U.S. patent application number 12/670469 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for adjusting device for a shotgun.
Invention is credited to Torben Iversen.
Application Number | 20100269395 12/670469 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39952569 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100269395 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iversen; Torben |
October 28, 2010 |
ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR A SHOTGUN
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of improving and to an
adjusting device for performing adjustment of the butt of a shotgun
to a specific shooter in order to improve the accuracy of fire. It
has been realized that the adjustment of the butt of a shotgun to
fit a shooter is markedly facilitated through the use of an
adjusting device according to embodiments and methods of the
invention.
Inventors: |
Iversen; Torben; (Sonder
Omme, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN, LLP
20 Church Street, 22nd Floor
Hartford
CT
06103
US
|
Family ID: |
39952569 |
Appl. No.: |
12/670469 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
July 16, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK08/00270 |
371 Date: |
June 28, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/14 20130101;
F41G 1/54 20130101; F41G 1/545 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/112 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/54 20060101
F41G001/54 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 26, 2007 |
DK |
PA 2007 01096 |
Oct 3, 2007 |
DK |
PA 2007 01421 |
Claims
1. Method of improving adjustment of a butt of a shotgun to a
specific shooter in order to improve accuracy of fire comprising
the steps of: positioning and fixing the shotgun by fixing means
facilitating that the rib is aligned precisely towards a target
spot, firing a shot from the fixed position resulting in a shooting
pattern of pellets around the target spot, marking an aiming spot
in the shooting pattern, attaching an adjusting device on the rib
of the shotgun, and adjusting the adjusting device until a sight
track between the aiming surfaces of the adjusting device, a front
bead and the aiming spot is aligned in order to adjust the butt of
the shotgun accordingly.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said method further
comprises the step of placing an oblong rigid object along the
aiming surfaces of the front bead and the adjusting device, the
oblong rigid object extending further above the butt of the shotgun
to indicate a desired height of the aiming eye above the butt in
order to hit a target as desired, whereby a vertical distance
between the oblong rigid object and the butt can be measured and
compared to a cheek distance.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said method further
comprises the step of placing a lateral marking means along the
aiming surface of the front bead and extending further directly
above the butt of the shotgun, in order to facilitate easy and more
exact measurement of a lateral distance between the oblong rigid
object and the butt of said shotgun.
4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said method further
comprises the step of adjusting a vertical distance to correspond
to the cheek distance by any means capable of raising or lowering
at least an upper part of the butt.
5. Method according to claims 1-4, wherein said method further
comprises the step of adjusting a lateral position of at least the
upper part of the butt on the basis of a measured lateral distance
by any means capable of adjusting said lateral position.
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said method further
comprises the step of the shooter taking the shotgun to his
shoulder into his natural firing position, upon which a cheek
distance from an aiming eye to an upper side of the butt is
measured.
7. Adjusting device for adjustment of a butt of a shotgun to a
specific shooter in order to improve accuracy of fire, said
adjusting device comprising: mounting means for mounting said
adjusting device on said shotgun, adjusting means for adjusting a
sight track between an aiming surface of said adjusting device and
a front bead of said shotgun, and an oblong rigid object to
indicate a sight track during adjustment of the butt to facilitate
an easier adjusting process of the butt.
8. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting
device comprises holding means for holding said oblong rigid object
in place in order to facilitate an easier adjusting process.
9. Adjusting device according to claim 8, wherein said holding
means is a notch.
10. Adjusting device according to claim 8, wherein said holding
means comprises a clamp.
11. Adjusting device according to any of the claim 7, wherein the
oblong rigid object is a stick made in a rigid material comprising
at least one of plastic, wood and metal.
12. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein the oblong rigid
object is a telescopic stick in order to be sufficiently prolonged
during use without losing stiffness.
13. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein the oblong rigid
object has a length of at least a distance from a front bead to a
front part of the butt.
14. Adjusting device according to any of the claim 7, wherein one
end of the oblong rigid object comprises a magnet in order to fix
the oblong rigid object to a front end of the rib.
15. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein one end of the
oblong rigid object comprises a string fastening means to
facilitate fastening of a lateral marking means.
16. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting
device comprises a lower element and a changeable element
comprising a notch.
17. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting
device is detachably mounted on the shotgun or on the rib.
18. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting
device is configured to be removed from the shotgun after
adjustment.
19. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said mounting
means comprises means for mounting on a rib of said shotgun.
20. (canceled)
21. Adjusting device according to any of the claim 7, wherein the
adjusting device is held onto a rib of said shotgun by at least one
magnet.
22. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting
device is held onto a rib of said shotgun by squeezing means.
23. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting
means comprises raising means for adjusting a position of said
aiming surface of said adjusting means relative to a rib of said
shotgun.
24. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting
device comprises raising means comprising a base element and an
upper element comprising lifting arms.
25. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting
means comprises sliding means allowing said adjusting device to
slide along barrels of said shotgun.
26. Adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting
device comprises azimuthal means for aiding the shooter reaching an
improved azimuthal aiming of said shotgun.
27. Adjusting device according to claim 26, wherein the azimuthal
means comprises one or more pins, or a notch in the adjusting
device.
28. Adjusting device according to any of the claim 27, wherein the
one or more pins are sideways adjustable.
29. (canceled)
30. A shotgun comprising an adjusting device according to claim
7.
31.-32. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an adjusting device to improve
accuracy of fire for shotguns.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In some countries large effort is put into minimizing the
amount of wounded game. Investigations have shown that in some
areas almost one third of all geese live with pellets in their body
as a result of wounding. In order to lower this shocking number,
the recommended maximum shooting distance was lowered, which proved
to decrease the number of wounded geese. However, the problem of
wounding continues. Among persons skilled in the art there seems to
be consensus that the problem is mainly due to shooters firing at
too large distances and therefore discussions have been on training
shooters even more in abilities to judge distances.
[0003] When a shooter buys a shotgun, it is standard procedure that
the shooter tries the shotgun for a period of time and returns it
to the arms dealer to have it adjusted according to estimations the
arms dealer make by looking at the shooter and according to what
the shooter has experienced when shooting with the shotgun.
Alternatively more expensive shotguns may be bought which involve
the possibility of adjusting e.g. the position of the upper part of
the shotgun relative to the rest of the shotgun, in which way the
shooter may make small adjustments on his own hands, in case he
finds that the shotgun does not hit as precisely as desired.
[0004] Small adjustments made by the arms dealer or the shooter
himself this way help to increase the precision for shotguns and
have done so for several years.
[0005] However, in order to decrease the frequency of wounding of
game during hunting, a very precise adjustment of shotguns is
needed, which is very time-consuming if possible at all through
adjustments as described above. Thus a need exists for a method and
apparatus assisting a shooter in adjusting a shotgun easier and
more precisely than seen in prior art.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,038 discloses a shotgun sighting system
and method. Some problems related to the teaching of this document
are that sufficient precision cannot be obtained and that it may be
difficult to make the adjustments of the shotgun.
[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the
precision of shots fired from a shotgun. It is a further object of
the invention to facilitate easier adjustment of the shotgun.
[0008] Moreover, and as a result of this, it is a further object of
the invention to decrease the frequency of wounding of game during
hunting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to the present invention it has been realized that
an improved precision of shots fired from shotguns may be obtained
fast and easily through adjustment of the shotgun according to
measures done with an adjusting device such as herein
described.
[0010] The invention relates to a method of improving adjustment of
the butt of a shotgun to a specific shooter in order to improve the
accuracy of fire comprising the steps of: [0011] positioning and
fixing the shotgun by fixing means facilitating that the rib is
aligned precisely towards a target spot, [0012] firing a shot from
the fixed position resulting in a shooting pattern of pellets
around the target spot, [0013] marking an aiming spot in the
shooting pattern, [0014] attaching an adjusting device on the rib
of the shotgun, and [0015] adjusting the adjusting device until the
sight track between the aiming surfaces of the adjusting device,
the front bead and the aiming spot is aligned in order to adjust
the butt of the shotgun accordingly.
[0016] It has been realized that the adjustment of the butt of a
shotgun to fit a shooter is markedly facilitated through the use of
an adjusting device according to embodiments of the invention,
which results in an improved accuracy of fire. Through the use of
an adjusting device according to embodiments of the invention, the
shooter will have a greater conformity between the aiming direction
and the shooting direction and the shooter will, if desired, have
decided for himself how the pellet pattern of a shot fired from the
shotgun will be distributed around the aiming direction.
[0017] In a standard method, if the shooter does not desire
otherwise, the pellets from a single shot of an adjusted shotgun
will be distributed in a pellet pattern which relative to the
aiming direction is distributed typically with 1/5 of the pellets
being below the aiming direction and 4/5 of the pellets being above
the aiming direction. Thereby an improved accuracy of fire is
obtained as compared to shooting with a shotgun which has only been
adjusted according to estimates.
[0018] This improvement of individual adjustment of shotguns has
proved to decrease the frequency of wounding of game as a direct
consequence of the improved precision of each shot.
[0019] The adjusting of the adjusting device to align the aiming
surfaces is preferably done by sliding it along the rib or by
adjusting the height/lateral position of the adjusting device.
[0020] With the present invention care is taken to distinguish
between a target spot and an aiming spot. The target spot is where
the rib of the shotgun is pointing whereas the aiming spot is that
spot in the shooting pattern marking where the aiming should be
towards in order to distribute the pellets satisfyingly around the
spot. In the prior art seen, the target spot and the aiming spot
are considered the same, which will not necessarily be the case and
most often at least slight deviations will occur. On the contrary,
the awareness of the difference between the target spot and the
aiming spot is important to observe the improved precision in
accordance with the present invention. The deviation between the
target spot and an average aiming spot may e.g. vary between
different shotgun manufacturers and between different shotguns in a
same series. With the present invention an increased precision has
been observed through firing a shot as part of the adjustment
process together with the further steps as herein described.
[0021] In an embodiment of the invention, said method further
comprises the step of [0022] placing an oblong rigid object along
the aiming surfaces of the front bead and the adjusting device, the
oblong rigid object extending further above the butt of the shotgun
to indicate the desired height of the aiming eye above the butt in
order to hit a target as desired, whereby the vertical distance
between the oblong rigid object and the butt can be measured and
compared to the cheek distance.
[0023] The function of the oblong rigid object is described in more
detail in the detailed description.
[0024] In an embodiment of the invention, said method further
comprises the step of [0025] placing a lateral marking means along
the aiming surface of the front bead and extending further directly
above the butt of the shotgun, in order to facilitate easy and more
exact measurement of the lateral distance between the oblong rigid
object and the butt of said shotgun.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
lateral marking means is a string. In an embodiment of the
invention, the oblong rigid object comprises string fastening means
in one end to facilitate fastening of this string. Preferably the
string fastening means is positioned close to the front bead, when
the oblong rigid object is in position on the shotgun, whereby the
stretched string will mark a line at least essentially going
through the aiming surface of the front bead.
[0027] In an embodiment of the invention, said method further
comprises the step of [0028] adjusting the vertical distance to
correspond to the cheek distance by any means capable of raising or
lowering at least the upper part of the butt.
[0029] In an embodiment of the invention, said method further
comprises the step of [0030] adjusting the lateral position of at
least the upper part of the butt on the basis of the measured
lateral distance by any means capable of adjusting said lateral
position.
[0031] In an embodiment of the invention, said method further
comprises the step of [0032] the shooter taking the shotgun to his
shoulder into his natural firing position, upon which the cheek
distance from the aiming eye to the upper side of the butt is
measured.
[0033] A further advantage according to embodiments of the present
invention is that the shooter needs not be present at the time of
adjustment of the shotgun, in that his cheek distance is all that
is needed. This cheek distance can be measured independently of the
adjustment procedure and may anyhow result in a very precise
adjustment of the butt to the individual user.
[0034] Moreover the invention relates to an adjusting device for
adjustment of the butt of a shotgun to a specific shooter in order
to improve the accuracy of fire, said adjusting device comprises
mounting means for mounting said adjusting device on said
shotgun,
said adjusting device comprises adjusting means for adjusting the
sight track between an aiming surface of said adjusting device and
a front bead of said shotgun, characterized in that said adjusting
device comprises an oblong rigid object to indicate the sight track
during adjustment of the butt to facilitate an easier adjusting
process of the butt.
[0035] When said adjusting device comprises an oblong rigid object
to indicate the sight track, the adjusting process is made much
easier. In this way the oblong rigid object ensures that the line
of sight is at hand all the time during adjustment of the butt of
the shotgun. Hence adjustment e.g. at the arms dealer is
facilitated. This should be seen in comparison to prior art, in
which no indications of ideal positions are present during
adjustment of the butt of the shotgun.
[0036] In the description the oblong rigid object is referred to as
an individual object; however it may also be designated as part of
the adjusting device according to embodiments of the invention.
[0037] In an embodiment of the invention, said adjusting device
comprises holding means for holding said oblong rigid object in
place in order to facilitate an easier adjusting process.
[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the oblong rigid
object is by any holding means held in place on the shotgun during
adjustment of the butt. The holding means may be formed in any
conventional manner, such as be provided by a rough surface,
adhesive, tape, side walls, a notch etc.
[0039] In an embodiment of the invention, said holding means is a
notch.
[0040] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the holding
means is a notch in the adjusting device in order to facilitate
easy attaching/detaching.
[0041] In an embodiment of the invention, said holding means
comprises a clamp.
[0042] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the
holding means comprises a clamp in the adjusting device in order to
facilitate easy attaching/detaching.
[0043] In an embodiment of the invention, the oblong rigid object
is a stick made in a rigid material such as plastic, wood or
metal.
[0044] It is noted that part of the functionality of the oblong
rigid object could be carried out by a string; however a rigid
object is preferred.
[0045] In an embodiment of the invention, the oblong rigid object
is a telescopic stick in order to be sufficiently prolonged during
use without losing the stiffness.
[0046] In an embodiment of the invention, the oblong rigid object
has a length of at least the distance from the front bead to the
front part of the butt.
[0047] Preferably the length of the oblong rigid object is suitable
for indicating the sight track throughout the distance from the
front bead to the back of the butt. In an embodiment of the
invention said oblong rigid object is at least 50 cm long.
[0048] In an embodiment of the invention, one end of the oblong
rigid object comprises a magnet in order to fix the oblong rigid
object to the front end of the rib.
[0049] The end of the oblong rigid object will typically by the aid
of a magnet be fixed behind and abut the front bead in order to
indicate the line of sight.
[0050] In an embodiment of the invention, one end of the oblong
rigid object comprises a string fastening means to facilitate
fastening of a lateral marking means.
[0051] A lateral marking means, such as a string, may be used to
facilitate more easy and exact measurement of the lateral distance
between the oblong rigid object and the butt of said shotgun, in
that the lateral marking means can be used to mark the lateral
position of the butt in the same plane as the oblong rigid
object.
[0052] In order to fasten the string in the front bead end of the
oblong rigid object, a string fastening means, such as a spike, a
small dowel, a hook, or any other means capable of fastening a
string.
[0053] In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device
comprises a lower element and a changeable element comprising a
notch.
[0054] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention a number of
different elements with varying heights and widths may be used as a
changeable element on top of a lower element of the adjusting
device. Hereby that element, which suits the required vertical and
lateral adjustment the best, can be mounted on the lower element.
This mounting can be done in any conventional way, such as by
sliding into a groove in the lower element.
[0055] In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device is
detachably mounted on the shotgun.
[0056] Therefore the adjusting device may be mounted and used for
the purpose of adjusting the shotgun and then afterwards be
detached again before using the shotgun for shooting. Alternatively
the adjusting device may be mounted and used for the purpose of
adjusting the shotgun and then be retained on the shotgun during
shooting.
[0057] In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device is
removed from the shotgun after adjustment.
[0058] The aiming surface of the adjusting device will typically be
an upwardly pointing surface relative to the normal holding
position of a shotgun. In some embodiments of the invention, the
aiming surface is an upper surface of the adjusting device.
[0059] With the term shooter as used herein may be understood
shooter, hunter, huntsman or the like.
[0060] The terms "sight track" and "line of sight" are both used to
indicate a track between points. With the term "sight track" it may
however be clearer that an aiming eye does not necessarily need to
be a part of the track in order for the term to make sense.
[0061] In an embodiment of the invention, said mounting means
comprises means for mounting on a rib of said shotgun.
[0062] Preferably the adjusting device is mounted directly on the
rib of the shotgun. Almost all shotguns are equipped with a rib,
some ribs are parallel to the barrels and some ribs are slightly
inclining relative to the barrels, however common for all is that
the rib is manufactured such that the adjusting devices according
to embodiments of the invention may be mounted on the rib. The
mounting may be carried out in any conventional way, such as the
manufacturing of the adjusting device in a size fitting exactly the
rib of the shotgun or maybe manufacturing the adjusting device in a
slightly elastic material in order for the adjusting device to grip
around the rib or tying a line around the barrels to hold the
adjusting device. Some embodiments of mounting means are described
more in detail later. It is important to notice that the examples
mentioned should be considered solely as illustrative and not as
limiting for the scope of the invention.
[0063] In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device is
detachably mounted on the rib.
[0064] The word detachably here holds the same meaning as
above.
[0065] In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device is
held onto a rib of said shotgun by at least one magnet.
[0066] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the attaching of
the adjusting device is carried out by means of magnets. This
ensures that one adjusting device will be able to fit any shotgun
regardless of the width of the rib of the shotgun. Moreover magnets
facilitate an easy attachment to the rib and adjustment of the
adjusting device on the rib can be done simply by sliding the
adjusting device along the rib.
[0067] In an embodiment of the invention, said adjusting device is
held onto a rib of said shotgun by squeezing means.
[0068] The squeezing means may be a suitable material of which at
least a part of the adjusting device is made, i.e. plastic, rubber
or metal.
[0069] In an embodiment of the invention, said adjusting means
comprises raising means for adjusting the position of said aiming
surface of said adjusting means relative to a rib of said
shotgun.
[0070] In one embodiment of the adjusting device the adjusting
means comprises raising means, capable of enlarging the effective
height of the aiming surface of the adjusting device above the rib.
These raising means may carry out the height adjustment in any
conventional manner such as providing lifting arms with teeth and
turning a knob connected to a threaded pin, producing lifting arms
in a soft material such that they can remain fixed at a certain
height or any other way. It is important to notice that the
examples mentioned should be considered solely as illustrative and
not as limiting for the scope of the invention.
[0071] In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device
comprises raising means comprising a base element and an upper
element comprising lifting arms.
[0072] The base element is mounted on the rib and the upper element
is displaceably mounted on the base element through lifting arms
fixed on the upper element.
[0073] In an embodiment of the invention, said adjusting means
comprises sliding means allowing said adjusting device to slide
along the barrels of said shotgun.
[0074] In another embodiment of the invention the adjusting device
is capable of sliding along the barrels while still being mounted
on the shotgun. The sliding may as well and in most embodiments
happen along the rib of said shotgun. These sliding means may be
provided by manufacturing the adjusting device in a material that
does not stick to the rib of the shotgun. It is important to notice
that the example mentioned should be considered solely as
illustrative and not as limiting for the scope of the
invention.
[0075] In an embodiment of the invention, said adjusting device
comprises azimuthal means for aiding the shooter reaching an
improved azimuthal aiming of said shotgun.
[0076] In an embodiment of the invention, the azimuthal means
comprises one or more pins.
[0077] In an embodiment of the invention, the azimuthal means
comprises one centre pin positioned perpendicularly to the aiming
surface of the adjusting device.
[0078] In an embodiment of the invention, the azimuthal means
comprises two pins positioned perpendicularly to the aiming surface
of the adjusting device.
[0079] In an embodiment of the invention, the one or more pins are
sideways adjustable.
[0080] In an embodiment of the invention, said azimuthal means
comprises a notch in the adjusting device.
[0081] Moreover the invention relates to a shotgun comprising an
adjusting device according to any of the claims 7-29.
[0082] A shotgun comprising an adjusting device according to
embodiments of the invention is improved in that an improved
precision of shots fired from the shotgun may be obtained, either
following adjustment of the shotgun by the aid of the adjusting
device or by using the retained adjusting device as kind of
substitute for a rear sight on the shotgun.
[0083] With the term shotgun as used herein may be understood
shotgun, sporting gun, hunting gun, fowling piece or the like,
provided that the gun is a type from which a single shot contains a
number of pellets, such as 1-900. The shotgun may be any brand and
should not be limited to certain types of shotguns as the adjusting
device such as herein described may be used on any known kind of
shotguns, with a possible variation in the width of the adjusting
device as the only necessary amendment in order to suit the varying
widths of ribs on different brands of shotguns.
[0084] Moreover, the invention relates to a use of an adjusting
device according to any of the claims 7-29 on a shotgun.
[0085] Adjustment of the shotgun is carried out through the use of
the adjusting device according to embodiments of the invention on a
shotgun.
[0086] The adjusting device according to embodiments of the
invention is designed for use with a shotgun, which may either be
during the process of adjustment of the shotgun and/or following an
adjustment process. The use of the adjusting device is especially
suitable for pellet-firing weapons which do typically not have a
rear sight, and individual adjustment for each shooter is therefore
important.
[0087] Moreover, the invention relates to a method of adjusting the
butt of a shotgun to a specific shooter in order to improve the
accuracy of fire by way of an adjusting device according to any of
the claims 7-29.
THE DRAWINGS
[0088] The invention will now de described more in detail with
reference to the drawings of which
[0089] FIGS. 1a-1k show different embodiments of an adjusting
device according to the invention,
[0090] FIGS. 2a-2c show further different embodiments of an
adjusting device according to the invention,
[0091] FIG. 3 shows a shotgun according to an embodiment of the
invention,
[0092] FIGS. 4a and 4b show examples of distributions of pellets
resulting from a shot of a shotgun, and
[0093] FIGS. 5 and 6 show steps in a method of adjusting a shotgun
using an adjusting device according to an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0094] Shotguns are especially useful for firing at short ranges
and do typically not comprise adjustable sights as an integral part
of the gun, because speed at aiming is of higher importance than
precision in aiming. This is the case because a typical situation
may be a hunter faced with a fast-moving target at a distance of
around 20 m, or at least below 35 m. In this situation the spending
of time on fixing the sight possibly through both a front and a
rear sight would often cause the target to have time to escape.
[0095] Hence the majority of shotguns are produced on large scale
with standard measures with the fitting of sights being limited to
typically once within the first year of ownership, when the arms
dealer adjusts the butt of the shotgun according to best estimates,
i.e. typically large deviations are corrected only. In this way a
shooter's shotgun typically will have a shooting direction
deviating at least a little bit from his aiming direction. However,
this deviation may often be small enough that a number of pellets
may still hit in proximity of the aiming spot and the shooter will
for most targets not discover that the shooting and aiming
direction does not completely correspond to each other.
[0096] However, this small difference in aiming and shooting
direction may be of crucial importance. For example, if the
majority of the pellets are positioned below the aiming direction
for the shotgun, a very precise aiming may result in a clean kill
of an animal, but aiming at fast-moving targets the aiming is often
displaced slightly and in the example here a shot that goes lower
than desired may result in a bad result, i.e. wounding of a game is
very likely to occur.
[0097] In order to avoid wounding, it is therefore extremely
important that the shooter is well aware of how the pellets at a
target will be distributed around the aiming direction as well as
that he can trust that the aiming direction and the shooting
direction are substantially the same. A standard desired
distribution of pellets in a shot fired from a shotgun is 4/5 of
the pellets above the aiming direction and 1/5 of the pellets below
the aiming direction. However such a pattern may be adjusted
according to the desires of the individual shooter, which is of no
problem as long as the shooter is aware of how the pattern looks
and accounts for that when shooting.
[0098] As mentioned it is important to ensure improved conformity
between an aiming direction and a shooting direction of a shotgun,
which is dealt with through a precise adjustment of the butt of the
shotgun suitable for the individual shooter, whereby the pellet
pattern will be more precisely distributed and the shooter will hit
targets more precisely when firing a shotgun and thereby lowering
the frequency of wounding of game during hunting.
[0099] How an improved conformity between the aiming direction and
the shooting direction is obtained will now be described more in
detail.
[0100] Shotgun sights differ significantly from the sights used on
rifles and other firearms. Since a shotgun fires a pattern of
pellets rather than a single slug, speed of aiming and pointing are
generally more important than precise accuracy. For example, bird
hunting, and trap shooting both demand aiming at comparatively
close, fast-moving targets, as opposed to rifle shooting where the
target is usually at a longer range and the angular rate of
movement is much slower.
[0101] Because of these different requirements, the sights used on
other types of long arms are generally unsuitable for shotguns. For
example, conventional iron sights for rifles generally have an open
or "peep" rear sight on the receiver and a bead at the muzzle end
of the barrel, the goal being to achieve very precise adjustment in
both elevation and azimuth. However, this arrangement requires
comparatively slow and deliberate aiming, and moreover the sight
picture is comparatively small, so that these types of sights are
generally ill-suited for use on shotguns. Telescopic rifle sights
can achieve even greater accuracy, but for similar reasons they too
are unsuitable for use on shotguns (except for deer hunting and
other specialized applications where the gun fires a single slug as
opposed to a pattern of pellets).
[0102] Shotgun sights, by contrast, ordinarily lack a rear sight
aperture. Instead, there is usually a rib along the top of the
barrel (or between the barrels in the case of a side-by-side), with
a small bead being mounted at the forward end of the rib. This
arrangement permits extremely fast aiming when firing at close,
fast moving targets and due to the closeness of the target, the
pattern of pellets ensure that often at least some of the pellets
will hit the target as long as the aiming is approximately in the
right direction and hence often it is not a big deal whether the
aiming direction and the shooting direction is not exactly the
same.
[0103] Being satisfied with a precision wherein at least some of
the pellets will hit the target may actually often be the reason
why wounding occurs. If a shot is fired in a slightly different
direction as desired it is obvious that the shot will still hit
when the distance is kept low, which conform with the known method
of avoiding wounding, namely lowering the distances from which game
may be shot at.
[0104] However, by improving the precision of each shot
improvements may be seen not only on the low distances but also on
the distances traditionally used for shotguns, i.e. up to 35 m.
Thereby clean kills occur more frequently and wounding of game
occurs less frequently.
[0105] As mentioned, large deviations between shooting and aiming
direction may be dealt with at the arms dealer at present on the
basis of estimations. In order to deal with the small deviations
some shooters have been training their abilities on making small
corrections in their aiming direction of the shotgun in order to
obtain a desired shooting direction. However in the case of a
fast-moving target suddenly appearing, a very quick reaction from
the shooter is required, and this training may easily be forgotten
and the natural firing position will lead to a shot being fired in
a shooting direction governed by an aiming direction towards the
target, which as previously explained may not always hit as
desired.
[0106] With an adjusting device and methods of adjustment according
to embodiments of the invention, the shooters have achieved an
ideal possibility to improve their accuracy of fire for shots from
a shotgun. The adjusting device and a method of adjusting the butt
of a shotgun according to a specific shooter is shown and explained
through examples here below.
Example 1
Embodiments of the Adjusting Device
[0107] Different embodiments of adjusting devices according to
embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 1a-1k and 2a-2c.
The embodiments shown should not be interpreted as limiting but
only indicative on how adjusting devices according to embodiments
of the invention may look.
[0108] An embodiment of an adjusting device according to the
invention is shown in FIG. 1a. The adjusting device comprises a
horizontal part 11 and two vertical parts 10, the vertical parts 10
arranged in order to grip around the sides of the rib of the
shotgun, and the lower surface of the horizontal part 11 arranged
in order to abut the upper surface of the rib of the shotgun. The
distance between the vertical parts 10 is indicated in FIG. 1a with
the letter d, the adjusting device may in some embodiments be
manufactured with this distance d adjusted to fit the width of the
rib of the shotgun.
[0109] Another embodiment of an adjusting device according to the
invention is shown in FIG. 1b. The adjusting device comprises a
horizontal part 11 and two vertical parts 12, the vertical parts 12
being adjusted as compared to the vertical parts 10 of FIG. 1a. The
indicated slight inclination of the inner sides of the vertical
parts 12 is indicating that at least the vertical parts 12 of an
adjusting device according to an embodiment of the invention may be
made in a flexible material, whereby the distance between the two
vertical parts 12 may vary and therefore two identical adjusting
devices may be used for shotguns with different width of the
ribs.
[0110] In another embodiment of the invention, which may be
combined with the embodiment above, the horizontal part 11 may be
made in a flexible material, such that the horizontal part 11 may
be stretched to be used on different widths of shotguns.
[0111] Yet another embodiment of an adjusting device according to
the invention is shown in FIG. 1c. In this embodiment the adjusting
device is split into a horizontal base element 13 with vertical
parts 14 and an upper element 15 comprising lifting arms 16. On the
base element a knob 17 is mounted through the turning of which the
upper element 15 may be raised or lowered relatively to the base
element 13. This embodiment may be carried out in any conventional
manner e.g. with the aid of teeth, threaded pins and/or the like.
Moreover this embodiment may be carried out through the use of
suitable choice of material to ease the height handling
adjustment.
[0112] Yet a further embodiment of an adjusting device according to
the invention is shown in FIG. 1d. and the same seen from the side
in FIG. 1e. In this embodiment the mounting means is two magnets 18
capable of attaching the adjusting device on top of the rib of a
shotgun. The adjusting device of this embodiment comprises a
replaceable aiming part 19, comprising a horizontal part 19a
suitable for acting as an aiming surface and optionally side parts
19b suitable for ensuring azimuthally precision as described in
further details below and holding the stick during adjustment.
[0113] Further embodiments of an adjusting device according to the
invention are shown in FIGS. 1f-1k. In these embodiments the
mounting means is two magnets 18 capable of attaching the adjusting
device on top of the rib of a shotgun, wherein the magnets are
placed in a lower element 100 comprising a groove 101. Depending on
how large vertical and lateral adjustments are necessary for the
individual shotgun, a number of different changeable elements will
according to this embodiment be part of a kit in combination with
the lower element 100. Different widths and heights of this
changeable element are within the scope of the invention.
[0114] Two examples of such changeable elements 102 and 105 are
shown in FIGS. 1h and 1j and the same seen from the side in FIGS.
1i and 1k. The changeable elements have bottoms 103 and 106 shaped
in order to fit the groove 101 of the lower element 100. Moreover
the changeable elements have a notch 104 and 107, which during the
adjustment steps will serve as aiming surface and, upon mounting
the stick, as holding means for this.
[0115] A shooter with a very high cheek distance may find a need
for a higher aiming part 19 than a shooter with a normal cheek
distance. The use of a replaceable aiming part 19 ensures that any
shooter, regardless of the individual cheek distance, will be able
to use the adjusting device according to embodiments of the
invention.
[0116] FIGS. 2a-2c show embodiments corresponding to the
embodiments in FIGS. 1a-1c, wherein the adjusting device further
comprises two pins 20 placed essentially vertically on top of the
adjusting device. If retaining the adjusting device on the shotgun
during shooting, these pins 20 will help the shooter to have a
better indication whether his aiming is azimuthally precise.
[0117] In further embodiments, not shown in the figures, the pins
20 may be sideways adjustable by any conventional means, whereby
any sideways difference between aiming direction and shooting
direction may be corrected in the same way as explained herein for
the height adjustment.
Example 2
Adjustment of a Shotgun to a Specific Shooter
[0118] A method according to an embodiment of the invention of
adjusting a shotgun by the aid of an adjusting device according to
an embodiment of the invention will be described here below with
reference to FIGS. 3-6.
[0119] In a first step the shooter, for whom the shotgun 30 is to
be adjusted, takes the shotgun 30 to his shoulder into his natural
firing position by which a cheek distance 36 from the aiming eye 35
to the upper side of the butt 31 can be measured as indicated in
FIG. 3. The definition of a cheek distance and how to measure it
will be explained more in detail later. In a natural firing
position a shooter will point the barrel 32 in the aiming direction
by using the front bead 34 and the rib 33 as aid for aiming.
[0120] In a second step the shotgun is positioned and fixed by
fixing means facilitating that the rib is aligned precisely towards
a target spot 40, which is indicated on e.g. a sheet of cardboard
43. The fixing may be any fixing means known in the art, such as a
screw clamp or the like. The precise aligning towards the target
spot 40 is carried out by holding the eye in complete alignment
with the rib 56, i.e. holding the eye precisely low enough to not
being able to see the upper surface of the rib 56 but being able to
see the front bead 51 and make the front bead 51 align exactly with
the target spot 40. The fixed position of the shotgun should be
kept throughout the next steps in order to ensure an exact
adjustment.
[0121] In a third step a shot is fired from the fixed position
towards the target spot 40 from a distance of approximately 20 m.
The number of pellets will then be readably distributed around the
target spot 40 in a shooting pattern 42 as indicated in FIG. 4a.
Obviously the pellets will create a shooting pattern 42 consisting
of distinct points; however the majority of the pellets will
normally lie within an area as indicated with 42. The distance of
approximately 20 m should not be considered limiting for the
invention, but may vary within a normal shooting range.
[0122] In a fourth step an aiming spot 41 is marked on the sheet.
The purpose of the aiming spot 41 is that the shooter can indicate
how he would like the shooting pattern 42 to be distributed around
a certain aiming spot 41. Therefore, after adjustment of the
shotgun 50 using an adjusting device 52 according to an embodiment
of the invention, a shooting pattern from the adjusted shotgun 50
by an aimed shot towards the aiming spot 41 from the shooter will
be distributed in the same way as the shooting pattern 42 is
distributed around the aiming spot 41.
[0123] Another example of a shooting pattern 45 and corresponding
aiming spot 44 is indicated in FIG. 4b. In this situation a need
for both a height and a lateral adjustment of the butt is
relevant.
[0124] The aiming spot 41 relative to the shooting pattern 42 may
obviously be set as desired by the individual shooter. As standard,
this aiming spot 41 should be placed inside the shooting pattern 42
with approximately 1/5 of the shooting pattern area positioned
below the aiming spot and approximately 4/5 of the shooting pattern
area positioned above the aiming spot due to an increased tendency
of aiming too low rather than too high when shooting with a shotgun
towards a fast-moving target.
[0125] It should be noted that although the distribution of 1/5
below and app. 4/5 above the aiming spot is typical, some shooters
prefer this distribution to be different, such as having almost the
full shooting pattern placed above the aiming spot, i.e. the aiming
spot is marked on or even below the bottom border of the shooting
pattern 42. Several such adjustments of the shooting pattern around
the aiming spot are possible depending on how the individual
shooter feels most comfortable when shooting.
[0126] In a fifth step the adjusting device is attached on the rib
56 of the shotgun 50. Usually shotguns are equipped with a rib 56
along the top of the barrel 57, the width of which varies from
brand to brand, however typically it is between 5 and 15 mm. The
adjusting device 52 may be manufactured with a certain distance d
as seen in FIG. 1a in order to fit to the specific brand or it may
be manufactured with flexible means as was explained with reference
to FIG. 1b such that a range of rib widths may be covered with the
same adjusting device 52. Further and preferably the adjusting
device is attached with e.g. magnets as explained with reference to
FIGS. 1d-1g.
[0127] In a sixth step the adjusting device 52 is adjusted by
sliding it along the rib 56 or by adjusting the height of the
adjusting device 52 (depending on the specific adjusting device 52
used) until the sight track 54 between the aiming surfaces of the
adjusting device 52, the front bead 51 and the aiming spot 41 is
aligned as indicated in FIG. 5.
[0128] When using the adjusting device as disclosed in FIGS. 1f-1k,
a suitable changeable element 102 or 105 is selected and mounted on
the lower element 100 and then the sliding adjustment is carried
out. Obviously the changeable element 102 or 105 may be changed
during adjustment in case another changeable element 102 or 105
turns out to cover the necessary adjustments in vertical and
lateral directions better.
[0129] A further advantage by using an adjusting device as
disclosed in FIGS. 1f-1k is that the required lateral adjustment of
the adjusting device may be carried out by adjusting the position
of the changeable element 102 or 105 in the groove 101; hence the
magnets 18 may be maintained in the center of the rib and thereby
maintain their firm grip on the rib even through a relatively large
lateral adjustment.
[0130] When performing the method as described, the same distance
as in the third step (e.g. approximately 20 m) should be held
between the shotgun 50 and the aiming spot 41 in order for the
pellets to be distributed and any deviation between shooting
direction and aiming direction to be clear. This distance is
truncated in FIG. 5 in order to show the relevant parts clearly.
Through this sixth step it is obtained that it is clear from the
line between the aiming surface of the adjusting device 52 and the
front bead 51 at which height the specific shooter should keep his
aiming eye 53 above the butt 58 in order for the shotgun to hit
around the aiming spot 41 as desired in the previous step.
[0131] In a seventh step an oblong rigid object 60, such as a
stick, is placed along the aiming surfaces of the front bead 51 and
the adjusting device 52, the stick 60 extends further above the
butt 58 of the shotgun following the line of sight 54 found in last
step. Hereby the stick indicates the height 55 above the butt 58,
in which the aiming eye 53 should be held in order to hit the
aiming spot 41 as desired. The vertical distance 55 between the
stick and the butt 58 can then be measured and compared to the
cheek distance 36 as measured in the first step. In FIG. 5 the
aiming eye 53 is indicated at the height desired in order to obtain
an improved accuracy of fire, from which the height 55 is easily
read with the use of e.g. the stick 60. With reference number 61 is
indicated the height of the cheek distance above the butt 58,
whereby the difference in the cheek distance 36 between height 61
and the butt 58 and the desired vertical distance 55 is easily
seen.
[0132] In an eighth step a string (not shown) is attached to the
end of the stick close to the front bead. This string is stretched
along the rib and butt and kept in the same plane as the stick,
whereby the necessary lateral adjustment can be read off.
[0133] In a ninth step, the vertical distance 55 is adjusted to
match the previously measured cheek distance 36. This means that at
least the upper surface of the butt 58 of the shotgun 50 is raised
or lowered until the vertical distance between the line of stick 60
and the butt 58 corresponds to the measured cheek distance 36.
Likewise any necessary lateral adjustment found in the eighth step
is made by laterally adjusting the butt 58.
[0134] A particular advantage in using a stick 60 is that after
adjustment of the adjusting device 52, the arms dealer is able to
see the line of sight suiting the shotgun to be adjusted, and the
arms dealer can then adjust the butt 58 correspondingly without the
need for the shooter to be present.
[0135] The raising or lowering and lateral adjustment of the butt
may be carried out by any means capable of doing so. The standard
method used for the majority of shotguns will be well-known to the
person skilled in the art, i.e. the adjustment of the complete butt
relative to the barrels is carried out by applying hot oil to the
relevant part of the butt whereby it becomes possible to twist the
butt sufficiently to adjust the shotgun as desired. Some shotguns,
typically the more expensive ones, offer the possibility of
adjusting the butt in other ways such as by being manufactured with
a two-part butt, wherein the upper part of the butt may be adjusted
separately relative to the main part of the butt. Further such
possibilities may be seen within the art. These possibilities are
built into the shotguns in order for the shooter by himself trying
to make small adjustments in order to obtain a better precision in
case he has a feeling that a small adjustment is necessary. With
the adjusting device according to embodiments of the invention the
shooter will know exactly how much the upper part of the butt
should be raised and in that way the shooter will partly be able to
adjust the shotgun himself without the use of hot oil. Other ways
of adjusting at least the upper part of the butt well-known to the
person skilled in the art are within the scope of the
invention.
[0136] It should be noted that in a further method of adjusting a
shotgun by using an embodiment of an adjusting device according to
the invention, it may be relevant in the raising or lowering of the
butt to adjust the angling of the upper surface of the butt and not
only a single point where the cheek distance is measured.
[0137] The steps as set forth in the above example of a method of
adjusting a shotgun by the aid of an adjusting device according to
embodiments of the invention should not be considered as limiting
for how the adjustment should be carried out. Some additional steps
may be added, some steps may be omitted, and some steps may be
reversed.
[0138] The method of adjusting a shotgun as just described is very
advantageous, e.g. in that the majority of steps may be carried out
already at manufacturing of the shotgun. That means that shotguns
adjusted according to embodiments of the invention at manufacturing
may be shipped to arms dealers with a label telling which vertical
distance 55 identifies this exact shotgun. A simple measuring of an
individual shooter's cheek distance at the arms dealer will then
tell whether a shotgun fits directly to the individual shooter or
exactly how much the butt should be adjusted.
[0139] Moreover an adjusting device according to embodiments of the
invention allows the possibility of the individual shooter with a
shotgun to find out exactly how the aiming and shooting of his
shotgun corresponds and by himself make an adjustment or bring the
information to an arms dealer for adjustment.
[0140] How the cheek distance is defined and measured should be
clear from the following.
[0141] Standard shotguns have no rear sight opening to look
through; hence proper elevation of the barrel is typically sought
through the shooter keeping his aiming eye closely level with the
rib, usually with the cheek held against the upper surface of the
butt.
[0142] Therefore, the upper surface of the butt of the shotgun is
what defines how a shooter will naturally place the shotgun when
aiming. Even though this placing of the shotgun of course may be
varied, e.g. in order to obtain a better precision as in prior art,
there is a clear tendency that each person as a starting point will
place the upper surface of the butt in the same position on the
cheek or maybe chin unless doing otherwise on purpose. Therefore,
as contrary to trying to make small variations in this position as
in prior art to search for better precision, it is important to
ensure that when a shooter takes his shotgun into his individual
natural position, the shooting direction corresponds to the aiming
direction.
[0143] In order to use the adjusting device as described herein, a
distance which will be specific for the individual shooter is
needed. This so-called cheek distance is found by measuring the
distance from the shooter's eye to the upper surface of the butt of
the shotgun, when the shooter holds the shotgun in his natural
firing position. A shooters natural firing position may be defined
as the position wherein it feels natural and comfortable to hold
the shotgun for shooting. Typically the mentioned distance is
measured perpendicularly to the barrels as indicated in FIG. 3;
however other references used may still result in improved
precision and are therefore within the scope of the invention, such
as perpendicularly to the butt or the like.
[0144] The cheek distance may be different from person to person
both due to different shapes of face and body and due to different
persons' individual ways to hold a shotgun in a natural firing
position. However the important fact is that the cheek distance is
a constant for the individual person and therefore an excellent
parameter to use as starting point for adjusting the shotgun.
[0145] In some embodiments of the invention, the adjusting device
is provided with azimuthal means.
[0146] In an embodiment of the invention the azimuthal means
comprises a single pin centered on the aiming surface of the
adjusting device. In another embodiment the azimuthal means
comprises a notch in the adjusting device. Within the context of
this document the terms azimuthal and lateral may both be used to
indicate the sideways adjusting and/or aiming of the shotgun.
[0147] In an embodiment of the invention, the azimuthal means
comprises two pins extending perpendicularly on the adjusting
device as seen in FIGS. 2a-2c.
[0148] In another embodiment of the invention the two pins
extending perpendicularly on the adjusting device may be adjustable
sideways relative to the adjusting device.
[0149] Thereby small corrections sideways may be adjusted in the
same way as described for height corrections above, following the
same methods as already described. Obviously this may be performed
simultaneously with and as integrated in the method already
described for adjusting the butt of a shotgun. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the sideways adjusting is carried out
with an adjusting device as seen in FIGS. 1f-1k.
[0150] However, even with sideways aiming satisfyingly adjusted, a
limitation of shotgun sights stems from the comparatively rapid
angular movement of the target. As has been described above,
conventional rib-and-bead sights allow for rapid acquisition of a
fast-moving target. However, the rapid movement of the target also
means that the shooter must "lead" the target by aiming along its
projected path, and conventional sights provide little or nothing
in the way of a visual reference by which the shooter can
accurately judge the line of flight and thereby determine a proper
lead angle.
[0151] This problem may be remedied by retaining the adjusting
device provided with azimuthal means on the rib of the shotgun,
whereby the pin(s) or notch may be used as an indicator on how the
present azimuthal adjustment of the aiming is.
[0152] By having the shotgun adjusted with the help of the
adjusting device according to embodiments of the invention, the
aiming eye of the shooter will naturally be held at the proper
elevation relative to the rib and front bead when using a shotgun
without the need of the shooter himself to correct after placing
the shotgun in his natural firing position.
[0153] Moreover with the use of the adjusting device according to
embodiments of the invention, a method and apparatus that does not
interfere with the ability of the shooter to rapidly acquire the
target and point the shotgun when using rib-and-bead sights has
been obtained.
[0154] Still further a method of adjusting a shotgun with the help
of an adjusting device has been obtained, which is sufficiently
reliable and which is sufficiently inexpensive to manufacture that
it can be made widely available to shooters.
* * * * *