US Patent 7963205 Tri-mount cradle system

A weapon mounting system for securing a weapon such as a machine gun to a platform comprises a cradle assembly including a pair of opposed front and rear flanges having apertures therein for engaging a retaining pin to secure a weapon thereto. The cradle assembly of the present invention is formed of a single piece of high strength material, for example aluminum stainless steel or titanium. The cradle assembly further includes a pair of pintle flanges to engage a pintle, thereby enabling rotation of cradle and concomitant weapon around two axes.