Patent Application
20230221096
The present invention relates to optical devices, and more particularly to a scope mount alignment assembly to level a scope relative to a firearm.
Many modern sporting, military and hunting firearms are mounted with optics, such as a scope or other magnifying device, to improve viewing and alignment of the firearm with an intended target. Scopes usually include indicia, such as a reticle, crosshairs or other markings viewed by a user through the scope when acquiring a target, to assist in aligning the indicia with the target. The mounting of a scope on a firearm typically should be precise and accurate so that a bullet shot from the firearm follows an intended trajectory. Typically, scope rings are used to mount scopes precisely and in a secured, fixed position relative to the firearm.
When mounting a scope on a firearm, a common challenge is ensuring the reticle is squared to the barrel. For example, in many cases, an installer will try to ensure that the vertical component of a reticle or other sight indicia is perfectly aligned and vertically disposed over the center of the barrel or mount of the firearm. If the vertical component or reticle in general is not properly vertically aligned, then any subsequent vertical or horizontal adjustment of the reticle of the scope will not properly adjust that reticle in a precise vertical or horizontal direction. In contrast, such adjustment will move the reticle along some angle relative to the vertical or horizontal direction that corresponds to the amount by which the vertical component is misaligned relative to vertical, to the barrel or to the mount. As a result, this will affect the sighting in of the weapon to which the scope is mounted, and if not corrected, it will reduce the overall accuracy of shots taken with the firearm while aiming at a target with the misaligned scope.
A variety of techniques are used to level a scope relative to a firearm or mount, however, they require a special skill set and patience. For example, in one technique, a user will apply a bubble level to a mount or component of the firearm and ensure it lays in a horizontal plane. Then, the user will align a vertical component of a reticle with another item that is known to be perfectly vertical, such as a plumb line hung in front of the scope. After alignment, the scope is fastened down in a fixed position relative to the firearm. In another technique, a guide is placed on a mount under the scope, and an alignment wedge is inserted between the mount and a flat surface of a bell or turret on the scope. When the flat surface is aligned with the wedge, the scope is considered level. While such leveling techniques can assist in levelling a scope, they can be cumbersome and complicated to carry out, particularly by users unfamiliar with the process and objective.
Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of levelling scopes relative to weapons.
A scope mount is provided that can automatically align and/or level a scope relative to a base of the mount or a weapon to which the scope is mounted.
In one embodiment, the scope mount can include a base including a first registration element urged toward the scope. The scope mount can include a second registration element disposed on a lower portion of the scope, distal from a turret assembly of the scope. The first and second registration elements can be complimentary to one another so that their interface impairs rotation of the scope.
In another embodiment, the scope mount can include a base defining a hole and including a first scope ring, a spring in the hole, and a detent in the hole. The detent can be urged toward the scope.
In still another embodiment, the scope mount can include a registration element disposed on a lower portion of the scope, distal from a turret assembly. Optionally, one registration element can be disposed forward of the turret assembly, and another can be disposed rearward of the turret assembly.
In yet another embodiment, the detent and/or registration element can be operable in a transition mode in which the detent moves along a scope surface while the scope is rotated about an axis of rotation, and a levelling mode in which the detent is configured to register with the registration element to provide at least one of a visual feedback, an audible feedback and a tactile feedback to indicate the scope is level relative to the base.
In even another embodiment, the scope mount can include a detent with a spherical ball configured to roll along the scope surface in the transition mode. The detent can be configured to enter a recess of the registration feature in the levelling mode when level is achieved.
In yet another embodiment, the detent can engage a spring so that the spring is compressed a first amount within the hole in the transition mode. Alternatively, the detent can engage the spring so that the spring is compressed a second amount, lesser than the first amount, within the hole in the leveling mode.
In even another embodiment, the registration element can be an elongated recess that is parallel to an axis of rotation and a longitudinal axis of the scope. In some cases, the elongated recess can include a first recess wall and a second recess wall defining an angle therebetween. The angle can vary depending on the application, as well as the configuration and cross section of the recess.
In a further embodiment, the base can be compatible with a picatinny style rail, in accordance with MIL-STD-1913 (AR) 3 Feb. 1995, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In still a further embodiment, a method of using the scope mount can include providing a base including a first registration element, adjacent a scope ring; rotating a scope relative to the scope ring until a second registration element associated with the scope registers with the first registration element, optionally to provide at least one of a visual feedback, an audible feedback and a tactile feedback indicating that the scope is level relative to the base; and securing the scope with the scope ring in a fixed, levelled position relative to the base and mount.
In yet a further embodiment, a method of using the scope mount can include providing a base defining a hole, adjacent a scope ring, within which a moveable detent is mounted, the detent projecting from a surface of the base; rotating a scope relative to the scope ring until a registration element registers with the detent to provide at least one of a visual feedback, an audible feedback and a tactile feedback to indicate the scope is level relative to the base; and securing the scope with the scope ring in a fixed, levelled position relative to the base and mount after the at least one of a visual feedback, an audible feedback and a tactile feedback is provided.
The current embodiments of the scope mounting assembly provide automatic scope levelling that previously has been unachievable. For example, where the detent engages the registration element, the result can be visual feedback, audible feedback and/or tactile feedback to the user indicating that the scope is leveled upon such feedback. The user need not perform other levelling steps or movements to level the scope to vertical, horizontal or some other plane associated with the mount or weapon. This can take the guess work and subjectivity out of levelling the scope for the user. The user also can be assured that the scope is leveled relative to the mount, weapon and/or an associated barrel thereof. The scope mount can be provided as a kit, with both the scope including the registration element and the mount including the detent, or as individual components, with the scope and mount offered separately.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
A current embodiment of the scope mount alignment assembly is illustrated in
As shown in
The details of the scope associated with the assembly 10 are shown further in
The scope can further include first and second registrations elements 41 and 42 which are also centered on and aligned with the vertical reference plane VP, and thus correspondingly aligned perfectly with the vertical reticle indicia 26RV. Although shown as two registration elements, more or fewer registration elements can be included on the scope. The registration elements can be disposed on a lower portion 23L of the scope, and in particular, along the curved, rounded and/or cylindrical surfaces of the scope tube. These elements 41 and 42 can be distal from the turret assembly, and longitudinally offset from a lowermost surface 26L of the turret. Accordingly, the turret, the lowermost surface and its components optionally do not interfere with rotation of the scope about an axis of rotation or a longitudinal axis LA, which can be parallel, coincident or aligned with one another.
As further shown in
As mentioned above, the cylindrical tube 23 of the scope can include the vertical reference plane VP passing through a longitudinal axis LA of the scope, and aligned with the vertical reticle indicia 26RV. That vertical reference plane VP can intersect the cylindrical tube under the longitudinal axis LA at a 6 o'clock position 6O, when considering the longitudinal axis LA. The registration elements 41 and 42 can also be disposed at and perfectly centered on the 6 o'clock position 6O. Of course, in other constructions, the registration elements 41 and 42 can be disposed at other positions, such as a 5 o'clock position, a 4 o'clock position, a 7 o'clock position, an 8 o'clock position or other positions that will register with the corresponding registration elements 51, 52 of the scope rings 31 and 32, assuming each includes such registration elements as described below.
The scope alignment assembly 10 shown in
As shown in
The base 61 can be joined with a connector 71 which as shown can be in the form of a clamp having a movable clamp part 73 moved by a fastener 73F relative to another connector portion 76. This connector can include rails 75 configured to allow the base to be secured to a corresponding rail 77 associated with the weapon 100. This rail can be any type of connecting rail, for example a weaver type rail or a picatinny style rail, in accordance with MIL-STD-1913 (AR) 3 Feb. 1995. Whatever type of connector and rail are used can be constructed with good tolerances to ensure the scope ring and base mount firmly, consistently and repeatedly to the rail, and so that after the assembly 10 self aligns the reticle and scope to the scope rings and weapon, the alignment is maintained.
With further reference to
The registration element 51 can include a bias element, which can be in the form of a spring 54 mounted in a cup 55, which can be further mounted in the hole 61H. A detent 53 can be captured with a flange 56 in the cup 55. The detent 53 can be urged toward the scope by the spring 54 when the scope is mounted in the ring 31 and projecting from the upper surface 61U thereof. The spring 54 can be a coil spring as shown or any other type of biasing element, such as a compliant bumper, a leaf spring, or a magnet, all of which can be referred to as a spring herein. As shown, the detent 53 can include a spherical ball configured to roll along the scope surface in the transition mode. Of course, the detent can take on other contours or shapes and can slide or otherwise move along the scope surface 23 in the transition mode as described below. The detent 53 also can be configured to engage, contact and/or enter the registration elements 41 of the scope as described below in a levelling mode.
Optionally, the registration element 51, and optionally the cup 55 with the detent and spring therein, can be press fit, glued, cemented or threaded into the hole 61H in the base under exacting tolerances to ensure precise self-alignment of the scope relative to the rings, and thus the reticle relative to the vertical reference plane VP or some other plane depending on the application.
The scope alignment assembly can be configured to provide feedback to a user to indicate when the system achieves a levelling mode, that is, when the scope is level relative to the base, the ring, or the weapon, and optionally when the vertical reticle indicia 26RW is parallel to or lays within the vertical reference plan VP. The alignment feedback in the levelling mode can be provided in a number of formats. For example, the alignment can be verified by a user optionally via at least one of a visual feedback, an audible feedback and/or a tactile feedback to indicate the scope 20 is level relative to the bases, rings, and/or the weapon to which the scope is mounted, with the vertical reticle indicia parallel to and/or aligned with the vertical reference plane VP. The visual feedback can be viewed by a user to see that the registration elements are aligned and/or registered with one another. The audible feedback can be heard by the user when the elements are aligned, and can be in the form of a click, snap, tick or other audible output. The tactile feedback can be a vibration, oscillation or small impact or irregularity felt through the scope and/or the rings by a user.
Before the scope alignment assembly is in the levelling mode, it can be in a transition mode. In this transition mode, the registration elements, for example, the detent 51 and recess 41 have not yet engaged one another, and thus have not achieved a condition where the scope is level relative to the base 61, or where the vertical reticle indicia 26RW is not yet aligned with and/or parallel to the vertical reference plane VP. The transition mode and the levelling mode are better illustrated in
In the transition mode shown in
When the detent 53 enters the registration element 41 after moving through the transition mode to the levelling mode, as mentioned above, the interfacing of these elements can provide visual feedback, audible feedback and/or tactile feedback to indicate the scope is level relative to the base. In the levelling mode, the vertical reticle indicia 26RW self aligns with the vertical reference plane VP, so the two are parallel, as shown in
A method of using the scope alignment assembly 10 will now be generally described. On a high level, the method can include providing a base including a first registration element, adjacent a scope ring; rotating a scope relative to the scope ring until a second registration element associated with the scope registers with the first registration element, optionally to provide at least one of a visual feedback, an audible feedback and a tactile feedback indicating that the scope is level relative to the base; and securing the scope with the scope ring in a fixed, levelled position relative to the base and mount.
More particularly, with reference to
Optionally, the scope 20 can be removed from the rings 31, 32 at a later time for service, repair or updating of the scope. The above method can be repeated when reinstalling the scope to again easily and automatically self-align the scope relative to the base and weapon in general, so the vertical reticle indicia 26RW is parallel to the vertical reference plane VP. It will be further appreciated that the assembly 10 can come in a kit, with the scope and its registration elements, as well as the scope rings and their corresponding registration elements. In some cases, however, only the scope 20 with its registration elements might be offered alone, to fit existing scope rings. In other cases, the scope rings 31, 32, with respective registration elements, might be offered alone, to fit an existing scope with corresponding registration elements.
A first alternative embodiment of the scope alignment assembly is shown in
Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).
In addition, when a component, part or layer is referred to as being “joined with,” “on,” “engaged with,” “adhered to,” “secured to,” or “coupled to” another component, part or layer, it may be directly joined with, on, engaged with, adhered to, secured to, or coupled to the other component, part or layer, or any number of intervening components, parts or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly joined with,” “directly on,” “directly engaged with,” “directly adhered to,” “directly secured to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between components, layers and parts should be interpreted in a like manner, such as “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent” and similar words. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, any combination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; Y, Z, and/or any other possible combination together or alone of those elements, noting that the same is open ended and can include other elements.
