US Patent 9157696 Firearm rail assembly

A modular rail assembly for supporting accessories upon a modular weapons platform. The modular rail assembly includes a fore rail preferably positioned above the foretube, and an aft rail preferably positioned above the receiver, which cooperate with one another to enable a modular system whereby one rail may be removed or replaced without affecting the other rail and any accessories mounted thereon. One rail defines a mating member and the other rail defines a mating channel for receipt of the mating member. The rail assembly configuration provides increased flexibility and interchangeability to the modular weapons platform.