Modular Key-Slot Accessory Mounting System for Firearms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearm accessory mounting systems face challenges in securely attaching accessories to handguards due to limitations in slot design and fastener compatibility, leading to potential instability and wear during recoil and vibration.
Innovation Solution
A modular key-slot accessory mounting system featuring a handguard with elongated slots and entry openings of varying widths, combined with left-hand threaded fasteners and recoil lugs, allows for secure attachment and reduced wear by aligning fastener heads through entry openings and sliding them into position for clamping against the handguard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a uniform width slot is used for mounting accessories, then the slot structure is simple, but the fastener head cannot be easily inserted and positioned securely
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is designed with asymmetric width variation: a wider entry opening that tapers to a narrower body portion. This asymmetric geometry allows the fastener head to be easily inserted through the wide entry while being securely retained in the narrower body, eliminating the need for complex insertion mechanisms while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the slot have different width characteristics optimized for specific functions: the entry opening has a larger width for easy fastener insertion, while the body portion has a narrower width for secure retention. This local differentiation of geometric properties resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the fastener head is wider than the slot width, then the accessory is securely retained, but the fastener cannot be inserted into the slot
Solution Approach 1:
The slot transitions from a wide entry opening to a narrower body portion, creating an asymmetric pathway that accommodates the fastener head's dimensions. The fastener head can pass through the wide entry but is retained by the narrower body, resolving the contradiction between secure retention and ease of insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot geometry is pre-configured with a wide entry opening that anticipates the need for fastener insertion. This preliminary geometric preparation allows the fastener to be easily inserted before being secured in the narrower body portion, eliminating insertion difficulties while maintaining reliable retention.
3Reliability
If the fastener is tightly clamped to the handguard, then the accessory is securely attached, but wear on the fastener increases during recoil and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is segmented into distinct functional zones: an entry opening for insertion, a body portion for retention, and an enlarged opening that accommodates the fastener head. This segmentation allows the fastener to be securely positioned while distributing mechanical stresses, reducing wear on the fastener during recoil and vibration while maintaining attachment stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot structure acts as an intermediary element between the fastener and the handguard. The enlarged opening and specific geometry of the slot body portion mediate the interaction, allowing the fastener to be securely retained while reducing direct stress concentration and wear on the fastener during dynamic operation.
4Reliability
If the slot has a narrow width throughout, then the fastener is securely retained, but the fastener head cannot be inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The slot employs asymmetric width variation with a wide entry opening that transitions to a narrower body portion. This asymmetric design allows the fastener head to be easily inserted through the wide entry while being securely retained by the narrower body, resolving the contradiction between retention and insertion ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot has different width characteristics at different locations: the entry opening is wide for easy insertion, while the body portion is narrow for secure retention. This local differentiation of geometric properties simultaneously achieves both easy insertion and secure retention without compromise.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for securing an accessory to a firearm includes inserting a lug and a nut into an entry opening positioned between first and second opposite ends of a slot formed in a wall of the firearm. The lug restricts the nut from rotating about an axis of a threaded member with which the nut is in threaded engagement. The slot has a first width, the entry opening has a second width that is greater than the first width, and the nut has a major dimension that is larger than the first width and smaller than the second width. The method also includes sliding the lug and nut in the slot in a sliding direction toward the first end or the second end, and rotating the threaded member with respect to the nut to clamp the wall between a surface of the nut and a surface of the accessory.