Weapon mounting system for firearms

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a weapons mounting system, which may include a gun mount that may be used independent of a swing mount or with the swing mount. The gun mount may include a Picatinny rail assembly and be attached to an ammunition container. The swing mount may include a positive locking system and a friction locking system. The present disclosure also provides a travel lock assembly, which partially connects the gun mount to the swing mount. The present disclosure also provides a gun mount adapter assembly capable of mounting at least six different firearms to a machine gun mount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mounting assembly for a firearm, comprising:
 a gun mount configured to receive a firearm, the gun mount having a forward end, an aft end, a gun mount length extending from said forward end to said aft end, a left side, a right side, a gun mount width extending from said left side to said right side, said gun mount width being shorter than said gun mount length, the gun mount comprising:   forward firearm attachment apertures disposed in the forward end of said gun mount,   aft firearm attachment apertures disposed in the aft end of said gun mount, and   a plurality of ammunition container mounting apertures disposed on the left or right side of the gun mount at a plurality of locations along said gun mount length between the forward and aft firearm attachment apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said gun mount further comprises:
 traverse and elevating mechanism apertures disposed on a lower portion of the aft end of said gun mount; and   a pair of travel lock apertures disposed on a lower portion of the aft end of said gun mount forward of said traverse and elevating mounting apertures.   
     
     
         3 . The mounting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a travel lock assembly, said travel lock assembly comprising:
 a) a first arm, the first arm having two travel lock apertures;   b) first and second travel lock arms, said travel lock arms each having a pivot aperture and a gun mount aperture; and   c) a travel lock pivot bolt inserted through said first arm travel lock apertures and said pivot apertures;   said first and second travel lock arms having a storage position wherein said travel lock arms are substantially parallel to said first arm, and a travel lock position wherein said travel lock arms are at an angle of at least 30 degrees relative to said first arm.   
     
     
         4 . The mounting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second travel lock arms are in said travel lock position and a travel lock pin is removably inserted through said gun mount apertures in said travel lock arms and through said gun mount travel lock apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a travel lock brace extending from said first travel lock arm to said second travel lock arm. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said first arm has a top surface facing said gun mount and an opposing bottom surface facing away from said gun mount, said top surface comprising a travel lock brace recess for receiving said travel lock brace when said first and second travel locks are in said storage position. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said gun mount further comprises:
 at least one universal pintle adapter aperture disposed in a lower portion of the forward end of said gun mount.   
     
     
         8 . The mounting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said gun mount further comprises:
 at least one swing mount pivot point aperture disposed in a lower portion of the forward end of said gun mount aft of said at least one universal pintle adapter aperture.   
     
     
         9 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said gun mount further comprises:
 Picatinny rail adapter mounting apertures disposed in said gun mount between said forward and aft firearm attachment apertures, said Picatinny rail adapter mounting apertures being spaced to accept a Picatinny rail adapter assembly and adapted to allow said Picatinny rail adapter assembly to pivot between approximately horizontal and approximately vertical positions.   
     
     
         10 . The mounting assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a Picatinny rail adapter assembly for mounting a device equipped with a Picatinny rail, said Picatinny rail adapter assembly comprising:
 a) a center block, the block having a forward end, an aft end, a block length extending from the forward end to the aft end, a left side, a right side, a block width extending from the left side to the right side, a substantially flat top, and recesses in said left and right sides, said recesses extending substantially the entire length of said block;   b) a left plate, said left plate having a forward end, an aft end, a length extending from said forward end to said aft end, a left side, a right side configured to face said block, a width extending from said left side to said right side of said left plate, a substantially v-shaped recess in said right side of said left plate and extending substantially the entire length of said left plate;   c) a right plate, said right plate having a forward end, an aft end, a length extending from said forward end to said aft end, a left side configured to face said block, a right side, a width extending from said left side to said right side, a substantially v-shaped recess in said left side of said right plate and extending substantially the entire length of said right plate;   d) at least one first fastener for attaching said left and said right plates to said block, wherein when said left and right plates are attached to said block by said at least one first fastener;   e) a Picatinny recess, said Picatinny recess having a floor defined by the top of said block, a left side defined by said left plate, and a right side defined by said right plate; and   f) at least one second fastener for attaching said Picatinny rail adapter assembly to said gun mount, wherein when said Picatinny rail adapter assembly is attached to said gun mount by said at least one second fastener.   
     
     
         11 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an ammunition container configured to feed ammunition to a firearm mounted in the gun mount, the ammunition container mounted to said left side or said right side of said gun mount, the ammunition container comprising:   i) a top side facing the sky, the top side disposed at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to the ground, the top side comprising a feed opening for feeding ammunition from the ammunition container into the firearm;   ii) a bottom side opposite the top side and facing the ground;   iii) an interior side facing the gun mount; and   iv) an exterior side opposite the interior side and facing away from the gun mount.   
     
     
         12 . The mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the top side further comprises a lip, said lip having an apex extending towards the sky and a base extending into said feed opening, and further wherein said lip is configured to feed ammunition into a load opening of a firearm mounted in said gun mount at an angle of between about negative 15 degrees and about positive 15 degrees relative to the ground. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom side of said ammunition container is disposed at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to the ground. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said gun mount further comprises:
 a) a forward pin mount seat configured to receive a pair of forward pin mounts on a machine gun mount, said forward pin mount seat disposed on the forward end of said gun mount; and   b) a rear detent pin aperture configured to receive a rear detent pin of the machine gun mount and align between opposing detent pin apertures in a rear of said machine gun mount when the forward pin mount seat is mounted on the forward pin mounts of the machine gun mount, said rear detent pin aperture extending transverse to said gun mount length through a lower portion of the aft end of said gun mount.   
     
     
         15 . The mounting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said forward pin mount seat comprises a pair of stopped grooves configured to slidably engage said forward pin mounts on said machine gun mount. 
     
     
         16 . A gun mount adapter assembly, comprising:
 a) a gun mount configured to receive a firearm, the gun mount having a forward end, an aft end, a gun mount length extending from said forward end to said aft end, a left side, a right side, a gun mount width extending from said left side to said right side, said gun mount width being shorter than said gun mount length, forward gun attachment apertures disposed in the forward end of said gun mount, aft gun attachment apertures disposed in the aft end of said gun mount, and three pairs of ammunition container mounting apertures disposed on the left side of the gun mount between the forward and aft gun attachment apertures;   b) a forward pin mount adapter having a pin mount seat configured to receive a pair of forward pin mounts on a machine gun mount, said forward pin mount adapter extending from the forward end of said gun mount;   c) a rear detent pin adapter having a rear detent pin aperture configured to receive a rear detent pin of said machine gun mount and align between opposing detent pin apertures in a rear of said machine gun mount when the forward pin mount seat is mounted on the forward pin mounts of the machine gun mount, said rear detent pin adapter extending downward from the aft end of said gun mount, the rear detent pin aperture extending transverse to said gun mount length through a portion of the rear detent pin adapter;   wherein said gun mount adapter is configured to mount at least six different firearms to said machine gun mount.