Stock and detachable accessory housing for a small arms weapon

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stock for a small arms weapon and a modular detachable accessory housing (DAH) for the stock. The DAH may be used to hold a tactical accessory (e.g., a magazine) or provide a closed container. The stock may define a profile which comprises a forward facing segment and a bottom facing segment. The forward facing segment and the bottom facing segment may intersect to form a step. The intersection of the forward facing segment and the bottom facing segment may define an oblique angle. The oblique angle may be an obtuse angle. The forward facing segment may include an accessory mounting rail. Also, the body of the stock may include a cylindrical cavity for receiving a receiver extension, a nested lever receiving cavity, as well as a bore that intersects the lever receiving cavity and the cylindrical cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stock for a small arms weapon comprising:
 a frame having a longitudinal axis which comprises
 a fore-end which comprises
 a receiver extension attachment site opening, and 
 
 a butt which is spaced from the fore-end along the longitudinal axis, and which comprises
 an upper area aligned with the receiver extension attachment site opening, 
 an intermediate area situated next to the upper area, the intermediate area comprises
 a rear opening having a Y-shaped cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, and 
 
 a lower area disposed below the intermediate area, the lower area comprises a butt plate attachment site, 
 
 a body disposed between the fore-end and the butt, the body comprises
 an upper surface extending from the upper area to the fore-end, 
 a lower surface extending from the lower area to the fore-end, the lower surface defining a profile which comprises a forward facing segment and a bottom facing segment which intersect to form a step with respect to the longitudinal axis, the forward facing segment including an accessory mounting rail, 
 a cylindrical cavity which is situated in the body between the upper surface and the lower surface, and which is bounded by a sidewall and a track that are disposed between the receiver extension attachment site and the upper area such that the cylindrical cavity is configured and dimensioned to telescopically receive a receiver extension tube from the receiver extension attachment site opening, 
 a lever receiving cavity connected to the rear opening and extending toward the fore-end, 
 a bore intersecting the lever receiving cavity and the cylindrical cavity, and 
 
 a stock latch lever pivotally disposed in the lever receiving cavity, and 
 a locking pin situated in the locking pin bore, the locking pin extending from the lever receiving cavity into the cylindrical cavity such that the locking pin is operatively associated with the stock latch lever to selectively withdraw the locking pin from the cylindrical cavity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stock of  claim 1 , wherein the intersection of the forward facing segment and the bottom facing segment define an oblique angle. 
     
     
         3 . The stock of  claim 2 , wherein the oblique angle is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         4 . The stock of  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable accessory housing mounted on the accessory mounting rail. 
     
     
         5 . The stock of  claim 4 , wherein the detachable accessory housing comprises an accessory mounting rail attachment site. 
     
     
         6 . The stock of  claim 5 , wherein the accessory mounting rail attachment site comprises a channel, a port side retention member adjacent the channel, and a starboard side retention member opposite the port side retention member such that the channel, the port side retention member, and the starboard side retention member are configured and dimensioned to slidably mate with the accessory mounting rail. 
     
     
         7 . The stock of  claim 4 , wherein the detachable accessory housing comprises an accessory well. 
     
     
         8 . The stock of  claim 7 , wherein the detachable accessory housing comprises an accessory latch that includes first and second operable configurations, such that in the first operable configuration the accessory latch projects into the accessory well, and in the second operable configuration the latch is withdrawn from the accessory well. 
     
     
         9 . The stock of  claim 8 , wherein the accessory latch comprises
 a catch,   a stem connected to the catch,   a release button connected to the stem, and   a resilient member disposed about the stem between the release button and the catch such that the resilient member biases the catch into the first configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The stock of  claim 9 , wherein the detachable accessory housing is fixed to the bottom facing segment by a fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The stock of  claim 10 , wherein the accessory well comprises a four-sided compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The stock of  claim 11 , wherein the four sided compartment is configured and dimensioned to receive a box magazine. 
     
     
         13 . The stock of  claim 12 , further comprising a box magazine in the four-sided compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The stock of  claim 13 , wherein the box magazine has a maximum capacity of ten rounds. 
     
     
         15 . The stock of  claim 1 , further comprising a back plate secured to the butt. 
     
     
         16 . The stock of  claim 15 , wherein the back plate comprises
 a first side which faces the stock, and   a second side which faces away from the stock,   
       the first side including a hook which is configured and dimensioned to be received in the butt plate attachment site, and the second side including an over molded layer of resilient material. 
     
     
         17 . A detachable accessory housing for a stock comprising:
 a cradle for holding an accessory, which comprises
 an accessory well, and 
 an accessory mounting rail attachment site spaced from the accessory well. 
   
     
     
         18 . The detachable accessory stock of  claim 17 , wherein the accessory mounting rail attachment site comprises:
 a channel,   a port side retention member adjacent the channel, and   a starboard side retention member opposite the port side retention member such that the channel, the port side retention member, and the starboard side retention member are configured and dimensioned to slidably mate with an accessory mounting rail.   
     
     
         19 . The detachable accessory housing of  claim 18 , wherein the cradle further comprises an accessory latch for securing an accessory in the well that includes first and second operable configurations such that in the first operable configuration the accessory latch projects into the accessory well, and in the second operable configuration the latch is withdrawn from the accessory well. 
     
     
         20 . The detachable accessory housing of  claim 18 , wherein the accessory well and latch are configured and dimensioned to selectively fix a box magazine in the cradle.