FIREARM WITH INTEGRATED RED DOT SIGHT MOUNT

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a bypass continuation-in-part to PCT/US2023/015777, filed Mar. 21, 2023, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/322,037 filed Mar. 21, 2022. Said applications are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gun sights known as red dot sights utilize an illuminated dot in a viewing window to sight a target. Initially, such sights were typically mounted on long guns but red dot sights are now very popular on handguns as well, including semiautomatic handguns with slides.

Firearm users may want to change out different sights on their firearm including conventional iron sights. Additionally, users may want to use a particular sight on more than one firearm. Various means have been utilized for mounting red dot sights on firearms, but typically these involve threaded fasteners and require resighting-in the firearm each time a red dot sight is mounted. With respect to a red dot sight on a semiautomatic handgun with a slide, typically, the red dot sight must be removed from a mounting plate and then the mounting plate removed from the slide. When reinstalled, the handgun with sight must be re-zeroed, that is, realigning the point of impact on a target with the red dot. A firearm, including handguns, that can readily accommodate alternate sights, including a red dot sight, and where the alternate sights are easily and quickly swappable, and where the remounted red dot sight does not need to be re-zeroed, would be well received by the shooting public and industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A firearm, including long guns and handguns, have a pair of upwardly projecting cross wise dovetail projections that receive a mounting plate with cooperating dovetail slots. The mounting plate having a red dot sight, or other sight mounted thereto, or may be a blank mounting plate such that integrated open iron sights on the firearm may be utilized. The firearm has an integrated latch member that is movable between a capture position and a release position for retention and release of the mounting plate and attached sight. In embodiments, the latch member, as it captures the mounting plate, providing a repeatable left-right centering of the mounting plate with sight thereon. The two dovetail projections providing repeatable up-down or elevation positioning as the mounting plate with sight thereon is slid onto the firearm. In embodiments, the latch member is U-shaped, with two catch portions. In long gun embodiments, the upwardly projecting cross wise dovetail projections may be unitary portion of the receiver. In embodiments, the firearm may have dovetail slots and the mounting plate may have dovetail projections. In embodiments, other firearm and mounting plate interfaces may be utilized where the mounting plate has a freedom of movement only laterally and linearly slide on and off the firearm.

In embodiments, a semiautomatic handgun has a slide with a pair of cross wise dovetail projections that receives a mounting plate with cooperating dovetail slots. The mounting plate having a red dot sight, or other sight mounted thereto, or may be a blank mounting plate such that integrated open iron sights on the handgun may be utilized. The slide has an integrated latch member that is movable between a capture position and a release position for retention and release of the mounting plate and attached sight. In embodiments, the latch member, as it captures the mounting plate, providing a repeatable left-right centering of the mounting plate with sight thereon. The two dovetail projections providing repeatable up-down or elevation positioning as the mounting plate with sight thereon is slid onto the slide. In embodiments, the latch member is U-shaped, with two catch portions.

In embodiments, the mounting plate has a conventional industry standardized interface on a top side for receiving the red dot sight, and dovetail slots machined on the opposite side with further latch receiving notch extending from each dovetail slot. In embodiments, the retention position has the catch portions positioned in the notches with leading edges of the catch portions engaging surfaces defining the notches providing the repeatable left-right centering of the mounting plate with sight thereon on the handgun.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is that special tools are not required to remove and/or attach the mounting plate with a sight attached thereto. In an embodiment, the latch member has a spring biased latch position and is movable to a release position by depression of a push button at a rearward end of the slide that moves the latch member against the resistance of the spring. Surprisingly, utilization of a spring with a spring force that allows easy manual depression of the exposed push button on a slide, also provides sufficient force to maintain the latch member in the capture position. In embodiment, a single screw oriented forwardly-rearwardly secures the latch member at the retention position. Removal or loosening of the screw allows the latch to move to the release position.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is that the original slide on a handgun may be replaced with a slide with the integrated latch system such that the mounting system utilizing a single latch to secure and remove mounting plates with sights thereon. Similarly existing long guns may be replaced with a receiving having the integrated latch system.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is that a handgun may be provided with the integrated latch system as part of the slide, or with recesses machined into the slide to subsequently receive the latch member.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is that components may easily be manufactured and provide easy swapping out of different sights and providing repeat positioning eliminating need to re-sight the sights, for example red dot sights.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is a firearm with a pair of dovetail rails that are each continuous from side to side on the firearm except for a forward rearward longitudinal slot that extends through each dovetail rail, the slot extending into the body of the firearm. The dovetails rails providing an easy mounting of a mounting plate with a red dot sight attached thereto by engaging dovetail slots on the bottom side of the mounting plate with the dovetail rails from the left or right side of the firearm. A latch member with a pair of upwardly projecting catch portions is positioned in the slot and has an install/remove position where the catch portions are in alignment with the two dovetail rails and has a retention position where the catch portions are not in alignment with the two dovetail rails and extend into notches that are contiguous with the respective dovetail slots on the bottom side of the mounting plate. In embodiments, the catch portions can provide a left-right centering of the mounting plate with sight attached thereto by kinematically coupling a rounded leading-edge surface with receiving surfaces defining the notches.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is a slide with a pair of dovetail rails that are each continuous from side to side on the slide except for a forward rearward longitudinal slot that extends through each dovetail rail, the slot extending into the body of the slide. The dovetails rails providing an easy mounting of a mounting plate with a red dot sight attached thereto by engaging dovetail slots on the bottom side of the mounting plate with the dovetail rails from the left or right side of the slide. A latch member with a pair of upwardly projecting catch portions is positioned in the slot and has an install/remove position where the catch portions are in alignment with the two dovetail rails and has a retention position where the catch portions are not in alignment with the two dovetail rails and extend into notches that are contiguous with the respective dovetail slots on the bottom side of the mounting plate. In embodiments, the catch portions can provide a left-right centering of the mounting plate with sight attached thereto by kinematically coupling a rounded leading-edge surface with receiving surfaces defining the notches.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is a handgun slide and mounting plate with a left right kinematic coupling providing left-right centering of the mounting plate with respect to the slide, the coupling comprising a forwardly rearwardly movable catch portion on the slide that engages a tapering or rounded notch in a mounting plate that repeatedly positions and left-right centers the mounting plate with respect to the catch portion on the slide. The catch portion may be spring biased or manually moved by a screw rotation to make the kinematic coupling and left right center the mounting plate. The mounting plate may have a red dot sight attached thereto or may be a blank plate providing a uniform or contiguous top surface shape of the slide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a handgun with a red dot sight mounted thereto and with an alternate mounting plate and a blank plate.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a long gun with a sight mount system in accord with embodiments, and with a blank plate mounted on the long gun receiver.

FIG. 1C is a more detailed perspective view of the long gun of FIG. 1B with a red dot sight assembly mounted on the receiver.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the handgun of FIG. 1 with a red dot sight assembly removed from the plate mounting region on the slide of the handgun.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the sight mounting system portion of the handgun of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a mounting plate, red dot sight, and the mounting plate receiving region on a slide.

FIG. 5 is an upwardly looking perspective view of the slide and system of FIG. 4 taken from the opposite side of that of FIG. 4 and illustrating the bottom sides of the red dot sight unit and mounting plate.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a slide with a mounting plate attached thereto and the red dot sight shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the slide and mounting plate of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an exploded detailed view of latch components of the slide and mounting plate of the system of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the slide and mounting plate of FIGS. 6 and 7, taken at line 9-9 of FIG. 7 with the latch in the retention position.

FIG. 10 is the slide and mounting plate of FIG. 9 with the latch in the release position.

FIG. 11 is an upwardly looking perspective view of the mounting plate interfacing with the latching components of the slide and mounting system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is the upwardly looking perspective view of FIG. 9 with the latch member in the release position.

FIG. 13 is another configuration of mounting plate and latch system with the spring positioned opposite the threaded member with respect to the latch member.

FIG. 14 is an upwardly looking perspective view of components of a latch system for a mounting plate that has a tubular spacer rather than a coil spring.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 9 but with the tubular spacer replacing the coil spring of FIG. 9.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken at line 16-16 of FIG. 6, illustrating the latching member in a plate retention position.

FIG. 17 is the cross sectional view of FIG. 16 with the latching member in a release position.

FIG. 18 is a detailed cross sectional view of a latch member catch portion.

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a mounting plate illustrating the recess that receives the latching member catch portion of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a slide with mounting plate mounted thereon and handle release.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the slide and mounting plate of FIG. 20 with the mounting plate separated revealing the latch member with a forward bias.

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment consistent with FIGS. 20 and 21.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a retail assemblage in accord with embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, a semiautomatic handgun 20 with a sight mount system 26 that includes a red dot sight unit 30 mounted to the handgun slide 28 by way of a mounting plate 32. Also, disclosed is an alternate mounting plate 34, and a blank plate 36. The mounting plate 32 and alternate mounting plate 34 are configured as standardized mounting plates usable with many or most all red dot sight units. The slide 28 includes a slide upper body 29 which is mounted to the handgun body 37.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a long gun 21, with sight mount system 26′, includes a red dot sight unit 30′ mounted to the receiver upper body 33 of the long gun receiver 35 by way of a mounting plate 34′ in FIG. 1C, and with a blank plate 36′ mounted to the long gun 21 in FIG. 2A. The long gun barrel 31 extending forwardly from the receiver 35.

Red dot sight units, are known in the art, including mounting systems, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,327,806; 7,916,290; 9,958,234; 10,753,710; 10,782,099; 10,907,932; and 11,002,517; all of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Semiautomatic handguns are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,119,777; 5,669,169; 5,741,996; 6,260,301; 8,828,243; 8,935,871, all of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. A long gun is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,810,496 owned by the applicant of this application and incorporated by reference herein.

The sight mount systems 26, 26′ includes latching systems 38, 38′ that are actuatable through ports or openings 40, 40′. Referring to FIGS. 2-10, components, and details of the sight mount system 26 including the latching system 38, are illustrated in the context of a semiautomatic handgun with a slide. The system 26′ in a long gun has the same or similar components and details utilizing the upper body 33 of the long gun receiver, rather than the upper body 29 of the slide, for the integrated latch and the exposed upwardly facing dovetail interface. A red dot sight assembly 42 comprising, in embodiments, a mounting plate 34 and the red dot sight unit 30, is attachable and removable at a recessed area defining a mounting plate receiving region 41 with a top surface 43 on the top 44 of the slide 28. A pair of dovetail connections configured as dovetail rails 48, 49 project upwardly from the slide and extend crosswise on the slide, that is, from left side 51 to the right side 53 of the slide 28, perpendicular to the firearm axis α1. In embodiments, the dovetail rails 48, 49 are portrayed as continuous except for openings 52, 54 in the rails, the openings contiguous with a forward rearward slot 56 in the slide body 29. The latching system further has a latching element 59 positioned in the slot 56, a threaded member 60 configured as a screw, and a spring 61. The latch member may be U-shaped with two latch catch portions 62, 63 projecting upwardly above the top surface 43 of the slide at the mounting plate receiving region. As best shown in FIGS. 8-10, in embodiments, the latch member 59 may have a threaded opening 65 at the rearward end 66 of the latch member that receives the threaded end 67 of the threaded member 60. An opening 68 configured as a bore extends from the slot 56 through the slide body to the rearward end 70 of the slide body 29. In embodiments, the opening 68 is partially defined by a shoulder 71 which with the head 72 of the threaded member 60 captures and constrains under compression the spring 61.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 2-10 the mounting plate 32 may have a pair of threaded bosses 73, 73 on the top side 74 of the mounting plate that receive screws 75,76 that extend through the red dot unit 30 for securing the red dot unit to the plate providing the red dot sight assembly 42. Each of the mounting plates 32, 34 have dovetail connections configured as dovetail slots 81, 82 that are conformingly sized to the dovetail rails 48, 49 and allow the mounting plate to be slid onto the slide at the mounting plate receiving region 42. Similarly, the blank plate 36 has the dovetail slots. Referring to FIGS. 5, 8, 11, 12, and 14, each of the dovetail slots 81, 82 in the mounting plates have recesses configured as recesses or notches 89, 90 extending therefrom that receive the latch catch portions 62, 63 of the latching member 59. Slide 28 may have a forward dovetail slot 83 that may receive a conventional forward iron sight 84, and a rearward slot 85 with a rear open iron sight 86 insertable therein.

Operation of the sight mount system 26 is as follows. Referring to FIGS. 2, 9, 11, and 16, the latch system is in a first retention position where the latching catch portions 62, 63 are seated in recesses 89, 90. In this position, when a mounting plate 32, 34 or blank 36 is seated in the mounting plate receiving region 42 with the dovetail slots 81, 82 engaged with the dovetail rails 48, 49, the plates cannot slide off of two dovetail rails as the catch portions 62, 63 extending into recesses 89, 90 block the plates from sliding off the dovetail rails 48, 49. With the spring having a sufficient spring constant and under sufficient compression, the latching member 59 will be retained in the first retention position upon firing the handgun and the recoil of the slide thereby maintaining the plate with the red dot unit mounted thereon. As indicated by the arrow 93 of FIGS. 9 and 11, a forward pushing of the threaded member 69 which compresses the spring 61 and moves the latching member 59 forwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 12 and 17. In this position, the latch catch portions 62, 63 are in alignment with the dovetail rails 48, 49 and are then in a non-blocking position and the plate can be slid off or on the dovetail rails 48, 49, that is, removed or attached.

Referring to FIGS. 16-19, the shape of the catch portions 62, 62 of the latch member 59 may be such that it centers the mounting plate 32 as it is received in the recesses 89, 90. For example, the corner radius 97 of the corners 98, 99 of the rearward leading surface 101 of the catch portions 62, 63 may be less than the radius 107 of the interior corners 109, 110 of the recesses 89, 90. The is effects a kinematic centering of the mounting plate 32 and thus the red dot sight assembly 42 on the slide and provides a repeatability of the centering and positioning such that re-zeroing each time the red dot sight assembly is not required. Other configurations of centering the mounting plate by the latch member are also contemplated. For example, the catch portions could be tapered and engage two rounded exterior entry corners of a recess or notch in the mounting plate. These configurations provide a kinematic coupling 120 of the latch member catch portion and mounting plate recess. Other geometric configurations would be available to those skilled in the art. Additionally, this disclosure includes embodiments of the slide utilizing crosswise dovetail recesses that receive dovetail male projections on the bottom side of the mounting plates, with a latching member integrated into the slide. Although not specifically illustrated, embodiments may include a single dovetail rail (or slot) on the plate receiving region of the slide.

Referring to FIG. 13, in an embodiment, a bias to the latch member to the latched retention position may be provided with the spring 123 positioned forwardly of the latch member 133, with the latch member abutting against a shoulder 135 in the slide body 29 and the spring seated in a spring recess 136 defined in the slide body 29.

The components of the handgun, the mounting system, including the latch system may be formed conventionally from metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other metals known in the art. Additionally, certain polymers may be utilized to form particular components. See examples in the patents incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, in an embodiment, the spring may be replaced by a rigid tube segment 141. The screw 60 extends through the tube segment, through the opening or bore 68 and is threadingly engaged with the latch member 59 at the threaded opening. The user tightens the screw pulling the latching member 59 into the retention position as shown in FIG. 15. Loosening or removal of the screw 60 with respect to the latching member 59 allows the latching member to move to the release position where the catch portions are in alignment with the dovetail rails allowing removal of the mounting plate 32 and any attached red dot sight.

Referring to FIGS. 20-22, another embodiment is illustrated with a mounting plate 132 latched to the handgun slide 128 by way of the sliding latch member 137 that slides parallel to the axis of the handgun in slide slot 141 and barrel but has a bias forwardly so that the latch member is in the “normal” latch position, as illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 22. FIG. 21 illustrates the latch member 137 with catch portion 138, 139 in alignment with the dovetail rails 140, 142 in a release position. A spring 143 positioned in the slot 144 biases the latch member forwardly. A screw 145 may secure the assembly together and retain the latch member and spring 143 within the slide slot. In embodiments, a handle 147 may extend laterally from the latch member through a second slot 148 in the slide. The handle is shown as a cylindrical rod shape but can be other shapes and could also, for example extend upwardly in embodiments through a slot in a portion of the sight mount 149 and the sight (not shown), or extend rearwardly to be grasped proximate the screw head 146, or the screw head itself may be graspable to pull the latch member rearwardly in embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 23, in embodiments, a retail assemblage 150, comprises a semiautomatic handgun 152, with a slide 154 as described herein having crosswise dovetail connection means, a red dot sight 160, alternate mounting plates 162, 164 and a blank plate 166 for covering the plate mounting region when a red dot sight is not to be mounted, instructions 168, and packaging 170. The handgun may be as described above with removable iron sights. In embodiments, the retail assemblage may have a long gun rather than a hand gun.

Each of the additional figures and methods disclosed herein can be used separately, or in conjunction with other features and methods, to provide improved devices and methods for making and using the same. Therefore, combinations of features and methods disclosed herein may not be necessary to practice the disclosure in its broadest sense and are instead disclosed merely to particularly describe representative and preferred embodiments.

Various modifications to the embodiments may be apparent to one of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. For example, persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that the various features described for the different embodiments can be suitably combined, uncombined, and re-combined with other features, alone, or in different combinations. Likewise, the various features described above should all be regarded as example embodiments, rather than limitations to the scope or spirit of the disclosure. For example, the sight mount system and components, illustrated on a slide for semiautomatic handguns could also be utilized on pistols, such as revolvers, or on long guns such as rifles and shotguns. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,810,496 owned by the applicant herein. Said patent is incorporated by reference for all purposes. Embodiments may utilize, for example only a single dovetail rail. In embodiments the dovetail rail or rails may be on the sight mount with dovetail slots in the handgun or receiver, the sliding latch member having slots that then align with dovetail slots in the slide or receiver when in the release position. In embodiments, sight unit may have the dovetail slots therein rather than in the mounting plate that attaches to the red dot sight. Additionally, “red dot” sights referenced herein may have dots that are not red, as red dot sights refer more generically to sights with a reflective surface upon which a light emitting diode of any desired color is reflected.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that various embodiments can comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the claims can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

References to “embodiment(s)”, “disclosure”, “present disclosure”, “embodiment(s) of the disclosure”, “disclosed embodiment(s)”, and the like contained herein refer to the specification (text, including the claims, and figures) of this patent application that are not admitted prior art.

For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in the respective claim.