PROTECTOR FOR FIREARM RAIL
The present invention relates to a rail cover for a firearm rail, and more particularly to a rail cover with a base and an insert. In one embodiment, a cover for a firearm rail includes a base with an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion has a groove dimensioned to engage a firearm rail. The cover also includes an insert for engaging the upper portion of the base. The upper portion of the base includes an overhang dimensioned to receive the insert. The groove retains the base to a firearm rail, and the overhang retains the insert to the base. The base is substantially rigid, and the insert is substantially flexible.
The present invention relates to a protector for a firearm rail, and more particularly to an improved rail cover with a base and an insert.
BACKGROUNDMany types of firearm systems include one or more mounting rails for mounting accessory components to the firearm. The mounting rail may be used for mounting various accessories such as lights, laser guides, sights, grips, communication devices, and other components. A standard firearm rail includes a T-shaped cross-section and a series of cross-cuts or slots for mounting and locking accessory devices to the rail. An example of a standard firearm rail is the MIL-STD 1913 rail, also knows as the Picatinny rail.
Rail covers have been provided in the prior art to cover firearm rails when the rails are not in use, in order to protect the rail from damage. However, many prior art rail covers have been difficult to use. Some rail covers are mounted to the rail with a metal clip that secures the cover to one of the slots in the rail. However, after repeated use, this metal clip may become bent or deformed, may rust, and/or may cause unwanted noise by rattling against the rail. If the metal clip does not retain the proper shape and curvature, it may no longer function to firmly lock the cover to the rail. Additionally, the length of these rail covers is limited by the size and spacing of the metal clip, and therefore a portion of the firearm rail may remain exposed and unprotected. Other prior art covers are secured in place by tape, wire, or ties that are not particularly durable or effective.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved rail cover that protects the firearm rail from damage and is easy and convenient to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a rail cover for a firearm rail, and more particularly to a rail cover with a base and an insert. In an embodiment, the rail cover includes a rigid base that slides into place on the firearm rail. The base includes two prongs on the bottom portion of the base, and the prongs engage opposite sides of the firearm rail. The base also includes two overhangs on the top portion of the base. After the base is slid into position on the firearm rail, the insert is assembled to the base by fitting the insert below the overhangs. The two overhangs retain the insert on the base. The insert includes a tab that extends through an opening in the base to fit within a slot or crosscut on the firearm rail, thereby locking the cover into position along the rail. This rail cover locks into place with just two components, the base and the insert, and without the use of extra clips, wires, tape, or ties. The rigid, durable base protects the rail underneath, while the more flexible insert provides a comfortable gripping surface on top of the rail. The rail cover can be made in any length, to cover the desired portion of the firearm rail. The flexible insert can also provide an enclosed pocket for an accessory device such as a pressure switch.
In one embodiment, a cover for a firearm rail includes a base with an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion has a groove dimensioned to engage a firearm rail. The cover also includes an insert for engaging the upper portion of the base. The upper portion of the base includes an overhang dimensioned to receive the insert. The groove retains the base to a firearm rail, and the overhang retains the insert to the base. The base is substantially rigid, and the insert is substantially flexible.
In one embodiment, a cover is provided for an accessory rail having at least one slot. The cover includes a rigid base with a bottom portion with first and second opposing bottom grooves dimensioned to accept such accessory rail. The base also has a top portion with first and second opposing top grooves. The cover also includes a flexible insert with first and second opposing side edges dimensioned to mate with the first and second opposing top grooves of the top portion of the rigid base, to retain the flexible insert to the rigid base. The flexible insert has a top surface and an underside, and the underside of the flexible insert includes a tab that is dimensioned to extend into such slot.
In one embodiment, a firearm system includes a firearm accessory rail comprising at least one slot, and a rail cover for the accessory rail. The rail cover includes a relatively rigid base with a bottom portion with a channel and a top portion with a cavity, and a relatively flexible insert comprising a tab. The accessory rail extends into the channel in the bottom portion of the base, thereby retaining the base to the rail. The insert is retained in the cavity of the top portion of the base. The tab extends through an opening in the base and into the slot in the accessory rail to secure the rail cover to the accessory rail.
The present invention relates to a rail cover for a firearm rail, and more particularly to a rail cover with a base and an insert. In an embodiment, the rail cover includes a rigid base that slides into place on the firearm rail. The base includes two prongs on the bottom portion of the base, and the prongs engage opposite sides of the firearm rail. The base also includes two overhangs on the top portion of the base. After the base is slid into position on the firearm rail, the insert is assembled to the base by fitting the insert below the overhangs. The two overhangs retain the insert on the base. The insert includes a tab that extends through an opening in the base to fit within a slot or crosscut on the firearm rail, thereby locking the cover into position along the rail. This rail cover locks into place with just two components, the base and the insert, and without the use of extra clips, wires, tape, or ties. The rigid, durable base protects the rail underneath, while the more flexible insert provides a comfortable gripping surface on top of the rail. The rail cover can be made in any length, to cover the desired portion of the firearm rail. The flexible insert can also provide an enclosed pocket for an accessory device such as a pressure switch.
An embodiment of the rail cover is shown in
The top portion 18 of the base 12 includes two spaced-apart overhangs or lips 30a, 30b that extend along the length of the base. Each overhang 30a, 30b forms a groove 32a, 32b between the overhang and the floor 20. The overhangs create a cavity 28 between them, above the floor 20. The grooves 24a, 24b may be referred to herein as the bottom grooves (on the bottom portion 16), and the grooves 32a, 32b may be referred to as the top grooves (on the top portion 18).
Turning to the insert 14, the insert 14 includes a curved top surface 34 and an underside 36. The curved top surface 34 is the surface that the user grips when the rail cover 10 is mounted on the firearm rail and assembled. The underside 36 of the insert 14 includes one or more tabs 38 that extend down from the insert 14, away from the top surface 34. These tabs 38 engage crosscuts in the firearm rail to lock the rail cover to the rail, as described in more detail below. The tabs extend through corresponding openings 40 in the floor 20 of the base 12. The insert 14 optionally includes one or more cavities 42 formed in the underside 36 of the insert 14, to reduce the mass of the insert.
In one embodiment, the cavity 42 has a curved shape that matches the curved top surface 34 of the insert, so that the insert 14 has a substantially uniform thickness, rather than being thicker in the middle than at the edges. In other embodiments the insert has other shapes, thicknesses, and sizes. As shown in
As shown in
The curved top surface 34 of the insert 14 extends between the two overhangs 30a, 30b. In some embodiments, this top surface 34 may extend higher than the overhangs, curving up as a dome to a point in the middle of the insert 14, higher than the overhangs 30a, 30b (see
In another embodiment, the top surface 34 of the insert 14 is textured to provide enhanced grip for the user (as shown in
As shown in
A cross-sectional view of the rail cover 10′ on the rail 5 is shown in
Assembly of a rail cover 100 onto a firearm rail 5 is shown in
In one embodiment, the prongs 22a, 22b are substantially rigid, meaning that they do not flex in order to receive the rail 5 between them. The prongs are designed to substantially (although not necessarily exactly) match the cross-sectional profile of the rail, as described previously, so that they receive the rail between them (see
Returning to the assembly of the cover onto the rail,
After the base 12 has been positioned as shown in
In one embodiment, the insert 14 is made of a material that is substantially flexible, and more flexible than the base 12. For example, in one embodiment the insert 14 is made from a soft or flexible polymer or an elastomer such as polyurethane or rubber. In another embodiment the insert 14 is made from a thermoplastic elastomer such as Santoprene™ (Exxon Mobil Corp., Irving, Tex.). In these embodiments, the insert 14 is flexible, so that it deforms when pressed, providing a comfortable grip for the user, and enabling the insert 14 to be inserted into the base 12 beneath the overhangs 30a, 30b. The insert is also resilient, so that it regains its shape after being depressed.
In one embodiment, the base is molded from nylon with a 15% glass fiber fill, and the insert is an elastomer material (such as Pellethane) with a shore hardness (durometer) of approximately 70. In another embodiment the hardness (durometer) is between about 48 and 70. In one embodiment the base is substantially rigid, and more rigid than the insert. In one embodiment the hardness of the base is above about 70, and the hardness of the insert is below about 70.
In one embodiment, when the insert 14 is pressed into the base 12, the insert 14 itself flexes and bends to move the second side edge 44b below the overhang 30b. The overhangs 30a, 30b themselves may also flex slightly, due to the inherent flexure in the material of the base 12. However, the base 12 itself (including the overhangs) is substantially rigid, and the insert 14 is comparatively and relatively flexible. The insert 14 undergoes more bending or flexing than does the base 12 when the insert 14 is mounted to the base 12.
To remove the cover, the process is reversed. The user grips the insert 14 from the side and lifts it up out of the overhang 30b, to the position shown in
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
In one embodiment, as shown in
Another embodiment of a cover 200 is shown in
The accessory device 270 is fitted into the pocket 260 on the underside of the insert 214, and then the insert 214 is assembled onto the base 212 on the firearm rail in the same manner as described above. The accessory device is thus trapped between the insert and the base. The accessory device is held securely in this position, as the base retains the insert at overhangs 230a, 230b, and the insert retains the accessory device. The accessory device is not only securely held in place, but is also protected from exposure to the environment, by completely covering it and trapping it between the insert and the base. In one embodiment the insert 214 is transparent and the accessory device is visible through the insert.
The insert 214 is relatively flexible or pliant as compared to the base 212, and the top surface 234 of the insert is flexible and depressible. The material of the insert is resilient such that it recovers its shape after it is flexed or depressed. Additionally, the thickness of the insert above the pocket 260 is small enough that the insert can bend into the pocket. Accordingly, the accessory device located in the pocket 260, trapped between the insert and the base, can be operated by pushing on the top surface 234 of the insert. For example, where the accessory device is a pressure switch 272, the switch can be operated by pressing down on the top surface 234 of the insert, which bends and flexes and transmits pressure to the pressure switch. The pressure switch 272 is then compressed between the rigid floor 220 of the base 212 and the pressure on the top surface 234. Thus the pressure switch can be operated by pushing on the top surface 234. The pressure switch can be connected to another device such as a light, laser, telescopic sight, or another device, which can be turned on and off or controlled by the pressure applied to the pressure switch. The area of the top surface 234 directly above the pocket 260 may be textured differently than the rest of the surface 234 so that the user can identify by tactile feel where to push to operate the switch.
To connect the pressure switch (or other accessory device) in the pocket 260 to another device (such as a light), the insert 214 may include a groove 262 extending from one end of the pocket 260 along the underside 236, around the tabs 238, to an end of the insert (see
In one embodiment the accessory device 270 is removable from the pocket 260 and replaceable with a different accessory device. The insert 214 is removed from the base 212, and the device 270 is removed from the pocket 260. Another device can then be inserted into the pocket for another application or exercise. Alternatively, on one embodiment, the accessory device 270 is secured into the pocket 260 and is not intended to be removed. For example, the device 270 can be held in place by an adhesive such as glue or tape, or the material for the insert could be molded around the switch, fully enclosing it into the pocket 260.
In another embodiment, the insert may included multiple separate pockets 260 spaced apart from each other to accept multiple accessory devices, such as pressure switches or blue tooth device switches. As an example, an insert that is 6 inches in length can include three separate pockets 260. Each switch can each be connected to and used to operate a different device. The top surface of the insert can include separate textured areas above each switch, each area having a different texture or surface feature providing a different tactile feel, so that the user can identify where each switch is located and where to apply pressure to the top surface to operate a particular switch. For example, the different textures on the top surface can include rough texturing, grooves, ridges, dimples, lines, outlines, depressions, and/or other surface features.
In one embodiment, both the insert and the base are manufactured by injection molding techniques. The insert can be formed as one integral, continuous piece. The base can also be formed as one integral, continuous piece, rather than separate pieces fitted together. In other embodiments the base and/or insert may be machined, such as when the base is made from aluminum.
In another embodiment, the insert and the base are both substantially rigid, rather than providing an insert that is more flexible than the base. The insert and base may have the same shapes and components as described above, but rather than flexing the insert to fit into the base, the two parts snap-fit together. The interface geometry may be adjusted as necessary to enable to parts to receive each other in a snap-fit. This design may be preferred in applications where the cover may be subjected to hazardous substances, and the rigid insert can be more easily sterilized or cleaned.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in respect to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed. For example, the particular shape of the insert, whether domed, flat, slanted, or flanged, can vary, as can the shape of the base. The insert and base can be adjusted to accommodate varying types of mounting rails.
Claims
1. A cover for a firearm rail, comprising:
- a base comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a groove dimensioned to engage such firearm rail; and
- an insert for engaging the upper portion of the base;
- wherein the upper portion of the base comprises an overhang dimensioned to receive the insert,
- wherein the groove retains the base to such firearm rail and the overhang retains the insert to the base, and
- wherein the base is substantially rigid and the insert is substantially flexible.
2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a tab and the base comprises an opening, and wherein the tab extends through the opening in the base to engage such firearm rail, and wherein the tab is dimensioned to engage a crosscut in such firearm rail, to position the base along the firearm rail.
3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a wing extending from the overhang.
4. The cover of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the insert is textured.
5. The cover of claim 4, wherein a top surface of the overhang is textured to match the top surface of the insert.
6. The cover of claim 1, wherein the base comprises aluminum or a glass-filled polymer.
7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a flexible elastomer.
8. The cover of claim 1, wherein information is provided on the top surface of the insert.
9. The cover of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a hollowed-out portion.
10. The cover of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a top surface opposite an underside, and wherein the underside of the insert comprises a pocket dimensioned to receive an accessory device.
11. The cover of claim 10, wherein the accessory device comprises a pressure switch, and wherein the pressure switch is inserted into the pocket and is trapped between the base and the insert.
12. A cover for an accessory rail having at least one slot, comprising:
- a rigid base comprising a bottom portion with first and second opposing bottom grooves dimensioned to accept such accessory rail, and comprising a top portion with first and second opposing top grooves; and
- a flexible insert comprising first and second opposing side edges dimensioned to mate with the first and second opposing top grooves of the top portion of the base, to retain the insert to the base,
- wherein the insert comprises a top surface and an underside, and wherein the underside of the insert comprises a tab that is dimensioned to extend through the base and into such slot in the accessory rail.
13. The cover of claim 12, wherein the bottom portion of the base comprises first and second prongs that form the first and second bottom grooves, and wherein the top portion of the base comprises first and second overhangs that form the first and second top grooves.
14. The cover of claim 13, wherein the top surface of the insert is textured, and wherein the overhangs are textured to match the textured top surface of the insert.
15. The cover of claim 12, wherein the underside of the insert comprises a pocket dimensioned to receive a pressure switch, and wherein the top surface of the insert comprises an area above the pocket, the area having a surface feature for locating the pocket by tactile feel.
16. A firearm system comprising:
- a firearm accessory rail comprising at least one slot; and
- a rail cover mounted to the accessory rail, the rail cover comprising: a base comprising a bottom portion with a channel and a top portion with a cavity; and an insert comprising a tab,
- wherein the accessory rail extends into the channel in the bottom portion of the base, thereby retaining the base to the rail,
- wherein the insert is retained in the cavity of the top portion of the base, and
- wherein the tab extends through an opening in the base and into the slot in the accessory rail to mount the rail cover to the accessory rail.
17. The firearm system of claim 16, wherein the base is relatively rigid and the insert is relatively flexible.
18. The firearm system of claim 17, wherein the insert comprises a textured top surface.
19. The firearm system of claim 18, wherein the base comprises first and second overhangs that define the cavity between them, and wherein the first and second overhangs retain the insert to the base.
20. The firearm system of claim 19, wherein the insert comprises an underside having a cavity.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2012
Inventor: Jeffrey M. Cahill (Tucson, AZ)
Application Number: 12/902,068