Abstract:
An illuminating device includes a clamp tube including an open front end and an opposed open rear end and defining an inner cavity extending from the front end to the rear end. A light assembly is receivably connected to the clamp tube at the rear end. The clamp tube is configured to receivably connect to an eyepiece of a scope of a firearm at the front end. The light assembly projects illumination through the inner cavity and through the scope.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/935,559, filed Feb. 4, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to firearms and, more particularly, to an illumination device operatively connected to a telescopic sight of a firearm. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Over the years, modern advances in hunting equipment have enhanced the sport, providing hunters with increased success. Among these products, optical scopes or telescopic sights used on high-powered rifles and pistols offers long-range targeting capabilities with pinpoint accuracy. 
     However, such devices, despite their high technology appearance, are still sighted in using a trial and error process not unlike that used for iron sights made over a century ago. Additionally, an accurate setup requires a controlled scenario that is properly illuminated. Additionally, the field of hunting equipment and accessories is highly competitive and highly profitable, meaning that manufacturers are on the constant lookout for the next “big thing” that adds a competitive edge to their product lineup. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which optical scopes used on firearms can be utilized in a more accurate and easy to use manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device configured to be utilized with a telescopic sight of a firearm to project an illuminated image of a crosshair of the scope onto a target. The development of the present invention, which will be described in greater detail herein, substantially departs from conventional solutions to fulfill this need. 
     In one (1) embodiment, the disclosed illuminating device includes a clamp tube including an open front end and an opposed open rear end and defining an inner cavity extending from the front end to the rear end. A light assembly is receivably connected to the clamp tube at the rear end. The clamp tube is configured to receivably connect to an eyepiece of a scope of a firearm at the front end. The light assembly projects illumination through the inner cavity and through the scope. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed illuminating device includes a clamp tube including an open front end and an opposed open rear end and defining an inner cavity extending from the front end to the rear end. A light assembly is receivably connected to the clamp tube at the rear end. A scope for a firearm is receivably connected to the clamp tube at the front end. The light assembly projects illumination through the inner cavity and through the scope to form an illuminated image on a target. 
     In yet another embodiment, the disclosed illuminating device includes a cylindrical clamp tube including a cylindrical open front end, an opposed cylindrical open rear end, a cylindrical inner cavity defined from the front end to the rear end, a plurality of front compression fingers extending outwardly from the open front end, the plurality of front compression fingers being parallel to one another and equally spaced apart, a plurality of rear compression fingers extending outwardly from the open rear end, the plurality of rear compression fingers being parallel to one another and equally spaced apart, a first threaded region disposed on an exterior of the clamp tube at the plurality of front compression fingers, and a third threaded region disposed on an exterior of the plurality of rear compression fingers, the plurality of rear compression fingers and the open front end being configured to receive an eyepiece of a scope of a firearm. The device includes a light assembly connected to the clamp tube. The light assembly includes a body including a front end received through the rear end of the clamp tube and an opposed rear end, a conical reflector disposed at the front end of the body, a lamp positioned within the conical reflector, a power source disposed within the body, and a switching cap connected to the rear end of the body to provide electrical communication between the lamp and the power source. The device includes a front collar removably connected to the front end of the clamp tube to secure the scope to the clamp tube within the open front end of the clamp tube. The front collar includes a second threaded region disposed on an interior surface to threadingly engage the first threaded region of the clamp tube and inwardly clamp the plurality of front compression fingers around the eyepiece of the scope, and a textured exterior surface. The device includes a resilient first gasket disposed between the front collar and the plurality of front compression fingers. The device includes a rear collar removably connected to the rear end of the clamp tube to secure the body of the light assembly to the clamp tube within the open rear end of the clamp tube. The rear collar includes a fourth threaded region disposed on an interior surface to threadingly engage the third threaded region of the clamp tube and inwardly clamp the plurality of rear compression fingers around the body of the light assembly, and a textured exterior surface. The device includes a resilient second gasket disposed between the rear collar and the plurality of rear compression fingers. The light assembly projects illumination through the inner cavity and through the scope to form an illuminated image on a target. The illuminated image includes a representation of a crosshair of the scope. The body of the light assembly is linearly movable within the clamp tube. Movement of the body within the clamp tube positions the lamp relative to the eyepiece of the scope to focus the illumination projected through the inner cavity and the scope. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of the disclosed illumination device for a rifle scope depicting attachment to a firearm, according to one (1) embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the illumination device of  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the illumination device taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  illumination device for a rifle scope 
               20  clamp tube 
               21  inner cavity 
               22   a  first threaded region 
               22   b  second threaded region 
               24  front compression finger 
               25  inner diameter 
               26  reflector 
               28  rear aperture 
               40  front collar 
               42  front aperture 
               44  textured surface 
               46  first gasket 
               60  light assembly 
               61  body 
               64  lamp 
               66  battery holder 
               68  battery 
               70  wiring 
               72   a  third threaded region 
               72   b  fourth threaded region 
               74  rear collar 
               75  rear compression finger 
               76  second gasket 
               80  switching cap 
               82  switch 
               84  button actuator 
               88  illumination 
               90  illuminated image 
               92  crosshair 
               100  firearm 
               110  scope 
               115  eyepiece 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a one (1) or more of the disclosed embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. 
     Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that other styles and configurations can be incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and that the example configurations shown and described herein are for the purpose of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation. 
     As used herein, the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1), as well as a plurality of, the referenced items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. are used as labels to describe various elements, features, and/or components, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the referenced items, unless other indicated. For example, such terms may be used to distinguish one element from another element. 
     As used herein, relative terms such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “upper”, “lower”, “horizontal”, or “vertical” are used to describe a relationship of one (1) element, feature and/or region to another element, feature and/or region as illustrated in the figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , disclosing an illumination device (herein referred to as the “device”)  10  for a telescopic sight (also referred to herein as a scope) of a firearm, where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the device  10  is configured to be mounted upon (e.g., mountable to) a firearm  100 . The device  10  provides an enhanced illuminated hunting experience especially during low-light conditions (e.g., at dawn, dusk, or night). Generally, the device  10  utilizes illumination  88  from a light assembly  60 , which works in combination with the sighting features of a scope  110  in a parallel fashion to project an illuminated image  90  through the scope  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the device  10  includes a clamp tube  20 , a front collar  40 , a light assembly  60 , a rear collar  74 , and a switching cap  80 . The device  10  is mounted to an eyepiece  115  of the scope  110 . At least an end portion of the eyepiece  115  of the scope  110  is inserted through a front aperture  42  of the front collar  40  and into the clamp tube  20  and secured by a first gasket  46  acted upon by a plurality of internal compression fingers  24  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) of the clamp tube  20 . For example, the device  10  is secured directly to the eyepiece  115  of the scope  110  by a clamping (e.g., compression) force created by threading the front collar  40  onto the clamp tube  20 . 
     The addition of the device  10  to the scope  110  allows a hunter to identify a crosshair  92  or similar aiming feature of the scope  110 , which is illuminated and projected upon a target located at a distance of up to approximately one-hundred yards (100 yds.) away. 
     The clamp tube  20  and front collar  40  provide diametric adjustability to enable insertion and securement upon the eyepiece  115  of a variety of different types, styles, and sizes of scopes  110  such as those mounted to and used with firearms  100 , for example, rifles, pistols, and the like. 
     In another embodiment, the device  10  is mounted to the firearm  100 . For example, the device  10  is aligned with a front sight post (not shown) of the firearm  100 . In such a configuration, the projected illumination  88  can be used to bore-site the firearm  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the light assembly  60  includes a cylindrical body  61  containing a lamp  64  positioned within a conical (e.g., concave) reflector  26 . The light assembly  60  is slidingly inserted into a rear aperture  28  of the rear collar  74 . Linearly moving (e.g., sliding) the light assembly  60  into and out from the rear collar  74  focuses the illumination  88  (e.g., light) ( FIG. 3 ) generated by the device  10  (e.g., the lamp  64 ) to produce a desired illuminated image  90  ( FIG. 1 ). For example, the illuminated image  90  can form an illuminated circle projected upon the target containing the crosshair  92  ( FIG. 1 ), another reticle feature of the scope  110 , or the front sight post of the firearm  100 . 
     In an example construction, exterior portions (e.g., housings) of the clamp tube  20 , the front collar  40 , the light assembly  60 , and the rear collar  74  are be made of plastic or metal materials. In another example construction, the exterior portions are coated in black, camouflage, or other colors suitable for hunting. 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the cylindrical clamp tube  20  includes a plurality of integral front compression fingers  24  disposed at a front end, an intermediate first threaded region  22   a  disposed at or near the front compression fingers  24 , a plurality of integral rear compression fingers  75  disposed at a rear end, and a third threaded region  72   a  disposed at the rear compression fingers  75 . The clamp tube  20  defines a hollow inner cavity  21 . 
     In one (1) embodiment, the front compression fingers  24  are arranged in a circular manner around an opening of the inner cavity  21  at the front end. The plurality of front compression fingers  24  are parallel to one another. In one (1) example construction, the front compression fingers  24  are made of a flexible and semi-rigid (e.g., resilient) material, such as plastic. 
     The first threaded region  22   a  is inserted into the front collar  40  and threadingly engages a corresponding second threaded region  22   b  disposed on an interior of the front collar  40 . As the first  22   a  and second  22   b  threaded regions are engaged, the front collar  40  acts upon the front compression fingers  24  and the circular rubber first gasket  46 , thereby reducing an inner diameter  25  ( FIG. 3 ) of the front compression fingers  24  and first gasket  46  tightly around the eyepiece  115  of the scope  110 . 
     When the device  10  is mounted to the scope  110 , the eyepiece  115  of the scope  110  extends outwardly from (e.g., in a forward direction) the front collar  40 . The front collar  40  includes an external textured surface  44  ( FIG. 2 ) which provides improved gripping to a user, for example, when threadingly engaging the front collar  40  to the clamp tube  20 . 
     In one (1) example construction, the inner diameter  25  ( FIG. 3 ) of the front compression fingers  24  and first gasket  46  are suitably sized fit upon (e.g., receive) a large number of different standard-sized scopes  110 . However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the device  10  can include various inner diameters  25  of the front compression fingers  24  and first gasket  46  to fit non-standard eyepieces  115 , and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the device  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the rear compression fingers  75  and third threaded region  72   a  of the clamp tube  20  provide for attachment of the light assembly  60  to the clamp tube  20  in a similar manner as the described herein above for the attachment of the scope  110  to the clamp tube  20  (e.g., via engagement of the front compression fingers  24 ). For example, the rear compression fingers  75  together with a circular rubber second gasket  76  are compressed upon the cylindrical light assembly  60  by the rear collar  74  to secure the light assembly  60  at a desired position. 
     In one (1) example construction, the light assembly  60  is inserted into the rear aperture  28  of the rear collar  74  to allow illumination  88  to pass through the inner cavity  21  and through the scope  110  to produce the illuminated image  90  ( FIG. 1 ). The rear collar  74  includes an external textured surface  44  ( FIG. 2 ) to aid in gripping the rear collar  74 , for example, while tightening the rear collar  74  onto the clamp tube  20 . Threaded engagement of a fourth threaded region  72   b  on an interior of the rear collar  74  with the third threaded region  72   a  of the rear compression fingers  75  act to compress the rear compression fingers  75  and the contained second gasket  76  onto the light assembly  60 . 
     In one (1) embodiment, the light assembly  60  includes the cylindrical body  61 , the lamp  64 , the conical reflector  26 , a battery holder  66 , and a threadingly attached switching cap  80 . The lamp  64  produces the illumination  88  and the reflector  26  directs (e.g., reflects) the illumination  88  produced by the lamp  64 . For example, when the light assembly  60  is moved longitudinally relative to the clamp tube  20  and the rear collar  74 , it produces a desired size and intensity of the illuminated image  90 . In one (1) embodiment, the lamp  64  includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LED). In another embodiment, the lamp  64  includes an incandescent bulb or other lamp-illumination technology. A user can vary an appearance of the illumination  88  to create a desired illuminated image  90  by manually sliding the body  61  into and out of the rear aperture  28  of the rear collar  74 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one (1) embodiment, the lamp  64  is in electrical communication with a removable battery holder  66  within the body  61  via wiring  70 , which is in turn in electrical communication with a switch  82  within the threadingly attached switching cap  80 . The battery holder  66  secures and positions at least one (1) miniature rechargeable or disposable battery  68 , such as “AA” size, “AAA” size, or equivalent. In one (1) embodiment, the switching cap  80  includes an internal switch  82  having an external rubber button actuator  84 . For example, the switch  82  includes an alternating push-on/push-off type mechanism being conveniently activated by pressing the button actuator  84  located along a rear surface of the switching cap  80 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that other styles and configurations of the disclosed device  10  can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only particular configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The disclosed embodiments of the device  10  can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     One (1) embodiment of the disclosed method for installing and utilizing the device  10  includes the following steps: 1). procuring a model of the device  10  having a desired external coating and an inner diameter  25  suitable to fit an intended scope  110 ; 2). installing at least one (1) fresh battery  68  into the battery holder  66 ; 3). installing the battery holder  66  into the body  61  of the light assembly  60 ; 4). installing the switching cap  80  in a threading manner onto the body  61 ; 5). inserting the eyepiece  115  of the scope  110  through the front aperture portion  42  and into the first gasket  46 ; 6). engaging the first  22   a  and second  22   b  threaded regions of the respective clamp tube  20  and front collar  40 ; 7). rotating the front collar  40  until the front compression fingers  24  act upon the first gasket  46  to clamp the eyepiece  115  tightly; 8). inserting the body  61  of the light assembly  60  into the rear aperture  28  and through the second gasket  76 , if not previously installed; 9). positioning the light assembly  60  longitudinally until obtaining a desired position; 10). securing the light assembly  60  in position by engaging the third  72   a  and fourth  74   b  threaded regions of the rear compression fingers  75  and rear collar  74 ; 11). rotating the rear collar  74  until the second gasket  76  is clamped tightly around the body  61  of the light assembly  60 ; 12). pressing upon the button actuator  84  of the switching cap  80  to activate the light assembly  60 ; 13). projecting an illuminated image  90  through the scope  110  upon a target; and 14). participating in hunting or similar activity. 
     In another embodiment, the device  10  includes a non-sliding fixed light assembly  60  without the adjustable sliding function. 
     Accordingly, a user of the disclosed device  10  may benefit from projection of the illuminated image  90  containing the crosshair  92  or other aiming feature on the target. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.