GB2185557A - Fitting for a weapon - Google Patents

Abstract

A fitting 5, e.g. a cheek rest, provided for use with a weapon may be removably mounted on the stock 1 of the weapon in order to raise the line of vision of a person using the weapon, so that their line of vision is aligned with a telescopic sight fitted on the weapon. When the telescopic sight is removed, the fitting may also be removed, allowing the weapon to be used in the conventional manner. The fitting 5 defines two symmetrical, slightly concave faces 10 which enable the weapon to be used by a right or left-handed person. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a fitting for a weapon The present invention relates to a fitting for a weapon and moreparticularlytoafittingfora weapon which incorporates a stock.

When a person uses a weapon which incorporates a stock, such as a rifle, the common method oftaking aim at a target is to restthe butt of the stock against one shoulder so that the cheek of the user's face lies against the side of the stock, This position usually ensures thatthe line of vision ofthe user is aligned with the sights of the weapon. One side of the stock may be provided with a slightly concave recess which serves as a cheek rest.

If a telescopic sight is attached to the weapon the axis of the telescopic sight is usually higher than the axis ofthe open sights. Thus the problem arises that when adopting the normal position fortaking aim, the user's line of vision is aligned with the open sights and not with the axis ofthe telescopic sight.

Thus, when a person uses a telescopicsight it is often not practicable to adoptthe normal position with the cheek of the person resting againstthe stock, since the person's eye would not then be aligned with the telescopic sight. It is therefore necessarywhen a person usesatelescopicsightto raise the line of vision of the user above the level which would result ifthe person were to holdtheweapon in the usual position.

It has been proposed to provide prior art rifles with a stock incorporating a raisable cheek rest on one side of the stock. However, this feature tends only to be available with expensive rifles.

Afurther problem arises with some present known weapons in which a cheek rest is provided on one side of the weapon stock. The side of the stock upon which the cheek rest is provided determines whether theweapon is a right-handed model or left-handed model. Thus it is not possibleforsuch a weapon to be used with equal facility by both a left-handed person and a right-handed person. Dueto this fact it is not practicable for a left-handed person and a righthanded person to share the same weapon.

According to the present invention there is provided a fitting forfitting onto a stock of a weapon, said fitting defining two inclined faces joined together along one edgeso astoform an apex,thetwofaces being substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through said apex and running mid-way between said faces, and meansto mountthefitting on said stock.

Preferably said inclined faces define therebetween a substantially U-shaped channel, the open side of which is directed away from said apex, the shape of said channel being such thatthefitting may befitted snugly onto a part of said stock, with the upper edge of the stock received in the channel.

Conveniently said channel constitutes said mounting means.

Advantageously said faces are formed so asto be slightly concave.

Preferably each face is approximately semicircular in shape, having a lower arcuate edge remote from said apex.

Conveniently, said apex is slightly curved along its length.

Preferably said fitting is formed from fibreglass and resin orfrom a rubber material and may be provided over all or part of its surface with a veneer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a weapon incorporating a stock provided with two opposed concave faces symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis of the stock.

Preferably said faces are present on a removable fitting.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and so that furtherfeatures thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa schematic perspective view of a stock of a weapon provided with a cheek rest in accordance with the present invention; Figure2 is a side view ofthe cheek rest of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end view of the cheek rest of Figure 1; Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the stock 1 of a weapon such as, for example, a conventional rifle. The stock 1 has a rounded upper edge 2 and a similarly rounded lower edge 3. The stock has two opposed substantially vertical sidewalls4, only one of which is shown.Shown mounted in position on the stock 1 is a fitting 5 in accordance with the invention.

The fitting 5 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. The fitting 5 consists of a discrete integral component The component has two inclined webs 6 which meet at a central rounded apex 7, the webs extending symmetrically downwardly on either side of the apex 7. Thus there is a vertical plane of symmetry 8 which passes through the apex 7, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 3. The apex is slightly curved along its length.

The lower edge 9 of each web 6 is of generally arcuate form, so when each web is viewed in isolation it has a substantially semicircularform.

Each web defines, between the apex 7 and there spective lower edge 9, a slightly concave face 10.

Each face 10 is designed and configured to act as a cheek rest for a person using a weapon on which the presently described fitting is mounted.

Referring to Figure 3, the fitting is provided, on its underside, with an axially extending inverted "U" shaped channel, the open side of which is directed awayfrom the apex7. The channel 11 isofsubstanti- ally uniform cross section and extends over the entire length ofthefitting. The channel 11 thus hastwo inwardlyfacing sidewalls 12.

Thefitting may be mounted on the stock of a weapon by locating the upper edge 2 of the stock 1 in the channel 11. The sidewalls 12 ofthe channel 11 will then engage the side faces 4 of the stock 1,and the fitting may thus be readily mounted in position.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment ofthe invention the apex 7 forms a pointed end 13 of the fitting atone end, butforms a squarer end 14 atthe other end,with the apex itself being slightly curved over the length of the fitting 5, as can be seen from Figure 2.

The fitting as described may be made of anysuit- able material such as, for example, an epoxy resin and fibreglass, hard rubber or plastics material, or even from wood. The exposed faces 10 of the fitting may be provided with a finish selected to match a stock on which the fitting is to be used, and may thus be provided with a wood veneerfinish.

In using the fitting 5, the " U" shaped channel 11 on the underside ofthe fitting, is designed to serve as a mounting means in orderto receive the rounded upper edge 2 of a stock of aweapon.Thus,thefit- ting 5 may be mounted in position by any suitable means. For example, double sided stickytape may be used to locate the fitting 5 in position, orfor a slightly more rigid fixture, the fitting may be screwed into position.When mounted in position on the stock of a weapon, the fitting 5 may be used as a cheek rest, in order to raise the line of vision oftheweapon user above the level of the open sights of the weapon.

This will facilitate viewing through a telescopic sight mounted on the weapon. If the user wishes to revert to using the open sights oftheweaponthenthefit- ting 5 may simply be removed from the stock 1 ,thus allowing the weapon to be used in the conventional manner again.

It will be appreciated that when the fitting 5 is mounted on the stock of the weapon, two opposed concave faces 10 will be provided, one on either side of the stock 1. The two opposed concave faces 10 will be symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis of the stock. Thus, the fittingS is suitableforuse a a cheek rest by either a right-handed person or a lefthanded person, and therefore enables a weapon to be shared bya right-handed and a left-handed person.

It will also be appreciated that numerous alterations may be made to the specific design of the fitting without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

Claims (15)

1. Afitting forfitting onto a stock of a weapon, said fitting defining two inclined faces joined together along one edge so as to form an apex, the two faces being substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through said apex and running midway between said faces, and means to mountthefitting on said stock.

2. Afitting according to Claim 1, wherein said in clined faces define therebetween a substantially Ushaped channel, the open side of which is directed away from said apex, the shape of said channel being such that the fitting may be fitted snugly onto a part of said stock, with the upper edge ofthe stock received in the channel.

3. Afitting according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said channel constitutes said mounting means.

4. Afitting accordingto ariyoneof Claims 1 to3, wherein said faces are formed so as to be slightly concave.

5. Afitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each face is approximately semi-circular in shape, having a lower arcuate edge remote from said apex.

6. Afitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said apex is slightly curved along its length.

7. Afitting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fitting is formed from fibreglass and resin.

8. Afitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said fitting is formed from a rubber material.

9. Afitting according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein a veneer is provided over part or all of said fitting.

10. Aweapon provided with a fitting accordingto any one of the preceding claims.

11. Aweapon incorporating a stock provided with two opposed concave faces symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis ofthe stock.

12. Aweapon according to Claim 11,wherein said faces are present on a removable fitting.

13. Afitting for a weapon substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. Aweapon provided with a fitting substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or combination offeatures disclosed herein.