrally extending from the bottom of the platform, and an integral stop block  116  extending from the bottom of the platform between the clamp members. A patch of hook fasteners  118  is bonded to the top surface of platform  112  by an adhesive or otherwise from therein. Each clamp member  114  has a pair of angled inner contact faces  115  and  117 , which correspond to and abut against the inclined faces of the mounting projection  12  of rail  10  to secure weapon mount  100  to rail  110 . Stop block is configured and dimensioned to seat within spaces  13  between rail projection  12 , which prevents the weapon mount  100  when affixed to rail  12  from sliding laterally along the rail. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the body of weapon mount  100  is sufficiently resilient and pliable to allow the body to affix to the rail  10  in a snap fit connection. To affix weapon mount  100  to rail  10 , the sides of platform  112  are manually bent upward spreading clamp members  114  apart so that the body of weapon mount  100  can be pressed over rail  10 . Once seated over rail  12 , manual pressure is released, the body of weapon mount  100  returns to its original form compressing clamping members  114  against the sides of rail  10  to secure weapon mount  100  in place. It should be noted that the loop fasteners affixed to the top of the weapon mount may be configured and dimensioned to suit any particular application or purpose. Furthermore, the top loop fastener surface may be optimally oriented with respect to rail  10  to conveniently position any desired accessory secured to the surface. 
     In alternative embodiments, the weapon mount may be constructed of a durable metal, such as aluminum or steel and use conventional weaver style mounting mechanisms to secure the mount to rail  10  as desired. The use of steel and other ferrous metals allows the use of magnets to quick secure accessories to the rails. The weapon mounts need only be constructed partially of a ferrous metal to employ the use of a magnetic connection, consequently, metal inserts may be molded in the polymer or non-ferrous mounts in certain embodiments. 
     One skilled in the art will note that the weapon mount of this invention can be connected to a Picatinny rail without tools or additional fasteners. The body of the weapon mount is constructed of a pliable material that allows a press fit style connection to the rail. The top surface of the weapon mount is covered with hook fastening material, which allows the connection of other weapon accessories using loop fastening material. The integration of a rail mount with hook and loop fasteners allows the connection and use of small and light weapon accessories without the additional bulk and weight of conventional rail mount attachments and mechanisms. 
     It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.