IN-BORE LASER SIGHTING DEVICE

Abstract: An in-bore sighting device (10) includes a laser module (12) and energising means therefor which are co-axially receivable in a hollow cartridge casing (14) and which are retained in position within the cartridge (14) by means of a retaining member (16). The laser module (12) includes a laser diode (13) and focusing lens (15) which are housed co-axially within a generally cylindrical housing (18). The housing (18) is mounted co-axially within a sleeve (19) which further defines a battery receiving portion (20) for receiving the energising means in a form of batteries (21) co-axially therein through an opening (22) at an end remote the laser diode (12).

Description: IN-BORE LASER SIGHTING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an in-bore laser sighting device for a firearm. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The Applicant is aware of certain prior out relating to in-bore laser sighting devices including South African patent no. 96/10095 issued to Guillaume Precision Engineering CC and United States patent no. 5,787,631 issued to Acu-Sight Inc. A problem associated with the prior art is the need for a separate laser for different calibres of cartridge. The present invention provides a cost-effective alternative whereby a single laser is capable of being used interchangeably on a variety of cartridge calibres. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided an in-bore laser sighting device for a firearm which includes:- a laser module comprising a laser diode and focusing lens which are housed coaxially within a generally cylindrically shaped housing; an energising means for energising the laser diode; a hollow cartridge casing having an opening at a distal end through which a focused beam of light may be projected in use and an opening at a proximal end; and a retaining means which is configured to close off the opening at the proximal end of the cartridge casing and to retain the energising means and laser module within the cartridge casing; wherein the laser module is mounted co-axially in a sleeve which is configured to be selectively connectable to the retaining means via a first connector means, the sleeve and retaining means in the connected condition defining an energising means receiving zone for receiving the energising means, a second connector means being provided to permit releasable interconnection between the cartridge casing at the proximal end and the retaining means thereby to facilitate insertion and removal of the laser module from any conventional cartridge casing having a bore defined therein for receiving the sleeve complementally and co-axially therein. The laser diode and focusing lens may be aligned along a central longitudinal axis of the housing. The energising means receiving zone is preferably of right circular cylindrical form. The energising means is preferably a battery or plurality of batteries alternatively a piezo-crystal. The laser module may be mounted press fittedly in the sleeve. Typically, the first connector means is in the form of complementary screw thread formations defined at an opening of the sleeve and on a first boss of the retaining means. A bore may be defined in a base of the retaining means for receiving a complementary electric terminal therein thereby to permit electrical communication between the energising means and an electrically conductive part of a firearm in use. A further electrical terminal may extend from the laser module into the energising means receiving zone to permit electrical communication between the laser diode and the energising means. An insulating member may be arranged between a base and/or side walls of the retaining member and the electrical terminal mounted therein. The energising means or battery may be arranged in an insulating sleeve. Alternatively, an insulating sleeve may be arranged or mounted co-axially the energising means receiving portion defined by the housing and receiving means to insulate the energising means therefrom. The second connector means is preferably in the form of complementary screw thread formations arranged or defined on a second boss of the retaining means and internally the opening at the proximal end of the cartridge casing. The cartridge casing may be of any conventional size, dimension configuration, any such casing however having a bore defined therein for receiving the sleeve snugly and complementally therein, the outer diameter of the retaining means being sized, dimensioned and/or configured to correspond to the outer diameter of the cartridge casing. The cartridge casings may be of any conventional size, dimension or calibre, a plurality of which being provided to imitate the cartridges of conventional bullets available, the cartridge casings being configured to receive a universal laser module thereby obviating the need for a laser module to be provided for each different calibre of cartridge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectioned schematic of an in-bore sighting device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded three-dimensional schematic view of the device shown in Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional schematic of a part of the device taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an in- bore sighting device which includes a laser module 12 and energising means therefor which are co-axially receivable in a hollow cartridge' casing 14 and which are retained in position within the cartridge 14, by means of a retaining member 16. The laser module 12 includes a laser diode 13 and focusing lens 15 which are housed co-axially within a generally cylindrical housing 18. The housing 18 is mounted co-axially within a sleeve 19 which further defines a battery receiving portion 20 for receiving the energising means in a form of batteries 21 co-axially therein through an opening 22 at an end remote the laser diode 12. The retaining member 16 has a first boss 26 which is screw-threadedly receivable by a complementary screw-threaded portion 28 internally the opening 26. An electrical terminal 32 extends through a bore 34 defined in a base 36 of the retaining member 16 to permit electrical communication between the batteries 21 and an electrical conductive part of a firearm (not shown). A further electrical terminal 38 extends from the laser module into the battery receiving portion 20 to permit electrical communication between the laser diode and the batteries 21. The base 36 and side walls 39 of the retaining member 16 are insulated from the electrical terminal 38 by means of an insulating member 40. A further insulation sleeve 42 is provided co-axially the battery receiving portion 20 to insulate the batteries 21 from the inner surface of side walls 39 and 41 of the retaining member 16 and sleeve 19. A second screw-threaded boss 43 is provided on the retaining member 16 to permit complementary connection with complementary screw threads 44 arranged internally an opening 46 at a proximal end of the cartridge 14 to permit interconnection between the retaining means 16 and the cartridge 14. A recess 48 is further defined in the side wall 39 of the retaining member 16 to facilitate discharging of the device 10 from the chamber of a firearm in use. A opening 50 at a distal end of the cartridge 14 is defined to permit a focused beam of light from the laser diode 13 to be project therethrough and further through a bore of a barrel of the firearm in use when the sighting device 10 is energised when chambered in the firearm. In operation, the sighting device 10 is loaded into a chamber of the firearm, the bolt of the firearm thereafter being closed to bring it into engagement with the terminal 32. The cartridge 14, which acts as a positive terminal in the chambered condition, is earthed by the barrel of the firearm thereby closing the electric circuit to energise the laser diode 13. A beam of light is then emitted from the diode which passes through the lens 15, the opening 50 and out through the open end of a barrel of the firearm towards a predetermined target. The user is then able to adjust or set the crosses of a telescopic sight so as to coincide with an illuminated point on the target thereby setting the sight of the firearm. It is to be appreciated that a user will be able to have a plurality of cartridge casings 14 and retaining member 16 which conform to the conventional sizes, dimensions and calibres of a casing of a bullet, the size of a cylindrical receiving zone within the cartridge casing 14 being configured to receive co-axially an interchangeable and/or universal sleeve 19 housing the laser module 12 which is connectable to the retaining member 16 thereby to avoid the need for a plurality of laser modules 12 and/or laser diodes being used for different cartridge casing sizes or calibres since the sleeve 19 and laser module 12 are retractable any sized casing. The Applicant believes that it is an advantage of the invention to provide a cost-effective alternative to current in-bore sighting devices provided in the market since the most expensive part of such devices i.e. the laser, can be used interchangeably (i.e. inserted or removed) with a set of cartridge casings 14 having internal receiving portions therein for receiving the laser module 12 and sleeve 19 co- axially therein. The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to the accompanying diagrams. For example, the calibre of the cartridge casing may be varied according to conventional calibres presently available.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. An in-bore laser sighting device for a firearm which includes:- a laser module comprising a laser diode and focusing lens which are housed coaxially within a generally cylindrically shaped housing; an energising means for energising the laser diode; a hollow cartridge casing having an opening at a distal end through which a focused beam of light may be projected in use and an opening at a proximal end and; a retaining means which is configured to close off an opening at the proximal end of the cartridge casing and to retain the energising means and laser module within the cartridge casing; wherein the laser module is mounted co-axially in a sleeve which is configured to be selectively connectable to the retaining means via a first connector means, the sleeve and retaining means in the connected condition defining an energising means receiving zone for receiving the energising means, a second connector means being provided to permit releasable interconnection between the cartridge casing at the proximal end and the retaining means thereby to facilitate insertion and removal of the laser module from any conventional cartridge casing having a bore defined therein for receiving the sleeve complementally and co-axially therein. 2. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the laser diode and focusing lens are aligned along a central longitudinal axis of the housing. 3. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the energising means receiving zone is preferably of right circular cylindrical form. 4. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the energising means is a battery or plurality of batteries or a piezo-crystal. 5. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the laser module is mounted press-fitted ly or glued via a conductive adhesive in position in the sleeve. 6. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first connector means is in the form of complementary screw thread formations defined at an opening of the sleeve and on a first boss of the retaining means. 7. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a bore is defined in a base of the retaining means for receiving an electric terminal therein thereby to permit electrical communication between the energising means and an electrically conductive part of a firearm in use. 8. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a further electrical terminal may extend from the laser module into the energising means receiving zone to permit electrical communication between the laser diode and the energising means. 9. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in claim 8 wherein an insulating member is arranged between the base of the retaining member and the electrical terminal mounted therein. 10. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the energising means is arranged in an insulating sleeve. 11. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an insulating sleeve is mounted co-axially the energising means receiving zone defined by the housing and receiving means to insulate the energising means therefrom. . 12. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second connector means is in the form of complementary screw thread formations arranged on a second boss of the retaining means and internally the opening at the proximal end of the cartridge casing. 13. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of claims 11 or 12 wherein the cartridge casing is of any conventional size, dimension and/or configuration, any such casing however having a bore defined therein for receiving the sleeve snugly and complementally therein, the outer diameter of the retaining means being sized, dimensioned and/or configured to correspond to the outer diameter of the cartridge casing. 14. An in-bore laser sighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of cartridge casings and retaining means of any conventional size, dimension or calibre, are provided to imitate the cartridges of conventional bullets available, the cartridge casings being configured to receive retractably a universal laser module thereby obviating the need for a laser module to be provided for each different calibre of cartridge. 15. An in-bore sighting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: GUILLAUME DANKERT CORNELIS, GUILLAUME, DANKERT, CORNELIS
Applicants: GUILLAUME DANKERT CORNELIS, GUILLAUME, DANKERT, CORNELIS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F41A33
IPC codes: F41A33