Rail Interface System for Mounting Accessories to Firearm

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rail interface system for mounting accessories to a firearm, including but not limited to, pistols and rifles. The present invention provides a means for mitigating the effects of recoil on rail interface systems by providing a lightweight mount, a clamp, and clamp screws that engage with the depressions and outermost edge of a firearm rail, while leaving the upwardly facing surface of the firearm rail open to an interior cavity. The upwardly facing surface of the rail interface system provides a means for fixedly mounting an accessory to the mount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rail interface system for attaching an accessory to a firearm rail comprising:
 a mount;   a clamp; and   a plurality of clamp screws;   the mount comprising a single rail engagement surface and an internal cavity wherein the single rail engagement surface contacts the firearm rail on one side of the rail;   the internal cavity providing a void wherein a portion of the upwardly facing surface of the firearm rail is not in contact with the mount;   the clamp is positioned adjacent to the mount, opposite of the single rail engagement surface of the mount, wherein the clamp contacts an opposing side of the firearm rail; and   the plurality of clamp screws securely coupling the mount to the clamp.   
     
     
         2 . A rail interface system as is claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mount further comprises a top side comprising:
 a chassis;   a plurality of fastener mounts; and   accessory interface rails;   the chassis being the surface of the mount that directly engages and supports the accessory;   the plurality of fastener mounts, wherein said fastener mounts are through holes positioned on the chassis, allowing for the accessory to be coupled to the mount;   the accessory interface rails positioned on either side of the top side, provide an elevated surface, restricting the lateral movement of the accessory while on the mount.   
     
     
         3 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a front side, positioned normally to the top side of the mount, comprising a slot;
 the front side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing the forwardly. 
 
     
     
         4 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the mount further comprises a rear side, positioned opposite to the front side, comprising a slot;
 the rear side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing rearwardly.   
     
     
         5 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the mount comprises a side, referred herein as the “clamp side,” wherein the clamp is adjacent, comprising:
 a plurality of recesses; 
 a plurality of mounting holes; and 
 a slot; 
 said side being interposed normally between the front side and the rear side, providing a rigid structure to restrict lateral movement of the mount on the firearm rail; 
 the plurality of recesses positioned on the outwardly facing portion of said side; 
 the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side; 
 the clamp engaging the outward and bottom-most portion of said side. 
 
     
     
         6 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the mount further comprises a side opposite of the clamp side, wherein said side comprises:
 a plurality of recesses;   a plurality of clamp mount holes;   a slot; and   a plurality of mounting holes;   the plurality of recesses positioned on the outwardly facing portion of said side;   the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side;   the plurality of clamp mount holes being positioned at the bottom-most portion of said side of the mount, wherein the distance between said holes corresponds to the distance between depressions of the firearm rail.   
     
     
         7 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the clamp comprises a rail engagement surface and a plurality of threaded holes, wherein the threaded holes are located equidistant as the clamp mount holes of the mount;
 the plurality of threaded holes of the clamp receiving the plurality of clamp screws.   
     
     
         8 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of clamp screws comprise a head, a shaft, and threads;
 the head located on an end of the clamp screws having a radius that is greater than the radius of the mounting holes of the clamp side of the mount;   the threads positioned at an end opposite of the head; threading into the threaded holes of the clamp;   the shaft being interposed between the two ends, engaging with a depression of the firearm rail; and   the plurality of clamp screws providing a means of providing tension between the mount and the clamp, thus securing the mount to the firearm rail.   
     
     
         9 . A rail interface system for attaching an accessory to a firearm rail comprising:
 a mount;   a clamp; and   a plurality of clamp screws;   the mount comprising a single rail engagement surface, an internal cavity, a chassis, a plurality of fastener mounts, and a plurality of accessory interface rails, wherein the single rail engagement surface contacts the firearm rail on one side of the rail;   the internal cavity providing a void wherein a portion of the upwardly facing surface of the firearm rail is not in contact with the mount;   the chassis being the upwardly facing surface of the mount that directly engages and supports the accessory;   the plurality of fastener mounts, wherein said fastener mounts are through holes positioned on the chassis, allowing for the accessory to be coupled to the mount;   the accessory interface rails positioned on either side of the upwardly facing surface of the mount, providing an elevated surface, thus restricting the lateral movement of the accessory while on the mount,   the clamp is positioned adjacent to the mount, opposite of the single rail engagement surface of the mount, wherein the clamp contacts an opposing side of the firearm rail; and   the plurality of clamp screws securely coupling the mount to the clamp.   
     
     
         10 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising a front side, positioned normally to the upwardly facing side of the mount, comprising a slot;
 the front side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing the forwardly. 
 
     
     
         11 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the mount further comprises a rear side, positioned opposite to the front side, comprising a slot;
 the rear side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing rearwardly.   
     
     
         12 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the mount comprises a side, referred herein as the “clamp side,” wherein the clamp is adjacent, comprising:
 a plurality of recesses; 
 a plurality of mounting holes; and 
 a slot; 
 said side being interposed normally between the front side and the rear side, providing a rigid structure to restrict lateral movement of the mount on the firearm rail; 
 the plurality of recesses positioned on the outwardly facing portion of said side; 
 the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side; and 
 the clamp engaging the outward and bottom-most portion of said side. 
 
     
     
         13 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the mount further comprises a side opposite of the clamp side, wherein said side comprises:
 a plurality of recesses;   a plurality of clamp mount holes;   a slot; and   a plurality of mounting holes;   the plurality of recesses positioned on the outwardly facing portion of said side;   the plurality of mounting holes and the slot positioned through said side;   the plurality of clamp mount holes being positioned at the bottom-most portion of said side of the mount, wherein the distance between said holes corresponds to the distance between depressions of the firearm rail.   
     
     
         14 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the plurality of clamp mount holes comprise a recessed seat. 
     
     
         15 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising:
 the clamp comprising:
 a rail engagement surface; and 
 a plurality of threaded holes; and 
   the plurality of screw clamps comprising:
 a head; 
 a shaft; and 
 a series of threads; 
 the threaded holes of the clamp are located equidistant from each other as the clamp mount holes of the mount; 
 the plurality of threaded holes of the clamp receiving the plurality of clamp screws; 
 the head of the clamp screws are located on an end of the clamp screws having a radius that is greater than the radius of the mounting holes of the clamp side of the mount; 
 the threads of the clamp screws are positioned at an end opposite of the head; threading into the threaded holes of the clamp; 
 the shaft of the clamp screws being interposed between the two ends, engaging with a depression of the firearm rail; and 
 the plurality of clamp screws providing a means of providing tension between the mount and the clamp, thus securing the mount to the firearm rail. 
   
     
     
         16 . A rail interface system for attaching an accessory to a firearm rail comprising:
 a mount comprising a single rail engagement surface and an internal cavity;   a clamp comprising a rail engagement surface and a plurality of threaded holes; and   a plurality of clamp screws comprising a head, a shaft, and a series of threads;   the head of the clamp screws are located on an end of the clamp screws;   the series of threads of the clamp screws are positioned at an end opposite of the head; threading into the threaded holes of the clamp;   the shaft of the clamp screws being interposed between the two ends, engaging with a plurality of depressions of the firearm rail;   the mount comprising a single rail engagement surface and an internal cavity wherein the single rail engagement surface contacts the firearm rail on one side of the rail;   the internal cavity providing a void wherein a portion of the upwardly facing surface of the firearm rail is not in contact with the mount;   the clamp is positioned adjacent to the mount, opposite of the single rail engagement surface of the mount, wherein the rail engagement surface of the clamp contacts an opposing side of the firearm rail;   the plurality of threaded holes of the clamp, engaging with the series of threads of the plurality of clamp screws; and   the plurality of clamp screws securely coupling the mount to the clamp, thus the plurality of clamp screws provides a means of providing tension between the mount and the clamp, securing the mount to the firearm rail.   
     
     
         17 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the mount further comprises a chassis, a plurality of fastener mounts, and a plurality of accessory interface rails;
 the chassis being the surface of the mount that directly engages and supports the accessory;   the plurality of fastener mounts, wherein said fastener mounts are through holes positioned on the chassis, allowing for the accessory to be coupled to the mount;   the accessory interface rails positioned on either side of the top side, provide an elevated surface, restricting the lateral movement of the accessory while on the mount.   
     
     
         18 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 17  further comprising a front side, positioned normally to the upwardly facing side of the mount, comprising a slot;
 the front side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing the forwardly. 
 
     
     
         19 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the mount further comprises a rear side, positioned opposite to the front side, comprising a slot;
 the rear side engaging with a depression of the firearm rail, facing rearwardly.   
     
     
         20 . The rail interface system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the mount comprises a clamp side and a non-clamp side wherein:
 the clamp side is adjacent to the clamp, said side comprising:
 a plurality of recesses; 
 a plurality of mounting holes; and 
 a slot; and 
   the non-clamp side, positioned opposite to the clamp side comprises:
 a plurality of recesses; 
 a plurality of clamp mount holes; 
 a slot; and 
 a plurality of mounting holes; 
   the clamp side being interposed normally between the front side and the rear side, providing a rigid structure to restrict lateral movement of the mount on the firearm rail;   the plurality of recesses of the clamp side positioned on the outwardly facing portion of the clamp side;   the plurality of mounting holes of the clamp side and the slot of the clamp side positioned through said side;   the clamp engaging the outward and bottom-most portion of the clamp side;   the plurality of recesses of the non-clamp side positioned on the outwardly facing portion of the non-clamp side;   the plurality of mounting holes of the non-clamp side and the slot of the non-clamp side positioned through said non-clamp side; and   the plurality of clamp mount holes being positioned at the bottom-most portion of said non-clamp side of the mount, wherein the distance between said holes corresponds to the distance between depressions of the firearm rail.