Self adjusting throw lever and rail clamp system

Abstract

A self adjusting throw lever and rail clamp system for use with sighting equipment where there is a need to efficiently remove or interchange sighting equipment on a host mounting surface. The throw lever self adjusts to compensate for variations in the host mounting surface, such as an angular rail, and utilizes a buffer to prevent the surface of the mounting surface from becoming marred. No tool is required to adjust the throw lever releasable mounting system as the system has an internal means to self adjust to fit the mounting surface. Once the throw lever is secured in the closed position, tension placed by a thru shaft on the housing of the throw lever prevents free movement of the throw lever.

1 . A self adjusting mounting system comprising: a mounting base with an aperture therein mounting into position on a secondary device attached to a structure, at least one shouldered stud runs transverse to the aperture thereby connecting a fixed clamping structure to at least one moveable clamp and a moveable cam lever with locking means; the moveable clamp defines a clamping surface that has means to interface with said secondary device and has a flat base portion; the moveable cam lever is in operational contact with the moveable clamp and the secondary device, said cam lever has an open position and closed position of operation; the shouldered stud provides means to adjustably fit the mounting base to the secondary device; the fixed clamping structure is oppositely placed in relation to the moveable clamp and defines a clamping surface which has means to interface with said secondary device. 
   
   
       2 . A self adjusting mounting system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 between the fixed clamping structure and shouldered stud is housed a means to resist said shouldered studs movement, with the moveable cam lever in the open position the moveable clamp has a free range of adjustment to accommodate the secondary device, once mounting base is secured to the secondary device the moveable cam lever is rotated approximately 180 degrees thereby actuating the means to resist the shouldered studs movement by pulling the shouldered stud through the mounting base thus removably securing the moveable clamp against the secondary device, the cam lever acts as a locking means to prevent the release of the moveable clamps.   
   
   
       3 . A self adjusting mounting system in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising:
 means to resist the shouldered studs movement is provided by a series of disc springs placed between the shouldered studs head and the fixed clamping structure, as the moveable cam lever is rotated to the closed position the shouldered stud is pulled through the mounting base thereby compressing the disc springs.   
   
   
       4 . A self adjusting mounting system in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the moveable cam lever has a rounded surface which is in operational contact with the movable clamps and provides a rotating surface by which the moveable cam lever is moved from the open position to the closed position, also present is an approximate 90 degree stop defining the back of the cam lever.   
   
   
       5 . The combination of a attachment means and a base, the attachment means comprising a locking means and an actuating means, the actuating means includes a rotatable throw lever in operational contact with the locking means which is comprised of a shouldered stud linking the throw lever with the spring biased moving clamps and a fixed clamp surface adjacent to the moving clamps, the throw lever is in operational contact with the spring biased moving clamps; the base has a bottom surface having an aperture which is designed to interface with a secondary mounting surface, a top surface having means to secure an aiming device. 
   
   
       6 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface of the base will interface with a 1913 mil-standard rail. 
   
   
       7 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the springs which resist the movement of the moving clamps are located between the shouldered stud and the fixed clamp surface, when the actuating means is utilized the shouldered stud is pulled through an aperture in the moving clamp thereby compressing the springs and causing the moving clamp to engage the secondary mounting surface. 
   
   
       8 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the throw lever has an open position and closed position, the closed position of the throw lever has a means to resist the movement of the shouldered stud thereby preventing the movement of the moving clamp.