Bolt-less Gunsight Mount with Spring-Loaded Detents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gunsight mounts for pistols require bolts for installation, which can lead to inconsistent tightness and accuracy issues due to the need for manual torque adjustment, and are often specific to particular pistol models, resulting in non-repeatability and potential slippage during firing.
Innovation Solution
A universal, bolt-less gunsight mount that uses a single-piece design with spring-loaded detents and jaws that mate with Picatinny Rail slots, allowing for quick and secure attachment without tools, accommodating various pistol models with Picatinny or light rail mounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bolts are used to secure the gunsight mount, then the mount can be firmly attached to the pistol, but the tightness and accuracy become inconsistent due to manual torque adjustment difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes bolts entirely from the mounting system, extracting the problematic element that caused inconsistent tightness. The mount uses a clamp assembly that secures to the pistol rail through friction and geometry rather than threaded fasteners, eliminating the need for torque adjustment and achieving consistent attachment without manual precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical bolt-and-thread system with a clamp-based friction fit system. The clamp assembly uses a smooth interior surface that friction-fits onto the pistol rail, substituting the complex torque-dependent bolt mechanism with a simpler friction-based attachment that is less sensitive to manufacturing variations.
2Strength
If multiple bolts are used to secure the mount, then the mount can be firmly attached, but the complexity of achieving equal tightness across all bolts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes multiple bolts from the system, replacing them with a single clamp assembly that provides uniform attachment pressure through its design. This eliminates the complexity of coordinating multiple fastening points and achieving equal tightness across all bolts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple fastening functions into a single clamp assembly. Rather than using separate bolts at different locations, the clamp integrates the attachment function into one unified component that secures the mount to the rail through a single friction-fit interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a universal mount design is created to fit multiple pistol models, then adaptability improves, but the precision and repeatability for specific models may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the mount with a universal clamp assembly that can accommodate various pistol rail dimensions and configurations. The clamp's interior geometry is designed to friction-fit onto standard rails while maintaining consistent attachment characteristics across different pistol models, achieving both universality and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameters such as clamp interior surface finish, clamp tension spring force, and clamp geometry to maintain consistent attachment characteristics across different pistol models. By carefully controlling these parameters, the mount achieves repeatable accuracy despite variations in pistol rail dimensions.
4Productivity
If a quick-mount design without bolts is used, then installation speed improves, but the security and stability of the mount during firing may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a tension spring that is pre-loaded to continuously apply clamping force to the pistol rail. This preliminary action ensures that the mount is constantly pressed against the rail with sufficient force to prevent movement during firing, maintaining stability without requiring complex fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a smooth, curved interior surface in the clamp assembly that conforms to the cylindrical pistol rail. This curved friction-fit interface distributes contact forces evenly around the rail, creating a secure attachment that resists firing forces while allowing quick installation and removal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a secure, repeatable, and accurate mounting system that maintains stability during firing, allowing for easy installation and removal without obstructing mechanical sights, and supports additional accessories like lasers or lights without needing removal.
Implementation Method 1
A spring-loaded detent is slipped into the mount under the muzzle which, in a locked position, forces a member into a slot in the Picatinny Rail on the bottom of the rail.
Implementation Method 2
The clamping of the sight causes the two jaws to pull together and tightly mate.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal, quick-mount gunsight mount that does not require any bolts. The mount fits any pistol that has Picatinny Rail or that has any longitudinal groove on the lower muzzle. The mount includes a single piece that slips around the muzzle with two jaws that mate at the top when a sight is clamped on. A protrusion on each side of the mount mates into the slot formed by the Picatinny Rail on the gun, while a detent forces a member into a slot on the bottom of the muzzle. The mount becomes locked to the muzzle and will not move when the gun is fired. The bottom of the mount includes an optional rail that can be used for a laser or light. The mechanical sights supplied with the gun are not blocked and can be used when desired.