Configurable firearm shell casing catching system

Abstract

A firearm shell casing catching system for collecting casings ejected from a firearm includes a mounting assembly, casing deflector, and a hopper. A shim can be optionally attached to the mounting assembly thereby decreasing the inside dimension of the mounting assembly to allow for the firearm shell casing catching system to be attached to magwells of firearms having different sizes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shim for a firearm shell casing catching system, the shim comprising:
 a body having a first thickness and defining a shim body surface;   an upper flange extending outward from the body and comprising an upper protrusion configured to engage with a top socket of a mounting assembly of the firearm shell casing catching system; and   a lower flange extending outward from the body and comprising a lower protrusion configured to engage with a bottom socket of the mounting assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The shim of  claim 1 , wherein the upper protrusion is integral with the upper flange and the lower protrusion is integral with the lower flange. 
     
     
         3 . The shim of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a second thickness different from the first thickness, and wherein the first thickness is proximate to the upper flange and the second thickness is proximate to the lower flange. 
     
     
         4 . The shim of  claim 3 , wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness such that the shim body surface is angled. 
     
     
         5 . The shim of  claim 1 , wherein the upper protrusion comprises a ridge configured to be received in an elongated slot of the top socket. 
     
     
         6 . The shim of  claim 5 , wherein the lower protrusion comprises a tab configured to engage with a detent in the bottom socket. 
     
     
         7 . The shim of  claim 1 , wherein the shim body surface is configured to interface with an angled surface of a firearm magwell when the shim is attached to the mounting assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A shim for adjusting dimensions of a firearm shell casing catching system mounting assembly, the shim comprising:
 a central body defining a shim body surface;   an upper flange extending from the central body and having an upper protrusion; and   a lower flange extending from the central body and having a lower protrusion, wherein the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to selectably attach the shim to corresponding sockets of a mounting assembly to modify an internal dimension of the mounting assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The shim of  claim 8 , wherein the central body has a variable thickness, with a first thickness proximate to the upper flange and a second thickness proximate to the lower flange. 
     
     
         10 . The shim of  claim 9 , wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness such that the shim body surface is angled to interface with an angled magwell surface. 
     
     
         11 . The shim of  claim 8 , wherein the upper protrusion comprises a ridge configured to be received in an elongated slot of a top socket of the mounting assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The shim of  claim 11 , wherein the lower protrusion comprises a tab configured to engage with a bottom socket of the mounting assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The shim of  claim 8 , wherein the shim body surface is configured to contact a magwell when the shim is attached to the mounting assembly, and wherein attachment of the shim adjusts a distance between the shim body surface and a rear tab of the mounting assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The shim of  claim 13 , wherein the shim is one of a plurality of interchangeable shims having different thicknesses to accommodate magwells of different dimensions. 
     
     
         15 . A shim for a firearm accessory mounting system, comprising:
 a body portion having a variable thickness, wherein a first thickness proximate to an upper end is greater than a second thickness proximate to a lower end, thereby defining an angled shim body surface;   an upper engagement feature extending from the upper end of the body portion; and   a lower engagement feature extending from the lower end of the body portion, wherein the upper engagement feature and the lower engagement feature are configured to couple the shim to a mounting assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The shim of  claim 15 , wherein the upper engagement feature comprises an upper flange having an upper protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The shim of  claim 16 , wherein the lower engagement feature comprises a lower flange having a lower protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The shim of  claim 17 , wherein the upper protrusion comprises a ridge and the lower protrusion comprises a tab. 
     
     
         19 . The shim of  claim 15 , wherein the angled shim body surface is configured to interface with an angled surface of a firearm magwell. 
     
     
         20 . The shim of  claim 19 , wherein the shim is one of a plurality of interchangeable shims having different angular configurations to accommodate magwells with different angled surfaces.