Firearm Accessory Mounting Arms for One-Handed Rail Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for associating accessories with firearms, such as scopes and lasers, are cumbersome and time-consuming due to difficulties in mating and securing accessories to rail systems, often requiring both hands and multiple repositioning, which compromises the user's ability to operate the firearm effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system includes an accessory with an attachment portion featuring first and second mounting arms and a securing mechanism that allows the accessory to be snapped onto a firearm's rail assembly, enabling quick attachment and release with one hand by positioning the arms about the rail and applying a transverse force to secure the accessory, which limits its movement along the rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an accessory is attached directly to a rail by sliding it onto the rail end, then the accessory can be secured to the firearm, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming requiring both hands and multiple repositioning attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment portion is divided into separate mounting arms (first mounting arm, second mounting arm) that can independently engage with the rail assembly. This segmentation allows each arm to be positioned and secured separately, simplifying the overall attachment process and enabling one-handed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arms are pre-configured with specific geometries and engagement features that automatically align with corresponding features on the rail assembly. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for manual alignment and multiple repositioning attempts during the attachment process.
2Reliability
If both hands are used to position and secure the accessory, then the accessory can be firmly attached to the rail, but the user's ability to operate and hold the firearm is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting arms are designed to self-align and self-secure to the rail assembly through their geometric configuration. The arms automatically engage with the rail features and secure themselves without requiring manual positioning or second-hand assistance, enabling one-handed operation while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arms have asymmetric geometries with specific engagement surfaces that match corresponding asymmetric features on the rail assembly. This asymmetry ensures proper orientation and secure engagement while allowing the entire attachment process to be completed with one hand.
3Ease of operation
If the accessory is slid along the rail to obtain desired position, then the accessory can be positioned appropriately, but friction and improper alignment with interleaved projections and grooves aggravate the difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting arms are pre-configured with engagement features that automatically align with the rail assembly's interleaved projections and grooves. This preliminary alignment eliminates the need to slide the accessory along the rail, thereby avoiding friction and improper engagement with the rail features.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arms act as intermediary elements between the accessory and the rail assembly. They provide a simplified engagement interface that bypasses the complex interleaved projections and grooves of the rail, eliminating friction and alignment difficulties associated with direct sliding attachment.
4Reliability
If the accessory position relative to user's operational posture is evaluated only after securing, then the accessory can be firmly attached, but the user must reposition the accessory multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting arms are designed to enable preliminary positioning and evaluation of the accessory relative to the user's operational posture before final securing. The arms can be temporarily positioned and adjusted, allowing the user to evaluate the optimal position while holding the firearm, and then secure the accessory in that position without repositioning attempts.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for associating an accessory with a firearm include, in one embodiment, an accessory having an accessory portion and an attachment portion. The accessory portion is associated with any accessory a user may desire to associate with the firearm. The attachment portion allows the accessory to be associated with a rail assembly of the firearm. The attachment portion includes a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm configured to be positioned about the rail assembly when the accessory is snapped about the rail assembly. Also included is a securing mechanism for limiting the movement of the accessory when the accessory is snapped about the rail assembly.