Kellis "T" scope mounting system

Abstract

A firearm scope mounting system where recesses and protrusions in the scope ring precisely mate with like recesses and protrusions in the telescopic sight tube itself to prevent the scope from moving fore and aft as well as rotationally under recoil or other forces. Additionally, these mating surfaces can be designed in such a way that the crosshairs of the scope are perfectly aligned horizontally and vertically when the scope is installed in the rings. The method of attaching the scope rings to the base and the base to the firearm is not the subject of this patent claim.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to accessories for firearms, and more specifically to a recoil-proof mounting system for firearm telescopes.

2. Description of Related Art

Optical devices have been attached to firearms for over 100 years. These are familiarly known as telescopes, or simply scopes. The scope permits the shooter to more easily see a distant target and more precisely aim at the target than is normally possible with non-optical sights. In order to function properly together, the firearm and the scope must be attached in a manner that ensures that the scope and firearm are in the same position relative to each other for each shot fired. If the scope shifts relative to the firearm, the firearm will not be capable of striking the same point of impact.

Scope mounts are subject to the full recoil and impulse force from the firearm when it is fired. This abuse tests even the strongest scope mounts. As technology in steel and gunpowder advance, firearms become more and more powerful. Thus, the stresses on the scope mounting system keep increasing. Scopes are usually mounted to a firearm via two mechanisms. The first is one or more mounting bases that attach to a firearm and provide an attachment point for the other mechanism. The second mechanism includes one or more scope rings. The scope rings encircle a smooth, tubular scope body and attach to the mounting base(s). Scope bodies are universally constructed of smooth tubes. Scope rings must rely on a high amount of surface area and friction to hold onto a scope without damaging it. Too often, the surface area and friction are not enough to hold a scope in place. Many solutions have been sought, including adding more rings to existing systems, but some of today's lighter, more powerful firearms are easily capable of overpowering such scope mounting systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This device involves two improvements over current telescopic firearm scope mounting technology. This system prevents movement in all directions, fore/aft and rotationally (left/right) hence the name “T System.” I conceived of the idea when a relative mentioned that his scope had slipped and he was going to have to re-mount and re-zero his scope before his next hunt.

The Kellis “T” Scope Mounting System of scope mounting has advantages over not just the current, smooth ring, smooth scope body but other designs as well. It retains the advantage of flexibility in positioning the scope fore and aft for optimum eye relief and also the ability to use rings of various heights to optimize clearance between the scope and the firearm receiver. Other methods using a rigid mount built into the bottom of the scope body tend to be less flexible in these two regards. This system retains the more traditional appearance as well.

Additionally, this system positively locates the scope's crosshairs in perfect horizontal and vertical alignment. This is an advantage over the old trial and error method of crosshair alignment where the installer had to position the crosshairs, and then tighten the rings. Often, the scope would slip rotationally while tightening the screws, then one would have to start over and repeat until the crosshairs were in perfect alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts the side view of a scope 10 with the Kellis “T’ System of scope mounting. The raised rings 16 are formed during the machining process of the scope tube 10. Front ring 14 has the inverse of these rings (or “teeth”) 12 cut into it. This figure shows the mating of these two parts.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the scope tube 10 with a keyway 20 cut through the rings 16 in the top, center of the scope.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show two views of the scope ring 14. FIG. 3, on the top, is an end view, showing the ridge or “tooth” 22 protruding from the top, center of the scope ring 14. This tooth 22 mates with the Keyway 20 shown on FIG. 2. FIG. 4, on the bottom, is a side, cutaway view showing the “teeth” 12 in scope ring 14 as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view showing how Locator Ridge 22 in scope ring 14 mates with Keyway 20 on scope tube 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This device involves two improvements over current telescopic firearm scope mounting technology. This system prevents movement in all directions, fore/aft and rotationally (left/right) hence the name “T System.”

The first improvement prevents a scope from slipping fore/aft and rotationally (left and right) under recoil. The second improvement precisely aligns the scope crosshairs vertically and horizontally. This eliminates the trial and error of mounting a scope, with the frequent loosening and re-tightening of the scope rings until the crosshairs are perfectly horizontal and vertical. This device permits the user to simply assemble the device with the firearm and scope, check it once, and then forget about it. It will not move.

FIG. 1 shows that the device is comprised of a plurality of recessed grooves or “teeth” 12 incorporated into a scope ring 14 and a matching set of raised grooves or rings 16 on a scope's body 10 that engage each other to lock the scope 10 in place within a scope ring 14. The grooves and teeth 12, 16 may be machined, molded, pressed or attached into the forward, rear, or both areas of the scope 10. The scope ring's 14 grooves or teeth 12 mate with corresponding grooves or teeth 16 in the scope body 10. The grooves or teeth 16 may be manufactured on the front, rear, or both portions of the scope 10. If both rings 14, 18 incorporate the device, spacing of the engagement surfaces on the scope 10 must be appropriate to ensure both rings 14, 18 can be attached in sync. Otherwise, the engagement surfaces will be out of phase and one ring's grooves or teeth 12 may not match the grooves or teeth 16 on scope 10.

The mating of the scope 10 to the ring 14 locks the scope 10 in place once the rings 14, 18 are tightened. This feature prevents the scope 10 from slipping fore and aft under recoil even if the scope ring screws should loosen with time and use. The height, width and shape of the grooves or teeth may be variable depending on the materials employed and any commonly accepted manufacturing standards. The length of the scope ring 14 should also be taken into account for the reason of aesthetics (i.e., one would want the scope ring edges to fall between two of the teeth to make for a neat appearance). A greater number of smaller teeth will give more flexibility in positioning the scope 10 for proper eye relief. Shallow grooves or light scoring could be substituted for the larger “teeth” for less expensive scopes and rings.

FIG. 2 shows that an un-grooved portion 20 may be included within the groove pattern on the scope 10. The un-grooved portion 20 is a keyway and resembles an interrupted thread pattern on a bolt or threaded fastener, but the grooves here have no pitch. Here, the un-grooved portion 20 is shown at the top, center portion of the scope 10 and it has two functions. First, this un-grooved section 20 mates with a key (or ridge) 22 protruding from the interior, top, and center of the ring 14 (FIGS. 3 and 5). This ensures that the scope 10 will not slip rotationally. Second, as long as the scope base is properly mounted, i.e. tangent to the top, center of the firearm's receiver, proper rotational alignment (i.e., the crosshairs are in perfect horizontal and vertical alignment) is ensured. In the event that the scope base is not properly and precisely mounted to the firearm receiver, the protrusion 22 in the top portion of ring 14 may be filed slightly on one side until proper alignment is achieved. This allows rifles in which the base(s) were not precisely installed to adapt to this system with only minor modification. As the scope rings are the least expensive part, placing the locator key 22 in the ring 14 makes it necessary to replace only a ring 14 if the owner re-locates the scope to a firearm with a properly installed base.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show two additional views of scope ring 14. FIG. 3 is a front end view showing Locator Ridge 22 in top, center of the interior surface of ring 14. FIG. 4 is a side view, cutaway section of scope ring 14 showing teeth 12.

FIG. 5 is an additional end view of scope ring 14 showing Locator Ridge 22 and the keyway 20 on scope body 10. As the ring is pressed onto the scope, Locator Ridge 22 would fill the Keyway 20 on scope tube 10.

This method of scope mounting has advantages over not just the current, smooth ring, smooth scope body but other designs as well. It retains the advantage of flexibility in positioning the scope fore and aft for optimum eye relief and also the ability to use rings of various heights to optimize clearance between the scope and the firearm receiver. Other methods using a rigid mount built into the bottom of the scope body tend to be less flexible in these two regards.

With CNC machining methods in use today, this invention is feasible at only minor cost in production time and materials cost. After the teeth 16 are formed on the scope 10 and keyway 20 is cut through the teeth 16, the scope 10 would be placed in a jig that mimics the scope ring 14 in order to precisely bore the holes for the windage and elevation adjustment mechanisms. Alternatively, the rings 14 and scope tube 10 can be forged under pressure around a hardened mandrel to form the teeth or the parts could be investment cast.

The device includes all methods of mounting a scope into a scope ring where protrusions in one part mate into inverse indentations on the other part. This would include a row or rows of protrusions (teeth), notches, grooves, or any other design where the mating surfaces of the scope and ring(s) are non-smooth. The objective is a mechanical lock of the two parts that does not rely solely on friction.

This device includes any and all methods of positive crosshair alignment of the scope via mating of the surfaces of the scope ring to the scope itself.

Claims

1. I claim a system for rigidly attaching a telescope within a scope mounting ring comprising:

A scope engagement mechanism on the exterior surface of a telescope;

A ring engagement mechanism on the interior surface of a scope mounting ring, wherein the scope engagement mechanism and the ring engagement mechanism create a mechanical interference fit that prevents scope movement within the scope mounting ring.

2. I claim the system of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises:

At least one raised ring around the telescope; and

At least one groove within the interior surface of the scope mounting ring, wherein the raised ring and the groove fit together to prevent longitudinal movement of the telescope within the mounting ring.

3. I claim the system of claim 2, wherein the engagement mechanism further comprises:

A keyway through at least one raised ring around the telescope; and

A key protruding from the interior wall of the scope ring to engage the keyway and prevent rotational movement of the telescope within the scope mounting ring.