Firearm Rail Clamp with Ramp-Actuated Screw Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional apparatuses for mounting accessory devices on firearms are complex, prone to failure, and bulky, making them difficult to install and remove, especially on small firearms like handguns, which can be dangerous in tactical environments.
Innovation Solution
A rail mountable device with a housing and a rail clamp featuring first and second opposed ramp members, a cross member, and a screw that rotates to pull the ramp members toward each other and the rail, securely locking the device in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mounting apparatuses are used, then the accessory device can be securely mounted to the rail, but the apparatus becomes complicated with large numbers of moving parts, making it difficult to install and remove and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting apparatus is divided into distinct functional segments: a clamp body with opposed jaws, a single screw mechanism, and ramp members. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining secure mounting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary moving parts from conventional mounting apparatuses. By using a single screw that directly actuates the clamp jaws through ramp members, the design removes redundant components while preserving the essential mounting function.
2Reliability
If conventional mounting apparatuses are used, then the accessory device can be firmly clamped to the rail, but the apparatus becomes bulky and heavy, negatively affecting firearm aiming and difficult to install on small firearms
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp body is designed with local quality variations: the jaws have hardened surfaces for durability and grip, while the body itself maintains minimal mass. The ramp members are strategically positioned to provide mechanical advantage only where needed, concentrating material where functional requirements demand it.
Solution Approach 2:
The single screw mechanism provides dynamic clamping force that can be adjusted in real-time. The ramp members convert rotational screw motion into linear jaw movement, creating a dynamic system that achieves firm clamping without requiring a bulky static structure.
3Reliability
If conventional mounting apparatuses are used, then the accessory device can be securely mounted, but the installation and removal process requires excessive time and energy, which can be dangerous in tactical operations
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp jaws are pre-positioned in an open state, ready to receive the accessory device. The single screw mechanism is pre-configured with threaded engagement that automatically translates rotation into clamping motion, eliminating the need for complex adjustment procedures during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex multi-component mechanical systems with a single screw mechanism that directly actuates the clamp through ramp members. This substitution simplifies the operation to a single rotational action, dramatically reducing installation and removal time while maintaining secure mounting.
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 simple, reliable, and secure method for mounting and removing accessory devices from firearms, reducing installation time and energy while minimizing bulk and weight, enhancing usability on small firearms.
Implementation Method 1
a screw adapted to project through the first ramp member and be received by the cross member along a central axis. The ramp members may be simultaneously pulled toward each other along the central axis and moved toward the rail in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis in response to a rotation of the screw
Data Source
AI summary
A rail mountable device may be provided that is configured to be secured firmly to a rail, such as a rail on a firearm, and released easily from the rail. In one example, the rail mountable device may include a rail clamp that includes first and second rail-engaging surfaces of corresponding first and second ramp members and a cross member that, in response to rotation of a screw, move toward or away from the longitudinal faces of the rail of the firearm to secure or release the rail mountable device to or from the rail. Additional embodiments and related methods are provided.