Patent Publication Number: US-10330437-B2

Title: Rotational sighting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The technical field relates to a sighting apparatus, in particular, to a rotational sighting apparatus using a press method to rotate an aiming member to a vertical position. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Survival entertainment games are becoming more popular nowadays, and such games emphasize on the sports rules, teamwork and physical training etc. in order to allow the game players to benefit from physical exercises of the games and to develop personal relationship with the teammates while encouraging advantageous sprits and challenging minds. Therefore, such games show increasing trend in recent years in terms of both the number of players and the industrial manufacturers. Toy guns are often used in survival entertainment games by players for precise aiming at targets for shooting, and the sighting mechanism thereof is also a crucial part of the design of such toy guns. 
     In general, a toy gun is typically designed to simulate a real gun, and the sighting system used by either an actual gun or a toy gun mainly comprises a front sight and a rear sight, which are arranged in a straight line on the gun barrel. When the user uses the rear sight close to his eyes to align with the front sight and to further align with a target in a straight line among these three points, the aiming action is then complete. Since the current sighting mechanisms, such as front and rear sights, of toy or actual guns are typically not equipped with the automatic or semi-automatic rotational function such that their uses or operations are inconvenient. In addition, the molds for manufacturing the front and rear sight bases vary among different guns without standardized designs; therefore, the cost of sighting mechanisms typically made of plastic or similar materials cannot be effectively reduced. 
     In view of the above, the inventor seeks to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and after years of researches along with the utilization of scientific principles, the inventor provides a novel design of the present invention in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a rotational sighting apparatus with facilitated operation and capable of using a press method to automatically rotate an aiming member to a vertical position. 
     To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a rotational sighting apparatus, comprising a base, an aiming member and a pressing pivotal axle. The base comprises a main body, a side cover assembled onto the main body, a through hole formed on the side cover and a pivotal attachment space formed between the main body and the side cover; wherein the side cover further includes a locking portion adjacent to the through hole. The aiming member includes a rotating portion received inside the pivotal attachment space and a pivotal attachment hole formed to penetrate through the rotating portion. The pressing pivotal axle penetrates through the pivotal attachment hole to connect with the rotating portion via the through hole. The pressing pivotal axle includes a locking key moveably locked onto the locking portion and an elastic element configured to drive the pressing pivotal axle to rotate; wherein when the locking key disengages from the locking portion, the elastic element drives the pressing pivotal axle to allow the aiming element to rotate from a first position to a second position. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the rotating portion further includes a slot for retaining the locking slot, and the locking slot is configured to rotatably drive the slot and to allow the aiming element to rotate together therewith. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the locking key is arranged at an outer circumferential surface of the pressing pivotal axle, and the side cover further includes a protruding ring arranged to face toward the pivotal attachment space; the locking portion is installed on the protruding ring. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein a length of the locking key is smaller than a length of the pressing pivotal axle; the locking key is a protruding rib, and the locking portion is a cut-out slot. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the pressing pivotal axle includes a receiving slot for receiving the elastic element therein; one end of the elastic element is secured inside the receiving slot and another end thereof protrudes out of the receiving slot to be locked onto the base. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the elastic element is a compression helical spring, and one end of the compression helical spring is locked onto a locking slot of the pressing pivotal axle. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first position refers to a horizontal state parallel to the base, and the second position refers to a vertical state perpendicular to the base. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the aiming member is a rear sight; the rear sight is located on top of the rotating portion and further comprises a wind deviation adjustment structure and a peep-hole switch structure. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the wind deviation adjustment structure comprises a rotating axle pivotally attached onto the peep-hole switch structure and an adjustment nut configured to rotate the rotating axle for positioning thereof. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the aiming member further comprises a positioning pin and a compression spring abutted against the positioning pin; the adjustment nut including a plurality of positioning holes formed thereon and arranged opposite to the positioning pin in order to allow the adjustment nut to drive the rotating axle to rotate and to be positioned at any one of the positioning holes. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the peep-hole switch structure comprises a first peep-hole member and a second peep-hole member rotatably assembled onto the first peep-hole member; the first peep-hole member and the second peep-hole member includes a first peep hole and a second peep hole formed thereon respectively. 
     Preferably, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the aiming member is a front sight, and the front sight further includes a front sight column arranged on top of a center of the rotating portion. 
     The present invention is also of the following technical effects. The aiming member of the present invention provides commonly applicable front and rear sights such that only one set of molds is used; therefore, the cost can be effectively reduced. In addition, players can also change the use of the first peep hole of the first peep-hole member or the second peep hole of the second peep-hole member depending upon the selection needs. When the second peep hole of the second peep-hole member is selected for use, the second peep hole of the second peep-hole member can be conveniently and rotatably inserted into the first peep hole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention under the first position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention under the second position; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is another cross sectional view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention under the first position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rotational sighting apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention under the second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following provides a detailed technical content of the present invention along with the accompanied drawings. However, the accompanied drawings are provided for reference and illustrative purpose only such that they shall not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6  the present invention provides a rotational sighting apparatus  100 , comprising a base  110 , an aiming member  130  and a pressing pivotal axle  150 . According to first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the rotational sighting apparatus  100  is preferably applicable to various types of toy guns, and the base  110 , the aiming member  130  and the pressing pivotal attachment axle  150  are preferably made of plastic, plastic steel or other similar materials in order to reduce the weight and the manufacturing cost. However, in other different embodiments, the rotational sighting apparatus  100  can also be applied to a real gun, rather than a toy gun, and its material includes plastic, iron or metal alloys. 
     As shown in the drawings, the base  110  comprises a main body  112 , a side cover  120  assembled onto the main body  112 , a through hole  122  formed on a side cover  120  and a pivotal attachment space  118  formed between the main body  112  and the side cover  120 . In the exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the main body  112 , preferably uses a pivotal axle  114  and an attachment element  116 , such as the fixation elements of bolt and nut etc., installed at the upper edge of the gun barrel (not shown in the drawings). The side cover  120  further includes a positioning block  128  arranged at one side opposite from the main body  112  in order to be positioned and assembled onto the main body  112 , followed by using an attachment element  129 , such as a bolt, for fastening the side cover  120  onto one side of the main body  112 . 
     The side cover  120  further includes a locking portion  126  formed adjacent to the through hole  122 . The aiming member  130  includes a rotating portion  132  received inside the pivotal attachment space  118  and a pivotal attachment hole  134  penetrating through the rotating portion  132 . The pressing pivotal axle  150  penetrates through the pivotal attachment hole  134  via the through hole  122  in order to connect with the rotating portion  132 . The pressing pivotal axle  150  includes a locking key  152  moveably locked with the locking portion  126  and an elastic element  154  capable of driving the pressing pivotal attachment  150  to rotate. The pivotal attachment hole  134  of the rotating portion  132  further includes a slot  136  formed therein and provided for retaining the locking key  152  in order to allow the locking key  152  to rotatably drive the slot  136  and to allow the aiming member  130  to rotate together therewith. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 2 , the two symmetrically arranged locking keys  152  are preferably formed on the outer circumferential surface of the pressing pivotal axle  150 . The side cover  120  further includes a protruding ring  124  arranged to face toward the pivotal attachment space  118 , and the two locking portions  126  corresponding to the two locking keys  152  are arranged on the protruding ring  124 . The lengths of the two locking keys  152  are smaller than the length of the pressing pivotal axle  150 , and the two locking keys  152  are preferably protruding ribs, and the two locking portions  126  are preferably cut-out slots. When the two locking keys  152  of the pressing pivotal axle  150  are retained inside the two locking portions  126  of the side cover  120  (the pressing pivotal axle  150  is protruded out of the side cover  120 ), the two locking keys  152  are engaged with the two locking portions  126  in exact. When the two locking keys  152  disengage from the two locking portions  126  (the pressing pivotal axle  150  is moved into the side cover  120 ), the two locking keys  152  are separated from the two locking portions  126 . 
     The pressing pivotal axle  150  includes a receiving slot  156  provided for receiving the elastic element  154  therein. One end of the elastic element  154  is secured inside the receiving slot  156 , and another end thereof protrudes out of the receiving slot  156  and is locked onto the base  112 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the elastic unit  154  is preferably a compression helical spring. One end of the compression helical spring is positioned and locked onto a locking slot  158  of the pressing attachment axle  150  such that when the pressing pivotal axle  150  is rotated, the elastic element  154  is able to store an elastic reaction force for rotations. 
     In an actual operation, when the locking key  152  of the pressing pivotal axle  150  is pressed to move and disengage from the locking portion  126  of the side cove  120 , the elastic element  154  is able to drive the pressing pivotal axle  150  in order to allow the aiming member  130  to rotate from a first position F to a second position S, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . In other words, the user only needs to press the pressing pivotal axle  150  toward the direction of the main body  112  by a small moving distance and to allow it to be locked in position with the inner ring (not shown in the drawings) of the main body  112 . Since the locking key  152  of the pressing pivotal axle  150  is no longer restricted by the locking portion  126 , the elastic element  154  is able to release its elastic reaction force stored in order to allow the first position F of a horizontal state being originally parallel to the base  10  to be rotated to the second position S of a vertical state perpendicular to the base  110 . 
     When there is no need to use the sight or when it is not use, the user can manually rotate the aiming member  130  from the second position S to the first position F. At this time, the pressing pivotal axle  150  is able to disengage from the inner ring (not shown in the drawings), and the elastic element  154  arranged inside the pressing pivotal axle  150  can also spring back to allow the pressing pivotal axle  150  to return to the position, as shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3 , in order to achieve the objective of storing the aiming member  130 . Therefore, the rotational sighting apparatus  100  according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention is of facilitated and quick operations, and the aiming member  130  can also be rotated to a vertical position automatically in order to achieve the effect of quick aiming and shooting operation. 
     In the first embodiment, the aiming member  130  is preferably a rear sight. As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 , the rear sight is located on top of the rotating portion  132 , and it further comprises a wind deviation adjustment structure  160  and a peep-hole switch structure  170 . 
     The wind deviation adjustment structure  160  comprises a rotating axle  162  pivotally attached onto the peep-hole switch structure  170  and an adjustment nut  164  capable of rotating the rotating axle  160  for positioning. As shown in the drawings, the rotating axle  162  is preferably a bolt. The aiming member  130  further comprises a positioning pin  140  for positioning the adjustment nut  164  and a compression spring  142  abutted against the positioning pin  140 . The inner circumferential surface of the adjustment nut  164  includes a plurality of positioning holes  166  formed thereon and opposite from the positioning pin  140  in order to allow the adjustment nut  164  to drive the rotating axle  162  to rotate and to be positioned at any one of the positioning hole  166 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , one side of the adjustment nut  164  is further installed with a headless screw  168  for fastening in the rotating axle  162  in order to ensure that the adjustment nut  164  is able to operably rotate the rotating axle  162  and to allow the peep-hole switch structure  170  to move horizontally to the left or right on the aiming member  130 . To allow the adjustment nut  164  to be stable to provide excellent operation feeling, one end surface of the positioning pin  140  is preferably formed of an arc surface  144 , and each of the positioning holes  166  is also formed of arc surface  144  correspondingly (not shown in the drawings). Therefore, when the adjustment nut  164  is rotated relative to the positioning pin  140 , each positioning hole  166  is able to pass by the elastic contact of the positioning pin  140  in order to generate tiny positioning click sound. 
     Furthermore, please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . The peep-hole switch structure  170  comprises a first peep-hole member  172  and a second peep-hole member  176  rotatably assembled onto the first peep-hole member  172 . The first peep-hole member  172  and the second peep-hole member  176  include a first peep hole and a second peep hole  178  formed thereon respectively. In addition, the first peep hole  174  and the second peep hole  178  are preferably of conical holes, and a length of the first peep hole  174  is smaller than a length of the second peep hole  178 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the first peep-hole member  172  and the second peep-hole member  174  are formed of through holes  179  thereon and provided for the rotating axle  162  to be pivotally attached thereto in order to allow the first peep-hole member  172  and the second peep-hole member  176  to move left or right along with the rotation of the rotating axle  162 . In particular, the bottom end of the first peep-hole member  172  further includes a guiding slot  175  formed thereon, and the guiding slot  175  is arranged to cross over a track  138  on the aiming member  130 . Therefore, when the user has the need to rotate the adjustment nut  160 , the first peep-hole  172  and the second peep-hole  176  are able to move left or right along with the rotation of the rotating axle  162 . 
     It shall be noted that the second peep-hole member  176  further uses the rotating axle  162  as the center to rotate relative to the first peep-hole member  172 . The user can choose and switch the use of the first peep hole  172  of the first peep-hole member  174  or the second peep hole  178  of the second peep-hole member  176  depending upon the needs. When the second peep hole  178  of the second peep-hole member  176  is selected for use, the second peep hole  178  of the second peep-hole member  176  can be rotatably inserted into the second peep hole  174 . In general, the length of the first peep hole  174  is relatively shorter such that it is suitable for the aiming of a target at a short distance or a moving target; and the length of the second peep hole  178  is relatively longer such that it is suitable for the aiming of a target at a long distance or a motionless target. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , showing two perspective views of different states of a rotational sighting apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between this second exemplary embodiment and the previously mentioned first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is that the aiming member  130  is preferably a front sight. The front sight further includes a front sight column  180  arranged on top of a center of the rotating portion  132  in order to provide the aiming function to the user. The rest of the elements, structure and operation method of this second exemplary embodiment are identical to those of the previously mentioned first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; therefore, the details thereof are omitted hereafter. 
     Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the aiming member  130  can be used for the rear sight or the front sight depending upon the needs at the same time such that it only requires the use of one set of mold for manufacturing; therefore, the cost of the rotational sighting apparatus of the present invention can be effectively reduced. 
     The above describes the preferable and feasible exemplary embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes only, which shall not be treated as limitations of the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the claims of the present invention shall be considered to be within the scope of the claim of the present invention.