RED DOT COWITNESS SIGHT AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

A cowitness sight configured to mount on a red dot sight, including a base, where two rear tubes are mounted to the top of the base, the base is secured to the red dot sight, the base further includes at least one bore hole housing, and the base is secured to the red dot sight using at least one elongated fastener passing through the at least one bore hole housing. A method of installing a cowitness sight on a red dot sight, including placing the cowitness sight with two rear tubes on a red dot sight, and securing the cowitness sight to the red dot sight using at least one elongated fastener.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Firearms are designed to shoot targets. To accurately aim a firearm at a target, numerous options have been designed to help the user locate the target while firing the firearm. Examples include, but are not limited to: iron sites, peep sights, telescopic sights (scopes), reflex (reflector) sights, and laser sights. Sights have different purposes as some sights are designed to help the user see at night, while other sights are designed to locate a target thousands of feet away (e.g., a sharpshooter).

A red dot sight is a common non-magnifying reflex (reflector) sight. It provides the user an illuminated red dot projected on a screen to provide the user a point of aim when aiming the firearm. A typical red dot sight uses a red LED that stays in alignment with the firearm sight regardless of the eye position of the user. The alignment to the firearm sight allows the user to achieve fast acquisition of a target.

A red dot sight uses a small amount of power (electricity) during use and over time in a stored state. This allows a user to have countless hours of use of the red dot sight with their firearm. However, if the red dot power supply runs out, or if the red dot sight is damaged, the red dot sight is inoperable for aiming. When dealing with firearms, an unexpected failure of a red dot sight can cause the user to miss his target or unable to aim the firearm. While missing a target during hunting will lead to a lost opportunity to hit the target (e.g., a deer), a user cannot afford to have a sight failure when using his firearm in a life-or-death situation. Due to the requirement that a red dot sight requires power, this is a concern for firearm users.

As can be derived from the variety of devices and methods directed at providing optics for firearms, many means have been contemplated to accomplish the desired end, i.e., reliable optics to sight in a target. Heretofore, tradeoffs between lifespan and durability were required. Thus, there is a long-felt need for a backup sight system if a red dot optic sight fails. There is a further long-felt need for a backup sight system that can be used in conjunction with the red dot optic sight without impacting the use of the red dot sight optic.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to optic sights for firearms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cowitness sight configured to mount on a red dot sight, including a base, where two rear tubes are mounted to the top of the base, the base is secured to the red dot sight, the base includes at least one bore hole housing, and the base is secured to the red dot sight using at least one elongated fastener passing through the at least one bore hole housing and connected to a bore hole opening in the rear sight platform.

A cowitness sight configured to mount on a red dot sight, including a base, where the base has at least one arm, two rear tubes are secured to the top of the base with at last one rear tube housing; and the at least one arm contains a bore hole housing, wherein the bore hole housing extends downward from the base.

A method of installing a cowitness sight on a red dot sight, including placing the cowitness sight with two rear tubes on a red dot sight, and securing the cowitness sight to the rear right platform of red dot sight using at least one elongated fastener.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a cowitness sight on a red dot sight to aim a firearm when the red dot sight is turned off or inoperable and method of use thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a firearm barrel with front and rear sights, with front sight clamped to the barrel rib and the rear sight installed on the red dot sight.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the firearm barrel as depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the rear sight installed on the red dot sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the rear sight installed on the red dot sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the front sight depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the front sight depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the rear sight installed on the red dot sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the rear sight installed on the red dot sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the front sight depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the front sight depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a rear partially exploded perspective view of the rear sight installed on the red dot sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rear sight.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the rear sight.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the rear sight.

FIG. 15 is a left side view of the rear sight.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the rear sight.

FIG. 17 is rear view of the front sight.

FIG. 18 is cross sectional rear view of the rear sight on the red dot sight (red dot sight off).

FIG. 19 is across sectional rear view of the rear sight on the red dot sight (red dot sight off), aligned with front sight and ready to fire.

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional rear view of the rear sight on the red dot sight (red dot sight on), aligned with front sight and ready to fire, with red dot sight not aligned for aiming.

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional rear view of the rear sight on the red dot sight (red dot sight on), not aligned with front sight, with red dot sight aligned and ready to fire.

FIG. 22 is an exploded side perspective view of the rear sight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that the term “sight” is synonymous with terms such as “fiber sight sights”, “fixed sights”, “iron sight”, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

Adverting now to the figures, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the barrel assembly 100 with a rear gun sight 102 and front gun sight 104. When a red dot sight 302, depicted in FIG. 3, is used on a firearm, it is usually the only gun sight on firearm barrel 304. To ensure a secure fit to firearm barrel 304, red dot sight 302 is installed on firearm barrel rail 306. Red dot sight 302 includes illuminated red dot 2002 on red dot screen 402 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 20) that allows the user to aim the firearm accurately when firing. Red dot sight 302 is typically mounted on the firearm barrel 304 towards the rear (distal) position of the firearm. The firearm is often a long barrel firearm but can also be used for a short barrel firearm, shotgun, rifle, or handgun.

FIG. 3 shows a cowitness sight 308 mounted on red dot sight 302 of rear gun sight 102. Cowitness sight 308 is a backup solution for a user that uses a red dot sight on his weapon. Cowitness sight 308 includes base 318 and two arms 320. Each arm 320 extends out laterally from base 318 on the same plane as base 318. Two rear tubes 310 are mounted on top of base 318 using rear tube housings 316.

As shown in FIG. 3, two rear tube housings 316 are connected to base 318. In an exemplary embodiment, the rear tube housings 316 are formed with base 318 as a unitary component. Instead of two rear tube housings 316, a single rear tube housing 316 can be formed with base 318 to secure two or more rear tubes 310. In an alternative embodiment, the rear tube housings 316 are removably secured to base 318, which allows for easier replacement or customization of rear tubes 310. Rear tubes 310 are cylindrical in shape. In yet another embodiment, a single bore hole housing 1102 is used to secure cowitness sight 308 to red dot sight 302.

Each rear tube housing 316 includes a rear tube 310. Rear tubes 310 are preferably a fiberoptic material that are approximately 0.25 inches in length. In an exemplary embodiment, the length of the rear tubes 310 are longer or shorter than 0.25 inches. In another embodiment, the rear tubes 310 vary in color and brightness. In addition to fiberoptic materials, rear tubes 310 can be made out of tritium radioluminescence or other material to cause the rear tubes 310 to illuminate or glow in the dark.

The two rear tubes 310 are positioned in parallel to each other on the top of base 318. The rear tubes 310 are positioned on the same longitudinal axis as the firearm barrel 304 direction of the firearm. For aiming purposes, rear tubes 310 must be positioned longitudinally in the same direction as firearm barrel 304.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 11, and 22, base 318 of cowitness sight 308 is removably secured to red dot sight 302 using elongated fasteners 314. Elongated fasteners 314 secure the upper portion of red dot sight 302, with the cowitness sight 308, to rear sight platform 322. Elongated fasteners 314 are longer in length than the stock fasteners used to secure the upper portion of red dot sight 302 to rear sight platform 322 at platform openings 2202 due to the added thickness of cowitness sight 308.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11-16, each arm 320 includes a bore hole housing 1102 that extends downward away from the bottom surface of base 318. Each bore hole housing 1102 includes a hole that leaves an opening extending from the top surface of each arm 320 and through the bottom of each bore hole housing 1102.

As shown in FIG. 11, bore hole housing 1102 includes a bore housing taper 1106 that reduces the outer diameter of the bore hole housing 1102 near its bottom or end. The bore housing taper 1106 helps guide the bore hole housing 1102 into bore hole opening 1104 of the red dot sight 302. While the instant invention includes different diameters on the bore hole housings 1102, a single diameter bore hole housing 1102 may be used depending on the dimensioning characteristics of the red dot sight construction.

Cowitness sight 308 is designed to fit onto existing an existing red dot sight, such as red dot sight 308. First, the user secures rear sight platform 322 to firearm barrel rail 306 using four standard fasteners 702. Next, the user installs the upper portion of red dot sight 308 to the two platform openings 2202 of rear sight platform 322 using two elongated fasteners 314.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 22, to install the instant invention, the user removes the two stock fasteners (not pictured) that secure the upper portion of red dot sight 302 to rear sight platform 322 through exiting platform openings 2202. The user then inserts cowitness sight 308 onto the red dot sight 302 by guiding borehole housings 1102 into bore hole openings 1104.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 22, cowitness sight 308 is removably secured to red dot sight 302 by positioning bore hole housings 1102 into bore hole openings 1104. When cowitness sight 308 is fully seated onto red dot sight 302, base 318 rests on support base 312 to provide support for base 320. Elongated fasteners 314 are inserted through bore hole housings 1102, into bore hole openings 1104, and fastened to platform openings 2202 to secure cowitness sight 308 and upper portion of red dot sight 302 to rear sight platform 322.

Elongated fasteners 314 are tightened to secure cowitness sight 308 and red dot sight 302 to rear sight platform 322. In an exemplary embodiment, elongated fasteners 314 are bolts or screws. When elongated fasteners 314 are fully seated or tightened to platform openings 2202, bore hole housings 1102 are seated on bore hole openings 1104 of the red dot sight 302. Base 318 is supported by support base 312, creating a stable cowitness sight 308 directly connected to the upper portion of red dot sight 302, which is secured to rear sight platform 322, which is secured to firearm barrel rail 306.

To maintain accurate sighting by the user when viewing a target, cowitness sight 308 is mounted using the same fastener hole locations as the upper portion of red dot sight 302 to rear sight platform 322. The cowitness sight 308 is removable by removing the elongated fasteners 314 and removing cowitness sight 308. If the user does not want to include the cowitness sight 308 as a backup for a particular use, the user can remove cowitness sight 308 and refastening the upper portion of red dot sight 302 to platform openings 2202 of rear sight platform 322 using the previously removed stock fasteners.

The cowitness sight 308 is designed to fit onto existing and new red dot sights. There are several manufacturers of red dot sights. In exemplary embodiments, the cowitness sight 308 is configured to fit various manufacturers, which often vary by mounting hole positioning. The sizing and positioning of arms 320 are often the main variations to cowitness sight 308 to fit on varying manufacturer red dot sights. As shown in FIG. 12, the two arms 320 extend away from and distally from base 318. Arm curve 1202 defines the curvilinear path of a portion of arms 320 where arms 320 extend away from and distally from base 318, and protrude downward into bore hole housings 1102.

As shown in FIG. 4, red dot sight 302 includes red dot screen 402 and red dot mounting plate 404. To secure red dot sight 302 to firearm barrel rail 306, standard fasteners 702 are used to secure rear sight platform 322 to red dot mounting plate 404. Firearm barrel rail 306 is between rear sight platform 322 and red dot mounting plate 404.

The upper portion of red dot sight 302 is secured to rear sight platform 322 using stock fasteners (when cowitness sight 308 is not installed) or elongated fasteners 314 (when cowitness sight 308 is installed). When cowitness sight 308 is installed onto red dot sight 302, the two stock fasteners are removed from the red dot sight 302 and replaced with elongated fasteners 314. Elongated fasteners 314 are longer in length compared to stock fasteners to accommodate the additional spacing required from the thickness of cowitness sight 308.

The instant invention utilizes a mounting method to firearm barrel rail 306 that creates a compression fit between rear sight platform 322 and red dot mounting plate 404. While a firearm barrel rail 306 is used herein, the user can mount the red dot sight (and cowitness sight) directly to the firearm barrel 304 without the use of a firearm barrel rail 306. In an exemplary embodiment, a red dot sight is mounted to a firearm at the receiver portion of the firearm. The red dot sight can be directly screwed into the firearm receiver by drilling holes into the receiver to accept the fasteners. A red dot sight can also be used on a shotgun and handgun using similar mounting methods. The object of the instant invention is to include the addition of cowitness sight 308 to red dot sight 302, irrespective of the mounting method to the firearm as there are numerous options to mount a sight to a firearm.

In an exemplary embodiment, the rear tubes or sights of the red dot sight are pre-molded into the upper structure of the red dot sight so the user sees the two rear sights (shown herein as rear tubes 310) when looking through red dot screen 402. The instant invention is configured to fit a red dot sight on an existing design of red dot sights by removing existing fasteners to fit the cowitness sight onto the red dot sight. Instead of retrofitting an existing red dot sight, the function of the instant invention can be achieved by molding rear tubes (sights) into the red dot sight molding, ahead of the red dot screen, and aligned with a front tube/sight behind the red dot screen. This allows the instant invention to be incorporated into an original equipment manufacturer design of a red dot sight with cowitness sight.

With the rear gun sight 102 fully installed on firearm barrel rail 306, which includes red dot sight 302 and cowitness sight 308, the user uses front gun sight 104 to aim at his target if not using the red dot sight 302. FIGS. 5, 6, 9, 10, and 17 show the components of the front gun sight 302. Similar to the cowitness sight 308, front tube 502 is housed within front tube housing 504. Front tube housing 504 is secured, removably or as part of, front sight base 506. Front tube 502 is made of similar materials as rear tubes 310, as well as sized similarly.

Front tube 502 is positioned along the same direction as rear tubes 310, i.e. they are parallel. Front tube 502 is preferably a fiberoptic material that is approximately 0.25 inches in length. In an exemplary embodiment, the length of the front tube is longer or shorter than 0.25 inches. In another embodiment, the front tube varies in color and brightness. In addition to fiberoptic materials, front tube 502 can be made out of tritium radioluminescence or other material to cause the front tube 502 to illuminate or glow in the dark.

Front gun sight 104 is adjustable to sight in the firearm for aiming purposes. Front adjustable top 508 is adjustable relative to front sight platform 512. Front sight platform 512 has an angled front sight platform top 510, which is complementary to the bottom surface of front adjustable top 508. Adjustments to the positioning of front adjustable top relative to front sight platform is performed using front tube base screw 518 and front adjustment screw 902. Similar to the rear gun sight 102, front gun sight is secured to the firearm barrel 304 through firearm barrel rail 306 by using front sight fasteners 516 to tighten front sight platform 512 to front sight mounting plate 514. Firearm barrel rail 306 is between front sight platform 512 and front sight mounting plate 514.

When cowitness sight 308 is installed on red dot sight 302 of rear gun sight 104, and both rear gun sight 102 and front gun sight 104 are installed on the firearm barrel rail 306 of firearm barrel 304, the user has the option of using the red dot sight 302 or using the installed cowitness sight 308. FIG. 18 shows the vantage point of the user looking to aim the firearm when the red dot sight 302 is not on. The red dot sight 302 may be turned off by the user or inoperable due to battery life or damage. In an exemplary embodiment, the user can use cowitness sight 308 even if red dot sight 302 is on and viewable when aiming. FIG. 19 shows the user aiming the firearm by orienting the firearm so front tube 502 is position within rear tubes 310. In this example, the red dot sight is not on or operational.

In FIG. 20, the user sees front tube 502 in position within rear tubes 310. Red dot screen 402 is located distal relative to rear tubes 310 and proximal relative to front tube 502. When aiming, the user sees the rear tubes 310, looks through the red dot screen 402, and then finds front tube 502 in his field of vision. In FIG. 21, red dot 2002 is the aiming focal point. Front tube 502 is not aligned with rear tubes 310. For reference, FIGS. 18-21 show firearm barrel 304 and firearm rail 306 in cross-sectional views of the firearm.

A red dot optic, such as red dot sight 302, requires a light emitting diode (LED) or other electric power source to function. If the red dot optic loses its electrical power due to battery loss or damage, the red dot sight will not work to aid a user in sighting in his target. While red dot sights are used in the context of firearms, red dot sights can be used in non-firearm settings such as photography and situations that require fast acquisition of a target.

The sight of a red dot optic includes a screen, such as red dot screen 402, where red dot 2002 is projected onto. A red dot sight includes a tilted spherical mirror reflector with a red LED at its off-axis focus. The red dot is projected from an aperture where the LED is located. The LED is housed at the front of the red dot sight. The top of the LED housing is referred to as the rear sight platform 322.

The instant invention cowitness sight 308 is designed to be a backup for a failed red dot sight 302. For example, when the battery of the red dot sight 302 renders the red dot sight inoperable. If the battery of the red dot sight 302 fails or loses power, the user can still aim the firearm utilizing the cowitness sight 308. Moreover, some users place the iron sights farther down (proximally) the firearm barrel 304 when using a red dot sight 302. This places both front and rear sights behind the red dot screen 402. This configuration also changes the accuracy of the firearm by placing the front and rears sights closer together, as opposed to the standard placement shown in FIG. 1, i.e., the front sight near the end of the firearm barrel 304 and the rear sight near the beginning of the firearm barrel 304.

Cowitness sight 308 is designed to be used when the red dot sight 302 is secured to the firearm. When the user seeks to find a target using an operable red dot sight 302, the positioning of the rear tubes 310 is located at the bottom of the viewing area on the red dot screen 402 (see FIGS. 20 and 21). While the front of the rear tubes 310 (i.e., the circular profile of the fiberoptic tubes), and alignment with the front tube 502, is in view of the user while aiming the firearm, the inclusion of the instant invention cowitness sight 308 is complementary to the red dot sight 302 and does not obstruct the user's ability to sight in a target using the red dot sight 302.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cowitness sight configured to mount on a red dot sight, comprising: a base, wherein two rear tubes are positioned on the top of the base; andthe base is secured to the red dot sight.

2. The claim recited in claim 1, wherein: the base further comprises at least one bore hole housing; andthe base is secured to the red dot sight using at least one elongated fastener passing through the at least one bore hole housing.

3. The claim recited in claim 2, wherein the two rear tubes are mounted to the base with at least one rear tube housing.

4. The claim recited in claim 2, wherein the base is removably secured through a bore hole opening.

5. The claim recited in claim 2, wherein the two rear tubes are illuminated.

6. The claim recited in claim 2, wherein the two rear tubes are fiberoptic.

7. The claim recited in claim 3, wherein the two rear tubes are parallel.

8. The claim recited in claim 3, further comprising: securing the cowitness sight on the red dot sight to the proximal end of a firearm barrel; andsecuring a front gun sight to the distal end of a firearm barrel, wherein the front gun sight comprises a front tube.

9. A cowitness sight configured to mount on a red dot sight, comprising: a base, wherein the base has at least one arm;at least one rear tube is secured to the top of the base with at last one rear tube housing; andthe at least one arm contains a bore hole housing, wherein the bore hole housing extends downward from the base.

10. The claim recited in claim 9, further comprising fastening the cowitness sight to the red dot sight by engaging at least one elongated fastener through the at least one bore hole housing and into a bore hole opening.

11. The claim recited in claim 10, wherein: the cowitness sight is secured to a rear sight platform; andthe rear sight platform is secured to a firearm barrel.

12. The claim recited in claim 9, further comprising mounting the base of the cowitness sight on a support base on the red dot sight.

13. The claim recited in claim 9, wherein the two rear tubes are illuminated.

14. The claim recited in claim 9, wherein the two rear tubes are fiberoptic.

15. The claim recited in claim 9, further comprising: securing the cowitness sight on the red dot sight to the proximal end of a firearm barrel; andsecuring a front gun sight to the distal end of a firearm barrel, wherein the front gun sight comprises a front tube and a front tube housing.

16. A method of installing a cowitness sight on a red dot sight, comprising: placing the cowitness sight with two rear tubes on a red dot sight; andsecuring the cowitness sight to the red dot sight using at least one elongated fastener.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the rear gun sight is secured to the red dot sight using the at least one elongated fastener that travels through at least one bore hole housing of at least one arm of a base of the rear gun sight.

18. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising aiming a firearm using the cowitness sight.

19. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising: securing the cowitness sight with two rear tubes to a proximal end of a firearm barrel; andsecuring a front gun sight with a front tube to the firearm barrel.

20. The method recited in claim 19, further comprising aligning the front tube between the two rear tubes for aiming of the firearm.