BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Law enforcement agents often carry a handgun as well as a flashlight.

The handgun typically has an ammunition clip disposed within a handgrip with a bottom portion of the ammunition clip extending below the handgrip.

Normally the handgun remains holstered separate from the flashlight, and during situations in which both the handgun and flashlight are required, a law enforcement agent typically holds the handgun in one hand and the flashlight in the other while extending the wrist of the hand holding the flashlight below and in support of the wrist of the hand holding the handgun.

A problem with this approach is that both hands of the law enforcement agent are utilized and either the flashlight or the handgun must be set aside in order to free one of the agent's hands for another activity such as, for example, calling for backup on a radio.

A solution to this problem is shown in Sharrah et al. U. S. Patent No.

5,628,555. Specifically, in Figures 1-3, a flashlight mount is disclosed including a support base integrally formed with a tubular portion. The support base is permanently mounted to the bottom portion of an ammunition clip and the tubular portion releasably receives a tubular body of a flashlight. A switch is mounted to the handgrip of the handgun for actuation of the flashlight via a slide member movable relative to the support base and tubular portion.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 4-6 of Sharrah et al., the support base is integrally formed on the bottom of the ammunition clip and the tubular portion is permanently attached to the support base in slidable engagement therewith. Depressing the switch of the flashlight mount causes the tubular portion to slide relative to the support base and urge a switch of the flashlight carried by the tubular portion against a fixed boss of the support

base thereby activating the flashlight. The flashlight switch includes sufficient resiliency to move the flashlight away from the boss deactivating the flashlight when the switch of the flashlight mount is released.

In normal operation, the support base and tubular portion of both embodiments of the flashlight mount shown in Sharrah et al. are permanently attached to the ammunition clip of the handgun with the flashlight being carried separately from the handgun by the law enforcement agent. When the handgun and the flashlight are both used, the handgun and flashlight are drawn and the tubular body of the flashlight is inserted into the tubular portion of the flashlight mount. A thumbwheel is then turned to cause a clamp to press against the flashlight for securing the flashlight within the tubular portion of the mount.

A drawback to both embodiments of the flashlight mount shown in Sharrah et al. is that the flashlight mount is permanently attached to the ammunition clip. As such, the handgun with the tubular portion projecting away from the handgrip cannot be carried conveniently in a conventional holster, nor can the ammunition clip including the support base separately be carried conveniently in an ammunition clip holster.

A further drawback to both of these embodiments is that the process of securing the flashlight using the thumbwheel is extremely cumbersome and time-consuming, especially under the extreme circumstances in which both a flashlight and a handgun are required to be drawn by a law enforcement agent.

Thus, a need exists for a structure and method for attaching a flashlight to a handgun which provides for quicker, more convenient attachment.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention relates to the releasable mounting of a flashlight to a handgun and, in particular, to the releasable attachment of a flashlight coupling member to the bottom portion of an ammunition clip.

The coupling member is configured to be mounted to a flashlight and preferably includes a tubular portion through which the flashlight extends as

well as a clamp disposed within the tubular portion that is biased by set screws against the flashlight in order to securely retain the flashlight within the tubular portion. Alternatively, the flashlight coupling member includes a tubular portion and a bushing rotatably supported within the tubular portion.

The bushing defines a bore configured to receive the flashlight and the bore includes a longitudinal axis that is not coplanar with a longitudinal axis of the bushing. In another alternative, the coupling member is formed integrally with the body of the flashlight.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coupling member is releasably attached in fixed disposition to an adapter that itself is attached to the bottom portion of the ammunition clip. In a feature thereof, the coupling member and the adapter include first and second interlocking portions. The first interlocking portion includes a flanged projection having a T-shaped cross-section. The first interlocking portion also defines a notch formed in the side of the flanged projection. The second interlocking portion defines a channel having an inverted T-shaped cross-section for sliding engagement therein of the flanged projection of the first interlocking portion. The second interlocking portion also includes a spring biased detent which extends into the notch of the flanged projection and locks the flanged projection from sliding within the channel.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the coupling member includes an interlocking portion that is slidable into releasable locking engagement with an interlocking portion formed integrally in the bottom portion of an ammunition clip and, thus, no adapter is necessary.

In either aspect of the present invention, the ammunition clip can be inserted into the handgrip of a handgun and the flashlight having the coupling member can quickly and easily be slid into releasable locking engagement on the ammunition clip adjacent to the handgrip of the handgun.

The present invention also broadly includes the method of attaching a flashlight to a handgun and, specifically, both the method of attaching a flashlight having a coupling member to an adapter disposed on an ammunition clip; and, the method of attaching a flashlight having a coupling

member to an ammunition clip of a handgun by sliding the coupling member into locking engagement with a bottom portion of the ammunition clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, embodiments, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent form the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a flashlight mounting assembly of the present invention mounting a flashlight to an ammunition clip of a handgun that is held by a single hand; Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the flashlight mounting of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the flashlight support structure of the flashlight mounting assembly of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a side of the flashlight support structure of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an elevational view of another side of the flashlight support structure of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flashlight support structure taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the adapter of the flashlight mounting assembly of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the adapter of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an elevational view of an end of the adapter of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is an elevational view of another end of the adapter of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter taken along the line 11- 11 in Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view similar to Fig. 8 of another embodiment of the adapter of the present invention; Fig. 13 is an environmental perspective view similar to Fig. 1 of another flashlight mounting assembly of the present invention; Fig. 14 is an elevational view of a front of the bushing of the flashlight mounting assembly of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is an elevational view in cross-section of the bushing of Fig. 14 taken along the line 15-15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1-15.

A preferred flashlight mounting assembly 20 of the present invention includes an adapter 22 that is configured to be releasably attached to the bottom portion 24 of an ammunition clip 26 and a flashlight coupling member 28 that is releasably attachable to the adapter 22 and which is configured to receive a flashlight 30 therein. Both the adapter 22 and the coupling member 28 are preferably formed by an aluminum extrusion process.

As is well known in the art, a conventional ammunition clip includes a flange extending around a bottom edge of the clip and an end cap that slides over the flange and retains a spring plate at the bottom portion of the clip. The spring plate includes a stub that projects downward through an aperture in the end cap for locking the end cap in place over the end of the clip. The end cap is readily removable by pushing the stub into the clip against the spring of the clip and then sliding the end cap off of the end of the clip.

The adapter 22 of the present invention preferably comprises a novel end cap that replaces the conventional end cap manufactured with the ammunition clip. Specifically, the adapter 22 resembles the conventional end cap except for the provision of an interlocking portion 32 thereon for disposition on the underside of the ammunition clip 26. Hence, the adapter 22 includes a flanged U-shaped wall 34 which slides over the flange 25 of the ammunition clip 26 and further includes an aperture 36 for receiving therein the stub of the conventional spring plate which locks the adapter 22 in place over the end cap. The novel interlocking portion 32 of the adapter 22 itself includes a flanged projection 38 having a T-shaped cross-section 40. The flanged projection 38 has tapered ends 42 and includes a notch 44 formed in a side thereof.

The flashlight coupling member 28 includes another interlocking portion 46 which releasably engages the interlocking portion 32 of the adapter 22.

The interlocking portion 46 of the flashlight coupling member 28 comprises a channel 48 having an inverted T-shaped cross-section 50 dimensioned to snugly receive in sliding engagement the flanged projection 38 of the adapter 22 therein. Top portions 52 of the flashlight coupling member 28 extend partially over the channel 48 to define the inverted T-shaped cross-section 50 and act to retain the flanged projection 38 within the channel 48 thus permitting only sliding movement therein.

The flashlight coupling member 28 also includes a spring biased detent 54 which extends into the channel 48 and, when the flanged projection 38 is properly positioned within the channel 48, extends within the notch 44 of the flanged projection 38 and locks the flanged projection 38 from sliding within the channel 48. In such position the flashlight coupling member 28 is fixed relative to the adapter 22 and cannot undergo motion relative to the adapter 22.

The spring biased detent 54 includes a block member 56 and an opposed head member 58 and a rod 60 extending therebetween and having a spring 62 disposed axially thereabout. The spring 62 is disposed in abutment with the head member 58 and retained in fixed disposition at a point 64 within the flashlight coupling member 28 adjacent the block member 56 to bias the block member 56 into the channel 48. The head member 58 is exposed to the exterior of the flashlight coupling member 28 and depression of the head member 58 by a law enforcement agent acts against the spring 62 to displace the block member 56 within a recess 66 of the flashlight coupling member 28 and out of the channel 48.

The flashlight coupling member 28 also includes a tubular portion 68 formed integrally therewith which is configured to receive the tubular body of a flashlight 30. In order to retain the flashlight 30 within the tubular portion 68, a clamp 70 is provided within a recess 69 of the tubular portion 68 which is biased against a flashlight 30 received in the tubular portion 68 by two set screws 72. The clamp 70 preferably comprises a plastic load supporting plate for gripping of the flashlight without marring.

Since the flashlight coupling member 28 is intended to remain attached to the flashlight 30 until such time as the flashlight 30 requires repair or replacement, the set screws 72 preferably are recessed within apertures 74 of the flashlight coupling member 28 and are not accessible by hand.

In using the preferred mounting assembly of the present invention, the flashlight coupling member 28 is attached to and is intended to remain on the flashlight 30 and the adapter 22 is attached to and intended to remain on the underside of the ammunition clip 26. Because the flashlight coupling member 28 comprises a tubular portion 68 slightly larger in diameter than the body of the flashlight 30, the shape of the flashlight coupling member 28 does not significantly protrude from the flashlight 30 and therefore is conveniently carried on the flashlight 30. Similarly, the width and extension of the flanged projection 38 extending from the bottom of the ammunition clip 26 is sufficiently small to permit convenient carrying and storage of the clip 26 with the adapter 22 remaining thereon.

When a situation requires a law enforcement officer to draw both handgun and flashlight 30, the mounting assembly of the present invention allows the flashlight 30 to be quickly and easily mounted to the handgun by simply sliding the flanged projection 38 of the adapter 22 within the channel 48 of the flashlight coupling member 28 into locking engagement. The tapered end 42 of the flanged projection 38 engages the block member 56 of the detent 54 and urges it against the spring 62, out of the channel 48, and into the recess 66. When the notch 44 then subsequently passes alongside the block member 56, the spring 62 urges the block member 56 into engagement with the flanged projection 38 within the notch 44 thereby locking the flanged projection 38 from further sliding within the channel 48 and thereby completing the steps necessary to quickly and easily mount the flashlight 30 to the handgun. This process takes only a fraction of the time required to secure a flashlight using the thumbwheel of the conventional flashlight mount, thus permitting a law enforcement agent to quickly wield both the handgun and flashlight in a single hand while freeing up his other hand.

When it is desired to dismount the flashlight from the handgun, depression of the head member 58 acts against the spring 62 to displace the block member 56 from the notch 44 of the flanged projection 38 whereby the flanged projection 38 is again free to slidably move within the channel 48 for unattachment of the flashlight coupling member 28 from the adapter 22. The quick dismounting of the flashlight from an emptied ammunition clip and subsequent remounting to a second ammunition clip also having the adapter 22 of the present invention provides easy reloading of a weapon.

In a feature of the present invention as shown in Fig. 12, an additional second notch 144 and tapered ends 142 are provided in the flanged projection 38 of the coupling member 28. The second notch 144 is disposed in mirror image relation to the notch 44 on the opposite side of the flanged projection 38 whereby the coupling member 28 is mountable to the adapter 22 with either the block member 56 facing toward the left side or toward the right side of the weapon as desired. This additional notch 144 enables the mounting assembly of the present invention to accommodate both right handed and left handed persons. The tapered ends 142 enable the coupling member 28 to be slid into locking engagement with the adapter 22 in either direction.

In an additional preferred embodiment of the flashlight mounting assembly of the present invention shown in Figs. 13-15, a bushing 168 is inserted into the tubular portion 68 of the coupling member 28. The bushing 168 is retained within the tubular portion 68 by frictional engagement with clamp 70 such that the bushing 168 is slidably rotatable about a longitudinal axis 172 thereof upon application of a sufficient torque. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis 172 of the bushing 168 preferably lies parallel to a longitudinal axis 173 of a firing bore of the weapon to which the flashlight mounting is to be used. The bushing 168 itself defines a bore in the shape of a cylindrical opening 169 that extends along a longitudinal axis 174 thereof which is not collinear with the longitudinal axis 172 of the bushing 168. The cylindrical opening 169 is dimensioned to receive the tubular portion of a flashlight 30 in friction fit therewith, with the beam of the flashlight extending

along the longitudinal axis 174 of the cylindrical opening 169. Consequently, adjustment of the angle of the flashlight beam relative to the longitudinal axis 174 of the bushing 168 (and hence the longitudinal axis 173 of the bore of the weapon), is made merely by rotation of the bushing 168 within the tubular portion 68.

In yet another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the flashlight coupling member is formed integrally with the body of the flashlight and is not separable therefrom. The flashlight support coupling member includes the interlocking portion, however, and operates in the same manner as the aforementioned preferred embodiment.

Similarly, in another preferred embodiment (not shown), the interlocking portion associated with the ammunition clip is formed integrally with the ammunition clip, but the normal operation of the mounting assembly remains the same.

It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended nor to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.