WEAPON SIGHT GRIP

Abstract

A weapon sight grip and associated components and methods. The weapon sight can be a firearm sight, such as a red dot type sight. The firearm accessory includes a base configured to be connected to a weapon and a sighting portion configured to assist a user in aiming the weapon. The firearm accessory includes grip structure such as an elastomeric pad, ridge, or other structure configured to facilitate a user in gripping the sight, such as to rack a slide on which the sight is mounted.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/175,505, filed Apr. 10, 2025, which claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/053,302, filed Nov. 7, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,298,101, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 63/263,684, filed Nov. 7, 2021, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to weapon accessories, and more particularly to weapon sights.

BACKGROUND

Various types of weapon sights are used to assist a shooter in aiming the weapon. Improvements are needed.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a pistol sight is for use on a pistol having a slide. The pistol sight comprises a base and a sighting portion. The base includes mount connection structure configured for connecting the pistol sight to the pistol. The sighting portion is supported by the base. The sighting portion is configured to assist a shooter of the firearm in aiming the firearm. The sighting portion includes a post extending upward above the base. The post includes a grip comprising elastomeric material defining a gripping surface arranged to be engaged by a finger of a user to grip the pistol sight to rack the slide of the pistol.

In another aspect, a pistol sight is for use on a pistol having a slide. The pistol sight comprises a base including mount connection structure configured for connecting the pistol sight to the pistol. The pistol sight comprises a sighting portion supported by the base. The sighting portion is configured to assist a shooter of the firearm in aiming the firearm. The sighting portion includes a post extending upward above the base. The post includes a ridge extending upward along the post. The ridge is arranged to be engaged by a finger of a user to grip the pistol sight to rack the slide of the pistol.

In another aspect, a pistol sight is for use on a pistol having a slide. The pistol sight comprises a base including mount connection structure configured for connecting the pistol sight to the pistol. The base includes an upstanding ridge arranged to be engaged by a finger of a user to grip the pistol sight to rack the slide of the pistol. The pistol sight includes a sighting portion supported by the base. The sighting portion being configured to assist a shooter of the firearm in aiming the firearm.

Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, left perspective of a firearm accessory of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear, right perspective of the firearm accessory;

FIG. 3 is a right elevation of the firearm accessory;

FIG. 4 is a rear, right perspective of the firearm accessory similar to FIG. 2, but omitting a grip pad;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but omitting an actuator cover;

FIG. 6 is a section of the firearm accessory taken in a plane including line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a photograph of the firearm accessory on a slide of a pistol and showing a hand of a user pinching the firearm accessory to rack the slide;

FIG. 8 is a front, right perspective of a second embodiment of a firearm accessory of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a front, left perspective of a third embodiment of a firearm accessory of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a rear, left perspective of the firearm accessory of FIG. 9.

Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a firearm sight of the present disclosure is indicated by 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the firearm sight is a “red dot” type sight configured to assist a shooter in aiming a firearm (e.g., pistol) at a target. It will be appreciated that aspects of the present disclosure can be implemented on other firearm accessories (e.g., other types of firearm sights) without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The firearm sight 10 can be referred to broadly as a firearm accessory.

In general, the firearm sight 10 includes a base 12, an optical lens 14, and a lens support 16. Collectively, the lens and lens support can be referred to as a sighting portion. Moreover, the base and lens support can be referred to as a sight body, which can be formed of metal or another suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 12 is a generally rectangular structure having a forward end adjacent the lens 14 and having an opposite rear end. The base 12 is configured to be connected to a firearm, as described in further detail below. For example, the base 12 can include one or more openings through which a fastener (e.g., screw) can be passed to directly connect the base to the firearm or to connect the base to a mount that is connected to the firearm.

The lens 14 is arranged to permit a shooter to look through the lens when aiming the firearm. It will be appreciated that the firearm sight 10 includes a light source 20 housed in the rear portion of the base 12 that is configured to emit light forward toward the lens 14 to be reflected rearward to be seen by the shooter when the shooter is looking through the lens, as is common with red dot type sights. The reflected light (e.g., having the appearance of a red dot) is adjustable to locate the dot to correspond to a correct aiming point of the firearm to sight in or zero the firearm. For example, a first dial 22 (broadly, vertical adjustment actuator) can be used to change a vertical position of the dot as seen by the shooter, and a second dial 24 (broadly, horizontal adjustment actuator) can be used to change a horizontal position of the dot as seen by the shooter.

The lens support 16 extends around the lens 14 to protect the lens and to secure the lens in position with respect to the base 12. The lens support 16 includes a first post 16A on the right side of the lens and a second post 16B on the left side of the lens. The lens support includes a cross member 16C extending between upper ends of the posts 16A, 16B. Other configurations of lens supports can be used without departing form the scope of the present disclosure. Collectively, the lens support 16 and forward portion of the base 12 can be referred to as a shroud or frame that houses or supports the lens 14.

The sight 10 includes actuators 26 on the opposite left and right sides of the sight to enable a user to turn the sight on/off, adjust a mode of the sight, and/or change a brightness of the light source, etc. A battery 27 (broadly, power source) is held in a battery compartment under a battery cover 28 and is operatively connected to the light source 20 for powering the light source responsive to actuation of the actuators 26.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the actuators 26 each include a dome switch 26A (broadly, switch) and a cover 26B over the dome switch. The covers 26B can be pressed by a user to deform the dome switch 26A to actuate the actuator 26. Desirably, the covers 26B are formed of elastomeric material such as a type of rubber (e.g., TPU). The covers are flexible to permit a user to deform the dome switch by pressing the dome switch through the cover. In manufacture, the dome switches 26A are installed in recesses in the sight body and operatively coupled to circuitry of the sight in communication with the battery 27. The covers 26B can be installed over the dome switches 26A and secured in position, such as by adhesive. The left cover 26B has a “plus” indicator thereon, and the right cover 26B has a “minus” indicator thereon to represent that the actuators can be used to increase or decrease the brightness of the light source. The actuators 26 can be used for other functions, such as turning the sight on/off, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sight 20 includes grip structure on opposite sides of the sight to facilitate a user in gripping the sight (e.g., pinching the sight) between fingers of the user. This may be useful, for example, in facilitating a user to rack a slide of a firearm on which the sight is mounted. For example, FIG. 7 shows the sight 20 mounted on a slide S and being grasped by a user to actuate or rack the slide. The slide S may be racked to chamber a round of ammunition in the barrel of the pistol or to eject a chambered round. In an aspect, besides serving as a sight, the sight also serves as a racking aide to provide increased gripping surface for a user to more easily rack the slide. The sight includes various types of grip structure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sight 10 includes grip features on the left and right sides of the sight. The sight 10 includes left and right first grip features comprising grip pads 30 applied to respective outboard left and right sides of the lens shroud. The grip pads 30 can be formed of elastomeric material such as a type of rubber (e.g., TPE). The grip pads 30 include respective gripping surfaces 30A arranged to face laterally away from the lens 14 in opposing directions with respect to each other. The arrangement is such that a user can “pinch” the sight by gripping the grip pads 30 on the opposite sides of the sight. Desirably, the material of the grip pads 30 and/or surface texture of the grip pads are configured to provide increased friction with the hand of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the right grip pad 30 will be discussed in more detail, with the understanding that the left grip 30 pad has a similar (e.g., mirror image) construction and is mounted on the sight body in a similar fashion. As shown in FIG. 5, the sight body defines a recess 34 extending along substantially the full height of the lens shroud. The recess 34 includes a peripheral rim 36 that includes a forward ridge segment 36A, a lower ridge segment 36B, a rear ridge segment 36C, and an upper ridge segment 36D. The ridge segments bound a cavity in which the grip pad 30 and the actuator cover 26B are received. In the illustrated embodiment, the grip pad 30 and the actuator cover 26B are provided as separate pieces (see, e.g., FIG. 4), but it will be appreciated that they can be integrally formed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The grip pad 30 is sized and shaped to correspond closely to a size and shape of a portion of the cavity next to the actuator cover 26B. The grip pad 30 can be secured in position by adhesive or other suitable methods. Desirably, the grip pad 30 is resiliently compressible such that a user's finger pressing on the grip pad temporarily deforms the grip pad to increase friction between the user's finger and the grip pad. Although the grip pad 30 is shown as having a smooth outer gripping surface, the gripping surface can be textured (see, e.g., FIG. 8). In other embodiments, the grip pad may be formed of or include grip tape. Moreover, the gripping surfaces may be provided in similar locations as shown but be formed by textured or roughened surfaces of the sight body rather than a pad secured to the sight body.

The sight 10 includes additional grip features on the left and right sides of the sight. For example, the rear ridge segments 36C of the rim extending around the grip pad 30 acts as a grip enhancing feature. The rear ridge segment 36C is upstanding and defines a forward facing shoulder arranged to oppose force of a user's hand gripping the sight and pulling it rearward to rack the pistol slide. For example, if a user's hand is slipping off the rear end of the grip pad 30, the user's hand would engage the rear ridge segment 36C and help prevent the user's hand from slipping off the sight 10.

The sight 10 includes additional grip features in the form of additional ridges 40 on the left and right sides of the base 12. The ridge 40 is upstanding and defines a forward facing shoulder arranged to oppose force of a user's hand gripping the sight 10 and pulling it rearward to rack the pistol slide. A recess 42 is provided in the base of the sight in front of the ridge and behind the lens shroud.

It will be appreciated that the user may quickly move their hand to the sight 10 without looking to grip the sight to rack the pistol slide. The grip features of the present sight permit the user to engage the sight at various locations to facilitate manipulating the slide. One or more grip features disclosed herein can be omitted, and other types of grip features can be used, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, it will be appreciated that grip features disclosed herein can be provided on one or both sides of the sight.

Referring to FIG. 8, a second embodiment of a firearm sight of the present disclosure is indicated generally by 110. The sight is similar to the sight 10, and similar features are indicated by like reference numbers plus 100. For example, the sight includes grip pads 130 (only the right grip pad being shown). In this embodiment, the grip pads 130 have textured gripping surfaces 130A to increase friction with a user's hand. The texture includes a plurality of small protrusions to give the gripping surface a texture similar to that of sand paper. As with the grip pads 30 described above, the grip pads 130 can be formed of resiliently compressible material. It will be appreciated that the gripping surfaces can have other types of textures (e.g., plurality of ribs, knurled, etc.) without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a third embodiment of a firearm sight of the present disclosure is indicated generally by 210. The sight is similar to the sight 210, and similar features are indicated by like reference numbers plus 200. For example, the sight includes a base 12, a lens 14, and a lens support 16. In this embodiment, the grip pads are not provided, and the actuators on the sides of the lens shroud are omitted. The arrangement is such that the recesses 234 in the sides of the lens shroud are left open and are provided as grip features. In use, the user's fingers can be received in the recesses 234 to engage the ridge segments 236C to enhance grip of the sight for manipulating the slide. The outer surfaces of the lens shroud bounded by the peripheral rim 236 are shown as smooth surfaces but can be textured (e.g., knurled, ridged, etc.), without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In view of the above, it will be appreciated that the grip features provide traction to the user to grip the sight to perform pistol slide manipulations. The grip features increase the purchase area on each side of the slide to increase friction between the sight/slide and the user's thumb and other fingers on opposite sides of the sight/slide.

It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. For example, mounting structure having other configurations (e.g., lacking sockets and/or holes) can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, it will be understood that a mounting adaptor could be part of the firearm or a separate component connectable to the firearm. The dimensions and proportions described herein are by way of example without limitation unless otherwise noted. Other dimensions and proportions can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A pistol sight for use on a pistol having a slide, the pistol sight comprising:

a base including mount connection structure configured for connecting the pistol sight to the pistol; and

a sighting portion supported by the base, the sighting portion being configured to assist a shooter of the firearm in aiming the firearm in a forward direction with respect to the pistol sight, the sighting portion including a post extending upward above the base, the post including a gripping surface facing laterally outward from one side of the sighting portion, the sighting portion including a first ridge rearward of the gripping surface and extending laterally outward with respect to the gripping surface, the first ridge having a forward facing shoulder being arranged to be engaged by a finger of a user to grip the pistol sight to rack the slide of the pistol, the sighting portion including a second ridge forward of the gripping surface and extending laterally outward with respect to the gripping surface, the sighting portion including a lens configured to permit the shooter to look through when aiming the firearm.

3. (canceled)

4. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the sighting portion includes a third ridge extending laterally outward with respect to the gripping surface.

5. The pistol sight of claim 4, wherein the third ridge is above the gripping surface.

6. The pistol sight of claim 4, wherein the first ridge, the second ridge, and the third ridge bound the gripping surface on three sides of the gripping surface.

7. The pistol sight of claim 5, wherein the first ridge extends upward and forward along the post, the second ridge extends upward and rearward along the post, and the third ridge extends rearward and upward along the post.

8. The pistol sight of claim 7, wherein the first ridge extends along a rear of the post, the second ridge extends along a front of the post, and the third ridge extends along a top of the post.

9. The pistol sight of claim 7, wherein the third ridge extends between and interconnects the first ridge and the second ridge.

10. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the first ridge and the second ridge are part of the post.

11. The pistol sight of claim 10, wherein the first ridge extends along a rear of the post and the second ridge extends along a front of the post.

12. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the gripping surface is smooth.

13. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the gripping surface includes a rib.

14. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the first ridge extends upward and forward along the post and the second ridge extends upward and rearward along the post.

15. The pistol sight of claim 2, further comprising a light source and an actuator, the light source housed in the base and arranged to emit light at the lens, the actuator configured to change a brightness of the light source, the actuator is disposed below the gripping surface of the post.

16. The pistol sight of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a switch and a flexible cover over the switch.

17. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the base includes a rear end remote from the sighting portion and an opposite front end where the sighting portion is located, the sighting portion includes a front end and a rear end, the rear end of the sighting portion being located closer to the front end of the base than the rear end of the base, the first ridge being located adjacent the rear end of the sighting portion and the second ridge being located adjacent the front end of the sighting portion.

18. The pistol sight of claim 17, wherein the front end of the sighting portion is located at the front end of the base.

19. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the base has a lateral side surface and a base ridge projecting laterally outward from the lateral side surface, the base ridge being arranged to be engaged by the finger of the user to grip the pistol sight to rack the slide of the pistol.

20. The pistol sight of claim 19, wherein the post projects laterally outward from the lateral side surface of the base.

21. The pistol sight of claim 20, wherein the base has a recess in front of the base ridge and behind the post.

22. The pistol sight of claim 21, wherein the base ridge extends rearward and upward as the base ridge extends along the lateral side surface of the base.

23. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the post is a first post, the gripping surface is a first gripping surface, and said one side of the sighting portion is a first side of the sighting portion, and wherein the sighting portion includes a second post extending upward above the base, the second post including a second gripping surface facing laterally outward from a second side of the sighting portion, the second side being opposite the first side of the sighting portion, the sighting portion includes a third ridge rearward of the second gripping surface and extending laterally outward with respect to the second gripping surface, the third ridge having a forward facing shoulder being arranged to be engaged by a thumb of the user to grip the pistol sight to rack the slide of the pistol, the sighting portion including a fourth ridge forward of the second gripping surface and extending laterally outward with respect to the second gripping surface.

24. The pistol sight of claim 23, wherein the first post bounds a first lateral side of the lens and the second post bounds an opposite second lateral side of the lens.

25. The pistol sight of claim 24, wherein the sighting portion includes a cross member extending between an upper end of the first post and an upper end of the second post, the cross member bounding a top side of the lens, the cross member having a planar top surface extending from the first post to the second post, the planar top surface extending upward and rearward.

26. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the second ridge has a rearward facing shoulder.

27. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the first ridge extends parallel to a back of the post and the second ridge extends parallel to a front of the post.

28. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the first ridge has a uniform thickness.

29. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the first ridge has an upper end and a lower end, a thickness of the upper end of the first ridge being the same as a thickness of the lower end of the first ridge.

30. The pistol sight of claim 2, wherein the gripping surface is recessed laterally inboard of a front edge of the post.