Patent ID: 8517234

Claim:
An accessory attachment system, comprising: a platform body having a platform recess, wherein the platform recess is at least partially defined by a bottom wall, a perimeter wall that extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, and a locking ledge that extends inwardly from the perimeter wall substantially parallel to the bottom wall, and wherein the locking ledge includes a plurality of slots extending toward the perimeter wall; an accessory mounting plate having a plurality of mounting plate projections extending substantially radially therefrom and a plurality of mounting plate apertures formed therethrough; wherein at least some of the mounting plate projections correspond to at least some of the slots such that when the mounting plate projections are aligned with the corresponding slots, the accessory mounting plate can pass the locking ledge into the platform recess of the platform body; an axis defined along a side wall of the perimeter wall, wherein the axis extends from the bottom wall to the locking ledge; at least one release lever, pivotably coupled, via a pivot pin, to the platform body, wherein the pivot pin is positioned between a thumb/finger engagement portion of the at least one release lever and an accessory plate engagement portion of the at least one release lever, wherein a longitudinal axis of the pivot pin is substantially perpendicular to the axis, wherein the release lever is pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and wherein when the release lever is in the locking position, at least a portion of the accessory plate engagement portion of the release lever extends into a portion of the platform recess; and a plurality of internal stops formed within the platform recess for interacting with the mounting plate projections to limit rotation of the accessory mounting plate within the platform recess; wherein the accessory mounting plate can be secured within a portion of the platform recess such that the mounting plate projections are secured between the internal stops and the accessory plate engagement portion when the release lever is in the locking position.