Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is co-pending with one related patent application entitled “BAYONET LUG AND MUZZLE MOUNTED ACCESSORY RAIL” (Navy Case No. 82029) and assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. 
    
    
     ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION 
     The intention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by an employee of the Department of the Navy and may be manufactured, used, licensed by or for the Government for any governmental purpose without payment of any royalties thereon. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the mounting of accessories on a rifle, and more particularly to a clamp that supports an accessory and rigidly clamps onto the bayonet lug of a rifle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Military rifles such as the M-16 are used in a wide variety of operational situations. Each rifle is typically equipped with a lug near its muzzle end for the mounting of a bayonet. However, some situations may require the use of different rifle accessories such as a flashlight, a laser sighting device, a scope, etc. Optimal positioning of many of these accessories is near the muzzle end of the rifle. Accordingly, attachment of such accessories using the rifle&#39;s bayonet lug is desirable. Attachment could be accomplished by coupling the accessory directly to the bayonet lug via a coupling or clamp. Alternatively, the accessory could be mounted to a universal mounting rail that is clamped onto the bayonet lug. For example, there is an accessory mounting rail (manufactured in accordance with Military Standard  1913 ) designed to serve as the attachment point for a number of different accessory devices. 
     The accessory or accessory mounting rail should be easily and quickly attachable to a rifle without the need for any tools or any modification of the rifle. Further, once mounted, the accessory or accessory mounting rail should be secure and maintain its position after the rifle is fired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp that securely attaches to the bayonet lug of a rifle. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp that can be attached to a rifle&#39;s bayonet lug without the use of any tools or modification of the rifle while supporting an accessory or accessory mounting rail. 
     Still another object of the present invention to provide a clamp that attaches to a rifle&#39;s bayonet lug and maintains its position after the rifle is fired. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a bayonet lug clamp is provided for use with a rifle having a bayonet lug. A housing is opened on one end thereof for slidingly engaging the bayonet lug. A plate is mounted in the housing and opposes the bayonet lug as the housing is slid thereon. A screw passes through the housing to threadably engage the plate. Turning of the screw draws the plate against the bayonet lug. The plate can have protrusions or teeth to positively engage the bayonet lug as the plate is drawn thereagainst. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the muzzle end of an M- 16  rifle to include the rifle&#39;s bayonet lug; 
     FIG. 1B is a side view of the muzzle end and bayonet lug; 
     FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the muzzle end and bayonet lug; 
     FIG. 1D is a front view of the muzzle end and bayonet lug; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the bayonet lug clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an aft end view taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the bayonet clamp taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the bayonet lug clamp coupled to the bayonet lug of an M-16 rifle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1A-1D, various views are shown of the muzzle end  10  and a rigid bayonet lug  12  of an M-16 rifle. Identical reference numbers will be used for the same elements in the various views. owing to its widespread use in a variety of military applications, the M-16 rifle will be described by way of example as the point of attachment for an accessory or an accessory mounting rail. However, as will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention can be adapted to work with any firearm having a bayonet lug located near its muzzle. 
     Muzzle end  10  is cylindrical as would be the case for most firearms. Bayonet lug  12  is mounted or attached to the underside of the rifle and rearward of muzzle end  10 . Along its length, bayonet lug  12  is substantially an inverted T-shape except for opposing slots  12 A formed on either side thereof in a central portion of bayonet lug  12 . Forward of slots  12 A, the lower portion of the T-shape of bayonet lug  12  is swept angularly rearward from the front  12 B and at the left and right sides  12 C and  12 D, respectively. Rearward of slots  12 A, the inverted T-shape is continued at  12 E. 
     The bayonet lug clamp of the present invention will now be explained with the aid of FIGS. 2-5 where FIGS. 2-4 depict various views of the bayonet lug clamp in isolation and FIG. 5 depicts the bayonet lug clamp attached to bayonet lug  12  of an M-16 rifle. Once again, identical reference numbers will be used for the same elements in the various views. 
     By way of example, the bayonet lug clamp of the present invention will be shown and described for its use in coupling an accessory mounting rail to an M- 16 &#39;s bayonet lug. Specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates an accessory mounting rail  110  coupled to a bayonet lug clamp  130 . However, it is to be understood that bayonet lug clamp  130  could also be coupled to a particular accessory (not shown) that is to be mounted to the bayonet lug. 
     Accessory mounting rail  110  can be any rail on which rifle or other mission-specific accessories (e.g., light(s), laser sighting device, scope(s), bayonet, etc.) are easily mounted. For example, accessory mounting rail  110  can be made in accordance with Military Standard 1913 (MIL-STD-1913) which defines the dimensions and specifications for the most widely used accessory mounting rail. Details related to accessory mounting rail  110  are not a limitation of the present invention and, therefore, will not be described further herein. 
     Mounted to (or integrated with) accessory mounting rail  110  (or directly to a particular accessory) is bayonet clamp  130 . More specifically, bayonet clamp  130  has a rigid housing  131  that is opened on its aft end and shaped like a split, inverted “U” (FIG. 3) so that it can slide fully on bayonet lug  12  as best seen in FIG.  5 . Housing  131  is free to slide along bayonet lug  12  until an interior wall  131 A thereof abuts front  12 B of bayonet lug  12 . Mounted within housing  131  is a rigid clamping plate  132  positioned such that a portion of plate  132  is adjacent bayonet lug  12  when housing  131  is slid onto bayonet lug  12 . Specifically, teeth  133  extending from plate  132  are aligned with slots  12 A when interior wall  131 A abuts front  12 B. In this way, teeth  133  are positioned to engage slots  12 A of bayonet lug  12  when plate  132  is drawn towards bayonet lug  12 . 
     Controlling the position of plate  132  is a positioning screw  134  hiving a thumb-wheel or knob  135 . Screw  134  passes through housing  131  and knob  135  extends from either side of housing  131  to allow rotation thereof from either side of housing  131 . To lock screw  134  in its selected position, a detent can be provided to cooperate therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent cooperates with knob  135  which resides and rotates in housing  131 . Specifically, knob  135  is provided with evenly-distributed indentations  136  about its periphery. A spring-pin  137  installed in housing  131  is biased to spring into one of indentations  136  as knob  135  is rotated. Spring-pin  137  can be rounded at its tip to facilitate rotation of knob  135 . 
     In operation, housing  131  is slid into engagement with bayonet lug  12  until interior wall  131 A abuts front  12 B of bayonet lug  12 . Knob  135  is then rotated until plate  132  is snugly seated against bayonet lug  12  with teeth  133  engaging slots  12 A. The detent provided by spring-pin  137  restrains knob  135  from unwanted movement and, therefore, keeps bayonet lug clamp  130  securely in place before and after rifle firing. 
     The advantages of the present invention are numerous. The bayonet lug clamp attaches quickly and easily to the bayonet lug and muzzle of the M-16 rifle without any requiring any modification of the rifle. The system can be installed and locked in place using only one&#39;s left or right hand. Attachment at the bayonet lug provides an accessible and optimal mounting location for a variety of rifle accessories. The bayonet lug clamp is locked in its engaged position so that the accessory or accessory mounting rail will not have its position affected by the rifle&#39;s firing. 
     Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, plate  132  and the shape/position of teeth  133  can be adjusted to work with any type of bayonet lug. The detent could cooperate with indentations provided on the bottom of knob  135  or with indentations provided directly on screw  134 . It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Technology Category: 2