Octagonal Scope and Ring Mount
A telescopic scope and ring mounts incorporating a novel feature for locking the ring mounts to the scope to prevent canting and scope drift for secure and easy mounting on a gun.
This invention relates to the design and construction of a novel, scope and corresponding ring mounts for the improved accuracy and stability of scopes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONScopes, particularly those used for hunting, are well known in the prior art. Scopes are generally mounted to rifles or similar weapons and are used to assist hunters in aiming at desired targets. The prior art traditionally discloses the use of an externally smooth, cylindrical scope that is mounted to a rifle through the use of scope rings, which are traditionally smooth and cylindrical as well. However, there are several disadvantages attributable to using a scope and mounting device that are cylindrical.
For example, a traditional smooth and cylindrical scope with a cylindrical mounting device is very difficult to align perfectly straight up and down so that the scope's reticle is not canted. When a scope's reticle is canted, the accuracy of the reticle's aim will be off thus causing a hunter to miss or merely wound a desired target. Typically, a canted reticle is caused by human error that occurs when a user must precisely align the scope with a separate mounting device before securing the scope to a rifle or similar weapon. A scope formed with indentations and a corresponding scope ring with a projecting key that mates with the scope's indentations, or vis versa, ensures that the scope's reticle will always align accurately. The reticle will always align accurately because the indentations formed on the scope, as opposed to being formed on a separate mount that is later affixed to the scope as known in the prior art, and the projecting key on the scope ring act as a guide for aligning the scope and ring; thereby eliminating the step where most errors in alignment and accuracy occur (i.e. when a user attempts to align a scope with a separate mounting device). Additionally, a non-cylindrical scope, preferably a scope formed with octagonal sides and a corresponding octagonal mount will also act as a guide for aligning the scope and mount. The octagonal scope can also be used in connection with the indentation and key features described above to further assist the user with aligning the scope correctly.
Another disadvantage of traditional smooth, cylindrical scopes with cylindrical mounting devices is what is commonly referred to as “scope creep.” Scope creep occurs when the scope shifts in the mounting device as a result of the recoil force that occurs when a rifle or similar weapon is fired. Scope creep causes the scope's reticle to misalign, which compromises the scope's accuracy and performance. Scope creep may occur even in cases where the scope and separate mounting device were initially aligned perfectly by the user. In some instances, scope creep may also pose a danger to the user by causing the scope to shear off from the mounting device. A scope formed with a plurality of indentations on the top and/or bottom of the front and/or back of the stock, which mate with the projecting key on the corresponding scope ring will solve this problem because it will secure the scope and ring and prevent it from shifting due to recoil when a weapon is discharged.
Clearly there is a need for a scope formed with indentations and a corresponding scope ring with a projecting key to ensure that the scope's reticle is accurately aligned and not canted and to further prevent scope creep and the problems associated with recoil when a rifle is fired. There is also a need for scopes formed of various non-cylindrical shapes, preferably octagonal, and corresponding mounts to further address the disadvantages associated with the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe inventive structure presents a number of advantages over the prior art. First, the invention is simple to form. The scope is formed with a plurality of indentations on the top and/or bottom of the front and/or back portion of the scope. The inventive structure further comprises at least two corresponding scope rings. The back scope ring, front scope ring, or both further comprises a projecting key that mates with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock. The indentations and corresponding key may be any shape, preferably circles or crosses.
Additionally, forming the stocks and corresponding mounts in various shapes, preferably the octagonal stock is advantageous because the scope's wall thickness will be very similar to traditional, cylindrical scopes and there will not be added weight from material. It is well known that additional weight during recoil becomes inertia (i.e. resistance to change), which means that when a rifle is fired the more weight in the scope the greater the strain on the mount and the securing hardware and the more force exerted against the grip of the scope rings on the scope tube. The additional weight has several other disadvantages, such as causing the scope's reticle to misalign upon recoil, causing damage to the scope's innards due to shifting caused by the recoil force, and causing the scope to shear off the mount and injure the user. The additional weight also makes the rifle heavier for a user to lift and carry.
The plurality or indentations and corresponding key as well as the octagonal shape is also advantageous because it ensures that the scope is aligned perfectly straight up and down so that the reticle is not canted. In the preferred embodiment, the indentations or the point of the octagonal shape will be formed in the dead center of the scope. Thus, when the shooter connects the point on the scope with the corresponding rings the reticle will align perfectly each time.
Another advantage of the inventive structure is that because the octagonal rings match the shape of the octagonal stock a better surface engagement results in the inventive structure than with traditional cylindrical scopes and rings. Further, the plurality of indentations around the entire stock or on the upper and/or lower portion of the stock will accept the retaining detail on the back and/or front scope rings and prevent the scope from moving in either direction thereby eliminating problems associated with scope creep. The plurality of indentations is further advantageous because the indentations allow the shooter to adjust for eye relief.
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Claims
1. A scope formed with a plurality of indentations and further comprising:
- at least two corresponding scope rings, said back ring further comprising a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock.
2. A scope as described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of indentations are formed on the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring further comprises a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock.
3. A scope as described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of indentations are formed on both the back portion of the scope stock and the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring and back scope ring further comprise a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock.
4. A scope as described in claim 1 wherein the indentations and projecting key are circular.
5. A scope as described in claim 1 wherein the indentations and projecting key are crosses.
6. A scope formed with a plurality of projecting keys and further comprising:
- at least two corresponding scope rings, said back ring further comprising an indentation to mate with the plurality of projecting keys on the scope stock.
7. A scope as described in claim 6 wherein the plurality of projecting keys are formed on the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring further comprises an indentation to mate with the plurality of projecting keys on the scope stock.
8. A scope as described in claim 6 wherein the plurality of projecting keys are formed on both the back portion of the scope stock and the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring and back scope ring further comprise an indentation to mate with the plurality of projecting keys on the scope stock.
9. A scope as described in claim 6 wherein the indentations and projecting key are circular.
10. A scope as described in claim 6 wherein the indentations and projecting key are crosses.
11. A scope formed of an octagonal stock and further comprising:
- a plurality of indentation on the back portion of the scope stock; and
- at least two corresponding octagonal scope rings, said back scope ring further comprising a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock.
12. A scope formed of an octagonal stock as described in claim 11 wherein the plurality of indentations are formed on the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring further comprises a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock.
13. A scope formed of an octagonal stock as described in claim 11 wherein the plurality of indentations are formed on both the back portion of the scope stock and the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring and back scope ring further comprise a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations of the scope stock.
14. A scope formed of three or more sides and further comprising:
- a plurality of indentations on the back portion of the scope stock; and
- at least two corresponding scope rings, said back scope ring further comprising a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock.
15. A scope formed of three or more sides as described in claim 14 wherein the plurality of indentations are formed on the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring further comprises a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations on the scope stock.
16. A scope formed of three or more sides as described in claim 14 wherein the plurality of indentations are formed on both the back portion of the scope stock and the front portion of the scope stock; and
- the front scope ring and back scope ring further comprise a projecting key to mate with the plurality of indentations of the scope stock.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 27, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 31, 2008
Inventor: J. Patrick Epling
Application Number: 11/460,513