Patent ID: 8418394

Claim:
An accessory mount adapted for releasable attachment to an upwardly projecting elongated rail having opposed longitudinal V-shaped sides and a plurality of evenly spaced transverse notches or grooves, comprising: a clamp base having a mounting lock to engage opposed V-shaped sides of an upwardly projecting rail; said clamp base including a substantially rectangular base plate surface having an upper surface and including sidewalls extending downwardly therefrom; first and second elongate transverse grooves formed across an underside of said rectangular base plate, said transverse grooves extending through said sidewall on opposite sides of said base plate to form corresponding first and second openings aligned with said grooves; a mounting lock including first and second rail clamping plates each having first and second openings aligned with said first and second transverse grooves; first and second laterally movable bolts extending through corresponding apertures in said clamping plates and slidably disposed within said first and second elongate transverse grooves; first and second fasteners on said bolts for securing said rail clamping plates against opposed side walls of said base plate and against the V-shaped sides of an upwardly projecting rail, whereby said first and second transverse bolts are tightenable to secure the accessory mount to a rail; a top plate secured to said clamp base and carrying a yoke; said yoke having first and second spaced arm portions carrying respective first and second leg subassemblies incorporating corresponding first and second movable and extendable support legs; a latching spring carried by said top plate; said latching spring comprising an assembly including first and second pairs of transverse arms which are curved downwardly at their outer ends to receive and releasably retain said first and second leg subassemblies in their retracted position; said first pair of transverse arms defined by a curved spring member secured to the undersurface of said top plate; and said second pair of transverse arms defined by transversely projecting curved members projecting laterally from said top plate.