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United States Patent Application	20090019758
Kind Code	A1
BAUGHER; LAWRENCE MICHAEL	January 22, 2009

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Claims

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1. An article providing a corrective lens for a rifle comprising:a. a base configured to be mounted on a rifle;b. a lens holder affixed to said base;c. at least one fixed changeable lens;d. a lens securing bracket constructed and arranged such that said bracket may be removed in order to change said lens while said article remains attached to said rifle.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said lens is positioned to lie in the same horizontal plane as the sights of a rifle.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said base is mounted on the upper portion of a rifle receiver.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said base is mounted circumferally around a rifle receiver.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the lens is made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass or plastic.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein said mounting of said base is on a rifle scope attached to a rifle.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein said mounting of said base is on a rifle scope is a rotatable mounting.

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Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The related art of interest describes various adaptive lens devices, but none discloses the present invention. There is a need for an inexpensive device for viewing the sight on the end of a rifle to avoid the necessity of using eyeglasses with corrective lenses while sighting a rifle. Alternatively, the present invention allows a user, who normally uses bifocals or other corrective lenses, to insert a lens that is compatible with their progressive part of the eyeglass prescription. The related art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.

[0002]U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,477, issued on May 5, 1964 to Robert S. Thomas, describes a protective rifle sight covering comprising a plastic or rubber sleeve that retains a transparent lens or disc made from any suitable material, such as plastic or glass, on a telescopic rifle sight. The device is designed to overcome the problem of cleaning the optical lenses of a telescopic sight which are recessed within the telescope tube, and can become foggy or obstructed in inclement weather. The device attaches the transparent lens to the scope by a press fitted or friction fitted sleeve, an internally threaded ring, an externally threaded ring, or an inner end portion sealed within the end of the sight by an O-ring.

[0003]U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,984, issued on Oct. 10, 1978 to Cyril Zajac, describes an eyepiece for use in conjunction with a viewfinder of a camera comprising a plastic and rubber tube with a prescription lens held within the tube by an O-ring that has an adapted clip that snap fits to the viewfinder. The device permits users to view the object being photographed through a lens that fits their prescription without using eyeglasses.

[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,067, issued on Mar. 29, 1994 to Hihn R. Kutz et al., describes an auxiliary lens attachment comprising a sectional tube that can have a prescription or colored lens installed within the tube. The attachment is designed to slide onto the viewing end of a rifle scope. The lens is secured between two portions of a separable sleeve that threadably engage one another and require a distance adjusting member in-between. The device is distinguishable for its multiple sleeves and an adjusting member.

[0005]U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,676, issued on Mar. 5, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,563 to M. Gaines Chestnut et al., describe a cross-polarization method and device for a hinged lens cap assembly on both ends of a firearm scope. The device is distinguishable for requiring a hinged lens.

[0006]U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,795, issued on Nov. 12, 1996 to Daniel J. Kregloh, describes a magnification device lens assembly comprising a lens-less assembly having three different diameters increasing in size from the eye to the eyepiece lens of a rifle scope. The device is made from rigid plastic material for slidably mounting or can be threaded on the eyepiece. The device is distinguishable for not requiring any additional lens.

[0007]U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,289, issued on Nov. 10, 1998 to James M. Berry, describes an auxiliary lens attachment to correct astigmatism for various optical devices comprising a threaded lens attachment containing a prescription lens inserted between the eyepiece and the objective lens. The device is distinguishable for requiring the insertion between two optical members.

[0008]U.S. Pat. No. 1,508,043, issued on Sep. 9, 1924 to Frank L. Barrows, describes an optical attachment for various optical instruments comprising a lens mount housing the auxiliary prescription lens between a felt ring. The lens mount is mounted on a sleeve with spring clips. The device is distinguishable for its lens mounted in a rigid mounting with different structural features.

[0009]U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,611, issued on Aug. 21, 1973 to Ejvind Ebbesen, describes a bifocal magnifying glass device to be held in front of one eye comprising one or more turnable lens systems with different fields of vision for repairing watches. A rigid collar contains a fixed magnifying glass and a turnable semicircular lens in the rear. The device is distinguishable for its use independent of another optical device and the inclusion of a rotatable lens.

[0010]U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,667 issued on Jun. 26, 1990, to Wolf-Dieter Rohr et al. describes a binocular microscope attachment for correction of ametropia comprising a pair of rigid holders slipped over and frictionally by the microscope's binocular eyepiece tubes. Each holder has a retainer for receiving eyeglass lenses appropriate for correcting the user's ametropia problem. The device is distinguishable for rigid holders for the corrective lens.

[0011]U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,670, issued on Nov. 26, 1994 to Vernon W. Klimochko, describes a hunting scope with an enhanced magnification lens accessory comprising a lens structure for mounting on a forward end of a hunting scope for magnification. The lens is supported by a telescoping tube which has a clamp ring attached to the opposite end. The device is distinguishable for its telescopic tube structure and clamp ring.

[0012]None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a corrective lens for a rifle which is economical and useful for eliminating the use of especially bifocal or reading eyeglasses is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013]The present invention is directed to a readily removable optic lens for a rifle which enables a user, e.g., a hunter, if a wearer of eyeglasses, to dispense with the eyeglasses and still use the rifle sight.

[0014]Many persons desire to use a rifle without employing a telescopic scope. They prefer to use the sight that is typically mounted on the upper portion of the barrel near the exit point of a rifle barrel. When a person wears corrective eyeglasses, the position of the person's head sometimes alters the line of vision between the person's eye, the corrective lens, and the rifle sight. This is because a person may not always position their head in optimal location for seeing through an eyeglass lens and accurately viewing a rifle sight.

[0015]The present invention addresses this difficulty by fixing a lens on the proximal (i.e., end closer to the user) end of a rifle receiver. A rifle receiver is the pat of the rifle closest to the user. The mounting is such that the lens in a fixed position provides a user with the ability to use the rifle sight and still maintain a proper focus.

[0016]In one embodiment the present invention comprises an article providing a corrective lens for a rifle comprising: [0017]a. a base configured to be mounted on a rifle; [0018]b. a lens holder affixed to said base; [0019]c. at least one fixed lens; [0020]d. a lens securing bracket.

[0021]The lens securing bracket is configured such that the bracket may be removed in order to change said lens.

[0022]In a preferred embodiment, the lens securing brackets is held into place by a securing device that may be removed without the use of conventional hand tools. This may be a thumb screw, a clip, and the like.

[0023]In a preferred embodiment, the lens is positioned to lie in the same horizontal plane as the sight on the end of the rifle barrel. This horizontal plane is parallel with the top portion of a rifle barrel.

[0024]The base is configured to be mounted on a rifle receiver. This mounting may occur through a mounting on the upper surface of a rifle receiver. Alternatively, the mounting may be achieved circumferally around a rifle scope.

[0025]The lens of the present invention may be of any material suitable for creating prescription lenses, which may include glass, composition, and the like.

[0026]Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for use with a rifle which would obviate the wearing of eyeglasses when using a rifle.

[0027]It is another object of the invention to provide a device which would readily attach to a rifle.

[0028]It is a further object of the invention to provide a device having at least one lens that is easily interchangeable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the disassembled components of the article.

[0030]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the disassembled components of the article, showing a top mount configuration.

[0031]FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a disassembled lens and bracket of the article of the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a rifle showing the present invention mounted near the user end of the rifle.

[0033]FIG. 5 is two views, one in greater close-up looking through the article towards the site at the end of a rifle.

[0034]FIG. 6 is the article rotatably connected to a conventional rifle scope.

[0035]FIG. 7 is a rear view showing the article in a rotated position below a conventional rifle scope.

[0036]FIG. 8 is a depiction of a user looking through the lens in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037]Article 10 has lens mounting bracket 11. Mounting bracket 11 has an interior lateral surface 12 and an exterior lateral surface 13, along with an upper horizontal surface 14 that has receiving inlet 16 for receiving of a mounting screw 15. The article has lens 17 contained within lens retention assembly 18. Assembly 18 has first mounting bracket 19, and second mounting bracket 20. Mounting bracket 19 and mounting bracket 20 form the boundaries of lens receiving cavity 21 and lens retention assembly 18 is above lens retention assembly mounting 22.

[0038]In the embodiment of FIG. 1, lens retention assembly 18 is placed above a gun scope 23 and secured through the connection of locking assembly 24, whereby lower mounting screws 27 pass through locking assembly receiving inlet 25 and subsequently through retention assembly receiving inlets 26. Lens retention assembly 18 further has on mounting bracket 20 an upper horizontal surface 28 that has a receiving inlet 29. In an alternative mounting arrangement as depicted in FIG. 2, lens retention assembly 18 has an elongated mounting bracket 30, with a central orifice 31 that may receive at least one mounting screw 34 into either or both of receiving orifi 32 and 33. The mounting is on the upper portion of a rifle receiver 40. A conventional rifle has proximal gun sight 41 that a user aligns with distal gun sight 42 on the receiver of a rifle 40. The article of the present invention allows a user to look through lens 17 in assembly 18 and focus on gun sights 41 and 42 as shown in Detail B of FIG. 5.

[0039]The article of the present invention comprises a base and a lens holder. The lens holder 18 has sufficient configuration to receive at least one lens 17. The lens is held into place by a lens mounting bracket 11. Lens holder assembly 18 has a proximal lens assembly portion 19 and distal lens assembly portion 20 with an internal ridge 21 for receiving at least one lens 17. The base and the lens are not configured to be moveable once secured into position. A lens 17 is placed between the proximal portion 19 and distal portion 20 of the lens holder and a lens mounting bracket 11 is placed around the periphery of the lens holding assembly 18. Preferably the lens mounting bracket 11 is secured into position by any appropriate fastener. This may include a screw 15, but may also be a clip, and the like.

[0040]In one embodiment, the article 10 may be rotatably mounted on a gun scope 45 such that article 10 may be rotated above or below scope 45. As seen in FIG. 7, article 10 may be rotated below scope 45 such that a user can look through lens 17 and accurately focus on aiming the rifle using proximal gun sight 41 and distal gun sight 42.

[0041]In a preferred embodiment, the lenses to be used in the present invention may be color coded such that users who are not familiar with the various aspects of optical vision correction may be able to select a lens from an appropriate color for use in the article of the present invention.

[0042]A further advantage of the present invention provides for persons who wear lenses that are either progressive, bifocal, and/or trifocal. Such a user may use the article of the present invention while wearing prescription lenses of a single strength. In this manner, the lens that is placed within the holder of the present invention can be the progressive lens, which would normally be part of a single lens worn by the user. In this manner, the user has greater ease in focusing on the iron site at the end of a convention rifle. This is because the user does not need to position their head and sightline through the glasses to make their sightline pass through the appropriate portion of their own prescription lens.

[0043]While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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