FIREARM MOUNT

Abstract

An accessory mount is designed to fit and permanently mount on the underside of a firearm. The mount may enable a user to mount an accessory, such as a laser sight, a tactical light, or the like, to the firearm. The mount may be secured to the firearm through a plurality of screws. The mount may include a standard accessory rail system, such as a picatinny or MIL-STD-1913 rail, a Weaver rail, a NATO accessory rail, or the like.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/266,479, filed Dec. 3, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a firearm tactical mount and, more particularly, to an adaptor designed to fit the underside of a firearm to allow users to mount an accessory thereupon.

Certain handguns lack an accessory mount specifically designed for that particular brand. For example, steel frame handguns such as European American Armory™ (EAA) Witness, Tanfoglio,™ the CZ-75 and polymer frame handguns such as first and second generation Glock type handguns lack a specifically designed accessory mount. For these models, a universal-type clamp-on (temporary) mount is available.

Universal-type clamp-on accessory mounts are designed to clamp onto the underside of the handgun's frame. These mounts are bulky, heavy and provide a very unstable platform on which to mount accessories. When changing accessories or even when firing a handgun with a conventional universal-type clamp-on accessory mount, the mount may slightly change position. While a slight change in position may not be a significant issue for a tactical flashlight mounted on the accessory mount, the usefulness of a laser sight may be significantly reduced through the use of an unstable accessory mount.

As can be seen, there is a need for an accessory mount adapted to fit and permanently mount on a firearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a firearm mount comprises an accessory rail operable to accept accessories designed to fit onto the accessory rail; first and second side members extending from opposite sides of the rail; and a plurality of screw holes in the first and second side members, the plurality of screw holes adapted to accept screws for securing the firearm mount to a firearm frame, wherein the firearm mount is contoured according to the underside of a firearm frame.

In another aspect of the present invention, a firearm mount adapted to attach below a barrel onto a frame of a steel-frame, semi-automatic firearm comprises an accessory rail operable to accept accessories designed to fit onto the accessory rail; first and second side members extending from opposite sides of the rail to form a generally U-shaped firearm mount; and two screw holes in each of the first and second side members, the screw holes adapted to accept screws for securing the firearm mount to a firearm frame, wherein the firearm mount is contoured according to the underside of the frame.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a firearm mount comprises an accessory rail operable to accept accessories designed to fit onto the accessory rail; a plurality of screw holes in the firearm mount; a plurality of screws adapted to fit through the screw holes and be flush with the firearm mount when tightened into a firearm, wherein the firearm mount is contoured according to the underside of a frame of the firearm.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a head-on view of a firearm mount according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the firearm mount of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the firearm mount of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the firearm mount of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the firearm mount of FIG. 1 separated from a firearm, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the firearm mount of FIG. 1 secured to a firearm;

FIG. 7 is a head-on view of the firearm mount of FIG. 1 secured to a firearm;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the firearm mount of FIG. 1 secured to a firearm;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a firearm mount, according to another embodiment of the present invention, secured to a firearm;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the firearm mount of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 an exploded view of the firearm mount of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an accessory mount designed to fit and permanently mount on the underside of a firearm. The mount may enable a user to mount an accessory, such as a laser sight, a tactical light, or the like, to the firearm. The mount may be secured to the firearm through a plurality of screws. The mount may include a standard accessory rail system, such as a picatinny or MIL-STD-1913 rail, a Weaver rail, a NATO accessory rail, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a firearm mount 10 may include side members 14 forming a generally U-shape. A plurality of holes 12 may be formed in the side members 14 to allow screws 20 (see FIG. 5) to pass therethrough. In some embodiments of the present invention, there may be two holes 12 on each of the side members 14 (for a total of four holes 12). In some embodiments, the holes 12 may be threaded to match the threads of the screws 20. In some embodiments, the holes 12 may be beveled to allow the screws 20 to tighten flush with the side members 14.

A rail 16 may be attached to the firearm mount 10. In some embodiments, the rail 16 may be formed integrally with the firearm mount 10. The rail 16 may be selected from conventional accessory mounting rails, such as picatinny rail (MIL-STD-1913 or STANAG 2324), a Weaver rail, a NATO accessory rail or the like. Typically, the rail 16 may be designed as a picatinny rail.

As shown in FIGS. 5 through 8, the firearm mount 10 may mount to a firearm 18 below the firearm's barrel and forward of the trigger guard. The firearm mount 10 may attach to the firearm 18 with a plurality of screws 20. In some embodiments, the frame of the firearm 18 may be drilled and tapped to fit the screws 20. In some embodiments, the firearm 18 may be drilled and tapped to fit 4-40 screws. In other embodiments, the firearm 18 may be drilled and tapped to fit 4 mm screws. Other screws, as are known in the art, may be used to secure the firearm mount 10 to the firearm 18. In an alternate embodiment, a nut plate or weld nut 28 (see FIG. 11) may be used to capture the screws. The nut plate or weld nut 28 may be attached to the firearm 18 by conventional means.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the firearm mount 10 may fit to the underside of a firearm 18, such as a EAA Witness/Tanfoglio or CZ-75 model, steel-frame, semi-automatic handgun. The firearm mount 10 may enable a user of the firearm 18 to mount a laser sight, a tactical flashlight, or any other accessory device that may be mounted via an accessory rail.

The firearm mount 10 may be made of a block of high grade aircraft anodized aluminum milled to a specific shape and contour. The firearm mount 10 may be contoured to fit on a specific firearm and may be adapted to be mounted to the underside of the firearm 18 via four screws 20, such as flush-mount hex-head (such as Allen™ head) screws. In some embodiments, the inside of the firearm mount 10 may be contoured to match the firearm frame of a specific firearm.

Some firearms may have holes already drilled and tapped into the firearm frame from the factory. The firearm mount 10 may be adapted to attach to these holes with no modifications to the firearm. Thread locking compound may be applied to the screws 20 prior to installing the firearm mount 10 onto the firearm 18. The thread locking compound may keep the screws in place and the firearm mount 10 securely attached to the firearm 18 during use and when changing accessories.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 11, a firearm mount 20 may be designed as an accessory rail having holes 30 passing therethrough. The firearm mount 20 may attach to a frame 26 of a firearm 24, such as to the polymer frame of a first or second generation Glock™ semi-automatic handgun. Screws 22 may pass through holes 30 and attach to the frame 26. In some embodiments, the frame 26 may be drilled and tapped to match the threads of the screws 22. In other embodiments, a nut plate or weld nut 28 may be attached to the frame 26 to receive the screws. The screws may be hex-head, flat, tapered-head screws, such as Allen™ screws. The flat, tapered-heads of the screws 22 may allow the screws to be tightened flush with the firearm mount 20, thereby preventing the screws 22 from interfering with the attachment of accessories.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A firearm mount comprising:

an accessory rail operable to accept accessories designed to fit onto the accessory rail;

first and second side members extending from opposite sides of the rail; and

a plurality of screw holes in the first and second side members, the plurality of screw holes adapted to accept screws for securing the firearm mount to a firearm frame, wherein

the firearm mount is contoured according to the underside of a firearm frame.

2. The firearm mount of claim 1, wherein the accessory rail is a picatinny rail.

3. The firearm mount of claim 1, wherein the plurality of screw holes includes four screw holes, two screw holes on each of the first and second side members.

4. The firearm mount of claim 1, wherein the firearm is a steel-frame semi automatic handgun.

5. The firearm mount of claim 1, wherein the screws are flush mount, hex-head screws.

6. The firearm mount of claim 1, wherein the firearm mount is formed of aluminum.

7. The firearm mount of claim 1, further comprising a nut plate or weld nut adapted to attach to the firearm and accept the screws to secure the firearm mount to the firearm.

8. A firearm mount adapted to attach below a barrel onto a frame of a steel-frame, semi-automatic firearm, the firearm mount comprising:

an accessory rail operable to accept accessories designed to fit onto the accessory rail;

first and second side members extending from opposite sides of the rail to form a generally U-shaped firearm mount; and

two screw holes in each of the first and second side members, the screw holes adapted to accept screws for securing the firearm mount to a firearm frame, wherein

the firearm mount is contoured according to the underside of the frame.

9. The firearm mount of claim 8, wherein the screws are flush mount, hex-head screws.

10. The firearm mount of claim 8, wherein the firearm mount is formed of aluminum.

11. The firearm mount of claim 8, wherein the firearm is selected from a firearm manufactured by one of European American Armory, Tanfoglio, and CZ.

12. A firearm mount comprising:

an accessory rail operable to accept accessories designed to fit onto the accessory rail;

a plurality of screw holes in the firearm mount;

a plurality of screws adapted to fit through the screw holes and be flush with the firearm mount when tightened into a firearm, wherein

the firearm mount is contoured according to the underside of a frame of the firearm.

13. The firearm mount of claim 12, further comprising a nut plate or weld nut adapted to attach to the firearm and accept the screws to secure the firearm mount to the firearm.

14. The firearm mount of claim 12, wherein the plurality of screw holes is two screw holes and the plurality of screws is two screws.

15. The firearm mount of claim 12, wherein the firearm is a first or second generation firearm manufactured by Glock.