Sight Over Scope Gun Sight

This invention relates to a gun sight and particularly, to a gun sight which employs an iron sight positioned above a telescopic sighting device such that the user may employ either sighting system as desired.

Generally, two different classes of sighting systems are available to firearm shooters: telescopic sights and so-called iron sights. Telescopic sights provide excellent accuracy over long ranges since they optically enlarge the target image. Most telescopic systems however, have limited utility in low ambient light conditions. Iron sights do not provide the accuracy of telescopic sighting systems over long ranges since they do not present an enlarged target image. These sights are, however, superior in low light conditions. Moreover, iron type sights generally permit faster aiming of the firearm which is particularly advantageous when shooting at targets which are close and moving.

In addition to the advantages of the various type of sights, different types of iron sights are available. For example, many sportsmen prefer so-called "peep" type sights while others prefer an open blade type iron sight. Furthermore, the accuracy of any sighting system is influenced by the rigidity of its connection to the associated firearm. Absent sufficient rigidity, sights become unreliable and must be frequently realigned. Sighting systems further must be provided means for alignment, windage and trajectory compensations. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a means by which the sight may be readjusted from one alignment to a second alignment and thereafter returned to the first alignment position. Such readjustment is necessary, for example, when different types of projectiles or loads are used, or when shooting at various ranges from the target. Due to the distinct advantages of each type of sighting system, many sportsmen prefer to have a convertible or dual sighting system which includes both telescopic and iron sighting elements. Typically, such dual sighting systems employ a telescopic sight mount which features an aperture between the telescopic gun sight and the firearm receiver, which includes iron sighting elements. Such systems, however, require a specially designed telescopic sight mount and also requires that the telescopic sight be mounted high above the firearm receiver, thus making the gun somewhat more bulky than otherwise necessary and, in some instances, interfering with proper alignment of the gun with respect to the shooter.

In another type of dual sighting system, an iron sight is provided which is located above the telescopic sight. Such systems are generally described by the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,626,579 issued to C. R. Darrah on Dec. 14, 1971; 2,054,090 issued to M. M. Marple on Sept. 15, 1936; and Des. 253,545 issued to M. G. Chestnut on Oct. 27, 1979. The structures described by these references, however, have numerous shortcomings including lack of mount rigidity and sighting element interchangeability, high cost and limited or nonexistent alignment adjustment capability. None of these references teach or suggest the numerous benefits and advantages of the gun sight according to this invention.

In view of the above, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved combination telescopic and iron sighting system featuring an iron sight mounted above a telescopic sight. It is another aspect of this invention to provide an iron sight usable in connection with existing telescopic sight mounting components thereby improving mount rigidity and reducing costs. It is still another aspect of this invention to provide a dual telescopic and iron sighting system which provides iron sights which are adjustable over a wide range for alignment windage and trajectory correction, and which further provides interchangeability of sighting elements. It is yet an additional aspect of this invention to provide an iron sighting system having elements which may be set to a predetermined alignment position.

The above principal aspects of this invention are provided by employing modified front and rear telescipic sight top mounting rings which receive front and rear iron sighting elements. These elements are provided with adjustment means for alignment, windage and trajectory compensation.

Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will becone apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates upon a reading of the described preferred embodiments of this invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the gun sight according to this invention depicting the typical environment with which this invention is most advantageously employed, including a portion of a rifle and a telescopic sight with conventional front and rear lower mounting ring portions.

FIG. 2 is an exploded pictorial view of the rear sight assembly according to this invention wherein a peep sight aperture is provided.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the rear sight assembly shown by FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the rare sight assembly shown by FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the rear sight assembly shown by FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of the peep sight body of the rear sight assembly depicted particularly by FIGS. 2 through 5.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of an alternate embodiment of the rear sight assembly according to this invention wherein an open blade type sight element is provided.

FIG. 8 is an exploded pictorial view of the front sight assembly according to this invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the front sight assembly shown by FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side of the front sight assembly shown by FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the front sight assembly shown by FIG. 8 according to this invention.

The sight over scope gun sight according to this invention is depicted by FIG. 1 and is generally designed by reference character 10. Gunsight 10 includes rear sight assembly 12 and front sight assembly 14. Each of the sight assemblies 12 and 14 include modified rear and front upper mounting ring portions, rear iron sight ring portion 16 and front iron sight ring portion 18. Upper sight ring portions 16 and 18 engage lower mounting ring portions 20 and 22, respectively, and are affixed thereto by threaded fasteners 24. Lower mounting rings 20 and 22 are of the type which is conventionally employed to mount a telescopic sight 26 to a firearm receiver. The upper sight ring portions 16 and 18 according to this invention replace existing upper mounting ring portions normally used with conventional telescopic sight mounting systems. Telescopic sight 26 and lower mounting ring portions 20 and 22 are therefore conventional, enabling existing telescopic mount structures to be retrofitted for use in connection with devices according to this invention. Moreover, by mounting sight assemblies 12 and 14 directly to lower mounting ring portions 20 and 22, a very rigid mounting for the iron sights results.

Rear sight assembly 12 includes upper sight ring portion 16 which forms a semicircular lower surface 27 which engages telescopic sight 26 and substantially flat top surface 28. A pair of threaded bores 30 are formed within top surface 28. Affixed to top surface 28 is wedge-shaped rear sight ramp 32. Ramp 32 includes a pair of bores 34 which are aligned with bores 30 and permit the ramp to be affixed to upper sight ring 16 by threaded fasteners 36. Rear sight ramp 32 includes an upper surface 38 which extends along a plane which is inclined with respect to top surface 28 and further forms a projecting dovetail flange 40. Sliding sight block 42 includes a cooperatively shaped dovetail solt 44 within the bottom surface 45 thereof which engages with dovetail flange 40 such that sight block may be sild along upper surface 38. A desired position of sight block 42 is fixed with respect to rear sight ramp 32 by adjustment set screw 46 which engages adjuster nut 48 and passes through bore 50. Adjuster nut 48 engages dovetail flange 40 such that when adjuster screw 46 is tightened, dovetail flange 40 is clamped by adjuster nut 48 such that the position of sight block 42 is adjustably fixed with respect to rear sight ramp 32. As sight block 42 is slid with respect to rear sight ramp 32, the distance between sight block 42 with respect to the rifle receiver changes. Such adjustment is desired in order to compensate for trajectory variations. A preselected relative positioning between sight block 42 and rear sight ramp 32 is provided by forming a graduated index scale on either of these parts which, when used with an index mark on the other, permits a preselected relative positioning to be achieved. Such a graduated scale 49 is formed on sight ramp 32 whereas index mark 51 is formed on sight block 42.

Sight block 42 includes a top surface 52 which forms a dovetail slot 54. Dovetail slot 54 extends along a line which is perpendicular to a line extending along bottom dovetail slot 44. Disposed within dovetail slot 54 is peep sight body 56, which includes a dovetail flange 58 which cooperates with dovetail slot 54, enabling the peep sight body to be slid into position on sight block 42. Peep sight barrel 70 threadingly engages peep sight body 56 and includes internal bore 72 and hood 74. The position of peep sight body 56 along dovetail slot 54 is adjustably fixed by providing set screw 60 which engages threaded bore 62 and is employed to cause washer 64 to clamp dovetail flange 58 when the set screw is tightened. A predetermined positioning between peep sight body 56 with respect to sight block 42 and, in cooperation with index mark 68, permits such positioning to be set to a desired position. Rear sight assembly 12 is constructed to provide adjustment for bore alignment, windage and trajectory of the projectiles being discharged by the firearm. Windage adjustment is achieved by moving peep sight body 56 laterally along dovetail slot 54. Adjustment for the trajectory of the projectile over different ranges and for different types of projectiles is achieved by sliding sight block 42 along rear sight ramp 32. Bore alignment is achieved by adjusting the positions of both peep sight body 56 and sliding block 42, as needed.

An alternate embodiment of rear sight assembly 12 is depicted by FIG. 7, wherein open blade type rear sight 76 engages sight block 42, through cooperation with dovetail slot 54. Rear sight assembly 12 is therefore quickly convertible between a peep type rear sighting element designated by reference characters 56 and 70 and an open blade sight type rear sighting element designated by reference character 76. Any number of additional sight elements could be provided for use in connection with rear sight assembly 12 according to this invention.

Front sight assembly 14 is particularly shown with reference to FIGS. 8 through 11 and, like sighting element 12, is adapted to engage a conventional lower mounting ring 22 and is fastened thereto by threaded fasteners 24. Front sight assembly 14 includes upper sight ring portion 18 having a semicircular lower surface 88 engaging telescopic sight 26 and a top surface 90 forming dovetail slot 78 extending along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the telescopic sight. Frong sight element 80 is preferably a pin or bead type front sight which includes dovetail flange 82 which engages dovetail slot 78, enabling front sight 80 to be installed onto upper sight ring 18. Frong sight element 80 is held at a desired position with respect to dovetail slot 78 by set screw 84 which is threadingly engaged within bore 86 and bears upon the dovetail flange when tightened. Front sight assembly 14 offers the same advantages of rear sighting element 12 in that various types of sight elements may be installed within the associated dovetail slots. Moreover, front sight 80 may be moved laterally with respect to the bore axis of the associated firearm, thereby providing additional windage and alignment correction. For this purpose, a graduated index scale and index mark (not shown) may be provided for front sight assembly 14 as explained in connection with rear sight assembly 12.

In operation, telescopic sight 26 may be used as it would be conventionally. If, however, the user desired to employ iron sights, the firearm would be lowered slightly or the user's head raised such that the position illustrated by FIG. 1 is achieved whereby the sighting axis 92 passes through the front and rear sighting elements. This sighting system therefore enables rapid interchangeability by the shooter betweein iron and telescipic sighting systems. As is evident from FIG. 1, it is necessary to displace front and rear sighting elements a sufficient above telescopic sight 26 such that the sighting axis 92 does not coincide with any portions of the telescopic sight 26.

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.