Rotatable Rail Light Mount with Detent Axle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearm-mounted light systems are expensive, difficult to install and remove, and require practice to operate proficiently, often necessitating a secondary flashlight for non-risk illumination scenarios due to their design limitations.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable rail light mount that allows for removable attachment to a firearm with a notch, featuring a rotatable light carrier and axle system for easy positioning of a light on either side of the firearm, along with a push-button switch accessible by the support hand, and a belt clip for storage when detached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated light module is permanently mounted on the firearm, then the light is securely attached and readily available, but the installation and removal become difficult and non-user friendly, and the user cannot easily switch between firearms or storage scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The light mounting system is divided into separate modular components: a light module with carrier, a removable mount with axle, and a firearm rail. This segmentation allows the light to be easily attached and detached from the firearm without permanent modification, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and ease of installation/removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount incorporates a rotatable carrier that can be dynamically positioned between different mounting orientations (e.g., forward-facing, side-facing) and a removable axle mechanism that allows dynamic attachment and detachment from the firearm rail, providing both security during use and ease of removal when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the light module is permanently dedicated to a specific firearm, then the light is always available on that firearm, but the user cannot easily transfer the light to another firearm or use it for storage purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The mount design with standardized rail interface and removable axle creates a universal system that can be attached to and detached from multiple different firearms and storage locations. The same mount can serve multiple functions: permanent mounting on a firearm, transferable mounting between different firearms, and removable storage on belts or surfaces.
3Reliability
If the light module requires practice and training to operate proficiently, then the light can be integrated into the shooting technique, but the ease of operation is reduced and requires time investment
Solution Approach 1:
The mount incorporates self-aligning features and intuitive mechanical interfaces that automatically position the light correctly without requiring complex manual adjustment or extensive training. The rotatable carrier with simple axial engagement allows users to quickly orient the light without practice, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for extensive training while maintaining proper integration with shooting technique.
4Reliability
If a specialized holster is required to fit the firearm with light attached, then the firearm-light combination is secure and properly positioned, but the adaptability is reduced and requires additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The light mounting system is extracted from the holster requirement entirely. The removable axle mount allows the light to be securely positioned on the firearm without needing a specialized holster, while still providing proper positioning and alignment. The light can be easily removed from the firearm and stored separately or mounted on alternative surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable and removable rail light mount for attachment to a firearm having a mounting rail includes a rail mount attached to a rail and a light carrier rotatably attached to the rail mount to position a light to the left or right of a firearm by way of an axle carried by the rail mount. The axle fits through the rail mount and the light carrier. Passageways in the rail mount and the light carrier for the axle include grooves that engage detent bosses on the axle to maintain the light carrier in the selected location. Light carrier is removable when it is rotated to a centered downward position.