Firearm accessory spacers and mounts and methods for forming the same

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide spacers and mounts for firearm accessories, as well as methods for mounting firearm accessories. In some embodiments, a spacer is provided. The spacer has a lower surface configured as a concave profile of a M-16 base mounting structure and an upper surface configured as a convex profile of a M-16 base mounting structure. The spacer is configured that when attached to a M150 Rifle Combat Optic, or the like, a substantial portion of the base of the optic extends past an end of the spacer. In some embodiments, a mount that is configured to be detachably secured to a rail is provided. The mount has the spacer incorporated therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm accessory spacer comprising:
 a main body having a lower side, an upper side, and an end, wherein the lower side has a convex profile of a M-16 base mounting structure formed thereon, the upper side has a concave profile of a M-16 base mounting structure formed thereon, the main body having a first hole formed on the upper side thereof; and   a lip connected to the end of the main body, the lip having an upper side shaped to extend the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure from the main body to an end of the lip and a second hole formed on the upper side thereof,   wherein the lip, the first hole, and the second hole are configured such that when a base of an optical sight is inserted into the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure such that a forward mounting hole on the base of the optical sight is aligned with the first hole on the main body and a rear mounting hole on the base of the optical sight is aligned with the second hole on the lip, a substantial portion of the base of the optical sight extends past the end of the lip.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the lip has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 2 , wherein the main body has a third hole and a fourth hole formed on the lower side thereof, the third hole is laterally spaced farther from the lip than the fourth hole, and first hole and the fourth hole are laterally positioned between the second hole and the third hole. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 3 , wherein the third hole and the fourth hole are laterally spaced a distance that is about the same as a lateral distance between the forward mounting hole and the rear mounting hole on the base of the optical sight. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 4 , wherein the first hole and the fourth hole are vertically aligned such that the first hole and the fourth hole jointly form an opening extending from the lower side of the main body to the upper side of the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 5 , wherein an inner surface of the third hole has a plurality of threads formed thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of threads comprises a threaded insert positioned within the third hole. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 5 , wherein the upper side of the main body and the upper side of the lip have a horizontal surface and two angled surfaces formed thereon, wherein the first hole and the second hole are formed in the respective horizontal surfaces of the upper side of the main body and the upper side of the lip. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 8 , wherein the lower side of the main body has a horizontal surface and two angled surfaces formed thereon, wherein the third hole and the fourth hole are formed in the horizontal surface of the lower side of the main body, and wherein a vertical distance between the horizontal surface of the upper side of the lip and the horizontal surface of the lower side of the main body is less than 12 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         10 . The firearm accessory spacer of  claim 9 , wherein the optical sight is a M150 Rifle Combat Optic. 
     
     
         11 . A spacer for mounting an optical sight, the spacer comprising:
 a main body having a lower side, an upper side, and an end, wherein the lower side has a convex profile of a M-16 base mounting structure formed thereon, the upper side has a concave profile of a M-16 base mounting structure formed thereon, the main body having a first hole formed on the upper side thereof; and   a lip connected to the end of the main body, the lip having an upper side shaped to extend the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure from the main body to an end of the lip, a second hole formed on the upper side thereof, and a thickness that is less than a thickness of the main body,   wherein the lip, the first hole, and the second hole are configured such that when a base of a M150 Rifle Combat Optic is inserted into the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure such that a forward mounting hole on the base of the M150 Rifle Combat Optic is aligned with the first hole on the main body and a rear mounting hole on the base of the M150 Rifle Combat Optic is aligned with the second hole on the lip, a substantial portion of the base of the M150 Rifle Combat Optic extends past the end of the lip.   
     
     
         12 . The spacer of  claim 11 , wherein the main body has a third hole and a fourth hole formed on the lower side thereof, wherein the third hole and the fourth hole are laterally spaced a distance that is about the same as a lateral distance between the forward mounting hole and the rear mounting hole on the base of the M150 Rifle Combat Optic. 
     
     
         13 . The spacer of  claim 12 , wherein a lateral distance between the first hole and the second hole is about 32 millimeters (mm), and a lateral distance between the third hole and the fourth hole is about 32 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The spacer of  claim 13 , wherein a lateral distance between the second hole and the end of the lip is less than 7 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The spacer of  claim 13 , wherein the upper side of the main body and the upper side of the lip have a horizontal surface and two angled surfaces formed thereon, the first hole and the second hole being formed in the respective horizontal surfaces of the upper side of the main body and the upper side of the lip, and wherein the lower side of the main body has a horizontal surface and two angled surfaces formed thereon, the third hole and the fourth hole being formed in the horizontal surface of the lower side of the main body. 
     
     
         16 . The spacer of  claim 15 , wherein an angle between the angled surfaces on the upper side of the main body and the lip is about 90 degrees, and wherein an angle between the angled surfaces on the lower side of the main body is about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A mount for an optical sight, the mount comprising:
 a base portion configured to be detachably secured to a firearm accessory rail; and   a spacer portion connected to the base portion, the spacer portion comprising:
 a main body having an upper side and an end, wherein the upper side has a concave profile of a M-16 base mounting structure formed thereon, the main body having a first hole formed on the upper side thereof; and 
 a lip connected to the end of the main body, the lip having an upper side shaped to extend the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure from the main body to an end of the lip and a second hole formed on the upper side thereof, 
 wherein the lip, the first hole, and the second hole are configured such that when a base of an optical sight is inserted into the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure such that a forward mounting hole on the base of the optical sight is aligned with the first hole on the main body and a rear mounting hole on the base of the optical sight is aligned with the second hole on the lip, a substantial portion of the base of the optical sight extends past the end of the lip, and 
 wherein when the base portion is secured to the firearm accessory rail, a vertical distance between the base of the optical sight and the firearm accessory rail is less than 15 mm. 
   
     
     
         18 . The mount of  claim 17 , wherein the lip of the spacer portion has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the main body of the spacer portion. 
     
     
         19 . The mount of  claim 17 , wherein the base portion and the spacer portion are configured such that when the base of the optical sight is inserted into the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure, a vertical distance between the base of the optical sight and the firearm accessory rail is not more than 12 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The mount of  claim 17 , wherein the optical sight is a M150 Rifle Combat Optic, and wherein the base portion and the spacer portion are configured such that when the base of the M150 Rifle Combat Optic is inserted into the convex profile of the M-16 base mounting structure, the base of the M150 Rifle Combat Optic extends past the edge of the lip a distance of at least 15 mm.