This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2012 014 075.4 filed 12 Jul. 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a sighting mechanism on a handgun.
A mounting apparatus of this kind is disclosed in DE 42 29 089. Therein, on the front and back ends of a bridge-shaped bracket are respectively deployed, as bracket elements: on one side, a fixed clamp, and on the opposite side, an adjustable clamp. The adjustable clamp is implemented as a single unit with an operating element implemented as a swing arm, and connected to the bracket via a threaded connection. The mounting apparatus is fitted to a handgun in such a way that only the fixed clamp can be engaged with the corresponding blind holes in the handgun. Subsequently, the clamp is rotated via the swing arm from a release position to a clamping position. Due to the threaded connection, the clamp thus moves along with the shaped swing arm in the direction of the handgun, and comes into contact with the corresponding cut-outs of the handgun. By a further rotation of the clamp, the apparatus is locked to the handgun. Wear and tear or signs of use may occur due to frictional wear, especially in the case of delicate surfaces, due to the rotation of the clamp across the cutouts of the handgun that occurs during fastening.
One aspect of the invention is to furnish an apparatus for the mounting of a sighting mechanism of the above-described kind, which enables the mounting to be done with repeat accuracy and low wear.
In the case of an embodiment of the apparatus of this invention, the operating element is implemented so as to be rotatable relative to the rotatable bracket element, around the rotational axis thereof. Such an embodiment enables relative movement between the operating element and the bracket element, which has the advantage that the bracket element can be decoupled from the rotation of the operating element when locked to the handgun. During clamping, the initially rotatable clamping element can only be pressed in without further rotation, so that there is no abrasion of the clamping element and handgun. This efficaciously enables the reduction of wear on the contact points and ensures a precise connection with repeat accuracy.
In a preferred embodiment, the operating element is connected to the rotatable bracket element in such a way that when the operating element is rotated, the rotatable bracket element is initially rotated along with it into a clamping position, and after reaching a locking position, can only be pushed in the direction of the axis of rotation, unless it is rotated further. The locking position should preferably be selected in such a way that in this position, either the rotatable bracket element no longer has any contact with the handgun, or the rotatable bracket element has only just come into contact with the handgun. After reaching the locking position, the rotatable bracket element undergoes no further rotation when the operating element is rotated into clamping position, but is only pushed against the fixed bracket element.
In order to define the locking position and a release position of the rotatable bracket element, the rotation of the bracket element can be restricted with respect to the bracket. The rotation of the bracket element together with the operating element can thus take place by means of a snap fitting. A snap fitting has the advantage that it can be released non-destructively, as soon as the rotation of the operating element is continued beyond the limit of the bracket element in locking position.
An especially precise and robust restriction of the rotation of the rotatable bracket element with respect to the bracket can be achieved by engaging a projection deployed on the rotatable bracket element with a cam furnished on the bracket.
In a further preferred embodiment, the snap fitting is configured as a locking ball deployed on the operating element and a running groove with a locking recess on the rotatable bracket element. By applying sufficient force against the spring tension, the ball can be lifted out of the locking recess.
To ensure robust mounting of the rotatable bracket element, it can be deployed on a threaded pin deployed on the bracket such that it is rotatable around the axis thereof.
The rotation of the operating element together with adjustment can be advantageously accomplished by a threaded connection of the operating element to the threaded pin.
An especially space-saving configuration is realized by an operating element with a swing arm and a folding grip. When folded out, the grip affords a good lever arm for the operation of the swing arm, and when folded closed, on the other hand, the operating element needs little room and the risk of damage due to protruding parts is reduced.
It is also preferred that an additional projection be furnished on the rotatable bracket in order to be caught by the operating element. By this additional projection, the relative rotation between the operating element and bracket element can be restricted with precision.
In an especially robust and easily assembled embodiment, the bracket mechanism is implemented in the form of a mounting bridge with a fixed bracket and an opposing adjustable bracket on a front and back end. The bracket can however also be realized as a unitary assembly. Also, by means of two, e.g. ring-shaped, unitary assemblies, a sighting scope or other sighting mechanism can be fastened to a handgun.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention are presented in the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawings. These are:
The apparatus 1 shown in
As is also evident from
The operating mechanism for adjusting the rotatable and slidable bracket element 5 comprises: a threaded pin 16 inserted within the threaded hole 8 of the bracket 2, and an operating element 19, here realized as a swing arm 17 with a folding grip 18, by the clockwise rotation whereof the bracket element 5, which is rotatable on an axis 20, is carried along, and after being rotated by 90°, unless it is rotated further, it is only pushed against the fixed bracket element 3.
The rotatable bracket element 5, as shown in
From
The rotatable bracket element 5, realized in the form of a disk, is rotatably seated around the axis 20 on the threaded pin 16, which, as shown in
As is evident from
In the following, the operation of the above-described mounting apparatus will be described with reference to
In the release position shown in
After the attachment of the bracket 2 to the handgun, the swing arm 17 is rotated 90° clockwise as shown in
Not until the swing arm 17 is rotated another 90° to the clamping position of
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