US2441968A - Firearm sight - Google Patents

Description

R. S. HENRY FIREARM 5 I Filed June 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. 5. HENRY FIREARM S IGHT May 25, 1948.

Filed June 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Rube'r n 5!. H5111 Patented May 25, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the Act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) .6 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to a rear sight for a firearm and more particularly to improvements which provide a unitary means of adjustment in such sights for both windage and elevation.

In most prior art rear sights designed to permit adjustments in elevation and windage, a knob is provided on opposite sides of the rear sight for such adjustments. It is frequently necessary to lower the firearm in order to readjust the sight setting when using such prior art sights. Obviously such movement of the firearm requires realignment of the sights with the target before firing.

One such prior art rear sight is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,929,418 to John C. Garand wherein the elevation knob is on the left side of the sight and the windage knob on the right. In firing the rifle, the left hand is customarily held within a sling, particularly in the prone position, so that only the right hand will be free for adjustment of .both knobs. Therefore in order to turn the elevation knob, the right hand must be arched over the firearm laterally with the forearm inclined downwardly and the wrist turned inwardly. Obviously if such difliculty is experienced in changing the setting of such a sight it would undoubtedly disturb the sight alignment with the target nearly as much as actually lowering the firearm.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved firearm rear sight wherein means of adjustment for both elevation and windage are provided on one side of the sight, preferably the right.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved rear sight wherein one knob is provided for both elevation and windage ad- 1 justments.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide an improved rear sight for a firearm of the type known as the-U. S. Rifle, cal. .30, M1.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevational view of the sight shown mounted on the receiver of a firearm;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 22;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the adjusting knob and the lock nut associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the washer-like spring;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the windage detent;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of Fig. 2 but showing the knob in position for windage adjustment;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing an alternate type of construction for windage adjustment;

Fig. 9 is an end view of an alternate construction of the windage detent;

Fig. 10 is an end view of an alternate construction of the adjusting knob and the lock nut associated therewith; and

Fig. 11 is a rear elevational view of the sight.

The rear sight of this invention consists essen tially of a fixed base 2 which may be formed as the integral part of the receiver 3 of a firearm, a movable sight base 4 adjustable laterally with respect to fixed base 2 and a sighting member 5 supported by movable base 4 and arranged to be elevated or depressed with respect thereto. The details and functions of the fixed and movable bases 2 and 4 of the sighting member 5 are substantially identical to those described in U. S. Patent No. 1,929,418, the improvements residing in the common means provided for adjusting the sight in both windage and elevation.

Fixed base 2 is provided with two upstanding oppositely disposed supports 6 and 1 apertured to receive respectively an elevating member 8 and a windage member 9. Movable base 4 is provided with a transverse hole I0 threaded at one end thereof as shown at Ii.

Elevating member 8 comprises a shaft 12 and an integral cylindrical head l3. Shaft I2 is provided with a transverse hole M at one end thereof. A pinion I5 is integrally formed on shaft I2 and is adapted to mesh with a rack 16 on sighting member 5. Head portion I3 is provided with a threaded axial recess ll for receiving a screw l8. A plurality of serrations l9 are out about the outer circumference of head I3 for a purpose to be described. A cap lid is provided with a circular series of serrations 2! about the inner periphery thereof and surrounds head l3 being secured thereto by screw l8. Serrations l9 and serrations 2| engage and look when screw I8 is tightened so that when elevating member 8 is rotated, cap 20 also rotates as a unit thereof. A detent 22 is provided on the rim of cap 20 and is adapted to engage any one of a plurality of radial serrations 47 cut on the outer face of support 6 on fixed base 2. Suitable elevational graduations 48 are provided about the outer periphery of cap 20 and together with an index mark 49 on support 6 afford an indication of the elevation of sighting member 5.

Windage member 9 is hollow and consists of a cylindrical head 23 and an integral cylindrical body 24 having the free end thereof threaded to engage movable base 4 at H. Head 23 is counterbored as shown at 46 in Fig. 6 and is provided with detents 25 oppositely disposed about counterbore 46. A helical spring 26 surrounds the free end of shaft l2 and seats in counterbore 46.

A cylindrical knob 21 is knurled on the outer periphery as shown at 28 in Fig, 11 to prevent finger slippage and is provided with an axial hole 30 adapted to receive an annular lock member 3 I. The inner face of knob 21 is provided with a circular groove 45 for receiving a washer-like spring 29. A plurality of inwardly facing radial projections 43 are disposed about the inner end of hole 30 thereby defining a plurality of notches 32 for a purpose to be explained. Knob 21 is adapted to fit over the head portion 23 of windage member 9.

Lock member 3| is provided with a threaded radial hole 33 for receiving a set screw 34 having an elongated axial stem 35 which seats in a recess 36 oppositely disposed to radial hole 33. The inner face of lock member 3| is provided with oppositely disposed lugs 31 which fit in notches 32 when lock 3| is placed within transverse hole 30 as shown in Fig. 4. Set screw 34 when threaded into radial hole 33 passes through transverse hole M at the end of elevating shaft l2 and seats in recess 36 thereby positively securing lock member 3| to elevating member 8. A transverse groove 38 is cut across the outer face of knob 21 to facilitate the use of a tool in assembling set screw 34 into lock member 3|.

To adjust the sight for elevation, knob 21 is rotated in the direction desired. Since locking member 3| is securely fastened to elevating member 8 by set screw 34, and since notches 32 of knob 21 normally engage lugs 31, elevating member 8 will also rotate thereby raising or lowering sight member by means of pinion l5 meshing with rack l6 according to the direction of rotation. Washer-like spring 29 exerts an outward bias on knob 21 so that engagement of lock member 3| therewith is normally maintained. As elevating member 8 is turned, cap 20 fastened on the other end thereto by screw l8 also turns in a click arrangement due to detent 22 riding over the serrations 41 on support 6. Thus increments of elevation of sight member 5 are indicated by the graduations 48 on cap 20.

To adjust the sight for windage or drift, knob 21 is pushed inwardly against the bias of spring 29 until notches 32 engage detents 25. Then by turning knob 21, lateral adjustment of the sight will be obtained as windage member 9 threads in or out of the threaded hole end l in movable base 4 according to the direction of rotation. As windage members is threaded into movable base 4, helical spring 26 seated Within counterbore 46 exerts an outward bias on lock member 3| and therefore on elevating member 8 to keep detent 22 of cap 20 firmly engaged with serrations 41 on elevating member support 6. Hence it is apparent that windage adjustment is entirely independent of elevation adjustment of sighting member 5 although knob 21 is used to effect both adjustments.

The sight herein described is readily zeroed after the firearm on which such sight is mounted has been properly targeted. By loosening screw l3, the serrations 2| within cap 20 will slide over the mating serrations 9 on elevating head I3 when cap 20 is turned, thereby allowing independent movement thereof in order to align detent 22 thereon with index mark 49 on support 6.

An alternate construction such as windage member 39 and knob 40 may be used. differing physically from the preferred assembly described above but identical functionall with respect to adjusting the sight. The outer face of such alternate windage member 39 is radially scalloped asshown at 4| in Fig. 9. The alternate knob 40 is similar to preferred knob 21 but includes in addition pins 42 oppositely disposed about the cir cumferential notches 32 andprojections 43 as shown in Fig, 10. With this construction, knob 40 is locked to windage member 39 when in the windage position by pins 42 engaging scallops 4|.

Thus there is here provided an improved sight of simple and rugged construction which allows independent elevation and windageadjustments to be effected by use of the same knob for both adjustments. Adjustment of the sight in elevation is obtained by simply turning the knob while adjustment for windage first requires pressing the knob inwardly and then turning in the direction desired. Thus only the use of one hand is required which permit adjustments of the sight to be made without disturbing the alignment of the firearm with a target.

I claim:

1. In a firearm sight having means of adjustment for elevation and windage which include an elevating member and a windage member, the improvement comprising, a hollow cylindrical locking member secured to the elevating member, a cylindrical knob having an axial bore therethrough for receiving said locking member, means for releasably securing said locking member within said knob whereby rotation of said knob effects rotation of the elevating member, and means on the windage member for engaging said knob in turn when release thereof from said locking member is manually effected.

2. In a firearm sight having means of adjustment for elevation and windage including an elevating member and a windage member having an externally threaded end, the improvement comprising, a hollow cylindrical locking member having oppositely disposed lugs on one end thereof, means for securing said locking member to the elevating member, a knob having'an axial bore therethrough and inwardly facing spaced projections about the circumference of one end of said bore to define a plurality of notches, said locking member adapted to be inserted in said bore whereby said lugs engage said notches to releasably secure said knob to said locking mem ber and thereby to the elevating member, and means on the windage member for engaging said knob, all adapted and arranged whereby turning said knob normally adjusts the sight in elevation and whereby pressing inwardly on said knob releases the engagement thereof with said locking member and permits instead engagement with the windage member so as to allow adjustment of the sight for windage or drift when said knob is thereafter turned.

3. In a firearm sight having means of adjustment for elevation and windage including an elevating member and a windage member, the improvement comprising, a hollow cylindrical locking member having a lug on one end thereof, means for securing said locking member to the elevating member, a cylindrical knob having an axial bore therethrough, inwardly facing spaced projections on said knob about the circumference of one end of said axial bore to define a plurality of notches, said axial bore adapted to receive said locking member, said knob having an annular groove disposed about said notches, the windage titlfltititl member having a counterbored cylindrical head and diametrically opposed detents therein, a washer-like spring in said annular groove normally biasing said knob away from the windage member so that said locking member lug engages one of said notches in said knob, said knob adapted to be moved inwardly against the bias of said spring thereby releasing said knob from engage ment with said locking member and consequently effecting engagement of said knob with the windage member as said detents thereon engage said notches on said knob.

4. In a firearm sight having means of adjustment for elevation and windage including an elevating member having an axial stem and a windage member having an externally threaded end, the improvement comprising, a hollow cylindrical locking member having oppositely disposed lugs on one end thereof, means for securing said locking member to the elevating member, a cylindrical knob having an axial bore therethrough, inwardly facing spaced projections disposed about the circumference of one end of said bore to define a plurality of notches, said axial bore adapted to receive said locking member, said knob having an annular groove about said notches, diametrically opposed pins disposed radially Within said annular groove, the windage member having a counterbored cylindrical head with a series of scallops about the periphery of said counterbore, and a washer-like spring in said annular groove normally biasing said knob away from the windage member whereby said locking member lugs engage said notches, said knob adapted to be moved inwardly against the bias of said spring thereby releasing said knob from engagement with said locking member and consequently effecting engagement of said knob with the windage member as said scallops thereon engage said pins on said knob.

5. A rear gun sight comprising in combination, a fixed base having first and second spaced upstanding supports, a movable base disposed between said first and second supports and adjustable laterally in relation thereto, a sight member slidably mounted in said movable base for movement along a path having a vertical component, said sight member including a rack, an elevating member rotatably journaled in said first support and having a stem with a pinion thereon cooperating with said rack for elevation or depression of said sight member, an annular cap having yardage graduations thereon, means for securing said annular cap on one end of said elevating member, a hollow cylindrical lock member having oppositely disposed lugs on one face thereof, means for fixedly securing said lock member to the other end of said elevating member, a cylindrical knob having an axial bore therethrough for receiving said lock member, said knob having inwardly facing spaced projections on the inner face thereof to define a plurality of notches adapted to be engaged by said lugs on said lock member, said knob having a circular groove therein about said notches, a washer-like spring adapted to fit within said circular groove and normally exert an outward bias to keep said knob in engagement with said lock member and therefore, upon rotation of said knob, effect adjustment of said sight member, a hollow windage member rotatably journaled in said second support and oppositely disposed to said elevating member so as to receive said stem of said e1evating member therethrough, said windage member having oppositely disposed detents on the outer face thereof for engagement with said notches on said knob when the latter is moved inwardly against the bias of said washer-like spring, whereupon rotation of said knob effects lateral adjustment of said movable base, and a helical spring seated within said windage member and against said lock member for maintaining a fixed relationship of said annular cap against said first support of said fixed base by compensating for the lateral movement of said windage member. 6. A rear gun sight comprising in combination, a fixed base having first and second spaced upstanding supports, a movable base disposed between said first and second supports and adjustable laterally in relation thereto, a sight member slidably mounted in said movable base for movement along a path having a vertical component, said sight member including a rack, an elevating member rotatably journaled in said first support and having a stem with a pinion thereon cooperating with said rack for elevation or depression of said sight member, an annular cap having yardage graduations thereon, means for securing said annular cap on one end of said elevating member, a hollow cylindrical lock member having oppositely disposed lugs on one face thereof, means for fixedly securing said lock member to the other end of said elevating member, a cylindrical knob having an axial bore therethrough for receiving said lock member, said knob having inwardly facing spaced projections on the inner face thereof to define a plurality of notches adapted to be engaged by said lugs on said lock member, said knob having a circular groove therein about said notches, a pair of pins radially disposed in said circular groove and about said notches, a washer-like spring adapted to fit within said circular groove clearing said pins and normally exert an outward bias to keep said knob in engagement with said lock member and therefore, upon rotation of said knob, efiect adjustment of said sight member, a hollow windage member rotatably'journaled in said second support and oppositely disposed to said elevating member so as to receive said stem of said elevating member therethrough, said windage member having a series of scallops on the outer face thereof for engagement with said pins on said knob when the latter is moved inwardly against the bias of said washer-like spring, whereupon rotation of said knob effects lateral adjustment of said movable base, and a helical spring seated within said windage member and against said lock member for maintaining a fixed relationship of said annular cap against said first support of said fixed base by compensating for the lateral movement of said windage member.

ROBERT S. HENRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,929,418 Garand Oct. 10, 1933 2,374,722 Bailey May 1, 1945 2,406,011 Garand Aug. 20, 1946 Wit

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