Abstract:
A firearm accessory adjustment system is described. The system provides for independent elevation and windage adjustment for a laser associated with a firearm. Each of the elevation and windage adjustments can be made independently using single adjustments on the side of the firearm. The system can be integral to a sidearm.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/280,015 entitled “Accessory Mounting System,” filed on Jan. 18, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to systems for mounting and adjusting firearm accessories and, in particular, to a system for mounting and adjusting a laser on a firearm. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Firearms are used with a variety of devices that are designed to help improve the accuracy of the user. These devices include, for example, sights, scopes, lasers and combinations thereof. Lasers are aligned with the projected path of the bullet so that when the user points the laser at the target, the bullet follows essentially the same path to arrive at the target. As the path of trajectory can be affected by variables such as distance and wind, adjustments of the alignment of the laser are sometimes helpful to compensate for these variables and improve accuracy. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, an elevation adjuster for a firearm accessory is provided, the elevation adjuster comprising an elevation wedge having a first vertical surface and a first inclined plane normal to the first vertical surface, the inclined plane having a slope angle, an elevation plunger having a contact surface for engaging an accessory, a second surface for engaging the first vertical surface and a second inclined plane for engaging the first inclined plane, and an adjustment screw in contact with a surface of the elevation wedge wherein advancement of the adjustment screw moves the elevation wedge in a first direction and moves the elevation plunger in a second direction that is normal to the first direction. The elevation adjuster can comprise a biasing element that forces the firearm accessory toward the contact surface of the elevation plunger. In other embodiments, the biasing element contacts the firearm accessory less than 170° around the firearm accessory from where the firearm accessory contacts the contact surface. In another embodiment, the elevation adjuster comprises a single adjustment screw, and the adjustment screw is configured and arranged to move in the same direction as the slope angle. The first and second inclined planes can have the same slope angle. In some embodiments the first inclined plane has a slope angle between 10° and 50°. In some embodiments, the firearm accessory comprises a laser housing. In another example, the elevation plunger is seated in a pocket in the firearm and the pocket prevents lateral movement of the elevation plunger. A firearm can include any of the elevation adjusters described herein. The firearm accessory can be integral to a firearm frame, for instance, a sidearm frame. 
         [0005]    In another aspect a windage adjuster for a firearm accessory is provided, the windage adjuster comprising a single windage adjustment screw having an end for contacting a housing of the firearm accessory at a contact point, and a biasing element for forcing the housing into the contact point, the biasing element contacting the accessory housing at a second contact point that is less than 170° opposed to the contact point. Another set of embodiments includes a firearm that comprises both the windage adjuster and the elevation adjuster from any of the examples provided above. In some firearm embodiments, the windage adjustment screw and the elevation adjustment screw are essentially parallel. The head of the windage adjustment screw and a head of the elevation adjustment screw can be positioned on the same side of the firearm. 
         [0006]    In another aspect a method of adjusting the elevation of a laser mounted on a firearm is provided, the method comprising rotating a screw to advance the screw in a first direction, moving an elevation wedge laterally with a distal end of the screw, contacting an elevation plunger with the elevation wedge to move the elevation plunger in a direction that is about 90° to the first direction, and moving the laser in a vertical direction in unison with the elevation plunger. The method can include reversing the movement of the laser by rotating the screw in the opposite direction. In some embodiments, the laser moves about a fulcrum between the laser head and the elevation screw. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the drawings, different embodiments of the invention are illustrated in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a firearm frame including an accessory compartment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a cutaway side view of one embodiment of an accessory mounting system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  provides an axial cutaway view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows the view of  FIG. 4  from a different angle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an elevation adjustment module; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of one of the components of the module of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6C  is a perspective view of a second component of the module of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a view of a portion of a firearm frame for receiving the module of  FIG. 6A ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the module of  FIG. 6A  seated in the frame of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     OVERVIEW 
       [0018]    Described herein are several systems for securing, adjusting and sighting firearm accessories such as laser sights. In one aspect, a firearm laser sight can be mounted on a firearm, a sidearm for example, and can be adjusted for elevation and windage using two external adjustments. The windage and elevation adjustments can be made by adjusting two screws that can be oriented substantially horizontally on the outside of the firearm. The horizontally oriented windage adjustment screw can adjust the horizontal angle of the laser, and the horizontally oriented elevation adjustment screw can be used to adjust the vertical angle of the laser. In some embodiments, the laser may be positioned close to the bore of the firearm, minimizing the error between the bullet path and laser path that can occur at different distances when the laser and bore are not positioned close to each other on the firearm. The laser can be powered by a power source that is on board the firearm such as a battery located in the grip. 
         [0019]    Known firearm laser systems can be bulky, difficult to adjust, and less than securely seated. Firearm sighting systems, including lasers, are often adjustable to compensate for the vertical drop of the bullet at different distances caused by gravity (elevation) and for lateral movement of the bullet caused by wind (windage). Windage and elevation adjustment is typically made by adjusting four opposed set screws that hold the laser module in place. By tightening one screw and loosening an opposing screw, the path of the laser in relation to the path of the bullet can be altered. However, this method, and other similar methods, leads to imprecise targeting. For example, adjustments in one axis may shift the device in other axes as well. 
         [0020]    In one aspect, the accessory mounting system described herein provides a secure, integral, easily adjustable mount for a laser or other firearm accessory. To improve user accessibility, each adjustment, windage and elevation, can be made by turning a screw that is integral to the side of the firearm. A single adjustment screw can be used to move the laser left or right and a second adjustment screw can be used to move the laser up and down, with respect to the firearm. In many embodiments, horizontal movement is independent and isolated from vertical movement and vertical movement is independent and isolated from horizontal movement. As a result, a user can adjust elevation without being concerned about concurrent windage variation and, similarly, can adjust horizontally without being concerned about concurrent vertical movement. One end of the laser, the end distal from the optics for example, can be retained by the combination of a platform that supports the laser housing vertically, a windage adjustment feature that supports the laser housing horizontally, and one or more biasing elements, such as springs, that apply forces to keep the laser housing pressed against the platform and the windage adjustment feature. The one or more biasing elements allow the laser housing to be moved one direction when the adjustment feature is advanced and in the opposite direction when the adjustment feature is retracted. In some embodiments, parts such as wedges, plungers, screws, pockets, housings and springs may be formed from metals such as hardened steel or from polymers such as polyamide or thermopolymers. 
         [0021]    In many embodiments, the laser housing can be supported by a platform that can be moved up and down by adjusting the elevation adjustment mechanism. The platform can be, for example, on top of the laser housing or underneath the laser housing. In either case, the housing can be held against the platform by one or more biasing elements that pushes against the laser housing at a point greater than 90 degrees around the laser housing from the point of contact with the platform. Horizontal advancement or retraction of the elevation adjustment mechanism is translated into purely vertical movement to advance or retract the laser housing in a vertical axis. This can be done, for example, using a two module adjustment mechanism in which a first module includes an inclined plane that engages and rides along a complementary inverted inclined plane on a second module. The first module can be controlled by the elevation adjustment mechanism and slides back and forth horizontally when the elevation adjustment mechanism is advanced or retracted. As the first module is advanced by the elevation adjustment mechanism, the inclined plane of the first module moves horizontally as well. The second module is retained by a horizontally oriented pocket with a radial wall so that the second module is prevented from moving horizontally and can only move up or down. As the first inclined plane moves horizontally against the second, the second module is raised or lowered accordingly. The angle of the complementary planes is one factor in the rate of elevation gain or loss for a given advancement or retraction of the elevation adjustment mechanism. The lower the angle, the less vertical movement for each unit of lateral movement of the first module. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Looking to the figures, one embodiment of a firearm frame  100  is provided in  FIG. 1 . The frame includes internally molded electrical circuits for providing power and control to accessories such as laser module  10 . As shown, laser module  10  is integral to the firearm frame, and the axis of the laser is close to the axis of the bore of the barrel. In some embodiments, the laser may be positioned so that the axis of the laser beam is less than 4 cm, less than 3 cm, less than 2 cm or less than 1 cm from the axis of the bore of the barrel. Laser module  10  can be activated by switch  12  and the elevation of the laser can be altered using adjustment  120  while the windage can be changed using adjustment  130 . As shown, each of adjustments  120  and  130  are horizontally oriented screws that can be advanced or retracted using a tool such as a Philips screwdriver, Allen key or star driver. The screws may be either right handed threaded or left handed threaded to move the laser in a way that is most intuitive to the user. For instance, the screws may be threaded so that turning adjustment  120  clockwise lowers the angle of the laser, raising the bore angle in relation to the target. Similarly, adjustment  130  can be threaded so that clockwise rotation of the screw shifts the angle of the laser left, moving the bore angle of the firearm to the right in relation to the target. This will compensate, for example, for a right to left wind. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  provides a cutaway view of laser module  10  that is secured to a firearm by mounting system  112 . Laser module  10  includes optics  40 , window  50 , housing  20  and laser diode  60 . Conical retaining ring  14  includes external threads that mate with the internal threads of mounting system housing  16 . As retaining ring  14  is screwed into housing  16 , it presses against spherical head  30  of laser module  10  and squeezes against resilient o-ring  70 . Retaining ring  14  is torqued to a level where o-ring  70  is partially compressed but where movement at interface  32  between retaining ring  14  and spherical head  30  can still occur when the laser housing  20  is adjusted. O-ring  70  can act as an annular fulcrum in which the laser can pivot. Therefore when the end of laser module  10  that is proximal to o-ring  70  (including optics  40  and window  50 ) moves one direction, the end distal to o-ring  70  (including laser diode  60 ) moves in the opposite direction. Elevation wedge  90  and elevation plunger  80  work together to adjust the elevation of laser module  10  (top to bottom as provided in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  provides a perspective view (from the bottom) of laser housing  20  retained in mounting system housing  16 . The compartment shows electrical connector  110  that can supply power and electronic control to the laser. Windage adjustment feature  140  can be advanced and retracted horizontally by rotating windage adjustment screw  130 . Clamp  150  retains laser module  10  in the compartment and can include a universal biasing spring  210  (see  FIG. 4 ) that applies a force that presses laser module  10  against elevation plunger  80  (hidden) and against windage adjustment feature  140 . In this manner, a single counterforce provided by the biasing spring can secure the laser module and prevent unwanted movement in both the horizontal and vertical directions. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 4 and 5  provide, respectively, a cutaway axial view and a cutaway perspective view of an embodiment showing the laser module and compartment and illustrate the features that provide for vertical and horizontal control of the laser. Universal biasing spring  210  pushes laser housing  20  into windage adjustment feature  140  as well as into elevation plunger  80 . Elevation adjustment screw  120  can be rotated to advance or retract elevation wedge  90 . Elevation adjustment biasing spring  122 , retained in position by pin  124 , is in compression and provides a force that keeps elevation wedge  90  in contact with the distal end (left end as shown) of elevation adjustment screw  120 , whether the elevation wedge  90  is moving to the left or the right. When elevation wedge  90  moves left (as viewed in  FIG. 4 ) biasing spring  122  is further compressed. When elevation wedge  90  moves right, biasing spring  122  is extended. The force supplied by biasing spring  122  should be strong enough to maintain the contact of elevation wedge  90  and elevation adjustment screw  120  while not too strong to prevent advancement of the elevation wedge when elevation adjustment screw  120  is manually turned. In other embodiments, the elevation adjustment biasing spring  122  can be eliminated by rotationally coupling elevation adjustment screw  120  to elevation wedge  90  so that the two move in unison in both directions. For example, a vertically oriented T-shaped channel on the side of elevation wedge  90  can be slid over a button that is formed on the end of screw  120 . When rotated, the button will rotate freely within the slot but will push elevation wedge  90  when the screw is advanced and will pull elevation wedge  90  when the screw is retracted. In this embodiment it may be preferred that the elevation screw is made of a polymer such as polyamide. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  provide various views of some or all of the components of one embodiment of an elevation module  600 . Concurrent reference to these three figures and the following corresponding description is made to facilitate explanation. 
         [0027]    Elevation module  600  comprises at least two distinct parts including elevation wedge  90  and elevation plunger  80 . Elevation wedge  90  includes upper surface  610  that may be non-planar and can be generally concave. Surfaces  620  and  630  may be oriented on intersecting planes to provide concavity to surface  610 . Surface  610  of elevation wedge  90  can be shaped so that it does not contact or support laser housing  20  which can be supported and engaged exclusively by surface  660  of elevation plunger  80 . Elevation wedge  90  and elevation plunger  80  can be made from similar materials and may be metallic, such as hardened steel, or, for example, can be polymeric. The materials should have a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that the elevation of the laser is not altered by changes in temperature. These materials, at least inclined planes  640  and  650 , can exhibit low friction coefficients so that they can slide against each other smoothly with minimum force. In some embodiments, these surfaces may be polished steel, may be lubricated, or can be coated with a low friction material such as a fluorinated polymer, e.g., PTFE. The angle of the inclined planes is measured from horizontal and can be, in various embodiments, less than 90°, less than 70°, less than 50°, less than 40° or less than 30°. In specific embodiments the angle of the inclined plan can be in the range of from 10° to 50°, from 20° to 50° or from 20° to 40°. In many embodiments, the angle of the two complementary inclined planes can be the same. Side walls  642  and  652  may also be in slidable contact with each other and therefore may also comprise a low friction material such as polished steel, lubricated steel or a polymer such as PTFE. 
         [0028]    Elevation module  600  can be placed into wedge pocket  710  and plunger pocket  730  ( FIG. 7 ).  FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of elevation module  600  after it has been seated in the pockets. Although  FIG. 8  does not illustrate the respective elevations of the two parts, surface  660  of plunger  80  is extended beyond surface  610  of wedge  90  as can be noted from  FIGS. 2 and 6A . As a result, laser housing  20  (not shown) is engaged by surface  660  of plunger  80 . When assembling the module, wedge  90  can be placed in pocket  710  first and is then followed by placement of plunger  80  into pocket  730 . Wedge  90  and plunger  80 , as shown, are not connected to each other. Plunger pocket  730  prevents plunger  80  from moving laterally and plunger  80  is retained in plunger pocket  730  by elevation wedge  90 , which fits snugly but slidably between walls  712  and  714 . Elevation wedge  90  is free to move laterally and is retained in position by elevation adjustment screw  120  and elevation adjustment biasing spring  122 . As elevation adjustment screw advances elevation wedge  90  laterally in the x direction ( FIG. 6A ), elevation plunger  80  is prevented from moving laterally by the radial wall of plunger pocket  730 . As a result, inclined plane  640  passes along inclined plane  650  and forces plunger  80  vertically in the y direction, as shown in  FIG. 6A . When elevation adjustment screw  120  is reversed, elevation adjustment screw biasing spring  122  pushes elevation wedge  90  in the opposite direction. As laser housing  20  is pressed against surface  660  by the constant force of universal biasing spring  210  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), plunger  80  is moved in the negative y direction (as shown) as elevation wedge  90  is retracted in the negative x direction. Note that while y is in a vertical axis with respect to the firearm, in many embodiments y is downward, not upward, when the firearm is held in the firing position. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , windage adjustment screw  130  includes contact end  140  that interfaces with the surface of laser housing  20 . In some embodiments, windage adjustment screw  130  can be complemented by an opposed biasing spring (not shown) that provides a biasing force 180° from the point of contact of the screw. This design may be similar to the elevation adjustment screw biasing spring  122 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8  however, the biasing force is provided by biasing spring  210  which can be positioned, supported and adjusted using clamp  150 . Although the vector of the biasing force provided by biasing spring  210  may be less than 180° (e.g., 120°) from the axis of the windage adjustment screw  130 , the support provided to the laser housing by elevation module  600  means that the off center biasing force can keep laser housing  20  in contact with both windage contact end  140  and with elevation plunger contact surface  660 . When the windage adjustment screw  120  is advanced, biasing spring  210  is compressed, although by less than the adjustment screw is advanced. In reverse, when the windage adjustment screw is retracted, biasing spring  210  expands to keep laser housing  20  in direct contact with windage contact end  140 . 
         [0030]    Elevation adjustment screw  120  and windage adjustment screw  130  can include any type of head that enables the user to adjust the mechanism. In many embodiments, the head is no wider than the threaded portion of the screw, enabling the head end of the screw to move freely inwardly and outwardly as the screw is rotated. Note that the screw is not used to join pieces together but is used to convert rotational movement into axial travel. In some cases, the screw is configured to be adjustable using fingers only, but in most cases a tool is used. The tool can be a standard tool such as a Philips or slotted screwdriver, an Allen wrench, a star driver or similar. In other cases, the head design may be proprietary and require a specific tool. The elevation adjustment screw  120  and windage adjustment screw  130  may comprise the same type and size of head so that the same tool can be used. In other embodiments the screw heads are different so that the user does not adjust the wrong screw. The respective tools can be labeled or color coded, for example, to match them to the proper adjustment screw, either elevation or windage. 
         [0031]    Several factors may determine how far the windage and elevation adjustment are advanced for one rotation of the respective adjustment screw. For windage and elevation adjustment, at least two factors can affect the rate of adjustment. The first is the thread pitch of the adjustment screw. The second is the distance between the point of contact where the adjuster contacts the laser housing and the fulcrum, e.g., o-ring  70 . For the elevation adjustment, the angle of inclined planes  640  and  650  will also affect the rate of adjustment. 
         [0032]    Each of the adjustment screws may have the same or different thread pitches. For example, given a fixed inclined plane angle and a fixed distance from the adjuster to the o-ring  70 , the thread pitch can be selected so that one revolution advances the windage or elevation adjustment of the laser housing by a specific angle, for example, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes or 1 degree. In other embodiments, a single revolution of the adjustment screw can, for example, adjust for a 25, 50 or 100 yard elevation adjustment or, a 5 mph wind at 25, 50 or 100 yards. The screw head and/or border on the frame housing around the screw head may include indicia that provide information regarding the amount of elevation or windage adjustment that equates to a specific portion of a turn or a specific number of turns. Directional arrows may be used to indicate, for example, up, down, left or right. 
         [0033]    While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of this disclosure. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of this disclosure is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, along with other embodiments that may not be specifically described and claimed. 
         [0034]    All definitions, as defined herein either explicitly or implicitly through use should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. 
         [0035]    The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” 
         [0036]    The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified, unless clearly indicated to the contrary.