EP1088198A1

EP1088198A1 - Mounting device for fitting a telescopic sight to a fire arm

Info

Publication number: EP1088198A1
Application number: EP00920729A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerd Spinner
Original assignee: Heckler und Koch GmbH
Current assignee: Heckler und Koch GmbH
Priority date: 1999-04-23
Filing date: 2000-04-20
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-20
Also published as: US6449893B2; DE19918635C1; ES2182798T3; WO2000065296A1; CA2336076A1; CA2336076C; ATE225026T1; KR20010072634A; US20010022044A1; KR100445921B1; DE50000549D1; EP1088198B1; DK1088198T3; PT1088198E

Abstract

A mounting apparatus is disclosed for attaching a sighting device onto a weapon. The mounting apparatus has a rail disposed on part of the weapon in a longitudinal direction. The rail has a pair of longitudinally extending opposed sides and a longitudinally extending first attachment element on each of the opposed sides. A removable mounting base has a pair of longitudinally extending side edges and a longitudinally extending second attachment element on each side edge. Each second attachment element is complimentary to a corresponding one of the first attachment elements. The mounting base is slidingly and longitudinally engaged with the rail via the complimentary first and second attachment elements. The mounting base is formed of at least two parts which are slidable against one another in a transverse direction. A spring mechanism produces a spring force and is arranged to bias the two parts of the mounting base into engagement with the rail. The spring force is overcome by manually squeezing the two parts to release the mounting base from the rail.

Description

MOUNTING DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A RIFLE SCOPE TO A FIREARM

The invention relates to a mounting device for attaching a telescopic sight or the like. on a mounted on a firearm or trained longitudinal profile rail, which has a longitudinal groove or a longitudinal web on each side facing outwards, in which a removable mounting base with a web or a groove engages longitudinally, the or each are formed on one of the side edges of the mounting base, as outlined in claim 1.

The prior art names US 3 877 166 and EP 0 444 300 A2.

There are quite different types of mounting devices for the adjusted mounting of riflescopes or the like on weapons. Common to all is the fundamental endeavor to mount the mounted riflescope on the weapon as immovably as possible so that it never changes its position relative to the weapon.

In the case of complex hunting weapons, mostly handcrafted assembly devices are used, which have the most precisely manufactured, complicated surfaces. In the case of sports weapons and military rifles, on the other hand, usually simpler and more robust assembly devices are preferred

go back to the basic form of so-called slide-on installation. The invention is such an assembly device.

In such a slide-on installation, a dovetail-like longitudinal profile rail is attached or formed on the weapon; and on the telescopic sight or the like a removable foot or mounting base with a nut profile that can be pushed onto the longitudinal profile rail of the weapon with little play.

The longitudinal profile rail can be attached to the top of the weapon so that its surface runs horizontally with a normal firing stroke. But it can also be attached to the side of the weapon, so that its surface is approximately vertical when struck normally; or coupled elsewhere and to the weapon, such as on a machine gun mount. The length of the longitudinal profile rail can only be a few centimeters. But it can also be significantly longer.

A clamping device, in the simplest case a clamping screw, extends across the mounting base and serves to clamp it on the dovetail. The

Shank of the clamping screw is arranged between the mounting base and the longitudinal mounting rail in such a way that the position of the telescopic sight in the longitudinal direction of the weapon is always reliably reproducible. Such a mounting device can be seen, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,887,166 (Ward). This known assembly device is advantageous because it is small in size. However, their disadvantage lies in the laborious process of pushing them on and finding out the correct mounting position, as well as in the necessarily very high manufacturing accuracy.

It is also possible to split the mounting base lengthways and to move one part out of engagement with the longitudinal profile rail relative to the other. In this case the mounting base does not have to be slid longitudinally onto the longitudinal profile rail, but can be placed on it with staggered parts at any point. When the parts return to their original position, they engage in the longitudinal profile rail and clamp onto it. Such an assembly device can be seen in EP 0 444 300 A2 (Repa). In this publication, a long, off-center pivoting lever is shown, which is pivotably mounted on one part of the mounting base near one end. The short end of the pivot lever is connected to the other part of the mounting base via a knee joint mechanism, which allows this other part to be pressed with great force from the outside against the longitudinal profile rail, that is, in the direction towards the first part. Since the toggle lever mechanism is buckled in its rest position, it exerts a force in the direction of a backward movement of the movable part. A strong plate spring assembly is therefore provided, which compensates for this backward movement and at the same time holds the swivel lever in the bent position of the toggle lever mechanism.

The latter assembly device is advantageous because it can be quickly put on and taken off, and because the plate spring assembly can compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies. However, their disadvantage lies in the bulky design, which is necessary because of the long swivel lever.

On the basis of this prior art, the object of the invention is to improve the known assembly devices in such a way that their advantages remain effective, but their disadvantages are eliminated as far as possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of claim 1, that is to say in that in the case of an assembly device which is similar to that of EP 0 444 300 A2 (Repa), any mechanism for clamping is dispensed with and instead the clamping force for clamping of the two parts of the mounting base on the longitudinal profile rail is supplied by a spring arrangement, the spring force of which can be overcome by the fingers of the user for removing and fitting the mounting base from or onto the longitudinal profile rail, i.e. does not substantially exceed approximately 5 kg (claim 1) .

This breaks with a tradition that is more than a hundred years old, according to which a mount corresponding to the mounting base must be positively connected to the rifle in the transverse direction in order to rule out relative displacements of the mount and weapon in the transverse direction under all circumstances. The invention connects the mounting base with the longitudinal profile rail by means of an engagement element which is held in engagement only with a limited spring force that can be released by external forces. The relative shift in the transverse direction is quite possible.

So far, it has been a prerequisite for every assembly facility to maintain the scope's hold on the weapon under all circumstances. If, for example, the weapon fell off the high seat, the butt stock could break off, for example, but the riflescope had to remain seated. According to the invention, it has now been recognized that damage occurs at a certain impact on the telescopic sight, night aiming device or the like, which at least necessitates repair and makes immediate use impossible: for example when a rifle with night aiming device falls from two meters onto the pavement. Then the night target device then no longer shows an image. It is therefore not necessary to remain attached to the rifle. Rather, it is possible that the inertia force of the falling night aiming device loads the spring arrangement according to the invention so that it releases the night aiming device in a braked manner. It is therefore quite conceivable that the assembly according to the invention when the rifle falls with the additional device mounted, this is precisely due to its free protects the weapon from damage that would have been unavoidable with conventional assembly.

Another advantage is that, according to the invention, all long clamping levers and also the great machining accuracy are eliminated, since the spring arrangement is able to compensate for inaccuracies without further ado. At most, an adjusting screw is required to adjust the clamping force of the spring arrangement.

However, the mounting device according to the invention prefers the positive connection between the longitudinal profile rail and the mounting base in order to prevent it from slipping as a result of external forces (claim 2). In the two known mounting devices mentioned at the outset, the mounting base is clamped on the longitudinal profile rail with such a clamping force that it cannot be overcome without damaging the parts. US Pat. No. 3,877,166 (Ward) also shows a positive connection by means of a cross bolt, but this only serves to position the mounting base, not to hold it against sliding in the longitudinal direction of the weapon. This slipping is adequately prevented in the prior art by the clamping, so that the additional, positive locking engagement present here is not necessary.

In the case of the invention, on the other hand, training on the mounting base is preferred, which positively engages in a transverse groove in the longitudinal profile rail, because the clamping action due to the spring force is not sufficient in each case to prevent the mounting base from slipping with the rifle carried by it.

However, it is pointed out that the spring force of the mounting device according to the invention is usually sufficient to hold a rifle scope or the like immovably on the weapon during normal handling. The user will therefore usually make no difference between the assembly according to the invention and one of the above-mentioned assembly from the prior art, except that the mounting base is significantly smaller and that the clamping lever is missing and thus the handling is simplified.

It is possible to form a protruding edge on both sides in the longitudinal profile rail, into which the two parts of the mounting base then engage from the inside by being pressed apart by the spring force. Extensions of these parts, which can be gripped by the fingers of the user, only need to be pressed together to remove the mounting base. At least one bevel on the two parts can ensure that the mounting base only needs to be pressed onto the longitudinal profile rail. The bevels engaging in the edges of the longitudinal profile rails press the two parts of the mounting base together while overcoming the spring force. In a trough-shaped longitudinal profile rail, however, dirt can easily collect, especially if it is mounted horizontally on the top of the weapon.

The two side edges of the longitudinal profile rail are therefore preferably encompassed from the outside, since an inadequate seat is then more likely to be ruled out because of the contamination of the longitudinal profile rail. The spring force then causes the two parts of the mounting base to be loaded towards each other. In addition, one part is guided in the other and protrudes laterally over this to form a handle. If one finger is pressed on this handle while another finger supports the other part, then the two engagement edges (with a groove or a web each) are overcome by the side edges of the longitudinal profile rail (with a web or one each) while overcoming the spring force Groove) moved away. In the following, the part that is equipped with the handle is referred to as a push-in part, while the other part is referred to as a non-push-in part. The guidance of the push-in part in the non-push-in part ensures that the mounting base constructed from both parts is sufficiently longitudinally stable.

A particularly simple embodiment on the mounting base is a cross pin, preferably a round cross pin, which extends parallel to a cross groove when the mounting base is attached and engages in this. It is possible to arrange the cross pin in the part that can be pressed in. However, it is more convenient to arrange the cross pin in the non-push-in part of the mounting base, since there is then no risk that the movement of the push-in part will be hindered by rubbing the cross pin on the cross groove (claim 3).

The cross pin is preferably arranged next to the part that can be pushed in, that is to say seen in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal profile rail, in front of or behind the part that can be pressed in, so that the cross pin does not have to push through the part that can be pressed in (claim 4).

In the case of a hunting rifle which is used only by a single shooter and with a single telescopic sight, it is sufficient to arrange only a single transverse groove in the longitudinal profile rail, as is shown in US Pat. No. 3,877,166 (Ward) . In the mounting device according to the invention, however, a plurality of transverse grooves are preferably formed in the longitudinal profile rail (claim 5).

In this way, the mounting base with the cross pin can be inserted into the most suitable cross groove. It is thus possible, for example, to arrange a telescopic sight at the optimal eye relief even if the shooter is wearing a thick shatterproof vest and winter clothing. Any other device can also be intended for one and the same rifle, such as a night target, a red dot aiming device, a visor for special ammunition, such as a grenade launcher visor or the like. Depending on the length and weight, these can have one or more mounting bases and can be inserted into a suitable transverse groove with the cross pin of each mounting base .

Here, according to a further embodiment of the invention, it is particularly advantageous to extend the longitudinal profile rail to the front, for example to the end of the fore-end or even to the mouth. An optical or illuminated front sight (referred to as "eagle eye" for target shooters) can be attached, as can a combination of an optical rifle scope and image intensifier or image converter, in order to have a high-performance night aiming device or a thermal imaging night aiming device available at night. These often long-lasting devices can then be attached with two or even more mounting bases, whereby the attachment is facilitated by means of a chamfer on the lower edge of the part that can be pressed in, which faces the engaging edge of the longitudinal profile rail. The target device then only needs to be pressed onto this rail However, each socket requires a hand to remove the push-in part, but it is also possible to assign a catch or hold-open device to the push-in part to keep it pressed in. In this case, the mentioned bevel is not required.

For several decades, precision parts have also been manufactured in a die-casting process in weapon construction. Either zinc (because of the low melting point and sufficient strength) or plastic is used. It is advisable to produce at least the longitudinal profile rail also inexpensively from such a material (claim 6). In principle, these materials have the disadvantage that they give way under too high a surface pressure: if, for example, a steel pin with a press fit is hammered into the bore of a workpiece made of zinc, one can effortlessly pull this steel pin out of the bore a day later because it will then only sits in a slight transition fit in the hole. The material has recrystallized to the extent that the crystal structure distorted by tension has reoriented itself. Known assembly devices with a longitudinal profile rail made of plastic or zinc can therefore hardly be used. With them it is in fact inevitable that a very high clamping force acts on the material of the rail and causes it to give way.

In a rifle, a plastic rail would be particularly advantageous if the longitudinal profile rail had to extend forward at least over the length of the forearm, for example in order to form an implement carrier for universal use. A plastic rail could be even lighter than a light metal rail.

Only the assembly device according to the invention surprisingly enables the use of zinc or

Plastic for the longitudinal profile rail. Because the spring force with which the parts of the mounting base are pressed into engagement with this rail is strictly defined. Even in the case of unfavorable tolerances and an unfavorable setting, the spring force which causes the clamping action remains approximately of the same order of magnitude. Thread clamping, on the other hand, can cause a very considerable increase in clamping force in the event of an unfavorable setting, which can even lead to the clamping screw being torn off. The prerequisite is a spring device that changes its spring force approximately linearly to the spring travel, and this only to a small extent; not a disc spring package as in EP 444 300 A2 (Repa). A spring device One or two pre-tensioned compression coil springs made of wire have proven their worth.

In order to avoid damaging surface pressures, the dimensions must of course not be too small and will generally be larger than with previous assembly equipment. A width of 20 to 25 mm has proven itself as the width of a plastic longitudinal profile rail, measured transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rifle, that is to say as the distance between the two engagement edges. The engagement length of the mounting base is approximately the same dimension. The material of the mounting base is preferably light metal, for example an aluminum alloy, since higher surface pressures can result when the spring device is supported than is permissible for plastic or zinc.

The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying schematic drawing. The drawing shows:

1 shows a longitudinal section through a mounting device of the invention, the riflescope or the like to be carried by the mounting base being omitted for the sake of clarity,

2 is a side view of the mounting device of FIG. 1, seen from the direction Z (see FIG. 6),

3 is a plan view of the assembly device of FIG. 1,

4 shows the section A-A in Fig. 2,

5 shows the section B-B in Fig. 2,

6 shows the section C-C in Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 shows the section DD in Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 seen the mounting device of Fig. 1, obliquely from above.

All figures show the same assembly device, which is shown in about 1.5 times magnification. All reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the figures.

otherwise, terms such as "top", "front" u. The like. Assuming the normal stop position of a rifle in which the direction of the shot is horizontal. "Front" points in the direction of the shot.

The mounting device comprises a longitudinal profile rail 1 made of plastic, which is preferably produced by injection molding, for example on a reinforcement made of glass fibers or the like. is sprayed on, and has: a solid lower part 2, which has an approximately flat rectangular cross section and can be mounted on the top of a rifle; additionally two upper parts 4, which sit on the two sides of the lower part 2 and each have a square cross-section which is extended outwards in the form of an isosceles triangle, in such a way that the free tips of these cross-sectional triangles each engage

Form longitudinal edges 3, 5, which each protrude beyond the lower part 2 to the outside. An upwardly open longitudinal groove 7 is cut out between the two upper parts 4. This serves to save weight and also helps to maintain a reasonably uniform wall thickness in the longitudinal profile rail 1, so that casting errors are avoided. A large number of transverse grooves 9 are introduced into the rail 1 transversely to their longitudinal extension and extend through the upper parts 4 of the rail profile and do not extend all the way down to the bottom of the longitudinal groove 7. The cross section of these transverse grooves 9 has the shape of a compact, lying rectangle. The rail 1 extends from a point above the front end of the piston neck to a point above the front end of the forearm of a rifle and is only attached at two points. At one of these points, the rail 1 is fixed in all three coordinate directions, at the other only in two coordinate directions, similar to a road bridge with a fixed and a loose support, in order to be able to carry out thermal expansion relative to the rifle without being warped.

On the rail 1 there is a mounting base 11 which is formed from a part 15 which can be pressed in and a part 13 which cannot be pressed in. The non-indentable part 13 has a claw 17, 19 on each side, which is complementary to the engagement edge 5 of the rail 1 and engages around this edge 5. One 17 of the claws 17, 19 is designed to be shorter in the longitudinal direction (direction of the extension of the rail 1) than the other claw 19. The area of the claw 19 is penetrated by a hammered-in cross pin 21, which has a small groove 9 in a transverse groove 9 when the mounting base 11 is attached or does not interfere with a game.

The part 15 which can be pressed in is guided in the transverse direction in the part 13 which cannot be pressed in. It protrudes from a longitudinal side of the non-depressible part 13 - here on the side of the engagement edge 5 - and there has a handle 23 which protrudes laterally from the mounting base 11 and can be pressed into the interior thereof by hand.

Within the mounting base 11, two surfaces of the two parts 13, 15 lie opposite one another, between which two compression springs 25 are arranged. A limiting pin 27, which is driven into the non-pushable part 13, engages in the pushable part 15 in its end position and limits its movement. As can be seen, the push-in part 15 is pressed into a rest position in which the handle 23 protrudes laterally from the non-push-in part 13. On the opposite side, a downward, lateral longitudinal web is formed on the push-in part 15, in the side facing the rail 1 an engagement groove 29 is formed which is complementary to the engagement edge 3 and engages around it. In the rest position of the push-in part 15, the engagement groove 29 is evidently pressed against the engagement edge 3 with the force of the compression springs 25, so that the mounting base 11 is then held essentially immovably on the rail 1. By pushing the handle 23 with the finger of one hand, which holds with another finger on the non-pushable part 13 or the telescopic sight or the like mounted thereon, the engagement groove 29 can be moved out of engagement with the engagement edge 3 and then the mounting base 11 can be removed from the rail. The same applies to the mounting of the mounting base 11 on the rail 1.

The telescopic sight or device to be mounted can be attached to the flat, upper surface of the mounting base 11.

The mounting base 11 is clamped on the rail 1 only with the spring force of the compression springs 25. If the frictional force resulting from the clamping is not sufficient to hold the mounting base 11 in the longitudinal direction, the cross pin 21 provides this support, which engages in one of the transverse grooves 9.

The length of the two claws 17, 19 is approximately equal to the length of the engaging groove 29. The shorter of these lengths, the spring force of the compression springs 25 and the geometry of the engaging edges 3, 5 and the claws 17, 19 result in the maximum surface pressure on the rail 1. This is dimensioned so that the plastic of the rail 1 through the engagement of the claws 17, 19 and the engagement groove 29 does not undergo permanent deformation.

In the mounting base 11 shown, its position or orientation is selected such that the handle 23 is on the left for a right-handed shooter and on the right for a left-handed shooter, so that this handle 23 can be pressed in with the thumb of the utility hand if the other Hand holds the rifle under the fore-end.

Claims

Expectations

1. Mounting device for attaching a telescopic sight or the like on a longitudinal profile rail (1) attached or designed to a firearm, which has a longitudinal groove or a longitudinal web (3, 5) on both sides, pointing outwards which or which a removable mounting base (11) with a web or a groove (17, 19, 29) engages longitudinally displaceably, which are each formed on one of the side edges of the mounting base (11), wherein

- The mounting base (11) has at least two parts (13, 15) which are displaceable relative to one another and which are loaded so as to be movable relative to one another by a spring arrangement (25) in such a way that only their loading as a result of the spring arrangement (25) engages between the longitudinal profile rail (1) and assembly base (11), and - the spring arrangement (25) exerts a spring force which can be overcome by pressing together the two parts (13, 15) with the thumb and forefinger of one hand in order to cancel the engagement.

2. Mounting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal profile rail (1) has at least one recess (9) into which a training (21) on the facing side of the mounting base (11) engages when it is put on.

3. Mounting device according to one of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the mounting base (11) engages around the longitudinal profile rail (1) from the outside thereof, and that one part (15) of the mounting base (11) within the other Part (13) guided and can be pressed into this while overcoming the spring force.

. Mounting device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the recess is designed as a transverse groove (9) and in that the mounting base (11) is designed to engage in the transverse groove (9) of the longitudinal profile rail (1), is designed as a cross pin (21), which is preferably fastened in the non-depressible part (13) of the mounting base (11).

5. Mounting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the cross pin (21) next to the depressible part (15) is arranged.

6. Mounting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal profile rail (1) has a plurality of transverse grooves (21).

7. Mounting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the longitudinal rail (1) extends over a considerable part of the firearm, and preferably in a rifle as a firearm to about the front end of the forearm.

8. Mounting device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the longitudinal profile rail (1)

Zinc or plastic.