US1129326A - Sight for firearms. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. ATLEE.

SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1914.

1,129,326. Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1914.

1,1 29,326. Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

JOSHUA W. ATLEE, 0F RIVERTON, NEW JERSEY.

SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

Application filed June 13, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA W. ATLEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Riverton, in the county of Burlington, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sights for Firearms, of which the following is a full, complete, and exact disclosure.

My invention relates to sights for firearms and more particularly to means for raising and lowering the rear sight or eyepiece of a rifle or similar firearm in order to adjust the sights for different ranges.

The objects of my invention are to pro- Vide a simple, rapidly and accurately adj usting mechanism for the rear sight of the firearm; to provide a device which can be readily placed upon or attached to rifles, guns or similar firearms of difi'erent makes without substantially altering or changing the gun itself; to provide a device upon which the graduations indicative of the different ranges are directly in front of the gunner even when the firearm is being aimed; to provide an adjusting device which can be readily set to different positions by the hand of the gunner which is used or employed in steadying or supporting the gun while aiming or firing; and to provide an adjusting mechanism for the rear sight which can be easily adjusted while aim is being taken to enable the gunner to adjust the sights while aiming, such adjustment being particularly useful to a sportsman when aiming at rapidly moving game.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the specification and claims below.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which the same reference letters are used throughout the various views to designate the same part, Figure 1 represents a portion of a rifle with my improved sight mounted thereon; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of a portion of the rifle stock and sight; Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional View through the rifle and stock on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the barrel and stock taken on the line H of Fig. 2; Figs. 5 and 6 are elevational views of the two parts of the lifting and lowering cam; Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged view of the pin for operatively connecting the sight with the adjusting cam; Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View through the axis of the rear sight; Fig. 9 is a side ele- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 844,846.

vational view of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 10 is an end view of the modification shown in Fig. 9, the barrel and stock being in cross-section; Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a further modified form of my invention; and Fig. 12 is an end View of the same similar to Fig. 10.

In Fig. 1 is shown the grip 1, the barrel 2, the stock 3, the hammer 4, trigger 5 and front sight 6 as ordinarily found in a rifle of standard make. The barrel 2 is circular in cross-section, at least at the rear end thereof in the vicinity of the rear sight 7 which is located in its usual position with respect to barrel and stock.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the rear sight 7 comprises a block 8, having two guides 99 extending vertically with respect to the axis of the barrel 2, said block 8 being rigidly secured to the barrel 2, in any suitable manner as by being dove-tailed therein as shown in Fig. 2, and secured thereto by a screw 10.

Mounted between the guides 99 and movable longitudinally thereof, is the eyepiece 11 provided with guide-ways 1212 within which the guides 99 smoothly fit. The stock is provided with a transverse channel 13 within which is mounted a cam 14 having an inner surface 15 concentric with, and an outer surface 16 eccentric to the axis of the barrel 2. This cam 14 consists preferably of two segments or pieces 17 and 18. The larger segment 17 is preferably provided with a slot or path cam 19 in the forward face thereof and parallel to the outer surface 16. The smaller piece or segment 18 is secured to the larger piece or segment 17 by screws 20 and 21. Preferably, the ends of the smaller segment 18 through which pass the screws 20 and 21 are reduced in thickness and rest upon the ends of the larger segment 17 which ends are similarly reduced in thickness so that when the parts 16 and 17 are secured together by the screws 20 and 21, a closed ring-like structure of uniform thickness parallel to the axis of the opening therein is produced.

The eyepiece 11 is preferably provided with a screw or pin 22, the end 23 of which is arranged to fit within the slot or cam path 19 with the upper curved surface 24 of the end 23 having a substantial bearing against the upper surface of the cam path or slot 19. The block 8 and guides 99 are provided with a transverse slot 25 through which the larger piece or segment 17 may be turned prior to the securing thereto of the smaller piece 18, so that when so assembled the cam 14 passes through the slot 25 and is permanently secured in position longitudinally of the barrel by the block 8 with the underside of the eyepiece 11 resting upon the outer surface 16 of the cam 14 and held in engagement therewith by the end 23 of the screw 22 which is in engagement with the upper surface of the cain path or slot 19.

The rear surface of the cam 14 may be, and preferably is, provided with graduations which may be and preferably are spots or pearls 26 set into the rear face of the cam 14, said graduations having been so calibrated as to adjust the eyepiece to a predetermined position for a predetermined range when a graduation or pearl 26 is in a predetermined position.

The cam 14 is made in two parts or segments 17 and 18 for a number of purposes, one of which is to enable one to place the sight upon a completed barrel and pass the same over and around the front sight 6. The difference in diameter between the front and rear end of a tapered rifle barrel may not be suflicient to allow a closed ring having an internal diameter equal to that of the exterior diameter of the barrel 2 at the point of the location of the rear sight, to pass over the forward sight 6, and, there fore, the parts are arranged separable in order to allow the front sight to pass through the break in the ring or cam 14 caused by the removal of the piece 18 in bringing the cam over the end of the barrel, to the position required to operate the eyepiece.

Another reason for making the cam 14 in two parts is to permit of the passing of the ring or cam over the base or block 8 to a position where it may be brought into registration with the slot 25 in the block 8 and the cam path 19 into registration with the end 23 of the screw 22.

Another reason for making the cam 14 in two parts or segments is to provide a convenient stop or shoulder at the ends of the cam slot 19 to form limits between which the cam 14 may be revolved or turned with respect to the barrel 2 upon which it is mounted.

The interior opening of the ring or cam 14 when the parts 17 and 18 are joined together, is of exactly the same diameter as the exterior diameter of the barrel at the point where the rear sight is located and when assembled in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the exterior surface of the cam 14 may be readily grasped by the operator and the cam 14 turned on the barrel 2 as a bearing.

The outer surface of the cam 14 is preferably provided with knurling. WVithin the stock 3 I preferably provide some suitable means for causing a slight friction or braking action against the cam 14 to prevent the said cam from being too readily or accidentally turned, and for this purpose I may provide a recess or socket 28 in which is placed a spiral spring 29 acting against the end of a rod or plunger 30. Thus, the spring pressed plunger 30 acting against the surface of the cam 14 may be arranged to provide suflicient friction to prevent the accidental turning of the cam about the gun barrel.

\Vith the parts arranged and assembled in the manner above described, it is plain that by turning the cam 14 around the gun barrel 2, the eyepiece 11 will be raised or lowered, dependent upon the direction in which the cam 14 is turned, by reason of the engagement of the eyepiece 11 with the outer surface of the cam 14 against which it is held by the pin 22, and that the eyepiece 11 may be brought and adjusted to any desired position by turning the cam 14 until the desired graduation or pearl 26 is in the proper position for a predetermined range, such, for instance, as to the left hand edge of the eyepiece 11 and the cooperating guide 9 as shown in Fig. 3 where, it may be assumed, the sight is adjusted for a range of 500 yards indicated by the five spots or pearls 26 alined with the left hand edge of the rear sight 7. The other graduations 26 on the rear face of the cam 14 in this form of my invention are also so arranged as to extend parallel or coincident with the left band edge of the rear sight 7 when the 400, 300, 200 or 100 marks or graduations are brought to that position. It will also be apparent that the turning of the cam 14 to raise or lower the eyepiece may be readily effected by the thumb and second or third finger of the hand of the gunner which is used in supporting the rifle or gun when aiming. Thus, a right handed gunner would grasp the rifle grip l with this right hand and his left hand would support the rifle at or about the position of the rear sight 7 and in this position his thumb and second or third finger would be normally on opposite sides of the cam 14. V'Vhen in this position, the cam 14 may be readily turned around the gun barrel without interfering in the slightest with the aim of the gunner and the position of the graduations 26 on the rear face of the cam 1.4 enables the gunner to adjust his sights to the desired range Without bringing his gun or rifle down from his shoulder or interfering substantially with the sighting of the firearm.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the eyepiece 11 and the guide-ways 12 therein, the block 8, the slot 13 in the stock 3 and the barrel 2 are substantially like that previously described in connection with the e33; @EOMETRlQAL iblfiTRUMENTfi.

form shown in the preceding figures, and the cam 14 is like the cam 14: previously described, except that it is not provided with the slot or path cam 19, and the graduations 26 thereon are slightly differently arranged. In this form of my invention, upon the block 8 provided with the upwardly extending guides 9, the eyepiece 11 is mounted to slide vertically as heretofore described, but the eyepiece is secured by a screw 31 to substantially the free end of a flat spring 32 having its other end rigidly secured to the block 8. The free end of the spring 32 extends between the guides 9', 9 and rests against the top surface of the cam 14:, and the free end may be slightly turned down over the rear face of the said cam 14:. The upper surface of the spring 32 is preferably slightly bowed away from the bottom surface of the eyepiece 12 on either side of the screw 31 in order that the spring 32 may, as it were, roll slightly over the undersurface of the sight 12 as the sight is adjusted to the different positions vertically by the rotation of the cam 14.

The normal tendency of the spring 32 is to draw the eyepiece 11 downwardly and therefore bear with suitable pressure against the outer surface of the cam 14. It will be apparent that when the cam 14: is rotated, the free end ofthe spring will always bear against the same and as the outer surface of the cam is eccentric, the free end of the spring 32 and the eyepiece 11 attached thereto, will be raised and lowered dependent upon the direction in which the cam is turned. In this form of my invention, the rear face of the cam 14 is free and unobstructed, because it is arranged on the barrel 2 just to the rear of the guides 9, block 8 instead of passing through a slot therein. The graduations then, on the upper half of the cam 14: are always in view, and, therefore, the grad nations are preferably arranged radially with respect to the axis of the gun barrel and the position to which they are adjusted in bringing the sight to a desired range is preferably directly beneath the opening through the eyepiece 11. In this form of my invention, I have also shown a difierent friction device for preventing the free rotation of the cam 14, the same consisting of a leaf spring 33 seated in the bottom of the channel 13 in the stock and secured therein by a screw 34, the-upper free end of said leaf spring being arranged to bear against the forward surface of the cam 14.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the same cam 14 as that shown in the modification illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, may be employed, but the eyepiece 11 differs from that previously described in that it consists of the ordinary plain eyepiece rigidly secured to the free end of the spring 32, said spring 32 having its other end rigidly secured to the block 8 as described in connection with Fig. 9. I have also in this modification, shown a different friction device from that previously described, the same consisting of a bow spring 35 secured by a screw 36 in the bottom of the channel 13 in the stock, the free ends of said bow spring being arranged to grasp or bear against the periphery of the cam 14,. In this modification, the graduations or pearls 26 are preferably arranged radially of the axis of the barrel 2 and are preferably brought to a position in vertical aline-ment with the sight in changing the sight to a predetermined range.

It is, of course, to be understood that any of the friction devices for preventing the free rotation of the adjusting cam may be used as circumstances may require, or different sights may be mounted to cooperate with the adjusting cam and the different arrangements of the graduations may be provided, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a firearm, the combination with the barrel, of a rear sight comprising an eyepiece mounted on said barrel, and means surrounding said barrel and rotative thereon about an axis coincident with the axis of said barrel to adjust said eyepiece to different positions vertically of the axis of said barrel.

2. In a firearm, the combination with a barrel, of an eyepiece mounted on said barrel and a manually operable cam mounted on said barrel to turn around the same, said cam being operatively connected to said eyepiece to impart vertical motion to said eyepiece when said cam is rotated on said barrel.

3. A sight for firearms comprising an eyepiece mounted to move vertically with respect to the barrel of said firearm, and a manually controlled cam mounted to turn on said barrel on an axis coincident with said barrel and provided with an exterior surface eccentric to the axis of said barrel and upon which said eyepiece rests to raise or lower said eyepiece by turning said cam around said barrel.

4. A sight for firearms comprising an eyepiece mounted to move vertically with respect to the barrel of said firearm, a manually controlled cam mounted to turn on said barrel on an axis coincident with said barrel and provided with an exterior surface eccentric to the axis of said barrel and upon which said eyepiece rests to raise or lower said eyepiece by turning said cam around said barrel, and provided with graduations on the rear face of said cam.

5. A sight for firearms comprising an eyepiece mounted to move vertically, a stud in said eyepiece, and a manually controlled cam mounted on an axis coincident with the axis of the barrel of the firearm to turn thereon to raise and lower said eyepiece, said cam being provided with a groove eccentric to the axis of said barrel engaged by said stud.

6. In a firearm, the combination with a barrel, of an eyepiece mounted on said barrel and a manually operable cam mounted on said barrel to turn around the same, said cam being provided with means to impart vertical motion to said eyepiece when said cam is rotated on said barrel, and provided With graduations on the rear face of said cam indicative of the range for which the sight may be set.

7. In a firearm, the combination with a barrel, of a rear sight comprising a block, an eyepiece mounted to slide on said block, and a cam surrounding said barrel and manually rotatable with respect to said barrel to adjust said eyepiece to different positions vertically of the axis of said barrel.

8. In a firearm, the combination with a barrel, of a rear sight comprising a block, and an eyepiece mounted to slide on said block toward and away from the axis of said barrel, and a cam surrounding said barrel, said cam being made of segments separable from each other.

9. In a firearm, the combination with a barrel, of an eyepiece mounted on said barrel, and a cam having an opening therein fitting around said barrel and manually rotatable upon said barrel on an axis coincident with said barrel, and having an eccentric outer surface against which said sight substantially rests and means to hold said eyepiece in substantial engagement with the outer surface of said cam.

10. In a firearm, the combination with a barrel, of a rear sight comprising a block, an eyepiece mounted to move on said block, a cam surrounding said barrel and manually rotatable with respect to said barrel to adjust said eyepiece to diflerent positions vertically of the axis of said barrel, and means to hold said eyepiece at all times in engagement with said cam.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of June, A. D. 1914:.

JOSHUA W. ATLEE.

Witnesses:

SEsToN B. MoUL'roN, ALEXANDER PARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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