Pivoting Weapon Anti-Cant Indicator for Field-of-View Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearms often suffer from canting, which affects the alignment of the sight with the bore, leading to inaccurate aiming.
Innovation Solution
An anti-cant indicator assembly with a pivot connection allowing a level vial to move between operational and stowed positions, featuring a pivot connection and retaining mechanism to indicate vertical orientation, and adjustable mounting for precise calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a level vial is mounted on the weapon to indicate vertical orientation, then the user can detect weapon canting, but the indicator may interfere with the user's field of view or weapon operation when deployed
Solution Approach 1:
The level vial is mounted on a pivot connection that allows it to rotate between a deployed position (where it indicates vertical orientation) and a stowed position (where it clears the field of view and does not interfere with operation). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by making the indicator visible when needed and invisible when not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The level vial is positioned laterally offset from the weapon's longitudinal axis and can rotate about a pivot axis perpendicular to the sighting axis. This places the indicator in a different spatial dimension (lateral rather than longitudinal), allowing it to indicate orientation without blocking the forward field of view or interfering with weapon operation along the longitudinal axis.
2Loss of information
If the level vial is always in the operational position to provide continuous orientation indication, then the user can constantly monitor weapon canting, but the indicator will permanently obstruct part of the user's field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connection enables the level vial to dynamically switch between deployed and stowed positions. When the user needs orientation information, the vial is in the deployed position providing visual indication. When the user needs an unobstructed field of view, the vial rotates to the stowed position, eliminating the visual obstruction while maintaining all functional capabilities.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the level vial is rigidly mounted to the weapon to ensure stable indication, then the indicator remains fixed relative to the weapon, but the user cannot adjust the indicator's orientation for different weapon configurations or calibration needs
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connection provides rotational freedom allowing the level vial to be oriented at different angles relative to the weapon. The retainer mechanism allows the user to lock the vial at any desired orientation angle. This combination provides both stability (when locked) and adaptability (ability to change orientation), resolving the contradiction between rigid mounting and adjustable mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The user can independently adjust and reposition the level vial to the desired orientation and lock it in place using the retainer mechanism. This self-adjusting capability eliminates the need for complex pre-calibration or specialized tools, allowing the indicator to adapt to different weapon configurations and user preferences while maintaining stable indication once positioned.
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
Enables users to accurately determine and correct weapon canting, ensuring proper alignment for improved aiming accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a level including a vial containing a bubble
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-cant indicator assembly, components thereof, and associated methods. The anti-cant indicator assembly indicates the orientation of a weapon with respect to vertical. The anti-cant indicator assembly includes a mount configured to mount to the weapon, a level including a vial containing a bubble and a pivot connection connecting the level to the mount. The pivot connection is configured to permit movement of the level with respect to the mount about the pivot connection between an operational position in which the bubble can be referenced by the user for indicating orientation of the weapon with respect to vertical, and a stowed position different from the operational position. The pivot connection can include a retainer configured to releasably retain the level in at least one of the operational position or the stowed position. The level can be selectively movable with respect to the mount to calibrate the anti-cant indicator.