Firearm accessory locking structure

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#Not Applicable.

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#FIG. 1 is an x-ray side view of a firearm accessory featuring the locking mechanism;

#FIG. 2 is an x-ray side view of a firearm accessory featuring the locking mechanism; and

#FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a firearm accessory featuring the locking mechanism.

#Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 there is shown an x-ray view of a firearm accessory featuring the locking mechanism, generally 10. The firearm accessory has a rigid body 11 featuring a bore 12 that passes completely through the interior and exterior of the body 11 such that each end of the bore 12 is accessible from the outside of the accessory. The bore 12 has a first end 13 and a second end 14. The locking mechanism 10 also features a locking screw 15 that is inserted in the first end 13 of the bore 12. In one preferred embodiment, the locking screw 15 is a set screw. In other preferred embodiments, the locking screw 15 is a jam socket screw. For convenience, when the various embodiments of this device are discussed, the term “locking screw” will be used and is meant to refer to a set screw, a jam socket screw and/or their functional and structural equivalents.

#In addition, the locking mechanism 10 includes a screw 16 that is inserted into the first end 13 of the bore 12 after the locking screw 15 is placed into the bore 12. In the preferred embodiment and best mode of this device, the screw 16 is a thumb screw. The locking mechanism also includes a platform 17 with a raised edge or protrusion 18 that is placed over the second end 14 of the bore 12. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment and best mode of the locking mechanism 10, the platform features a hole 19 that is comparable in diameter to the diameter of the bore 12. Also, the preferred embodiment of the locking mechanism 10 includes a spring 20 inserted into the bore 12 from the second end 14 of the bore 12, such that it is located immediately underneath the platform 17.

#The locking mechanism 10 in FIG. 1 is assembled by inserting or threading the locking screw 15 into the first end 13 of the bore 12. Next the thumb screw 16 is threaded into the first end 13 of the bore 12. As previously discussed, in preferred embodiments of the locking mechanism 10, the set screw 15 has external threads (not shown) that are complementary to threads lining the interior of the bore 12. In addition, the exterior surface of the thumb screw 16 also features threads (not shown) that are complementary to the threads lining the interior of the bore 12. The spring 20 can be inserted into the bore from either end, but generally a user will insert the spring 20 into the bore 12 from the second end 14 of the bore 12, after the locking screw 15 and thumb screw 16 are inserted into the first end 13 of the bore 12. Once the spring 20 is in place, the platform 17 is seated over the second end of the bore. By tightening the thumb screw 16, the user can cause the locking screw 15 to advance or thread further into the bore 12 to contact and compress the spring 20 between the platform 17 and the locking screw 15 thereby applying upward force to the bottom surface of the platform 17. This upward force will help keep the platform 17 featuring the protrusion 18 flush against the firearm frame until the locking screw is loosened.