Swing arm mount system

BCAKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention relates to a gun mount for affixing a firearm to a vehicle, boat or other platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When mounting a firearm such as a machine gun to a vehicle, boat or other platform it is desirable to provide a mount which will allow the firearm to be fired while facing towards the front of the platform and to be quickly and easily repositioned to a sideways and/or rearward facing position while still supporting and retaining positive control over the firearm. However, such repositioning about a single axis often requires the firearm to swing in an arc of greater that 90 degrees past a corner post or other obstruction, which may interfere with the movement of the weapon. In addition, such repositioning about a central axis may also require the operator to also reposition himself often into an inaccessible position in order to maintain a proper sightline for aiming the weapon.

The present invention solves the problems typically associated with weapon mounts having a central axis by providing two support arms interposed between a platform support bracket and a weapon support bracket. In addition, a plurality of rotational points are used which a permit the weapon to be positionable about the platform corner post while permitting the operator to maintain a stationary position in the platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1

shows how one embodiment of the present invention permits a weapon to be located in a forward facing position in a platform;

FIG. 2

shows how a rearward facing position may be accomplished with the embodiment shown in

FIG. 1

FIG. 3

shows how a sideways facing position may be attained with the present invention;

FIG. 4

shows a top view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5

shows a side view of the embodiment shown in

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 6

is a side view showing how pintle and socket assemblies are used with the present invention;

FIG. 7

is a partial, exploded cross-sectional view of a pintle and socket assembly;

FIG. 8

shows an assembled pintle and socket assembly;

FIG. 9

is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10

is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

9

.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any alternates or modifications in which insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.

As shown in

FIGS. 1-3

, the weapon mount

10

of the present invention permits a weapon

20

to be positioned from a forward facing position in a vehicle

30

to a rearward or sideways facing position without interference from vehicle corner post

32

. In addition, operator

31

may operate and reposition the weapon

20

while remaining in a generally fixed location in the vehicle.

As shown in

FIGS. 4-10

, the present invention includes a first support arm

12

which is rotatably connected to a first support bracket

14

which is adapted to be affixed to vehicle

30

. This forms a rotational point

17

. A second support arm

16

is rotatably attached to arm

12

to form rotation point

18

. Arm

12

may be located under arm

16

and longer in length than arm

16

. Arm

16

is, in turn, rotatably connected to a gun mount

22

to form rotation point

19

. Gun mount

22

may consist of a carriage

23

and cradle

72

.

As shown in

FIGS. 6-9

, rotation points

17

and

19

may be made from pintles

50

and

51

which have annular grooves

52

and

53

respectively. Pintles

50

and

51

are truncated-cones in shape and are sized to fit within corresponding sockets

54

and

55

, as shown in

FIGS. 7-9

. Locking pins

61

and

62

secure the pintles within the sockets by being inserted into the annular grooves which allows for the quick and easy installation of the device and firearm. Fastener

70

may also be provided for further support. Of course, persons of skill in the art would also know that there are many equivalent structure to the pintle and socket assemblies and that such structures may be used to create the rotation points as well.

Weapon

20

may be mounted in cradle

72

which is pivotally connected to carriage

23

of gun mount by pin

74

. An ammo can clip

76

, and additional ammo can

78

may also be provided. Lastly, a windshield guide pad

80

may also be provided which rest against the windshield base.

In use, as shown in

FIG. 1

, weapon

20

may be placed in a forward facing position with the plurality of rotation points

17

-

19

allowing the operator to aim the weapon in a wide arc. In addition, rotation points

17

-

19

, and the ability of arm

16

to be fully rotated about arm

12

, permits the weapon's location to be moved from a forward facing location to either a sideways or rearward location without interference from corner post

32

. As also shown, the operator may also stay within a generally stationary position in the platform while positioning and operating the weapon from the above described locations. This generally permits an operator to use the support provided by the mount in an unobstructed field of fire that is nearly comparable to the use of the weapon without the targeting aid of a weapon support.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.