US20120167440A1

US20120167440A1 - Bore sight

Info

Publication number: US20120167440A1
Application number: US12/827,534
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric A. StPhillips; Russell D. Page; Kenneth A. Call; Edward G. Schultz, Jr.
Original assignee: Crosman Corp
Current assignee: Crosman Corp
Priority date: 2010-06-30
Filing date: 2010-06-30
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Also published as: WO2012005826A3; WO2012005826A2

Abstract

A bore sight including a rear casing, a front casing sized to cooperatively engage the rear casing and define a first cavity and a separate second cavity, a laser disposed within the first cavity, and a battery in the second cavity. The bore sight further includes a switch selectively connecting the battery and the laser, an elongate mandrel releasably engaging the rear cavity, the mandrel having a free-end, a tapered seating collar having a through hole sized to receive a length of the mandrel, the seating collar being a separate components from the mandrel and the rear casing, wherein the seating collar can be formed of a different second material than the mandrel and the rear casing; and an adaptor releasably engaging a free end of the mandrel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT.

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT.

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to identifying and projecting a beam of radiation along a longitudinal axis of a bore of a gun, and more particularly, to a method and bore sight apparatus for identifying the longitudinal axis of the bore with the beam of radiation for alignment or calibration of corresponding gun sights.
2. Description of the Related Art
In “sighting in” guns, including firearms, such as rifles, shotguns, handguns, muzzle loaders, machine guns and cannons, it is necessary to adjust the sights of the gun at a pre-established angle with the longitudinal axis of the bore of the barrel of the gun, where the angle is determined by the distance from the muzzle (open end of the bore) of the gun to the target, and by the trajectory of the bullet or projectile fired by the gun. In its most basic form, “sighting in” has been accomplished by mounting the gun on a fixed stand or in a fixed position relative to a “sighting in” target. The target was placed at the actual, final desired distance from the gun, and a test shot was fired. The point on the target where the bullet or projectile entered the target was then aligned with the sight (whether iron sights or a telescope sight). After this was done, a second shot was fired; and the procedure was repeated until the point of entry of the bullet or projectile aligned with the cross hairs or cross points of the sights. In many cases, a number of shots needed to be fired in order to effect the sighting in procedure.
For each different range or target distance, a separate “sighting in” procedure had to be followed. Thus, a significant amount of ammunition was expended simply to sight in the gun, and the “sighting in” needed to be effected in a place where the firing of the actual bullet or projectile from the firearm over the desired distance could be safely accomplished. The result was a relatively time consuming, costly and potentially hazardous sighting in technique.
Certain prior devices for aligning the sights of a gun employ a laser disposed within a cartridge, wherein the cartridge can be operably located in the breech of the gun. However, due to various tolerances, wear and the limited engagement between the cartridge and the breech, the cartridge may not seat in a sufficiently precise and repeatable manner to provide for accurate alignment. In addition, as a given cartridge is only useful for a single corresponding caliber bore, a separate cartridge is necessary for each caliber weapon.
Other prior bore sight configurations have employed a one-piece body configured to retain a laser, switch and battery as well as define a contact surface with the bore. However, such constructions do not allow for optimization of material selection for contacting the bore, as well as implementing a repeatable structure.
Therefore, the need exists for a bore sight which can have multiple components, without sacrificing accuracy, wherein the material of the individual components can be optimized for the intended operation of the bore sight. The need further exists for a compact bore sight which can be readily adaptable to cooperatively engage any of a plurality of caliber guns.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one configuration, a bore sight is provided having a rear casing; a front casing sized to cooperatively engage the rear casing and define a first cavity and a separate second cavity; a laser disposed within the first cavity, the laser selectively emitting a radiation beam along an optical axis; a battery disposed in the second cavity; a switch selectively connecting the battery and the laser module; an elongate mandrel extending from the rear cavity, the mandrel having a free end; a tapered seating collar having a through hole sized to receive a length of the mandrel, the seating collar formed of a different second material than the mandrel and the rear casing; and an adaptor releasably engaging the free end of the mandrel.
It is contemplated that the bore sight can further include a coupler and an insert sized to cooperatively engage the front casing and the rear casing in defining the first cavity and the second cavity.
The adaptor can include a flange seat fixed along a longitudinal dimension of the mandrel and a capture head threadedly engaging at least one of the flange seat and the mandrel to vary a longitudinal distance between a portion of the capture head and the flange seat and the mandrel to vary a longitudinal distance between a portion of the capture head and the flange seat, and a resilient bushing longitudinally intermediate the portion of the flange seat and the capture head.
A method is also provided for operably locating the bore sight within a bore having a longitudinal axis by disposing a length of an elongate mandrel within a length of the bore; rotating a capture head relative to the mandrel to decrease a longitudinal distance between the capture head and a flange seat and radially expand a bushing longitudinally intermediate a portion of the capture head and the flange seat to contact an inner surface of the bore at a contact area, a dimension of the contact area along the longitudinal axis being less than a diameter of the bore; and contacting a seating collar with an end of the bore, the seating collar of a different second material than the mandrel, to locate a first cavity retaining a laser and a separate second cavity retaining a battery relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the laser is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a first configuration of the bore sight.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the bore sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing portion of the bore sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an adapter employed in the bore sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the bore sight operably engaged with a barrel having a bore.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of the bore sight.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bore sight of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing and switch of the bore sight of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing and switch of the bore sight of FIG. 8, with the switch in a different position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, the present bore sight 10 generally includes a front casing 20, a rear casing 60, an elongate mandrel 100, a seating collar 120, and an adaptor 140. As seen in FIG. 5, the bore sight 10 cooperates with a barrel 8 having a bore 7, wherein the barrel and bore terminate at an open end and define a longitudinal axis.
The front casing 20 and the rear casing 60 cooperatively engage to define a first cavity 21 and a separate second cavity 61, wherein the first cavity retains a laser module 30 and the second cavity retains at least one of a battery 62 and a switch 64. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a coupler 40 and an insert 50 can be retained between the front casing 20 and the rear casing 60. By employing a separate front casing 20 and rear casing 60, the casings can be individually manufactured allowing for less complicated tooling and manufacturing costs. Thus, the front casing 20 and the rear casing 60 cooperatively engage to form a housing for at least one of, and in selected configurations each of, the laser module 30, the battery 62 and the switch 64. As seen in FIG. 5, the housing is at least substantially coaxial or concentric with the longitudinal axis of the barrel.
As seen in FIG. 3, the front casing 20 includes a generally cylindrical body having a forward opening 23, a transverse alignment screw port 25, and a laser seat 26 projecting radially inward. The front casing 20 can be made from polymers, metals, alloys and composites. A satisfactory material has been found to include aluminum.
The forward opening 23 of the front casing 20 operably retains a lens mount 28. The lens mount 28 can include focusing and/or protective optics for passing the laser along an exit axis. It is contemplated the front casing 20 can include a retaining groove 29 for engaging a corresponding ridge of the lens mount 28, such that the lens mount 28 can be changed out to provide for different properties of the generated beam.
The laser module 30 includes a laser 32 such as an LED laser, typically emitting in a visible wavelength. However, it is understood the laser 32 of the laser module 30 can be selected to generate a beam in the infrared or other non-visible range, thereby allowing the user, with appropriate viewing glasses, to align the gun. The laser 32 projects a beam of radiation along an optical axis.
The laser module 30 includes a radially extending flange 34 sized to engage the seat 26 of the front casing 20. In addition, the laser module 30 includes an electrical contact 36 for receiving power for operating the laser 32. The electrical contact 36 can be in the form of a spring, such as a coil spring.
The front casing 20 also houses a bias member 38, such as a leaf spring operably disposed between a portion of the mounted laser module 30 and an inner surface of the front casing 20.
An alignment screw 39 is threadedly disposed within the alignment screw port 25 and contacts a portion of the laser module 30, such that movement of the laser module by the alignment screw is opposed by the bias member 38. Although the front casing 20 is shown with one alignment screw port 25, it is understood the front casing can include two, three or more alignment screw ports with corresponding alignment screws for locating an emission axis of the laser module 30 relative to the front casing 20.
The rear casing 60 cooperatively engages the front casing 20 to capture the coupler 40 and the insert 50 such that the front casing and the rear casing define the first cavity 21 and the separate second cavity 61.
As seen in FIG. 3, the coupler 40 can include an electrical lead 42 extending between a first surface 44 exposed to the first cavity 21 and a second surface 46 exposed to a second cavity 61.
As seen in FIG. 3, the insert 50 cooperates with the coupler 40 and a respective portion of the front casing 20 and the rear casing 60 to define the first cavity 21 and the separate second cavity 61.
The rear casing 60 includes a transverse aperture 63 accessing the second cavity 61. The second cavity 61 is sized to operably retain at least one battery 62 and the switch 64 for selectively providing an electrical input to the electrical lead on the coupler. As seen in FIG. 3, the rear casing 60 includes a ramp 66 exposed to the second cavity 61. In one configuration, the switch 64 is a rotation switch having a cam surface 65 for engaging the ramp 66 in the rear casing 60. Thus, upon rotation of the switch 64 relative to the rear casing 60, the switch cams into and out of contact with the rear casing, thereby resulting in the creation or breaking of electrical contact of the batteries to the laser module 30.
A rear end of the rear casing 60 includes an aperture or recess 67 sized to cooperatively receive a portion of the mandrel 100. The mandrel 100 can be engaged with the rear casing 60 by any of a variety of mechanisms that preclude rotation of the mandrel relative to the rear casing. Threaded engagements, friction fit, detents, adhesives or over-molding can be used to engage the mandrel 100 and the rear casing 60. Thus, the mandrel 100 can be fixed relative to the rear casing 60, such that rotation of the casing imparts rotation of the mandrel.
The rear casing 60 can be made from polymers, metals, alloys and composites. A satisfactory material has been found to include aluminum. It is understood that if the rear casing 60 is used as a portion of the circuit interconnecting the battery 62 and the laser module 30, then a non-conductive material of the rear casing could include a conductive lead or trace.
The mandrel 100 is operably engaged with the rear casing 60 to dispose the seating collar 120 adjacent to the rear casing, wherein a free end 102 of the mandrel is disposed a given distance from the rear casing. Referring to FIG. 4, the free end 102 of the mandrel 100 includes a mechanism such as a recess and particularly a threaded recess 104 for cooperatively engaging the adapter 140.
The seating collar 120 defines a generally tapered (or stepped) outer surface 122 extending from a narrow end 124 to a flared end 126, and includes a central through aperture 129 sized to receive a length of the mandrel 100. An inner surface of seating collar 120 at the flared end 126 defines an engaging surface 130 for engaging an outer surface of the rear casing 60. Thus, the seating collar 120 defines a surface extending from an outer surface of the mandrel 100 to extend beyond the diameter of the rear casing 60. In addition, referring to FIG. 2, the through aperture 129 and the mandrel 100 can include cooperating ribs 132 and recesses 133 to locate the seating collar 120 on the mandrel 100. The seating collar 120 can cooperatively and releaseably engage at least one of the mandrel 100 and the rear casing 60. As the seating collar 120 is removably connected to at least one of the mandrel 100 and the rear casing 60, the seating collar is interchangeable to accommodate various ranges of bore diameters (calibers), the seating collar can be constructed to define a variety of lengths along the longitudinal axis, thus defining a corresponding variety of angles relative to the longitudinal axis. That is, the angle of inclination between the outer tapered surface 122 of the seating collar 120 and the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 100 can be varied for different bore diameters as well as for a given bore diameter, by virtue of using a different seating collar. Satisfactory angles of the tapered surface 122 have been found to include between approximately 5° and 45°.
In one configuration, the seating collar 120 is formed as a separate component than the mandrel 100 and the rear casing 60. By separately forming the seating collar 120, the size of the stock necessary to manufacture the bore sight 10 can be reduced. That is, rather than forming the entire bore sight 10 from a block of sufficient size to encompass the seating collar 120, the separate components can be formed from stock of a size optimized for the given component. Further, forming the seating collar 120 as a separate component allows the seating collar to be formed of a different second material than the mandrel 100, thereby allowing the mandrel to be formed of a durable lightweight metal such as aluminum, steel, or an alloy, wherein the seating collar can be formed of a polymer such as a thermoplastic, thermoplastic elastomer or thermoset material. Further, as the seating collar 120, can be formed of a compliant or resilient material, the seating collar can frictionally engage and retain the bore sight 10 relative to the open end of the bore, without imparting wear on the bore. The relative hardness of the material of the seating collar 120 is selected to avoid being so compliant that the desired alignment of the bore sight 10 within the bore is not achieved against being so hard that the bore can be damaged. A satisfactory hardness of the seating collar 120 has been found to be less than the barrel 8 and sufficiently great to retain the bore sight 10 in an intended operable position.
The mandrel 100 extends to the free end 102, wherein the free end includes the mechanism for receiving a portion of the adaptor 140.
The adaptor 140 includes a flange seat 150, a capture head 160, and an expandable bushing 170, wherein the bushing is located longitudinally intermediate a portion of the flange seat and the capture head.
The flange seat 150 contacts the free end 102 of the mandrel 100 and adjacent longitudinal portions of the mandrel and defines a generally circular seat 152 extending radially outward for cooperatively engaging the bushing 170. The flange seat 150 further includes a central aperture 153 sized to pass a portion of the capture head 160 therethrough. At least one of the flange seat 150 and the recess 104 is threaded to cooperatively engage the capture head 160. In one configuration, the flange seat 150 rotates relative to the mandrel 100.
The circular seat 152 defines a shoulder 154 for engaging the bushing 170 and precluding longitudinal movement of the bushing relative to the flange seat 150. The shoulder 154 can include a facet 156 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a facet 158 angled to the longitudinal axis. In one configuration, the perpendicular facet 156 is radially intermediate the angled facet 158 and the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 100.
The capture head 160 includes a bushing seat 162 and a projecting stem 164 sized to cooperatively engage the mandrel 100. The bushing seat 162 defines a shoulder 166 for engaging the bushing 170 and precluding longitudinal movement of the bushing relative to the capture head 160. The shoulder 166 can include a facet 167 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a facet 168 angled to the longitudinal axis. In one configuration, the perpendicular facet 167 is radially intermediate the angled facet 168 and the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 100.
The stem 164 can include threads for cooperatively engaging the mandrel 100. However, it is understood that any of a variety of mechanisms could be used to engage the capture head 160 and the mandrel to decrease the longitudinal distance between the capture head and the flange seat 150. The alternative mechanisms include cooperating magnets, bias members such as springs, plungers or telescoping members.
The expandable bushing 170 includes engaging surfaces 172 for cooperatively engaging the corresponding portions of the flange seat 150 and the capture head 160. In one configuration, the bushing 170 includes an annular groove 175 or line of preferential deformation longitudinally intermediate the ends of the bushing. The line of preferential deformation 175 is configured such that upon longitudinal compression of the bushing 170 by relative motion of the capture head 160 relative to the flange seat 150, the bushing flexes radially outward to form a generally circular line of contact with the inside surface of the bore. The bushing 170 is selected such that line (or area) of contact has longitudinal dimension that is less than the circumferential dimension, and advantageously substantially less than the circumferential dimension of the bore. That is, for example in a 38 caliber gun, the bore has diameter of approximately 0.379 inches, and the line of the contact between the bushing 170 and the bore extends along the longitudinal dimension less than 0.379 inches, and advantageously less than 0.175 inches, and can be as little as 0.15 inches. As the longitudinal dimension of the contact between the bushing 170 and the bore is reduced, the relative pressure at the resulting area of contact increases, thereby securing retaining the bushing relative to the bushing as well as aiding in centering the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 100 with the longitudinal axis of the bore.
In operation, as seen in FIG. 5, an appropriate seating collar 120 and adaptor 140 for the anticipated bore size are selected for cooperative engagement with the mandrel 100.
The appropriate dimensioning or sizing of the seating collar 120 allows the tapered surface of the seating collar to engage the end of the bore. As the seating collar 120 can be formed of a polymeric material, the seating collar can repeatedly contact the bore as well as move relative to the bore without imparting damage to the bore.
With respect to the adapter 140, the appropriate sizing allows the adaptor to be disposed along the inside of the bore until the seating collar 120 contacts the end of the bore. An outside surface of the bushing 170 contacts an inside surface of the bore 7, thereby at least substantially precluding rotation of the bushing relative to the bore. Continued rotation (in the configuration employing the threaded connection between the adapter 140 and the mandrel 100) of the front and the rear casings 20, 60 cause the mandrel 100 to rotate relative to the flange seat 150 and thereby rotate the capture head 160 relative to the mandrel and change the longitudinal distance between the flange seat and the capture head. Further, the adaptor 140 is sized such that upon changing, and particularly shortening, the longitudinal distance between the capture head 160 and the flange seat 150, a radial dimension of the bushing 170 is increased and contacts the inner surface of the bore along an annular or circumferential contact, wherein the annular contact has a reduced longitudinal dimension, thereby increasing the pressure between the bushing and the inside of the bore.
Actuation of the switch 64 in the second cavity 61 completes a circuit causing current to flow from the batteries 62 along the electrical lead 42 of the coupler 40 and to the spring contact with the laser module 30.
As the laser module 30 is operably aligned within the front casing 20, the emitted laser extends along an axis which is collinear with the mandrel 100 and the lines of contact defined by the adaptor 140 and the seating collar 120.
The present configuration provides a number of advantages including the ability to employ materials such as metal for formation of the mandrel 100 and the casings 20, 60, wherein the contact with the bore can be defined by relatively compliant material such as polymers, thermoplastics, and thermoplastic elastomers, while still providing sufficient contact with the bore to appropriately align the laser axis with the longitudinal axis of the bore and thus permit alignment of the gun sights with the axis of the bore.
In addition, by concentrating the area of contact between the bushing 170 of the adapter 140 and the inside of the bore, a more controlled and reproducible alignment of the bore sight and the bore can be achieved.
Referring to FIGS. 6-9, an alternative configuration of the bore sight 10 is shown. In this configuration, the coupler 40 includes a first surface lead 47 and a second surface lead 49, wherein the switch 64 selectively electrically interconnects the first surface lead and the second surface lead. In FIG. 7 the switch 64 is in an open position. As seen in FIG. 8, the switch 64 is disposed in the closed or power on position. In this alternative configuration, the switch is disposed about an outside surface of the front casing and the rear casing.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a presently preferred embodiment, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A bore sight for aligning with a barrel having a bore with an open end, the bore sight comprising:

(a) a housing retaining a laser, a battery and a switch, the switch selectively connecting the battery and the laser;

(b) an elongate mandrel extending from the housing along a longitudinal axis, the mandrel having a free end;

(c) a seating collar having a through hole sized to receive a length of the mandrel, the seating collar being a separate component from the mandrel and the housing and removably connected to at least one of the housing and the mandrel, the seating collar having a tapered outer surface sized to engage the open end of the bore; and

(d) an adaptor engaging the mandrel, the adapter having a variable dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis.

2. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a bias member and an adjustment screw to modify orientation of the laser relative to the housing.

3. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the elongate mandrel is fixedly connected to the housing.

4. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the adaptor includes a flange seat fixed along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a capture head, the capture head moveable relative to the flange seat to vary a longitudinal distance between a portion of the capture head and the flange seat, and a resilient bushing longitudinally intermediate a portion of the flange seat and the capture head.

5. The bore sight of claim 4, wherein the flange seat threadingly engages the mandrel.

6. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the adaptor includes a resilient expansion bushing, the bushing having a coefficient of friction sufficient to engage the barrel and allow rotation of the housing relative to the barrel.

7. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the seating collar is a different material than the mandrel.

8. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the seating collar is the same material as the mandrel.

9. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the seating collar releaseably engages the mandrel and the housing.

10. The bore sight of claim 1, wherein the housing is co-axial with a longitudinal axis of the barrel.

11. A bore sight comprising:

(a) a rear casing;

(b) a front casing sized to cooperatively engage the rear casing and define a first cavity and a separate second cavity;

(c) a laser disposed within the first cavity, the laser selectively emitting a radiation beam along an optical axis;

(d) a battery disposed in the second cavity;

(e) a switch selectively connecting the battery and the laser module;

(f) an elongate mandrel extending from the rear cavity along a longitudinal axis, the mandrel having a free end;

(g) a tapered seating collar spaced from the free end of the mandrel; and

(h) an adaptor engaging the mandrel, the adapter having a variable dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis.

12. The bore sight of claim 11, further comprising a coupler and an insert sized to cooperatively engage the front casing and the rear casing in defining the first cavity and the second cavity.

13. The bore sight of claim 11, wherein the front casing includes a bias member and an adjustment screw to modify the orientation of the optical axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the bore.

14. The bore sight of claim 11, wherein the elongate mandrel is fixedly connected to the rear casing.

15. The bore sight of claim 11, wherein the adaptor includes a flange seat fixed along a longitudinal dimension of the mandrel and a capture head, the capture head engaging the mandrel to vary a longitudinal distance between a portion of the capture head and the flange seat, and a resilient bushing longitudinally intermediate the portion of the flange seat and the capture head.

16. A method of operably locating the bore sight within a barrel having a bore extending along a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

(a) disposing a length of an elongate mandrel within a length of the bore;

(b) longitudinally displacing a capture head relative to the mandrel to decrease a longitudinal distance between the capture head and a flange seat and radially expand a bushing longitudinally intermediate a portion of the capture head and the flange seat to contact an inner surface of the bore at a contact area, a dimension of the contact area along the longitudinal axis being less than a diameter of the bore; and

(c) contacting a seating collar with an end of the bore.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the seating collar as a separate component from the mandrel.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the seating collar of a different second material than the mandrel.

19. The method of claim 16, connecting a housing to the mandrel, the housing having a first cavity retaining a laser and a separate second cavity retaining a battery, wherein the laser is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising moving the laser relative to the first cavity against a bias member.