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CA-3087668-C - COMPACT SIGHT ACCESSORY MECHANISM

CA3087668CCA 3087668 CCA3087668 CCA 3087668CCA-3087668-C

Abstract

A sight magnifier assembly is configured to be releasably secured to a rail feature of a firearm to be used with a sight assembly to enhance a downrange image. The sight magnifier assembly includes a base configured to be releasably secured to the rail feature of the firearm and a housing rotatably coupled to the base. The housing is configured to support sight optics used to enhance or improve the downrange image. The assembly further includes a mechanism configured to enable the rotation the housing with respect to the base between a use position in which the sight optics is configured to be used with the sight assembly and a stored position in which the sight optics is moved so that the housing and the sight magnifier assembly is nearly completely obscured from the operator by the sight assembly as viewed along a longitudinal axis.

Inventors

  • John Maxwell Connolly

Assignees

  • RAYTHEON CANADA LTD.-ELCAN

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20200710
Priority Date
20190606

Claims (13)

  1. 14 We claim : 1. A sight magnifier assembly configured to be releasably secured to a rail feature of a firearm, the sight magnifier assembly being configured to be used with a sight assembly, the sight magnifier assembly comprising: a base configured to be releasably secured to the rail feature of the firearm, the base including a first end support and a second end support configured to be releasably secured to the rail feature of the firearm; a housing rotatably coupled to the base, the housing being configured to support sight optics, the housing including a body portion, a sight magnifier portion configured to house sight optics, and a support arm that extends from the body portion to connect the sight magnifier housing to the base; and a mechanism configured to enable the rotation of the housing with respect to the base between a use position in which the sight optics is configured to be used with the sight assembly and a stored position in which the sight optics is moved so that the housing and the sight magnifier assembly is nearly completely obscured from an operator by the sight assembly, the mechanism including: a rotation shaft configured to enable the rotation of the support arm with respect to the base of the sight magnifier assembly, the rotation shaft extending through an elongate bore formed in the support arm, with ends of the rotation shaft being mounted within respective openings formed in the first end support and the second end support of the base, and a detent assembly configured to maintain the housing in the use position and in the stored position and to enable the movement of the housing between the use position and the stored position, the detent assembly including a first detent and a second detent housed by support arm, and a first feature and a second feature associated with the first end support and a third feature and a fourth feature associated with the second end support, the first feature and the third feature being located to position the housing in the use position when the first detent and the second detent are received by the first feature and the third feature, respectively, and the second feature and the fourth feature being located to position the housing in the stored position when the first detent and the second detent are received by the second feature and the fourth feature, respectively.
  2. 2. The sight magnifier assembly of claim 1, wherein the sight magnifier portion and body portion are coaxial and extend longitudinally along a common axis.
  3. 3. The sight magnifier assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanism further includes bushings positioned between the rotation shaft and the support arm shaft to enable the rotation of the support arm with respect to the base, the bushings being disposed within bushing seats formed in the support arm.
  4. 4. The sight magnifier assembly of claim 3, wherein the mechanism further includes O-rings positioned at the ends of the rotation shaft to protect the bushings from contaminants and to stiffen any potential axial movement of the support arm with respect to the base, the O-rings being disposed within Oring seats formed in the support arm, with the O- ring seats being positioned adjacent and outboard with respect to the bushing seats.
  5. 5. The sight magnifier assembly of claim 1, wherein the detent assembly further includes a first compression spring configured to push the first detent outward to force the first detent against the first end support and a second compression spring configured to push the second detent outward to force the second detent against the second end support.
  6. 6. The sight magnifier assembly of claim 5, wherein the support arm includes a first support arm defining a first elongate bore sized to house the first detent and the first compression spring, and a second support arm defining a second elongate bore sized to house the second detent and the second compression spring.
  7. 7. The sight magnifier assembly of claim 5, wherein the first end support includes a first hardened insert having the first feature and a second hardened insert having the second feature, and the second end support includes a third hardened insert having the third feature and a fourth hardened insert having the fourth feature.
  8. 8. The sight magnifier assembly of claim 7, wherein the support arm of the mechanism further includes a hard stop over-travel feature to limit the movement of the housing with respect to the base.
  9. 9. An accessory configured to be releasably secured to a rail feature of a weapon, the accessory comprising: a base including a first end support and a second end support each configured to be releasably secured to the rail feature of the weapon; a housing rotatably coupled to the base, the housing including a body portion, a first support arm and a second support arm, each support arm extending from the body portion to connect to the base; and a mechanism configured to enable the rotation of the housing with respect to the base between a use position and a stored position, the mechanism including: a rotation shaft configured to enable the rotation of the first support arm and the second support arm with respect to the base, the rotation shaft extends through an elongate bore formed in the first and second support arms, with ends of the rotation shaft being mounted within respective openings formed in the first and second end supports of the base, and 16 a detent assembly configured to maintain the housing in the use position or in the stored position, the detent assembly including a first detent housed by the first support arm and a second detent housed by the second support arm, and a first feature and a second feature associated with the first end support and a third feature and a fourth feature associated with the second end support, the first feature and the third feature being located to position the housing in the use position when the first detent and the second detent are received by the first feature and the third feature, respectively, and the second feature and the fourth feature being located to position the housing in the stored position when the first detent and the second detent are received by the second feature and the fourth feature, respectively.
  10. 10. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the detent assembly further includes a first compression spring configured to push the first detent outward to force the first detent against the first end support, and a second compression spring configured to push the second detent outward to force the second detent against the second end support.
  11. 11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the first end support includes a first hardened insert having the first feature and a second hardened insert having the second feature, and the second end support includes a third hardened insert having the third feature and a fourth hardened insert having the fourth feature.
  12. 12. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the mechanism further includes bushings positioned between the rotation shaft and the support arm shaft to enable the rotation of the support arm with respect to the base, the bushings being disposed within bushing seats formed in the support arm.
  13. 13. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the mechanism further includes O-rings positioned at the ends of the rotation shaft to protect the bushings from contaminants and to stiffen any potential axial movement of the support arm with respect to the base, the O-rings being disposed within O-ring seats formed in the support arm, with the O-ring seats being positioned adjacent and outboard with respect to the bushing seats.

Description

• COMPACT SIGHT ACCESSORY MECHANISM GOVERNMENT RIGHTS Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to accessories that are used on weapons, such as sight magnifiers used on firearms, and more particularly to a sight magnifier mount assembly including a compact sight 1 o accessory mechanism configured to store a sight magnifier in an out-of-the-way position. Firearms are frequently outfitted with accessories, such as scopes, electronic sights, magnifying devices, and night vision devices. These types of accessories are typically mounted on the firearm behind the primary aiming device 15 associated with the firearm. With one type of accessory, the accessory is mounted on rails associated with the firearm in a traditional manner. In one embodiment, the accessory is designed to mount on a Picatinny or Pie rail, which is a military standard rail interface system for firearm accessories. Prior sight magnifier devices are configured to move a sight magnifier 20 outwardly to give the user an unobstructed view through the sighting device. With most sight magnifier devices, the movement of the sight magnifier introduces a large obstruction when observing the scene. Right- and left-handed application is managed typically by some level of disassembly and reassembly of symmetrical components. Another approach is to rotate the mounting interface and reattach the 25 device. FIG. 1 illustrates a sight magnifier device generally indicated at 1 o mounted on a rail 11 of a firearm 12. As shown, the sight magnifier device 10 includes a mount 13 configured to mount the device on the rail 11 of the firearm 12 and a sight magnifier 14 rotatably movable between a use position (not shown) and an out-of- 30 the-way position (shown). When the sight magnifier 14 is moved to the out-of-theway position, the sight magnifier blocks the scene of the person using the firearm 12 with both eyes open, typically when using a unity sight. The flip out design is inherently a right-handed· device usually requiring some alteration or compromise when the user is left-handed. In this position, the sight magnifier 14 also presents a snag hazard since the sight magnifier extends from a periphery of the firearm 12. SUMMARY OF INVENTION One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a sight magnifier assembly configured to be releasably secured to a rail feature of a firearm. The sight magnifier assembly is configured to be used with a sight assembly to enhance 10 and/or improve a downrange image as viewed through the sight assembly. In one embodiment, the sight magnifier assembly comprises a base configured to be releasably secured to the rail feature of the firearm, a housing rotatably coupled to the base, the housing being configured to support sight optics used to enhance or improve the downrange image, and a mechanism configured to enable the rotation 15 the housing with respect to the base between a use position in which the sight optics is configured to be used with the sight assembly and a stored position in which the sight optics is moved so that the housing and the sight magnifier assembly is nearly completely obscured from the operator by the sight assembly as viewed along a longitudinal axis. 20 Embodiments of the sight magnifier assembly further may include configuring the base with two end supports configured to be releasably secured to the rail feature of the firearm. The housing may include a body portion, a sight magnifier portion configured to house sight optics to enhance or enlarge the image, and a support arm that extends from the body portion to connect the sight magnifier 25 housing to the base. The sight magnifier portion and body portion may be coaxial and extend longitudinally along a common axis. The mechanism may include a rotation shaft configured to enable the rotation of the support arm with respect to the base of the sight magnifier assembly. The rotation shaft may extend through an elongate bore formed in the support arm, with ends of the rotation shaft being 30 mounted within respective openings formed in the end supports of the base. The mechanism further may include bushings positioned between the rotation shaft and the support arm shaft to enable the rotation of the support arm with respect to the base, the bushings being disposed within bushing seats formed in the support arm. The mechanism further may include O-rings positioned at the ends of the rotation shaft to protect the bushings from contaminants and to stiffen any potential axial s movement of the support arm with respect to the base, the O-rings being disposed within O-ring seats formed in the support arm, with the O-ring seats being positioned adjacent and outboard with respect to the bushing seats. The mechanism further may include a detent assembly configured to maintain the housing in the use position and in the stored position and to enable the movement 10 of the housing between the use po