Lever based clamping device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12540796-B2
Application number	US-202418665236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2024
Priority date	Apr 27, 2018
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

A lever-based clamping device.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An apparatus suitable for selectively engaging a plate for imaging equipment and suitable for selectively engaging a Picatinny rail for a firearm, said apparatus comprising:
(a) said apparatus defining a portion of an upper channel having a first side wall; (b) said apparatus defining a portion of said upper channel having a second side wall capable of lateral movement with respect to said first side wall suitable to detachably engage a pair of angled edges of said plate; (c) said apparatus defining a portion of a lower channel having a third side wall; (d) said apparatus defining a portion of said lower channel having a fourth side wall capable of lateral movement with respect to said third side wall suitable to detachably engage said Picatinny rail, wherein said upper channel is at a higher elevation than said lower channel; (e) a lever capable of causing said lateral movement of said fourth side wall with respect to said third side wall and said second side wall with respect to said first side wall in such a manner to selectively secure either said Picatinny rail or said plate with said apparatus, wherein a first pair of said upper channel having said first side wall and said lower channel defining said third side wall and a second pair of said upper channel having said second side wall and said lower channel defining said fourth side wall are configured such said first pair and said second pair selectively securely engage either said Picatinny rail or said plate at a same distance between said first pair and said second pair, wherein said third side wall and said fourth side wall are approximately 21 mm apart at said same distance, wherein said first side wall and said second side wall are spaced apart a distance to selectively securely engage an Arca-Swiss compatible said plate when said third side wall and said fourth side wall are said approximately 21 mm apart at said same distance; (f) a substantially compressible member that exerts an outwardly directed pressure on said lever.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first side wall is inclined inwardly and said second side wall is inclined inwardly.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upper channel includes a first horizontal surface defined by said apparatus.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said upper channel includes a second horizontal surface defined by said apparatus.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second horizontal surfaces extends less than the width of said apparatus.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second horizontal surface is substantially centered on said apparatus.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus defines a pair of vertical openings therein that extend through said apparatus from a lower surface to an upper surface suitable to secure said apparatus to a support.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a base of said apparatus defines a tongue and groove interface.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an exterior surface of said apparatus defining a pair of opposing dovetail grooves.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an arm is slidably engaged with said lever in a manner capable of causing said lateral movement.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a resilient member is operably interconnected with said arm to provide an outwardly directed pressure on said arm.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said third side wall is inclined inwardly and said fourth side wall is inclined inwardly.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said lower channel includes a horizontal surface defined by said apparatus.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a raised portion protruding from said horizontal surface suitable to be maintained between a pair of adjacent rails of said Picatinny rail.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said raised portion is operably engaged with a slidably movement of said arm.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substantially compressible member is maintained within said arm.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said substantially compressible member is supported by a central member.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said substantially compressible member is maintained in position by a pair of retaining members.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said retaining members are compressible members.

20 . An apparatus suitable for selectively engaging a plate for imaging equipment and suitable for selectively engaging a Picatinny rail for a firearm, said apparatus comprising:
(a) said apparatus defining a portion of an upper channel having a first side wall; (b) said apparatus defining a portion of said upper channel having a second side wall capable of lateral movement with respect to said first side wall suitable to detachably engage a pair of angled edges of said plate; (c) said apparatus defining a portion of a lower channel having a third side wall; (d) said apparatus defining a portion of said lower channel having a fourth side wall capable of lateral movement with respect to said third side wall suitable to detachably engage said Picatinny rail, wherein said upper channel is at a higher elevation than said lower channel; (e) a lever suitable to cause said lateral movement of said fourth side wall with respect to said third side wall and said second side wall with respect to said first side wall in such a manner to selectively secure either said Picatinny rail or said plate with said apparatus, wherein a first pair of said upper channel having said first side wall and said lower channel defining said third side wall and a second pair of said upper channel having said second side wall and said lower channel defining said fourth side wall are configured such said first pair and said second pair selectively securely engage either said Picatinny rail or said plate at a same distance between said first pair and said second pair, wherein said third side wall and said fourth side wall are approximately 21 mm apart at said same distance, wherein said first side wall and said second side wall are spaced apart a distance to selectively securely engage an Arca-Swiss compatible said plate when said third side wall and said fourth side wall are said approximately 21 mm apart at said same distance; (f) a substantially compressible member that exerts an outwardly directed pressure on said lever; (g) at least one of (1) said lever extending beyond a first corner of said apparatus when in an opened positioned while said lever does not extend around said first corner of said apparatus when in said opened position, and (2) said lever extending beyond a second corner of said apparatus when in a closed positioned while said lever does not extend around said second corner of said apparatus when in said closed position.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising said lever extending beyond said first corner of said body when in said opened positioned.

22 . The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising said lever extending beyond said second corner of said apparatus when in said closed positioned.

23 . The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said lever does not extend around said first corner of said apparatus when in said opened position.

24 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said lever does not extend around said second corner of said apparatus when in said closed position.

Assignees

• Really Right Stuff Llc

Inventors

• Johnson Sr Joseph M
• Bolduc James
• Chan Verent

Classifications

• F41A23/12

  Tripods {; Mountings having at least three legs} · CPC title

• F41G11/003 Primary

  Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems" · CPC title