U.S. patent application number 17/216910 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-16 for firearm rail mount.
This patent application is currently assigned to Falkor Defense SID. The applicant listed for this patent is Falkor Defense SID. Invention is credited to Tyler Russell Hughes, Jason Oliver Sonju.
Application Number | 20210389101 17/216910 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005856042 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210389101 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hughes; Tyler Russell ; et
al. |
December 16, 2021 |
FIREARM RAIL MOUNT
Abstract
A firearm rail mount has an elongated rail body having an upper
surface defining a horizontal plane, the elongated rail body having
lateral rail edges configured to be engaged by a scope ring base,
the elongated rail body defining a channel transverse to the
elongated rail body and open in an upward direction, the channel
having a floor defining a floor plane, and the floor plane being
angularly offset from the horizontal plane. The floor plane may be
offset from the horizontal plane by 10-20 degrees. The floor plane
may be offset from the horizontal plane by 1-44 degrees. The floor
plane may be offset from the horizontal plane by 10-20 degrees. The
elongated rail body may define a pattern of alternating blocks and
gaps, and the channel is registered with one of the gaps. Each gap
may include a bottom surface parallel to the horizontal plane.
Inventors: |
Hughes; Tyler Russell; (Las
Vegas, NV) ; Sonju; Jason Oliver; (Whitefish,
MT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Falkor Defense SID |
Kalispell |
MT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Falkor Defense SID
Kalispell
MT
|
Family ID: |
1000005856042 |
Appl. No.: |
17/216910 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63033232 |
Jun 2, 2020 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 11/003 20130101;
F41G 11/004 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41G 11/00 20060101
F41G011/00 |
Claims
1. A firearm rail mount for mounting a firearm optic having a
reference surface, the mount comprising: an elongated rail body
having an upper surface defining a horizontal plane; the elongated
rail body having lateral rail edges configured to be engaged by a
scope ring base; the elongated rail body defining a channel
transverse to the elongated rail body and open in an upward
direction; the channel having a channel floor defining a floor
plane; and the floor plane being angularly offset from the
horizontal plane.
2. The mount of claim 1 wherein the floor plane is offset from the
horizontal plane by 1-44 degrees.
3. The mount of claim 1 wherein the floor plane is offset from the
horizontal plane by 10-20 degrees.
4. The mount of claim 1 wherein the elongated rail body defines a
pattern of alternating blocks and gaps, and the channel is
registered with one of the gaps.
5. The mount of claim 4 wherein each gap includes a bottom surface
parallel to the horizontal plane, and wherein the channel floor is
adjacent to the bottom surface and meets the bottom surface at an
obtuse angle.
6. The mount of claim 1 wherein the channel floor has a greater
transverse length than does the bottom surface of the gap.
7. The mount of claim 1 including a plurality of channels spaced
apart from each other and having a common floor plane.
8. The mount of claim 1 wherein the elongated rail body is a
picatinny rail.
9. The mount of claim 1 including a planar tool having a first edge
configured to engage the channel floor and a second edge configured
to engage a reference surface of a riflescope rotatably received in
the scope ring base, such that a tool angle between the first and
second edges establishes a rotational position of the riflescope
with respect to the rail mount.
10. The mount of claim 9 wherein the planar tool has a thickness
established to be closely received within the channel.
11. The mount of claim 1 including a scope ring base connected to
the elongated rail body and a riflescope with a cylindrical tube
portion rotationally received by the scope ring base, and the
riflescope having a reference surface facing the channel floor.
12. The mount of claim 1 formed integrally with a firearm receiver
configured to receive operating firearm components including a
bolt.
13. The mount of claim 1 including an attachment facility
configured to removably connect the elongated rail body to a
firearm frame.
14. A method of connecting a scope to a firearm comprising:
providing a firearm defining a horizontal reference plane, an
alignment surface offset from the horizontal plane, and including a
mount defining a cylindrical scope ring passage portion;
positioning a tubular portion of a riflescope having a reference
surface, in the scope ring passage portion; positioning a tapered
tool having first and second edges acutely angled with each other
between the alignment surface and the scope reference surface;
rotating the riflescope until the tapered tool is inserted a
maximum amount and the first edge overlays the alignment surface
and the second edge underlays the reference surface; clamping the
riflescope in the cylindrical scope ring passage portion to prevent
rotation of the riflescope; and removing the tapered tool.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 63/033,232 filed on Jun. 2, 2020, entitled
"OPTIC LEVELING WEDGE ON ACTION," which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed
therein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to firearms, and more
particularly to a firearm rail mount that enables a riflescope to
be leveled relative to the receiver of a host firearm.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Riflescopes greatly improve the accuracy of a host firearm
when they are installed properly. Although mounting a riflescope on
a firearm using scope rings appears straightforward, even a slight
rotation of the riflescope causing the riflescope to not be level
relative to the firearm's receiver can decrease the rifle's
accuracy. The benefits to leveling the riflescope relative to the
firearm's receiver are numerous. First, adjustments to the
riflescope's windage and elevation will be more accurate and not
create unintuitive diagonal adjustments. Second, the riflescope's
reticle will be clear and precisely aimed. Third, the user will not
be distracted by an unleveled, crooked reticle when aiming. Fourth,
shots requiring reticle hold over will be more accurate.
[0004] Although various bubble levels and other commercial tools
exist that can be used to level a riflescope, they have various
disadvantages including difficulty of use, size, complexity, and
vulnerability to damage. Additional challenges can exist with the
use of existing tools when the host firearm lacks a flat top
surface.
[0005] Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved firearm rail
mount that enables a riflescope to be leveled relative to the
receiver of a host firearm. In this regard, the various embodiments
of the present invention substantially fulfill at least some of
these needs. In this respect, the firearm rail mount according to
the present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an
apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of enabling a
riflescope to be leveled relative to the receiver of a host
firearm.
[0006] The present invention provides an improved firearm rail
mount, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and
drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide an improved firearm rail mount that has all
the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
[0007] To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention essentially comprises an elongated rail body having an
upper surface defining a horizontal plane, the elongated rail body
having lateral rail edges configured to be engaged by a scope ring
base, the elongated rail body defining a channel transverse to the
elongated rail body and open in an upward direction, the channel
having a floor defining a floor plane, and the floor plane being
angularly offset from the horizontal plane. The floor plane may be
offset from the horizontal plane by 10-20 degrees. The floor plane
may be offset from the horizontal plane by 1-44 degrees. The floor
plane may be offset from the horizontal plane by 10-20 degrees. The
elongated rail body may define a pattern of alternating blocks and
gaps, and the channel is registered with one of the gaps. Each gap
may include a bottom surface parallel to the horizontal plane.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims attached.
[0008] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the current embodiment of
a firearm rail mount constructed in accordance with the principles
of the present invention in use attaching a riflescope to a firearm
receiver.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the firearm rail mount of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top isometric view of an alternative embodiment
of the firearm rail mount.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a rear sectional view of the firearm rail mount of
FIG. 1 with the riflescope in an unleveled condition.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a rear sectional view of the firearm rail mount of
FIG. 1 with the riflescope in a leveled condition.
[0014] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
[0015] An embodiment of the firearm rail mount of the present
invention is shown and generally designated by the reference
numeral 10.
[0016] FIGS. 1, 2, 4 & 5 illustrate the improved firearm rail
mount 10 of the present invention. More particularly, FIGS. 1, 4
& 5 show the firearm rail mount in use attaching a firearm
optic in the form of riflescope 200 to a firearm receiver 300. The
riflescope has a downward facing reference surface 202, which is a
flat surface on the bottom of the turret housing 210 of the
riflescope. The firearm rail mount has an elongated rail body 12
having an upper surface 14 defining a horizontal plane 16 (shown in
FIGS. 4 & 5). The elongated rail body has lateral rail edges
18, 20 configured to be engaged by scope ring bases 22, 24. The
elongated rail body defines a channel 26 transverse to the
elongated rail body and open in an upward direction. The channel
has a channel floor 28 defining a floor plane 30 (shown in FIGS. 4
& 5). The floor plane is angularly offset from the horizontal
plane by 1-44 degrees, more preferably by 10-20 degrees, and most
preferably by 15+/-0.250 degrees in the current embodiment.
[0017] The elongated rail body 12 defines a pattern of alternating
blocks 32 and gaps 34. The channel 26 is registered with one of the
gaps. Each gap includes a bottom surface 36 parallel to the
horizontal plane 16. The channel floor 28 is adjacent to the bottom
surface and meets the bottom surface at an obtuse angle 38 (shown
in FIGS. 4 & 5). The channel floor has a greater transverse
length 40 (shown in FIGS. 4 & 5) than does the bottom surface
of the gap. There is a plurality of channels spaced apart from each
other and having a common floor plane 42 (shown in FIGS. 4 &
5). In the current embodiment, the elongated rail body is a
Picatinny rail. The firearm receiver has a maximum height of 1.980
inch, the elongated rail body has a length of 5.786 inch, and each
block has a width of 0.228 inch. The transverse length of the
channel floor is 0.650 inch.
[0018] The current invention includes a planar tool 44 having a
first edge 46 configured to engage the channel floor 28 and a
second edge 48 configured to engage the reference surface 202 of
the riflescope 200. The riflescope has a cylindrical tube portion
204 rotatably received in the scope ring bases 22, 24 with the
reference surface facing the channel floor, such that a tool angle
50 between the first and second edges establishes a rotational
position of the riflescope with respect to the rail mount 10. In
the current embodiment, the planar tool has a length of 5.505 inch,
a maximum height of 1.582 inch, and a tool angle of 15 degrees. The
planar tool has a thickness 52 established to be closely received
within the channel. In the current embodiment, the planar tool has
a thickness of 0.200+/-0.005 inch. The embodiment of the firearm
rail mount 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 & 5 is formed
integrally with the firearm receiver 300 configured to receive
operating firearm components including a bolt (not shown).
[0019] A method of connecting the riflescope 200 to the firearm
receiver 300 is depicted in FIGS. 4 & 5. The method includes
the steps of providing a firearm including the firearm receiver
defining a horizontal reference plane 16, an alignment surface
(channel floor 28) offset from the horizontal plane, and including
a mount defining a cylindrical scope ring passage portion (scope
ring bases 22, 24 defining cylindrical scope ring passage portions
54, 56), positioning a tubular portion of a riflescope (cylindrical
tube portion 204) having a reference surface 202, in the scope ring
passage portion, positioning a tapered tool (planar tool 44) having
first and second edges 46, 48 acutely angled with each other
between the alignment surface and the scope reference surface (the
unleveled condition illustrated in FIG. 4), rotating the riflescope
until the tapered tool is inserted a maximum amount and the first
edge overlays the alignment surface and the second edge underlays
the reference surface (the leveled condition illustrated in FIG.
5), clamping the riflescope in the cylindrical scope ring passage
portion to prevent rotation of the riflescope (using clamps 58,
60), and removing the tapered tool. In the leveled condition shown
in FIG. 5, adjustments to the riflescope's windage and elevation
using windage turret 206 and elevation turret 208 will move the
reticle (not shown) only horizontally and vertically relative to
the upper surface 14 of the firearm receiver, eliminating
unintuitive diagonal reticle movements. It should be appreciated
that a tool angle 50 of even 1 degree is preferable to the tapered
tool having the first and second edges parallel because the tool
angle makes it easier to extract the tapered tool after the
riflescope is clamped. An angle angle of 15 degrees is preferred
because the greater angle makes it even easier to withdraw the
tapered tool after the riflescope is clamped and reduces the
likelihood of the surfaces on the riflescope and elongated rail
body contacted by the tapered tool being marred. The tapered tool
enables a user to level the riflescope without the need for a
bubble level or other additional leveling device.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the improved
firearm rail mount 100 of the present invention. More particularly,
the firearm rail mount 100 has an elongated rail body 112 having
numerous substantially identical characteristics to the elongated
rail body 12. The elongated rail body has an upper surface 114
defining a horizontal plane 116. The elongated rail body has
lateral rail edges 118, 120 configured to be engaged by scope ring
bases 22, 24. The elongated rail body defines a channel 126
transverse to the elongated rail body and open in an upward
direction. The channel has a channel floor 128 defining a floor
plane 130. The floor plane is angularly offset from the horizontal
plane by 1-44 degrees, more preferably by 10-20 degrees, and most
preferably by 15 degrees in the current embodiment.
[0021] The elongated rail body 112 defines a pattern of alternating
blocks 132 and gaps 134. The channel 126 is registered with one of
the gaps. Each gap includes a bottom surface 136 parallel to the
horizontal plane 116. The channel floor 128 is adjacent to the
bottom surface and meets the bottom surface at an obtuse angle. The
channel floor has a greater transverse length 140 than does the
bottom surface of the gap. There is a plurality of channels spaced
apart from each other and having a common floor plane 142. In the
current embodiment, the elongated rail body is a Picatinny
rail.
[0022] The primary difference between the elongated rail body 112
and the elongated rail body 12 is the elongated rail body 112
includes an attachment facility 144 in the form of apertures 146
configured to removably connect the elongated rail body 112 to a
firearm frame (not shown) using bolts threadedly received by
standard scope ring mounting holes on the firearm frame. It should
be appreciated that the planar tool 44 interacts with the elongated
rail body 112 and reference surface 202 of riflescope 200 in the
same manner as with the elongated rail body 12, so a method of
connecting the riflescope to a firearm frame is the same as the
method of connecting the riflescope to the firearm receiver 300
except for the additional step of first connecting the firearm rail
mount 100 to a firearm frame.
[0023] In the context of the specification, the terms "rear" and
"rearward," and "front" and "forward," have the following
definitions: "rear" or "rearward" means in the direction away from
the muzzle of the firearm while "front" or "forward" means it is in
the direction towards the muzzle of the firearm.
[0024] While a current embodiment of a firearm rail mount has been
described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and
variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true
spirit and scope of the invention. Although rifles have been
disclosed, the firearm rail mount is also suitable for use with
shotguns, light and medium machine guns, and other firearms. With
respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
[0025] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *