Patent Publication Number: US-8522469-B2

Title: Rail mount

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The rail mount described herein is in the field of accessories for firearms. More specifically the rail mount is in the field of mounts for securing accessories to a firearm, including scopes, lights and other types of optics for firearms, among others. The rail mount is suitable for use with firearms with actions that eject cartridge cases from the top of a gun in an upward direction. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Scope mounts utilizing rails are commonly used. Some rail mounts have been used for top-ejecting firearms. However, the rail mount described herein provides improved isolation of mounted accessories from the impact and dislocation caused by the impact of top-ejecting cartridge cases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The accessory mount for a gun with a receiver comprises in embodiments an attachment plate for attaching to the receiver of the gun, a rail attached to the attachment plate, and a deflector plate attached to the attachment plate and positioned between the rail and the receiver of the gun; wherein a cartridge case ejected from the receiver of the gun is deflected away from the rail by the deflector plate. In another embodiment of the accessory mount the gun ejects the cartridge case from the top of the receiver. In additional embodiments of the accessory mount, the deflector plate is attached to the attachment plate by an arm. The arm maintains a gap between the deflector plate and the rail. In other embodiments of the accessory mount, the arm absorbs a portion of the kinetic energy of the cartridge case ejected by the gun to reduce vibration of the rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rail mount. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the rail mount. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the rail mount. 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of an embodiment of the rail mount. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rail mount attached to a gun. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rail mount attached to a gun. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the rail mount. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Many guns are utilized with the addition of a scope to allow more accurate shooting over long distances. Other accessories may be added onto guns for various purposes. While many guns are provided with attachment points for scopes and other accessories, some guns are not provided by their manufacturer with attachment points. The rail mount described herein provides an improved attachment point on a gun for various accessories. The rail mount described herein provides a top mounting system for top-ejecting guns. The embodiment depicted in the figures attached hereto may be attached to an SKS semi-automatic rifle, though this and other embodiments of the rail mount may attach to other rifles or guns within the scope of the disclosed invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an embodiment of the rail mount is depicted. The rail mount  100  is provided with mounting plate, or attachment plate,  102  for attaching the rail mount  100  to a gun. The mounting plate  102  is provided with a means of securing and releaseably attaching the rail mount  100  to a gun. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the means of attachment comprise a plurality of mounting holes  104  for receiving machine screws or bolts to secure the mounting plate  102  to the receiver block of the gun. Other means of releaseable and secure attachment may be utilized within the scope of the rail mount described herein. 
     The mounting plate  102  extends vertically up from the side of the receiver block of the gun, and connects to the rail assembly  106  located above the receiver block. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the mounting plate  102  curves to a horizontal orientation at the connection point with the rail assembly  106 . In other embodiments, the mounting plate may be formed into other shapes with equal efficacy. For example, in alternative embodiments of the rail mount  100 , the mounting plate may extend only vertically before connection to the rail assembly  106 , it may contain a right angle member to connect to the rail assembly  106 , or it may contain several discrete bends or angular joints to bring it to a horizontal connection with the rail assembly  106 . Other designs for the mounting plate  102  may be utilized within the scope of the invention described herein. 
     Rail assembly  106  incorporates a rail  108  and deflector  110 . The rail  108  is provided with attachment points for various accessories. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the rail  108  has a rail geometry known as the U.S. military standard MIL-STD-1913 rail or Picatinny rail. Other geometries, attachment means or rail designs may be utilized in alternative embodiments of the rail mount  100  within the scope of the disclosed invention. The rail  108  extends the length of the mounting plate  102  and may extend significantly forward from the mounting plate  102 , along the barrel of the gun. In some embodiments of the rail mount  100 , the rail may extend behind the mounting plate  102 . 
     When the rail mount  100  is installed on a gun, deflector  110  is located above the ejection port of the gun. Depending on the location of the ejection port of the gun in relation to the attachment point of the rail mount  100 , deflector  110  may be supported by an arm  112  so that the deflector is positioned at the appropriate position beneath rail  108 . 
     The rail mount  100  may comprise a variety of the components attached together by screws, bolts, welding, or other attachment mechanisms known in the art of joining components. The rail mount  100  may also be formed as a single piece by extrusion, bending from sheet metal, machining, casting, injection molding or other similar process. If rail mount  100  is formed from multiple components the varying components may be manufactured in different manners as best suited for the component. The embodiment depicted in the figures may be formed from an aluminum alloy, such as 6061-T4, however, the rail mount  100  might in embodiments be formed from steel, composite materials or other materials with the strength and rigidity necessary for the rail mount  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , side views of an embodiment of the rail mount  100  are depicted. The arm  112  supporting deflector  110  holds the deflector a slight distance beneath rail  108  maintaining gap  114  between the rail and deflector. The gap  114  is substantially uniform along the length of deflector  110  in the embodiment depicted in the figures, though in other embodiments it may vary along the length thereof As will be seen in relation to a later figure, the gap  114  widens across the width of deflector  114  due to the angle at which deflector  110  is disposed in relation to the bottom surface of rail  108 . 
     The specific shape of mounting plate  102  and mounting holes  104  may change depending on the gun for which a specific embodiment of the rail mount  100  is designed. The location of the mounting holes  104  and exact shape of mounting plate  102  are not limiting of the rail mount invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an end view of an embodiment of the rail mount  100  is depicted. The view is from the end of the rail mount  100  adjacent to the deflector  110  as though the viewer is looking down the barrel of the gun on which the rail mount is attached. In the embodiment depicted in this figure mounting plate  102  curves at bend  118 . In other embodiments, a right-angle may be utilized instead of a curve, or mounting plate  102  may extend vertically with the deflector  110  and rail assembly  106  attached to the vertical mounting plate  102 . 
     The rail assembly  106  connects to the mounting plate  102  by a rail support  120 . The height of rail support member  120  secures rail  108  at the desired height above the gun, and in conjunction with the shape of the deflector  110 , defines the shape and width of the gap  114  between the deflector  110  and the rail  108 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the deflector  110  extends from its attachment to mounting plate  102  at a slightly upward angle. The angle of the deflector  110  causes an ejecting cartridge case to deflect in the direction away from the mounting plate  102 . This prevents the cartridge case from impacting the bottom of the rail  108  causing vibration of the scope or other accessories installed on rail  108 . The deflector  110  is attached to the mounting plate  102  by arm  112 . The arm  112  provides a limited amount of flexibility to the deflector  110  so that the deflector  110  can absorb some of the energy of the ejecting cartridge case through flexing of deflector  110  or arm  112 . This energy absorption by the arm prevents that energy from dislocating or vibrating the accessories mounted on rail  108 . Therefore, scopes or other optical accessories mounted on rail  108  remain accurately and correctly adjusted to the gun despite continued use and ejection of shells. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a side view of an embodiment of mount  100  attached to gun  500  is depicted. The mounting plate  102  extends upward from the opposite side of receiver  502  positioning rail  108  parallel to gun  500 . The deflector  110  is positioned above bolt or slide  504  so that when a cartridge case ejects from receiver  502  it impacts deflector  110  and is ejected to the side instead of straight up into the rail  108 . Once mount  100  is attached to the gun  500 , a scope  506  or other similar accessory may be attached to rail  108  by mounting points adapted to the rail geometry provided in that specific embodiment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a side view of an embodiment of mount  100  attached to gun  500  is depicted. This view depicts the gun from the opposite side as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this view, mount  100  is attached to the receiver  502  by bolts or machine screws inserted through holes  104  and secured in threaded holes in receiver  502 . On some guns  500  pre-existing holes may be provided in the receiver  502 , however for some guns  500  it may be necessary to drill and tap holes in the receiver. In this view the positioning of the deflector  110  over the ejection port of the receiver  502  can be seen. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an exploded view of an embodiment of the rail mount  100  is depicted. In this embodiment of the rail mount  100 , the rail assembly  106  is manufactured as a separate component from mounting plate  102 . In the depicted embodiment, the rail assembly  106  is attached to the mounting plate  102  by screws or bolts  700 . Screws  700  are inserted through holes  702  in mounting plate  102  into threaded holes  704  in rail support  120 . 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.