U.S. patent number 3,908,282 [Application Number 05/451,830] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-30 for sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights.
Invention is credited to Walter J. Steffan.
United States Patent |
3,908,282 |
Steffan |
September 30, 1975 |
Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights
Abstract
A sighting gauge having a rod extending from its front edge for
rotatable support on the muzzle end of the rifle barrel. The gauge
has a vertically adjustable indicia bearing sighting target and is
counterweighted at the bottom to hang precisely upright in a
pendulum arrangement when the rod is supported in the gun barrel. A
lens holder is adapted to fit on the front end of the telescope
gunsight and employs a lens to bring the sighting target into
focus. The lens holder may also have a transverse wall therein,
removable if desired, with a peep-hole therein for more precisely
aligning the telescope with the indicia on the sighting target.
Furthermore, a sighting cap is adapted to be mounted on the rear of
the telescope and also has a transverse wall with a peep-hole and
cross hair therein providing greater accuracy for sighting in the
gunsight.
Inventors: |
Steffan; Walter J. (Portland,
OR) |
Family
ID: |
23793869 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/451,830 |
Filed: |
March 18, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/121; 33/295;
33/286; 33/334 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G
1/54 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41G
1/00 (20060101); F41G 1/54 (20060101); F41G
001/54 (); G01C 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;33/233,234,245,286,334,295 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Aegerter; Richard E.
Assistant Examiner: Stephan; Steven L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Eckelman; Eugene M.
Claims
Having thus described my invention, I claim:
1. Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights
comprising
a. a sighting gauge having top and front edges,
b. rod-like support means projecting from the front edge of said
gauge and arranged to be rotatably received in the muzzle end of a
rifle barrel,
c. said support means extending from said gauge above the center of
gravity of the latter whereby to form a pendulus support for the
gauge to hold it precisely vertical when mounted in the rifle
barrel,
d. a sighting target mounted on the front edge of said gauge having
intersecting vertical and horizontal reference lines to be used in
sighting in the telescope gunsight,
e. means arranged to adjust said sighting target vertically for
setting the latter to the proper position for sighting in the
telescope gunsight,
f. lens means for focusing the gunsight to the sighting target when
the latter is supported on the muzzle end of the barrel,
g. a holder for said lens means arranged to be removably mounted on
the front end of the telescope gunsight for supporting said lens
means at the front of the gunsight,
h. and a transverse wall in said holder having a peephole centrally
thereof for cooperation with the sighting means of the telescope
gunsight and said sighting target for sighting in the gunsight.
2. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 including a sighting cap
arranged to be removably mounted on the rear end of the telescope
gunsight, a transverse wall in said cap having a peephole centrally
thereof for cooperation with sighting means of the telescope
gunsight and with the peephole in said transverse wall in said
holder as well as with said sighting target for sighting in the
gunsight.
3. The sighting in apparatus of claim 2 including a cross hair
extending centrally and horizontally across the peephole in said
sighting cap.
4. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 including a stop bushing
mountable on said support means in a selected position to limit
penetration of said rod-like support means in the rifle barrel a
selected amount to space the sighting gauge a predetermined
distance from said lens.
5. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means
extends through a bore in said sighting gauge, and setscrew means
engageable between said gauge and said support means for holding
the latter in a selected set position.
6. Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights
comprising
a. a sighting gauge having top and front edges,
b. rod-like support means projecting from the front edge of said
gauge and arranged to be rotatably received in the muzzle end of a
rifle barrel,
c. said support means extending from said gauge above the center of
gravity of the latter whereby to form a pendulus support for the
gauge to hold it precisely vertical when mounted in the rifle
barrel,
d. a sighting target mounted on the front edge of said gauge having
intersecting vertical and horizontal reference lines to be used in
sighting in the telescope gunsight,
e. means arranged to adjust said sighting target vertically for
setting the latter to the proper position for sighting in the
telescope gunsight,
f. a vertical screw having threaded vertical mounting in said gauge
and also projecting above the top edge of the latter adjacent to
said sighting target,
g. said sighting target having a recess on its side adjacent to
said screw,
h. a head portion on said screw projecting laterally into said
recess whereby said sighting target will be adjusted up and down
with corresponding threaded movement of the screw,
i. lens means for focusing the gunsight to the sighting target when
the latter is supported on the muzzle end of the barrel,
j. and a holder for said lens means arranged to be removably
mounted on the front end of the telescope gunsight for supporting
said lens means at the front of the gunsight.
7. The sighting in apparatus of claim 6 including means defining a
groove in the front edge of said gauge slidably receiving said
sighting target, said means for adjusting said sighting target
vertically including a vertical slot in said sighting target
adjacent to its lower end and clamp screw means extending through
said slot releasably clamping said sighting target selectively in
said groove in its mounted position on said gauge after first
releasing said clamp screw means.
8. The sighting in apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sighting
target has a second recess on its side adjacent to said screw
vertically spaced from said first mentioned recess, said screw head
portion being selectively engageable with one or the other of said
recesses to vary the vertical adjusting range of said sighting
target.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sighting
in apparatus for rifle mounted telescopes.
Rifles used by hunters frequently employ telescopes thereon for
distance sighting. When the rifle has been stored for a
considerable time, such as between hunting seasons, it is customary
for the hunter to take the gun to a target range and sight the
telescope in by repeated firings of the rifle. Such takes
considerable time and furthermore is expensive because of the
number of bullets used.
The telescope can be easily misaligned if the rifle should fall or
if the hunter should accidentally bump a tree, fence, automobile,
or the like, while carrying the rifle. Such can ruin a hunting trip
since it is next to impossible to sight in the telescope in a
hunting area by targeting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention and forming a primary objective
thereof, sighting in apparatus for telescope gunsights is provided
which is adaptable for use with the gunsight to speedily sight in
the telescope without firing the rifle.
More particular objects are to provide sighting in apparatus for
telescope gunsights which employs a sighting gauge with a rod-like
extension adapted to support the gauge in a pendulum arrangement in
the muzzle end of a gun barrel so that an upright adjustable
sighting target will automatically be positioned vertically for
viewing through the telescope; to provide in combination with such
sighting gauge a lens piece adapted to be removably mounted on the
front of the telescope for bringing the telescope into focus with
the sighting target and further including an interior wall with a
center peephole for more accurately sighting in the scope, such
wall being removable whereby sighting can be accomplished without
benefit of such peephole if desired; and to provide a sighting cap
for removably mounting on the rear of the telescope and employing a
wall portion with a peephole to further increase the accuracy of
the sighting in apparatus.
The invention will be better understood and additional objects and
advantages will become apparent from the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate
a preferred form of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rifle having a telescope
gunsight mounted thereon, this view also showing the present
invention associated with the rifle for sighting in the
gunsight;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of a sighting gauge
forming a part of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the sighting
gauge, this view being taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional view taken on the
line 4--4 of FIG. 1 and showing in greater detail portions of the
present invention as associated with a telescope gunsight;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG.
4;
FIG. 6 is an elevational view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 4;
and
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the sighting gauge portion of
the invention showing adapter means used therewith for adapting the
gauge to different types of rifles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With particular reference to the drawings, the first to FIG. 1, a
conventional rifle is designated by the numeral 10. The breech
portion of the barrel is designated by the numeral 12 and the
muzzle portion is designated by the numeral 14. A telescope
gunsight of conventional construction is designated by the numeral
16 and has support on the rifle by suitable mount means 18. The
telescope gunsight has the conventional cross hair sighting means
therein not shown, adjustable vertically and horizontally by
adjustment means 20.
The present apparatus includes a sighting gauge 22 of the shape in
side elevation as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The gauge 22 has a
front edge 24 from which a round rod 26 projects. Rod 26 is of a
selected diameter such that it will fit in the muzzle end of the
gun barrel, and it projects from an upper portion of the gauge 22
so that when the latter is supported in the gun barrel, it will act
as a pendulum and hang upright. To lighten an upper portion of the
gauge, an upper rear edge portion 28 thereof may be cut away in
inclined relation. The fit of the rod 26 in the barrel is such that
while it is freely rotatable therein, it does not have any
substantial lateral play so that accuracy is maintained. In a
preferred construction, the rod 26 is mounted in a horizontal bore
29 extending through the gauge, and said rod is fixed to the gauge
in a selected front projecting distance, for a purpose to be more
fully described hereinafter, by a setscrew 30 leading down from the
inclined edge 28.
The front edge 24 of the gauge 22 has an upright groove 31 leading
down from the top and slidably receiving a sighting target 32.
Target 32 is held adjustably in the groove 31 by means of a clamp
screw 34 passing through an elongated slot 36 in the sighting
target and threadedly engaged in the sighting gauge 22.
Sighting target 32 has fine adjustment in the groove 31 by an
adjusting screw 38 threadedly mounted in the top of the gauge 22 in
a position closely adjacent the rear side of the sighting target
32. Screw 38 is a round headed screw, and such head is designated
by the numeral 40 and partially engages a recess 42 on the rear
surface of the sighting target, whereby it is apparent that upon
selected adjustment of the screw, selected positioning of the
sighting target 32 can be accomplished, the clamp screw 34 of
course first being loosened and then being tightened when the
adjustment has been accomplished. An additional recess 42a may be
provided below recess 42 to get extra height adjustment for the
sighting target 32.
The front surface of the sighting target 32 has intersecting
vertical and horizontal reference lines 44 and 46, respectively,
the vertical line 44 being precisely centered in relation to the
axis of the support rod 26. It is also useful to provide auxiliary
vertical reference lines 44a on each side of the main reference
line. These auxiliary lines may be useful for sighting in purposes,
such as in guns that do not shoot accurately. Locator means 45 such
as holes or marks are used on the main reference line 44 for
readily locating it.
In the sighting in position of the gauge 22, the rod 26 is inserted
in the muzzle end of the gun barrel as shown in FIG. 1. WIth the
pendulum action of the gauge 22, it will hang straight vertically
whereby the telescope gunsight can be adjusted such that its cross
hairs have the desired alignment relative to the intersection of
lines 44 and 46. Prior to use of the gauge in the field, the
sighting target 32 is selectively adjusted for the proper sighting
of the gunsight, such set adjustment being accomplished at the
factory as associated with a selected type of gunsight and the
selected type of gun on which the gunsight is to be used, or the
owner of the gun can adjust the sighting target 32 to the selected
position by suitable targeting. Once the position of the sighting
target has been fixed, sighting of the gunsight can be conveniently
and speedily checked merely by temporarily mounting the gauge 22 on
the muzzle end of the barrel.
Since telescope gunsights are focused for substantially long
distances, it is desired that the present apparatus include a lens
50, FIGS. 4 and 5, for bringing the sighting target 32 into clear
focus. Lens 50 is supported in a sleeve-like holder 52 arranged to
fit on the front end of the telescope gunsight 16. Holder 52 has an
inner shoulder 54 against which the lens 50 is held in abutting
engagement by an O-ring 56, or snap ring if desired, frictionally
mounted in the sleeve behind the lens.
With the short focal length created by the lens 50, it is desired
that the gauge 22 be supported at substantially the same length
from the lens 50 for all types of guns so that clear viewing of the
sighting target is available. Since guns vary as to barrel length,
the gauge may be brought into focus by adjusting the rod lengthwise
in the barrel. With a selected rod length, such as about 12 inches,
substantially all barrel lengths can be accommodated, and by proper
positioning of the gauge on the rod 26 by means of the setscrew 30,
the desired rod length can be fixed for a particular gun.
Another form of rod mounting construction is shown in FIG. 7. In
this embodiment, the rod 26' is integral with the front edge of the
gauge 22' and for the purpose of providing the sighting target in
focus each time the apparatus is used, a bushing 58 is employed on
the rod 26 which is frictionally capable of remaining in a selected
set position and which when abutted against the front end of the
barrel will space the gauge 22 the proper distance from the
telescope gunsight.
The lens holder 52 may include a transverse wall 60 therein having
a center peephole 62. This peephole narrows the line of sight
through the telescope and provides greater accuracy in sighting in
the telescope. This wall may be removably supported in the sleeve
as an insert if desired so that if the owner does not desire to use
it it may be removed. The O-ring 56 protects the lens from the disc
insert 60.
SIghting means are also provided at the rear of the telescope,
FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, and for this purpose a sighting cap 64 of cup
shape is arranged to be fitted on the rear end of the telescope.
This member has an end wall 66 also provided with a peephole 68.
The peephole 68 further adds to the accuracy of the sighting in
apparatus in that by sighting through both peepholes 62 and 68 for
viewing the sighting target 32, extreme accuracy can be obtained. A
horizontal cross hair 70 intersects the peephole 68 at its center
to narrow down the sighting in vision by lining up such cross hair
with the horizontal cross hair in the gunsight. For manufacturing
purposes, a groove 72 is cut diametrically in wall 66 to intersect
the peephole 68, and the cross hair is effectively held in place by
adhesively securing it in the groove.
According to the present invention, sighting in apparatus is
provided which can be conveniently carried by the gun owner and
which can be readily mounted on the gun when he desires to sight in
his telescope or merely to check it. He may simply use the gauge 22
and the lens 50 for general sighting in, and if greater accuracy is
desired, the insert 60 can be used. If still further accuracy is
desired, the rear sighting cap 64 may be used.
It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown
and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and
that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my
invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.
* * * * *