Mounts For Optical Sighting Devices

What is this patent about?

’178 is related to the field of mounts for optical sighting devices on firearms. These mounts are used to attach devices like reflex sights, telescopic sights, magnifiers, and night vision devices to rifles. The background acknowledges the need for both primary optical sights and backup sighting systems, such as iron sights, and the desire to quickly switch between them or position secondary optical devices in series with primary ones.

The underlying idea behind ’178 is to provide a mechanism for rapidly repositioning an optical sight between an operative (in-use) position and an inoperative (storage) position without laterally offsetting it. This is achieved either through a sliding mechanism that lowers the sight vertically or a pivoting mechanism that rotates the sight down and out of the way, while keeping it aligned above the firearm's mounting interface.

The claims of ’178 focus on two distinct embodiments: a sliding mount and a pivoting mount. Claim 1 covers an optical sight mount with a base and a sight support member that slides linearly. This allows the attached optical sight to move between an aligned position and a vertically offset position, both located above the mounting interface. Claim 4 covers a pivot mount where the sight support member rotates around a horizontal axis, moving the sight between a use position and a storage position, both laterally offset to one side of the pivot axis, with the storage position being vertically below the use position.

In practice, the sliding mount uses vertically oriented posts on which the sight support member slides, potentially employing spring-loaded detents to secure it in either the operative or inoperative position. The pivoting mount uses a pivot pin to allow rotation, with spring-loaded ball detents to hold the sight in the desired position. A key advantage of both designs is that, in the inoperative position, the optical sight remains positioned above the firearm's mounting interface, reducing the risk of damage and interference with the user.

This vertical repositioning contrasts with prior approaches that laterally offset the secondary sight when not in use. By keeping the sight above the mounting interface, the design minimizes the risk of the sight impacting other objects, reduces the likelihood of tangling with environmental obstacles, and avoids obstructing the user's peripheral vision. The invention offers a more streamlined and protected solution for managing secondary optical sights on firearms, enhancing usability and durability.