Rotating Cam Mounting Mechanism for Reversible Firearm Accessory Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting mechanisms for accessories on firearms, such as reflex sights, are difficult to remove without damaging the slide's mortise, making the mounting permanent.
Innovation Solution
A mounting mechanism featuring a rotatable cam with a lobe that can extend beyond the rear edge to engage with a dovetail mortise, allowing for secure yet removable attachment, utilizing a detent and leaf spring for position maintenance and manual rotation via a lever.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mortise and tenon engagement is used to mount accessories on firearms, then the mounting security is improved, but the removability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a cam mechanism that can rotate between locked and unlocked positions. The cam, when rotated, moves the lobe from an engaged position with the mortise to a disengaged position, allowing the accessory to be removed. This dynamic element transforms a static permanent mounting into a reversible mounting system, resolving the contradiction between mounting security and removability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the base with mortise, the cam with lobe, the detent mechanism, and the release lever. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the mortise provides secure engagement, the cam controls the engagement state, and the detent maintains position - while working together to achieve both secure mounting and easy removal.
2Ease of operation
If a cam mechanism is added to enable removal, then the removability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated cam mechanism. The cam simultaneously provides the locking engagement through its lobe, the positioning function through detent interaction, and the release function through lever actuation. This consolidation reduces what could have been multiple separate mechanisms into one unified component, minimizing the increase in complexity while achieving full removability.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent mechanism provides self-service by automatically maintaining the cam in either the locked or unlocked position without requiring constant external input. The spring-loaded detent engages with corresponding features on the cam to hold positions, and the system self-latches once the cam is rotated to a position, reducing the operational complexity for the user.
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
Enables secure and reversible attachment of accessories to firearms, preventing damage to the slide during removal, ensuring a secure yet easily removable mounting solution.
Implementation Method 1
A leaf spring is mounted on the cam on an opposite side of the axis from the lobe. The leaf spring is biased into engagement with the front wall.
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting mechanism has a base upon which a rotating cam is mounted. The cam has a lobe which extends beyond the perimeter of the base when the cam is in a first position and remains within the perimeter of the base when the cam is in a second position. A detent is used to lock the cam in the first position. The detent includes a leaf spring positioned on the cam which defines a kink. The kink is engageable within a niche in the base when the cam is in the first position. An accessory attached to the mounting mechanism may be attached to a structure using the mounting mechanism. The base fits within a slot in the structure and the lobe of the cam engages the structure when the cam is in the first position to lock the mounting mechanism and the accessory to the structure.