Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BARREL ACCESSORY RAIL SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority to United States Provisional Application
Serial No. 60/557,987, filed March 31, 2004, which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to firearms and, in particular, to a
barrel accessory rail system for clamping a magazine extension to the barrel
of
a firearm, and for providing an attachment point for mounting accessories to
the
firearm.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A barrel clamp may be used with a firearm to maintain a tubular
magazine extension or accessory mount for the firearm in a secure, rigid
alignment with the barrel. However, many presently available clamps tend to
compress the magazine extension tube, which can potentially impede round
capacity and proper function of the weapon.
Some barrel clamps provide a means for attaching an accessory to the
firearm. However, the attaching means often is unique to the manufacturer of
the clamp. Therefore, the user is required either to purchase multiple clamps
for use with various accessories, or to purchase the clamp and all of the
accessories from a limited number of providers that offer compatible mounting
features. Additionally, many barrel clamps include mounting features on only
one side of the firearm, thereby limiting the ability of the user to choose
where
to position the accessory along the firearm.
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Thus, there remains a need for a simple and easy to use system for rigidly
securing a magazine extension or accessory mount to the barrel of a firearm
without adversely affecting the performance of the firearm. There further
remains a need for a clamping system that includes for attaching or mounting
various types of additional accessories to the firearm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a barrel accessory rail system
for a firearm. The barrel accessory rail system includes a pair of cooperating
clamping sections and one or more fasteners for securing the pair of opposed
clamping sections in clamping engagement with the barrel and magazine
extension. Each of the opposed clamping sections includes at least one pair of
flanges spaced by a transverse rail. The flanges are adapted to couple a
barrel
and a magazine extension for a firearm. The flanges may have an arcuate
firearm or barrel engaging or contacting-surface. The transverse rail may be a
PicatW ney rail, a weaver rail, or any other suitable rail system.
The barrel accessory rail system of the present invention provides a
simple and easy to use system for rigidly securing a magazine extension or
accessory mount to the barrel of a firearm without adversely affecting the
performance of the firearm. The barrel accessory rail system of the present
invention also provides for attachment of firearm accessories in various
arrangements or orientations on either side of the firearm.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will
become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon
reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like
reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and ll1
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary barrel accessory rail
system according to the present invention mounted on a firearm;
FIG. 2 is a rearward end view of the exemplary barrel accessory rail
system of FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 3 is a front end view of the exemplary barrel accessory rail system
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an exemplary first clamping section of a
pair of clamping sections of a barrel accessory rail system according to the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an exemplary second clamping section of a
pair of clamping sections of a barrel accessory rail system according to the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary barrel
accessory rail system of FIGS.1-5 according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a rear end view of another exemplary barrel accessory rail
system according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a front end view of another exemplary barrel accessory rail
system according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another exemplary first clamping section of
a pair of clamping sections of a barrel accessory rail system according to the
present invention;
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of another exemplary second clamping
section of a pair of clamping sections of a barrel accessory rail system
according to the present invention; and
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FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary barrel
accessory rail system of FIGS. 7-10 accordiizg to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally is directed to a barrel accessory rail
system (BARS) for use with a firearm. The BARS typically will be used with a
shotgun, rifle, or other long gun, but also may be used other types of
firearms,
such as a long-barrel pistol or other similar type of hand gun. The BARS of
the
present invention may be used to clamp a tubular magazine extension to the
barrel to maintain the barrel and magazine extension in a secure, rigid
alignment. Additionally, the BARS may provide a sling attachment point for
the firearm, and may further include features for mounting various firearm
accessories, such as flashlights, white lights, laser sights, or IR
illuminators or
various other tactical options or accessories.
FIG.1 depicts generally an exemplary BARS 10 attached to a firearm F,
in one example embodiment, a shotgun. The BARS 10 is mounted removably
at a forward section 15 of the firearm F, and secures the barrel 20 and the
magazine extension 25 in a rigid alignment. The BARS 10 generally comprises
at least one pair of flanges 30 extending from a transverse or lateral rail
35. As
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transverse rail 35 generally is aligned at
least
partially with the space between the barrel 20 and the magazine extension 25.
The transverse rail 35 may include one or more slots 40 for mounting a firearm
accessory (not shown) to the firearm. The BARS 10 optionally can iilclude a
sling attachment point 45 (FIGS. 4 and 5) at a rearward end 50 of the BARS
10.
Turning to FIGS. 2-6, a more detailed view of the exemplary BARS 10
generally shown in FIG. 1 is provided. The BARS 10 comprises a pair of
cooperating clamping or body sections 55a, 55b. Each opposed clamping
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section 55a, 55b may be formed from a lightweight, high strength material that
also may be resistant to corrosion. For example, the opposed clamping sections
may be formed from a metal, such as aluminum, steel, or other metal or metal
alloy, various synthetic or composite materials, for example, a polymer, or
any
combination thereof.
Each of the clamping sections 55a, 55b generally comprises at least one
pair of flanges 30 that extend from the transverse or lateral rail 35. The at
least
one pair of flanges 30 may be integral with, attached to, or otherwise joined
to
the transverse rail 35. As shown in FIG. 6, each pair of flanges 30 further
typically includes a first, barrel flange 60 shaped and dimensioned to engage
the barrel of the firearm F, and a second, magazine extension flange 65 shaped
and dimensioned to engage the magazine extension 25. Various flanges are
contemplated hereby, provided that the shape, contours, and dimensions are
selected to provide a tight, clamping engagement with the barrel and magazine
extensions) of the firearm. In one aspect, the first flange 60 and the second
flange 65 each have a firearm-contacting surface 70 that is generally arcuate
in
shape. However, it should be understood that various differing contours or
shapes, andlor radii of curvature for the firearm-contacting surfaces of each
flange are contemplated by the present invention.
The opposed clamping sections 55a, 55b generally are secured along the
firearm barrel using one or more fasteners 75. The fasteners 75 are engaged
and tightened to pull the clamping sections 55a, 55b together to secure the
magazine extension 25 to the barrel 20 in a tight, rigid clamping engagement.
It will be understood that any suitable type of fastener 75 may be used as
desired including, for example, a screw, bolt, detent pin, or other locking
means. In one aspect, the fasteners 75 extend through the transverse rail 35
of
the clamping sections 55a, 55b. In such aspects, the transverse rail 35 is
provided with one or more aligned openings or bores 80, or other features as
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known to those of skill in the art, adapted to receive the fasteners 75. By
configuring the BARS in this manner, the barrel and magazine extension may
be clamped tightly to loclc the BARS in a desired position without compressing
either the barrel or the magazine extension. Thus, the BARS of the present
invention advantageously provides for a secure, adjustable engagement of the
BARS to a desired location and orientation along the firearm without adversely
affecting performance of the firearm.
According to one aspect of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 2-6,
each of the cooperatiilg clamping sections 55a, 55b can include more than one
pair of flanges 30. In this example, each of the cooperating clamping sections
55a, SSb includes two pairs of flanges 30 on each coordinating clamping
section 55a, SSb. In this aspect, the two pairs of flanges 30 are at opposite
ends
8Sa, 85b of the transverse rail 3S. However, it will be understood that other
configurations are contemplated by the present invention.
Each flange 60, 65 in the pair of flanges 30 is positioned along the length
L of the transverse rail 35 in a substantially aligned relation. Thus, for
example, the barrel-contacting flange 60 may be offset from the magazine
extension-contacting flange 65 as needed or desired. Additionally, the flanges
60, 65 may be offset from the ends 85a, 85b of the rail 35 any desired
distance
as needed to optimize stability and strength of the BARS 10 when clamped to a
firearm F. Likewise, when the BARS 10 is attached to the firearm F, the
flanges of the two clamping sections 55a, SSb can be in alignment or can be
offset.
According to another aspect of the present invention depicted in FIGS.
7-11, each of the cooperating clamping sections 55a, 55b includes only one
pair .
of flanges 30. In this aspect, the pairs of flanges 30 generally can be
extended a
greater distance along the length L of the firearm F, with each flange 60, 65
in
the pair of flanges 30 disposed substantially centrally along the length L of
the
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transverse rail 35: As shown, each of the flanges 60, 65 is disposed along the
length L of the transverse rail 35 in a substantially aligned relation.
However, it
also will be understood that various dimensions and configurations of flanges
are contemplated hereby.
In this and other aspects, each flange in a pair of flanges 30 is separated
by the transverse or lateral rail 35. The transverse rail 35 supports the pair
of
flanges 30 and serves as an accessory mounting member. The rail 35
accordingly may include at least one mounting slot 40 along an outwardly
facing side surface 85 or portion thereof for removably attaching various type
firearm accessories (not shown) to the firearm F. In one aspect, the rail 35
includes a plurality of mounting slots 40a, 40b,...40n. The slots 40a,
40b,...40n provide a plurality of attachment points to mount various tactical
accessories, such as white light illuminators, for example, flashlights,
visible
laser sighting systems, Infrared laser sighting systems or other accessories
at
different locations and in differing arrangements. In one aspect, the
transverse
or lateral rail is a standardized rail, for example, a Picatinney rail (MIL-
STI7-
1913) or a weaver rail. By using a standardized rail, the BARS of the present
invention may be used with numerous firearm accessories adapted to be
mounted on such a standard rail. However, other types of mounting rails
known to those of slcill in the art may be used with the present invention
a.nd are
contemplated hereby. When the BARS is mounted on the firearm, the user may
attach a firearm accessory to the transverse rail on either side of the
firearm.
This provides a significant advantage over presently available mounting
systems that restrict the user's ability to choose what type of accessories
can be
mounted (based on the mounting standard) and where to mount the accessory.
In addition, the system of the present invention provides excellent mount
strength, thereby enabling use of zero retention for sighting systems.
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The transverse rail 35 also includes an inwardly facing surface 90 that is
at least partially seated between the barrel 20 and magazine extension 25 when
mounted on a firearm F. The inwardly facing surface 90 may include clipped,
angled, or beveled corners 95 that optionally are arcuate in shape to follow
the
contours of the barrel 20 and magazine extension 25. However, other shapes,
configurations, dimensions, and contours of the rail 35 also are contemplated
hereby.
Accordingly, it will be readily miderstood by those persons skilled in the
art that, in view of the above detailed description of the invention, the
present
invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many adaptations of
the present invention other than those hereili described, as well as many
variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from
or
reasonably suggested by the present invention and the above detailed
description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the
present invention.
While the present invention is described herein in detail in relation to
specific aspects, it is to be understood that this detailed description is
only
illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for
purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention.
The detailed description set forth herein is not intended nor is to be
construed to
limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other
embodiments,
adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements of the
present invention, the present invention being limited solely by the claims
appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.
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