Compound Mounting Clamp for Firearm Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearm accessory mounting systems are limited in versatility, as they are typically designed for specific types of rails, leading to instability and potential damage when used with incompatible rails, requiring recalibration upon reattachment.
Innovation Solution
A compound mounting clamp with a base featuring orthogonal planar mounting faces and angled faces at specific oblique angles, allowing secure and repeatable mounting to either Picatinny-type or arcuate mounting rails, ensuring compatibility and reducing deformation or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mounting clamp is designed for a specific type of rail (e.g., Picatinny-type), then it provides secure mounting for that rail type, but it cannot be used with other rail types (e.g., arcuate rails)
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp base is designed with a universal mounting interface that can accommodate both Picatinny-type rails and arcuate mounting rails. The base includes planar mounting faces and angled mounting faces that can contact different rail geometries, allowing a single clamp design to securely mount accessories to multiple rail types without requiring different clamp variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting clamp is divided into distinct functional components: a base with multiple mounting faces and a sidewall that can be positioned at different angles. This segmentation allows the sidewall to be oriented to match different rail types while maintaining a common base structure, providing versatility without redesigning the entire clamp.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a clamp is used with an incompatible rail type, then it may be mounted, but it causes deformation or damage to the rail
Solution Approach 1:
The base incorporates different types of mounting faces with specific geometric properties suited for different rail types. Planar mounting faces are designed to contact flat surfaces of Picatinny rails, while angled mounting faces are configured to contact the curved surface of arcuate rails. This localized optimization of contact surfaces ensures proper stress distribution and prevents rail deformation regardless of rail type.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting faces are designed with varying angles and geometries to match different rail profiles. By changing the geometric parameters of the contact surfaces (angles, curvature, flatness), the clamp adapts to different rail types while maintaining secure contact without excessive force that could cause deformation.
3Ease of operation
If an accessory is removed and reattached to a rail, then it can be repositioned, but recalibration is required due to potential misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The base is pre-configured with multiple precisely angled mounting faces that are symmetrically arranged. When the accessory is reattached, the geometry of these pre-configured faces naturally guides the accessory back into its original alignment position, eliminating the need for recalibration. The preliminary geometric configuration ensures repeatable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled mounting faces are designed with specific asymmetric angles relative to the base centerline. This asymmetric geometry creates a unique fit orientation that prevents misalignment during reattachment, as the accessory can only be properly mounted in one specific orientation due to the non-symmetric contact surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A compound mounting clamp is described that is configured for mounting an accessory (e.g., a laser sight, a telescopic sight, a bayonet, a light) to a firearm that includes either one of a Picatinny-type mounting rail or an arcuate mounting rail. The compound mounting clamp includes a clamp base with mounting surfaces that enable mounting to either one of a Picatinny-type mounting rail or the arcuate mounting rail. The mounting surfaces of the clamp base include: (1) two planar faces that are perpendicular to a first direction; and (2) two angled faces that are: (a) at an oblique angle with respect to the first direction; and (b) disposed between the two planar faces.