INTEGRAL TELESCOPIC SIGHT FOR FIREARMS
A unified firearm and optical sight integrates the mounting of the optical elements directly into a one-piece frame, receiver, or barrel of the firearm. This solves some technical limitations caused by keeping the firearm and the telescopic sight as separate products. Merging the optics into the frame of the firearm reduces the distance between the optical elements and the barrel, which reduces parallax error. Reducing the number of mechanical connections between the optical elements and the barrel improves the rigidity of the connection, which reduces point-of-aim errors from bumps and shocks. Integrating the telescopic sight into the firearm makes for a smaller and smoother package, which makes it possible for the firearm to be carried in a concealed way. This invention applies to all types of firearms, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, NFA firearms, and AOW firearms.
This is a continuation-in-part application claiming priority from the nonprovisional application having Ser. No. 14/189,234 files on Feb. 25, 2014 that claims priority from the provisional application having Ser. No. 61/804,223 and filed on Mar. 22, 2013
BACKGROUNDWhen aiming a firearm at a target it is helpful to have a clear, bright, and magnified view of the target and a certain point of aim. It has been common to attach after-market telescopic sights to firearms in order solve this problem. However, the performance of telescopic sights is limited by parallax error caused by the distance between the centerline of the bore of the firearm barrel and the centerline of the telescopic sight. In addition, the mechanical connections between the optical elements of the telescopic sight and the firearm barrel reduce the rigidity of the combined assembly, which increases the point of aim errors caused by the bumps and shocks that are typical in the handling of a firearm over time. Finally, after-market telescopic sights tend to be large and bulky, which makes for a bulky and difficult to handle complete assembly of the firearm and telescopic sight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention integrates sighting optics elements and the mounting structures of the optics directly into an one-piece unitary frame of a firearm. This unitary design solves technical limitations that are otherwise caused in the prior art by keeping the firearm and the telescopic sight as separate products. For example, merging the optics into the frame, receiver, or barrel of the firearm reduce the distance between the center line of the optics and the center line of the barrel, which consequently reduces parallax error. In addition, reducing the number of mechanical connections between the optics and the barrel improves the rigidity of their inter-connection, which reduces point-of-aim errors caused by the bumps and shocks that are otherwise typical in the handling of a firearm over time. Finally, integrating the telescopic sight into the frame of the gun makes for a smaller and smoother package, which makes it possible that the firearm be carried in a concealed way. This invention applies to all types of firearms, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, NFA firearms, and AOW firearms.
In contrast, typical prior art removable optical sighting systems are noncontiguous with its respective firearm because a physical distinction or parting line exists between the structure of the optical system and the firearm frame.
The optical system in
The sight or optical system includes the following elements illustrated in
The physical extent of the elements of the optical system is substantially the entire length of the frame 105, the forward-most element being adjacent the forward facing barrel mouth 305 at the forward facing end 304 of the frame 105. The optical system is located within an optical system cavity 301 that is formed within, internal to, the frame 105. The cavity 301 is elongated and generally circular in cross-section, although having various different diameters, and is oriented with its longitudinal axis 306 parallel to that of the barrel 302. The optical system cavity 301 extends from the forward end 304 to the rear 307 of the frame 105. The barrel 302 is likewise retained in a barrel cavity 303 formed in the frame 105. Herein, the word “frame” refers to the supporting structure that retains the operable “firing” components as well as the optical elements discussed respecting the invention. The term “frame” also refers more generally, with respect to the novel aspects of the invention, to such supporting structure together with the conventional functional elements of the respective handgun.
The optical cavity 301 internal profile may vary depending on the particulars of the optical system design. However, to accomplish the optical performance required for a handgun, the optical elements must be relatively spaced apart, preferably in most designs as mutually distant as possible. To maintain the precise relative positioning, an integral frame is needed.
Both the optical system cavity 301 and barrel cavity 303 are preferably formed by conventional milling processes or other similar material-removing methods. Both are formed within the common unitary frame 105. This is critical to maintain the relative spatial dimensions of the elements of the optical system, both internally and with respect to the firing elements of the handgun, particularly the barrel longitudinal centerline.
The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
Claims
1. A handgun comprising:
- a unitary handgun frame;
- the frame having an internal elongated cavity; and
- an optical sight comprising multiple refractive elements, the optical sight retained within the cavity.
2. A handgun, according to claim 1, and wherein:
- a handgun frame has a forward end and an rear end; and
- the cavity extends from the forward end to the rear end.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 15, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2016
Applicant: ORCHARD ARMS LLC (GAINESVILLE, FL)
Inventor: Luke Fraser Williams (Gainesville, FL)
Application Number: 15/182,810