Precision tactical mount |
|||||||
申请号 | US11888410 | 申请日 | 2007-07-31 | 公开(公告)号 | US07730824B1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2010-06-08 |
申请人 | Robert O. Black; | 发明人 | Robert O. Black; | ||||
摘要 | A precision tactical mount (12) includes a horizontal controller (30) and a vertical controller (34) for determining azimuth angles and elevation angles for a sight line of the precision tactical mount (12). The horizontal controller (30) and the vertical controller (34) have friction blocks (102, 114, 196) which engage mating friction surfaces with selectable forces for providing specific resistance against azimuth and elevation angular movement, without requiring separate mechanisms for locking the tactical mount (12) in selected positions. The friction blocks (102, 114 and 196) are preferably formed of softer materials than the mating friction surfaces to conform to the shape of the mating friction surfaces with increased normal forces, providing varying surface areas. The vertical controller (34) includes a course threaded screw member (142) mounted at an angle to a centerline (6) of the precision tactical mount (12) to provide fine control adjustment for elevation. | ||||||
权利要求 | What is claimed is: |
||||||
说明书全文 | The present invention relates in general to tactical mounts, and in particular, to a tactical mount for selectively aiming an object at a target. Prior art tactical mounts have been provided for aiming various objects at targets. Objects being aimed have included firearms, such as hunting rifles and tactical weapons, cameras, and the like. Prior art tactical mounts for controlling the aim of an object at targets have included fine and course threaded adjustments for aiming the objects relative to two different axes, such for determining an azimuth angle and elevation for a sight line of the object. Some prior art tactical mounts have included two sets of fine and course threaded adjustment mechanisms, each set corresponding to different perpendicular axes for azimuth and elevation. Typically, fine adjustment mechanisms are provided by micro-screw threaded assemblies having very fine screw threads. Course adjustment mechanisms have been provided by threaded assemblies having course screw threads. A target is acquired such that the object is aimed at a target by selectively manipulating the fine and course adjustment mechanisms for each axis about which the object is rotated. Release and then securing of coarse adjustment mechanisms typically results in a bumping movement, in which the direction in which the object is aimed jumps to a direction which is not directly pointing toward the target, requiring re-acquisition of the target after course adjustments are made. Following a moving target is often difficult due to the constant need to switch between fine and gross adjustment mechanisms, and thread run-out may be encountered which limit the range of motion for which a tactical mount may be moved without requiring return of threaded mechanisms to a mid-range position. If adjustment is required in for both azimuth and elevation to follow a moving target, this often requires that a user not continuously focus his line of sight on a target, but instead must periodically view the adjustment mechanisms to assure that the adjustment mechanisms are being correctly operated. A novel precision tactical mount is disclosed having a vertical controller for determining elevation direction and a horizontal controller for determining azimuth direction. The vertical controller and the horizontal controller have friction means for selectively determining specific resistance to angular movement of a rigid support member about respective axes. The horizontal controller provides adjustment of specific resistance to moving about a vertical axis for aiming the tactical mount in selected horizontal directions. A vertical controller provides adjustments for both specific resistance to moving about a horizontal axis and a threaded fine control adjustment mechanism for determining the elevation at which the object is aimed. The specific resistance adjustments for both the horizontal controller and the vertical controllers allow users to continuously track a moving target with a smooth and continuous motion, at the same time as fine tuning adjustments may be made to specifically determine actual resistance against angular movement of the precision tactical mount without interfering with smooth angular motion of the tactical mount and without requiring a user to remove his line of sight from an acquired target. The specific resistance adjustments include friction blocks having arcuately shaped surfaces which conform to the shapes of mating friction surfaces, and which are preferably formed a softer materials than that of which mating friction surfaces are formed such that the arcuately shaped surfaces will engage the mating friction surfaces with varying surface areas as adjustments are made to the pressures at which the surfaces engage. The roughness of the arcuately shaped surfaces and mating friction surfaces are preferably very smooth, and formed of dissimilar materials. The threaded fine control adjustment mechanism is selectively accessible and operable by a user without the user removing his focus from a line of sight with the target. Preferably, the threaded fine control adjustment mechanism is provided by use of a course threaded screw assembly mounted at an angle to the plane in which the elevation of a target line toward the target is defined. A user may continuously maintain a line of sight on both stationary and moving targets, while tracking the target to various positions. For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which The mounting assembly 16 includes a selectively adjustable friction lock 26 which provides a rotary lock 28 and a horizontal controller 30 for determining an angular direction in which the mounting member 20 extends. The selectively adjustable friction lock, or rotary lock, 26 provides a specifically adjustable friction for determining the torque required or force required to rotate the support member 22 about the spindle 24 for determining an azimuth angle. A pivot pin 32 pivotally secures the rigid mounting member 20 to the upper end of the support member 22 and allows the rigid mounting member 20 to pivot in a single vertical plane relative to the support member 22 for determining an angular elevation of the mounting member 20. The mounting assembly 16 further includes a vertical controller 34 for controlling the elevation of one end of the rigid mounting member 20 relative to the opposite end. The vertical controller 34 has a longitudinal axis 110 about which it extends which is preferably disposed at a ten degree angle to the centerline 6. The vertical controller 34 includes a selectively adjustable friction lock 36, which provides a linearly extending lock having a specifically adjustable resistance. The vertical controller 34 also includes a micro elevation adjustment 38. The micro elevation adjustment 38 is provided by a screw adjustment which extends at an angle to the centerline 6 of the rigid mounting member 20, preferably at the ten degree angle along the longitudinal axis 110. A ten degree angle allows a course, 16 pitch thread to be used for a threaded rod 142 (shown in The mounting base 18 includes a base plate 52 and support legs 54. The support legs 54 are pivotally mounted to the base plate 52 by pivot pins 56. An angled portion 58 of the base plate 52 is provided within which the support legs 54 are secured by the pivot pins 56. Locks 60 are provided by inserted rods 62 and handles 64 for determining the angle at which the support legs 54 extend relative to the base plate 52. Leg extensions 66 are slidably extendable from within the support legs 54. Extension locks 68 are provided for securing the leg extensions 66 in fixed relative positions relative to the support legs 54. The extension locks 68 are provided by threaded rods 70 and handles 72. Feet 74 are provided at the outward ends of the leg extensions 66. The micro elevation adjustment 38 includes a threaded rod 142 having a first end to which a yoke 144 is attached by a fastener 146 which extends into a threaded end 148 of the threaded rod 142. The yoke 144 secures the threaded rod 142 to the support member 22 by means of the pivot pin 42 (shown in The precision tactical mount is preferably made of varying materials such that mating parts which frictionally engage for formed of dissimilar materials, to prevent sticking and bumping in movement. Preferably, the spindle 24 is formed of steel, and the support member 22 and the grip block 196 are formed of aluminum. Similarly, the sleeve 76 is formed of aluminum, and the inner friction block 102, the outer friction block 114 and the guide block 176 are formed of plastic, such as Teflon™. The rod 92 and the threaded rod 142 are formed of steel. The precision tactical mount of the present invention which may be smoothly moved by a person in both horizontal and vertical angular directions, while simultaneously maintaining a line of sight toward a target and making adjustments to specific resistance for both horizontal and vertical controllers to determine specific resistance at which movement in either of the horizontal and vertical angular directions is opposed. A person may use his shoulder to move against the specific resistance for changing both azimuth and elevation angles, and the specific resistance will maintain the position into which the sight line of precision the tactical mount is moved. A threaded fine control adjustment mechanism also provides adjustment in the vertical angular direction, for determining elevation of the object being aimed at the target. Preferably, a course threaded screw assembly is mounted at an angle to the plane in which the elevation of a target line toward the target is defined to provide a low cost threaded fine control adjustment mechanism. Both fine and gross adjustments in the horizontal angular direction and the vertical angular direction in which the object is aimed may be determined by a user pushing against an end of the tactical mount of the present invention without requiring a separate lock mechanism to prevent further movement of the tactical mount, since a specific resistance may be selected to maintain the angular position of the tactical mount after being moved to a desired position by a user. The threaded find control adjustment may then be used for desired fine adjustments for elevation. Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. |