Patents by Inventor Timothy F. La France

Timothy F. La France has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8127484
    Abstract: A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SureFire, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Matthews, Timothy F. La France, Michael D. Picciotta
  • Publication number: 20110173866
    Abstract: A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SureFire, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Matthews, Timothy F. La France, Michael D. Picciotta
  • Patent number: 7941960
    Abstract: A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: SureFire, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Matthews, Timothy F. La France, Michael D. Picciotta
  • Publication number: 20100229449
    Abstract: A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: SUREFIRE, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Matthews, Timothy F. La France, Michael D. Picciotta
  • Patent number: 7712242
    Abstract: A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: SureFire, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Matthews, Timothy F. La France, Michael D. Picciotta
  • Patent number: 7395627
    Abstract: An accessory mount or interface adapter having a rail for removably mounting an accessory (such as a light beam generator) to a firearm, the accessory mount being removably securable to a recurved trigger guard of a firearm without necessarily utilizing other structural features of the firearm for effecting the securement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Surefire, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy F. La France, Michael D. Picciotta
  • Publication number: 20080155876
    Abstract: A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: John W. Matthews, Timothy F. La France, Michael D. Picciotta
  • Patent number: 7334366
    Abstract: An accessory mount having a rail for removably mounting an accessory (such as a light beam generator) to a firearm, the accessory mount being removably secured to the firearm through utilization of a transverse pin retained by the firearm, and positionally stabilized by utilization of a wedge shaped member urged between the mount and the firearm's trigger guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Surefire, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy F. La France
  • Patent number: 5433133
    Abstract: A coupling member for quickly and easily attaching and detaching a firearm accessory to the front end of the gun barrel of a firearm. The front end of the coupling member has an internally threaded portion having a left hand thread. The rear end of the coupling member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches that form finger members between them. The finger members have radially inwardly extending lug members. The coupling member is slidably received on the front end of the gun barrel of a firearm and has at least three radially extending lug members and when rotated the respective lug members will engage each other. When a firearm accessory is threaded into the front end of the coupling member, it will form a secure, accurately aligned mechanical coupling which may be disassembled by reversing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventor: Timothy F. La France