WO2011031203A1

WO2011031203A1 - Sight mount with integrated indexing function

Info

Publication number: WO2011031203A1
Application number: PCT/SE2010/000221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Håkan SPUHR
Original assignee: Spuhr Haakan
Priority date: 2009-09-14
Filing date: 2010-09-13
Publication date: 2011-03-17
Also published as: SE0901179A1

Abstract

A function for indexing optically magnifying sights on firearms, including a mechanical solution arranged on a mount or a ring. A preferred sight mount is provided with a transversally extending wedged groove in the upper side of the mount for correct mechanical indexing of a sight.

Description

SIGHT MOUNT WITH INTEGRATED INDEXING FUNCTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a sight mount for firearms and more specifically to sight mount for firearms with optically magnifying sights. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

To use a firearm at varying distances requires that the shooter has knowledge and experience. To increase the shooter's performance at greater distances and in varying light conditions, optically magnifying sights ("riflescopes") are used.

Riflescopes are mounted to a firearm with a mount and/or rings. It is known that mounts can have integrated rings, and several mounts can be attached directly to a firearm or onto another mounting rail.

Many riflescopes allow the shooter to determine the range to a target via the reticle, and to adjust the point of aim with great accuracy to coincide with the point of impact; such adjustments are done in the vertical and horizontal planes through the use of adjustment knobs on top and on one or both sides of the riflescopes body (usually the right side).

To ensure that any calculations or adjustments are correct, the riflescope must be mounted so that the vertical plane of adjustment coincides and is aligned with the imagined centre-line of the firearm's bore. If the vertical adjustment is aligned with the centre-line of the bore then the horizontal adjustments will be perpendicular to the centre-line of the bore.

There are several existing technical solutions as to attaching a riflescope to a firearm in such a way that the crosshairs are horizontally aligned, but there is still room for improvement. A tool for aligning riflescopes with a spirit level and a plumb-bob is disclosed in US 5878504, wherein the spirit level is used to ensure that the firearms is level after which the reticle is aligned with the plumb-bob. The problem with the design found in US 5878504 is that it demands that the user keeps the firearm level during adjustment, and that the adjustment requires a plumb-bob. Any adjustment would also be difficult to perform in darkness.

In US 5486913 and US 6332286 we find a collimating tool which is inserted in the firearm's muzzle whereby a raster is being projected in front of the riflescope. It is known that tools of this type are brittle and not suitable for users who have not been instructed in how to use them.

In workshop environments, including gunsmithing shops it is common for a technician to place a drill bit or gauge block between the mount and the flat bottom of the riflescope. The shortcoming of this technique is that there seldom is a gauge block or a drill bit to having a perfect fit between the two surfaces, whereby the alignment of the riflescope remains slightly tilted or (if the gauge block is too large) the tool is crushed between the two surfaces resulting in damage to the riflescope. SUMMARY

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a mount with a mechanical function for alignment of a riflescope; which through its embodiment enables fast and accurate installation of a riflescope regardless of light conditions, the nature of the location where the installation takes place or the level of the user's training.

In one embodiment the mount is fitted with a hinge assembly in which a rectangular spacer is attached. To align a riflescope the spacer is lifted against the flat bottom of the riflescope, thereby ensuring that the reticle of the riflescope is parallel with the top of the mount.

In an alternative embodiment the top of the mount has an angled cut-out of increasing depth. To align a riflescope a cylindrical tool is placed in the cut-out and rolled up towards the flat bottom of the riflescope, thereby ensuring that that the reticle of the riflescope is parallel with the top of mount.

In a preferred embodiment the top surface of the mount is supplied with a 10-degree angled indexing groove from left to right. This indexing groove allows for a wedge-shaped indexing tool to be placed underneath the riflescope, thereby ensuring that the reticle of the riflescope is correctly aligned when the riflescope is installed. After the rings of the mount have been tightened the wedge-shaped indexing tool can be removed without any damage to the riflescope or the mount. This solution enables installation of a wide variety of brands and models of riflescopes as the wedge-shaped indexing tool provides a correct alignment regardless of how high or low the riflescopes bottom surface is in correlation to the top surface of the mount's base plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, of which:

FIGS 1A-1 B illustrate in close-up from various angles an embodiment of a sight mount,

FIGS 2A-2B illustrate from various angles an embodiment of a sight mount with built-in indexing of a riflescope for firearms.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT FIGS 1A- 1B illustrate in close-up an embodiment according to the present invention of a sight mount 100 for firearms with riflescopes 1 10. The sight mount 100 is in the illustrated embodiment fitted clamping screws 102 as to attach to an accessory mounting rail 104 conforming to MIL-STD- 1913/STANAG 2324. Referring to FIG 1 A there is shown a view from the front left - in an imagined direction of fire when a riflescope 1 10 is installed in the mount 100, and the mount is attached onto a firearm's accessory mounting rail 104 - of the sight mount 100 including the 10-degree indexing groove 101.

FIG IB is a view from the rear left of the sight mount 100 when a wedge-shaped indexing tool 106 is placed in the base plate's indexing groove 101 and against the bottom surface of rhe riflescope 1 10.

FIGS 2A-2B illustrate an embodiment of the sight mount 100 for firearms with riflescopes 1 10. The sight mount 100 is in the illustrated embodiment fitted clamping screws 102 so as to be attachable to an accessory mounting rail 104 conforming to MIL-STD-1913/STANAG 2324.

FIG 2A is a view from the front left of the sight mount 100 which includes a 10-degree indexing groove 101. A riflescope 1 10 is installed in the mount and the mount is attached to a firearm's accessory mounting rail 104.

FIG 2B is a view from the rear left of the sight mount when a wedge-shaped indexing tool 106 is placed in the base plate's indexing groove 101 and against the bottom surface of a riflescope 1 10.

The present invention thereby also concerns a method of aligning/indexing a riflescope including the steps of placing a riflescope 1 10 in a mount 100, to fit an

indexing tool, preferably a wedge-shaped tool 106, between the mount 100 and the riflescope 1 10, where the sight mount includes means for guiding the tool.

Claims

1. A sight mount (100) for firearms, arranged to be mounted onto a firearm, the mount being provided with means (101) for guiding a tool (106) between the sight mount and a sight

(1 10) mounted on the sight mount (100), wherein an opically magnifying sight (1 10) may be indexed/aligned against the mount.

2. The sight mount of claim 1 , where the mentioned arrangement includes a hinge.

3. The sight mount of any preceding claim, where the means (101) for guiding comprises a groove (101) in which the tool (106) may be inserted.

4. The sight mount of claim 3, wherein the groove (101) is angled relative to a horizontal plane.

5. A kit for indexing a sight, comprising of a sight mount (100) in accordance to any preceding claim and a tool (106) for indexing the sight (1 10).

6. A tool for indexing a sight (1 10) in a sight mount (100), adapted to be guided by means

(101) for guiding in a sight mount (100) in accordance to any of claims 1 -4.