Alignment device for mounting optical sight

Abstract

The invention comprises a ring alignment bar, a mount extension rod, a bore rod, a lower connector block, a vertical connector rod, an upper connector block, and a bore extension rod. The ring alignment bar is installed in the rings of a telescopic sight mount on a firearm to bring the rings into concentric alignment with each other. The mount extension rod indicates lateral alignment between the rings and barrel of the firearm. The bore rod fits into the muzzle of the firearm. The upper and lower connector blocks, vertical connector rod, and bore extension rod fit together to indicate alignment in a vertical plane between the rings and the bore of the firearm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/374,527, filed 2010 Oct. 12 by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

U.S. Patents
Pat. No.	Issue Date	Patentee
3,782,832	1974-01-1	Hacskaylo
5,813,131	1998-09-29	Were
7,313,885	2008-01-1	Looney

A telescopic sight is commonly mounted to a firearm using a system of clamps which fit around the cylindrical tube of the telescopic sight. Said clamps are commonly known as “rings.” Said rings sometimes attach directly to the frame and/or barrel of the firearm. More commonly, said rings attach to a mount or mounts, which in turn attach to the frame and/or barrel of the firearm. Said mounts are commonly known as “bases.” Regardless of which particular system is used, it is desirable that the rings be aligned with each other, and also with the bore of the firearm. If the rings are not aligned concentrically to each other, undue mechanical stresses can be induced in the telescopic sight, resulting in damage to the exterior and/or internal parts of the sight. Misalignment of the rings can also prevent their stable placement on the body of the telescopic sight, causing the sight to shift in the rings, with a resulting shift in the point of impact of the firearm. Furthermore, misalignment of the rings with the bore of the firearm can make proper adjustment, commonly known as “sighting in,” of the telescopic sight more difficult, leading to difficulty in shooting accurately. Still further, it is sometimes the case that holes have been drilled in the frame and/or barrel of the firearm for the purpose of attaching said bases, and that said holes have not been placed in a line precisely parallel to the bore of the firearm. As a result, correct alignment of the rings, and of the telescopic sight itself, is not possible until said holes have been re-drilled in proper alignment to the bore of the firearm. Still further, it is sometimes the case that manufacturing defects in said mounts and/or rings prevent said mounts and/or rings from proper alignment with the bore of the firearm in a vertical axis. Said condition results in the firearm shooting too high or too low, until corrective adjustments can be made to said bases and/or rings.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,832 discloses a cartridge-shaped light source which fits into the breech of the firearm and projects a beam onto the target, allowing the telescopic sights to be adjusted to coincidence with the beam. However, this type of device lacks a means of aligning the rings with each other, or of aligning the rings and exterior body of the telescopic sight with the bore of the firearm.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,131 discloses a pair of telescopic sight mount aligning bars. Said bars have circular ends which reveal misalignment between the rings by non-parallelism between the inner ends. This type of device does not reveal misalignment between the rings and the bore of the firearm. Nor does it provide a positive mechanical means of bringing the rings into alignment with each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,313,885 discloses a pair of telescopic sight alignment rods. One of said rods has a projection which slides into a corresponding hole in the other of said rods when the scope rings are correctly aligned. Provision is also made for one bore sight device to be attached to one of said rods. A second bore sight device is attached to the muzzle of the firearm. Proper alignment of the rings with the bore of the firearm is indicated by alignment of the projected beam(s) of the bore sight devices. This type of device does not provide a positive mechanical means of bringing the rings into alignment with each other. It only indicates, during a series of trial-and-error repositioning adjustments of the rings, when proper alignment has been achieved. Nor does it provide a simple and convenient means of aligning the rings with the bore of the firearm that does not depend upon ancillary optical bore sighting devices.

Therefore, there exists a need for a simple, mechanical telescopic sight alignment device which positively brings the rings into alignment with each other, at the same time that they are brought into alignment with the bore of the firearm on both the horizontal and vertical planes.

ADVANTAGES

The present invention has the following advantages over the prior art:

• 1) No lasers or other battery-powered devices, or optical bore sighting devices of any kind, are required.
• 2) Rings are positively brought into alignment with each other and held in said alignment during the process of mounting the telescopic sight. The present invention does not merely indicate when rings have been brought, by trial and error, into alignment.
• 3) The present invention simultaneously aligns rings with each other and with the firearm's bore, in both horizontal and vertical planes.
• 4) Misalignment between holes in the frame and/or barrel of the firearm and the bore of the firearm is revealed.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment an alignment device for mounting an optical sight comprises a ring alignment bar, a mount extension rod, a bore extension rod, an upper connector block, a vertical connector rod, a lower connector block, and a bore rod.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows a ring alignment bar supplied with two diameters and a hole in each end in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows a mount extension rod in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3A shows the ring alignment bar mounted on a firearm with rings, with mount extension rod attached, so as to reveal alignment in the horizontal plane between the rings and the bore of the firearm, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4A shows a bore rod having 2 diameters according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5A shows a lower connector block with attached vertical connector rod according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6A shows an upper connector block according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7A shows a bore extension rod according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a ring alignment bar, mount extension rod, bore extension rod, upper connector block, vertical connector rod, lower connector block, and bore rod, mounted on a firearm to verify alignment in a vertical plane between the rings and the bore of the firearm.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

101  ring alignment bar
103A hole in ring alignment bar
103B hole in ring alignment bar
105  mount extension rod
107  bore rod
108  lower connector block
109  vertical connector rod
110  hole in lower connector block
111  upper connector block
112  hole for vertical connector rod
113  hole for bore extension rod
114  bore extension rod
115  scope ring
116  scope base
117  rifle barrel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

One embodiment of the alignment device is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7. In one embodiment, the alignment device is made of hard anodized aluminum. However, in other embodiments some or all parts of the alignment device could be made from steel, polycarbonate, or any other rigid material.

FIG. 1A shows a ring alignment bar 101 comprising two diameters, each of said diameters corresponding to the external tube diameter of a telescopic sight. In other embodiments, said ring alignment bar could have one diameter, or more than two diameters. In one embodiment, both ends of the ring alignment bar have holes 103A and 103B with axes parallel to the long axis of the ring alignment bar, into which a mount extension rod 105 may fit with a tight slip fit.

FIG. 2A shows said mount extension rod 105. In one embodiment, the mount extension rod has two diameters, one of said diameters held to tolerances to produce a tight slip fit with hole(s) 103, and one of said diameters held to less precise tolerances. However, in other embodiments the entire mount extension rod could be made a single diameter.

FIG. 4A shows a bore rod 107. In one embodiment, the bore rod comprises two diameters. One of said diameters fits with a tight slip fit into the bore of a firearm of predetermined caliber. The other of said diameters fits with a tight slip fit into a hole 110 in a lower connector block 108. However, in another embodiment the bore rod 107 is permanently attached to the lower connector block 108.

FIG. 5A shows a lower connector block 108 with a hole 110 having an axis perpendicular to the face of the lower connector block and a vertical connector rod 109 attached perpendicular to another face of the lower connector block. In another embodiment, said vertical connector rod 109 fits into said lower connector block with a tight slip fit.

FIG. 6A shows an upper connector block 111 with a hole 112 perpendicular to one face of said upper connector block and another hole 113 perpendicular to another face of said connector block. In another embodiment, vertical connector rod 109 is attached permanently to a face of said upper connector block 111 on an axis perpendicular to said face.

FIG. 7A shows a bore extension rod 114. In one embodiment, said bore extension rod comprises two diameters, one of said diameters fitting with a tight slip fit into the upper connector block 111, and another of said diameters being held to less precise tolerances. In another embodiment, said bore extension rod 114 has a single diameter. In another embodiment, said bore extension rod is permanently attached to upper connector block 111.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the ring alignment bar, mount extension rod, bore rod, lower and upper connector blocks with vertical connector rod, and bore extension rod, installed on the firearm to verify simultaneously three relationships: concentricity between the scope rings; alignment in a horizontal plane between the scope rings and the firearm's bore (commonly known as “windage”); and alignment in a vertical plane between the scope rings and the firearm's bore (commonly known as “elevation”).

Operation—FIGS. 3 and 8.

To use the alignment device, identify and utilize the diameter of the ring alignment bar which corresponds to the diameter of the scope and rings being mounted to the firearm. Description of Operation will first cover alignment in a horizontal plane (“windage”) for several popular configurations of mounts and rings. Then alignment in a vertical plane (“elevation”) will be covered in a description that does not depend upon the particular configuration of mounts and rings being used.

For Picatinny-style bases and rings: Mount the base (“rail”) securely to the firearm. Place the rings loosely on top of the rail. Remove upper half of each ring and place the proper end of the ring alignment bar 101 into the rings. Tighten the ring halves together, firmly holding the ring alignment bar while allowing the ring clamps to remain loose on the rail. The end of the ring alignment bar 101 that does not correspond to the diameter of the scope should extend toward the muzzle of the firearm. Push the mount extension rod 105 into the appropriate hole 103 in the ring alignment bar so that the mount extension rod extends along and above the barrel of the firearm. Hold the mount extension rod parallel to the barrel while tightening the clamps of each ring. Make fine adjustments to the clamps until all clamps are properly tightened with the extension rod remaining parallel to the barrel. Remove the upper ring halves; remove the ring alignment bar; and mount the scope into the ring halves. The scope tube will remain undamaged and properly aligned with the barrel of the firearm.

For Leupold Standard-style bases and rings: using procedure similar to that described above, use the ring alignment bar 101 to rotate the front ring so that it is approximately parallel to the barrel. Push the mount extension rod into the ring alignment bar and make fine rotational adjustments until ring is exactly parallel to the barrel. Loosen the front ring halves slightly so the ring alignment bar can slide back and forth in the ring. Place the rear ring loosely in place on the base with the rear ring halves slightly loose. Put the ring alignment bar into the rear ring and tighten the front and rear rings so that the ring alignment bar is held firmly in the rings. Use the “windage” screws on either side of the base to align the ring alignment bar and the mount extension rod with the barrel. Tighten the windage screws while keeping the mount extension rod parallel to the barrel. Remove upper ring halves, life out the ring alignment bar, and mount the scope in the rings. The scope will remain undamaged and parallel to the barrel.

For Leupold Dual-Dovetail-style rings and bases, use procedure similar to that described above to align first the rear ring with the barrel, then the front ring with the barrel. The ring alignment bar can be used to provide torque to twist the dovetail rings into correct position. Remove the upper ring halves, lift out the ring alignment bar, and mount the scope in the rings.

For installation of certain scope bases whose positioning on the firearm involves play on any axis: use procedure similar to that described above, with details varying according to the particular design. Generally, rings will be attached loosely to the base, then ring alignment bar will be attached firmly to the rings, then rings will be tightened to the base, then base will be tightened to the firearm, with the mount extension rod indicating correct alignment of the base with the barrel.

To verify parallelism in a vertical plane (“elevation”) between said rings and the bore of the firearm: follow procedure(s) above to attach ring alignment bar to the rings, and the mount extension rod to the ring alignment bar. Place the caliber-specific end of the bore rod 107 into the bore of the firearm. Place the opposing end of the bore rod into hole 110 in the lower connector block 108. Connect the lower connector block to the upper connector block 111 via the vertical connector rod 109. Push the bore indicator rod 114 into the upper connector block. Rotate the bore indicator rod to a vertical position. Adjust the height of the bore indicator rod by sliding the vertical connector rod up or down in the upper connector block so that it comes into close proximity with the mount extension rod. Any vertical misalignment between the bore of the firearm and the rings will be revealed as a visible lack of parallelism between the proximal edges of the mount extension rod and the bore indicator rod.

Advantages

From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of my alignment device for mounting optical sights become evident:

(a) The scope rings can be brought into and held in positive mechanical alignment during the mounting process, obviating the need for trial and error adjustments.

(b) The scope rings can be brought into alignment with each other at the same time that they are brought into alignment with the bore of the firearm.

(c) The axis of the scope rings can be brought into alignment with the bore of the firearm in both the horizontal (“windage”) and vertical (“elevation”) planes.

(d) The scope rings can be aligned with the bore of the firearm without the use of any battery-powered light sources or other ancillary optical devices.

(e) A single ring alignment bar can be used to install different scope rings with a plurality of diameters.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. An alignment device for mounting optical sights comprising a ring alignment bar, a mount extension rod, and a bore extension assembly.

2. A ring alignment bar comprising a plurality of diameters, said diameters corresponding to standard outside diameters of, optical sights, and said bar comprising a hole of predetermined diameter at one or both ends.

3-7. (canceled)

8. A bore extension assembly comprising a bore rod, a lower connector block, an upper connector block, a vertical connector rod, and a bore extension rod.

9. The mount extension rod of claim 1, of predetermined diameter to enter said hole or holes in said alignment bar, providing a means for the mount extension rod to extend along and above the barrel of a firearm, so as to reveal alignment or misalignment between said mounts and the barrel of said firearm.

10. The bore rod of claim 8, of predetermined diameter to fit into the muzzle of a firearm.

11. The lower connector block of claim 8, comprising a rectangular block, and a hole of predetermined diameter into which said bore rod may fit, said block also comprising a vertical connector rod attached to said connector block at an angle perpendicular to the axis of said hole in said connector block.

12. The upper connector block of claim 8, comprising a first hole of predetermined diameter into which may fit said vertical connector rod, said upper connector block also comprising a second hole of predetermined diameter with the axis of said second bole perpendicular to the axis of said first hole.

13. The bore extension rod of claim 8, of predetermined diameter, said bore extension rod fitting into said first or second holes in said upper connector block, providing a means for said scope rings to be aligned in a vertical plane with said barrel of said firearm by sliding said bore extension rod up or down for comparison with said mount extension rod.