Finger stop with integrated sling swivel

Abstract

A finger stop with a swivel attachment for attachment to the rail of a weapon. The finger stop is comprised, generally, of a cylinder, apparatus for attaching to a weapon rail, and a detachable sling swivel portion. Apparatus for securing the finger stop to a rail system include several types for securing to a number of different rail systems such as, e.g., Picatinny, KeyMod, and MLoc. The sling swivel mechanism is comprised generally of a swivel-able, or rotate-able, handle or extension, a protruding connecting portion for securing the sling swivel within the cylinder, and a securing portion that secures the handle in a rotate-able fashion, thereby securing the sling swivel mechanism to the finger stop. This finger stop design allows a user to minimize rail space and clutter on the weapon. This design, by reducing clutter and protuberances on the rail, helps a user increase the smoothness and flow of unslinging and general handling of the weapon.

1 . A Finger Stop comprised of:
 a central cylinder,   apparatus for attaching the finger stop to the rail of a weapon, and   a detachable sling swivel portion,   wherein the central cylinder is further comprised of an aperture, or pair of connected apertures of differing diameters, partly or fully defined by an inner cylinder wall, that proceeds from the distal end through the proximal end of the cylinder relative to the rail,   a securing portion,   a connecting portion protruding from the securing portion,   a swivel-able or rotate-able handle or extension attached to the securing portion,   wherein at least a portion of the inner cylinder wall at the distal end comprises a distal inner cylinder wall, and the diameter of the distal inner cylinder wall is the same or slightly larger than the diameter of the connecting portion to accommodate the connecting portion.   
     
     
         2 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion is further comprised of a spring actuated mechanism capable of rotate-ably and remove-ably securing the connector portion within the cylinder, and
 wherein the cylinder is further comprised of at least one raised lip within the cylinder and protruding outwardly from the distal inner cylinder wall, which is capable of accommodating the spring actuated mechanism, and   wherein the at least one raised lip is a width suitable for securing the sling swivel mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one raised lip is about 0.05″-0.2″ in width. 
     
     
         4 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 2 , wherein the spring actuated mechanism is further comprised of at least one spring-actuated ball and a button capable of retracting or partially retracting the at least one spring actuated ball. 
     
     
         5 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 4 , wherein the cylinder is further comprised of
 a distal inner groove within the cylinder, capable of helping secure the connecting portion within the cylinder,   wherein the distal inner groove is located past the adapter lip relative to the distal opening of the cylinder, and   wherein the distal inner groove is of a suitable depth to accommodate the spring actuated ball and extends around the circumference of the distal inner cylinder wall.   
     
     
         8 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the central cylinder is further comprised of an etched or machined pattern, including a set of grooves, cross hatching, or other pattern. 
     
     
         7 . A Finger Stop according to claim  6 , wherein the pattern is comprised of at least a pair of grooves,
 wherein the at least a pair of grooves are parallel and run circularly around the central cylinder.   
     
     
         8 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the Finger Stop is constructed of a resin or resins, plastic, a ceramic or metal, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the Finger Stop is at least partially constructed of aircraft grade aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the central cylinder  10  is about 0.75″ in diameter and about 1.0″ in length. 
     
     
         11 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the distal inner cylinder wall is about 0.375″ to about 0.380,
 and the distal inner cylinder wall extends into the central cylinder to about 0.375″ from the proximal end of the central cylinder. 
 
     
     
         12 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for attaching the finger stop to the rail of a weapon is comprised of an adapter for securing the finger stop to a picatinny rail,
 at least one screw capable of securing the Finger Stop to the picatinny rail and   a picatinny bridge capable of being fitted between, within, or among at least one picatinny rail ridge(s) and of being compressed against the picatinny bridge by the at least one screw,   wherein the adapter is located at the proximal end of the central cylinder in relation to the rail,   further comprising a pair of lipped walls that are each generally L-shaped in profile, and extend downward and inward in relation to the central cylinder,   wherein the pair of lipped walls define a notch or gap between them, and   wherein the notch or gap is of a size and configuration capable of being fitted onto the profile of the picatinny rail.   
     
     
         13 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 12 , wherein the picatinny bridge is comprised of a metal or plastic. 
     
     
         14 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 12 , wherein the aperture, or pair of connected apertures of differing diameters, is comprised of a distal inner cylinder wall and a proximal inner cylinder wall in communication with the distal inner cylinder wall,
 wherein the proximal inner cylinder wall is threaded to be capable of receiving the screw, and wherein the diameter of the proximal cylinder wall is such as to snugly accommodate the at least one screw.   
     
     
         15 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the proximal inner cylinder wall is about 0.186″, and the at least one screw is a #10 cap screw with a hexagonal head. 
     
     
         18 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the rail is a KeyMod™ type rail, and
 wherein the apparatus for attaching the finger stop to the rail of a weapon is comprised of at least one screw and at least one threaded nut capable of being fitted to the at least one screw, 
 wherein at least a portion of the threated nut has a width greater than that of a slot portion of a respective keyhole aperture and less than that of a wider circular portion of the keyhole aperture, and 
 wherein the aperture, or pair of connected apertures of differing diameters, is comprised of a distal inner cylinder wall and a Key Mod proximal inner wall in communication with the distal inner cylinder wall, and 
 wherein the Key Mod proximal inner wall is threaded to be capable of receiving the screw, and wherein the diameter of the proximal cylinder wall is such as to snugly accommodate the at least one screw. 
 
     
     
         17 . A Finger Stop according to claim  16 , further comprised of a recessed KeyMod aperture wall portion located at the proximal end of the central cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , wherein the rail is an MLoc™ type rail, and
 wherein the apparatus for attaching the finger stop to the rail of a weapon, is comprised of at least one screw and at least one threaded nut capable of being fitted to the at least one screw, 
 wherein at least a portion of the throated nut has a vertical width greater than that of a respective MLoc aperture, 
 wherein the aperture, or pair of connected apertures of differing diameters, is comprised of a distal inner cylinder wall and an MLoc proximal inner wall in communication with the distal inner cylinder wall, and 
 wherein the MLoc proximal inner wall is threaded to be capable of receiving the screw, and 
 wherein the diameter of the proximal cylinder wall is such as to snugly accommodate the at least one screw. 
 
     
     
         19 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 18 , further comprised of a protruding MLoc mechanism, which is comprised of defined at least a pair of MLoc securing walls located at the proximal end of the central cylinder,
 wherein the at least a pair of MLoc securing walls protrude from the central cylinder, and wherein the at least a pair of MLoc securing walls are in a generally circular or half-moon shaped configuration.   
     
     
         20 . A Finger Stop according to  claim 1 , further comprised of a proximal cylinder attachment located at the proximal end of the central cylinder,
 wherein the proximal cylinder attachment is hollow and in axial communication with the distal inner cylinder wall, and is capable of being joined to a sling swivel adapter pocket.