Firearms – Implements – Sight devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-26
2003-07-22
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
Implements
Sight devices
C042S072000, C042S090000, C042S124000, C042S125000, C042S126000, C042S141000, C042S111000, C089S037040, C089S037090, C089S037130, C089S037160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06594938
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of telescopic sights for firearms. More specifically, the invention comprises a detachable mount for a telescopic sight that can be detached using one hand without adjusting the customary grip on the firearm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Detachable mounts for telescopic sights have been in use for approximately one century, owing to a long-recognized need. Firearms, particularly sporting rifles, are relatively durable items capable of withstanding wide variations in atmospheric conditions and substantial physical shock. Telescopic sights, in contrast, are relatively delicate optical instruments. Although their design has been advanced considerably in recent decades, telescopic sights remain vulnerable to variations in atmospheric conditions and to physical shock. A sharp blow to a telescopic sight will often shift its point of aim. Worse, there is no visual indicator of this shift, meaning that the user is often unaware of the shift until a shot is fired and missed.
As a result of these factors, hunting rifles with permanently attached telescopic sights must be treated delicately. It has therefore long been recognized that the ability to detach the telescopic sight until it is needed is highly desirable. One such type of detachable mount is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,487 to Herz (1991). While effective, the Herz type of device is slow to operate. The user must hold the rifle securely while using his or her free hand to rotate the small levers employed to engage the scope mounts. These levers do not provide much mechanical advantage. Both must be rotated independently to the correct position. The telescopic sight must then be lifted off without tilting—or the device tends to become stuck.
In hunting situations, the telescopic sight must often be removed rapidly. This is particularly true when following up wounded game. In such close range work, the use of the open (sometimes called “iron”) sights on the rifle is generally preferred. Thus, a scope which could be removed quickly using a single latching device is preferable.
The Herz device also incorporates the interaction of camming surfaces generating high surface friction. There is no accommodation for wear compensation. Thus, as the device is used over time, the interlocking surfaces tend to wear loose—eventually rendering the device inoperable.
One type of detachable mount using a single latching device is known as the “European claw.” This type of mount dates back to approximately World War I. Printed sources within the art sometimes refer to this type of mount as a “Suhler” mount. Though the Applicant is unable to verify the origins of this name, one would assume that “Suhler” refers to the individual who originally created the design.
The Suhler mount is relevant to the consideration of the present invention. As the Applicant is unable to discover a prior patent disclosing the details of the Suhler design, the Applicant is submitting the details herewith.
FIG. 1
illustrates the prior art Suhler mount. Rifle receiver
10
is of the common bolt-action type. Barrel
12
is threaded into rifle receiver
10
. Rifle receiver
10
has a forward cylindrical portion referred to as receiver ring
22
, and a rear portion referred to as receiver bridge
24
. The particular receiver illustrated is of the Mauser type, which is the rifle type most closely associated with the Suhler mount.
In preparation to installing the Suhler mounts, dovetail cut
44
is milled into receiver ring
22
. Front Suhler base
46
is then press-fit laterally into front dovetail cut
44
. In some instances, it may also be soldered in place. The reader will observe that the upper planar surface of front Suhler base
46
opens into two front Suhler slots
50
.
Rear Suhler base
48
is installed on receiver bridge
24
in one of two ways. Some receiver bridges have an upstanding lug into which a lateral dovetail cut can be made. If this is the case, then rear Suhler base
48
is press fit into place (and possibly soldered) in the same fashion as for front Suhler base
46
. Other receiver bridges have only a rounded cylindrical surface that is too thin to accommodate a dovetail cut. In that case, rear Suhler base
48
is soldered onto the top of the receiver bridge in an operation obviously requiring considerable skill and precision. Rear Suhler base
48
has a pair of rear Suhler slots
52
.
At the time the Suhler design was created the object was to mount old scope sight
56
.
FIG. 2
shows such a telescopic sight. Old scope sight
56
is a type of telescopic sight which is now rarely seen, but was once quite common. The reader will note that it consists primarily of a long featureless cylinder having a relatively small diameter (typically one inch or 30 mm). Only the eyepiece has a larger diameter. Modern scopes have a much larger objective lens (the forward lens) diameter. The significance of this difference will become apparent subsequently.
Still referring to
FIG. 2
, the reader will note that rear ring
60
and front ring
58
are attached to old scope sight
56
. These are typically positioned on old scope sight
56
and soldered in place. Rear ring
60
has two descending rear Suhler lugs
64
. The rearward facing surfaces of these two lugs are each cut by Suhler mating notches
68
.
Front ring
58
has two descending front Suhler lugs
62
. The forward facing surfaces of these two lugs are angled to form mating surfaces
66
.
FIG. 3
shows rifle receiver
10
with old scope sight
56
in place. The figure incorporates a cutaway through both the front and rear Suhler bases to show the internal features of the nearest set of Suhler slots. The reader will observe that front Suhler lug
62
rests within front Suhler slot
50
, and rear Suhler lug
64
fits within rear Suhler slot
52
.
Suhler slider
54
is biased—typically by springs—to move forward (right to left in the view as shown). Returning briefly to
FIG. 1
, the ends of Suhler slider
54
actually extend out beyond the sides of rear Suhler base
52
. A tab is attached to each exposed end to facilitate grasping by the user. These tabs are actually identified as Suhler slider
54
in FIG.
1
.
Returning now to
FIG. 3
, the operation of the devie will be described. When the user releases the tabs, Suhler slider
54
is pushed forward where it engages mating notch
68
. This interface prevents any vertical motion of rear ring
60
, and also pushes the entire assembly of the scope and rings forward. That forward motion brings mating surfaces
66
on front Suhler lugs
62
in contact with corresponding surfaces on front Suhler slots
50
(the rearward facing surfaces). The reader will observe that these mating surfaces are inclined from the vertical. The result is a wedge interaction—with front ring
58
being pulled firmly down as it is forced forward. When the mating surfaces are fully engaged, any further forward movement is stopped.
The spring bias forcing Suhler slider
54
forward therefore locates the device securely along the axis of the rifle's barrel. The interaction of Suhler slider
54
and mating notches
68
limits the vertical motion of rear ring
60
. The interaction of mating surfaces
66
with corresponding surfaces in front Suhler base
46
limits the vertical motion of front ring
58
. The lateral fit between the four descending lugs and the four slots in the Suhler bases limit any lateral motion. Thus, the telescopic sight is locked securely in place.
FIG. 4
illustrates the removal of the device, also using a cutaway through the bases. When the user wishes to remove old scope sight
56
, he or she grabs Suhler slider
54
(using the attached tabs) and pulls it rearward. Suhler slider
54
then travels free of mating notches
68
in rear Suhler lugs
64
. At this point, the user grasps the rear portio
Carone Michael J.
Horton J. Wiley
Richardson John
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