BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptor for securing an equipment to a projectile device. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an adaptor for securing a scope, beam emitter, and the like to a projectile device.
2. Background Art
Numerous locking mechanisms have been made available to adaptors for securing various equipment to projectile devices, e.g., rifles, shotguns, pistols, etc. Many adaptors have been designed to require several additional interfacing hardware on projectile devices and equipment to be mounted to the projectile device to allow the adaptors to function as connectors connecting the equipment to the projectile devices. In addition to adding weight to the projectile device, such configurations add additional costs, effort and time in attaching equipment to projectile devices. The interfaces or adaptors are also highly customized, often rendering one type of interface not useful for another make or model. This requires numerous models to be stocked by providers and users to enable mounting of various equipment on projectile devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,336,247 to Haering (hereinafter Haering) discloses a clamping system for mounting accessory devices onto a rail type mount such as a Picatinny rail that is characterized in that the clamping system comprises at least one body which is passed through by a cross bolt or a cross screw and wherein the cross bolt or cross screw have a stop bar which engages in a cross slot when mounted to the rail of the rail type mount. In contrast to the present adaptor, Haering's clamping system requires many parts and that its clamp be first meticulously aligned with a Picatinny rail before it can be secured to the rail using, among other parts, a locking lever, a safety catch, a cross bolt, a cross screw and an adjustment screw.
There arises a need for a light-weight universally suitable adaptor for securing an equipment to a projectile device that can be mounted or removed without requiring tools or at least an adaptor for securing an equipment to a projectile device that can be mounted or removed with minimal amount of tools, effort and time. The ease with which a tool can be used is especially critical with field applications, e.g., in combat situations where tools may not be readily accessible or the users may not have the time and safe locations to perform installation or removal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an adaptor adapted to be removably connected to a part selected from the group consisting of a scope, a Picatinny rail, a Weaver rail and a projectile device, the adaptor including a U-shaped housing including a mouth defined by two edges at a first end, a second end disposed at an opposing end from the first end, an inner engaging surface extending from each of the two edges towards the second end within a space defined by an opening of the U-shaped housing, each of the inner engaging surfaces is resilient with respect to the housing and includes at least one profile such that when coupled together, the inner engaging surfaces form a pair of engaging surfaces to secure the adaptor to the part.
In one embodiment, the adaptor further includes a beam emitter. In one embodiment, the beam emitter further includes a ball and socket mechanism configured to be removably coupled to the U-shaped housing, a beam emitting device attached to the ball and socket mechanism, wherein the direction of a beam from the beam emitting device is adjustable.
In one embodiment, the adaptor further includes a visual indicator.
In one embodiment, the pair of engaging surfaces includes curved surfaces. In one embodiment, the surfaces have a diameter of from about 25 mm to about 30 mm. In one embodiment, the pair of engaging surfaces includes brackets adapted to the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
In one embodiment, the mouth is configured to be tapered to facilitate engagement of the mouth and the part when the housing is pushed against the part.
The housing and the pair of engaging surfaces may be constructed from metal, plastic or a resilient material.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided an adaptor adapted for removably connected to a part selected from the group consisting of a scope, a Picatinny rail, a Weaver rail and a projectile device, the adaptor including a U-shaped plate including two prongs forming a mouth at a first end of the plate and a resilient bridge connecting the two prongs at a second end of the plate, the resilient bridge configured to allow positional adjustment of the two prongs, each prong including an inner engaging surface having at least one profile such that when coupled together, the inner engaging surfaces form a pair of engaging surfaces to secure the adaptor to the part.
An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for securing an equipment to a projectile device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for securing a second equipment to a first equipment of a projectile device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for securing an equipment to a projectile device where the clamp can be removed or deployed by hand and without a tool.
An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for securing an equipment to a projectile device where the clamp can be removably attached to or removed from a cylindrical-shaped equipment or Picatinny or Weaver rail by hand and without a tool. An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp that can be adapted to various equipment or rail.
Whereas there may be many embodiments of the present invention, each embodiment may meet one or more of the foregoing recited objects in any combination. It is not intended that each embodiment will necessarily meet each objective. Thus, having broadly outlined the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated, there are, of course, additional features of the present invention that will be described herein and will form a part of the subject matter of this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of adaptors and scopes depicting the use of two adaptors for securing one scope to another and one scope is being secured with an adaptor and the manner in which the two adaptors are connected together.
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of adaptors and scopes depicting the use of two adaptors for securing one scope to another and both scopes have been secured each by an adaptor.
FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of adaptors and scopes depicting the use of four adaptors for securing one scope to another at two longitudinal locations along each of the two scopes.
FIG. 3 is a front view of two adaptors depicting a configuration in which two adaptors are connected together and the mouth of each adaptor is further secured with a fastener.
FIG. 4 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor in which the mouth of the adaptor is further secured with a fastener.
FIG. 5 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor that has been secured to a scope in which the mouth of the adaptor is further secured with a fastener.
FIG. 6 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor configured to be secured to a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 7 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor having been secured to a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 8 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor configured to be securable to scopes of various outer diameters and a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 9 is a front view of adaptors depicting a configuration in which two adaptors are connected together and one adaptor is configured to be removably secured to a scope and the other to a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 10 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor.
FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of a beam emitter.
FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of a beam emitter.
FIG. 13 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor secured to a scope.
FIG. 14 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor secured to a scope of another diameter.
FIG. 15 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor secured to a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 16 is a front view of various adaptors used for securing a scope to a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 17 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 18 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to the forestock of a projectile device.
FIG. 19 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to the forestock of a projectile device.
FIG. 20 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to the barrel of a projectile device.
FIG. 21 is a front view of one embodiment of an adaptor at rest.
FIG. 22 is a front view of one embodiment of an adaptor with its prongs pulled apart.
FIG. 23 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of an indicating device attached to the adaptor.
PARTS LIST
2—adaptor
4—scope, telescope or cylindrically-shaped equipment
6—Picatinny or Weaver rail
8—housing
10—edge
12—inner engaging surface
14—threaded aperture
16—aperture
18—profile configured for cylinder
20—profile configured for cylinder
22—profile configured for Picatinny or Weaver rail
24—beam emitter
26—ball and socket mechanism
28—central axis
30—angle of adjustment
32—forestock
34—bridge
36—mouth
38—wedge
40—screw
42—nut
44—gap
46—barrel of projectile device
48—prong
50—platform
52—projection plane
54—projected indicator or visual indicator
56—slide
PARTICULAR ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, a present adaptor can be secured to or removed from a scope, a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical-shaped part or a Picatinny or Weaver rail without tools or with minimal amount of tools. When used with a projectile device and as a present adaptor is easy to be removed or mounted, this encourages a user to remove an equipment to which the adaptor is attached when the equipment is not in use, removing the potential harmful effects of recoil if shots are taken. Without unnecessary equipment, the weight of the projectile device is also reduced. In one embodiment, a present adaptor includes more than one pair of engaging surfaces where each pair is configured for removable attachment to a structure type and/or dimension, thereby reducing the need for a dedicated adaptor for each part to which the adaptor is attached. A present adaptor can be mounted quickly to a barrel as the adaptor is mounted with its exposed mouth pushed against the barrel. In contrast, a ring-like conventional adaptor is required to be dismantled as it is made up of two similar parts secured at two ends via fasteners before it can be mounted to a barrel as the barrel comes equipped with an iron sight which presents itself as a barrier to an attempt to simply slide the ring-like conventional adaptor along the barrel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The term “about” is used herein to mean approximately, roughly, around, or in the region of. When the term “about” is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. In general, the term “about” is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20 percent up or down (higher or lower).
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of adaptors and scopes depicting the use of two adaptors 2 for securing one scope to another and one scope is being secured with an adaptor 2 and the manner in which the two adaptors 2 are connected together. FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of adaptors and scopes depicting the use of two adaptors 2 for securing one scope 4 to another and both scopes 4 have been secured each by an adaptor 2. Each adaptor 2 includes a U-shaped housing 8 having a mouth 36 defined by two edges 10 at a first end of the housing 8, a second end disposed at an opposing end from the first end of the housing 8, an inner engaging surface 12 extending from each of the two edges 11 towards the second end within a space defined by an opening of the U-shaped housing 8. Each housing 8 provides a handhold for a user as the inner engaging surfaces 12 are disposed within the space within the housing 8 and come in direct contact with an equipment or part the adaptor 2 is attached to. In using each adaptor 2, an equipment or part to be secured to the adaptor is first aligned with the inner engaging surfaces 12 such that the exterior engaging surfaces of the equipment roughly align with the inner engaging surfaces 12. The equipment is then pushed against the adaptor 2 at the mouth 36 of adaptor 2. As each of the inner engaging surfaces 12 is resilient with respect to the housing 8, the pair of inner engaging surfaces “opens” up when they are forced against the equipment being inserted before being seated closing in to “hug” the equipment at their exterior surfaces as the shape of the exterior surfaces approximates that of the inner engaging surfaces 12. The mouth 36 is configured to be tapered to facilitate engagement of the mouth 36 and the equipment. The tapered mouth 36 aids in centering and guiding the equipment at its curved surfaces 12 where the equipment is eventually seated within the curved surfaces 12. The equipment can be a scope, beam emitter or any equipment having exterior surfaces constructed in a cylindrical shape. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two adaptors are simply connected together by using a fastener pair, e.g., screw and nut through a hole disposed on the second end of each adaptor 2. Other means of connecting the housing are possible. In one embodiment, connecting parts, e.g., snaps, slides, locks are integrally built with each housing at the second end. It can therefore be seen that if the bottom equipment 4 has already been secured to a projectile device, the top equipment 4 can be simply secured to the projectile device by being secured to the bottom equipment 4 using a pair of adaptors 2 connected at their respective second end.
In one embodiment, the inner engaging surfaces 12 include a diameter of from about 25 mm to about 30 mm. Most common scopes having an outer diameter of 26 mm and 25.4 mm can be used with inner engaging surfaces 12 of a diameter of closer to 25 mm while scopes having a larger outside diameter of 30 mm can be properly secured with inner engaging surfaces of 30 mm in diameter.
In one embodiment, the housing and the pair of engaging surfaces of an adaptor is constructed from metal. Blanks may be stamped from a metal sheet followed by various steps which bend and impact the blanks to form the final shape of the adaptors. Adaptors may also be extruded or molded from a plastic or another resilient material which when formed, allow relative yielding of the inner engaging surfaces with respect to the housing.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment shown, an additional securing mechanism is provided. In cases where a mounted adaptor is expected to be affected by violent recoils, it is imperative to further secure a seated equipment. In one embodiment, a seated equipment is further secured in an adaptor by tightening the mouth of the adaptor about the seated equipment. In one embodiment, a threaded aperture 14 is provided near each edge 11 of the housing 8 and an aperture 16 is provided on each portion of a mouth 36 at the first end to allow the penetration of a fastener. In use, upon seating an equipment in an adaptor, the mouth is secured and tightened by running a fastener, e.g., through a threaded aperture 14 near a first edge 11 of the housing 8, an aperture 16 of the portion of the mouth 36 associated with the first edge, an aperture 16 of the portion of the mouth 36 associated with a second edge 11 and finally a threaded aperture 14 near a second edge 11. In one embodiment, the threaded aperture 14 near the second edge 11 is further bolstered by incorporating a nut or a lengthened threaded portion. Other means for securing the mouth 36 are possible, e.g., via straps and snaps (e.g., a snap portion disposed on a strap secured near one edge of housing on the housing and a complementary snap portion disposed on the housing near the opposing edge of the housing), straps and hook and loop pieces, and the like.
FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of adaptors and scopes depicting the use of four adaptors 2 for securing one scope 4 to another at two longitudinal locations along each of the two scopes 4. In this configuration, in addition to the increased rigidity in the spatial relationship between the two scopes due to the additional support afforded by the second pair of adaptors, the parallel relationship between the scopes can be ascertained.
FIG. 3 is a front view of two adaptors depicting a configuration in which two adaptors are connected together and the mouth of each adaptor is further secured with a fastener. In this embodiment, the rigidity of the resulting unit of the combined adaptors is further increased by adding a wedge 38 to the second end of each housing. Also shown are screw 40 and nut 42 pairs used for tightening the mouths of the adaptors. FIG. 4 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor in which the mouth of the adaptor is further secured with a fastener. FIG. 5 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor that has been secured to a scope in which the mouth of the adaptor is further secured with a fastener. It shall be noted that the adjustments afforded the present adaptor comes in the form of gaps 44 between the inner engaging surfaces 12 and the housing 8. Although the size of the mouth of an adaptor may change after an equipment has been seated in an adaptor, the change is largely felt in the gaps 44. As such, the housing 8 is an excellent handhold for the adaptor.
FIG. 6 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor configured to be secured to a Picatinny or Weaver rail 6. FIG. 7 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor having been secured to a Picatinny or Weaver rail 6. In this embodiment, the pair of engaging surfaces 12 is configured in a profile 22 suitable for securing the adaptor 2 to the rail 6, e.g., a pair of brackets adapted to the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of Picatinny or Weaver. Again, it shall be understood that the mouth 36 aids in guiding and centering the space within the housing against the rail when the adaptor 2 is pushed against the rail 6.
FIG. 8 is a front view of an adaptor depicting an adaptor configured to be securable to scopes of various outer diameters and a Picatinny or Weaver rail. In this embodiment, the inner engaging surfaces of adaptor 2 includes three profiles 18, 20, 22. Surfaces of profile 18 are suitable for engagement with a first diameter. Surfaces of profile 20 are suitable for engagement with a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. Surfaces of profile 22 are suitable for engagement with a Picatinny or Weaver rail.
FIG. 9 is a front view of two adaptors depicting a configuration in which two adaptors are connected together and one adaptor is configured to be removably secured to a scope and the other to a Picatinny or Weaver rail. It can be seen that as the profiles suitable to be secured to both a rail and a cylinder are available, there is no need for a user to stock adaptors of a specific equipment. No customized adaptors are necessary. Further, no “converters,” or adaptors used for converting one securing interface to another is necessary.
FIG. 10 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor. FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of a beam emitter. FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of a beam emitter. Beam emitters are used in applications where beams, e.g., laser, are necessary to be projected to a target. An example application includes the zeroing of a projectile device. Prior beam emitters are either fixedly or removably secured to projectile devices and are not adjustable in their pointing direction. In the embodiment shown, the beam emitter further includes a ball and socket mechanism 26 configured to be removably coupled to the U-shaped housing 8, a beam emitting device 24 attached to the ball and socket mechanism 26, wherein the direction of a beam from the beam emitting device 24 is adjustable, e.g., as shown in the angle 30 made between the central axis 28 (or direction in which a beam is emitted) shown in FIG. 11 and the central axis 28 shown in FIG. 12. The ball and socket mechanism 26 is essentially a frame having a ball-shaped cavity adapted to hold a ball shaped sphere. The ball-shaped sphere includes a hole through which the cylindrically shaped beam emitting device 24 is inserted. Although the angle of adjustment is only limited by the outer dimensions of the beam emitting device 24 with respect to a frame of the ball and socket mechanism, the required adjustment is much more confined to only several degrees about the central axis 28 as shown in FIG. 11. In one embodiment, the beam emitting device is configured to emit a single beam. In another embodiment, the beam emitter is configured to emit more than one beam.
FIG. 13 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor secured to a scope. FIG. 14 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor secured to a scope of another diameter. Referring to FIGS. 8, 13 and 14, the beam emitter-equipped adaptor is secured to a scope having an outer diameter commensurate with profile 20 as shown in FIG. 13 and profile 18 as shown in FIG. 14. Threaded apertures and apertures as described in connection with FIG. 1 and as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 are advantageously positioned on the housing 8 such that fasteners may be used without interfering with the seated scopes 4.
FIG. 15 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of a beam emitter attached to the adaptor secured to a Picatinny or Weaver rail 6. It shall be noted that if desired, the adaptor 2 can be further secured to the rail by tightening the mouth of the adaptor and disposed the fastener within a groove of the rail 6.
FIG. 16 is a front view of various adaptors used for securing a scope to a Picatinny or Weaver rail. First, a scope 4 is secured to a Picatinny or Weaver rail 6 via a pair of adaptors joined at their respective second ends. A beam emitter-equipped adaptor as shown in FIG. 10 is then secured to the scope 4. As shown herein, various equipment may be mounted to rail 6 using a plurality of identical adaptors.
FIG. 17 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to a Picatinny or Weaver rail 6. It shall be noted that the rail 6 is mounted to the bottom of a forestock 32 of a projectile device and the beam emitter-equipped adaptor is secured to the rail 6.
FIG. 18 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to the forestock 32 of a projectile device. It shall be noted that the beam emitter-equipped adaptor is secured directly to a forestock 32 of a projectile device.
FIG. 19 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to the forestock of a projectile device. It shall be noted that the beam emitter-equipped adaptor is secured directly to yet another forestock 32 of yet another projectile device. Notice the different cross-sectional shape of this forestock from the forestock shown in FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 is a front view of an adaptor used for securing a beam emitter to the barrel 46 of a projectile device. It shall be noted that the beam emitter-equipped adaptor is secured directly to a barrel 46 of a projectile device.
FIG. 21 is a front view of one embodiment of an adaptor at rest. FIG. 22 is a front view of one embodiment of an adaptor with its prongs 48 pulled apart to demonstrate the manner in which the adaptor adjusts if pushed against an equipment at its mouth. The adaptor includes a U-shaped plate including two prongs 48 forming a mouth 36 at a first end of the plate and a resilient bridge 34 connecting the two prongs 48 at a second end of the plate. The resilient bridge 34 is configured to allow positional adjustment of the two prongs 48. Each prong 48 includes an inner engaging surface having at least one profile such that when coupled together, the inner engaging surfaces form a pair of engaging surfaces to secure the adaptor to an equipment. Again an aperture 16 may be disposed on the second end to enable the use of a fastener through such aperture.
FIG. 23 is a front view of an adaptor and a cross-sectional view of an indicating device attached to the adaptor. Coupled with a projectile device, an indicating device can be used for superposing a distant target, marking or object. In the embodiment shown, the indicating device essentially includes a projection plane 52 upon which a visual indicator 54 is projected. The position of the visual indicator 54 relative to a projectile device to which the indicating device is mounted or relative to another equipment, e.g., a scope, can be adjusted via adjustment in the position of the visual indicator 54 on the projection plane 52 and a height-adjusting mechanism, e.g., a slide 56.
The detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present disclosed embodiments may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice aspects of the present invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. The various embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments. The detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, with the full scope of equivalents to which they may be entitled. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive, and that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Combinations of the above embodiments and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon studying the above description. The scope of the present disclosed embodiments includes any other applications in which embodiments of the above structures and fabrication methods are used. The scope of the embodiments should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Patent Application
20180164077
