Patent Abstract:
An upper receiver for a weapon, the upper receiver having a plurality channels each being oriented in a first direction and wherein each of the plurality of channels intersect an elongated channel extending in a second direction; a modular rail having a pair of securement features configured to be slidably received within a pair of the plurality of channels such that modular rail can slide in the pair of the plurality of channels in the first direction until the pair of features can slide within the elongated channel in the second direction.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/462,346 filed on May 2, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/481,697 filed May 2, 2011, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the invention relate generally to an apparatus and method for mounting items on a firearm. 
         [0003]    Numerous accessories are mounted on a standard firearm rail by engaging features of the rail non-limiting examples of such features include but are not limited to telescopic sights, tactical sights, laser sighting modules, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and night vision scopes. Standard firearm rails include a military standard 1913 rail, Weaver rail, NATO STANAG 4694 accessory rail or equivalents thereof. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for mounting accessories to a rail of a firearm. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one exemplary embodiment an upper receiver for a weapon is disclosed, the upper receiver having a plurality channels each being oriented in a first direction and wherein each of the plurality of channels intersect an elongated channel extending in a second direction; a modular rail having a pair of securement features configured to be slidably received within a pair of the plurality of channels such that modular rail can slide in the pair of the plurality of channels in the first direction until the pair of features can slide within the elongated channel in the second direction. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, an upper receiver for a weapon is provided, the upper receiver having: a plurality channels each being oriented in a first direction on opposite exterior sides of the upper received and wherein each of the plurality of channels intersect an elongated channel extending in a second direction; a plurality of modular rails each having a pair of securement features configured to be slidably received within a pair of the plurality of channels such that each of the plurality of modular rails can slid in the pair of the plurality of channels in the first direction until the pair of features can slide within the elongated channel in the second direction. 
         [0007]    Other aspects and features of embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view of a modular rail system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of a modular rail system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a plurality of rails secured thereto; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are perspective views of a rail configured for use with the modular rail system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a right side perspective view of the modular rail system without modular rails secured thereto; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a right side perspective view of the modular rail system with modular rails secured thereto; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a portion of an upper receiver configured for use as a modular rail system; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are side perspective views of the upper receiver illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the upper receiver illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are perspective views of the upper receiver illustrating two alternative bottom portions; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 12-14  are views illustrating a portion of an upper receiver configured for use with the modular rail system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15-18  are views of a portion of an upper receiver with a removable rail member secured thereto; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 19  is view of a firearm with the modular rail system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Reference is made to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,792,711; 7,131,228; and 7,775,150 the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0022]    Disclosed herein is an apparatus, method and system for providing a modular rail for a weapon or firearm to provide various options for mounting accessories such as: telescopic sights, tactical sights, laser sighting modules, illumination devices, and vision enhancing devices, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), night vision scopes and grenade launchers to the weapon. This list is not meant to be exclusive, merely an example of accessories that may utilize a modular rail. An accessory is illustrated schematically by box  1  in  FIG. 2 . The accessories are removably mounted to the rails in a manner known to those skilled in the related arts by for example, engaging the features of the “Piccatiny Rail” configuration as described in Military Standard 1913 (MIL-STD-1913 (AR). 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a modular rail or modular rail system  10  of a firearm is provided. Illustrated in the attached FIGS. is a hand guard  12  of an upper receiver  14 . In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the hand guard and the upper receiver may be an integral one piece member of unitary construction. In addition and as discussed below, the upper receiver may have a removable bottom portion or bottom hand guard portion. 
         [0024]    Hand guard  12  or a portion of the upper receiver  14  is configured with at least one integral rail such as a “Piccatiny Rail” configuration as described in Military Standard 1913 (MIL-STD-1913 (AR)), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Other rails will be removably secured to the upper receiver to provide numerous mounting configurations. Of course, other rail configurations are configured to be within the scope of various embodiments of the present invention. The hand guard and rails may be made from any suitable material such as hard coat anodized aluminum as an example. 
         [0025]    As illustrated, in the attached FIGS. the hand guard  12  is provided with an integral upper rail portion  18  and a plurality of modular rail portions  20 . In one embodiment, the modular rail portions  20  can have varying lengths or sizes to provide numerous configurations and/or variations. The hand guard or upper receiver is configured to have a plurality of integral features for removably receiving and engaging the modular rail portions  20  such that user desired configurations can be provided. 
         [0026]    Integrally formed on the left side and right side (e.g., nine o&#39;clock and three o&#39;clock positions) of the hand guard of the upper receiver are a plurality of features  22 . Features  22  are configured to releasably receive appropriately shaped features  24  of the modular rail portions  20 . As illustrated in the attached FIGS., a plurality of channel openings  26  are provided wherein each of the plurality of channel openings  26  is configured to allow the features  24  of the modular rail portion  20  to be inserted into and out of channel openings  26  in a vertical direction illustrated by arrows  28 . As illustrated, each of the plurality of channel openings  26  are configured to be appropriately distanced apart from each other such that the distance between each of the channel openings corresponds to the distance between each of the features  24  of the modular rail portion  20 . Accordingly, a modular rail portion  20  can be inserted into features  22  such that features  24  are now slidably received within a horizontally disposed channel  30  wherein the modular rail portion  20  is now capable of moving horizontally in the directions illustrated by arrows  32 . 
         [0027]    In one non-limiting configuration, channel openings  26  are disposed at either end of horizontal channel  30  pass completely through channel  30  as opposed to the channels  26  located in the middle of the features  22 . 
         [0028]    Features  24  are configured to be slidably received within channel openings  26  during vertical movement of the modular rail when features  24  are received within the channel openings  26 . Once the features are received within the horizontally disposed channel  30 , the modular rail portion  20  is retained to the hand guard or upper receiver by a lower ledge portion  34  and upper ledge portions  36 , each of which has a flange portion that will be received between feature  24  and a surface  38  of the modular rail portion. 
         [0029]    As illustrated in at least  FIGS. 3A-3C , features  24  have a portion  40  received within a channel  42  of the modular rail portion  20 . Ear members  44  extend away from portion  40  and are configured to be in a facing spaced relationship with respect to surface  38  such that a gap  46  is provided between ear member  44  and surface  38 . Each of the features  24  are secured to the modular rail portion  20  via a screw or other equivalent member  48 , which in one non-limiting embodiment has a pin or feature  50  secured to a distal end of the screw so that the same cannot be completely withdrawn from the modular rail portion and thus disengaging feature  24  from channel  42 . 
         [0030]    In accordance with one non-limiting embodiment, the screw or other equivalent device threadingly engages a threaded opening of the feature such that the location of ear members  44  can be varied in order to insert the modular rail portion into channel  30 , slide the same horizontally wherein the flange of the lower ledge portion  34  and the flange of at least one upper ledge portion  36  slides in the gap  46  between ear members  44  and surface  38 . Thereafter, the screw  48  is tightened by rotating it in the threaded opening of rail portion  20  to secure the flanges between the surface  38  and ear members  44  by drawing the same towards surface  38  when the screw is tightened. Thus and when the modular rail  20  is secured in place a portion of the flange of the lower ledge and at least one upper ledge is clamped between the ear members  44  and the surface  38 . This allows a user or operator to adjustably mount the modular rail portion  20  and a variety of locations on the hand guard or upper receiver. 
         [0031]    In addition, a plurality of apertures or openings  52  are provided to receive a distal end of the screw proximate to the pin or feature  50 . In one non-limiting embodiment, these openings  52  are provided as locating features for the modular rail  20  as it is slid within channel  30 . Once the modular rail  20  is in the desired location the screws  48  are tightened such that the flange of the lower ledge portion  34  and the flange of at least one upper ledge portion is secured between the ears  44  and the surface  38  of the modular rail. Accordingly and in this embodiment openings  52  are aligned with the positioning of screws  48  in rail  20 . 
         [0032]    In addition and referring now to at least  FIGS. 15 and 16  and in one non-limiting alternative exemplary embodiment, the surface of the hand guard integrally formed with the upper receiver has a pair of longitudinally disposed features  54  located at either and of channel  30 . Features  54  provide a raised profile configured to slidably engage channel  42  of modular rail  20  when it is located at either end of channel  30 . Here a portion of the modular rail  20  may extend past channel  30  however the raised profile of feature  54  provides support and engagement to modular rail  20  when it is secured at either end of channel  30 . 
         [0033]    As illustrated in the FIGS., modular rail  20  can have varying lengths such that discreetly located modular rails can be positioned and repositioned on the hand guard for example at the nine o&#39;clock position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, a larger or longer modular rail can be provided for example, the modular rail  20  secured at the six o&#39;clock position illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  also shows modular rails of varying lengths. The number of features  24  associated with the modular rail will depend on the length of the modular rail. For example, the modular rails secured to the nine o&#39;clock position of the hand guard in  FIG. 2  each have a pair of features  24  while the modular rail secured to the three clock position of the hang guard in  FIG. 4  has four features  24 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to at least  FIG. 10-14 , the hand guard/upper receiver has a removable bottom portion  56 . In one embodiment, the removable bottom portion  56  has an integral lower 6 o&#39;clock rail  58  for different mounting options, such a grenade launcher. One non-limiting example of such a grenade launcher is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,478 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, the removable bottom portion is configured to have a plurality of channels  70  which intersect a longitudinally disposed channel  74  wherein modular rails  20  can be secured thereto similar to the configurations provided for in the three and nine o&#39;clock positions. However, and since this is configured for six o&#39;clock mounting positions channels  70  extend completely through channel  74  such that features  24  of a modular rail  20  can be inserted therein from either side of the removable bottom portion. This is in contrast to the elongated ledge  34  which is configured to provide vertical support to the modular rail at the three and nine o&#39;clock positions. This support is desirable since components mounted to the modular rail  20  at the three and nine o&#39;clock positions may have a mass that requires additional support from ledge portion  34  as opposed to a mass secured at the six o&#39;clock position. As used herein, the three, six, nine and twelve o&#39;clock positions correspond with the longitudinal axis of the firearm, rifle or weapon. In other words, the three and nine o&#39;clock positions correspond to left and right while six and twelve o&#39;clock positions correspond to top and bottom. 
         [0036]    In one non-limiting embodiment, the removable bottom portion uses a keyed/key way system or tongue and groove system. Here, the removable bottom portion  56  has a pair of tabs  73  which are inserted into complementary openings  75  of the upper receiver/hand guard and the bottom portion is slid in the direction of arrow  76  until the bottom portion  70  is in its desired location and the same is secured to the upper receiver via fastening means  78  inserted into complementary openings in both the upper receiver and the bottom portion  70 . In addition and while the bottom portion is slid in the direction of arrow  76  another pair of tabs  80  are received within complementary openings  82 . Similarly, fastening means  78  are also inserted in the complementary openings of tabs  80  and openings  82 . 
         [0037]    In order to remove bottom portion  70 , user simply removed the fastening means  78  and slides the bottom portion  70  in a direction opposite to arrow  76  until the tab  72  and  80  are no longer engaging the upper receiver. 
         [0038]    As illustrated, an upper receiver with an integral hand guard is provided wherein modular rails  20  can be discreetly located in various positions on the upper receiver. Thus, the user can locate peripheral devices in particular locations suitable for an individual by merely locating the modular rail in an appropriate location. Moreover and should the user desired to swap out the accessory with a larger or smaller accessory, the modular rail may be removed and replaced with a different size modular rail or alternatively the location of the modular rail may be varied. 
         [0039]    Still further and by providing this modularity a user can also configure the modular rails  20  to be separated by gaps  84  that can be appropriately located for fingers of a user. Accordingly, operator&#39;s fingers will not directly contact the ridges of the rails since they will be able to place their fingers within the gaps  84 . Still further, and when no rails are provided vertical channels  26  may also provide a similar function or area for receipt of a user&#39;s fingers. Accordingly, gaps  84  and/or channels  26  provide locations for an operator&#39;s fingers which prevents them from contacting the features or rails of modular rails  20 , which may cause abrasions or cuts. Moreover and in the event the operator is wearing protective gloves, wear and tear on the gloves is also mitigated by locating the operator&#39;s fingers in between the modular rails  20 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 19  illustrates a firearm or weapon  100  with the modular rail system  10  in accordance with one non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5