QUICK DISCONNECT MOUNT FOR MUZZLE ATTACHMENTS
A mounting assembly for a firearm muzzle attachment includes an attachment mount with a clutch assembly. A muzzle attachment can be secured to the distal end portion of the attachment mount. The attachment mount is configured to removably attach the muzzle attachment to a muzzle adapter installed on the end of a barrel. A clutch assembly on the attachment mount is operable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the clutch assembly frictionally engages the muzzle adapter to inhibit loosening rotation of the muzzle attachment relative to the muzzle adapter. In the unlocked position, the clutch assembly disengages from the muzzle adapter to permit loosening rotation of the attachment mount. The locking mechanism includes one or more secondary retention features that inhibit axial slipping of the assembly when the clutch assembly is in the locked position. A method of use is also disclosed.
1 . A mounting assembly for a firearm muzzle device and configured to attach to a firearm barrel or a muzzle adapter having, in each case, a cylindrical sleeve portion, the mounting assembly comprising:
a mount body having a proximal end portion and a mount distal end portion, the mount body defining a passageway therethrough along a central axis and configured to releasably attach to the firearm barrel or the muzzle adapter when the firearm barrel or the muzzle adapter is received in the mount proximal end portion, and the mount distal end portion configured to attach to a firearm muzzle device; and
cams mounted to the mount body and pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the cams arranged to engage the cylindrical sleeve portion of the firearm barrel or the muzzle adapter when in the engaged position;
a clutch assembly on the mount body, the clutch assembly operable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein moving the clutch assembly to the locked position allows the cams to rotate to the engaged position, and wherein moving the clutch assembly to the unlocked position moves the cams to the disengaged position; and
a secondary retention structure configured to inhibit axial removal of the mounting assembly from the firearm barrel or the muzzle adapter when the clutch assembly is in the locked position.
2 . The mounting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the muzzle adapter, wherein the muzzle adapter defines at least one circumferential groove adjacent to or in an area of the cylindrical sleeve portion;
wherein the cams have an arcuate engagement surface configured to engage the cylindrical sleeve portion of the muzzle adapter;
wherein at least one of the cams includes a protrusion adjacent the engagement surface and extending beyond the engagement surface;
wherein, when the clutch collar is in the locked position, the engagement surface engages the cylindrical sleeve portion of the muzzle adapter and the protrusion occupies the circumferential groove, thereby limiting and inhibiting loosening rotation of the attachment mount; and
wherein, when the clutch collar is in the unlocked position, the cams disengage from the cylindrical sleeve portion and the protrusion is positioned away from the circumferential groove, thereby permitting loosening rotation of the attachment mount and removal of the muzzle adapter from the attachment mount.
3 . The mounting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the locking structure comprises:
a cam spring connected between the mount body and each of the cams, wherein each cam spring biases an associated one of the cams towards the engaged position.
4 . The mounting assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
each of the cams is mounted in a cam opening defined in the mount body and positioned to engage the adapter body when the clutch assembly is in the locked position;
a cam spring for each of the cams, the cam spring biasing a respective one of the cams toward the engaged position; and
the clutch assembly includes a clutch collar overlapping and rotatable about the mount body in a first direction to allow the cams to rotate to the engaged position, and rotatable about the mount body in a second direction to move the cams to the disengaged position.
5 . The mounting assembly of claim 4 , wherein each cam spring extends along a circumference of the mount body and having a first end attached to a respective one of the cams.
6 . The mounting assembly of claim 5 , wherein the cam spring is configured as an extension spring.
7 . The mounting assembly of claim 5 , wherein moving the clutch assembly to the unlocked position further tensions the cam spring.
8 . The mounting assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more cams is positioned to engage the cylindrical sleeve portion of the muzzle adapter when the clutch assembly is in the locked position, and each of the one or more cams is positioned to be disengaged from the cylindrical sleeve portion when the clutch assembly is in the unlocked position.
9 . The mounting assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more cams has a lever arm extending radially outward and away from the cam surface, wherein an inside of the clutch collar engages the lever arm to pivot the cam when moving the clutch assembly to the unlocked position.
10 . The mounting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lever arm abuts the inside of the clutch collar when the clutch assembly is in the unlocked position, thereby preventing the cam from pivoting to the locked position.
11 . The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clutch assembly comprises:
the muzzle adapter having the cylindrical sleeve portion, wherein the muzzle adapter defines a circumferential groove;
a clutch collar rotatable about the mount body between the locked position and the unlocked position; and
a wire form spring extending a majority portion around an inside of the mount body and defining an outward bend, a first end, and a second end;
wherein the clutch collar defines recesses associated with the locked position and the unlocked position, the recesses configured to receive the outward bend of the wire spring.
12 . The mounting assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second end of the wire form spring substantially defines a loop, wherein a radially inner portion of the loop occupies the circumferential groove in the muzzle adapter when the clutch assembly is in the locked position, thereby limiting axial movement of the mounting assembly with respect to the muzzle adapter, and wherein a radially inner portion of the loop resides radially outside of the circumferential groove in the muzzle adapter when the clutch assembly is in the unlocked position, thereby permitting loosening rotation of the attachment mount and removal of the muzzle adapter from the attachment mount.
13 . A mounting assembly for a firearm muzzle device, the mounting assembly comprising:
a muzzle adapter having a cylindrical sleeve portion and defining a circumferential groove;
a mount body having a proximal end portion and a mount distal end portion, the mount body defining a passageway therethrough along a central axis and configured to releasably attach to the muzzle adapter when the muzzle adapter is received in the mount proximal end portion; and
cams retained in the mount body and pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the cams arranged to engage the cylindrical sleeve portion of the muzzle adapter when in the engaged position;
a clutch assembly on the mount body, the clutch assembly including a clutch collar operable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein moving the clutch collar to the locked position allows the cams to rotate to the engaged position and moving the clutch assembly to the unlocked position moves the cams to the disengaged position; and
a secondary retention structure configured to block axial removal of the mounting assembly from the firearm barrel or muzzle adapter when the clutch assembly is in the locked position.
14 . The mounting assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a wire form spring between the mount body and the muzzle adapter, wherein the wire form spring defines an outward bend and an end forming a loop with a radially outer portion and a radially inner portion, wherein when the clutch collar is in the locked position, the radially inner portion of the loop occupies the circumferential groove in the muzzle adapter.
15 . The mounting assembly of claim 14 , when the clutch collar is in the unlocked position, the radially inner portion of the loop is positioned radially outside of the circumferential groove in the muzzle adapter, thereby permitting loosening rotation of the attachment mount and removal of the muzzle adapter from the attachment mount.
16 . The mounting assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the cams includes a protrusion extending radially outward beyond the cam surface, wherein when the clutch collar is in the locked position, the protrusion occupies the circumferential groove in the muzzle adapter, thereby limiting axial movement of the attachment mount with respect to the muzzle adapter.
17 . A suppressor comprising the mounting assembly of claim 13 , wherein the suppressor is connected to a distal end of the mount body.
18 . A firearm comprising:
the mounting assembly of claim 13 ; and
a suppressor connected to a distal end of the mount body.