Patent Publication Number: US-10782102-B1

Title: In-line flashlight system for firearms

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/365,456 entitled “In-Line Flashlight System for Firearms” by Steven R. Hamilton, filed Mar. 26, 2019, the entire contents of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses and teaches. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to accessories for firearms and more particularly to flashlights mounted on firearms. 
     State of the Prior Art 
     Flashlights are common accessories for use with firearms in tactical and self-defense situations to illuminate dark places in order to see and identify threats or to temporarily blind or disorient an attacker. Some people prefer to have a flashlight mounted on a firearm instead of holding the flashlight with one hand, thus freeing both hands to handle the firearm, at least for some situations or for use with larger weapons, such as shotguns. There are a variety of flashlight mounting hardware and systems available for mounting flashlights on firearms with various advantages, disadvantages, and limitations. For example, some flashlight mounting systems clamp the flashlight to the barrel of the firearm, but such systems are subject to coming loose through prolonged use of the firearm due to forces of recoil and barrel harmonics. Also, such barrel mount systems have inconvenient ergonomics for reaching and activating on-off buttons or switches, and pressure pad-type on-off switches are prone to wear, damage, and deterioration over time. Another category of lighting systems involves building a flashlight or other light assembly into the forearm of the firearm, which can be more durable than barrel mount flashlight systems and can have better ergonomics for accessing and operating the light activation switches, but the light extends out of the typical volumetric profile of normal forearms, thus slightly more bulky, and such systems are more expensive. Still another category of flashlight or other light mounting systems include a variety of mounting hardware configurations that attach to the distal (front) end of the firearm magazine tube in place of the normal magazine cap. 
     The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art and other examples of related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods which are meant to be examples and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments and implementations, one or more problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements and benefits. 
     In one aspect, a flashlight mounting system for mounting a conventional flashlight to a distal end of a component of a firearm comprises an elongate, cylindrical light barrel, a light activator plug positioned in a longitudinally slidable manner inside the light barrel, a light control member positioned in a longitudinally slidable manner on an outside surface of the light barrel, and a connector extending from the light control member through a slotted hole in the light barrel and into the light activator plug to connect the light control member to the light activator plug, wherein the slotted hole has a first longitudinally slotted portion that is long enough to accommodate longitudinal movement of the connector far enough to accommodate longitudinal movement of the light activator plug inside of the light barrel far enough toward the distal end of the light barrel to actuate a push-button on-off switch on the back end of the flashlight positioned inside the light barrel. 
     Another aspect of the invention is that the component of the firearm can be a magazine tube, and the proximal end of the light barrel of the flashlight mounting system is adapted for mounting on the distal end of the magazine tube. 
     In one embodiment, the light control member is a ring positioned around the outside surface of the light barrel. 
     In another embodiment, the connector includes a bolt that extends through the light control member and through the slotted hole in the light barrel and into the light activator plug so that the light control member, the connector, and the light activator plug are movable in unison with each other. 
     In another embodiment, a retention sleeve is mounted in a removable manner on the distal end of the light barrel, said retention sleeve having a radially inwardly extending lip around an aperture of a size that accommodates propagation of light produced by the flashlight in the light barrel while the lip prevents longitudinal movement of the flashlight through the distal end of the light barrel. 
     In another embodiment, the slotted hole also includes a second longitudinally extending portion extending from the transversely slotted portion of the slotted hole, whereby longitudinal movement of the connector into the second longitudinally slotted portion of the slotted hole prevents rotational movement of the light control member and rotational movement of the light activator plug. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of mounting a flashlight on a firearm comprises inserting the flashlight in an elongate, cylindrical light barrel that has a slotted hole with a longitudinally extending first slotted portion, a light activator plug positioned in a longitudinally slidable manner in the light barrel proximal to a push-button on-off switch on the rear end of the flashlight, and a light control member positioned in a longitudinally slidable manner on an outside surface of the light barrel, and a connector extending from the light control member through the slotted hole in the light barrel and into the light activator plug, and attaching the light barrel on a component of the firearm either before or after inserting the flashlight in the light barrel. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes mounting the light barrel on a distal end of a magazine component of the firearm. 
     In addition to the example aspects, embodiments, and implementations described above, further aspects, embodiments, and implementations will become apparent to persons skilled in the art after becoming familiar with the drawings and study of the following descriptions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, example embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an example firearm equipped with an example flashlight mounting system; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged side elevation view of the example flashlight mounting system in  FIG. 1  mounted on the distal (front) end of the magazine tube of the example firearm; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the example flashlight mounting system in  FIG. 1  mounted on the distal (front) end of the magazine tube of the example firearm; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the example flashlight mounting system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the example flashlight mounting system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-section view of the example flashlight mounting system taken along section plane  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5  illustrating an example conventional flashlight in the example flashlight mounting system; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-section view similar to  FIG. 6 , but with proximal (rear) portion of the flashlight cut away to reveal an example push-button on-off switch of the flashlight on non-actuating position; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-section view similar to  FIGS. 6 and 7  with the proximal (rear) portion of the flashlight cut away, but with the example push-button on-off switch of the flashlight in actuating position; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric, exploded view of the example flashlight mounting system. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged cross-section view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating the example flashlight mounting system mounted on the distal end of a firearm magazine tube; and 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged cross-section view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating example flashlight mounting system with an optional spring between the light activator block and the flashlight. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     An example flashlight mounting system  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  mounted on the distal (front) end of a component of a firearm F, which in  FIGS. 1-3  is the distal (front) end of the magazine tube M of an example firearm F. A conventional flashlight with a push-button on-off switch (not visible in  FIGS. 1-3 ) is contained in the flashlight mounting system  10 , so that attaching the flashlight mounting system  10  to the distal (front) end  14  of the magazine tube M, as will be explained in more detail below, effectively mounts the flashlight near the distal end of the firearm F under the firearm barrel B and just forward of the forearm (sometimes called fore-stock) A of the firearm F. That mounting position results in the flashlight always being pointed to shine light in the same direction as the firearm barrel B and with nothing to interfere with the propagation of light in that direction, while also being near and easily reachable by the user&#39;s hand that normally grasps and holds the forearm A of the firearm F. For clarity, the flashlight mounting system  10 , various components of the flashlight mounting system  10 , various components of the firearm F, and directional relationships will be described in reference to the distal ends and proximal ends of such system and components. In these descriptions, proximal corresponds to the rear (stock) end of the firearm, which, in use is positioned adjacent to or in contact with the person using the firearm, and distal corresponds to the front (muzzle) end of the firearm, which, in use is positioned away from the person using the firearm. Accordingly, forward means a direction toward the front end of the firearm, and rearward means a direction toward the rear end of the firearm, unless otherwise indicated. 
     The firearm F in  FIGS. 1-3  is illustrated for example as a pump shotgun, but the example flashlight mounting system  10  can be used with other types of shotguns as well as with a variety rifles and other kinds of firearms. For illustrating the example flashlight mounting system  10 , its mounting, and its operation, it is shown and described for convenience as being mounted on a pump shotgun. Typical pump shotguns as illustrated in  FIG. 3  have a receiver R mounted on a stock S, a barrel B extending from the Receiver R to a distal end  12  of the barrel B, a magazine tube M extending from the receiver R under the barrel B to a distal end  14  of the magazine tube M, and a forearm (sometimes called a fore-stock) A mounted in a slidable manner on the magazine tube M and connected to an action mechanism (not shown). As is also typical of many shotguns, the distal end of the magazine tube M is threaded (not visible in the Figures), and a magazine cap (not shown) screws onto the distal end of the magazine tube M. Several examples of such shotguns include Remington model 870 pump action shotgun, Remington model 1100 semiautomatic shotgun, Mossberg models 5500 and 9200 pump action shotguns, Benelli Nova, SBE, SBE II, Mi, and M2 shotguns, and Beretta Extrema shotgun, but there may be others as well. For such typical shotguns, the example flashlight mounting system  10  replaces the normal magazine cap (not shown), whereby the flashlight mounting system  10  is screwed onto the distal end  14  of the magazine tube M as described in more detail below. A clamp  16  is provided to clamp the flashlight mounting system  10  to the shotgun barrel B for additional stability and robustness. 
     Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 4-6  with secondary reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the example flashlight mounting system  10  comprises an elongate, cylindrical light barrel  20 , which is sized and shaped in a manner that accommodates and holds a flashlight  22  inside the light barrel  20 . The light barrel  20  has an internally threaded proximal end  24  that is sized to screw onto external threads (not shown) on the distal end  14  of the firearm magazine tube M. A retention sleeve  26  with internal threads in its proximal end  28  screws onto external threads on the distal end  30  of the light barrel  20  to retain the flashlight  22  in the light barrel  20 . A circular lip  32  on the distal end  34  of the retention sleeve extends radially inwardly enough to bear on the distal end  38  of the flashlight  22 , which prevents the flashlight  22  from moving longitudinally forward in the light barrel  20  any farther than the lip  22 . The lip  22  bounds an aperture  36  that permits light emitted from the distal (front) end  38  of the flashlight  22  to propagate in the forward direction, i.e., the direction in which the firearm barrel B is pointed. 
     The flashlight  22  can be any conventional flashlight that is turned on and off by pushing a push-button on-off switch  40  or similar push-button on-off actuator on the back end of the flashlight  22 . Such flashlights with such push-button on-off switches or activators on the back ends of the flashlights, usually with light-emitting diode (LED) light sources, are common place and widely available commercially, for example, a LED LENSER model 880012 manufactured by the LEDLENSER division of Leatherman Tool Group, Inc., Portland, Oreg., and are well-known to persons skilled in the art of tactical firearm training and use. Therefore, it is not necessary to describe such flashlights further. Suffice it to say that the push-button on-off switch or activators on the back ends of such flashlights typically have a spring bias that yieldably resists an external longitudinal axial force that depresses the push-button and that restores the push-button to its normal, non-depressed condition when the external force is removed. Also, it is usual for such flashlight that pushing and releasing the push-button on-off switch turns the flashlight on, and pushing and releasing the push-button on-off switch again turns the flashlight off. Such a push-button on-off switch  40  is shown in  FIG. 6  on the back end of the flashlight  22 . 
     In the example flashlight mounting assembly  10 , a light activator plug  42  is positioned in a longitudinally slidable manner inside the light barrel  20  rearward from the flashlight  22  so that forward movement of the light activator plug  42  along the longitudinal axis  44  of the light barrel  20  can push the push-button on-off switch  40  of the flashlight  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . A light control member  46  positioned in a slidable manner on the external surface  48  of the light barrel  20  is connected by a connector  50  to the light activator plug  42  through a slotted hole  52  in the light barrel  20 . The light control member  46  can have any convenient configuration that can be grasped conveniently by the user. In the example flashlight mounting system  10 , the light control member  46  is illustrated as a cylindrical sleeve  46  surrounding the light barrel  20  and that is slidable forward and backward on the external surface  48  of the light barrel  20 . However, the light control member  46  could be a knob, button, or any other convenient configuration instead of a sleeve. Accordingly, when a user pushes the light control sleeve  46  forward in the direction of the longitudinal axis  44  of the light barrel  20 , it moves the light activator plug  42  forward along the longitudinal axis  44  and into the push-button on-off switch  40  of the flashlight  22 , and, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , pushing the light control sleeve  46  far enough forward causes the light activator plug  42  to push the push-button on-off switch  40  of the flashlight  22 . As explained above, pushing the push-button on-off switch  40  causes the flashlight  22  to be turned on or turned off. 
     Myriad different flashlights that have push-button on-off switches on the back ends of such flashlights are available from myriad manufacturers, and the push-button on-off switches in such different flashlights may have different structural details and components. The example push-button on-off switch  40  in  FIGS. 7 and 8  is merely a diagrammatic representation generally of a push-button on-off switch in a flashlight, not any particular push-button on-off switch, and is shown only for purposes of illustrating the structures and interfacing functionalities of the light control sleeve  46 , connector  50 , and light activator plug  42  to push and release a push-button on-off switch on the proximal end of a flashlight positioned in the light barrel  20 , not for the structure or functionality of any particular flashlight on-off switch. With that understanding in mind, the conceptual example push-button on-off switch  40  in  FIGS. 6-8  is illustrated by an axially movable switch component  54  with a movable electric contact  56 , a stationary electric contact  58 , a resilient force biasing component  60 , and a resiliently deformable cover  62 . In the example push-button on-off switch  40 , the resilient force biasing component  60  is illustrated as a coiled spring, but other springs, spring washers, spring discs, and the like could also be used. In the normal, non-actuating position shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the resilient force biasing component  60  forces the movable switch component  54  with the movable electric contact  56  away from the stationary electric contact  58  and toward the back end of the flashlight  22 , thereby pushing the resiliently deformable cover  62  to its normal outstretched configuration. For actuating the push-button on-off switch  40  to turn the flashlight either on or off, the user can push the light control sleeve  46  forward (i.e., in the direction of the longitudinal axis  44  toward the distal end  34  of the flashlight mounting system  10 ), which simultaneously moves the light activator plug  42  in the same forward direction to push against the push-button on-off switch  40  as shown in  FIG. 8  while the lip  32  at the distal end  34  of the flashlight mounting system  10  prevents the flashlight  22  from moving forward. When the user applies enough force in that direction on the light control sleeve  46  to overcome the bias force of the resilient force biasing component  60  on the axially movable switch component  54 , the resiliently deformable cover  62  collapses as shown in  FIG. 8  as the axially movable switch component  54  and movable electric contact  56  are moved axially along the longitudinal axis  44  until the movable electric contact  56  contacts the stationary electric contact  58  to close an electric circuit (not shown) in the flashlight  22 , which turns on or off the flashlight. Then, when the user releases the light control sleeve  46 , the resilient force biasing component  60  pushes the movable switch component  54  and movable electric contact  56  axially away from the stationary electric contact  58  to open the electric circuit (not shown) in the flashlight  22  and back to the extended position of the resiliently deformable cover  62  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . On one such contact between the movable electric contact  56  and the stationary electric contact  58 , the electric circuit (not shown) in the flashlight  22  turns on the flashlight  22  to produce light, and the flashlight remains on when the movable electric contact  56  moves away from the stationary electric contact  58 . Then, on the next contact between the movable electric contact  56  and the stationary electric contact  58 , the electric circuit (not shown) in the flashlight  22  turns off the flashlight  22 , which ends the production of light by the flashlight  22 . According, the user can turn the flashlight on by pushing the light control sleeve  46  forward and then releasing it, and then the user can turn the flashlight off by again pushing the light control sleeve  46  forward again and releasing it again. The outside surface  64  of the light control sleeve  64  can be knurled as shown in  FIGS. 1-8  to facilitate sure and easy grip by the user&#39;s fingers on the light control sleeve  64 , which enhances reliable and easy operation of the example flashlight mounting system  10  for turning the flashlight on and off. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  and as explained above, the slotted hole  52  in the light barrel  20  allows the connector  50 , thus also the light activator plug  42 , to move longitudinally forward and backward enough to turn the flashlight  22  on and off as described above. Turning now to  FIG. 9  for a more complete view of the slotted hole  52 , it can be seen that the slotted hole  52  can be provided with several different slotted portions. A first slotted portion  66  of the slotted hole  52  illustrated in  FIG. 9  extends parallel to the longitudinal axis  44  of the light barrel  20  and is the portion  66  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  which accommodates the movement of the light control sleeve  46 , connector  50 , and light activator plug  42  longitudinally back and forth to turn the flashlight on and off as explained above. A second portion  68  of the slotted hole  52  extends from the proximal end of the first portion  66  transverse to the longitudinal axis  44 . To prevent the light control sleeve  46  from moving longitudinally to turn the flashlight  22  either on or off, the user can rotate the light control sleeve  46 , thus also the connector  50  and the light activator plug  42 , to move the connector  50  into the second, transverse, portion  68  of the slotted hole  52 . In that rotated position, the connector  50 , thus also the light activator plug  42 , is prevented by the light barrel  20  from moving longitudinally forward, which prevents the light activator plug  42  from pushing the push-button on-off switch  40  to turn the flashlight  22  on or off. Further, if the connector  50  is a threaded cap bolt as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9  or something similar, it can be tightened to retain the connector  50  in that second portion  68  of the slotted hole  52  to prevent the flashlight  22  from being turned on or off accidentally or unintentionally. 
     As another option for an even more secure position that prevents the flashlight  22  from being turned on or off accidentally or unintentionally, an optional third slotted portion  70  of the slotted hole  52  can be provided to extend from the end of the second portion  68  that is opposite the first portion  66 , parallel to the longitudinal axis  44  toward the distal end  34  of the flashlight mounting system  10  as shown in  FIG. 9 , but not far enough for the light control sleeve  46 , connector  50 , and light activator plug  42  to turn the flashlight  22  on or off. In other words, the third slotted portion  70  is shorter than the first slotted portion  66 . Therefore, to inhibit the flashlight  22  from being turned on or off accidentally or unintendedly, the light control sleeve  46  can be rotated with the connector in the second slotted portion  68  of the slotted hole  52  until the connector  50  aligns with the third slotted portion  70  and then pushed forward to move the connector  50  into the third slotted portion  70  of the slotted hole  52 . With the connector  50  positioned in that third slotted portion  70 , the light control sleeve  46  cannot be pushed forward far enough to turn the flashlight  22  on or off, and it also cannot be rotated to get the connector back to the first slotted portion  66 . Of course, if the user wants to again be able to turn the flashlight  22  on or off, the user can easily pull the light control sleeve  46  rearward to move the connector out of the third portion  70  and into the second slotted portion  68  of the slotted hole  52  and then rotating the light control sleeve  46  to move the connector  50  through the second slotted portion  68  back into the first slotted portion  66 . In that position with the connector  50  again in the first slotted portion  66  of the slotted hole  52 , the light control sleeve  46 , connector  52 , and light activator plug  42  can again be pushed forward to turn the flashlight on or off as explained above. 
     The example flashlight mounting system  10  is shown in  FIG. 10  mounted on the distal end  14  of a shotgun magazine tube M. As mentioned above, many shotguns have a magazine cap (not shown) screwed onto the distal end  14  of the magazine tube, so, for those kinds of firearms, the light barrel  20  of the example flashlight mounting system  10  can be screwed onto the distal end  14  of the magazine tube M in place of the magazine cap (not shown). Also, many of such shotguns, e.g., many pump action shotguns and semi-automatic shotguns, have a magazine spring  80  in the magazine tube M to urge shotgun shells (not shown) in the magazine tube M rearwardly into the receiver R ( FIG. 1 ), from where the shotgun shells are loaded into the breech end of the barrel B of the shotgun. It is typical for such magazine springs in the magazine tube M to bear against the inside of the magazine cap. When the example flashlight mounting system  10  is mounted on the distal end  14  of a magazine tube M of such a shotgun as shown in  FIG. 10  in place of the magazine cap, the magazine spring  80  extends from the distal end  14  of the magazine tube M into the light barrel  20  of the flashlight mounting system  10 , where the magazine spring  80  bears against the light activator plug  42 . The spring force of the magazine spring  80  is not enough to push the flashlight on-off button  40 , but it is sufficient to prevent the light activator plug  42  and the flashlight  22  from bouncing back and forth in the light barrel  20 , even during recoil when the shotgun is fired. Consequently, when the example flashlight mounting system  10  is mounted on a firearm with the magazine spring  80  of the firearm extending into the light barrel  20  as shown in  FIG. 10 , it is may not be necessary to tighten the connector  50  to keep the light activator plug  42  and the flashlight  22  from moving back or forth in the light barrel  20  on their own, even when the connector  50  is in the longitudinal first slotted portion  66  or the third slotted portion  70  of the slotted hole  52 . However, if the example flashlight mounting system  10  is mounted on a firearm that does not have a magazine spring to extend into the light barrel  20  to bear against the light activator plug  42 , a substitute spring (not shown) can be positioned in the light barrel  20  to prevent the light activator plug  42  and the flashlight  22  from moving or bouncing back and forth in the light barrel  20  on their own. 
     Another option for a more secure retention of the connector  50  out of the first and second slotted portions  66 ,  68  may include an alternate third slotted portion  72  shown in  FIG. 9  in broken lines, which extends in the opposite direction (rearward) from the second slotted portion  68 . An optional spring  65  between the light activating plug  42  and the back end of the flashlight  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  can be provided to urge the light activator plug  42  rearwardly and yieldably hold the connector  50  in that alternate third slotted portion  72  without the need for tightening or otherwise securing the connector  50  in that position. Therefore, to remove the light control sleeve  46 , connector  50 , and light activator plug  42  from that secure position in the alternate third slotted portion  72  of the slotted hole  52  to turn the flashlight  22  on or off, the user just has to move the light control sleeve  46  forwardly against the bias force of the optional spring  65  enough to move the connector  50  into the second slotted portion  68  of the slotted hole  52 , then rotate the light control sleeve  46  to move the connector  50  into the first portion  66  of the slotted hole  52 , and then push the light control sleeve  46  forward against the bias force of the optional spring  65  and the bias force of the push-button on-off switch  40 . Such an optional spring  65  between the light activator plug  42  and the flashlight  22  can also be provided if desired or needed to push the light activator plug  42  away from the flashlight  22 , for example, if the particular flashlight used does not have a resilient force biasing component  60  or if the resilient force biasing component  60  of a particular flashlight does not have enough bias force to push the light activator plug  42  away from the flashlight enough by itself to enable operation of the on-off button  40  of the particular flashlight. 
     While the connector  50  is illustrated diagrammatically in  FIGS. 7 and 8  as a cap bolt with a threaded shank  74  that extends through a hole  76  in the light control sleeve  46  and screws into a threaded hole  78  in the light activator plug  42 , the hole  76  in the light control sleeve  46  could be threaded instead of the hole  78  in the light activator plug  42 . As another alternative, the connector  50  could be a bolt or pin that extends diametrically all the way through both the light control sleeve  46  and the light activator plug  42 . Other types of connectors could also be used for fastening the light control sleeve  46  to the light activator plug  42  as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art once such person becomes familiar with and understands the example flashlight mounting system  10 . 
     While the example flashlight mounting system  10  is shown with the retention sleeve  26  mounted on the distal end of the light barrel  20  to hold the flashlight  22  in the light barrel  20 , the retention sleeve  26  could be eliminated. For example, the distal end of the light barrel  20  could have a lip for retaining flashlight  22  in the light barrel  20  instead of the lip  32  in the retention sleeve  26 , thus eliminating the need for the retention sleeve  26 . In that case, the flashlight  20  could be inserted into the light barrel  20  through the proximal end  24  of the light barrel  20  before the proximal end  24  is screwed onto the firearm magazine tube M. 
     The foregoing description provides examples that illustrate the principles of the invention, which is defined by the features that follow. Since numerous insignificant modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art once they understand the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact example constructions and processes shown and described above. Other kinds of shotguns and some other kinds of firearms have similar stock, receiver, barrel, and magazine components, so the example flashlight mounting system  10  can also be mounted on such other kinds of shotguns and other kinds of firearms. Also, while the example flashlight mounting system  10  is illustrated as mounted on the distal end of the magazine tube of a shotgun, it could be mounted on other components of other types of firearms as will be understood by persons skilled in the art once they become familiar with and understand the example flashlight mounting system  10  described above. Accordingly, resort may be made to all suitable combinations, subcombinations, modifications, and equivalents that fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the features. The words “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and “includes” when used in this specification, including the claims, are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components, steps, or groups thereof.