Auxiliary device for a weapon and attachment thereof

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure An attachment system is provided for attaching an auxiliary apparatus to a weapon having a frame, and in particular to a weapon frame in the area forward of the trigger guard. An attachment mechanism on the auxiliary apparatus is adapted to be engageable with a rail on the weapon to selectively attach the auxiliary apparatus. The weapon may include a transverse slot which can be engaged by a portion of the auxiliary apparatus to prevent the auxiliary apparatus from sliding relative to the weapon due to recoil forces associated with firing the weapon.

What is Claimed is: 
     
         1. An auxiliary device for use with a weapon, the auxiliary device comprising: 
       a housing; 
       a first structural member extending upward from a first side of the housing and extending along at least a portion of a length of the first side of the housing; 
       a second structural member extending upward from a second side of the housing, wherein the second side of the housing is located opposite to the first side of the housing, and wherein the second structural member extends along at least a portion of a length of the second side of the housing such that it is substantially parallel to the first structural member, and wherein both the first and second structural members are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the housing; and 
       a spring-biased mechanism extending across a top portion of the housing, and wherein the spring-biased mechanism is configured to be biased in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         2. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device comprises an illuminator. 
     
     
         3. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device comprises an aiming device. 
     
     
         4. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device comprises an illuminator and an aiming device. 
     
     
         5. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural members comprise a first positioning mechanism. 
     
     
         6. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural members comprise  mounting members that are complimentarily-shaped with respect to mounting members of a weapon to which the auxiliary device is adapted to be attached. 
     
     
         7. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural members comprise rigid, elongated projections. 
     
     
         8. The auxiliary device of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid, elongated projections comprise tongues sized and shaped to engage with grooves associated with a weapon to which the auxiliary device is adapted to be attached. 
     
     
         9. The auxiliary  device of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid, elongated projections are sized to be slideably engageable within grooves associated with a weapon to which the auxiliary device is adapted to be attached. 
     
     
         10. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism comprises a positioning member. 
     
     
         11. The auxiliary device of  claim 10 , wherein the positioning member comprises a bar, a pin, a detent ball, a post, or a ball bearing. 
     
     
         12. The auxiliary device of  claim 10 , wherein the positioning member comprises a spring-loaded bar biased to move in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis for engagement into a slot associated with a weapon. 
     
     
         13. The auxiliary device of  claim 12 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism includes first and second end portions, and wherein a user may use at least one of the end portions to cause compression of a spring to move the spring-biased mechanism out of engagement with the slot associated with the weapon. 
     
     
         14. The auxiliary device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the end portions comprises a latch or a button. 
     
     
         15. The auxiliary device of  claim 10 , wherein the positioning member comprises a spring-loaded bar. 
     
     
         16. The auxiliary device of  claim 15 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism includes an end portion, which extends beyond at least the first structural member or the second structural member. 
     
     
         17. The auxiliary device of  claim 16 , wherein the end portion comprises a latch or a button. 
     
     
         18. The auxiliary device of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more sources of illumination. 
     
     
         19. The auxiliary device of  claim 16 , further comprising plurality of sources of illumination, wherein a first source of illumination is different from a second source of illumination. 
     
     
         20. The auxiliary device of  claim 18 , wherein the first source of illumination comprises an illuminator, a laser or an aiming light. 
     
     
         21. The auxiliary device of  claim 15 , wherein the spring-loaded bar includes an end portion, which upon manipulation by a user, overcomes a bias provided by the spring-biased mechanism. 
     
     
         22. The auxiliary device of  claim 21 , wherein the spring-loaded bar includes an end portion, which extends beyond at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member. 
     
     
         23. The auxiliary device of  claim 22 , wherein the end portion which extends beyond at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member further comprises a latch or a button. 
     
     
         24. The auxiliary device of  claim 22 , further comprising a first source of illumination. 
     
     
         25. The auxiliary device of  claim 24 , further comprising a second source of illumination that is different from the first source of illumination. 
     
     
         26. The auxiliary device of  claim 24 , wherein the first source of illumination comprises an illuminator, a laser or an aiming light. 
     
     
         27. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural members comprise rigid, elongated projections that are sized to fit snugly within grooves associated with a weapon to which the auxiliary device is adapted to be attached  such that the rigid, elongated projections are capable of sliding along the grooves, and wherein the spring-biased mechanism is biased to move in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis for engagement into a slot associated with a weapon. 
     
     
         28. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism comprises a latching mechanism. 
     
     
         29. The auxiliary device of  claim 28 , wherein the latching mechanism comprises a spring disposed such that at least a portion of a biasing force from the spring  is in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, the spring being operable to bias the latching mechanism into engagement with a complementary position associated with the weapon. 
     
     
         30. The auxiliary device of  claim 29 , wherein the latching mechanism is configured to be manually manipulated to overcome the biasing force of the spring. 
     
     
         31. The auxiliary device of  claim 28 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism further comprises an engaging surface, wherein relative sliding movement between the auxiliary device and weapon causes the engaging surface to cause the latching mechanism to overcome the biasing force of the spring-biased mechanism until the latching mechanism is aligned with a slot associated with the weapon. 
     
     
         32. The auxiliary device  of  claim 1 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism includes a portion, which upon manipulation by a user, overcomes the bias provided by the spring-biased mechanism. 
     
     
         33. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sources of illumination wherein a first source of illumination is different from a second source of illumination. 
     
     
         34. The auxiliary device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism comprises an engaging mechanism comprising a cantilevered spring. 
     
     
         35. The auxiliary device of  claim 34 , wherein the engaging mechanism comprises a bar. 
     
     
         36. An auxiliary device for use with a weapon, the auxiliary device comprising: 
       a housing defining a cavity; 
       a first structural member extending upward from a first side of the housing and extending along at least a portion of a length of the first side of the housing; 
       a second structural member extending upward from a second side of the housing, wherein the second side of the housing is located opposite to the first side of the housing, and wherein the second structural member extends along at least a portion of a length of the second side of the housing such that it is substantially parallel to the first structural member, and wherein both the first and second structural members are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the housing; and 
       a spring-biased mechanism extending across a top portion of the housing, and wherein the spring-biased mechanism is configured to be biased in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         37. The auxiliary device of  claim 36 , wherein the cavity is configured to receive one or more batteries. 
     
     
         38. The auxiliary device of  claim 36 , wherein the cavity is configured to receive one or more sources of illumination. 
     
     
         39. An auxiliary device for use with a weapon, the auxiliary device comprising: 
       a housing; 
       a first structural member extending upward from a first side of the housing and extending along at least a portion of a length of the first side of the housing; 
       a second structural member extending upward from a second side of the housing, wherein the second side of the housing is located opposite to the first side of the housing, and wherein the second structural member extends along at least a portion of a length of the second side of the housing such that it is substantially parallel to the first structural member, and wherein both the first and second structural members are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the housing; and 
       a spring-biased mechanism movable between a first position and a second position, 
       wherein in the first position the spring-biased mechanism is engageable in a transverse slot disposed on a weapon to resist movement of the auxiliary device along the longitudinal axis and in the second position the spring-biased mechanism is spaced from the transverse slot so as not to resist movement of the auxiliary device along the longitudinal axis.