Assault rifle back-up sight rib and support structure

• US 7,765,730 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Da Keng
• Original Assignee: Da Keng
• Inventors: Keng, Da
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): David; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US11/635,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 421/11, 421/24, 421/28, 421/38, 421/40, 421/41, 421/48
• US Class Current: 42/111
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/02 Foresights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

Back-up sights for use on a rifle configured with an optical sight aligned along a first sighting axis include a handguard or support carrying first and second attachment points that are substantially parallel with the central axis of the rifle'"'"'s barrel but offset at a different angle than the first sighting axis. A back-up front sight and rear sight are carried on a back-up sight base, where the front sight and rear sight are aligned along a second sight axis that is offset, preferably, by one-eighth turn from the first sighting axis. When using the back-up sights, the user tilts or cants the rifle to one side, rotating the rifle one-eighth turn about the axis of the barrel'"'"'s bore, to look down the second sighting axis, while aiming the rifle at the target.

Claims

1. A back-up sight for use on a rifle or carbine configured with an optical sight or a standard issue set of sights aligned on a first sight axis substantially parallel with a central axis of the carbine'"'"'s barrel, comprising:

(a) a handguard or support affixed to the rifle and having an exterior surface defining at least a first attachment point;

(b) a back-up sight configured to be releasably mounted on said handguard or support and aligned along a second sight axis parallel with the central axis of the rifle'"'"'s barrel, said back-up sight including a front sight configured to be releasably mounted distally on said handguard and a rear sight configured to be releasably mounted proximally from said front sight on said handguard and spaced from said front sight on said second sight axis; and

(c) wherein said second sight axis is radially offset to one side of said first sight axis such that by rotating the rifle to a selected rotation angle of less than ninety degrees about the axis of the barrel, a user may look down the second sighting axis, while aiming the rifle at a target.

2. The back-up sight of claim 1, wherein said selected rotation angle is approximately one eighth turn from vertical about the axis of the barrel.

3. The back-up sight of claim 2, wherein said selected rotation angle is approximately one eighth turn from vertical in the counterclockwise direction.

4. The back-up sight of claim 2, wherein said handguard or support comprises a replacement front handguard for an AR family rifle.

5. The back-up sight of claim 4, wherein said handguard or support comprises a replacement front handguard for an M4.

6. The back-up sight of claim 4, wherein said handguard or support comprises a replacement front handguard for an M16.

7. The back-up sight of claim 2, said back-up sight comprises a back-up front sight and back-up rear sight carried on a back-up sight base, wherein said sight base, said back-up front sight and said back-up rear sight are aligned along said second sight axis parallel with the central axis of the rifle'"'"'s barrel.

8. The back-up sight of claim 2, wherein said handguard or support comprises a replacement front handguard including first, second, third and fourth parallel, longitudinal picatinny-style mounting rails.

9. The back-up sight of claim 8, wherein said first longitudinal picatinny-style mounting rail is on the top of the handguard.

10. The back-up sight of claim 9, wherein said second longitudinal picatinny-style mounting rail is offset ninety degrees from said first rail on the left side of the handguard, said third longitudinal picatinny-style mounting rail is offset one hundred eighty degrees from said first rail on the bottom of the handguard and said fourth longitudinal picatinny-style mounting rail is offset ninety degrees from said first rail on the right side of the handguard.

11. The back-up sight of claim 10, wherein handguard sidewall segments span the spaces between the rails;

and

wherein at least one of the handguard sidewall segments spanning the space between the rails has a plurality of apertures defined therein, said sidewall apertures being substantially aligned along an axis between said rails.

12. The back-up sight of claim 11, wherein said back-up sight base carries at least a first fastener adapted to releasably engage said handguard sidewall apertures.

13. The back-up sight of claim 1, wherein said front sight includes a tritium insert.

14. The back-up sight of claim 13, wherein said rear sight includes at least one tritium insert.

15. The back-up sight of claim 13, wherein said rear sight includes first and second tritium inserts.

16. The back-up sight of claim 1 wherein said rear sight includes a rear sight blade with a sighting notch.

17. The back-up sight of claim 1, wherein said rear sight is adjustable for windage.

18. The back-up sight of claim 1, wherein said rear sight is adjustable for elevation.

19. The back-up sight of claim 18, wherein said rear sight is also adjustable windage.

20. The back-up sight of claim 1, wherein said handguard or support has an exterior surface and an interior surface with plurality of aligned apertures therethrough;

and wherein said back-up sight is configured to be releasably mounted on said handguard or support by fastening at least one retaining plate to said back-up sight and against the interior surface of the handguard or support.