Video scope assembly

Abstract

A video scope assembly ( 10 ) for mounting on a firearm (F) for imaging, displaying, and recording a user's view when the user is aiming and/or shooting the firearm at a target in a line of sight is disclosed. The video scope assembly ( 10 ) includes a housing ( 12 ) mounted on firearm (F), and housing a lens assembly ( 14 ), a display ( 16 ), and a recorder ( 18 ). The lens assembly ( 14 ) includes at least one lens operable to capture an image of the area surrounding and including the line of sight. The display ( 16 ) communicates with the lens assembly ( 14 ) and is operable to display the image captured thereby. The recorder ( 18 ) communicates with the lens assembly ( 14 ) and is operable to record the image captured thereby.

1 . A video scope assembly for mounting on a firearm, wherein the firearm includes a barrel and is used by a person for aiming and/or shooting at a target in a line of sight, the assembly comprising: 
 a housing operable to mount on the firearm;    a lens assembly associated with the housing and including at least one lens operable to capture an image of the area surrounding and including the line of sight;    a display associated with the housing and communicating with the lens assembly and operable to display the image captured by said at least one lens; and    a recorder associated with the housing and communicating with the lens assembly and operable to record the image captured by said at least one lens.    
     
     
         2 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , said housing being removably coupled to the firearm.  
     
     
         3 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , said lens, display, and recorder being unitarily contained within the housing.  
     
     
         4 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , said lens assembly including an additional lens operable to magnify the target in the line of sight.  
     
     
         5 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , said additional lens being in communication with the display so that the magnified target in the line of sight is displayed thereon.  
     
     
         6 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , said additional lens being in communication with the recorder so that the magnified target in the line of sight is recorded thereon.  
     
     
         7 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , said display being operable to display the magnified target in the line of sight superimposed on the image captured by said at least one lens.  
     
     
         8 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , said recorder being operable to record the magnified target in the line of sight superimposed on the image captured by said at least one lens.  
     
     
         9 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a firearm sight associated with the housing and communicating with said additional lens so that the person may view the magnified target in the line of sight through the firearm sight when the person is using the firearm.  
 
     
     
         10 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , said display being pivotably coupled to the housing and pivotable into and out of a viewing position wherein the image displayed thereon is visible to the person while the person is using the firearm.  
     
     
         11 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , said at least one lens operable to zoom into and out of a telephoto position wherein the image captured thereby is magnified.  
     
     
         12 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a switch mechanism in communication with said at least one lens and operable to selectively control the zooming of said at least one lens.  
 
     
     
         13 . A video scope assembly for mounting on a firearm, wherein the firearm includes a barrel and a stock and is used by a person for aiming and/or shooting at a target in a line of sight, the assembly comprising: 
 a lens assembly operable to mount on the firearm and including at least one lens operable to capture an image of the area surrounding and including the line of sight; and    a recorder housed in the stock and communicating with the lens assembly and operable to record the image captured by said at least one lens.    
     
     
         14 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a scope mounted on the firearm and operable to magnify the target in the line of sight,  
 said scope being communicatively coupled with the recorder so that the magnified target is recorded thereon.  
 
     
     
         15 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , said recorder being operable to record the magnified target so that the magnified target is superimposed on the image captured by said at least one lens.  
     
     
         16 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a display coupled to the firearm and communicating with said at least one lens,  
 said display being operable to display the image captured by said at least one lens.  
 
     
     
         17 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , said display being in communication with the scope and operable to display the magnified target superimposed on the image captured by said at least one lens.  
     
     
         18 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , said display being pivotably coupled to the firearm and pivotable into and out of a viewing position wherein the magnified target and the image displayed thereon are visible to the person while the person is using the firearm.  
     
     
         19 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a display coupled to the firearm and communicating with said at least one lens,  
 said display being operable to display the image captured by said at least one lens.  
 
     
     
         20 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 19 , said display being pivotably coupled to the firearm and pivotable into and out of a viewing position wherein the image displayed thereon is visible to the person while the person is using the firearm.  
     
     
         21 . A video scope assembly for mounting on a firearm, wherein the firearm includes a barrel, a stock, and a scope that provides a magnified view of a target in a line of sight and the firearm is used by a person for aiming and/or shooting at the target in the line of sight, the assembly comprising: 
 a recorder coupled to the firearm and communicating with the scope, said recorder being operable to record the magnified view of the target provided by the scope.    
     
     
         22 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 21  further comprising: 
 a lens assembly operable to mount on the firearm and including at least one lens operable to capture an image of the area surrounding and including the line of sight.  
 
     
     
         23 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 22  further comprising: 
 a display coupled to the firearm and communicating with said at least one lens,  
 said display being operable to display the image captured by said at least one lens.  
 
     
     
         24 . The video scope assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , said display being in communication with the scope and operable to display the magnified view of the target provided by the scope superimposed on the image captured by said at least one lens.  
     
     
         25 . A video scope assembly for facilitating aiming and/or shooting at a target in a line of sight, the assembly comprising: 
 a firearm including a barrel and operable to be used by a person for aiming and/or shooting at the target in the line of sight;    a housing operable to mount on the barrel of the firearm;    a lens assembly associated with the housing and including at least one lens operable to capture an image of the area surrounding and including the line of sight;    a display associated with the housing and communicating with the lens assembly and operable to display the image captured by said at least one lens; and    a recorder associated with the housing and communicating with the lens assembly and operable to record the image captured by said at least one lens.    
     
     
         26 . A video scope assembly for facilitating aiming and/or shooting at a target in a line of sight, the assembly comprising: 
 a firearm including a stock and being operable to be used by a person for aiming and/or shooting at the target in the line of sight;    a lens assembly operable to mount on the firearm and including at least one lens operable to capture an image of the area surrounding and including the line of sight; and    a recorder housed in the stock and communicating with the lens assembly and operable to record the image captured by said at least one lens.    
     
     
         27 . A video scope assembly for facilitating aiming and/or shooting at a target in a line of sight, the assembly comprising: 
 a firearm including a scope that provides a magnified view of the target in the line of sight,    said firearm being operable to be used by a person for aiming and/or shooting at the target in the line of sight;    a recorder coupled to the firearm and communicating with the scope, said recorder being operable to record the magnified view of the target provided by the scope.    
     
     
         28 . A firearm for aiming and/or shooting at a target in a line of sight, the firearm comprising: 
 a uni-body operable to house firearm hardware and including a firearm butt integrally formed therein;    a barrel coupled to the uni-body; and    a video scope assembly integrally formed in the uni-body and including a lens assembly, a display, and a recorder.    
     
     
         29 . The firearm as claimed in  claim 28 , said lens assembly including at least one lens operable to capture an image of the area surrounding and including the line of sight.  
     
     
         30 . The firearm as claimed in  claim 29 , said display being in communication with the lens assembly and operable to display the image captured by said at least one lens.  
     
     
         31 . The firearm as claimed in claim  30 , said recorder being in communication with the lens assembly and operable to record the image captured by said at least one lens.