WEAPON ACCESSORY MOUNT SYSTEM

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein, an apparatus, comprising a mounting base configured to attach to a weapon, a ball coupled with the mounting base, and a socket mount coupled with the ball. The socket mount comprises at least one port allowing a locking mechanism to lock the ball at a position and a head configured to mount an accessory. When the locking mechanism is disengaged, the ball can be moved to any desired position, and then the locking mechanism can be employed to lock the ball into the desired position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/053,285 filed Sep. 22, 2014.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure and related invention is in the general field of firearms and firearm accessories.

BACKGROUND

Many accessories are available to attach to a weapon. These accessories include, but are not limited to vertical foreend grips, lights, lasers, other types of grips, optics, or check guard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification illustrate the example embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a weapon accessory mount system in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the weapon accessory mount system illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the weapon accessory mount system illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the of the weapon accessory mount system illustrated in FIG. 2 along the A-A axis.

FIG. 5 illustrates examples of mechanical locking positions.

FIG. 6 illustrates examples of a the ball located in the mechanical locking positions.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a weapon accessory mount system coupled with modular stacking rings.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the weapon accessory mount system illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the weapon accessory mount system in FIG. 8 along the B-B axis.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a weapon accessory mount system coupled with a laser light.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the weapon accessory mount system illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway view of the weapon accessory mount system in FIG. 11 along the C-C axis.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a weapon accessory mount system coupled with a rail.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the weapon accessory mount system illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cutaway view of the weapon accessory mount system in FIG. 11 along the D-D axis.

OVERVIEW OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following presents a simplified overview of the example embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the example embodiments. This overview is not an extensive overview of the example embodiments. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the example embodiments nor delineate the scope of the appended claims. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the example embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein, an apparatus, comprising a mounting base configured to attach to a weapon, a ball coupled with the mounting base, and a socket mount coupled with the ball. The socket mount comprises at least one port allowing a locking mechanism to lock the ball at a position and a head configured to mount an accessory.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This description provides examples not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. The figures generally indicate the features of the examples, where it is understood and appreciated that like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an example embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least one embodiment described herein and does not imply that the feature, structure, or characteristic is present in all embodiments described herein.

Described in an example embodiment herein is a weapon accessory mount system that comprises a multi-directional ball and socket mount that can be adjusted to an infinite number of positions as well as multiple fixed locking locations. The weapon accessory mount system can accommodate various weapon accessories such as vertical grips, Picatinny rail sections, lights, lasers, optics etc. The weapon accessory mount system clips, bolts or adheres to a rifle such as an M-16, AR-15 or any style weapon platform that may feature the mil standard 1913 or “Picatinny” style rail system or a weapon system that may benefit from the versatility of the weapon accessory mount system. The weapon accessory mount system may also directly bolt to or adhere to the fore-end of a weapon that does not feature Picatinny style rails such as on the key-mod, Weaver, M-Lock, bolt on or a smooth surface on the weapon. The weapon accessory mount system allows an operator to adjust the position of an accessory such as a vertical grip on a weapon such to an ergonomic position that fits their personal shooting style. The weapon accessory mount system can be adjusted by loosening and tightening the mounting mechanism located at the top of the grip, which allows an operator to move the vertical grip or accessory to the desired position. Once the vertical grip or accessory is in the desired position the ball and socket mechanism can be tightened locking the vertical grip or accessory in place. The weapon accessory mount system can be made of rigid materials such as aluminum, titanium, nylon, fiberglass reinforced plastic or any combination of materials similar to the aforementioned materials.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is illustrated a weapon accessory mount system 10 in accordance with an example embodiment. The weapon accessory system comprises a mounting base 12 configured to attach to a weapon (not shown), e.g., a firearm such as a pistol and/or rifle, a ball 14 coupled with the mounting base, and a socket mount 16 coupled with the ball 14. The socket mount 16 comprises at least one port 18 allowing a locking mechanism 20 to lock the ball 14 at a position and a head 22 configured to mount an accessory. The socket mount 16 comprises a socket 15 that allows the ball 14 to rotate.

The mounting base 12 may be configured to attach to any suitable portion of a weapon. For example, the mounting base 12 may be configured to attach to a Picatinny style rail system, a KeyMod style rail system, a M-Lock style rail system, or a Weaver style rail system. In yet other example embodiments, the mounting base 12 may be configured to bolt onto a smooth surface at a fore end of the weapon. In still yet other example embodiments, the mounting base 12 may be configured to adhere onto a smooth surface at a fore end of the weapon.

In an example embodiment, a shaft 30 couples the ball 14 to the socket mount 16. This can provide greater clearance for the mounting base 12 from the socket mount 16.

In an example embodiment, the at least one port 18 is threaded allowing for a threaded fastener to be employed as a locking mechanism 20 to lock the ball 14 into a desired position. For example, the fastener may be loosened to allow the ball to be moved to a desired position (as indicated in FIG. 2 the ball 14 may be moved in any position in a semi-spherical area circumscribed by the socket mount 16). Once the ball is in the desired positioned, the fastener is tightened, which applies pressure onto the ball 14, locking the ball between the fastener and a cage 17 (FIG. 9) portion of the socket mount 16.

The head 22 of the socket mount 16 can be threaded allowing for a threaded fastener or be a pinned head. As will be described in further detail herein infra, this can allow for a variety of accessories to be coupled with the socket mount 15.

Referring to FIGS. 5, in an example embodiment, the socket mount 16 comprises a plurality of cutouts corresponding to a plurality of mechanical locks at a plurality of predefined angles. In the illustrated example, the cutouts correspond to 30, 45, 60, and 90 degree angles. However, those skilled in the art can readily appreciate that cutouts can be provided for any desired physically realizable angles. FIG. 6 illustrates the ball 14 engaging the cutouts.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, there is illustrated an example of a weapon accessory mount system 10 employed to couple modular stacking rings 24, 26, 28 to the weapon. As those skilled in the art can readily appreciate, any physically realizable number of stacking rings can be employed. The ball 14 can be moved into a desired position by a user of the weapon and locked into place as described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, there is illustrated an example of the weapon accessory mount system 10 described herein employed to couple a laser light to the weapon. The weapon accessory mount system 10 allows for the laser light to be adjusted to site the weapon.

Referring to FIGS. 13-15, there is illustrated an example of the weapon accessory mount system 10 coupled with a rail system. The rail system can be any rail system, such as, including but not limited to a Weaver rail, a Picatinny style rail, a KeyMod rail style rail, and a M-Lock style rail. This can be useful to mount an accessory that is configured to mount on a rail to be mounted on a weapon that does not have a rail, or to mount the accessory in a manner that the accessory can be adjusted by movement of the ball 14 as described herein.

Described above are example embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the example embodiments are possible. Accordingly, this application is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mounting base configured to attach to a weapon;

a ball coupled with the mounting base; and

a socket mount coupled with the ball, the socket mount comprises at least one port allowing a locking mechanism to lock the ball at a position and a head configured to mount an accessory.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a shaft coupling the ball to the mounting base.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is configured to attach to a Picatinny style rail system.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is configured to attach to a KeyMod style rail system.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is configured to attach to a M-Lock style rail system.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is configured to attach to a Weaver style rail system.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is configured to bolt onto a smooth surface at a fore end of the weapon.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting base is configured to adhere onto a smooth surface at a fore end of the weapon.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one port is threaded, the apparatus further comprising a threaded fastener configured to engage the port, the threaded fastener operable to put pressure on the ball to hold the ball at the position.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the socket mount comprises a plurality of cutouts corresponding to a plurality of mechanical locks at a plurality of predefined angles.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the head is one of a group consisting of a threaded head and a pin head.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a grip coupled with the head of the socket mount.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a laser light coupled with the head of the socket mount.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a rail selected from a group consisting a weaver rail, a Picatinny style rail, a KeyMod rail style rail, M-Lock style rail, and a Weaver style rail coupled with the head of the socket mount.