U.S. patent application number 15/871466 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-26 for system for attaching a firearm accessory to a firearm site base.
This patent application is currently assigned to PHOENIX TECHNOLOGY, LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is PHOENIX TECHNOLOGY, LTD. Invention is credited to ZELJKO VESLIGAJ.
Application Number | 20180209766 15/871466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62906221 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180209766 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VESLIGAJ; ZELJKO |
July 26, 2018 |
SYSTEM FOR ATTACHING A FIREARM ACCESSORY TO A FIREARM SITE BASE
Abstract
A system for attaching a firearm accessory to a sight base
including a first bore in the sight base, a second bore in the
accessory body and a bushing inserted into the second bore. A
bushing is inserted into the second bore and is held in place with
one or more protrusions located on the sight base near the first
bore and/or a screw inserted into a bore in the bushing. The
bushing allows the accessory body to rotate in a plane that is
perpendicular to the first and second bores. A screw inserted into
a third bore that communicates with the second bore allows a screw
to engage the exterior surface of the bushing featuring grooves
that define positions to which the accessory body can be rotated.
The accessory body's rotation can also be stopped using a groove on
the accessory body that is engaged by another protrusion featured
by the sight base.
Inventors: |
VESLIGAJ; ZELJKO; (BURGAW,
NC) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PHOENIX TECHNOLOGY, LTD |
BURGAW |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
PHOENIX TECHNOLOGY, LTD
BURGAW
NC
|
Family ID: |
62906221 |
Appl. No.: |
15/871466 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62445777 |
Jan 13, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/02 20130101; F41G
11/001 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41G 11/00 20060101
F41G011/00; F41G 1/02 20060101 F41G001/02 |
Claims
1. A system for attaching a firearm accessory to a firearm
comprising: a sight base; wherein said sight base has a body
featuring a first bore; wherein said first bore has an interior
surface featuring threads; and wherein said sight base also
features a first protrusion adjacent to the first bore; an
accessory with a body featuring a second bore and a third bore;
wherein the second bore traverses an exterior of the accessory body
and communicates with the second bore; said second bore having a
first end and a second end; said third bore traverses the exterior
of the accessory body and communicates with the second bore; said
third bore featuring an inner surface with threads; a cavity and/or
groove located on the accessory body adjacent to the second bore;
wherein said first protrusion featured by the sight base is
complementary to and engaged with the cavity and/or groove on the
accessory body; a bushing inserted into the second bore; said
bushing featuring an interior surface and an exterior surface and a
fourth bore; said exterior surface featuring one or more grooves
and/or one or more divots; an index screw featuring threads
complementary to the threads featured by the third bore; wherein
when the index screw is inserted into the third bore it engages the
exterior surface of the bushing inserted into the second bore; a
set screw featuring threads that are complementary to the threads
on the interior surface of the first bore; said set screw being
positioned such that it passes into and through the second bore
into the first bore to engage with the threads featured by the
interior surface of the first bore; wherein said set screw extends
through the first and second bores, thereby engaging the accessory
body and the sight base body thereby allowing the accessory body to
rotate in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the fourth bore while the bushing is held in place and prevented
from rotating.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an exterior surface on
the bushing that features one or more grooves and/or one or more
divots and said third bore features an inner surface with threads;
and an index screw featuring threads complementary to the threads
featured by the third bore; wherein when the index screw is
inserted into the third bore it engages the exterior surface of the
bushing inserted into the second bore.
3. The system of claim 2 further comprising: a second protrusion
featured on the sight base adjacent to the first bore; a cavity
featured on the bushing; wherein the second protrusion is
complementary to the cavity featured by the bushing and engages the
cavity thereby securing the bushing and preventing it from
rotating.
4. A system for attaching a firearm accessory to a firearm
comprising: a sight base with a body featuring a first bore; an
accessory with a body featuring a second bore; wherein the second
bore traverses an interior and an exterior of the accessory body; a
bushing inserted into the second bore; a set screw that extends
through the first and second bores, thereby engaging the accessory
body and the sight base body and allowing the accessory body to
rotate around the bushing in a plane that is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the second bore.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising: an exterior surface on
the bushing that features one or more grooves and/or one or more
divots and a third bore with an inner threaded surface featured by
the accessory body; an index screw featuring threads complementary
to the threads featured by the third bore; wherein when the index
screw is inserted into the third bore it engages the exterior
surface of the bushing inserted into the second bore.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the index screw features a ball
shaped head and the screw is pushed towards the second bore by a
spring positioned to apply a pushing force.
7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a first protrusion on
the body of the sight base; said first protrusion being positioned
adjacent to the first bore; and a groove featured by the accessory
body adjacent to the second bore that is complementary to the first
protrusion; whereby the protrusion engages the groove and stops the
rotation of the accessory body at certain predetermined
positions.
8. The system of claim 4 wherein the first bore features and inner
surface with threads and the screw features threads complementary
to the threads in the first bore and the accessory body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/445,777 filed on Jan. 13, 2017. The
content of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/445,777 filed on
Jan. 13, 2017 is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a device that mounts to a
sight block or sight base for a firearm that allows the shooter the
option of attaching firearm accessories to the sights or at the
position of the sites that are already present or have been added
to a firearm. More specifically, preferred embodiments of the
device or system physically attach to the front and rear sights of
a long gun such as an AR-15 rifle. The presently disclosed
embodiments are intended to be used with any rifle or other long
gun and specific reference is made to the AR-15 platform for
illustrative purposes only.
(b) Background Art
[0003] Canted sights have been available for firearms such as the
AR-15 for some time, and while effective, they tend to be difficult
to operate. In addition, since most canted sights are side mounted
on the rail system or handguard, they are susceptible to damage,
etc.
[0004] The present device provides alternative sighting options for
an operator in situations that require canting or rotation of the
firearm or the use of a firearm accessory. Such situations may
include close quarters combat or situations in which the top
mounted optics are damaged or inoperable. In event of optic
failure, the operator can easily engage the mechanism and fire the
firearm in a canted position. In addition, since other firearm
accessories can be part of or attached to the disclosed device or
system, the device enables an operator to use an accessory in
conjunction with the top mounted optics on a firearm.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Early embodiments of the device include a bracket capable of
receiving and attaching to the sight block or mounted sights
normally present on most if not all modern rifles. More
specifically, these embodiments of the device include a bracket
that is configured to be attached to an existing sight block or
sight base, i.e., the structure attached to the firearm that
contains the front sight. Alternately the bracket and the front
sight base could be one structure that is attached directly to the
firearm in the same manner that front sights are typically mounted
to long guns.
[0006] The bracket is configured to securely hold any number of
accessories commonly used with firearms including, but not limited
to iron sights, red dot sights, other optic devices, flashlights
and other tactical lights, cameras, recording devices such as
cameras and GPS modules and tracking systems.
[0007] In preferred embodiments, the mounting bracket has a surface
containing female engagement divots that will allow the accessory
to interlock with the bracket and thus the front sight block or
sight base mount. The block containing or encompassing the
accessory (the accessory block or body) contains a corresponding
(male) spring assisted ball end set screw that is shaped and
positioned to engage with the female engagement divots. A bushing
in the accessory block, for example, inserted into a bore in the
accessory body, allows the accessory attached to the bracket to
rotate in a circular plane, i.e., the accessory can be rotated in a
plane or direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the barrel of the firearm. The locations of the divots allow the
accessory block to be turned to predetermined locations at an angle
to the bracket and thus the axis of the barrel.
[0008] In addition, other preferred embodiments will not include
the divots, which represent positions at which the rotation of the
accessory is stopped, i.e., the user turns the accessory clockwise
or counterclockwise so that the set screw can engage a different
divot. Eliminating the divots and just providing a groove for the
set screw to engage with allows the user to fine tune the position
of the accessory and place it at virtually any angle to the rest of
the firearm.
[0009] Other means of attaching the accessory to the bracket
include a sliding cam, a notched dial or other structural
equivalents. As mentioned above, the set screw has pressure or
force applied to it by a spring positioned to do so. That helps the
set screw engage with the female divots and/or groove on the
bracket. Alternately, the divots or groove could be located on the
accessory and the set screw could be featured by the bracket.
[0010] The mounting bracket can be constructed of metal, plastic or
other materials commonly used for firearm accessories and parts,
and attaches onto the existing post mount frame or the front sight
as shown in the figures. In the preferred embodiments, the bracket
is mounted to an existing front sight block or sight base through
the use of at least one set screw inserted through the side walls
of the bracket. Other embodiments include a modification of the
existing post mount frame or front sight block to include a
threaded hole or holes on the front surface of post mount frame or
sight block whereby the bracket may be securely attached to the
sight block or sight base. In such embodiments, the need for the
side walls with set screws is eliminated. As a skilled artisan
could appreciate, there is no specific need to make each of these
structures a separate piece, i.e., the sight block, accessory block
and bracket could comprise one or even two or more separate
structures that engage with each other. It is these embodiments
that are described in more detail below in reference of the
figures. Embodiments in which the sight base is modified to engage
with the accessory body directly, without the use of a bracket
represent the inventor's anticipated best mode of practicing the
invention with the embodiments using the bracket being intended to
be used with existing, unmodified sight bases.
[0011] The front sight accessory will be available in multiple
configurations such as, but not limited to, single post or multiple
post. Said posts are made of commonly used sight materials such as
but not limited to metal, plastic, fiber optic, or tritium. A
skilled artisan can appreciate that the rear sight mounting block
or sight base can also be equipped with the same structures to
produce a rear sight with the complementary structures at the rear
of the firearm. Certain accessories will require the rear mounted
bracket, attached to the rear sight; for example, canted iron
sights will require a sight accessory to be mounted to both the
front and rear sights.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0012] FIG. 1A is a cross sectional view of a sight base according
to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 1B is a front plan view of the same sight base;
[0014] FIG. 1C is a cross section view of the same sight base;
[0015] FIG. 1D is a close up view of the cutaway portion of FIG.
1C;
[0016] FIG. 2A is a front view of an accessory according to the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2B is a cross section view of the same accessory;
[0018] FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view of the bushing used in the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3B is a front plan view of the same bushing;
[0020] FIG. 3C is a close up view of the same bushing;
[0021] FIG. 4A shows a top plan view of the bracket used in certain
embodiments of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 4B shows a front plan view of the same bracket;
[0023] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the index screw used in the
third bore; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross section of the same screw.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] FIGS. 1A through 1D show a modified sight base 10 for an
AR-15. The sight base 10 has a body 11 that contains within it or
features a bore 12. This bore 12 is hereinafter referred to as the
first bore 12. In preferred embodiments, this first bore 12
features an interior surface 12a featuring threads. FIGS. 1A
through 1D also show the sight base 10 featuring the first bore 12.
These figures also show two protrusions. The first protrusion 13 is
closer in proximity to the first bore 12 than the second protrusion
14. The locations of these protrusions are not paramount in that
they can function the same way if they are located on different
parts of the sight base 10. They need to be positioned such that
they can interact with structures on the accessory 15.
[0026] FIGS. 2A and 2B show an accessory 15 or accessory block that
is configured to attach to a site base 10. The accessory has a body
15 featuring at least one bore--the second bore 16 that traverses
the entire accessory body 15 from a first side 15a of the accessory
body 15 to an opposing second side 15b of the same accessory body
15. In addition, FIG. 1B shows a third bore 17 that in this
embodiment is located beneath the second bore 16. This third bore
17 traverses the exterior of the accessory body 15 and communicates
with the second bore 16 in the accessory body 15. The third bore 17
also features a threaded interior surface 17a. FIG. 1B goes on to
show a bushing 18 inserted into the second bore 16.
[0027] FIGS. 3A through 3C show the bushing 18 that in inserted
into the second bore 16 of the accessory body 15. The bushing has
an interior surface 20 and an exterior surface 21. In preferred
embodiments, the exterior surface 21 is machined to feature grooves
22. In other embodiments, the grooves 22 can be simple divots or
cavities into which another object, like, such as a screw, can fit.
In still other embodiments, the exterior surface 21 of the bushing
18 can feature a combination of grooves 22 and cavities. The
bushing 18 also features a fourth bore 23. This bore can feature
threads, but it is generally not necessary. Furthermore, FIGS. 3B
and 3C show a cavity 19 featured on the bushing 18. This cavity 19
is complementary (shaped, sized and positioned to engage) the first
protrusion 13 located on the sight base 10. The cavity 19 and the
first protrusion 13 can be reversed, i.e., the sight base 10 could
feature a cavity 19 complementary to the first protrusion 13 on the
bushing 18.
[0028] FIGS. 4A and 4B show another embodiment of the same system
described above. In this embodiment, the accessory 15 attaches to a
bracket 24 that features structures that are very similar to those
featured by the sight base 10 above. This embodiment is meant to be
used on firearms that do not have a modified sight base 10 as
described above. Rather than trying to remove the sight base 10
from and existing firearm--a task that can be rather difficult
depending on the firearm, the bracket 24 can be used to attach the
accessory 15 to a standard sight base 10. Similar to the sight base
10 described above, the bracket 24 has a threaded bore 25 and
features a first protrusion 13 and a second protrusion 14. In
addition, the bracket has one or more screw holes 26 that traverse
the interior and exterior of the bracket 24. When screws are
inserted in these screw holes 26, they attach the bracket to the
sight base 10.
[0029] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an index or set screw 27 that inserts
into the threaded interior surface 17a of the third bore 17 located
on the accessory body 15. This screw 27 has a ball shaped head 27a,
external threads 27c that are complementary to the threaded
interior surface 17a of the third bore 17. In addition, this screw
27 features a spring 27b that applies force to the ball-shaped head
27a thereby pushing it outward and away from the rest of the screw
27. This screw 27, when inserted into the third bore 17, pushes the
ball-shaped head 27a outward to the point that it contacts the
exterior surface 21 of the bushing 18.
[0030] The operation of this system is as follows. In preferred
embodiments the accessory body 15 is attached to the sight base 10
such that the accessory body 15 can rotate around the bushing 18
inserted into the second bore 16 while the bushing 18 is held in
place. The first protrusion 13 engages with a female divot 19
located on the bushing 18 adjacent to the fourth bore 23. As a
result, the bushing 18 is held stationary while the rest of the
accessory body 15 can be rotated around the bushing 18 in a plane
that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fourth bore
23. Alternately, the bushing 18 can be made such that it features a
flattened surface that engages with a shelf (not shown) in the
first bore 12 thereby preventing the bushing 18 from rotating. In
preferred embodiments, the rotation of the accessory body 15 can be
limited such that the accessory body 15 can only rotate to certain
predefined stopping positions. This can be accomplished a number of
ways, but in preferred embodiments, there is a groove 15c located
adjacent to the second bore 16 on the opposing second surface 15b.
This groove 15c is complementary to the second protrusion 14
featured by the sight base 10, i.e., the second protrusion 14 fits
into this groove 15c. The groove 15c is curved such that the second
protrusion 14 travels through the groove 15c as the accessory body
15 rotates around the bushing 18. The sight base 10 is attached of
the accessory body 15 in preferred embodiments, but inserting a
screw (not shown) into and through the second bore 16 and into the
first bore 12. The threads on the screw engage with the threaded
interior surface 12a of the first bore 12 and can engage with
similar threads if they are featured inside the fourth bore 23 but,
as mentioned above, that is not necessary to attach the sight base
10 and accessory body 15.
[0031] In embodiments that use the bracket 24, the first bore 12 is
located on the bracket 24 rather than the sight base 10. The
accessory body 15 attaches to the bracket 24 through the use of a
screw (not shown) that is inserted into the and through the fourth
bore 23 in the bushing 18 that is inserted into the second bore 16
of the accessory body 15. As discussed above, the bracket 24
features screw holes 26 such that screws can be used to attach the
bracket 24 to a standard, unmodified sight base 10. Other
embodiments can feature a sight base 10 featuring screw holes that
serve the same purpose.
[0032] In the preceding description, terms such as horizontal,
upright, vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used
solely for the purpose of clarity in illustrating the invention,
and should not be taken as words of limitation. The drawings are
for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are not intended
to be to scale.
[0033] The advantages of the current system are many including the
ability to provide multiple sighting options on a single rifle and
the ability to customize the positioning of accessories in a way
not seen heretofore. In addition, attaching these accessories to
the sight blocks greatly influences the accuracy of the accessory
in use.
[0034] Reference throughout the specification to features,
advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the
features and advantages that may be realized with the present
invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the
invention. Rather, language referring to the features and
advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,
advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present
invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and
similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not
necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
[0035] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and
characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art
will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or
more of the specific features or advantages of a particular
embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages
may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in
all embodiments of the invention.
[0036] It is understood that the above described embodiments are
only illustrative of the application of the principles of the
present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other
specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode,
is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not
restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by
the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing
description.
[0037] While the foregoing written description of the invention
enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered
presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will
understand and appreciate the existence of variations,
combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method,
and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited
by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all
embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *