US20030131517A1 - Magnetic lightweight collimator - Google Patents

Magnetic lightweight collimator Download PDF

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Publication number
US20030131517A1
US20030131517A1 US10/327,659 US32765902A US2003131517A1 US 20030131517 A1 US20030131517 A1 US 20030131517A1 US 32765902 A US32765902 A US 32765902A US 2003131517 A1 US2003131517 A1 US 2003131517A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sight
optical collimator
gun
collimator device
barrel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/327,659
Inventor
Clive Paige
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
OPTICS RESEARCH Ltd
Original Assignee
OPTICS RESEARCH Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by OPTICS RESEARCH Ltd filed Critical OPTICS RESEARCH Ltd
Priority to US10/327,659 priority Critical patent/US20030131517A1/en
Assigned to OPTICS RESEARCH LTD. reassignment OPTICS RESEARCH LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: PAIGE, CLIVE RAWLINSON
Publication of US20030131517A1 publication Critical patent/US20030131517A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41G—WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
    • F41G3/00—Aiming or laying means
    • F41G3/32—Devices for testing or checking
    • F41G3/323—Devices for testing or checking for checking the angle between the muzzle axis of the gun and a reference axis, e.g. the axis of the associated sighting device

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to bore sight collimators which are used to align a gun bore with a telescopic sight mounted to the gun.
  • Such existing arrangements are designed to be used with telescopic magnifying sights, so that the alignment pattern is not easily seen with the unaided eye since the pattern or grid is very small, and such devices are generally heavy since the optic is large and made of glass and the body thereof is metal.
  • Such existing collimators are provided with a range of different size pins to fit a range of bore sizes.
  • a magnetic version is also known but the magnet works only in one position and generally will not work on stainless barrels, since the magnet utilized is weak. Further, such previous arrangements are primarily intended to be utilized with rifles and are not suitable for use with hand guns where the iron sights are much lower and both pin and magnetic versions will not work on large bore guns such as shotguns or baton round guns.
  • the present invention is an optical collimator device for use in aligning a gun bore with a gun sight is formed of a graticule and lens which are located within the optical collimator device housing.
  • the optical collimator device is mounted on the end of the gun barrel with a magnetic bar and rail structure formed in the optical collimator device housing and this magnetic bar and rail structure allows the optical collimator device to adjust vertically for use with guns with low sights and with raised sights.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention mounted on a hand gun
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention mounted on a hand gun with an attached raised sight
  • FIG. 3A is a side view of the present invention mounted on a rifle with a telescopic sight
  • FIG. 3B is an enlarged detailed side view of the present invention depicted in FIG. 3A;
  • FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a front view of the magnetic structure of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view of the present invention when mounted to the gun of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention when mounted to the gun of FIG. 2.
  • an optical collimator device with a graticule defining bore center line placed optically at infinity, characterized in that a high magnification optic is positioned in front of the graticule to enable the graticule to be read with the naked eye, and in that a linear magnetic track is provided which enables mounting of the device on the muzzle of a gun, permitting vertical adjustment of the collimator.
  • an optical collimator device 10 is mounted to a gun 50 .
  • the gun 50 has a rear low iron sight 55 , a front low iron sight 57 , and a barrel 60 .
  • a muzzle 62 is located at the end of barrel 60 .
  • the optical collimator device 10 as will be described in more detail below, is mounted onto the end or muzzle 62 of the barrel 60 .
  • the optical collimator device 10 can be used on a hand gun with low iron sights 55 , 57 .
  • the optical collimator device 10 can also be used on a hand gun with a raised sight 70 .
  • the optical collimator device 10 can be used on any gun such as a rifle (not shown).
  • the raised sight 70 seen in FIG. 2, may be any sight which is raised from the barrel of the gun and may include telescopic magnifying sights and electronic red dot sights.
  • FIG. 3A a cross sectional side view of the optical collimator device 10 is displayed and mounted to a rifle 20 with a telescopic sight 22 .
  • FIG. 3B is an enlarged detailed side view of the optical collimator device 10 mounted on the end or muzzle 62 of the barrel 60 of the rifle 20 of FIG. 3A.
  • the barrel 60 may be a short barrel, such as those used in a hand gun, or a long barrel, such as those used in a rifle, and has a bore 62 .
  • the optical collimator device 10 includes a housing 11 , an optical lens 15 , a graticule 17 , and a magnetic mounting structure 30 for mounting the housing to a gun barrel.
  • the housing 11 is constructed from plastics to reduce the weight of the optical collimator device 10 .
  • the optical lens 15 is preferably a high magnification optic.
  • the optical lens 15 could be a plastic lens and the lens is preferably an aspherical lens to reduce the focal length and overall size. The side portions of the lens may further be removed to reduce the weight and overall size of the optical collimating device 10 .
  • the graticule 17 is a target or aiming grid which has a graticule defining bore center line 13 placed optically at infinity.
  • the magnetic mounting structure 30 has a mating surface 32 which mates with the muzzle 62 when mounted in place.
  • the magnetic mounting structure 30 preferably comprises a bar magnet 34 with steel side plates 36 , 37 mounted in the plastic body 11 of the optical collimator device 10 .
  • the bar magnet 34 is of sufficient strength to allow for use on barrels with stainless steel content.
  • the bar magnet 34 and rails 36 , 37 enable the optical collimator device 10 to mount the end or muzzle 62 of a barrel 60 , as seen in FIG. 3, yet still have the ability to vertically adjust the collimating device 10 to accommodate different heights of sights on a gun.
  • the front view of the optical collimator device 10 also shows a front view of graticule 17 .
  • the graticule defining bore center line 13 is defined by the cross point of the vertical and horizontal line of the graticule 17 .
  • FIG. 6 shows the view looking down the sight line of a gun with low iron type sights as depicted in FIG. 1.
  • the optical collimator device 10 is mounted on the muzzle of a barrel, not shown, and adjusted vertically. By viewing the graticule 17 though the low iron sights 55 , 57 the alignment of the low iron sights 55 , 57 can be determined and then adjusted so that the low iron sights 55 , 57 align with the graticule 17 of the optical collimator device 10 .
  • FIG. 7 shows the view looking down the sight line of a gun with a raised electronic red dot sight 70 , as seen in FIG. 2.
  • the optical collimator device 10 is mounted on the muzzle of a barrel, not shown, and adjusted vertically. By viewing the graticule 17 though the powered red dot sight 70 the alignment of the powered red dot sight 70 can be determined. The powered red dot sight 70 can be adjusted so that the red dot 75 aligns to the proper location 72 on the graticule 17 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Telescopes (AREA)

Abstract

An optical collimator device for use in aligning a gun bore with a gun sight is formed of a graticule and lens which are located within the optical collimator device housing. The optical collimator device is mounted on the end of the gun barrel with a magnetic bar and rail structure formed in the optical collimator device housing and this magnetic bar and rail structure allows the optical collimator device to adjust vertically for use with guns with low sights and with raised sights and large bore diameters such as shotguns and baton guns

Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to bore sight collimators which are used to align a gun bore with a telescopic sight mounted to the gun. [0001]
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • At present, when aligning a rifle bore with a telescopic sight, the procedure utilized is to take a suitably sized pin, which fits the bore of the rifle, without play, and then to clamp the optical collimator to the pin. The collimator is then aligned with the bore and, when the collimator optic is viewed through the telescopic sight on the rifle, an aiming grid is seen, which is then utilized to adjust the telescopic cross-wires. These systems are difficult to use as the pin in the bore is usually spring loaded against the side of the rifle bore, and the weight of the collimator will cause the pin to be misaligned. [0002]
  • Such existing arrangements are designed to be used with telescopic magnifying sights, so that the alignment pattern is not easily seen with the unaided eye since the pattern or grid is very small, and such devices are generally heavy since the optic is large and made of glass and the body thereof is metal. Such existing collimators are provided with a range of different size pins to fit a range of bore sizes. A magnetic version is also known but the magnet works only in one position and generally will not work on stainless barrels, since the magnet utilized is weak. Further, such previous arrangements are primarily intended to be utilized with rifles and are not suitable for use with hand guns where the iron sights are much lower and both pin and magnetic versions will not work on large bore guns such as shotguns or baton round guns. [0003]
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • It is the object of the present invention to provide a lightweight magnetic collimator which can be utilized on a variety of guns or rifles and can be utilized to align both low iron sights and telescopic sights, particularly, for example, on hand guns. [0004]
  • The present invention is an optical collimator device for use in aligning a gun bore with a gun sight is formed of a graticule and lens which are located within the optical collimator device housing. The optical collimator device is mounted on the end of the gun barrel with a magnetic bar and rail structure formed in the optical collimator device housing and this magnetic bar and rail structure allows the optical collimator device to adjust vertically for use with guns with low sights and with raised sights.[0005]
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention mounted on a hand gun; [0006]
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention mounted on a hand gun with an attached raised sight; [0007]
  • FIG. 3A is a side view of the present invention mounted on a rifle with a telescopic sight; [0008]
  • FIG. 3B is an enlarged detailed side view of the present invention depicted in FIG. 3A; [0009]
  • FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention; [0010]
  • FIG. 5 is a front view of the magnetic structure of the present invention; [0011]
  • FIG. 6 is a front view of the present invention when mounted to the gun of FIG. 1; and [0012]
  • FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention when mounted to the gun of FIG. 2.[0013]
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • According to the present invention there is provided an optical collimator device with a graticule defining bore center line placed optically at infinity, characterized in that a high magnification optic is positioned in front of the graticule to enable the graticule to be read with the naked eye, and in that a linear magnetic track is provided which enables mounting of the device on the muzzle of a gun, permitting vertical adjustment of the collimator. [0014]
  • As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an [0015] optical collimator device 10 is mounted to a gun 50. The gun 50 has a rear low iron sight 55, a front low iron sight 57, and a barrel 60. A muzzle 62 is located at the end of barrel 60. The optical collimator device 10, as will be described in more detail below, is mounted onto the end or muzzle 62 of the barrel 60.
  • As seen in FIG. 1 the [0016] optical collimator device 10 can be used on a hand gun with low iron sights 55, 57. The optical collimator device 10, as seen in FIG. 2, can also be used on a hand gun with a raised sight 70. In addition, the optical collimator device 10 can be used on any gun such as a rifle (not shown). The raised sight 70, seen in FIG. 2, may be any sight which is raised from the barrel of the gun and may include telescopic magnifying sights and electronic red dot sights.
  • As seen in FIG. 3A a cross sectional side view of the [0017] optical collimator device 10 is displayed and mounted to a rifle 20 with a telescopic sight 22. FIG. 3B is an enlarged detailed side view of the optical collimator device 10 mounted on the end or muzzle 62 of the barrel 60 of the rifle 20 of FIG. 3A. The barrel 60 may be a short barrel, such as those used in a hand gun, or a long barrel, such as those used in a rifle, and has a bore 62. The optical collimator device 10 includes a housing 11, an optical lens 15, a graticule 17, and a magnetic mounting structure 30 for mounting the housing to a gun barrel.
  • In a preferred embodiment the [0018] housing 11 is constructed from plastics to reduce the weight of the optical collimator device 10. In addition, the optical lens 15 is preferably a high magnification optic. The optical lens 15 could be a plastic lens and the lens is preferably an aspherical lens to reduce the focal length and overall size. The side portions of the lens may further be removed to reduce the weight and overall size of the optical collimating device 10. The graticule 17 is a target or aiming grid which has a graticule defining bore center line 13 placed optically at infinity. The magnetic mounting structure 30 has a mating surface 32 which mates with the muzzle 62 when mounted in place.
  • As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the [0019] magnetic mounting structure 30 preferably comprises a bar magnet 34 with steel side plates 36, 37 mounted in the plastic body 11 of the optical collimator device 10. The bar magnet 34 is of sufficient strength to allow for use on barrels with stainless steel content. The bar magnet 34 and rails 36, 37 enable the optical collimator device 10 to mount the end or muzzle 62 of a barrel 60, as seen in FIG. 3, yet still have the ability to vertically adjust the collimating device 10 to accommodate different heights of sights on a gun.
  • In addition, as seen in FIG. 4, the front view of the [0020] optical collimator device 10 also shows a front view of graticule 17. The graticule defining bore center line 13 is defined by the cross point of the vertical and horizontal line of the graticule 17.
  • FIG. 6 shows the view looking down the sight line of a gun with low iron type sights as depicted in FIG. 1. The [0021] optical collimator device 10 is mounted on the muzzle of a barrel, not shown, and adjusted vertically. By viewing the graticule 17 though the low iron sights 55, 57 the alignment of the low iron sights 55, 57 can be determined and then adjusted so that the low iron sights 55, 57 align with the graticule 17 of the optical collimator device 10.
  • FIG. 7 shows the view looking down the sight line of a gun with a raised electronic [0022] red dot sight 70, as seen in FIG. 2. The optical collimator device 10 is mounted on the muzzle of a barrel, not shown, and adjusted vertically. By viewing the graticule 17 though the powered red dot sight 70 the alignment of the powered red dot sight 70 can be determined. The powered red dot sight 70 can be adjusted so that the red dot 75 aligns to the proper location 72 on the graticule 17.
  • While the preferred embodiment and various alternative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. [0023]

Claims (15)

We claim:
1. An optical collimator device for aligning a bore and a sight of a gun comprising:
a reticule mounted in a housing for use in aligning a sight and a bore of a gun;
a lens mounted in relation to said housing for viewing said reticule, said reticule and said lens forming an optical collimator; and
a magnetic bar for mounting said optical collimator to a barrel of said gun, wherein said magnetic bar enables said optical collimator to adjust vertically relative to said barrel.
2. The optical collimator device of claim 1, wherein said housing is formed of a plastic material.
3. The optical collimator device of claim 1, wherein said lens is a magnifying optic.
4. The optical collimator device of claim 1, wherein said lens is plastic.
5. The optical collimator device of claim 1, wherein said lens is an aspherical lens.
6. The optical collimator device of claim 1, further including a plurality of rails adjacent to said magnetic bar for aiding the alignment of said device.
7. The optical collimator device of claim 6, wherein said rails are steel rails.
8. A method of aligning a barrel and a sight of a gun comprising the steps of:
magnetically mounting an optical collimator device on a muzzle of said barrel, wherein said optical collimator device is comprised of a reticule for use in aligning said sight and said barrel, a lens for viewing said reticule, and a magnetic bar for mounting said optical collimator device to said gun,
adjusting said optical collimator device vertically relative to said barrel until said optical collimator device is the correct vertical height for said sight; and
adjusting said sight so that it points to a correct point on said reticule thereby aligning said sight with said barrel of said gun.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said sight is a low iron sight.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein said sight is a raised gun sight.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein said raised gun sight is a telescopic magnifying sight.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein said raised gun sight is an electronic red dot sight.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein said gun is a rifle.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein said gun is a hand gun.
15. The method of claim 8, wherein said barrel of said gun is stainless steel.
US10/327,659 1999-08-31 2002-12-24 Magnetic lightweight collimator Abandoned US20030131517A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/327,659 US20030131517A1 (en) 1999-08-31 2002-12-24 Magnetic lightweight collimator

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9920455.4A GB9920455D0 (en) 1999-08-31 1999-08-31 Magnetic lightweight collimator
GB9920455.4 1999-08-31
US09/641,753 US6513275B1 (en) 1999-08-31 2000-08-21 Magnetic lightweight collimator
US10/327,659 US20030131517A1 (en) 1999-08-31 2002-12-24 Magnetic lightweight collimator

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US10/327,659 Abandoned US20030131517A1 (en) 1999-08-31 2002-12-24 Magnetic lightweight collimator

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AU (1) AU7019300A (en)
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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120117849A1 (en) * 2010-11-17 2012-05-17 Thomas Mark A Magnetic boresighter
US20120251982A1 (en) * 2011-03-30 2012-10-04 Hester Jason S Training Aid for Devices Requiring Line-of-Sight Devices
USD752699S1 (en) 2012-09-04 2016-03-29 Douglas B. Coffman Attachable sight for firearms
US20220074708A1 (en) * 2020-09-08 2022-03-10 New Revo Brand Group, Llc Reticle leveling system

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US7100319B2 (en) * 2003-02-12 2006-09-05 Optics Research (Hk) Ltd Prismatic boresighter
US8132354B1 (en) * 2008-02-03 2012-03-13 Sellmark Corporation Universal bore sight
CN102878860B (en) * 2012-10-25 2014-08-06 林秀寒 Calibrating device and method for guns/ cannons
US20150316351A1 (en) * 2013-11-27 2015-11-05 Bae Systems Information And Electronic Systems Integration Inc. System and method for removing and reinstalling weapon sight without changing boresight

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120117849A1 (en) * 2010-11-17 2012-05-17 Thomas Mark A Magnetic boresighter
US20120251982A1 (en) * 2011-03-30 2012-10-04 Hester Jason S Training Aid for Devices Requiring Line-of-Sight Devices
US9366504B2 (en) * 2011-03-30 2016-06-14 Jason S Hester Training aid for devices requiring line-of-sight aiming
USD752699S1 (en) 2012-09-04 2016-03-29 Douglas B. Coffman Attachable sight for firearms
US20220074708A1 (en) * 2020-09-08 2022-03-10 New Revo Brand Group, Llc Reticle leveling system
US11953290B2 (en) * 2020-09-08 2024-04-09 New Revo Brand Group, Llc Reticle leveling system

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WO2001016548A1 (en) 2001-03-08
GB9920455D0 (en) 1999-11-03
US6513275B1 (en) 2003-02-04
AU7019300A (en) 2001-03-26

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AS Assignment

Owner name: OPTICS RESEARCH LTD., UNITED KINGDOM

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PAIGE, CLIVE RAWLINSON;REEL/FRAME:013768/0868

Effective date: 20030222

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION