Mount for telescopic sights

Dec. 29, 1942.

E. L. MEISEL

MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS

Filed June 26, 1940

2,306,972

Sheets-Sheet 1 /=70./

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Dec. 29, 1942.

2,306,972

E. L. ME1SEL

MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS

Filed June 26, 1940

Sheets-Sheet 2

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Dec. 29, 1942.

2,306,972

E. L. MEISEL

MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS

Filed June 26, 1940

Sheets-Sheet 3

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Patented Dec. 29, 1942

2,306,372

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,306,972

MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS

Ernest L. Meisel, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 26, 1940, Serial No. 342,583

Claims. (CI. 33—50)

The present invention relates to means for mounting a telescope on a rifle, and more particularly to a mount that can be easily secured to and removed from the rifle and in which the windage adjustment is not affected when the 5 mount is removed. While the description of the invention is directed primarily to a construction for hunting “scopes,” it is of course obvious that it can be used for target “scopes.”

It is well known that there has been an in- 10 creased demand to employ telescope sights in lieu of the well known iron sights. However, the problem of mounting the “scope” on the rifle has resulted in heavy, clumsy and otherwise objectionable mounts. Manifestly, the employ- ¹³ment of a low mounted “scope” will afford the best results since such a mount is more durable, less cumbersome and top heavy and permits the flrm cheeking of the stock. Here again the structure of the mount has been cumbersome to 20 provide the necessarily rugged windage adjustment for the “scope.”

The larger and the heavier the hunting “scope” and the higher it is mounted, the more opportunity there is that it will be knocked out of 23 alignment, and these high mounted “scopes” require a much heavier and stronger mount than do the mounts which are placed low on the rifle barrel. A “scope” mount rarely improves the general appearance of the rifle, but the higher 30 the “scope” is positioned, the more unsightly the appearance of the gun becomes. Another important reason why the high “scope” mounts are not particularly desirable is that a rifle thus equipped, due to* increased parallax, does not 35 shoot especially accurately, and as a matter of fact better results can be achieved with the iron sights than with such a “scope.”

We may classify the hunting “scope mounts” that are used at the present time into two 40 classes—first, the bridge type, and second, the side bracket type. The merits of each of the above mentioned mounts are well known and it is sufficient to say that heretofore in the bridge type mounts, it has not been possible to position 35 the “scope” quite as low as can be done with the side bracket type.

These prior mounts I And possess certain undesirable characteristics. For example, the bases that are used are especially made for the job 50 and detract greatly from the appearance of the gun. In addition, it is usually necessary when the “scope” is removed to disturb the windage adjustment, and as a consequence necessitates shooting in” the rifle to obtain the same ad- 55 justment when the “scope” is replaced. Also, some of the mounts have been of such construction that they are subject to serious damage being removed by unskilled hands, and a damaged mount as a general proposition makes the use of “scope” sights impractical.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above and other disadvantageous features that now confront the art.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mount for a rifle telescopic sight which may be readily removed and replaced on the rifle without affecting the windage setting of the sight.

Another object of my invention is to provide a “scope” mount that is simple in construction and operation and which can be cheaply and easily manufactured.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a mount for “scope” sights which presents a pleasing appearance and the exposed surfaces of which are free from any projections or protuberances that often prove undesirable in the hunting fields.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a bridge type hunting “scope” that is mounted low on the barrel of the rifle but which is of sufficient height to permit bolt action rifles to be easily operated.

And a further object of my invention is to provide a mount for hunting “scopes” that will effectively withstand the recoil shock of the rifle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a “scope” mount having incorporated therein a windage adjustment that can only be changed by the user of the gun.

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, my invention in general comprises a front and rear clamp for a “scope” sight. These clamps coact with mounting plates detachably connected to and bridging the receiver of the rifle. The clamps are dovetailed to the mounting plates in such a manner that they will only have motion in one plane.

A windage adjustment is associated with the rear clamp and adjustment, and once having been made by the operator of the gun, cannot be changed by removal of the “scope” and mount from the gun.

In the drawings in which like numerals indicate the same or similar parts:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing my “scope” mount bridging the receiver of a bolt action rifle.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the rear “scope” clamp.

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2,306,972

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the rear attaching clamp illustrating the windage adjustment.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the front “scope” clamp.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the front attaching clamp.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the rear “scope” clamp.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the front “scope” clamp.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8—8 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9—9 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10—10 of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the line it—it of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12—12 of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a view in side elevation partly in section of a modified form of rear mount for hunting “scopes.”

Figure 14 is a view in side elevation of the front mount used with the rear mount shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15—15 of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows. 35

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along the line 16—16 of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17—17 of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken along the line 18—18 of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along the line 19—19 of Figure 18 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings there is shown a rifle I of conventional construction having removably secured thereon a telescope 2. While the telescope 2 is the hunting type “scope,”’ it is obvious that other kinds may be used. Mounted adjacent the receiver of the rifle are front and rear mounting blocks 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 9, the block 4 is of dovetail shape and is attached to the receiver ring by a screw 5, the head of which is counter-sunk as clearly illustrated. The mounting block 3 is of similar shape and is attached to the rifle barrel.

A forward base member 7 having a longitudinal dovetail groove 8 is adapted to slide over the mount 3. The upper face of the base is reduced at its forward end to form an extension 9 provided with a threaded aperture 10. The upper surface of the base is formed with an arcuate tongue I i having an inclined edge ί 2 and a rectangular edge 13. The arcuate tongue i I is concentric with the aperture 10.

A clamp 14 for the front end of the telescope is provided and it has a circular bore 15 that is split off center as shown at 16 in Figure 10. When the “scope” is positioned within the bore it is fixed thereto by counter-sunk tightening screws 17 provided in the clamp 14. The lower wall of the clamp is formed with a lateral arcuate groove 18, the sides 19 and 20 of which coincide with edges 12 and (3 of the tongue 11 when the clamp is positioned on the base 7. The forward end of the clamp 14 has a counter-bored aperture 5 2i that is adapted to be disposed over the threaded aperture 10 formed in the extension 9 of the base 7. A shouldered pivot screw 22 is positioned in the apertures 21 and 10 for mounting the clamp 14 for pivotal movement on the W base 7.

A rear base 23 provided with a longitudinal dovetail groove 24 in its undersurface is adapted to slide over the mounting block 4. The upper face of the base 23 is formed with a lateral ίΰ dovetailed tongue 25, the angular edges of which are arcuate, and when the bases 7 and 23 are positioned on the rifle the angular edges are also concentric with the aperture 10.

The base 23 is also cutaway at its rear portion, as shown at 26 to provide horizontal lugs 27. Windage adjustment screws 28 extend through threaded apertures 29 in the lugs and are provided on their outer extremities with winged lock nuts 30.

The rear portion of the “scope” 2 is held in a clamp 31 having a central bore 32, and it will be seen that the clamp is split longitudinally along its lower face as at 33. The lower face of the clamp is formed with a lateral dovetail groove 30 34 with inclined faces 35 which engage the tongue 25 when the clamp is disposed upon the base 23. As best shown in Figures 2 and 8, the clamp 3i carries vertical lugs 36 at its rear end which when the clamp is disposed upon the base extend into the cutaway portion 26 between the windage adjustment screws 28. As a consequence, the proper windage adjustment can be effected by manipulation of the screws with respect to the lug 36 to move the scope about the 40 pivot screw 22.

The attachment of the “scope” 2 and the clamp 31 is made by the adjustment of countersunk screws 37 provided along the lower edge of the clamp on either side of the dovetail groove 34. ₄5 The bases 7 and 23 are attached to the mounting blocks 3 and 4, respectively, as shown specifically in Figure 9. As the attachment is similar for both the front and rear mounts only that for the rear mount will be described. The base adjacent the upper surface of the tongue 25 is cutaway as indicated by the numeral 40 and a sliding block 41 is disposed in the cutaway portion. The block 41 is provided with a flat 42 flush with the upper face of the tongue. The 55 inner face of the block is concave as shown at 43 and is adapted to fit into a print 44 formed in the mounting block 4. A bolt 45 extends from the opposite side of the base 23 through bore 46 and its end threadedly engages the sliding block 41, as clearly shown in Figure 9. Consequently ^bU by tightening the bolt 45 the block 41 will be moved into engagement with the print 44, thus securing the base 23 thereto. Incidentally, it will be seen that the head of the bolt 45 is counter_G5 sunk whereby the base will present no rough surfaces.

The removal of the scope and its attaching clamps and bases from the rifle and their subsequent replacement is relatively simple and constitutes a considerable improvement over the mounts which have heretofore been employed. As pointed out before one great disadvantage of these prior devices has been that when the telescope has been removed from the rifle it af75 fects the windage'adjustment which means of

2,306 course that the “scope” must be sighted in. again when it is replaced on the gun. However, with my mounts the operator of the rifle does not have to bother in any way the windage adjustment when the “scope” is taken off. The bases _£7 and 23 are removed simply by loosening the bolt 45 which frees the base from its respective mount on the gun and the bases, clamps and. “scope” are thus free to be removed from the rifle in a fixed unit. This removal in no way i disturbs the windage adjustment and the advantages thereof are believed readily apparent. The replacement of the “scope” is also a very simple matter since it merely means that the bases are slid onto the mounting blocks and the j bolts 45 are drawn up to move the concave face 43 into engagement with the print ti of each mount block.

Another desirable characteristic of my invention is that the mounts are very sturdy in construction and are so arranged that the “scope” is situated rather low on the rifle but is still high enough to permit the device to be used with a bolt action rifle. Also it will be seen that all of the securing devices such as bolts and screws are ₂counter-sunk thus providing mounts which present a smooth outer surface and thereby obviating the danger of the mounts becoming entangled or caught by foliage, brush, or the like.

In Figures 13 to 19 inclusive I have shown a _3islightly modified form of my inventive concept. In this particular embodiment it will be seen that I provide a front base member 33 having a longitudinal dovetail groove 6! which slides over the mount 3. The upper face of the base _siis reduced at its forward end to form an extension 62 provided with a threaded aperture 63. The upper face of the base is also formed with a lateral dovetailed tongue 64, the angular edges of which are arcuate. These edges are also con- ₄| centric with the aperture 63.

I provide a clamp 65 for the front- end of the “scope” and it has a circular bore 66 which is split longitudinally as shown at S’. To attach the “scope” to the clamp it will be seen that one of the sides of the clamp is provided with bosses * 68 into each of which is threaded a screw 69. The lower wall of the clamp 65 is provided with a lateral arcuate groove 73. the groove having an inclined edge 71 and a rectangular edge 72. It will be seen that the edge 71 coincides with one angular edge of the tongue 64 and to assure a correct fit between the clamp and the ba,se, a gib 73 is positioned between the wall 72 and the other inclined face of the tongue 64. To adjust the gib 73 for proper sliding engage- ⁵ment between the clamp and the base, it will be seen that vertical threaded apertures 74 are provided in the base. Screws 75 are threaded in the aperture 74 and the upper ends cf the screws bear against the lower face of the gib, and by 6 tightening these screws the gib will be moved into a tighter fit with the tongue 64. A centering pin 76 is adapted to extend through an aperture 77 in the gib and fits in sockets 78 formed in the base 60. ⁶

The clamp 65 is pivotally attached to the base 60 in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 7 by the shouldered screw 22 being threaded into the aperture 63. The base 66 is attached to its „ mounting block 3 by securing device 88 which is ‘ similar in construction and operation to that previously described in connection with the forms shown in Figure 1.

A base 85 having a dovetail groove 86 in its ;

1,972 3 lower face slides over the rear mount block 4. The upper face of the base 85 is cutaway to form a lateral tongue 87 having an inclined arcuate edge 38 and a vertical arcuate edge 89. The , edges 88 and 89 are concentric with the aperture 63 provided in the tongue 62.

The rear portion of the base 85 is cutaway to form lugs SB and windage adjustment screws 9i extend through threaded apertures in each lug. _ϋ Winged lock nuts 92 are threaded onto the outer ends of the screws 91.

A clamp 94 for the rearward end of the “scope” having a bore 95 is split as shown at 96. When the “scope” is disposed within the bore S5 it is .-. secured therein by means of screws 97 which are threaded into apertures 98 formed in bosses 99.

In Figure 13 it will be seen that the lower face cf the clamp 93 is provided with a lateral dovetail groove i 08 that is wider than the tongue 87. j When the clamp S4 is disposed upon the base 85, it will be noted that angular face 88 of the base coincides with one angular face of the dovetail groove 190, and a gib 191 having a vertical wall (02 is positioned between the vertical wall 83 of the tongue and the opposite angular wall of the groove 108. The base is provided with vertical apertures into which are positioned screws 193, the upper ends of which threadedly engage apertures formed in the gib 101. It is believed readily apparent that when the screw (83 is tightened the gib 191 will move downwardly thus affording a tight sliding fit between the groove 109 and the tongue 87. Moreover, by employing these gibs greater tolerances may be permitted than in the mounts illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, thereby greatly reducing the cost of manufacture.

The rear portion of the clamp 94 is formed with a downwardly extending member 194 which projects into the cutaway portion of the base 85 between the lugs 90. Consequently, by rotation of the screws 9( the proper windage adjustment of the “scope” can be effected.

The base 85 is removably attached to the mount block 4 by a securing device (05 which is similar □ to the member 88 shown in Figure 14 with reference to the front “scope” mount.

This particular embodiment affords a very effective “scope” mount and with the use of the gibs 73 and ί0i provided in the front and rear a “scope” mounts, respectively, there can be no binding between the base and the “scope” clamp. The mounts are removed from and replaced on the rifle in practically the same manner as those disclosed in connection with Figure 1.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that I have provided a mount for “scope” sights for a rifle that is relatively simple in construction and operation and which can be easily and cheaply manufactured. Furthermore, θ with my mounts the “scope” and its associated parts can be removed from the rifle or replaced on the rifle without disturbing the windage adjustment, which is of course a highly desirable feature and which overcomes this serious defect ₃ in the art. Another important feature of this device is that it presents no rough exterior surface, which means that when the rifle is used in the hunting fields there can be no danger of it becoming entangled in foliage, brush, or the like. Also, the mount will permit the “scope” to be positioned low on the rifle yet high enough to enable it to be used with bolt action rifles, and this of course is most desirable.

By the addition of another block on the rea ceiver ridge, it is possible to employ the hunting

2,306,973 “scope” on a target rifle. Additionally, my novel mount in effect affords the accuracy of a target rifle in a hunting rifle.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.