Rail Device for a Firearm

Abstract

The present invention improves leveling of accessories mounted on a rail on a firearm. The improved rail includes a level housing configured at a proximal end of a Picatinny Rail. The level housing compress a generally rectilinear body having a viewing window configured on a front edge of the body. The body defines a volume adapted to receive a spirit level. The volume further includes a back wall arranged at substantially about 45-degrees incident to a viewing plane. The housing further includes an undersized opening on a first sidewall, which is configured to restrict the level from escaping the volume. A second sidewall arranged substantially parallel to the first sidewall includes an oversized opening further configured to slideably receive the spirit level, which is retained in place by a lock-ring.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A rail device configured to arrange in parallel to a bore axis of a firearm, the rail device comprising:
 a rail body comprising a proximal end and an oppositely disposed distal end and a bubble-level housing coupled to the proximal end wherein   the proximal end further comprises at least one proximal end slot and ridge feature;   the distal end further comprises at least one distal end slot and ridge feature;   the rail body further comprises a bridge section intermediate to and linking the proximal and distal ends;   the proximal end further comprises a bubble-level housing;   the bubble-level housing further comprises a front wall, a bottom wall, two opposing sidewalls, a back wall and a top arranged to define an interior chamber, the interior chamber adapted to receive a level, further the two opposing sidewall respectively further comprise an opening configured to allow ambient into the interior chamber, and the back wall further configures to arrange at substantially an angle of inclination relative to a vertical axis, the vertical axis being defined to lie in a plane that is perpendicular to the bore axis; and   the level is disposed in the interior chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The rail body of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one proximal end slot and ridge feature comprises a Picatinny rail slot and ridge feature; and 
 the at least one distal end slot and ridge feature comprises a Picatinny rail slot and ridge feature. 
 
     
     
         3 . The rail body of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one proximal end slot and ridge feature comprises a Weaver rail slot and ridge feature; and 
 the at least one distal end slot and ridge feature comprises a Weaver rail slot and ridge feature. 
 
     
     
         4 . The rail body of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one proximal end slot and ridge feature comprises a NATO-standard rail slot and ridge feature; and 
 the at least one distal end slot and ridge feature comprises a NATO-standard rail slot and ridge feature. 
 
     
     
         5 . The rail body of  claim 1  wherein:
 the angle of inclination relative to a vertical axis is substantially about 45-degrees. 
 
     
     
         6 . The rail body of  claim 1  wherein:
 the back wall further comprises a machined surface so to reflect ambient light through the bubble spirit level. 
 
     
     
         7 . The rail body of  claim 1  wherein:
 the two opposing sidewalls further comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall; the first sidewall comprises an undersized opening configured to restrict the level from escaping the interior chamber; the second sidewall arranged substantially parallel to the first sidewall and comprises an oversized opening further configured to slideably receive the level, which is retained in place by a lock-ring. 
 
     
     
         8 . The rail body of  claim 1  wherein:
 the level is a bubble-spirit level. 
 
     
     
         9 . An improved rail device adapted to be arranged in parallel with a bore axis of a firearm, the rail device comprising a proximal end having at least one Picatinny rail slot and ridge feature, a distal end having at least one Picatinny rail slot and ridge feature and an intermediate linking bridge section, the improvement comprising:
 a bubble-level housing disposed on the proximal end, the bubble-level housing comprising   a front wall, a bottom wall, two opposing sidewalls, a back wall and a top arranged to define an interior chamber, the interior chamber adapted to receive a bubble-spirit level, further the two opposing sidewalls respectively further comprise an opening configured to allow ambient into the interior chamber, and   the back wall further configures to arrange at substantially about a 45-degree angle of inclination relative to a vertical axis, the vertical axis being defined to lie in a plane that is perpendicular to the bore axis, the back wall further comprises a machined surface so to reflect ambient light through the bubble spirit level; and   the bubble-spirit level is disposed in the interior chamber.   
     
     
         10 . An improved Picatinny rail, the improvement comprising:
 a housing disposed on a proximal end of the rail, the housing comprising   a front wall, a bottom wall, two opposing sidewalls, a back wall and a top arranged to define an interior chamber, the interior chamber adapted to receive a level, further the two opposing sidewalls respectively further comprise an opening configured to allow ambient into the interior chamber, and   the back wall further configures to arrange at substantially about a 45-degree angle of inclination relative to a vertical axis, the vertical axis being defined to lie in a plane that is perpendicular to the bore axis, the back wall further comprises a machined surface so to reflect ambient light through the interior chamber; and   the level is disposed in the interior chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The improved Picatinny rail of  claim 10  wherein:
 the two opposing sidewalls further comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall; the first sidewall comprises an undersized opening configured to restrict the level from escaping the interior chamber; the second sidewall arranged substantially parallel to the first sidewall and comprises an oversized opening further configured to slideably receive the level, which is retained in place by a lock-ring. 
 
     
     
         12 . The improved Picatinny rail of  claim 10  wherein:
 the level is a bubble-spirit level.