Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an adapter including a first body and a second body. A lower surface profile of the first body and the second body cooperate to form a first geometric mounting profile. An upper surface profile of the first body and the second body cooperate to form a second geometric mounting profile. The first geometric mounting profile is different from the second geometric mounting profile. Each of the first body and the second body forms at least one first aligned bore that receives a first fastener that connects the first body to the second body and a spring that biases the first body and the second body away from one another. An assembly is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This U.S. patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application 61/527,311, filed on Aug. 25, 2011. The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of the disclosure of this application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to an adapter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Adapters are known in the art. Improvements to adapters are continuously being sought in order to advance the art. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of an exemplary adapter. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  is an assembled view of the adapter of  FIG. 1A  in an expanded orientation. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1C  is an assembled view of the adapter of  FIG. 1A  in a compressed orientation. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the adapter of  FIG. 1B . 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a front view of the adapter of  FIG. 1B . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2C  is a front view of the adapter of  FIG. 1C . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2D  is a side view of the adapter of  FIG. 2B  or  2 C. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of a portion of a firearm, a portion of a firearm implement and the adapter of  FIG. 2B . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of the firearm of  FIG. 3A  and a sub-assembly including the adapter joined to the firearm implement of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3C  is a front view of an assembly including the firearm of  FIGS. 3A-3B  joined to the sub-assembly of  FIG. 3B . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 3C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The figures illustrate an exemplary implementation of an adapter. Based on the foregoing, it is to be generally understood that the nomenclature used herein is simply for convenience and the terms used to describe the invention should be given the broadest meaning by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate an exemplary adapter shown generally at  10 . The adapter  10  includes a plurality of interconnected components  12 - 18 ; accordingly, the adapter  10  may be alternatively referred to as an “adapter assembly.” The interconnected components  12 - 18  that collectively form the adapter  10  may include, for example: a pair of bodies  12  including a major body  12   a  (or a first/“left,” body  12   a  per the view of  FIGS. 2B ,  2 C) and a minor body  12   b  (or a second/“right,” body  12   b  per the view of  FIGS. 2B ,  2 C), a pair of alignment pins  14  including a first alignment pin  14   a  and a second alignment pin  14   b,  a pair of set screws  16  including a first set screw  16   a  and a second set screw  16   b,  and a pair of biasing members  18  (e.g., a pair of springs) including a first biasing member  18   a  and a second biasing member  18   b.    
         [0018]    In an embodiment, each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  include a channel surface portion  20   a,    20   b  that collectively form a female mounting channel  20 . The channel surface portion  20   a,    20   b  of each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  include a downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   1 ,  20   b   1  and a side, inward-facing, second channel surface  20   a   2 ,  20   b   2 . 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   i ,  20   b   1  is non-perpendicularly connected to the side, inward-facing, second channel surface  20   a   2 ,  20   b   2 . In an embodiment, the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   1 ,  20   b   1  may be connected to the side, inward-facing, second channel surface  20   a   2 ,  20   b   2  to form an acute angle, θ 20a , θ 20b  (see  FIG. 2B ) equal to approximately about 60°. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, the channel surface portion  20   a,    20   b  of each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  collectively define at least a portion of a geometry of the female mounting channel  20 . In an embodiment, the geometry of the female mounting channel  20  may include a first type of geometry, such as, for example, a dovetail-shaped geometry in order to permit, for example, a corresponding dovetail shaped male portion, D (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 3A-3C ), to be inserted into the female mounting channel  20 . 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  collectively define a male mounting surface  22 . Each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  include a male mounting surface portion  22   a,    22   b.  The male mounting surface portion  22   a,    22   b  of each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  each include an upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   i ,  22   b   1 , a first outwardly-facing side surface,  22   a   2 ,  22   b   2 , and a second outwardly-facing side surface  22   a   3 ,  22   b   3 . 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   1 ,  22   b   1  is connected to the first outwardly-facing side surface,  22   a   2 ,  22   b   2 . In an embodiment, the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   i ,  22   b   1  may be connected to the first outwardly-facing side surface,  22   a   2 ,  22   b   2  at an obtuse angle, θ 22a-1 , θ 22b-1  (see  FIG. 2B ) equal to approximately about 135°. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, the first outwardly-facing side surface,  22   a   2 ,  22   b   2  is connected to the second outwardly-facing side surface  22   a   3 ,  22   b   3 . In an embodiment, the first outwardly-facing side surface,  22   a   2 ,  22   b   2  may be connected to the second outwardly-facing side surface  22   a   3 ,  22   b   3  at an acute angle, θ 22a-2 , θ 22b-2  (see  FIG. 2B ) equal to approximately about 90°. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the male mounting surface portion  22   a,    22   b  of each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  collectively define the male mounting surface  22  to have a second type of geometry that is different from the first type of geometry formed by the female channel  20 . In an embodiment, the second type of geometry of the male mounting surface  22  may include, for example, a “Picatinny-style” or a “Weaver Style” geometry (i.e., a “Picatinny-style” or a “Weaver Style” geometry, which is typically associated with, for example, tactical weaponry, is different when compared to, e.g., a dovetail-shaped geometry, which is typically associated with, for example, a non-tactical weaponry, such as, for example, an airgun). 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, the terms “major” and “minor” with respect to the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  arise from a comparative size/geometry; for example, as seen in  FIG. 2C , the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   1  of the major body  12   a  includes a width dimension, W 12a  (see  FIG. 2C ) that is greater than a width dimension, W 12b  (see  FIG. 2C ) of the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   b   1  of the minor body  12   b.  Because of the differences in the width dimensions, W 12a , W 12b ), the pair of bodies  12  comprising the adapter  10  may be said to have a non-symmetrical geometry (per a line of symmetry, S-S (see  FIG. 2C ), that evenly-divides the female mounting channel  20  formed by the pair of bodies  12 ). 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  each includes a downwardly-facing support surface portion  24   a,    24   b  that collectively define a support surface  24 . The downwardly-facing support surface portion  24   a  of the major body  12   a  connects the side, inward-facing, second channel surface  20   a   2  to the second outwardly-facing side surface  22   a   3 . The downwardly-facing support surface portion  24   b  of the minor body  12   b  connects the side, inward-facing, second channel surface  20   b   2  to the second outwardly-facing side surface  22   b   3 . The downwardly-facing support portion  24   a,    24   b  of each of the major body  12   b  and the minor body  12   b  may be arranged substantially in parallel with the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   i ,  20   b   1  and the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   i ,  22   b   1  of each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b.    
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  each includes an inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   a,    26   b.  The inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   a  of the major body  12   a  connects the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   1  to the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   1 . The inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   b  of the minor body  12   b  connects the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   b   1  to the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   b   1 . The downwardly-facing, non-mounting surface  26   a,    26   b  of each of the major body  12   b  and the minor body  12   b  may be arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   1 ,  20   b   1  and the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   1 ,  22   b   1  of each of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b.    
         [0028]    In an embodiment, the major body  12   a  includes a forward-facing, non-mounting surface  28   F  and a rearwardly-facing non-mounting surface  28   R . Each of the forward-facing, non-mounting surface  28   F  and the rearwardly-facing non-mounting surface  28   R  of the major body  12   a  connects the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   1  to the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   1 . Each of the forward-facing, non-mounting surface  28   F  and the rearwardly-facing non-mounting surface  28   R  of the major body  12   b  may be arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   1  and the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   1  of each of the major body  12   a.  The minor body  12   b  also includes forward- and rearwardly-facing, non-mounting surfaces and connect the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   b   1  to the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   b   1  in a substantially similar manner as described above with respect to the major body  12   a.    
         [0029]    In an embodiment, the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  each includes a first inward-facing passage  30   a   1 ,  30   b   1  and a second inward-facing passage  30   a   2 ,  30   b   2 . The major body  12   a  also includes a forward-facing passage  32   F  and a rearwardly-facing passage  32   R . 
         [0030]    When the major body  12   a  is joined to the minor body  12   b,  the first inward-facing passage  30   a   i  of the major body  12   a  is axially aligned (along the axis, A 30-1 -A 30-1 ) with the first inward-facing passage  30   b   1  of the minor body  12   b.  Similarly, when the major body  12   a  is joined to the minor body  12   b,  the second inward-facing passage  30   a   2  of the major body  12   a  is axially aligned (along the axis, A 30-2 -A 30-2 ) with the second inward-facing passage  30   b   2  of the minor body  12   b.  The axis A 30-1 -A 30-1  is arranged substantially in parallel with the axis A 30-2 -A 30-2.    
         [0031]    The first inward-facing passage  30   a   i  of the major body  12   a  is in communication with and arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the forward-facing passage  32   F . The second inward-facing passage  30   a   2  of the major body  12   a  is in communication with and arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the rearwardly-facing passage  32   R . 
         [0032]    The forward-facing passage  32   F  and the rearwardly-facing passage  32   R  are co-axially arranged upon an axis A 32 -A 32 . The axis A 32 -A 32  traverses each of the axis A 30-1 -A 30-1  and the axis A 30-2 -A 30-2  in a substantially perpendicular fashion. 
         [0033]    The first inward-facing passage  30   a   1  and the second inward-facing passage  30   a   2  of the major body  12   a  each extends from the inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   a  and into the major body  12   a  at a distance equal to approximately about the width dimension, W 12a , of the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   i . The first inward-facing passage  30   b   1  and the second inward-facing passage  30   b   2  of the minor body  12   b  each extends from the inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   b  and into the minor body  12   b  at a distance equal to approximately about the width dimension, W 12b , of the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   b   1 . 
         [0034]    The forward-facing passage  32   F  extends from the forward-facing, non-mounting surface  28   F  and into the major body  12   a  such that the forward-facing passage  32   F  terminates at and is in communication with the first inward-facing passage  30   a   1  of the major body  12   a.  The rearwardly-facing passage  32   R  extends from the rearwardly-facing, non-mounting surface  28   R  and into the major body  12   a  such that the rearwardly-facing passage  32   R  terminates at and is in communication with the second inward-facing passage  30   a   2  of the major body  12   a.    
         [0035]    In an embodiment, each of the first inward-facing passage  30   b   1  and the second inward-facing passage  30   b   2  of the minor body  12   b  may be formed, respectively, by a threaded surface  34   b1 ,  34   b2 . In an embodiment, each of the forward-facing passage  32   F  and the rearwardly-facing passage  32   R  of the major body  12   a  may be formed, respectively, by a threaded surface  36   F ,  36   R . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , an embodiment of a method for assembling the adapter  10  is described. A threaded end  14   a   i  of the first alignment pin  14   a  may threadingly-engage and be connected to the threaded surface  34   b1  of the first inward-facing passage  30   b   1  of the minor body  12   b.  A head end  14 a 2  of the first alignment pin  14   a  (i.e., the threaded end  14   a   1  may be considered a first end of the first alignment pin  14   a,  and, the head end  14   a   2  may be considered a second end of the first alignment pin  14   a ) may extend out of the first inward-facing passage  30   b   1  of the minor body  12   b  and beyond the inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   b  of the minor body  12   b.    
         [0037]    A threaded end  14   b   1  of the second alignment pin  14   b  may threadingly-engage and be connected to the threaded surface  34   b2  of the second inward-facing passage  30   b   2  of the minor body  12   b.  A head end  14   b   2  of the second alignment pin  14   b  (i.e., the threaded end  14   b   1  may be considered a first end of the second alignment pin  14   b,  and, the head end  14 b 2  may be considered a second end of the second alignment pin  14   b ) may extend out of the second inward-facing passage  30   b   2  of the minor body  12   b  and beyond the inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   b  of the minor body  12   b.    
         [0038]    A first end  18   a   i  of the first biasing member  18   a  is inserted into the first inward-facing passage  30   a   1  of the major body  12   a.  When in a non-compressed, unbiased orientation, a second end  18   a   2  of the first biasing member  18   a  may extend out of the first inward-facing passage  30   a   1  and beyond the inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   a  of the major body  12   a.    
         [0039]    A first end  18   b   1  of the second biasing member  18   b  is inserted into the second inward-facing passage  30   a   2  of the major body  12   a.  When in a non-compressed, unbiased orientation, a second end  18   b   2  of the second biasing member  18   b  may extend out of the second inward-facing passage  30   a   2  and beyond the inward-facing, non-mounting surface  26   a  of the major body  12   a.    
         [0040]    The axis A 30-1 -A 30-1  and the axis A 30-2 -A 30-2  may be aligned, and, subsequently, the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  may be arranged closer to one another in order to cause: (1) the first alignment pin  14   a  to contact the second end  18   a   2  of the first biasing member  18   a,  and (2) the second alignment pin  14   b  to contact the second end  18   b   2  of the second biasing member  18   b.  Upon the first and second alignment pins  14   a,    14   b  contacting the first and second biasing members  18   a,    18   b  as described above, further movement of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  closer to one another results in: (1) the head end  14   a   2  of the first alignment pin  14   a  being inserted into the first inward-facing passage  30   a   1  of the major body  12   a  and causing a compressive force to be applied to the second end  18   a   2  of the first biasing member  18   a,  thereby compressing and biasing the first biasing member  18   a  within the first inward-facing passage  30   a   1  of the major body  12   a,  and (2) the head end  14   b   2  of the second alignment pin  14   b  being inserted into the second inward-facing passage  30   a   b  of the major body  12   a  and causing a compressive force to be applied to the second end  18   b   2  of the second biasing member  18   b,  thereby compressing and biasing the second biasing member  18   b  within the second inward-facing passage  30   a   b  of the major body  12   a.    
         [0041]    Then, the first set screw  16   a  is inserted into the forward-facing passage  32   F  of the major body  12   a.  The first set screw  16   a  includes a threaded outer surface  38   a  that threadingly-engages the threaded surface  36   F  of the forward-facing passage  32   F  of the major body  12   a.  A distal end  40   a  of the first set screw  16   a  engages a side outer body surface  42   a  of the first alignment pin  14   a.    
         [0042]    Then, the second set screw  16   b  is inserted into the rearwardly-facing passage  32   R  of the major body  12   a.  The second set screw  16   b  includes a threaded outer surface  38   b  that threadingly-engages the threaded surface  36   R  of the rearwardly-facing passage  32   R  of the major body  12   a.  A distal end  40   b  of the second set screw  16   b  engages an outer body surface  42   b  of the second alignment pin  14   b.    
         [0043]    After connecting the first and second set screws  16   a,    16   b  to the major body  12   a,  a biasing force that resulted in the further movement of the major body  12   a  and the minor body  12   b  closer to one another (which causes the above-described “further compressive force” applied to the second end  18   a   2  of the first biasing member  18   a  and the second end  18   b   2  of the second biasing member  18   b  thereby compressing and biasing the first biasing member  18   a  within the first inward-facing passage  30   a   i  and compressing and biasing the second biasing member  18   b  within the second inward-facing passage  30   a   b  of the major body  12   a ) may be released. The release of the biasing force permits the first and second biasing members  18   a,    18   b  to expand such that a ledge surface  44   a,    44   b  of the head end  14   a   2 ,  14   b   2  of each of the first and second alignment pins  14   a,    14   b  to engage a side outer body surface  46   a,    46   b  near the distal end  40   a,    40   b  of each of the first and second set screws  16   a,    16   b,  which results in the assembly, being arranged in a connected, but expanded orientation as seen  FIGS. 1B ,  2 B. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 1B and 2B , a user may manually apply a biasing force, P (by, e.g., pinching the adapter  10 ), in order to change a spatial orientation of the adapter  10  from an expanded orientation (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1B ,  2 B) to a compressed orientation (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1C ,  2 C). The expanded orientation of the adapter  10  results in the adapter  10  having a greater width, W 1B  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1B ), when compared to that of a width, W 1C  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2B ), of the adapter  10  when arranged in the compressed orientation. Upon releasing the biasing (e.g., pinching) force, P, the pair of biasing members  18  may expand and return the adapter  10  from the compressed orientation (of  FIGS. 1C ,  2 C) back to the expanded orientation (of  FIGS. 1B ,  2 B. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A-4 , the adapter  10  may be disposed within a female mounting channel, C (see  FIG. 3A ), of an implement, I. The female mounting channel, C, of the implement may include a “Picatinny-style” or a “Weaver Style” geometry that corresponds to, for example, the second type of geometry of the male mounting surface  22  of the adapter  10 . Because the adapter  10  includes an adjustable width ranging between the expanded width, W 1B , and the compressed width, W 1C , upon releasing the biasing force, P, expansion of the pair of biasing members  18 , may result in the adapter  10  wedging itself within the female mounting channel, C, and “self-lock” to the implement, I, as seen in, for example,  FIG. 3B . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3A , when use of the adapter  10  is desired, a user may apply the biasing force, P, to the adapter  10  in order to reduce the width from the expanded width, W 1B  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3A ) to approximately about the compressed width, W 1C  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3B ). Then, as seen in  FIG. 3B , after at least partially disposing the adapter  10  within the female mount channel, C, the user may release the biasing force, P, thereby permitting the adapter  10  expand from the expanded width, W 1B , to a width that is greater than but equal to approximately about the compressed width, W 1C , in order to wedge itself within the female mounting channel, C, and “self-lock” to the implement, I. As seen in  FIG. 3B , the adapter  10  and the implement, I, may be referred to as a sub-assembly  100  upon connecting the adapter  10  to the implement, I. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 3C-4 , the sub-assembly  100  is connected to a male portion, D, of a firearm, F, for forming an assembly  200  by inserting the male portion, D, of the firearm, F, into the female mounting channel  20  of the adapter  10 . The male portion, D, may be a mounting rail of the firearm, F. The mounting rail, D, of the firearm, F, may include a dovetail-shaped geometry that corresponds to, for example, the first type of geometry of the female mounting channel  20  of the adapter  10 . 
         [0048]    In view of an embodiment of the invention shown at  FIGS. 3A-4 , the adapter  10  may be characterized as a “dovetail-to-Picatinny” adapter that permits, for example, a user to mount an implement, I, having a female mounting channel, C, that does not correspond to the geometry of a male portion, D, extending from the firearm, F. Although the adapter  10  includes a “dovetail-to-Picatinny” geometry, the adapter  10  is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may include, for example, different geometries. Further, in an embodiment, the adapter  10  is not limited to a “dovetail-to-Picatinny” geometry and may be modified, as desired to include, for example, a reversal of the geometry in order to provide a “Picatinny-to-dovetail” geometry. 
         [0049]    Further, the adapter  10  may be characterized as having a “low profile.” Because the adapter  10  is an intervening element (located between and connecting the firearm, F, to the implement, I), the adapter  10  may vertically elevate or increase the spacing between the firearm, F, and the implement, I. If, for example, the implement, I, is an aiming scope, an increased vertical spacing or elevation of the scope, I, away from the firearm, F, may upset a shooter&#39;s natural aiming tendency, thereby inhibiting a user from placing, for example, his/her cheekbone adjacent to/proximate the barrel portion (see  FIG. 4 ) of the firearm, F. 
         [0050]    Accordingly, in view of what is stated above, the adapter  10  is designed to include a “low profile.” The “low profile” may arise from a minimized vertical dimension that may be defined by or referenced from one or more dimensions of the adapter  10 ; in an embodiment, the one or more dimensions may be one or more vertical dimensions of the adapter  10 . Exemplary vertical dimensions that may be utilized to describe/define the “low profile” nature of the adapter  10  are shown, for example, at reference numerals SP, DIA, h 1 , h 2 , in  FIGS. 2C and 3C . 
         [0051]    In an embodiment, the adapter  10  may include a minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP. The minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, is located and extends between the downwardly-facing, first channel surface  20   a   1 ,  20   b   1  and the upwardly-facing mounting surface  22   a   1 ,  22   b   1 . In an embodiment, the minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, may be equal to approximately about 4 mm. The minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, may be a vertical dimension that may be utilized (alone) to define the “low profile” nature of the adapter  10 . 
         [0052]    Although the minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, is utilized to describe the “low profile” adapter  10 , one or more other geometric dimensions may alternatively be used in order to describe a “low profile” arrangement of the adapter  10 . For example, referring to  FIG. 2C , the female mounting channel  20  may be described to include a vertical height, h 1 , and an overall vertical height, h 2 , of the adapter  10 . The overall vertical height, h 2 , of the adapter  10  may be less than or equal to approximately about three times the value of the vertical height, h 1 , of the female mounting channel  20 ; accordingly, it may be said that the “low profile” nature of the adapter  10  may be described by referencing a “vertical dimension ratio” of the overall vertical height, h 2 , of the adapter  10  to the vertical height, h 1 , of the female mounting channel  20 . 
         [0053]    In an embodiment, the vertical height, h 1 , of the female mounting channel  20  may be equal to approximately about 2 mm, and, the overall vertical height, h 2 , of the adapter  10  may be equal to approximately about 6 mm (i.e., the “vertical dimension ratio” may be equal to approximately about a 3-to-1 [3:1] ratio). Additionally, as seen in  FIG. 2C , the minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, may be equal to or less than approximately about two times the value of the height, h 1  (i.e., a “vertical dimension ratio” may alternatively be described to include a 2-to-1 [2:1] ratio when comparing the dimensions of the minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, and the vertical height, h 1 , of the female mounting channel  20 ). 
         [0054]    Although the “low profile” arrangement of the adapater  10  is described above by the geometric dimensions related to one or more of: (1) the minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, (2) the height, h 1 , of the female mounting channel  20 , and/or (3) the overall height, h 2 , of the adapter  10 , the “low profile” arrangement of the adapater  10  may be described by other geometric dimensions. For example, the minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, may include a dimension that may be equal to but slightly greater than approximately about a dimension (see, e.g., a diameter, DIA, in  FIG. 2C ) of one of the passages  30   a   i ,  30   b   1 ,  30   a   2 ,  30   b   2 ,  32   F ,  32   R . In an embodiment, one or more of the passages  30   a   1 ,  30   b   1 ,  30   a   2 ,  30   b   2 ,  32   F ,  32   R  may be formed to include a dimension, DIA, that is equal to approximately about , for example, 3.000 mm; accordingly, in an embodiment, the minimized or reduced vertical spacing, SP, may be formed to include a dimension that is equal to approximately about a dimension ranging between approximately about, for example, 3.001 mm and 4.000 mm. 
         [0055]    Thus, by designing the adapter  10  to include a “low profile,” the adapter  10  may not otherwise upset a shooter&#39;s natural aiming tendency and still permit a user to place, for example, his/her cheekbone adjacent to / proximate the barrel portion (see  FIG. 4 ) of the firearm, F. Additionally, the above-described dimensions (i.e., 2 mm, 3.000 mm, 3.001 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm) are exemplary dimensions and should not be utilized to limit the scope of the claimed invention; that is, the adapter  10  may be designed to include any dimension not mentioned in the written described, and, further, the adapter  10  is not limited to any specific dimension or line ratio arising from the illustrated embodiments shown in the Figures. 
         [0056]    A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.