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A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clampi

A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for mounting a device to a rail associated with a weapon, the apparatus comprising: a mount base configured to secure the device thereto and comprising a rail-engaging surface configured to engage a first side of the rail;an actuator; anda clamping member comprising: a base section,

1. An apparatus for mounting a device to a rail associated with a weapon, the apparatus comprising: a mount base configured to secure the device thereto and comprising a rail-engaging surface configured to engage a first side of the rail;an actuator; anda clamping member comprising: a base section, andtwo longitudinally spaced-apart legs extending from the base section toward a second side of the rail, wherein the legs provide rail-engaging surfaces substantially at ends of the legs disposed away from the base section, wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the legs are substantially opposed to and transversely spaced from the second side of the rail and configured to engage the second side of the rail, wherein the legs are configured to move simultaneously toward the second side of the rail in response to the actuator. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second side of the rail is substantially opposite the first side of the rail. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a cam mechanism configured to impart substantially transverse movement to the clamping member in response to the actuator to cause the rail-engaging surfaces of the clamping member to engage the second side of the rail. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamping member is elastic. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamping member is carried by the mount base. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamping member is generally U-shaped. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legs are substantially parallel to each other. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rail is carried by the weapon. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the weapon is a firearm. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second rail-engaging surfaces of the clamping member are configured to engage and disengage the first and second sides of the rail in response to the actuator. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a latch comprising a multi-faceted surface configured to engage with a detent of the actuator, wherein the latch is configured to restrain the actuator against release from an actuated position. 12. An apparatus for mounting a device to a rail associated with a weapon, the apparatus comprising: a mount base configured to secure the device thereto and comprising a rail-engaging surface configured to engage a first side of the rail;a clamping member comprising: a base section, andtwo longitudinally spaced-apart legs extending from the base section toward a second side of the rail, wherein the legs provide rail-engaging surfaces substantially at ends of the legs disposed away from the base section, wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the legs are substantially opposed to and transversely spaced from the second side of the rail and configured to engage the second side of the rail;an actuator; anda cam mechanism configured to impart substantially transverse movement to the clam in member in res onse to the actuator to cause the rail-en a in surfaces of the clamping member to engage the second side of the rail, wherein the cam mechanism comprises a rotatable member configured to be rotated eccentrically with respect to the mount base. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cam mechanism further comprises a shaft rotatably secured to the mount base and engaged with the rotatable member to rotate the rotatable member in response to the actuator. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a handle having an end secured to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft with respect to the mount base. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the handle is configured to move between a first position wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the clamping member are disengaged from the second side of the rail, and a second position wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the clamping member are engaged with the second side of the rail. 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the legs are substantially parallel to each other. 17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a latch comprising a multi-faceted surface configured to engage with a detent of the actuator, wherein the latch is configured to restrain the actuator against release from an actuated position. 18. An apparatus for mounting a device to a rail associated with a weapon, the apparatus comprising: a mount base configured to secure the device thereto and comprising a rail-engaging surface configured to engage a first side of the rail; anda clamping member comprising: a base section,two longitudinally spaced-apart legs extending from the base section toward a second side of the rail, wherein the legs provide rail-engaging surfaces substantially at ends of the legs disposed away from the base section, wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the legs are substantially opposed to and transversely spaced from the second side of the rail and configured to engage the second side of the rail, anda center section extending from the base section, wherein the center section comprises a rail-engaging surface substantially opposed to and transversely spaced from the second side of the rail. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the legs are configured to engage the second side of the rail before the rail-engaging surface of the center section engages the second side of the rail as the cam mechanism rotates. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the center section of the clamping member is transversely shorter than the legs. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the center section is disposed between the legs. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cam mechanism is engaged with a bore in the center section of the clamping member. 23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second sides of the rail comprise substantially wedge-shaped surfaces. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the mount base, the legs, and the center section are generally V-shaped. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the V of each of the rail-engaging surfaces comprises a groove along the nadir thereof. 26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the legs are substantially parallel to each other. 27. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a latch comprising a multi-faceted surface configured to engage with a detent of the actuator, wherein the latch is configured to restrain the actuator against release from an actuated position. 28. An apparatus for mounting a device to a rail associated with a weapon, the apparatus comprising: a mount base configured to secure the device thereto and comprising a rail-engaging surface configured to engage a first side of the rail; anda clamping member comprising: a base section,two longitudinally spaced-apart legs extending from the base section toward a second side of the rail, wherein the legs provide rail-engaging surfaces substantially at ends of the legs disposed away from the base section, wherein the rail-engaging surfaces of the legs are substantially opposed to and transversely spaced from the second side of the rail and configured to engage the second side of the rail, anda center section extending from the base section, wherein the center section comprises a rail-engaging surface substantially opposed to and transversely spaced from the second side of the rail. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the legs are substantially parallel to each other. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a latch comprising a multi-faceted surface configured to engage with a detent of the actuator, wherein the latch is configured to restrain the actuator against release from an actuated position.