Patent Publication Number: US-2005132631-A1

Title: Tactical rifle scope

Description:
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/509,668, filed Oct. 4, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a tactical rifle scope which is intended for use with an AR style rifle that is provided with a conventional red dot scope. The tactical rifle scope includes an optical section which is aligned with the red dot scope and furthermore includes an angled eye piece section along with the required optics so that the user may view the target through the tactical rifle scope from a position beside the rifle so that the user may aim from cover.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      There are certain prior art teachings which are directed to the concept of a sighting device for a rifle or firearm in order to enable the user to shoot from a covered position.  
      As an example of the prior art, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,969 which is entitled “Optical Sight Apparatus for Firing from Cover Position” and which issued on Nov. 11, 2003. The aiming apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,969 may be field switched from an “aim from cover” mode to a conventional aim mode and is connectable to a weapons sight in a 360 degree rotatable manner.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,354 is entitled “Mirror Sight for Small Firearms” and relates to a mirror sight for small firearms such as pistols and rifles which includes two mirrors placed within a casing which may be mounted on the firearm behind the sights thereof in such a way that it does not interfere with direct aiming. The casing is provided with a turnable cover plate having one of the mirrors secured to the inside thereof. By turning the cover plate to a predetermined open position, the target is reflected through the mirrors into a backward and downward direction, thus allowing the user to aim and fire the firearm from full cover.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,589 entitled “Offset Sight” which issued on Oct. 16, 1990 discloses an offset sighting device having a frame with a clamping section for clamping the device to the upper handle portion of a rifle. The offset sighting device includes an adjustably mounted sight bar with adjustments both laterally for offset and vertically for range to calibrate the device when installed on a rifle for accurate targeting of a target at a given range thereby permitting the rifle to be aimed and fired from the offset position when the soldier is wearing protective gear.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,316 is entitled “Offset Attachment for Use with a Firearm Scope” and discloses an accessory which offsets the light exiting the sighting scope from one location to another. The accessory is used so a sighting scope located on a firearm held on one side of a shooter&#39;s body can be viewed from the shooter&#39;s eye located on the other side of the shooter&#39;s body. The accessory includes two parallel offset scopes interconnected by a scope disposed perpendicular to the offset scope.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,424 is entitled “Telescope for Weapons and Other Applications” and is also an “aim from cover” telescope including electronically controlled laser aiming devices.  
      It is an object of the subject invention to provide a simple, yet sturdy, tactical rifle scope that may be used in conjunction with a red dot scope in such a manner as to protect the human life in a combat condition. The tactical rifle scope of the subject invention is basically a turning periscope which keeps the shooter safely behind a corner of a building, car or any other object. The tactical rifle scope of the subject invention may be rotated so as to provide cover to the shooter from either side of the rifle.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the subject invention to provide a tactical rifle scope for use in conjunction with a red dot scope as mounted as an accessory on a rifle so as to protect the shooter from the line of fire.  
      The tactical rifle scope of the subject invention comprises a scope for the rifle which has a second angled eye piece and the required optics to view the target through the scope from a position beside the rifle. In addition, the tactical rifle scope may be employed in conjunction with a red dot scope and is mounted so as to be in alignment with the red dot scope.  
      The above and other objects are achieved by the subject invention wherein the tactical rifle scope is a one piece structure including a periscope body which is mounted to the rifle in a manner to be aligned with the axis of a red dot scope and wherein the tactical rifle scope further includes an angled periscope section, with the optics within the tactical rifle scope being sufficient to enable the user to be disposed at a “aim from cover” position. The optical mirror within the main periscope section is a high quality, one-way mirror in order to provide a clear view behind the one-way mirror and at the same time a clear reflected image to a second mirror disposed in the angled periscope portion. The optimum angle for the one-way mirror is on the order of 75 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the main periscope portion, while the optimum angle for the secondary mirror disposed within the angled periscope portion is approximately  
      47 degrees. The tactical rifle scope is provided with a waterproof lens through which the user observes the target, and the main periscope portion of the tactical rifle scope is mounted so as to be in abutment and alignment with the red dot scope attached to the rifle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the tactical rifle scope as mounted to a rifle and contiguous with a red dot scope;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative mounting means for the tactical rifle scope to the rifle and contiguous with the red dot scope;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view, in cross-section, of the tactical rifle scope of the subject invention, with the reflected light rays being indicated by dotted lines; and  
       FIG. 4  is an alternative embodiment of the subject invention wherein a red dot scope and the tactical rifle scope are formed as a unitary structure.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional red dot scope  10  along with a tactical rifle scope  12  of the subject invention are mounted to a top rail of a rifle  14 .  
      The tactical rifle scope  12  is of unitary construction and includes a main periscope body portion  16  and an angled periscope portion  18 . The main periscope body portion  16  is aligned with the axis of the red dot scope  10 , and the tactical rifle scope  12  abuts the rear portion of the red dot scope  10 . The angled periscope portion  18  of the tactical rifle scope  12  affords the rifleman the capacity to be positioned in a “aim from cover” position when sighting the rifle through use of the red dot scope  10 .  
      The tactical rifle scope  12  is of unitary construction and includes suitable optics to enable the user to “aim from cover”. Preferably, the body of the tactical rifle scope  12  is made of a polymer material or alternatively a metal such as aluminum or brass.  
      Turning to  FIG. 2 , the red dot scope  10  and the tactical rifle scope  12  are mounted to a rifle mounting rail  20  by holding rings  22  and mounting brackets  24 . The holding rings  22  with the mounting brackets  24  maintain the tactical rifle scope  12  immediately behind the red dot scope  10 . Furthermore, the use of the holding rings  22  and the mounting brackets  24  enable the tactical rifle scope  12  to be rotated to either side of the rifle, depending on the particular requirements of the rifleman.  
      Turning to  FIG. 3 , as illustrated in the cross-section of the tactical rifle scope  12 , light rays  30  entering the tactical rifle scope  12  from the red dot scope  10  are reflected off a high quality, one-way mirror designated by the numeral  32 . It is important for the mirror  32  to be one-way in order to enable the rifleman to use the tactical rifle scope in a conventional way by sighting through the main periscope body portion  16  directly.  
      The high quality one-way mirror  32  is disposed at an angle, designated by the numeral  34 , which is approximately 75 degrees.  
      The light rays  30  reflected off the one-way mirror  32  are directed toward a secondary mirror  36  which is disposed at an angle, designated by the numeral  38 , of approximately 47 degrees.  
      A waterproof lens  40  is provided at the outlet of the angled periscope portion  18 , as well as at the distal end of the main periscope body portion  16  adjacent the one-way mirror  32 .  
      Rigid holding brackets  42  are provided for maintaining both mirrors in a rigid position within the tactical rifle scope.  
      The tactical rifle scope  12  may be turned on the left or right side of the rifle, with the spot of the red dot scope  10  always maintaining a centered position aligned with the central axis of the main periscope body portion  16 .  
      An alternate embodiment of the subject invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4  wherein the body of the red dot scope  10  and the tactical rifle scope  12  are integral and are mounted to the rifle mounting rail  20  by holding rings and mounting brackets  24 .  
      As is readily apparent, numerous modifications and changes may readily occur to those skilled in the art and, hence, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and embodiment shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.