Firearm Sight Housing With Lateral Protrusions for Slide Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reflex optics for firearms often obstruct the slide and hinder the shooter's ability to grasp the firearm, particularly when loading or removing cartridges, due to their upward extension and design.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with laterally extending protrusions and serrations that enhance grip and reduce glare, allowing for easier operation while maintaining optical functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reflex optics extend upwards from the top of the firearm to provide optical sighting functionality, then aiming capability is improved, but the shooter's ability to grasp the slide for loading/removing cartridges is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The sight housing extends laterally outward from the firearm body in addition to its forward-backward positioning. This lateral extension moves the optical sight away from the vertical space above the slide, allowing shooters to grasp the slide from above without interference while maintaining optical sighting functionality through the lens positioned at the forward end of the housing.
2Measurement precision
If reflex optics are mounted on the firearm slide to provide optical sighting, then aiming functionality is improved, but obstruction of the slide is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The sight assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the lens positioned at the forward end for optical sighting, the light emitter mounted on the housing for illumination, and the lateral extension structure that positions these elements away from the slide body. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function while minimizing overall obstruction of the slide.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure acts as an intermediary that mounts the lens and light emitter at specific positions relative to the firearm body. By positioning the lens at the forward end and extending the housing laterally, the intermediary structure provides optimal sighting functionality while clearing the space above the slide for operational access.
3Ease of operation
If the housing is extended laterally to improve grip access, then ease of operation is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The laterally extending housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it positions the lens at the forward end for optical sighting, mounts the light emitter on its surface for illumination, provides lateral clearance from the slide body, and creates a stable platform for component mounting. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The protrusions and serrations facilitate easier manual operation of the firearm slide, reducing obstruction and improving user comfort without compromising aiming accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitter directs light towards the reflective transparent element which, in turn, reflects the light towards the direction of the shooter
Implementation Method 2
The lens may have a coating to aid in the reflection of the LED or laser towards the eye of a shooter
Data Source
AI summary
Sights of the present disclosure comprise a housing supporting an optical sighting element, such as one or more lenses or iron sights. A first lateral side of the housing has a laterally-extending protrusion and a lead-in portion forward of the laterally-extending portion. In some arrangements the lead-in portion is laterally-inward of an outermost surface of the laterally-extending protrusion and has a surface roughness of less than 50 μm. In some instances, the laterally-extending protrusion has a width of at least 1 mm and the lead-in portion has a length of at least five times the width of the laterally-extending protrusion.