Ring mount interface for scope

Abstract

Various embodiments described herein may include a mount for attaching a scope to a recoil-producing device, wherein the recoil-producing device is a firearm, the mount comprising: a ring cap and a ring bottom to capture part of the scope; and the ring cap and the ring bottom including plural interfaces, wherein the plural interfaces include: a fastening interface to fasten the ring cap to the ring bottom; and an additional interface configurable by sliding the ring cap forwardly, prior to fastening the ring cap to the ring bottom using the fastening interface, to restrict at least axial movement of the scope relative to the recoil-producing device, in response to firing the firearm; the additional interface including a recoil lug and a corresponding opening, the recoil lug installable in the corresponding opening, wherein when the recoil lug is installed in the corresponding opening the ring cap is restricted from rotational movement in at least one direction. Other embodiments may be disclosed and / or claimed.

Description

PRIORITY

[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 688,254, filed on Aug. 28, 2024 and entitled RING MOUNT INTERFACE TO RESTRICT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF A SCOPE, which is incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The field of the present disclosure relates generally to mounting scopes to recoil-producing devices (e.g., firearms), and more particularly to a mount including ring cap, a ring bottom, and plural interfaces—including a fastening interface, and an additional interface to restrict axial movement of the scope relative to the firearm, in response to firing the firearm.BACKGROUND

[0003] As scopes and cartridges get bigger, recoil forces increase to the point where some known mounts (e.g., rings) begin to fail. Mount failure may present as movement between the scope and firearm, which may produce inaccuracy. Users with magnum rifles have reported scopes slipping in the rings, evidenced by wear marks appearing from under the muzzle face of the rings.

[0004] Several approaches have been utilized to reduce the possibility of scopes slipping in the rings. Sometimes a grip material such as Rosin is applied between the scope and rings, to reduce the possibility of scope slipping. Others “lap” their rings, including sanding off the high points in an attempt to get more surface contact with mixed results. Others still employ rings with grooves or rough surfaces to get more grip.SUMMARY

[0005] When a scoped firearm is discharged, 1000-2000 pounds of force is transmitted through the mounts to the scope. After several shots, wear marks appear where the scope interfaces with the mount. This is evidence of movement between the scope and mount that can degrade accuracy and loosen fasteners. The wear marks appear between the scope and lower part of the ring, not under the ring cap. Ring caps weigh far less than a scope and “ride” the scope like a saddle. This means the cap, constituting 50% or more of total ring contact, is only clamping the scope, not preventing any axial movement.

[0006] Various embodiments include a scope mount with a ring cap interface arranged to prevent a scope from slipping under recoil. Ring caps are arranged to “ride” the scope as it settles in the ring bottoms. The ring caps in various embodiments described herein engage the ring bottom in a way that eliminates relative movement.BRIEF DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION

[0007] The accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification and, together with the description, explain the advantages and principles of the presently disclosed technology.

[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a system utilizing a mount that includes a ring cap recoil lug, according to various embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the mount of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B are photographs of a system utilizing a prototype ring cap recoil lug, according to various embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a method of installing a scope on a firearm, using the mount of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 5A is an exploded isometric view of a known ring bottom with an alignment lug, and a corresponding known ring top.

[0013] FIG. 5B is an exploded rear view of the known ring bottom and ring top of FIG. 5A.

[0014] FIG. 5C is an isometric view of the alignment lug of FIG. 5A installed in a cavity in the ring top, before pivoting around the illustrated axis.

[0015] FIG. 5D is a side view showing the ring top of FIG. 5D, after pivoting around the illustrated axis of FIG. 5C.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] With reference to the drawings, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,”“in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.

[0017] Some known rings may include multiple screws (e.g., four screws or six screws) attaching the ring cap to the ring bottom to increase clamping force on the scope. However, this does not addressed the fact that the ring cap, constituting fifty percent (or more) of the contact with the scope, does little to prevent the scope from moving in the rings (e.g., moving axially in the rings).

[0018] After a scope is impact tested or used with live fire, wear marks on the underside of the scope may be substantially worse than the top of the scope. This occurs because, during recoil, the lower half of the ring has to move the entire weight of the scope. However, the interface between the ring cap and scope only has to act on the cap, resulting in less wear (e.g., very little wear) on the top of the scope.

[0019] With rail scope mounts (e.g., Picatinny scope mounts), it is common practice when installing rail scope mounts to slide the mount towards the muzzle until a recoil lug stops on a slot in the rail. Without this lug, the mount could shift on the rail causing inaccuracy or loosening of the mounts.

[0020] With ring caps, a widespread belief is that the ring cap is prevented from moving by the ring cap screws. This belief may be rooted in the fact that the ring cap cannot continue to move forward indefinitely with screws installed.

[0021] In reality, in known ring caps using socket head cap screws with flat bottoms in a counterborre, these ring caps are at risk of slipping beneath the screw head in response to recoil forces. This may be partially mitigated by using countersunk screw holes with a matching flat head screw, but such an approach may still not prevent the ring cap movement due, in part, to fastener manufacturing imperfections (screws are typically not perfectly straight).

[0022] Also, ring cap screws may not have flat faces perpendicular to the direction of recoil. The angled nature of the thread profile means the fasteners can shift in various directions (including, but not limited to, horizontally). Users sometimes discover a ring cap screw has loosened inadvertently which could stem from relative ring cap movement (which may be relative axial movement, relative rotationaly movement, or may include components of both). A solution that reduces or eliminates relative ring cap movement with various known ring caps is desired.

[0023] Various embodiment described herein may include a scope mount where the ring caps contain a feature that interfaces with a mating feature on the ring bottom to arrest relative movement during recoil. This feature may be used in combination with any fasteners, such as those now used in scope mounts or any other fastener (now known or later developed), that clamp the ring cap to the ring bottom.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, the system 100 includes a scope mounted to a recoil-producing device (e.g., a rifle in this embodiment) with a mount 10. The mount 10 includes a ring cap 21, a ring bottom 22, and plural interfaces. The plural interfaces may include a fastener interface (such as threaded holes to receive externally threaded fasteners 31, as shown in FIG. 2), and an additional interface 15 (such as the illustrated recoil lug interface).

[0025] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the mount 10 of FIG. 1. The mount 10 includes an upper section including the ring cap 21 and the ring bottom 22, and a lower section including a body 41 to mount to a mounting section of the recoil-producing device (e.g., to mount to a rail of a firearm). In the illustrated embodiment, the ring bottom 22 is integrally formed with the body 41; however, it may be possible and practical to attach (e.g., removably couple or non-removably couple) a ring bottom to a component of a lower section of a mount. In this embodiment, where the mounting section is a rail, the mount 10 includes clamping parts 42 to clamp to the body 41 using a fastening interface corresponding to fasteners 32.

[0026] Ring cap fasteners 31 (e.g., externally threaded fasteners such as screws) attach the ring cap 21 to the ring bottom 22. In this embodiment, the additional interface 15 (FIG. 1) includes a recoil lug 16A defined by one of the ring cap 21 and the ring bottom 22, and a mating feature 16B defined by the other of the ring cap 21 and the ring bottom 22.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the additional interface 15 (FIG. 1) utilizes flats orthogonal to the direction of recoil, but in other embodiments a ring cap interface may include some other component such as a tightly fit pin (or other projection), orthogonal to the direction of recoil. In embodiments in which the additional interface includes one or more pins, the pin(s) may restrict the fit of the ring cap to the scope (although this may be addressed by slotting holes to allow for tolerance stack).

[0028] Fasteners 31 of the fastener interface may have rotational drive on their terminal ends. In the illustrated example, the fasteners 31 are socket head cap screws sitting in counter-bored holes rather than countersinks (cones).

[0029] Referring again to FIG. 1, to install the scope on the firearm, each ring cap 21 may be slid towards the muzzle of the firearm before tightening the fasteners 31. This is similar to a practice corresponding to Picatinny mounts to prevent movement and would be readily understood and adopted by manufacturers and / or users.

[0030] As mentioned earlier, a feature other than a lug may be used for the additional interface. In other embodiments, a feature may extend from a ring cap into a ring bottom, or simply as a single jog up or down between the ring cap and ring bottom with a single rotatably driven fastener (e.g., single screw) per side.

[0031] In embodiments that use a recoil lug interface, a geometry of the recoil lug and / or the recoil lug opening may prevent rotational movement of the ring cap relative to the ring bottom (or the ring bottom relative to the ring top) when the recoil lug is installed in the recoil lug opening. The restriction with regard to rotational movement may be attributable, in part, to the recoil lug geometry, such as a ratio of a width of the recoil lug to a height of the recoil lug. The restriction may also be attributable to a fit of the recoil lug in the cavity, a fore / aft position of the recoil lug interface, a quantity of the recoil lug, a shape of the recoil lug (other shapes besides what is illustrated may be possible or practical), or the like, or combinations thereof.

[0032] The constraint against rotational movement of the ring cap may be advantageous for maintaining a position of the scope relative to the firearm. For instance, while recoil force of the firearm may include a fore-to-aft axial component, there may be other components in different directions (axial or non-axial). The number and direction of components of recoil forces may also depend on the firearm, the ammunition, a shooter's reaction to the recoil force, whether the firearm is braced or not, and the like.

[0033] The constraint against rotational movement may be a constraint against all rotational movement, or a constraint against rotational movement in a particular direction. For example, the recoil lug may constrain the top cap from rotational movement urging the ring cap in the fore and downward directions (this may be thought of a constraint against tumbling forward relative to a firearm moving backwards and slightly upward).

[0034] The constraint against rotational movement may be rotational movement coincident with a single axis, or rotational movement coincident with plural axis. For example, in one embodiment the constraint may restrict (e.g., prevent) rotational movement in directions that include fore / aft components, but in another embodiment the constraint may additionally restrict rotational movement in directions that include lateral components. The constraint against rotational movement may be rotational movement in a single direction on a single axis (e.g., where rotational movement is possible in the opposite direction on the same axis).

[0035] The ring mount may have plural interfaces (e.g., a fastening interface and an additional interface), and the constraint against rotational movement may be attributable entirely to the additional interface (e.g., attributable entirely to a recoil lug). For instance, the constraint may not depend on threaded fasteners (e.g., the constraint against rotational movement may apply when the recoil lug is installed in the recoil lug opening prior to installing fasteners).

[0036] The constraint against rotational movement may not apply when the recoil lug is only partially installed in the opening. For example, when a recoil lug is installed in the opening the constraint may apply, but as the user makes relative axial movement of the ring cap away from the bottom ring, rotational movement of the ring cap or the bottom ring may be possible after some amount of the relative axial movement. Put another way, when the recoil lug is only partially in the lug opening rotational movement of the ring cap or the bottom ring may be possible. Put yet another way, after the ring cap is lifted straight up some amount it may then be possible to rotate the ring cap.

[0037] FIGS. 3A and 3B are photographs of a system utilizing a prototype ring cap recoil lug, according to various embodiments. In the photographs, the additional interface includes a recoil lug on the ring bottom extending into a middle recess on the ring cap.

[0038] In various embodiments, the fastener interface and the additional interface may be separate interfaces (e.g., non-coinciding). For instance, an axis coincident with a flat or other face of the additional interface, or an axis of movement of a pin of the additional interface, may be offset (e.g., axially offset) from at least one axis of the fastener interface (e.g., between the axes of the fastener interface in the illustrated embodiment). In various embodiments, a non-coincident additional interface may be non-coaxial with axes of movement of fasteners of the fastening interface of the ring cap (or non-coaxial of an axis of movement, in the case of a fastener interface with a single fastener for each ring cap).

[0039] In embodiments in which the additional interface includes a projection (e.g., a width of the illustrated lug 16A of FIG. 2), the width of the projection may intentionally be smaller than a width of a mating feature (e.g., a width of the illustrated recess 16B of FIG. 2). When the ring caps are slid toward the muzzle (before fastening using the fastening interface), this may cause a continuous section of predefined flat or other surface of the projection to contact its corresponding surface of the mating feature (when another flat or another surface of the projection is non-contacting with the mating feature). In this embodiment, the predefined flat (or surface) is the flat or surface that is closest to the muzzle, which may prevent movement of the scope relative to the firearm in response to recoil. A projection or other feature of the additional interface may have any number of faces / flats / surfaces.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a method 400 of installing a scope on a firearm, using the mount of FIG. 1. Block 401 includes capturing part of a scope (e.g., part of the main tube) with a ring cap and a ring bottom of the mount.

[0041] The method 400 may further includes, as shown in block 402, applying a force to the ring cap. The force may be applied forwardly and / or may include a direction opposite a vector extending along a bore axis of a firearm from the muzzle to the opposite end of the firearm. In various embodiments, applying this force may move the ring cap, relative to the ring bottom, may include applying a force to a back end of the ring cap and / or applying a forward force to the ring cap (e.g., in a direction opposite the vector).

[0042] In various embodiments, the application of the force in block 402 may locate the ring cap in a predefined position, e.g., may locate the ring cap in the predefined position. In various embodiments, in the predefined position, a portion of the additional interface (e.g., a face of the ring cap, or some portion of the ring cap) may contact a corresponding portion of the ring bottom (e.g., a face of the ring bottom, or some other portion of the ring cap). Another portion of the ring cap (e.g., another face, or some other portion of the ring cap) may be non-contacting with a corresponding portion of the ring bottom (e.g., another face or the ring bottom) in the predefined position.

[0043] The method 400 may further include, in block 402, not prior to applying the force (e.g., while the force is applied and / or while the ring cap is located in the predefined position), tightening the fastening interface to secure the scope to the firearm. Block 402 may include rotationally driving one or more fasteners of the fastening interface using one or more drive sections, respectively, of the one or more fasteners (e.g., one or more sockets on one or more terminal ends of the one or more fasteners).

[0044] FIG. 5A is an exploded isometric view of a known ring bottom with an alignment lug, and a corresponding known ring top. FIG. 5B is an exploded rear view of the known ring bottom and ring top of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5C is an isometric view of the alignment lug of FIG. 5A installed in a cavity in the ring top, before being pivoting around the illustrated axis.

[0045] With various firearm components, alignment of two or more parts is required before fastening the two or more parts together. If the two parts are joined by a threaded fastener, an attempt to fasten misaligned parts may produce cross-threading. Cross-threading may occur when a threaded connection engages at an angle rather than straight on. Cross-threading may damage the threading permanently and / or lead to a poor connection. In the case of ring mounts, the poor connection may result in the scope making movement relative to the firearm after zeroing, producing an inaccurate aim or other problems.

[0046] One approach to aid a user in judging alignment and / or maintaining alignment while rotationally driving the threaded fastener to join the parts is the use of tool(s). For instance, with some firearm components a jig may be used to aid a user in correctly assembling the parts.

[0047] Yet another approach is to provide self-aligning parts. With self-aligning parts, the user:

[0048] May not need to make a manual judgement, and / or

[0049] May be aided in keeping the parts aligned while rotationally driving a threaded fastener to join the parts, and / or

[0050] May not need as many tools as some other parts.

[0051] An example of a known ring mount with self-alignment features is shown in FIGS. 5A-5D. Referring now to FIG. 5A, the illustrated self-alignment features include a projection on the ring bottom and a corresponding cavity on the ring top. When a user rotationally drives threaded fasteners (not shown) into the fastener holes in the ring cap to join the ring bottom and the ring top, the self-alignment features may prevent the user from unintentionally moving the ring top forwardly or rearwardly relative to the ring bottom (e.g., in directions parallel with an optical axis of the scope), thus reducing the possibility of cross-threading.

[0052] While self-alignment features may be in the form of a post and a cavity (which advantageously additionally prevent unintentional lateral movement of the ring top relative to the ring bottom while rotationally driving threaded fasteners), in the known ring mount illustrated in FIGS. 5A-D the self-alignment feature is in the form of a lug (e.g., an alignment lug). There are a number of differences between the known alignment lug illustrated in FIGS. 5A-D and the recoil lugs used in various embodiments described herein.

[0053] One of these differences can be best understood with reference to FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D. When the alignment lug is installed into the corresponding cavity and the ring top is in alignment with the ring bottom, as shown in FIG. 5C (prior to installation of fasteners), the ring top is pivotablly moveable relative to the ring bottom. For instance, from the position with the alignment lug installed in the corresponding cavity, the ring top can be moved rotationally about axis 501 as best seen in FIG. 5D.

[0054] In contrast, as described earlier in the description of FIGS. 1 and 2, various ring mount interfaces described herein may include a recoil lug and corresponding opening that prevents the rotational movement. The pivoting that is possible with the installed alignment lugs (prior to installing fasteners), as illustrated in FIG. 5D, is not possible with installed various recoil lugs described herein.

[0055] In various embodiments using recoil lugs, movement of the ring cap or bottom ring in a single direction, along an axis away from the bottom ring or ring cap, respectively, may be the only movement possible from an installed state (recoil lug fully installed in the recoil cavity, prior to attaching fasteners), with the recoil lug. In contrast, with the alignment lugs in the installed state, multiple directions of movement (axial and / or rotational) of the ring cap or the bottom ring relative to the bottom ring or the ring cap, respectively, may be possible (with the alignment lugs, prioring to installing the threaded fasteners).

[0056] There are a number of other differences between ring mounts described herein and the known ring mounts. Referring to FIG. 2, a pressing portion of surface 205 of the ring cap (to contact a pressing portion of the surface of the front of the recoil lug) may have a surface area that is significantly greater than a surface area of a contacting portion of surface 505 (FIG. 5A) of the known ring cap. For instance, the surface area of the pressing portion of the surface 205 may be about 0.052 square inches. The measured surface area of the contacting portion of the surface 505 (FIG. 5A) is only about 0.005 square inches, which is more than ten times smaller. In various embodiments, the surface of area of the pressing portion of the surface 205 may be at least 0.01 square inches to optimize the constraining function of the interface on the scope during recoil.

[0057] Other dimensions of a recoil lug may be greater than measured dimensions of the alignment lug. For example:

[0058] The recoil lug may have a height not less than 0.1 inches. A measured height of the alignment lug of FIGS. 5A-5D is less than 0.1 inches.

[0059] In various embodiments a recoil lug may have a height of about at least 0.122 inches (e.g., within four thousands of an inch tolerance). In one embodiment, a height may be about 0.158 inches.

[0060] The recoil lug may have a width of about 0.33 inches, which is greater than a width of the known alignment lug.

[0061] Referring again to FIG. 5B, it can be seen that the flat face is about half the width the bottom of the arch of the ring cap. The alignment lug also has a non-contacting face (e. g,. the illustrated curved face) that does not contact the ring cap in the installed state. Referring now to FIG. 2, the recoil lug 16A has a flat face that is larger than about half a width of the bottom of the arch of the ring cap. In fact, in the illustrated embodiment the widths are about equal.

[0062] Put another way, starting at a position coincident with an outside of the bottom of the arch of the ring cap, the front face of the recoil lug continues to a position coincident with an inside of the bottom arch, which optimizes the constraining function of the interface on the scope during recoil. In contrast, referring now to FIG. 5A, starting at a position coincident with an outside of the bottom arch of the ring cap, the front face of the alignment lug (FIG. 5A) does not continue to a position coincident with an inside of the bottom arch (it terminates prior to the inside position, and it also transitions into the non-contacting face, e.g., the curved face).

[0063] It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016]With reference to the drawings, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,”“in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not d...

PRIORITY

[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 688,254, filed on Aug. 28, 2024 and entitled RING MOUNT INTERFACE TO RESTRICT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF A SCOPE, which is incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The field of the present disclosure relates generally to mounting scopes to recoil-producing devices (e.g., firearms), and more particularly to a mount including ring cap, a ring bottom, and plural interfaces—including a fastening interface, and an additional interface to restrict axial movement of the scope relative to the firearm, in response to firing the firearm.BACKGROUND

[0003] As scopes and cartridges get bigger, recoil forces increase to the point where some known mounts (e.g., rings) begin to fail. Mount failure may present as movement between the scope and firearm, which may produce inaccuracy. Users with magnum rifles have reported scopes slipping in the rings, evidenced by wear marks appearing from under the muzzle face of the rings.

[0004] Several approaches have been utilized to reduce the possibility of scopes slipping in the rings. Sometimes a grip material such as Rosin is applied between the scope and rings, to reduce the possibility of scope slipping. Others “lap” their rings, including sanding off the high points in an attempt to get more surface contact with mixed results. Others still employ rings with grooves or rough surfaces to get more grip.SUMMARY

[0005] When a scoped firearm is discharged, 1000-2000 pounds of force is transmitted through the mounts to the scope. After several shots, wear marks appear where the scope interfaces with the mount. This is evidence of movement between the scope and mount that can degrade accuracy and loosen fasteners. The wear marks appear between the scope and lower part of the ring, not under the ring cap. Ring caps weigh far less than a scope and “ride” the scope like a saddle. This means the cap, constituting 50% or more of total ring contact, is only clamping the scope, not preventing any axial movement.

[0006] Various embodiments include a scope mount with a ring cap interface arranged to prevent a scope from slipping under recoil. Ring caps are arranged to “ride” the scope as it settles in the ring bottoms. The ring caps in various embodiments described herein engage the ring bottom in a way that eliminates relative movement.BRIEF DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION

[0007] The accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification and, together with the description, explain the advantages and principles of the presently disclosed technology.

[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a system utilizing a mount that includes a ring cap recoil lug, according to various embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the mount of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B are photographs of a system utilizing a prototype ring cap recoil lug, according to various embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a method of installing a scope on a firearm, using the mount of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 5A is an exploded isometric view of a known ring bottom with an alignment lug, and a corresponding known ring top.

[0013] FIG. 5B is an exploded rear view of the known ring bottom and ring top of FIG. 5A.

[0014] FIG. 5C is an isometric view of the alignment lug of FIG. 5A installed in a cavity in the ring top, before pivoting around the illustrated axis.

[0015] FIG. 5D is a side view showing the ring top of FIG. 5D, after pivoting around the illustrated axis of FIG. 5C.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] With reference to the drawings, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,”“in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.

[0017] Some known rings may include multiple screws (e.g., four screws or six screws) attaching the ring cap to the ring bottom to increase clamping force on the scope. However, this does not addressed the fact that the ring cap, constituting fifty percent (or more) of the contact with the scope, does little to prevent the scope from moving in the rings (e.g., moving axially in the rings).

[0018] After a scope is impact tested or used with live fire, wear marks on the underside of the scope may be substantially worse than the top of the scope. This occurs because, during recoil, the lower half of the ring has to move the entire weight of the scope. However, the interface between the ring cap and scope only has to act on the cap, resulting in less wear (e.g., very little wear) on the top of the scope.

[0019] With rail scope mounts (e.g., Picatinny scope mounts), it is common practice when installing rail scope mounts to slide the mount towards the muzzle until a recoil lug stops on a slot in the rail. Without this lug, the mount could shift on the rail causing inaccuracy or loosening of the mounts.

[0020] With ring caps, a widespread belief is that the ring cap is prevented from moving by the ring cap screws. This belief may be rooted in the fact that the ring cap cannot continue to move forward indefinitely with screws installed.

[0021] In reality, in known ring caps using socket head cap screws with flat bottoms in a counterborre, these ring caps are at risk of slipping beneath the screw head in response to recoil forces. This may be partially mitigated by using countersunk screw holes with a matching flat head screw, but such an approach may still not prevent the ring cap movement due, in part, to fastener manufacturing imperfections (screws are typically not perfectly straight).

[0022] Also, ring cap screws may not have flat faces perpendicular to the direction of recoil. The angled nature of the thread profile means the fasteners can shift in various directions (including, but not limited to, horizontally). Users sometimes discover a ring cap screw has loosened inadvertently which could stem from relative ring cap movement (which may be relative axial movement, relative rotationaly movement, or may include components of both). A solution that reduces or eliminates relative ring cap movement with various known ring caps is desired.

[0023] Various embodiment described herein may include a scope mount where the ring caps contain a feature that interfaces with a mating feature on the ring bottom to arrest relative movement during recoil. This feature may be used in combination with any fasteners, such as those now used in scope mounts or any other fastener (now known or later developed), that clamp the ring cap to the ring bottom.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, the system 100 includes a scope mounted to a recoil-producing device (e.g., a rifle in this embodiment) with a mount 10. The mount 10 includes a ring cap 21, a ring bottom 22, and plural interfaces. The plural interfaces may include a fastener interface (such as threaded holes to receive externally threaded fasteners 31, as shown in FIG. 2), and an additional interface 15 (such as the illustrated recoil lug interface).

[0025] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the mount 10 of FIG. 1. The mount 10 includes an upper section including the ring cap 21 and the ring bottom 22, and a lower section including a body 41 to mount to a mounting section of the recoil-producing device (e.g., to mount to a rail of a firearm). In the illustrated embodiment, the ring bottom 22 is integrally formed with the body 41; however, it may be possible and practical to attach (e.g., removably couple or non-removably couple) a ring bottom to a component of a lower section of a mount. In this embodiment, where the mounting section is a rail, the mount 10 includes clamping parts 42 to clamp to the body 41 using a fastening interface corresponding to fasteners 32.

[0026] Ring cap fasteners 31 (e.g., externally threaded fasteners such as screws) attach the ring cap 21 to the ring bottom 22. In this embodiment, the additional interface 15 (FIG. 1) includes a recoil lug 16A defined by one of the ring cap 21 and the ring bottom 22, and a mating feature 16B defined by the other of the ring cap 21 and the ring bottom 22.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the additional interface 15 (FIG. 1) utilizes flats orthogonal to the direction of recoil, but in other embodiments a ring cap interface may include some other component such as a tightly fit pin (or other projection), orthogonal to the direction of recoil. In embodiments in which the additional interface includes one or more pins, the pin(s) may restrict the fit of the ring cap to the scope (although this may be addressed by slotting holes to allow for tolerance stack).

[0028] Fasteners 31 of the fastener interface may have rotational drive on their terminal ends. In the illustrated example, the fasteners 31 are socket head cap screws sitting in counter-bored holes rather than countersinks (cones).

[0029] Referring again to FIG. 1, to install the scope on the firearm, each ring cap 21 may be slid towards the muzzle of the firearm before tightening the fasteners 31. This is similar to a practice corresponding to Picatinny mounts to prevent movement and would be readily understood and adopted by manufacturers and / or users.

[0030] As mentioned earlier, a feature other than a lug may be used for the additional interface. In other embodiments, a feature may extend from a ring cap into a ring bottom, or simply as a single jog up or down between the ring cap and ring bottom with a single rotatably driven fastener (e.g., single screw) per side.

[0031] In embodiments that use a recoil lug interface, a geometry of the recoil lug and / or the recoil lug opening may prevent rotational movement of the ring cap relative to the ring bottom (or the ring bottom relative to the ring top) when the recoil lug is installed in the recoil lug opening. The restriction with regard to rotational movement may be attributable, in part, to the recoil lug geometry, such as a ratio of a width of the recoil lug to a height of the recoil lug. The restriction may also be attributable to a fit of the recoil lug in the cavity, a fore / aft position of the recoil lug interface, a quantity of the recoil lug, a shape of the recoil lug (other shapes besides what is illustrated may be possible or practical), or the like, or combinations thereof.

[0032] The constraint against rotational movement of the ring cap may be advantageous for maintaining a position of the scope relative to the firearm. For instance, while recoil force of the firearm may include a fore-to-aft axial component, there may be other components in different directions (axial or non-axial). The number and direction of components of recoil forces may also depend on the firearm, the ammunition, a shooter's reaction to the recoil force, whether the firearm is braced or not, and the like.

[0033] The constraint against rotational movement may be a constraint against all rotational movement, or a constraint against rotational movement in a particular direction. For example, the recoil lug may constrain the top cap from rotational movement urging the ring cap in the fore and downward directions (this may be thought of a constraint against tumbling forward relative to a firearm moving backwards and slightly upward).

[0034] The constraint against rotational movement may be rotational movement coincident with a single axis, or rotational movement coincident with plural axis. For example, in one embodiment the constraint may restrict (e.g., prevent) rotational movement in directions that include fore / aft components, but in another embodiment the constraint may additionally restrict rotational movement in directions that include lateral components. The constraint against rotational movement may be rotational movement in a single direction on a single axis (e.g., where rotational movement is possible in the opposite direction on the same axis).

[0035] The ring mount may have plural interfaces (e.g., a fastening interface and an additional interface), and the constraint against rotational movement may be attributable entirely to the additional interface (e.g., attributable entirely to a recoil lug). For instance, the constraint may not depend on threaded fasteners (e.g., the constraint against rotational movement may apply when the recoil lug is installed in the recoil lug opening prior to installing fasteners).

[0036] The constraint against rotational movement may not apply when the recoil lug is only partially installed in the opening. For example, when a recoil lug is installed in the opening the constraint may apply, but as the user makes relative axial movement of the ring cap away from the bottom ring, rotational movement of the ring cap or the bottom ring may be possible after some amount of the relative axial movement. Put another way, when the recoil lug is only partially in the lug opening rotational movement of the ring cap or the bottom ring may be possible. Put yet another way, after the ring cap is lifted straight up some amount it may then be possible to rotate the ring cap.

[0037] FIGS. 3A and 3B are photographs of a system utilizing a prototype ring cap recoil lug, according to various embodiments. In the photographs, the additional interface includes a recoil lug on the ring bottom extending into a middle recess on the ring cap.

[0038] In various embodiments, the fastener interface and the additional interface may be separate interfaces (e.g., non-coinciding). For instance, an axis coincident with a flat or other face of the additional interface, or an axis of movement of a pin of the additional interface, may be offset (e.g., axially offset) from at least one axis of the fastener interface (e.g., between the axes of the fastener interface in the illustrated embodiment). In various embodiments, a non-coincident additional interface may be non-coaxial with axes of movement of fasteners of the fastening interface of the ring cap (or non-coaxial of an axis of movement, in the case of a fastener interface with a single fastener for each ring cap).

[0039] In embodiments in which the additional interface includes a projection (e.g., a width of the illustrated lug 16A of FIG. 2), the width of the projection may intentionally be smaller than a width of a mating feature (e.g., a width of the illustrated recess 16B of FIG. 2). When the ring caps are slid toward the muzzle (before fastening using the fastening interface), this may cause a continuous section of predefined flat or other surface of the projection to contact its corresponding surface of the mating feature (when another flat or another surface of the projection is non-contacting with the mating feature). In this embodiment, the predefined flat (or surface) is the flat or surface that is closest to the muzzle, which may prevent movement of the scope relative to the firearm in response to recoil. A projection or other feature of the additional interface may have any number of faces / flats / surfaces.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a method 400 of installing a scope on a firearm, using the mount of FIG. 1. Block 401 includes capturing part of a scope (e.g., part of the main tube) with a ring cap and a ring bottom of the mount.

[0041] The method 400 may further includes, as shown in block 402, applying a force to the ring cap. The force may be applied forwardly and / or may include a direction opposite a vector extending along a bore axis of a firearm from the muzzle to the opposite end of the firearm. In various embodiments, applying this force may move the ring cap, relative to the ring bottom, may include applying a force to a back end of the ring cap and / or applying a forward force to the ring cap (e.g., in a direction opposite the vector).

[0042] In various embodiments, the application of the force in block 402 may locate the ring cap in a predefined position, e.g., may locate the ring cap in the predefined position. In various embodiments, in the predefined position, a portion of the additional interface (e.g., a face of the ring cap, or some portion of the ring cap) may contact a corresponding portion of the ring bottom (e.g., a face of the ring bottom, or some other portion of the ring cap). Another portion of the ring cap (e.g., another face, or some other portion of the ring cap) may be non-contacting with a corresponding portion of the ring bottom (e.g., another face or the ring bottom) in the predefined position.

[0043] The method 400 may further include, in block 402, not prior to applying the force (e.g., while the force is applied and / or while the ring cap is located in the predefined position), tightening the fastening interface to secure the scope to the firearm. Block 402 may include rotationally driving one or more fasteners of the fastening interface using one or more drive sections, respectively, of the one or more fasteners (e.g., one or more sockets on one or more terminal ends of the one or more fasteners).

[0044] FIG. 5A is an exploded isometric view of a known ring bottom with an alignment lug, and a corresponding known ring top. FIG. 5B is an exploded rear view of the known ring bottom and ring top of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5C is an isometric view of the alignment lug of FIG. 5A installed in a cavity in the ring top, before being pivoting around the illustrated axis.

[0045] With various firearm components, alignment of two or more parts is required before fastening the two or more parts together. If the two parts are joined by a threaded fastener, an attempt to fasten misaligned parts may produce cross-threading. Cross-threading may occur when a threaded connection engages at an angle rather than straight on. Cross-threading may damage the threading permanently and / or lead to a poor connection. In the case of ring mounts, the poor connection may result in the scope making movement relative to the firearm after zeroing, producing an inaccurate aim or other problems.

[0046] One approach to aid a user in judging alignment and / or maintaining alignment while rotationally driving the threaded fastener to join the parts is the use of tool(s). For instance, with some firearm components a jig may be used to aid a user in correctly assembling the parts.

[0047] Yet another approach is to provide self-aligning parts. With self-aligning parts, the user:

[0048] May not need to make a manual judgement, and / or

[0049] May be aided in keeping the parts aligned while rotationally driving a threaded fastener to join the parts, and / or

[0050] May not need as many tools as some other parts.

[0051] An example of a known ring mount with self-alignment features is shown in FIGS. 5A-5D. Referring now to FIG. 5A, the illustrated self-alignment features include a projection on the ring bottom and a corresponding cavity on the ring top. When a user rotationally drives threaded fasteners (not shown) into the fastener holes in the ring cap to join the ring bottom and the ring top, the self-alignment features may prevent the user from unintentionally moving the ring top forwardly or rearwardly relative to the ring bottom (e.g., in directions parallel with an optical axis of the scope), thus reducing the possibility of cross-threading.

[0052] While self-alignment features may be in the form of a post and a cavity (which advantageously additionally prevent unintentional lateral movement of the ring top relative to the ring bottom while rotationally driving threaded fasteners), in the known ring mount illustrated in FIGS. 5A-D the self-alignment feature is in the form of a lug (e.g., an alignment lug). There are a number of differences between the known alignment lug illustrated in FIGS. 5A-D and the recoil lugs used in various embodiments described herein.

[0053] One of these differences can be best understood with reference to FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D. When the alignment lug is installed into the corresponding cavity and the ring top is in alignment with the ring bottom, as shown in FIG. 5C (prior to installation of fasteners), the ring top is pivotablly moveable relative to the ring bottom. For instance, from the position with the alignment lug installed in the corresponding cavity, the ring top can be moved rotationally about axis 501 as best seen in FIG. 5D.

[0054] In contrast, as described earlier in the description of FIGS. 1 and 2, various ring mount interfaces described herein may include a recoil lug and corresponding opening that prevents the rotational movement. The pivoting that is possible with the installed alignment lugs (prior to installing fasteners), as illustrated in FIG. 5D, is not possible with installed various recoil lugs described herein.

[0055] In various embodiments using recoil lugs, movement of the ring cap or bottom ring in a single direction, along an axis away from the bottom ring or ring cap, respectively, may be the only movement possible from an installed state (recoil lug fully installed in the recoil cavity, prior to attaching fasteners), with the recoil lug. In contrast, with the alignment lugs in the installed state, multiple directions of movement (axial and / or rotational) of the ring cap or the bottom ring relative to the bottom ring or the ring cap, respectively, may be possible (with the alignment lugs, prioring to installing the threaded fasteners).

[0056] There are a number of other differences between ring mounts described herein and the known ring mounts. Referring to FIG. 2, a pressing portion of surface 205 of the ring cap (to contact a pressing portion of the surface of the front of the recoil lug) may have a surface area that is significantly greater than a surface area of a contacting portion of surface 505 (FIG. 5A) of the known ring cap. For instance, the surface area of the pressing portion of the surface 205 may be about 0.052 square inches. The measured surface area of the contacting portion of the surface 505 (FIG. 5A) is only about 0.005 square inches, which is more than ten times smaller. In various embodiments, the surface of area of the pressing portion of the surface 205 may be at least 0.01 square inches to optimize the constraining function of the interface on the scope during recoil.

[0057] Other dimensions of a recoil lug may be greater than measured dimensions of the alignment lug. For example:

[0058] The recoil lug may have a height not less than 0.1 inches. A measured height of the alignment lug of FIGS. 5A-5D is less than 0.1 inches.

[0059] In various embodiments a recoil lug may have a height of about at least 0.122 inches (e.g., within four thousands of an inch tolerance). In one embodiment, a height may be about 0.158 inches.

[0060] The recoil lug may have a width of about 0.33 inches, which is greater than a width of the known alignment lug.

[0061] Referring again to FIG. 5B, it can be seen that the flat face is about half the width the bottom of the arch of the ring cap. The alignment lug also has a non-contacting face (e. g,. the illustrated curved face) that does not contact the ring cap in the installed state. Referring now to FIG. 2, the recoil lug 16A has a flat face that is larger than about half a width of the bottom of the arch of the ring cap. In fact, in the illustrated embodiment the widths are about equal.

[0062] Put another way, starting at a position coincident with an outside of the bottom of the arch of the ring cap, the front face of the recoil lug continues to a position coincident with an inside of the bottom arch, which optimizes the constraining function of the interface on the scope during recoil. In contrast, referring now to FIG. 5A, starting at a position coincident with an outside of the bottom arch of the ring cap, the front face of the alignment lug (FIG. 5A) does not continue to a position coincident with an inside of the bottom arch (it terminates prior to the inside position, and it also transitions into the non-contacting face, e.g., the curved face).

[0063] It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016]With reference to the drawings, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,”“in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not d...

Claims

1. A mount for attaching a scope to a recoil-producing device, wherein the recoil-producing device is a firearm, the mount comprising:a ring cap and a ring bottom to capture part of the scope; andthe ring cap and the ring bottom including plural interfaces, wherein the plural interfaces include:a fastening interface to fasten the ring cap to the ring bottom; andan additional interface configurable by sliding the ring cap forwardly, prior to fastening the ring cap to the ring bottom using the fastening interface, to restrict at least axial movement of the scope relative to the recoil-producing device, in response to firing the firearm;the additional interface including a recoil lug and a corresponding opening, the recoil lug installable in the corresponding opening, wherein when the recoil lug is installed in the corresponding opening the ring cap is restricted from rotational movement in at least one direction.

2. The mount of claim 1, wherein the restriction from rotational movement in the at least one direction prevents the ring cap from being pivoted about an axis until the recoil lug is partially removed from the cavity, the axis located forwardly of the recoil lug;wherein the forwardly located axis is perpendicular with a bore axis of the firearm.

3. The mount of claim 1, wherein the opening is defined by one of the ring cap and the ring bottom, and is the recoil lug is not defined by said one of the ring cap and the ring bottom.

4. The mount of claim 3, wherein the recoil lug is defined by the other of the ring cap and the ring bottom.

5. The mount of claim 3, wherein the recoil lug comprises a plurality of flats or other faces,wherein, in response to the forward sliding:a continuous section of a muzzle-proximate flat or another face of the plurality of flats or the other faces contacts a corresponding part of a wall of the opening, andanother flat or another face of the plurality of flats or the other faces, further from the muzzle than the muzzle-proximate flat or the other muzzle-proximate face, moves out of contact with a corresponding another wall of the opening.

6. The mount of claim 5, wherein the continuous section comprises the entire muzzle-proximate flat or the other muzzle-proximate face.

7. The mount of claim 1, wherein a direction of the restricted relative at least axial movement is opposite a vector extending, along a bore axis of the firearm, from a muzzle of the firearm to an opposite end of the firearm.

8. The mount of claim 7, wherein said forward sliding moves the ring cap, relative to the ring bottom, in the direction opposite the vector.

9. The mount of claim 7, wherein the continuous section is oriented along a plane that is perpendicular with said vector.

10. The mount of claim 1, the fastening interface and the additional interface are non-coincident, wherein the additional interface is non-coaxial with an axis of movement of a fastener of the fastening interface.

11. A mount for attaching a scope to a recoil-producing device, wherein the recoil-producing device is a firearm, the mount comprising:a ring cap and a ring bottom to capture part of the scope; andthe ring cap and the ring bottom including plural interfaces, wherein the plural interfaces include:a fastening interface to fasten the ring cap to the ring bottom; andan additional interface to restrict movement of the scope relative to the recoil-producing device, in response to firing the firearm;wherein the additional interface includes a recoil lug or another projection on the ring cap or the ring bottom, a front of the recoil lug or the other projection including a portion to make contact with the other of the ring cap or the ring bottom;the contacting portion having a surface area greater than 0.01 square inches or a height not less than 0.1 inches.

12. The mount of claim 11, wherein the restricted movement comprises at least axial movement perpendicular to a direction of linear movement when operating a rotational drive interface of a fastener of the fastening interface.

13. The mount of claim 11, wherein the additional interface comprises an opening in which the recoil lug or the other projection is installable.

14. The mount of claim 13, wherein a width of the contacting portion is at least two thirds of a width of a bottom of an arch of the ring top;the width taken on a lateral axis, the lateral axis perpendicular to an axis that is parallel with a bore axis of the firearm.

15. The mount of claim 11, wherein the recoil lug or the other projection comprises a plurality of flats or other faces,wherein a continuous section of a muzzle-proximate flat or another face of the plurality of flats or the other faces is in contact with a corresponding part of a wall(s) of an opening of the additional interface when another flat or another face of the plurality of flats or the other faces, further from the muzzle than the muzzle-proximate flat or the muzzle-proximate other face, is non-contacting with a corresponding part of the wall(s) of the opening.

16. The mount of claim 5, wherein the continuous section comprises the entire muzzle-proximate flat or the entire muzzle-proximate other face.

17. The mount of claim 15, wherein:a direction of the restricted relative movement is opposite a vector extending, along a bore axis of the firearm, from the muzzle of the firearm to an opposite end of the firearm.

18. The mount of claim 17, wherein the continuous section is oriented along a plane that is perpendicular with said vector.

19. The mount of claim 11, the fastening interface and the additional interface are non-coincident, wherein the additional interface is non-coaxial with an axis of movement of a fastener of the fastening interface; andwherein the restricted movement comprises rotational movement, the restriction against rotational movement associated with the additional interface in which the restriction against rotational movement is present prior to fastening the ring cap to the ring bottom using the fastening interface.

20. The mount of claim 11, wherein the lower section includes a body and a clamping part, and a fastening interface to fasten the clamping part to the body.

Images