Mirror sight apparatus with position locking mechanism

Abstract

A targeting apparatus for a gun comprises a mirror assembly, a mounting base and a locking structure. The mirror assembly includes a single utilized mirror having a target imaging surface. The mounting base has the mirror assembly moveably attached thereto. The mirror assembly is movable between a non-use position thereof with respect to the mounting base and a use position thereof with respect to the mounting base. The locking structure is provided between the mounting base and the mirror assembly for enabling the mirror assembly to be fixedly retained in the non-use position. The locking structure includes a locking member movably attached to the mounting base and a mating engagement feature fixedly attached to the mirror assembly. The locking member is selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and wherein the locking member engages the mating engagement feature when moved to the engaged position while the mirror assembly is in the use position of the sighting device.

1 . A targeting apparatus for a gun, comprising: 
 a mirror assembly including a single utilized mirror having a target imaging surface;    a mounting base having the mirror assembly moveably attached thereto, wherein the mirror assembly is movable between a non-use position thereof with respect to the mounting base and a use position thereof with respect to the mounting base; and    a locking structure provided between the mounting base and the mirror assembly for enabling the mirror assembly to be fixedly retained in the non-use position, wherein the locking structure includes a locking member movably attached to the mounting base and a mating engagement feature fixedly attached to the mirror assembly, wherein the locking member is selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and wherein the locking member engages the mating engagement feature when moved to the engaged position while the mirror assembly is in the use position of the sighting device.    
   
   
       2 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the mirror assembly is pivotably attached to the mounting base thereby enabling the mirror assembly to be pivoted about a first pivot axis between a plurality of positions thereof with respect to the mounting base; and    the single utilized mirror is pivotably attached to a base attachment portion of the mirror assembly thereby enabling the single utilized mirror to be pivoted about a second pivot axis between a plurality of rotational positions thereof with respect to the base attachment portion.    
   
   
       3 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 2  wherein engagement of the locking member and the mating engagement feature jointly constrains movement of the single utilized mirror about the first pivot axis and about the second pivot axis.  
   
   
       4 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a sighting device attached to the mirror assembly, wherein the mirror assembly is in the non-use position thereof when the sighting device is in a use position thereof.    
   
   
       5 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a first positive positioning structure provided between the mirror assembly and the mounting base; and    a second positive positioning structure provided between the single utilized mirror and a base attachment portion of the mirror assembly;    wherein said positive positioning structures jointly enable the single utilized mirror to be positively positioned in a plurality of predefined positions; and    wherein the non-use position of the mirror assembly is,a first one of said predefined positions and the use position of the mirror assembly is a second one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       6 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the mirror assembly is movable to a stowed position with respect to the mounting base; and    the stowed position is a third one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       7 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the locking member is an elongated member pivotably attached at a first end thereof to the mounting base;    the mating engagement feature includes a slot within a mirror chassis structure having the single utilized mirror attached thereto; and    a second end of the elongated member engages within the slot when the elongated member is in the engaged position such that engagement of the second end of the locking member with the slot constrains movement of the single utilized mirror about the first pivot axis and about the second pivot axis.    
   
   
       8 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a sighting device attached to the mirror assembly, wherein the mirror assembly is in the non-use position thereof when the sighting device is in a use position thereof.    
   
   
       9 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a first positive positioning structure provided between the mirror assembly and the mounting base; and    a second positive positioning structure provided between the single utilized mirror and a base attachment portion of the mirror assembly;    wherein said positive positioning structures jointly enable the single utilized mirror to be positively positioned in a plurality of predefined positions; and    wherein the non-use position of the mirror assembly is a first one of said predefined positions and the use position of the mirror assembly is a second one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       10 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the mirror assembly is movable to a stowed position with respect to the mounting base; and    the stowed position is a third one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       11 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first positive positioning structure provided between the mirror assembly and the mounting base; and    a second positive positioning structure provided between the single utilized mirror and a base attachment portion of the mirror assembly;    wherein said positive positioning structures jointly enable the single utilized mirror to be positively positioned in a plurality of predefined positions; and    wherein the non-use position of the mirror assembly is a first one of said predefined positions and the use position of the mirror assembly is a second one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       12 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the mirror assembly is movable to a stowed position with respect to the mounting base; and    the stowed position is a third one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       13 . A targeting apparatus for a gun, comprising: 
 a mirror assembly including a single utilized mirror having a target imaging surface;    a mounting base having the mirror assembly moveably attached thereto, wherein the mirror assembly is movable between a non-use position thereof with respect to the mounting base and a use position thereof with respect to the mounting base;    a locking structure provided between the mounting base and the mirror assembly for enabling the mirror assembly to be fixedly retained in the non-use position, wherein the locking structure includes a locking member movably attached to the mounting base and a mating engagement feature fixedly attached to the mirror assembly, wherein the locking member is selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and wherein the locking member engages the mating engagement feature when moved to the engaged position while the mirror assembly is in the use position of the sighting device;    a sighting device attached to the mirror assembly, wherein the mirror assembly is in the non-use position thereof when the sighting device is in a use position thereof and wherein the sighting device is independently adjustable for windage and for elevation; and    a plurality of positive positioning structures, wherein a first one of said positive positioning structures is provided between the mirror assembly and the mounting base, wherein a second one of said positive positioning structures is provided between the single utilized mirror and a base attachment portion of the mirror assembly, wherein said positive positioning structures jointly enable the single utilized mirror to be positively positioned in a plurality of predefined positions and wherein the non-use position of the mirror assembly is a first one of said predefined positions and the use position of the mirror assembly is a second one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       14 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the mirror assembly is pivotably attached to the mounting base thereby enabling the mirror assembly to be pivoted about a first pivot axis between a plurality of positions thereof with respect to the mounting base; and    the single utilized mirror is pivotably attached to a base attachment portion of the mirror assembly thereby enabling the single utilized mirror to be pivoted about a second pivot axis between a plurality of rotational positions thereof with respect to the base attachment portion.    
   
   
       15 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein engagement of the locking member and the mating engagement feature jointly constrains movement of the single utilized mirror about the first pivot axis and about the second pivot axis.  
   
   
       16 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 15  wherein: 
 the locking member is an elongated member pivotably attached at a first end thereof to the mounting base;    the mating engagement feature includes a slot within a mirror chassis structure having the single utilized mirror attached thereto; and    a second end of the elongated member engages within the slot when the elongated member is in the engaged position such that engagement of the second end of the locking member with the slot constrains movement of the single utilized mirror about the first pivot axis and about the second pivot axis.    
   
   
       17 . The targeting apparatus of  claim 16  wherein: 
 the mirror assembly is movable to a stowed position with respect to the mounting base; and    the stowed position is a third one of said predefined positions.    
   
   
       18 . A targeting system for a gun, comprising: 
 a mounting rail;    a target acquisition apparatus including a mounting structure engagable with the mounting rail for enabling the target acquisition apparatus to be secured to the mounting rail and including means for visually indicating when the gun is aimed at a desired target;    a single-mirror target viewing apparatus including a mounting base and a mirror assembly movably attached to the mounting base, wherein the mounting base includes a mounting structure engagable with the mounting rail for enabling the single-mirror target viewing target apparatus to be secured to the mounting rail, wherein the mirror assembly includes a single utilized mirror providing a target imaging surface, wherein the single-mirror target viewing apparatus enables a shooter to view on the target imaging surface both the desired target and said means for visually indicating when the target acquisition apparatus and the a single-mirror target viewing apparatus are secured to the mounting rail while the mirror assembly is in the use position; and    a locking structure provided between the mounting base and the mirror assembly for enabling the mirror assembly to be fixedly retained in a non-use position, wherein the locking structure includes a locking member movably attached to the mounting base and a mating engagement feature fixedly attached to the mirror assembly, wherein the locking member is selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and wherein the locking member engages the mating engagement feature when moved to the engaged position while the mirror assembly is in the non-use position.    
   
   
       19 . The targeting system of  claim 18  wherein: 
 the mirror assembly is pivotably attached to the mounting base thereby enabling the mirror assembly to be pivoted about a first pivot axis between a plurality of positions thereof with respect to the mounting base; and    the single utilized mirror is pivotably attached to a base attachment portion of the mirror assembly thereby enabling the single utilized mirror to be pivoted about a second pivot axis between a plurality of rotational positions thereof with respect to the base attachment portion.    
   
   
       20 . The targeting system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a sighting device attached to the mirror assembly, wherein the mirror assembly is in the non-use position thereof when the sighting device is in a use position thereof, wherein engagement of the locking member and the mating engagement feature jointly constrains movement of the single utilized mirror about the first pivot axis and about the second pivot axis.