UNIVERSAL SCOPE MOUNTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A universal scope mounting system for a firearm includes an integral base/lower ring half component having a base panel portion and a split ring portion extending therefrom, and defining a plurality of mounting holes for receiving mounting screws to attach the base/lower ring half component to a firearm. The system also includes an upper ring half component for attachment to the base/lower ring half component to engage a scope within a receiver opening defined therebetween. The mounting holes of each base/lower ring half component define two or more different mounting hole configurations, permitting universal application to firearms having different scope mounting hole arrangements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/985,758, filed Nov. 6, 2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for mounting a telescopic sight to a firearm,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telescopic gunsights or “scopes” are commonly mounted to firearms such as muzzle-loading blackpowder rifles, modern cartridge-type rifles, and other types of firearms. Various forms of mounting hardware are known for attaching a scope to a firearm. Mounting hardware commonly includes a unitary base for mounting to the receiver of the firearm, and a pair of rings for engaging the body tube of the scope and clamping to the base.

Often, an upper face of the barrel or receiver of a firearm is pre-drilled and tapped at the factory with threaded mounting holes for affixing scope-mounting hardware. However, the hole pattern may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, and/or between different models of guns. A number of “universal” mounting systems are known for use in connection with multiple different hole patterns. Many such systems, however, include numerous small parts, are unattractive, and/or are complicated in their manner of installation. As a result, installation may be difficult for some users and, parts can be misplaced.

Thus it can be seen that needs exist for an improved universal mounting system for affixing a telescopic sight to a firearm. It is to the provision of an improved universal mounting system meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In example forms, the present invention is an improved universal mounting system for affixing a telescopic sight to firearms having different mounting hole configurations. In one aspect, the present invention includes an integral lower ring half and base portion, and a separate upper ring half engagable with the lower ring half. Three holes are drilled into the base portion, which allows the system to fit essentially every popular muzzle-loading rifle on the market. Each system includes two sets of integral split-base/lower ring half units and upper ring half units. The upper and lower ring halves are a horizontal split design, and receive the scope therebetween in typical fashion.

In another aspect, the invention is a universal scope mounting system for a firearm, including an integral base/lower ring half component having a base panel portion and a split ring portion extending therefrom, and defining a plurality of mounting holes for receiving mounting screws to attach the base/lower ring half component to a firearm. The system also includes an upper ring half component for attachment to the base/lower ring half component to engage a scope within a receiver opening defined therebetween.

In still another aspect, the invention is a method of mounting a scope to a firearm, the method including steps of affixing an integral base/lower ring half component to the firearm, and attaching an upper ring half component to the base/lower ring half component with the scope engaged therebetween, wherein the integral base/lower ring half component comprises a plurality of mounting holes configured to permit mounting to firearms having different mounting hole configurations. In a further embodiment, the scope is mounted to the firearm using a pair of mounting units, each mounting unit including an integral base/lower ring half component and an upper ring half component as described.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of a universal scope mounting system according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the universal scope mounting system affixing a scope to a firearm having a first mounting hole configuration, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the universal scope mounting system affixing a scope to a firearm having a second mounting hole configuration, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

With reference now to the drawing figures, FIGS. 1-3, a universal mounting system for affixing a telescopic sight to a firearm is shown and described. The mounting system preferably comprises at least one, and more preferably two, mounting units 10. Each mounting unit preferably comprises an integral base/lower ring half component 20, and an upper ring half component 50.

The integral base/lower ring half component 20 preferably comprises a single, unitarily formed metal piece having a base panel portion 22 and a split ring portion 24 extending therefrom. In alternate forms, the integral base/lower ring half component is formed as two or more parts, which are joined by welding, brazing, adhesive, fastener(s), a hinge or other releasable attachment mechanism, and/or other attachment means. The base/lower ring half component 20 preferably has three mounting holes 31, 32, 33 drilled therethrough for receiving mounting screws, two of the mounting holes 31, 32 being formed in the base panel portion 22, and one hole 33 extending through the bottom of the split ring portion 24. The holes 31, 32, 33 are preferably arranged in a linear array, spaced along a first axis that aligns with the barrel of the firearm when the mounting system is installed. The split ring portion 24 includes first and second side portions extending transversely from opposite sides of the base panel portion, and having a semicircular channel formed therebetween. The side portions of the split ring portion 24 are each drilled and tapped with a threaded hole 26 to receive ring-fixing screws 28 to secure the upper ring half component 50 to the base/lower ring half component 20, with the body tube of a scope engaged within a circular receiver opening defined therebetween. A second axis extending between the two attachment holes 26 is oriented generally perpendicular to the mounting hole axis.

The upper ring half component 50 includes a pair of through-holes 52 drilled proximal to its outer end portions to receive ring-fixing attachment screws 28 when assembled. The spacing between the attachment holes 52 of the upper ring half component 50 is the same as the spacing between the attachment holes 26 of the base/lower ring half component 20. Each of the split ring portion 24 of the base/lower ring half component 20 and the upper ring half component 50 defines a semi-circular recess, which when the mounting unit 10 is assembled, together form the circular receiver opening, which engages the scope S.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show two different types of firearm barrels, each having a different scope mounting hole configuration. For example, Thompson Center™ products such as the Encore, Omega, and Triumph firearms, use a scope base hole pattern where the holes are smaller (6×48 screw) and spaced more closely together as seen in the barrel Configuration A of FIG. 2. By contrast, CVA™ firearms have scope base screw hole patterns that are spaced farther apart and with larger holes (8×40 screw) as seen in the barrel Configuration B of FIG. 3. The mounting system and method of the present invention can be adapted for use with these hole sizes and spacings, as well as with other mounting hole configurations, for example, including mounting hole spacings of 0.500″, 0.605″, and/or 0.860″. In an example embodiment, the center-to-center spacing between mounting holes 31 and 32 is about 0.500″, and the center-to-center spacing between mounting holes 31 and 33 is about 0.860″.

The mounting unit 10 of the present invention is universally adaptable for use with both of these types of scope mounting hole configurations. As seen with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, mounting hole 31 is used on both the Configuration A firearm (FIG. 2) and the Configuration B firearm (FIG. 3); mounting hole 32 is used for Configuration A only; and mounting hole 33 is used for Configuration B only. In this way, a scope can be mounted to both brands of guns with one type of mounting hardware. The three mounting holes 31, 32, 33 are preferably the same size, and have a through hole portion adapted to receive and pass both the smaller Configuration A attachment screw and the larger Configuration B attachment screw, and include a counterbored recess defining an internal shoulder for abutment with the head portion of each type of attachment screw.

To accommodate the difference in the screw sizes, each set of mounts will preferably be provided with 2 sets of mounting screws. One set of 4 screws (for 2 bases) will be conventional 8×40 screws to fit the CVA barrel (Configuration B). The second set will be 6×48 screws, or more preferably will be custom screws that have 6×48 threads on the distal end to fit TC barrel (configuration A) but will also have a larger shoulder or proximal section of the body of the screw that is the same diameter as the 8×40 so that it will fit the hole in the base properly and without play (similar to a shoulder bolt).

Typically, two mounting units 10 will be installed to affix a scope to a firearm, one of the mounting units comprising a rear mounting unit toward the stock end of the firearm, and one of the mounting units comprising a forward mounting unit toward the muzzle end of the firearm. The two mounting units 10 can be mounted to the firearm in the same orientation, or in a reversed orientation facing opposite directions, for a more conventional base/rings appearance.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A universal scope mounting system for a firearm, said mounting system comprising:

a base and lower ring half component having a base panel portion with a split ring portion extending therefrom, the base and lower ring half component defining a plurality of mounting holes for receiving mounting screws to attach the base and lower ring half component to a firearm; and

an upper ring half component for attachment to the base and lower ring half component to engage a scope within a receiver opening defined between the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component and the upper ring half component.

2. The universal scope mounting system of claim 1, wherein the base and lower ring half component comprises three mounting holes for receiving mounting screws to attach the base/lower ring half component to a firearm.

3. The universal scope mounting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting screws comprise a first mounting screw type and a second mounting screw type, wherein the second mounting screw type comprises a smaller diameter threaded portion and a larger diameter shoulder portion.

4. The universal scope mounting system of claim 1, wherein the upper ring half component is attached to the base and lower ring half component by two attachment screws, and wherein the upper ring half component and the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component each comprise equally spaced pairs of attachment screw holes for receiving the attachment screws.

5. The universal scope mounting system of claim 4, wherein the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component comprises first and second side portions extending transversely from opposite sides of the base panel portion.

6. The universal scope mounting system of claim 5, wherein the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component defines a semicircular channel between the first and second side portions.

7. The universal scope mounting system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of mounting holes in the base and lower ring half component are spaced from one another along a first axis, and wherein the attachment screw holes of the base and lower ring half component are spaced from one another along a second axis, the first and second axes being generally perpendicular to each other.

8. The universal scope mounting system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of mounting holes in the base and lower ring half component comprise an array of first, second and third mounting holes spaced from one another to define a smaller mounting hole spacing between the first and second mounting holes, and a larger mounting hole spacing between the first and third mounting holes.

9. The universal scope mounting system of claim 8, wherein the smaller mounting hole spacing between the first and second mounting holes is about 0.50″, and wherein the larger mounting hole spacing between the first and third mounting holes is about 0.86″.

10. The universal scope mounting system of claim 1, wherein the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component defines a first semi-circular channel, and wherein the upper ring half component defines a second semi-circular channel, the first and second semi-circular channels having generally equal radii, and wherein the receiver opening is formed by the combination of the first and second semi-circular channels when the upper ring half component is attached to the base and lower ring half component.

11. The universal scope mounting system of claim 1, wherein the base and lower ring half component is an integrally formed, unitary piece.

12. A scope mounting system comprising first and second mounting units, each of the first and second mounting units comprising:

a lower component for mounting to the firearm, the lower component comprising at least one mounting hole for receiving a mounting screw to affix the lower component to the firearm; and

an upper component for attachment to the lower component, wherein the upper component and the lower component define a scope receiving channel therebetween when assembled.

13. The scope mounting system of claim 12, wherein the lower component comprises first, second and third mounting holes, defining a first mounting hole spacing between the first and second mounting holes, and a second mounting hole spacing between the first and third mounting holes, wherein the first mounting hole spacing corresponds to the pre-drilled mounting hole configuration of a first firearm manufacturer, and the second mounting hole spacing corresponds to the pre-drilled mounting hole configuration of a second firearm manufacturer.

14. The scope mounting system of claim 13, wherein the first mounting hole spacing is about 0.500″, and wherein the second mounting hole spacing is about 0.860″.

15. The scope mounting system of claim 12, wherein the upper component and the lower component each define a semi-circular recess forming one half of the scope receiving channel.

16. The scope mounting system of claim 15, wherein the upper component and the lower component each define equally spaced first and second attachment holes formed on opposite sides of the semi-circular recess.

17. The scope mounting system of claim 16, wherein the first, second and third mounting holes of the lower component lie along a first axis, and wherein the first and second attachment holes of the lower component lie along a second axis, the first and second axes being generally perpendicular to one another.

18. The scope mounting system of claim 12, wherein the lower component comprises an integrally formed, unitary piece.

19. A method of mounting a scope to a firearm, the method comprising affixing an integral base and lower ring half component to the firearm, and attaching an upper ring half component to the base and lower ring half component with the scope engaged therebetween, wherein the integral base and lower ring half component comprises a plurality of mounting holes configured to permit mounting to firearms having different mounting hole configurations.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the scope is mounted to the firearm using a pair of mounting units, each mounting unit including an integral base and lower ring half component and an upper ring half component.