US-20260126272-A1 - Sighting systems, components, and methods

US20260126272A1US 20260126272 A1US20260126272 A1US 20260126272A1US-20260126272-A1

Abstract

Sight systems comprise a sight receiver and a base attachable to and detachable from a sight receiver. A base carries a sighting component, such as an iron sight or optic sight. A sighting component may be attachably and detachably mounted to a base, or a sighting component may be made integrally with a base. A base may carry plural sighting components. Sight systems may include plural interchangeable sight receivers, bases, and/or sighting components. In some embodiments, a sight system may comprise a base deployed with an elastomeric or otherwise resilient mounting pad. In some embodiments, an elastomeric or otherwise resilient mounting pad may be proud of a front or rear face of the base, or a side face of the base, or both. In some embodiments, the pad may be proud of a bottom surface of the base.

Inventors

David J. Dawson, JR.

Assignees

David J. Dawson, JR.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (20)

1 . A sight base for a sighting system, the sight base comprising: a sight base body comprising a bottom surface, a first face, and a first notch formed in the sight base body along an intersection of the bottom surface and the first face; an elongated first elastomeric pad partially disposable in the first notch; with the sight base having an assembled configuration in which the first elastomeric pad is disposed in the first notch with a portion of the first elastomeric pad protruding proud of the first face.
2 . The sight base of claim 1 further comprising: a second face; a second notch formed in the sight base body along an intersection of the bottom surface and the second face; and an elongated second elastomeric pad partially disposable in the second notch; with in the assembled configuration, the second elastomeric pad is disposed in the second notch with a portion of the second elastomeric pad protruding proud of the second face.
3 . The sight base of claim 2 further comprising: a third face; a third notch formed in the sight base body along an intersection of the bottom surface and the third face; and an elongated third elastomeric pad partially disposable in the third notch; with in the assembled configuration, the third elastomeric pad is disposed in the third notch with a portion of the third elastomeric pad protruding proud of the third face.
4 . The sight base of claim 3 further comprising: a fourth face; a fourth notch formed in the sight base body along an intersection of the bottom surface and the fourth face; and an elongated fourth elastomeric pad partially disposable in the fourth notch; with in the assembled configuration, the fourth elastomeric pad is disposed in the fourth notch with a portion of the fourth elastomeric pad protruding proud of the fourth face.
5 . The sight base of claim 4 in which the first elongated elastomeric pad, the second elongated elastomeric pad, the third elongated elastomeric pad, and the fourth elongated elastomeric pad are separate components.
6 . The sight base of claim 1 in which, in the assembled configuration, a portion of the first elastomeric pad protrudes proud of the bottom surface.
7 . The sight base of claim 1 in which the first notch has a cross-sectional profile selected from the group consisting of a square or rectangular profile, an arcuate profile, a polygonal profile, and combinations thereof.
8 . A sight base for a sighting system comprising: a sight base body comprising a face, a bottom surface, and an elastomeric pad recess in the bottom surface having an opening along the face; and an elastomeric pad disposable in the elastomeric pad recess with a portion of the elastomeric pad protruding through the opening proud of the face.
9 . The sight base of claim 8 in which the opening extends along an intersection of the bottom surface and the face.
10 . The sight base of claim 8 in which the elastomeric pad recess extends laterally and the elastomeric pad is elongated.
11 . The sight base of claim 8 in which the elastomeric pad is disposable in the elastomeric pad recess with a portion of the elastomeric pad protruding proud of the bottom surface.
12 . The sight base of claim 8 further comprising: a second elastomeric pad recess in the bottom surface having an opening along the face; and a second elastomeric pad disposable in the second elastomeric pad recess with a portion of the second elastomeric pad protruding through the opening proud of the face.
13 . The sight base of claim 8 in which the elastomeric pad comprises a resilient O-ring and the elastomeric pad recess is cylindrical and sized to accept the resilient O-ring.
14 . The sight base of claim 8 in which the elastomeric pad is shaped as a rectangular prism.
15 . The sight base of claim 8 in which the elastomeric pad and the elastomeric pad recess are elongated along a lateral direction of the face.
16 . The sight base of claim 8 in which the elastomeric pad is shaped as a cylinder having an axis oriented orthogonally to the bottom surface.
17 . A sight base for a sighting system, the sight base having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the sight base comprising: a lower surface; a central pin protruding from the lower surface and disposed centered laterally on the lower surface proximal to a longitudinal end of the sight base; plural lateral pins spaced laterally apart and protruding from the lower surface; an elastomeric pad recess disposed in the lower surface, the elastomeric pad recess being at least partially open to an edge or a face of the sight base; and an elastomeric pad partially disposable in the elastomeric pad recess; the sight base having an assembled configuration in which the elastomeric pad is disposed in the elastomeric pad recess with a portion of the elastomeric pad protruding proud of the edge or the face.
18 . The sight base of claim 17 further comprising a channel disposed in the lower surface that encircles the central pin.
19 . The sight base of claim 18 further comprising plural channels disposed in the lower surface that each encircles a respective one of the plural lateral pins.
20 . The sight base of claim 17 in which, in the assembled configuration, a portion of the elastomeric pad protrudes proud of the lower surface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/991,612 filed on Dec. 22, 2024, and issuing on Jan. 6, 2026, as U.S. Pat. No. 12,516,909, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/081,644 filed on Dec. 14, 2022, and issuing on Mar. 18, 2025, as U.S. Pat. No. 12,253,334, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/958,628 filed on Oct. 3, 2022, and issuing on Dec. 10, 2024, as U.S. Pat. No. 12,163,763, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/189,052 filed on Mar. 1, 2021, and issuing on Oct. 4, 2022, as U.S. Pat. No. 11,460,274. This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/983,986 filed Mar. 2, 2020, through copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/991,612 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/081,644 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/958,628 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/189,052. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/991,612 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/081,644 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/958,628 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/189,052 and Patent Application Ser. No. 62/983,986 are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND Firearms, air guns, crossbows, and other projectile launching devices typically use sights to align the devices with the intended targets, i.e., the intended point of impact of the projectile. Sighting systems may be classified in various ways, for example into sight systems using only mechanical structures, sight systems using basic optics components, and sight systems using electronic components along with mechanical structures, optics components, or both. This disclosure will use the term “iron sights” to refer to sighting systems using only mechanical structures, and the term “optic sights” to refer to sighting systems using optics or electronics, or both. Within the taxonomy used in this disclosure, the term “iron sight” comprises traditional open sights and aperture sights, as well as open sights and aperture sights further comprising enhancements such as optical fiber components, radioluminescent components, paint-marked components, and similar aides to perception not using electronics or optics. In addition to sights made of iron, the term “iron sight” also comprises sights comprising or composed of materials other than iron, for example aluminum, titanium, brass, polyester, nylon, PVC, and other metal, plastic, and similar materials. Also within the taxonomy used in this closure, the term “optic sight” comprises telescopic sights, holographic sights, reflex sights, and similar devices. The term “optic sight” comprises devices having electrical powered light emission components, such as LEDs, as well as devices having passive light emission components, such as optical fiber or radio luminescent structures, or both. A firearm, air gun, crossbow, and other projectile launching device also typically comprises a frame or receiver that provides a housing for internal action components such as a hammer, firing pin, extractor, trigger, and bolt or breechblock mechanism. Often, a barrel or other projectile directing component is mounted to the frame or receiver. In some configurations, such as many rifles, shotguns, and revolvers, the sighting system comprises a front sight mounted proximal to the muzzle and a rear sight mounted on the frame or receiver. In some configurations, such as many pistols, both front and rear sights are mounted on a slide that reciprocates when the pistol is fired. In some configurations, front or rear sight components, or both, are mounted on accessory rails or retainers, for example a Picatinny rail, a rail interface system, or a rail integration system. Regardless of any particular sight mounting system, the discussions in this disclosure will use the term “sight receiver” to refer to a component of a firearm, air gun, crossbow, or other projectile launching device, upon which a sight component is directly or indirectly mounted. As used in this disclosure, a sight receiver may be integrally formed in a firearm component, such as a frame, receiver, or slide, or may be a separate component attached to the projectile launching device, such as a Picatinny rail. When used in this disclosure with respect to surfaces, edges, protrusions, recesses, or other geometries, unless clearly used differently the terms “compatible” and “complementary” mean that the items are configured to abut, fit together, or otherwise engage in a way that restrains relative translation or rotation, or both, in one or more directions, for example by having matching profiles mated together. As used in this disclosure, unless clearly used differently the term “interfitting parts” shall refer to plural structures having compatible or complementary surfaces, edges, protrusions, recesses, or other geometries. When u