OPTICAL ASSEMBLY WITH PROTECTIVE FLEXING MEMBER AND/OR MECHANICAL REAR SIGHT FEATURES

Abstract

In various embodiments, an optic sight or an apparatus usable with an optic sight may include a protective flexing member, and/or a mechanical rear sight or a representation thereof viewable when looking through the optic sight when the optic sight is mounted to a firearm assembly; wherein: the mechanical rear sight or the representation thereof is integrally formed with the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of the emitter of the optic sight, or the mechanical rear sight comprises a modular mechanical rear sight to fit into a slot or other opening of the firearm assembly or the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of a front-most light transmissive surface of the optic sight. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Description

BACKGROUND

An optic guard is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/156,504, published on Jul. 29, 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. A lower section, such as a bracket, may be arranged to attach to a firearm assembly. An upper section may protect top or opposite sides of an optic sight, in some embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded isometric view of an optic guard assembly, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 2A illustrates a right side view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B illustrates a left side section view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B illustrates a section view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1 taken along section line A-A of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C illustrates front view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3D illustrates a section view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1 taken along the section line G-G of FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3E illustrates a detail B of the optic guard assembly view of FIG. 3C.

FIG. 4A illustrates an isometric view of the mounting plate of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4B-D illustrate, respectively, a bottom view, a side view, and a front view of the mounting plate of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A illustrates an isometric view of the frame of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5B and 5C illustrate, respectively, a front view and a rear view of the frame of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5D illustrates a view C-C of the view shown in FIG. 5C.

FIG. 6A illustrates a rear view of the mechanical sight device of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6B illustrates a view H-H of the view of the mechanical sight device of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C illustrates a bottom view of the mechanical sight device of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6D illustrates a view J-J of the view of the mechanical sight device of FIG. 6C.

FIG. 7A illustrates an exploded isometric view of an optic guard assembly, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 7B illustrates an isometric view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A illustrates a top view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8B illustrates a section view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 7A taken along section line X-X of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 illustrates a detail view of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 7A.

FIGS. 10A-D illustrate, respectively, a front view, a side view, a top view, and a bottom view of the mechanical sight device of the optic guard assembly of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded isometric view of a firearm assembly including an optic guard with a modular mechanical sight device, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the optic guard, the mechanical sight device, and the fastener of the firearm assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded isometric view of another firearm assembly including an optic guard with a modular mechanical sight device, according to various embodiments.

FIGS. 14A-C illustrate, respectively, an exploded isometric view, a cross sectional view, and a rear view of an optic assembly for a firearm, according to various embodiments.

FIGS. 15A-C illustrate, respectively, a front view, a top view, and a side view of the mechanical sight device of the optic assembly of FIGS. 14A-C.

FIGS. 16A-C illustrate, respectively, an isometric view, a cross sectional view, and a rear view of another optic assembly for a firearm, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 17A illustrates an exploded isometric view of an optic assembly in which a modular optic guard is releasably coupled to a front of an optic sight, according to various embodiments.

FIGS. 17B and 17C illustrate, respectively, an isometric view and a front view of the optic assembly of FIG. 17A.

FIG. 17D illustrates a section view of the optic assembly of FIG. 17A taken along section line Y-Y of FIG. 17C.

FIGS. 17E and 17F illustrate, respectively, top views of the optic sight and the optic guard of the optic assembly of FIG. 17A.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate, respectively, side and front views of on optic assembly in which a non-modular optic guard is integrally formed on a front of an optic sight, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 18C illustrates a section view of the optic sight of FIG. 18A taken along section line Z-Z of FIG. 18B.

FIG. 19A illustrates a side view of a firearm assembly in which a modular cantilevered optic guard is used for an optic sight that substantially fills in a recess in which it is located, according to various embodiments.

FIGS. 19B-D illustrate, respectively, an exploded isometric view, a side view, a front view of the optic assembly of FIG. 19A.

FIG. 19E illustrates a section view of the optic assembly of FIG. 19A taken along section line AA-AA of FIG. 19D.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate front and side views of an optic sight having a flexing member integrally formed on a body of the optic sight, according to various embodiments.

FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate front and side views of another optic sight having a flexing member integrally formed on a body of the optic sight, according to various embodiments.

FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate front and side views of an optic sight in which a non-modular optic guard is integrally formed on a front of an optic sight having a flexing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The '504 application describes a frame with one or more protrusions that may be welded to mating openings in a bracket, which may provide a desired durability for the optic guard. It would be advantageous to use a frame coupling method that may provide the desired durability without requiring welding. Various embodiments described herein may include a frame coupling interface that may provide the desired durability without requiring welding. Also, any frame coupling interface described herein may be applied for other firearm parts besides optic guards, such as for non-releasably coupling a mechanical sight mount (e.g., a rear iron sight mount) to an optic mounting adapter (e.g., an optic plate) or other optic mounting device.

The '504 application also describes a mechanical sight (e.g., a rear iron sight) located on a bottom frame member of the frame of the optic guard. This may allow co-witnessing of the mechanical sight and the optic sight (e.g., an operator may view the mechanical sight through the optic sight). Also, in contrast to some other firearm assemblies in which the rear mechanical sight is nearer to the operator's eye than the optic sight (e.g., located behind the optic sight), in the embodiments described in the '504 application the rear mechanical sight is located in front of the optic sight. Some operator's eyes may be momentarily distracted by a rear mechanical sight located between their eye and the optic sight—and this can be avoided in embodiments in which the rear mechanical sight is located in front of the optic sight (e.g., when both of the rear mechanical sight and the front mechanical sight are viewable through the optic sight).

In any optic guard (e.g., one that includes the frame coupling interface, or some other optic guard), it would be advantageous to use a modular mechanical sight mount that allows the mechanical sight to be installed or removed without requiring removal of the optic guard from the firearm, and/or without requiring removal of the optic sight from an optic mounting device of the firearm. Various embodiments described herein may include a mechanical sight device that can be attached or removed from an optic guard without removing the optic guard from the firearm and/or without removing the optic sight from an optic mounting device of the firearm.

Also, in contrast to some known firearm assemblies where a removable mechanical sight may need to be re-zero after re-attachment, various embodiments are arranged to laterally self-center the mechanical sight device in exactly the same lateral position each time it is removed and re-attached. Some known firearm assemblies may not laterally constrain a removable mechanical sight device to a center position (e.g., a same lateral position), which may necessitate that the operator re-zero a firearm after re-attaching a mechanical sight device to correct windage error. Various embodiments may also vertically constrain the mechanical sight device, so that the operator need not re-zero the firearm after re-attaching a mechanical sight device to correct elevation error. The fore/after position of the mechanical sight device may also be exactly repeating through a removal/reattachment of the mechanical sight device.

Although various embodiments described herein provide a modular rear mechanical sight device mountable to an optic guard, some embodiments may provide a modular mechanical sight device mountable to some other part of an optic assembly, particularly one that does not locate the rear mechanical sight between the operator's eye and the optic sight (e.g., a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight may be positioned in front an emitter of the optic sight). For example, in various embodiments a modular mechanical sight device may be mountable to a front of at least one body of the optic sight (or a mechanical sight device may be integrally formed on a front of the at least one body). In other embodiments, at least one body of the optic sight may be affixed to an optic mounting device (e.g., an optic mounting plate), and the modular mechanical sight device may be mountable to a front section of the optic mounting device (in which the rear mechanical sight is located in front of the optic sight).

Press Fit Lug Interface or Mechanical-Deformable Interface

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded isometric view of an optic guard assembly 100, according to various embodiments. FIG. 2A illustrates a right side view of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2B illustrates a left side section view of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3B illustrates a section view of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1 taken along section line A-A of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C illustrates front view of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3D illustrates a section view of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1 taken along the section line G-G of FIG. 3C. FIG. 3E illustrates a detail B of the optic guard assembly view of FIG. 3C. FIG. 4A illustrates an isometric view of the mounting plate 10 of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIGS. 4B-D illustrate, respectively, a bottom view, a side view, and a front view of the mounting plate 10 of FIG. 4A. FIG. 5A illustrates an isometric view of the frame of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIGS. 5B and 5C illustrate, respectively, a front view and a rear view of the frame 11 of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5D illustrates a view C-C of the frame view shown in FIG. 5C.

Referring to FIG. 1, the optic guard assembly 100 includes a frame 11 coupled (e.g., non-releasably coupled, such as by press fitting) to a bracket (e.g., an optic mounting plate 10, or some other optic mounting device). The frame includes T-shaped protrusions 17 having heads 18 and necks 19.

Referring briefly to FIG. 4A, which shows an isometric bottom view of the mounting plate 10 of FIG. 1, a pocket 48 may receive the head 18 (FIG. 1), and an opening 49 may receive the neck 19 (FIG. 1). The opening 49 and/or the pocket 48 may be smaller than the neck 19 and/or the head 18, respectively, (e.g., a smaller width) to provide an interference fit, which may provide a durable fixable coupling of the frame 11 and the mounting plate 10. In some examples, a height of at least one of the necks may be less than a thickness extending between a bottom surface of the pocket 48 and a top surface of the mounting plate 10, to provide a durable fixable coupling of the frame 11 and the mounting plate 10.

In this embodiment, the frame 11 is edge-mounted to the mounting plate 10, e.g., at least part of the protrusion is received by an aperture (e.g., opening 49) defined by an edge of the mounting plate 10; however, this is not required. In other embodiments, a plate may define a key-through hole opening extending from top to bottom of the plate, and the protrusion can be inserted downward through a larger part of the key-through opening and then laterally press-fit into a smaller part of the keyhole opening.

In this embodiment, the openings 49 and the pockets 48 are at least partially formed in different surfaces of the mounting plate 10. For example, the openings 49 are located on a surface of a front edge of the mounting plate 10, while the pockets 48 are defined at least by a bottom surface of the mounting plate 10. In other examples, openings and pockets may be formed in a same surface of a mounting device (such as with a key-through hole embodiment).

Referring again to FIG. 1, in this embodiment the protrusions 17 are T-shaped with a head or other endmost section having a width that is greater than a width of a neck or other intermediate length. In other embodiments, protrusions may have any other shape, such as any shape having differently sized sections, differently shaped sections, and/or differently oriented sections. For example, in some embodiments a protrusion may have an endmost section having dimension(s) (e.g., width) that is/are different (e.g., larger) than an intermediary length between the endmost section and the rest of the frame. In other embodiments, the intermediary length and the endmost section of the protrusions may be differently oriented, for example the endmost section may have a same shape as the intermediary length but be rotated ninety degrees or some other non-zero amount relative to the intermediary length. Also, either or both of the endmost section and the length of the protrusion may have a non-constant width or other dimension, such as with a dovetail protrusion.

In this example, a male press fit lug interface (e.g., protrusions 17) is defined by the frame 11. However, in other examples it may be possible and practical to provide the male press fit lug interface on the plate, with corresponding openings and/or pockets defined by the frame. Also, in various embodiments, protrusions may be distributed amongst the plate and the frame with each having at least one protrusion to mate with an opening and/or pocket on the other of the plate and the frame.

In embodiments in which there is more than one protrusion (not required—it may be possible and practical to have a single protrusion), at least one of the protrusions may have a head or other endmost section having a different size, shape, or orientation than a head or other endmost section of at least one other protrusion of the protrusions. Referring to FIG. 3B, in the illustrated embodiment the protrusions 17 have different head sizes and/or head shapes.

In some embodiments, one of a frame and optic mounting plate/device may include one or more mechanically deformable posts arranged to slip fit into openings in the other of the frame or optic mounting plate/device. A length of the posts may be greater than a length of the slip fit openings so that a protruding part of the post may be mechanically deformed (e.g., at least partially flattened) to non-releasably and/or non-weldingly join the posts to the openings.

In other embodiments, a non-releasable and/or non-weldingly coupling may be provided using at least one fastener arranged to itself mechanically deform, or arranged to mechanically deform a component it is driven into. In an example in which the fasteners are mechanically deformable, rivets may be provided in through holes in the frame or optic mounting plate/device, and their ends may then be deformed (e.g., flattened) to non-releasably join the frame to the optic mounting plate/device. Any other mechanically deformable fastener, now known or later developed may be used instead of rivets in other examples. In examples in which a fastener produces mechanical deformation of another component, a fastener may be used to produce mechanical deform a part of the frame or the optic mounting plate/device to non-releasably join the frame to the optic mounting plate/device (e.g., a part of a protrusion may be mechanically deformed by a fastener driven into a hole in the protrusion, to provide a fixable coupling).

In various embodiments described above, an optic guard including a frame having an opening (to provide a line of sight through the optic sight and the frame) may utilize any press fit lug interface or mechanical-deformation interface described herein. In other embodiments, some other firearm-mountable device may use any press fit lug interface or mechanical-deformation interface described herein (an optic guard frame is not required). For example, a mechanical sight mount may be fixably coupled to a mounting plate or other mounting device using any press fit interface or mechanical-deformation interface described herein. In such an embodiment, the mechanical sight mount for providing a co-witnessable rear mechanical sight in front of an optic sight may utilize any press fit interface or mechanical-deformation interface described herein (e.g., the mechanical sight mount may be a lower section similar to a lower section of the frame 11 without the side frame members and/or the top frame member).

Modular Mechanical Sight Mount

FIG. 6A illustrates a rear view of the mechanical sight device 12 of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6B illustrates a view H-H of the view of the mechanical sight device 12 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C illustrates a bottom view of the mechanical sight device 12 of the optic guard assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6D illustrates a view J-J of the view of the mechanical sight device 12 of FIG. 6C.

The mechanical sight device 12 includes a mechanical sight 62 and an attachment section 61. In this embodiment, the attachment section 61 includes a dovetail 65 slidingly receivable by a dovetail groove 55 (FIG. 5D) in the frame 11 (FIG. 5D).

With reference to FIG. 1, the mechanical sight device 12 can be installed as follows. With the mechanical sight device 12 removed to expose the threaded holes 15, the fasteners 16 can be threaded all the way down into the threaded holes 15. In this example, the fasteners 16 are headless set screws (e.g., headless and fully threaded with no smooth shank). In other examples, any fastener now known or later developed, may be used.

With the fasteners 16 threaded down, the mechanical sight device 12 may be slidingly inserted into the dovetail groove (FIG. 5D), covering the fasteners 16 and the threaded holes 15. Referring now to FIG. 5A, an opposite side of the frame (e.g., the front of the frame) has tool through holes 56 that provide driving tool access (e.g., hex wrench access) to a socket 26 (FIG. 2B) on a top end of the fasteners 16.

These tool through holes 56 remain accessible when an optic sight is installed onto the mounting plate 10 and/or when the mounting plate 10 is installed on a firearm assembly (e.g., a slide, not shown). Since the mounting plate 10 need not be detached and the optic sight need not be detached, the operator may not need to re-zero the optic sight after attaching/removing the mechanical sight device 12. Also, the dovetail interface, or some other similar alternative slidingly engagable interface, may ensure that the mechanical sight device 12 is self-centering in the same position relative to the firearm, which allows the user to detach the mechanical sight device 12 as frequently as desired without having to re-zero the mechanical sight 62.

Using the driving tool (not shown), each of the fasteners 16 can be driven down until an end 27 (e.g., a nose end, such as a cup point end, in this embodiment) of the fastener 16 is located in a recess 67 (FIG. 6D, e.g., a mating recess) on the attachment section 61 of the mechanical sight device 12. FIG. 2B illustrates the end 27 positioned in the recess 67. To remove the mechanical sight device 12, the steps described above may be performed in opposite order. Accordingly, the mechanical sight device 12 can be attached and/or removed without removing an optic sight (not shown) from the mounting plate 10 and/or without removing the mounting plate 10 from a firearm assembly (e.g., a slide, not shown). FIG. 2B also illustrates that the front surface of the mechanical sight device 12 is recessed relative to the front surface of the frame 11 (as illustrated in FIG. 2B), which may protect the mechanical sight device 12 from direct impact that could cause misalignment of the mechanical sight device 12.

It should be understood that any mechanical sight device feature described herein can be applied to any optic guard whether or not the optic guard includes a mounting plate. For example, the '504 application describes an optic guard mountable in a dovetail slot defined by a slide (in front of an optic mounting platform defined by the slide). Other examples in which a modular mechanical sight device is used in an optic guard different than the optic guard of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, which will be described in more detail later.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiments use a first fastener interface (e.g., fastener holes 15) to fasten the mechanical sight device 12 to a part of an optic assembly (e.g., in this case, an optic guard), and a second locating interface (e.g., an additional interface) to locate the mechanical sight device 12 in a repeatable location on the part of the optic assembly (to avoid the need for re-zeroing the mechanical sight). In the illustrated embodiment the first fastener interface is threaded, but it may be possible and practical to use other non-threaded fasteners now known or later developed such as taper pins for the first fastener interface. In the illustrated embodiment, the second interface includes a slot (e.g., an undercut), but in other embodiments it may be possible and practical to use any locating interface now known or later developed. The second interface may slidingly engage the mechanical sight device 12 with the part of the optic assembly. In this example, the undercut slot is a dovetail, but in other examples any undercut slot may be used such as the undercut of a T-slot interface. In illustrated example, the part of the optic assembly is an optic guard. However, in other embodiments other firearm devices now known or later developed may be used as a receiving device. For example, some applications may include an optic sight including an optic mount for “piggyback” installing an additional optic sight on the optic sight. The optic sight with the optic mount may include any of the features described herein for providing mechanical sights that may be co-witnessed with the additional optic sight.

FIG. 7A illustrates an exploded isometric view of an optic guard assembly 700, according to various embodiments. FIG. 7B illustrates an isometric view of the optic guard assembly 700 of FIG. 7A. FIG. 8A illustrates a top view of the optic guard assembly 700 of FIG. 7A. FIG. 8B illustrates a section view of the optic guard assembly 700 of FIG. 7A taken along section line X-X of FIG. 8A. FIG. 9 illustrates a detail view of the optic guard assembly 700 of FIG. 7A. FIGS. 10A-D illustrate, respectively, a front view, a side view, a top view, and a bottom view of the mechanical sight device of the optic guard assembly 700 of FIG. 7A.

In this embodiment, the mechanical sight device 72 may have an attachment section that is similar in any respect to the attachment section 61 (FIG. 6A) of the mechanical sight device 12. Referring again to FIG. 7A, once slidingly engaged in a corresponding slot (e.g., a dovetail groove in this embodiment) of the optic guard 71, the mechanical sight device 72 may be fastened to the optic guard 71 using a single fastener 76 (e.g., a set screw). The fastener 76 has a socket 79, as illustrated in FIG. 7B. Also shown in FIG. 7B, in this embodiment, a driving tool (not shown) may be inserted through the same angled opening 86 through which the fastener 76 may be inserted to rotatably drive down the fastener 76 in the threaded angled hole 75 (FIG. 9) (which is coaxial with the opening 86 in this embodiment).

Referring now to FIG. 9, the fastener 76 includes a taper 99 to engage the attachment section similar to how the nose end 27 (FIG. 2B) engages the attachment section 61. The mechanical sight device 72 includes a recess 97 (e.g., a truncated-cylindrical recess) to receive the taper 99 (e.g., matingly engage). The recess 97 in the mechanical sight device 72 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 10A and 10B, and is differently shaped than the recesses 67 (FIG. 6D) of the mechanical sight device 12. In other embodiments, any fastener (threaded or otherwise, that is now known or later developed) with, or without, a tapered section may be used similar to the fastener 76. Also, the front surface of the mechanical sight device 72 is recessed relative to the front surface of the optic guard 71 (as illustrated in FIG. 9), which may protect the mechanical sight device 72 from direct impact that could cause misalignment of the mechanical sight device 72.

Referring again to FIG. 7A, the adapter plate 70 may be similar to any adapter plate described herein. Also, the frame of the optic guard 71 may include a press fit lug interface or mechanical-deformation interface similar to any press fit lug interface or mechanical-deformation interface described herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded isometric view of a firearm assembly 1100 including an optic guard 1111 with a modular mechanical sight device 1112, according to various embodiments. FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the optic guard 1111, the mechanical sight device 1112, and the fastener 1116 of the firearm assembly of FIG. 11.

In contrast to other optic guards described herein (which may be fixably coupled to a mounting device, such as a mounting plate), this optic guard 1111 is releasably coupled to a mounting device 1110. The optic guard 1111 has an upper section that may be similar in various respects to the upper section of the optic guard 71 of FIG. 7A. A lower section of the optic guard 1111 includes a dovetail to mate with a dovetail groove in the mounting device 1110. The mounting device 1110 may be fastened to a slide 1105 (the fasteners are not shown).

Unlike the upper section of the optic guard 71 (FIG. 7A), the upper section of the optic guard 1111 includes vertical fastener holes to receive fasteners 1196 (e.g., set screws). These fasteners 1196 may include noses (not shown) similar to any noses describe herein. When the dovetail is located in the dovetail groove in the mounting device 1110, the noses may engage a bottom of the dovetail groove to affix the optic guard 1111 to the mounting device 1110.

Other features of the optic guard 1111 may be similar to the optic guard 71 (FIG. 7A) in any respect. The mechanical sight device 1112 and the fastener 1116 may be similar in any respect to the mechanical sight device 72 (FIG. 7A) and its fastener 76. The optic sight 1106 may be similar to any optic sight described herein.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded isometric view of a firearm assembly 1300 including an optic guard with a modular mechanical sight device, according to various embodiments. In this example, the dovetail groove is provided in the slide (rather than in the mounting device). The fasteners 1196 (FIG. 11) and their corresponding fastener holes may be used in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, but are not illustrated in the drawing for brevity.

In the various embodiments illustrated above, the part of the optic assembly receiving the modular mechanical sight device is an optic guard. However, as described earlier, this is not required. In another example, a mechanical sight mount may be fixably coupled, releasably coupled, or integrally formed on, or in, a front section of an optic mount device/plate, and this mechanical sight device may include any interface described herein for mounting a modular mechanical sight device between a corresponding front mechanical sight and at least part of the optic sight. In another example, the part of the optic assembly may be the optic sight (e.g., part of the body of the optic sight, such as a front of the body, may provide a mount for the modular mechanical sight device). A receiving device for a modular mechanical sight device may be any firearm part in various embodiments.

FIGS. 14A-C illustrate, respectively, an exploded isometric view, a cross sectional view, and a rear view of an optic assembly for a firearm, according to various embodiments. FIGS. 15A-C illustrate, respectively, a front view, a top view, and a side view of the mechanical sight device of the optic assembly of FIGS. 14A-C. FIGS. 16A-C illustrate, respectively, an isometric view, a cross sectional view, and a rear view of another optic assembly for a firearm, according to various embodiments.

By way of background, optic sights may be closed emitter optic sights or open emitter optic sights. In closed emitter optic sights, an emitter (e.g., a beam emitter) may be located in an environmentally-isolated cavity within the closed emitter optic sight. A beam may be projected on a front light transmissive window/pane (e.g., a lens, a window, glass, or the like). In an open emitter optic sight, the beam travels through open air to a light transmissive window/pane on which the beam is projected.

Any mechanical sight device described herein may be used with a closed emitter optic sight or an open emitter optic sight. When used in a closed emitter optic sight, the mechanical sight device may be located (e.g., permanently located) within the environmentally-isolated cavity, e.g., between any two light transmissive panes/windows of the optic sight, such as between a rear window of the optic sight and a front light transmissive pane/window on which the beam is projected. In either type of emitter optic sight arrangement (e.g., open or closed), the mechanical sight device may be a modular mechanical sight device located in front of the light transmissive window/pane on which the beam is projected.

FIGS. 14A-C and 15A-C illustrate an embodiment in which a modular mechanical sight device is mountable on a body of an optic sight. The body of this optic sight may have a deep front cavity, and a module mechanical sight device may be mountable in this front cavity. In this embodiment, the modular mechanical sight device includes an attachment section (e.g., posts 1465) arranged to laterally self-center in holes 1416 defined by the body of the optic sight. Accordingly, an operator need not re-zero a firearm after removing and reattaching the modular mechanical sight device.

Integrally formed on a front end of the body are grip serrations that may be similar to, and may be used similarly as, any grip serrations of any optic guard described in the '504 application. The deep front cavity may protect the front light transmissive window/pane from smudging/scratching/dirtying if a user grips the body of the optic sight similar to how a user may grip any optic guard described herein. Also, the front surface of the mechanical sight device is recessed relative to the front surface of the body of the optic sight (as illustrated in FIG. 14B), which may protect the mechanical sight device from direct impact that could cause misalignment of the mechanical sight device.

FIGS. 16A-C illustrate another embodiment of a mechanical sight device and an optic sight. In this embodiment, the mechanical sight device is integrally formed with at least one body of the optic sight (e.g., integrally formed with a housing or some other body/bodies of the optic sight. Similar to the modular mechanical sight device embodiment, a front of the modular mechanical sight device may be recessed relative to the front surface of the at least one body of the optic sight.

In any embodiment of an optic sight and a mechanical sight device (modular or integrally formed), the mechanical sight device may be located in front of an emitter of the optic sight. For example, referring to FIG. 16B, located behind the window/pane and in front of an emitter (emitter not shown—may be between the weep holes and the elevation screw).

Modular or Non-Modular Optic Guard on Optic Sight

FIG. 17A illustrates an exploded isometric view of an optic assembly 1700 in which a modular optic guard 1711 is releasably coupled to a front of an optic sight 1706, according to various embodiments. FIGS. 17B and 17C illustrate, respectively, an isometric view and a front view of the optic assembly 1700 of FIG. 17A. FIG. 17D illustrates a section view of the optic assembly 1700 of FIG. 17A taken along section line Y-Y of FIG. 17C. FIGS. 17E and 17F illustrate, respectively, top views of the optic sight 1706 and the optic guard 1711 of the optic assembly 1700 of FIG. 17A.

A part of the optic sight 1706 (e.g., a part of a body of the optic sight 1706, such as a lower front of the body) may include an attachment interface for mounting an optic guard 1711 thereon, e.g., the optic guard is carried by the optic sight 1706. In this example, the attachment interface is arranged for releasably coupling (e.g., slidingly coupling) the optic guard 1711 to the optic sight 1706. In other examples, an attachment interface on an optic sight may non-releasably couple (e.g., fixably attach, e.g., press fit, interface fit, or the like) an optic guard to an optic sight.

In this example, the attachment interface includes a protrusion 1731 on the optic sight 1706 (e.g., a dovetail), which is received by a back end of the optic guard 1711. As shown in FIG. 17F, the back end of the optic guard 1771 includes an aperture 1732 (e.g., a slot) to slidingly receive the protrusion 1731 (FIG. 17F). In this example, the protrusion 1731 is a dovetail but in other examples a different protrusion may be used, such as a T-shaped protrusion, or any other protrusion. Also, in this example the protrusion is located on the optic sight 1706, but in other examples a protrusion may be located on an optic guard and a mating aperture may be located on the optic sight.

Referring again to FIG. 17A, in this example the attachment interface also includes a fastener opening 1717 to receive a length of a fastener 1716 (e.g., a threaded fastener). Referring to FIGS. 17A and 17D, the optic guard 1771 includes a fastener opening having a counter bore 1718 to receive a head of the fastener 1716. In this example, the fastener 1716 has a socketed drive mechanism, but in other examples any other drive mechanism now known or later developed may be used. The fastener 1716 may be removed to slidingly release the optic guard 1771 from the optic sight 1706.

Although the illustrated embodiment includes an attachment interface with a protrusion or aperture, and a fastener opening for a fastener, this may not be required in other embodiments. In other embodiments, any attachment interface now known or later developed may be used.

Referring to FIG. 17A, a gap is provided between part of a back of the optic guard 1771 and a front of the body of the optic sight 1706. This gap may minimize the amount of energy transferred to the optic sight 1706 when the optic guard 1771 receives an impact, which may reduce risk of damage to the optic sight (and may also maintain zero of the mechanical sight alignment).

In various embodiments, the optic guard 1771 may have a frame defining an opening, in which the frame includes a top frame member, side frame members, and a base (e.g., a bottom frame member) as illustrated. The gap may be located behind at least one of the frame members, in various embodiments. In this example, the gap is provided behind the side frame members and the top frame member, which may allow the optic guard 1771 to flex (reducing the chance of damage to the optic sight 1706).

Referring now to FIG. 17A, the optic sight 1706 may have a first section (e.g., a lower section) to couple to the optic guard 1771 (the lower section having a height 1750), and a second different section (e.g., an upper section) separated from the optic guard 1771 by a gap. In the illustrated embodiment, the height 1750 of the first section to couple to the optic guard 1771 is significantly less than the height 1751 of the second section, which may optimize flexing of the optic guard 1771 (e.g., spring action) in response to impact. In other examples, other height ratios may be used, such as a first section to couple to an optic guard and a second section separated from the optic guard by a gap, in which a dimension (such as a height) of the second section is greater than a corresponding dimension (such as a height) of the first section.

Any rear mechanical sight configuration described herein may be used in combination with an optic guard releasably or non-releasably mounted on (e.g., directly mounted on) an optic sight. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear mechanical sight is integrally formed on the optic guard, but in other examples the rear mechanical sight may be located on, or within, the optic sight. In other embodiments, any modular rear mechanical sight configuration may be used. A rear mechanical sight for an optic assembly is, of course, not required.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate, respectively, side and front views of on optic assembly 1800 in which a non-modular optic guard 1871 is integrally formed on a part (e.g., a front) of an optic sight 1806, according to various embodiments. FIG. 18C illustrates a section view of the optic sight 1806 of FIG. 18A taken along section line Z-Z of FIG. 18B.

Similar to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 17A-F, a gap is provided between a part of the optic guard 1871 and a part of the optic sight 1806. This gap may be formed by removing material to separate one section (e.g., an upper section) of the body 1806 from the optic guard 1871. A continuous section (e.g., a continuous remaining lower section) may have a dimension (e.g., height) that is less than a dimension of the other section (e.g., the upper section). The heights 1851 and 1850 may be similar to the heights 1751 and 1750, in some examples.

FIG. 19A illustrates a side view of a firearm assembly 1900 in which a modular cantilevered optic guard 1971 is used for an optic sight 1906 that substantially fills in a recess in which it is located, according to various embodiments. FIGS. 19B-D illustrate, respectively, an exploded isometric view, a side view, and a front view of the optic assembly of FIG. 19A. FIG. 19E illustrates a section view of the optic assembly of FIG. 19A taken along section line AA-AA of FIG. 19D.

In some firearm assemblies, an optic sight may be long enough that a bottom of the optic sight completely or substantially fills in a recess in which the optic sight is located. FIG. 13 illustrates a slide having a recess that is completely filled in, from front to back, by a bottom of an optic sight. If there is sufficient space in front of the recess, an optic guard may be attached directly to the slide as illustrated in FIG. 13.

In cases where there is not sufficient space in front of the recess, or for other reasons, it may be desirable to mount a modular optic guard to a part of the optic sight that protrudes above the recess (e.g., to a front of the body). Referring to FIG. 19A, the firearm assembly includes a modular cantilevered optic guard 1971 releasably attached to the optic sight 1906.

Referring to FIG. 19B, the optic sight 1906 (e.g., part of a body of the optic sight 1906) may include an attachment interface 1931 for mounting optic guard 1971 thereon. The attachment interface 1931 may be similar in any respect to any attachment interface described herein, such as the attachment interface illustrated in FIG. 17A. Of course, whereas the attachment interface illustrated in FIG. 17A extends to a bottom of the optic sight 1706, in this embodiment the attachment interface 1931 illustrated in FIG. 19B does not extend to the bottom of the optic sight 1906 (so that the bottom of the optic sight 1906 may fit into the recess illustrated in FIG. 19A). In another embodiment, the dovetail interface is reversed with the female dovetail interface on the front of the body allowing it to extend to the bottom of the recess. This is somewhat similar to the rear mechanical sight attachment interface shown in FIG. 9. Referring again to FIG. 19B, the attachment interface 1931 may include a fastener hole 1917 for a fastener 1916, which may be similar to any fastener hole and fastener described herein.

Any other optic guard features described herein or in the '504 application may be used in an optic assembly including a cantilevered modular optic guard. Also, of course, it may be possible and practical to provide a non-modular optic guard fixably attached or integrally formed on a front of an optic sight, in which the optic sight is similar to the optic assembly illustrated in FIGS. 19A-E.

Any rear mechanical sight configuration described herein may be used in combination with an optic guard integrally formed on an optic sight. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear mechanical sight is integrally formed on the optic guard, but in other examples the rear mechanical sight may be integrally formed on, or inside, the optic sight. In other embodiments, any modular rear mechanical sight configuration described herein may be used.

Any modular or non-modular optic guard described herein may have any grip features described herein or in the '504 application, and/or any grip features later developed. An optic guard mounted on an optic sight may be used for racking the firearm, similar to how an optic guard mounted to a slide may be used for racking the firearm.

In the various illustrated embodiments, an optic guard is connected to a linear section of a body of the optic sight (e.g., a length of a lower section of the body), which provides a gap between a back of the optic guard and an upper section of the body. In other examples, it may be possible and practical to attach an optic guard to some other linear section of the body of the optic sight.

Connecting via a linear section of a body of an optic sight is not required, however. In some other examples, it may be possible and practical to connect an optic guard to body of an optic sight at points (or other non-linear sections), and still provide a gap between a back of the optic guard (e.g., in linear sections between the connection points). For example, in one embodiment an optic guard may be connected to a body of an optic sight at three points, e.g., bottom left, bottom right, and a top point. In this example, a gap may be provided between a back of the optic guard and a lower section of the body between the points, and between a back of the optic guard and an upper section around the top point.

In the illustrated embodiments, the variously described gaps contain air. In other embodiments, any gap described herein may contain some other material that is different than adjacent materials (in one example, a compressible solid material is located in the gap).

Optic Sight Body with Flexing Member

U.S. Pat. No. 8,082,688 describes an optic housing that is ruggedized to prevent an optic lens from being fractured should the optic housing be dropped or suffer an impact event. This ruggedization is provided using posts that extend from a main body of the optic a greater distance than a cross member that joins the posts. In this way, force is transferred into the posts, rather than the cross member. While this arrangement may reduce the chance of a fracture of the optic lens, it may be still be possible for the optic lens to fracture should the optic housing be dropped or suffer an impact event.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate front and side views of an optic sight 2000 having a flexing member 2050 integrally formed on a at least one body of an optic sight, according to various embodiments. The optic sight 2000 includes an optical element (hereinafter ‘OE’) 2096 (e.g., a lens, a window, or some other OE) mounted in OE-framing including side OE-frame members 2001 and top OE-frame member 2002.

The optic sight 2000 also includes a flexing member 2050 and a gap 2051 between the flexing member 2050 and a part of the OE-framing. In this example, the gap 2051 is between the flexing member 2050 and a top OE-frame member 2002. Due to the gap 2051, the flexing member 2050 may flex in response to an impact without contacting the top OE-frame member 2002. This flexing may dampen the force of the impact (e.g., spring action) and prevent the OE 2096 from fracturing.

When a midsection of the flexing member 2050 is located higher then end sections of the flexing member 2050 (e.g., a convex shape as illustrated or some other shape that locates the midsection higher than the end sections), flexing may be optimized. However, the flexing member can have any shape in other examples (such as non-curved shape). Also, in this example, the gap has a uniform width, as illustrated; however, this is not required—in other examples the gap may have a varying width.

FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate front and side views of another optic sight 2100 having a flexing member 2150 integrally formed on a body of an optic sight 2100, according to various embodiments.

In this embodiment, a flexing member 2150 may operate similar as flexing member 2050 (FIG. 20A). The flexing member 2150 is illustrated as having a variable width, but this is not required—in other embodiments the flexing member 2150 may have a uniform width similar to flexing member 2050.

The OE 2155 is mounted in OE-framing including side OE-frame members, as illustrated. The optic sight 2100 defines a gap 2151 between a top edge of the OE 2155 and the flexing member 2150. In this example the gap 2151 has varying width, but in other examples the gap 2151 may have a uniform width. In this embodiment, OE 2155 has corners, and thus multiple sides, but in other examples an OE may be round. In a round embodiment, a part of the round OE may be exposed by framing of an optic sight, and the optic sight may have a gap between the exposed part and a flexing member, similar to the illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate front and side views of an optic sight 2206 in which a non-modular optic guard 2271 is integrally formed on a front of an optic sight 2206 having a flexing member 2250.

This embodiment includes a non-modular optic guard 2271 and flexing members 2250A and 2250B. The flexing member 2250A may be similar in any respect to flexing member 2050 (FIG. 20A). The non-modular optic guard 2271 may also include a flexing member 2250B. Referring to FIG. 22B, the optic sight 2206 defines a gap 2251 under both of the flexing members 2250A and 2250B, e.g., a through-gap extending from front to back of the optic sight 2206.

In this embodiment the optic guard 2271 is non-modular. However, in other embodiments a modular optic guard may have any flexing member features described herein, e.g., may be used in combination with one or more flexing members.

Rear Backup Sight On-OE of Optic Sight

As described previously herein, a rear mechanical sight (e.g., a rear iron sight) may be separate from an optic sight, or may be part of an optic sight. This, of course, adds an additional part to the firearm, along with the related costs and increases to weight, but it is still desirable so that the user may have a backup sight should the optic sight fail.

However, it may also be possible and practical to provide an on-OE rear backup sight, instead. An on-OE backup sight may be provided by adding material to the OE of the optic sight, or removing material from the OE in the case of engraving a rear backup sight on-OE.

For example, an image or other representation of a rear backup sight may be printed on, or by otherwise adding ink or other material on, a glass surface of an OE of the optic sight. This on-OE rear backup sight may form a sight pair with a mechanical front sight (e.g., a front mechanical sight) of the firearm. The on-OE rear backup sight may be located on a lens, on a window, or on another OE surface of the optic sight, including between OEs in optic sights with multiple OEs. In other examples, the rear backup sight may be provided on-OE by removing material from the OE, for example by engraving.

An on-OE rear backup sight may be formed using any techniques now known, or later developed, for forming a reticule on-OE. In other embodiments, a rear backup sight may be projected on the OE (e.g., from an emitter) using any techniques now known, or later developed, for projecting a reticule on the OE.

In the case of an on-OE provided by adding or removing material from an OE of a battery-powered optic sight, this rear backup sight may remain usable even if the battery is disconnected. Therefore, an operator may utilize a backup sight by looking through the optic sight even in the event of battery failure.

We claim all modifications and variations coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus 1) including an optic sight including an emitter or 2) usable with the optic sight, the apparatus comprising: a mechanical rear sight or a representation thereof viewable when looking through the optic sight when the optic sight is mounted to a firearm assembly;wherein: the mechanical rear sight or the representation thereof is integrally formed with the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of the emitter of the optic sight, orthe mechanical rear sight comprises a modular mechanical rear sight to fit into a slot or other opening of the firearm assembly or the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of a front-most light transmissive surface of the optic sight.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slot or other opening is defined by a body of the optic sight.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firearm assembly includes an optic guard frame to protect the optic sight, and wherein the slot or other opening is defined by the optic guard frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firearm assembly includes an optic plate or other optic mounting adapter on which the optic sight is mountable; and wherein the slot or other opening is defined by the optic plate or other optic mounting adapter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firearm assembly includes a slide and or an optic sight mount device, and wherein the slot or other opening is defined by the slide or optic sight mount device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slot or other opening comprises an undercut slot or undercut opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modular mechanical sight is slidingly insertable into the slot or other opening, wherein the optic sight or firearm assembly defines one or more fastener holes to receive one or more fasteners to releasably lock an attachment section of the modular mechanical sight into the slot or other opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more fasteners includes a first section including a driving end of the fastener and a second section including a length and an opposite end of the at least one fastener, and wherein a bottom of the slot defines a recess to receive at least part of a second section of the at least one fastener.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the modular mechanical sight is slidingly insertable along a vertical axis, and wherein a center axis of at least one of the one or more fastener holes is non-parallel with the vertical axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the representation of the rear mechanical sight is formed on a light transmissive surface of an optic element of the optic sight, and is usable together with a front mechanical sight of the firearm assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optic sight includes an optical element including a front, back, and at least one side, wherein the optic sight further includes framing for the optical element, wherein the optical element is mounted in the framing by one or more sides of the at least one side of the optical element; wherein the optic assembly includes a flexing member, and the optic sight further comprises a gap: between a back of the flexing member and the framing, orin a case that the framing exposes a section of the at least one side, between the flexing member and the exposed section of the at least one side of the optical element.

12. An apparatus 1) including an optic sight including an emitter or 2) usable with the optic sight, the apparatus comprising: a mechanical rear sight viewable when looking through the optic sight when the optic sight is mounted to a firearm assembly;wherein: the mechanical rear sight is integrally formed with the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of the emitter of the optic sight, orthe mechanical rear sight comprises a modular mechanical rear sight to fit into a slot or other opening of the firearm assembly or the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of a front-most light transmissive surface of the optic sight.

13. An optic assembly including an optic sight having a body configured to mount on an optic mounting adapter or an optic mounting platform of a firearm, wherein the optic assembly comprises: an optical element including a front, back, and at least one side, wherein the body includes framing for the optical element, wherein the optical element is mounted in the framing by one or more sides of the at least one side of the optical element; andwherein the optic assembly includes a flexing member, and the optic sight further comprises a gap: between a back of the flexing member and the framing, orin a case that the framing exposes a section of the at least one side, between the flexing member and the exposed section of the at least one side of the optical element.

14. The optic assembly of claim 13, wherein the flexing member is releasably attached to the body.

15. The optic assembly of claim 13, further comprising an attachment interface defined by the body, wherein the attachment interface is arranged to slidingly receive the flexing member.

16. The optic assembly of claim 15, wherein the attachment interface further defines a fastener opening to fasten the flexing member to the body.

17. The optic assembly of claim 13, wherein the flexing member includes a top frame member, and side frame members, wherein the gap extends between the top or the side frame members and a front of the framing of the optic element.

18. The optic assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a mechanical rear sight or a representation thereof viewable when looking through the optic sight when the optic sight is mounted to the firearm;wherein: the mechanical rear sight or the representation thereof is integrally formed with the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of the emitter of the optic sight, orthe mechanical rear sight comprises a modular mechanical rear sight to fit into a slot or other opening of the firearm assembly or the optic sight, and a rearmost part of the rear mechanical sight is positioned in front of a front-most light transmissive surface of the optic sight.

19. The optic assembly of claim 13, wherein the optic sight includes one or more light transmissive optical elements having one or more light transmissive surfaces, wherein the one or more light transmissive optical elements includes the optical element and the one or more light transmissive surfaces include the front-most light transmissive surface; and wherein the apparatus further comprises an image of a rear mechanical sight defined by a light transmissive surface of the one or more light transmissive surfaces;wherein the image is viewable when looking through the optic sight when the optic sight is mounted to the firearm, and usable with a front mechanical sight of the firearm to provide a backup sighting device utilizing an optical element of the one or more optical elements of the optic sight.