U.S. patent application number 14/060257 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-23 for firearm sighting assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is John Douglas Hurley. Invention is credited to John Douglas Hurley.
Application Number | 20150107147 14/060257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52824924 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150107147 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hurley; John Douglas |
April 23, 2015 |
Firearm Sighting Assembly
Abstract
The present invention is an attachment for a firearm that allows
an observer to assist a shooter in acquiring a target.
Specifically, the firearm includes a scope or an iron sight. The
attachment includes a body that can be attached to the firearm with
a scope ring; the body includes a base and a top portion arranged
so that the attachment can extend at about a 45 degree angle from
the firearm yet hold a scope or other attachment level with
horizontal and off-set from the firearm's sighting device. Once
sighted in, the observer may use the scope mounted on the
attachment to view exactly the same field as the firearm user sees
through the firearm's sighting device, for the purpose of assisting
the shooter.
Inventors: |
Hurley; John Douglas;
(Mystic, IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hurley; John Douglas |
Mystic |
IA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52824924 |
Appl. No.: |
14/060257 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/113 ; 42/111;
42/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 11/003
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/113 ; 42/111;
42/125 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/387 20060101
F41G001/387; F41G 1/35 20060101 F41G001/35; F41G 1/00 20060101
F41G001/00 |
Claims
1. A firearm sighting assembly comprising a sight mount having
attachments means for orienting the sighting device in an offset
position from a pre-existing sighting system mounted on a
firearm.
2. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the preexisting
sighting system is an iron sight.
3. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the preexisting
sighting system is a scope.
4. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly
further comprises a scope ring for mounting the assembly to said
preexisting sighting system.
5. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 4 further comprising a
red-dot sighting device.
6. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 4 further comprising a
non-magnified sighting device.
7. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 1 wherein said offset
position is between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees from the
preexisting sighting system.
8. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 7 wherein said sight
mount comprises a top portion having an attachment means, a body,
and a lower portion.
9. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 8 further comprising a
scope ring wherein said top portion comprises a picatinny rail
attachment means compatible with a standard Weaver base.
10. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 9, said assembly
oriented about 45 degrees offset from said pre-existing sighting
system.
11. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 1 wherein said sight
mount comprises single-piece construction.
12. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 7, said assembly having
a top portion comprising a picatinny rail attachment means angled
to run level with a horizontal axis and off-set to said preexisting
sighting system when said sighting assembly is associated with the
firearm.
13. A firearm sighting assembly comprising a top portion having an
attachment means, a body, and a bottom portion comprising a Weaver
style base.
14. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 13 further comprising a
scope ring.
15. A method of using the firearm sighting assembly of claim 14
comprising associating the scope ring with a firearm having a
barrel upon which is mounted a scope, and detachably attaching the
bottom portion of the firearm sighting assembly to the scope
ring.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said attachment means comprises
a picatinny rail system and the method further comprises detachably
connecting a non-magnified sighting device with the picatinny rail
attachment means.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said said body of the firearm
sighting assembly is oriented at about a 45 degree angle to a plane
running through the barrel and the scope.
18. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 15 wherein said bottom
portion of the firearm assembly comprises an angle with the body
causing said body and said top portion to extend from a plane
running through the barrel and the scope at about a 45 degree
angle.
19. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 13 further comprising
associating one of a scope, light, or video camera with said
attachment means and associating the bottom portion with a Weaver
attachment means on a firearm.
20. The firearm sighting assembly of claim 9 wherein said bottom
portion comprises a Weaver style base associated with said scope
ring.
21. A method of using the firearm sighting assembly of claim 14
comprising associating the scope ring with a firearm having a
barrel, and detachably attaching the bottom portion of the firearm
sighting assembly to the scope ring, positioning said firearm
sighting assembly off-set from a generally horizontal plane running
through the barrel between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims
priority to utility patent application Ser. No. 61/717,586 filed
Oct. 23, 2012.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to shooting aids in general
and, more specifically, to firearm sighting assemblies and methods
for use.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, a firearm is equipped with an aid to the shooter
for accurately aiming the weapon at the target. Often the weapon is
equipped with an "iron sight" which is simply a small plate with a
cut or "v" in its upper edge and oriented perpendicular to the
direction of travel of the round. The user adjusts the weapon so
that he sees the target through the "v" and then shoots. Iron
sights are simple, and quick to use. They also do not cause
reduction in accuracy due to low ambient light. Firearms may also,
or alternatively, be equipped with a scope, which may or may not
magnify a small area in which a target may be present. Where a
scope is employed, the user again adjusts the weapon so that he
sees the target through the scope, and then shoots. Magnification
of the shooting area assists the shooter to acquire his target from
further range. Low ambient light may cause a scope to be difficult
to use. Further, acquiring the target in the scope can be
challenging in certain conditions and to novice users.
[0004] Hunting and target shooting have become great hobbies for
many people. Hunters often go on trips to hunt specific game, and
spend hours finding and acquiring hunting gear and firearms.
Further, the thrill of the hunt is often something generations wish
to pass to succeeding generations. Often a parent teaches his or
her child how to shoot a firearm, including how to find and acquire
a target.
[0005] Typically, the hunting parent assists his child in learning
how to assemble, clean, and discharge the weapon. And, while it is
not difficult to show the learner how to disassemble and reassemble
a firearm, or how to adequately clean and store a rifle or other
weapon, when it comes to acquiring a target through the weapon's
site or scope, to a large degree, the learner is on his own. The
best a parent can do is show the child how to hold the weapon and
about where to look in order to aim, but he cannot see for or aim
for the child. Trial and error--lots of trial and error--eventually
produces a hunter who is able to hit his or her target. However,
before that level of skill is acquired, some learning shooters
become too frustrated to continue, or run out of patience before
they have received the satisfaction that accompanies an accurate
shot.
[0006] First time shooters and hunters typically have trouble
accurately and efficiently using a scoped shooting device. Often,
this inefficiency results in a missed opportunity or impedes target
acquisition thereby denying the shooter a clean hit. When using a
scoped shooting device in a treed and foliage-heavy area, acquiring
the target in the scope can be tricky at best, and difficult for
the novice hunter and/or shooter. In addition, some hunters have
disadvantages such as impaired sight, or difficulty coordinating
the gun's position with the target. These difficulties might be
remedied if another person was able to assist in selecting the
position of the weapon for acquisition of the target.
[0007] Although a variety of scopes and devices have been made
available to aid in target acquisition (such as U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,841, 659; 5,941,006; and 6,604,316) none of these references
teach or suggest means or method for a second person to aid a first
person in the target acquisition process through a scope. The
benefits and advantages of the present invention are not present in
prior art inventions.
[0008] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an
assembly allowing a second person to assist a first person to use a
sight or scope to acquire a target;
[0009] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
an assembly that may be simply retrofitted to a weapon having a
preexisting scope;
[0010] It is still another objective of the present invention to
provide a device that includes a scope offset from the preexisting
scope (or other sighting device) on the weapon to allow the second
person to see exactly what the first person sees through his
scope;
[0011] It is a further objective of the present invention to
provide a means by which a first person can assist the second
person in locating and holding aim on the desired target;
[0012] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a means for a second person to assist a first person in acquiring a
target which may be used by either a left handed or right handed
shooter.
[0013] It is a final objective to provide a means which can be
associated with the weapon in a variety of ways to associate
lights, video cameras, etc., with the sighting device.
[0014] Additional advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention
applies by reading this disclosure in conjunction with the drawings
and the claims.
[0015] What was needed was a means for assisting the learner to
acquire a target in the sight or scope of his weapon, and means for
assisting a hunter with disabilities to accurately place the sights
and the weapon relative to the desired target.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sighting assembly;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front of the sighting assembly of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a top view of the sighting assembly of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the sighting assembly of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side view of the sighting assembly of FIG.
1;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a firearm having a
scope;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an end view of the sighting assembly associated
with a firearm;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a view of the sighting assembly associating with
the scope on a firearm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The off-set co-witness sighting assembly according to the
present invention is depicted by FIG. 1 and is generally designated
as reference 10. The firearm sighting assembly 10 includes a top
portion 12, a body 14 having a surface 16, and a lower portion 18
having a base 20.
[0025] FIG. 7 shows the basic parts of a generic firearm 100 with
which the invention 10 may be used. The generic firearm 100
includes a stock 102, a trigger mechanism 104, a barrel 106, and a
preexisting scope 108 and a preexisting scope ring 110. It should
be noted, however, that the preexisting scope may, instead, be iron
sights.
[0026] Referring again to FIG. 1, 2 and to FIG. 4, the top portion
14 of the firearm sighting assembly 10 comprises an attachment
means 30. The attachment means 30 comprises an element or a
plurality of elements 32a 32b 32c to allow the attachment means 30
to associate with and detachably attach a scope 125 (see FIG. 9).
Said plurality of elements 32a 32b 32c may include a picatinny rail
system 32. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 the bottom portion 18 of
the firearm sighting assembly 10 comprises the base 20. The base 20
includes means to stably associate 22 the firearm sighting assembly
10 with a firearm 100.
[0027] The firearm sighting assembly may further comprise a scope
ring 120 shown in FIG. 9. The scope ring 120 includes means to
detachably associate a scope 125 which may or may not conform to a
Weaver attachment. Where a scope ring 120 is included, the base 20
of the bottom portion 18 of the firearm assembly 10 and the means
to associate the scope ring 125 each comprise means complementary
for association with the other 22. Said means to associate 22 may
be a Weaver base for easy association with the scope ring 120.
Alternatively, the scope ring 120 and bottom portion 18 of the
firearm assembly 10 may comprise other means of stably associating
with each other, preferably in an arrangement that is easily
detachable yet highly stable when associated.
[0028] The construction of the firearm assembly 10 may be of single
piece construction. Alternatively, the bottom portion 18 body 14
and top portion 12 may all be of single piece construction.
Referring now to FIG. 6, an upper surface 35 of attachment means 30
of the top portion 12 may be angled between about 30 and 60
degrees, preferably about 45 degrees relative to the body 14; the
base 20 of the bottom portion 18 comprises a surface generally at a
right angle to a surface 14a of the body.
[0029] FIG. 9 shows the firearm assembly 10 associated with a
generic firearm 100 (shown at FIG. 7). When mounted on the firearm
100, the firearm sighting assembly 10 will be oriented about 45
degrees off (to the right or left) of a plane A that bisects the
barrel 100, the stock 106, and the preexisting scope 108. The
firearm sighting assembly 10 may be associated by its base 20 with
the preexisting scope or sight on the barrel 106 of the firearm and
on about a 45 degree angle to the plane A. The scope ring 120 may
be used to associate the base 20 of the firearm sighting assembly
10 with the firearm. Association of the base may include cap screws
or Allen bolts or other attachment devices that may be tightened.
In any event the firearm assembly 10 is arranged so that the
attachment means 30 of the top portion 12 is oriented parallel with
axis "A" of the barrel 106. A secondary scope 150 is associated
with the attachment means 30 of the top portion 12.
[0030] Other embodiments of the firearm assembly 10 may include
differing angles of the base relative to the body and corresponding
differences of the angle of the upper surface 35 of the attachment
means 30 to the surface of the body 14, where such variations still
result in a nonmagnifying scope 150 off-set from the preexisting
scope 108 or iron site on the firearm 100, wherein the off-set
allows an observer to view the same target area as the shooter is
viewing through the preexisting scope 108 or iron site.
[0031] The invention includes a method of installing and using the
invention. Specifically, the shooter first sights in the
preexisting scope or iron sight. A standard Weaver based scope ring
120 is placed on the scope/iron sight 108 at a 45 degree offset in
either the left handed position(for a left handed shooter) or the
right handed position (for a right handed shooter) and
semi-tightened. The base 20 of the firearm assembly 10 is then
inserted into the Weaver based 160 scope ring 120 and maintained at
level during installation. A red dot nonmagnifying scope or other
aim device 150 is then placed on the upper surface 35 of the
attachment means 30 and secured thereto. Using a solid shooting
rest, the shooter will place the weapon into the rest and find
their targeted zero location. The red dot nonmagnifying scope or
other aim device 150 is adjusted to identify the exact targeted
location as the preexisting scope/sighting iron 108 on the weapon
100. The scope ring 120 and the base 20 are solidly associated by
tightening screws or other attachment devices between the two.
[0032] Thereafter, when the shooter takes aim, the observer looks
through the nonmagnifying scope 150 of the firearm assembly 10 and
confirms whether the shooter has located and is properly aiming at
the target. A magnifying scope may be used in place of the
nonmagnifying scope if desired.
[0033] The height of the firearm assembly 10 relative to the
gunbarrel 106 on which the firearm assembly is mounted may be
adjusted by using a high or a low based Weaver style scope base
160.
[0034] Example embodiments of the invention have been described in
an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology
that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of
description rather than of limitation. Many modifications
variations of example embodiments are possible in light of the
above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended
claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
* * * * *