Sight apparatus for use with firearms

Abstract

Sight apparatus for use with firearms are described herein. An example sight apparatus described herein includes a first swivel element removably coupled to a second swivel element. The first swivel element includes a first aperture coaxially aligned with a second aperture of the second swivel element to define a passageway. A coupling element is removably disposed within the passageway to pivotally couple the first swivel element relative to the second swivel element. A retainer is operatively coupled to the coupling element to engage at least one of the first or second swivel portions to prevent movement of the coupling element along a transverse axis of the passageway.

1 . A sight apparatus for use with firearms, comprising:
 a first swivel element removably coupled to a second swivel element, wherein the first swivel element includes a first aperture coaxially aligned with a second aperture of the second swivel element to define a passageway;   a coupling element removably disposed within the passageway to pivotally couple the first swivel element relative to the second swivel element, and   wherein the coupling element includes a retainer portion to engage at least one of the first or second swivel elements to prevent movement of the coupling element along a transverse axis of the passageway when the coupling element is disposed within the passageway.   
   
   
       2 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises a hinge pin having a cylindrically-shaped body and a head portion, wherein the body includes an annular groove. 
   
   
       3 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 2 , wherein the retainer comprises a spring clamp at least partially disposed within the annular groove of the coupling element, wherein the spring clamp is to engage a portion of the first or second swivel portions when the coupling element is coupled to the sight apparatus via the passageway. 
   
   
       4 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 3 , wherein the first swivel element comprises a fore sight having a first hinge plate opposite a second hinge plate. 
   
   
       5 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 4 , wherein the second swivel element comprises a base having a hinge link, wherein the hinge link is disposed between first and second plates when the fore sight is coupled to the base. 
   
   
       6 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 4 , further comprising a bushing coupled adjacent the second hinge plate and having a bore to be coaxially aligned with the passageway, wherein the bore is larger than the second opening of the second hinge plate to define a shoulder. 
   
   
       7 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein the spring clamp is disposed adjacent the shoulder to retain or lock the coupling element along the transverse axis of the passageway when the coupling element is disposed within the passageway. 
   
   
       8 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein the shoulder or the spring clamp includes a beveled edge so that the spring clamp is compressed within the annular groove of the coupling element when the coupling element is removed from the passageway to disassembly or decouple the first swivel element from the second swivel element. 
   
   
       9 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises a hinge pin having a stem and a head portion, and wherein the retainer is integrally formed with the coupling element, wherein the retainer comprises a first keyed portion to define a first cross-sectional shape of the coupling element, and wherein the retainer comprises a protruding lip member eccentric from the first keyed portion to define a second cross-sectional shape of the coupling element different than the first cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       10 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 9 , wherein the first aperture of the first swivel element includes a second keyed portion that is shaped to receive the second cross-sectional shape of the coupling element, and wherein the second aperture of the second swivel element includes a third keyed portion that is shaped to receive the first cross-sectional shape of the coupling element. 
   
   
       11 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 10 , wherein the second and third keyed portions align to enable the coupling element to be disposed within, or removed from, the passageway, and wherein the second keyed portion of the first swivel element prevents the protruding lip from axially moving within the passageway when the coupling element is coupled to the sight apparatus. 
   
   
       12 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first swivel portion pivots relative to the second swivel portion between an operating position and a stored position. 
   
   
       13 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 12 , further comprising a locking mechanism to lock the first swivel element relative to the second swivel element when the sight apparatus is at the operating position or the stored position. 
   
   
       14 . A sight apparatus described in  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lever biased to engage a detent in the second swivel element, wherein the lever is moved against the biasing force of the biasing element via a lever to disengage the detent to pivot the first swivel element relative to the second swivel element. 
   
   
       15 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a retainer plate having a gas housing to be operatively coupled to a muzzle end of a barrel of the firearm. 
   
   
       16 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element is removed from, or coupled to, the sight apparatus to remove or replace the first or second swivel elements during operational conditions of the firearm. 
   
   
       17 . A sight apparatus for use with a firearm, comprising:
 a fore sight having a fork-shaped end to define a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate, wherein the first hinge plate has a first aperture coaxially aligned with a second aperture of the second hinge plate,   a base having a hinge link, wherein the hinge link has a third aperture that is to coaxially align with the first aperture of the first hinge plate and the second aperture of the second hinge plate to define a passageway when the base is coupled to the fore sight;   a hinge pin removably coupled to the passageway, wherein the hinge pin pivotally couples the fore sight relative to the base to enable the fore sight to pivot between a first position and a second position relative to the base, and wherein the hinge pin includes a body portion and a head portion; and   wherein the body portion of the hinge pin includes a retainer to engage at least a portion of the hinge link, the first hinge plate, or the second hinge plate to prevent axial movement of the hinge pin within the passageway when coupled to the sight apparatus and the fore sight pivots between the first position and the second position.   
   
   
       18 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 17 , wherein the retainer comprises a spring clamp at least partially disposed within an annular groove of a stem portion of the hinge pin, wherein the spring clamp is to engage a shoulder of the second hinge plate to retain the hinge pin within the passageway when the hinge pin is coupled within the passageway. 
   
   
       19 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 17 , wherein the retainer comprises a protruding lip adjacent the head portion and a planar portion to define a first cross-sectional portion of the hinge pin, and wherein the planar portion defines a second cross-sectional shape of the hinge pin. 
   
   
       20 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 19 , wherein the first aperture is shaped to receive the first cross-sectional shape of the hinge pin and the second aperture is shaped to receive the second cross-sectional shape of the hinge pin, so that the hinge pin may be coupled to, or removed from, the passageway when the first and second apertures aligns, and wherein the hinge pin is retained within the passageway when the first aperture of the fore sight rotates relative to the second aperture of the base between the operating and stored positions. 
   
   
       21 . A sight apparatus for use with firearms, comprising
 a first swivel element removably coupled to a second swivel element, wherein the first swivel element includes a first aperture coaxially aligned with a second aperture of the second swivel element to define a passageway, and wherein the first aperture includes a first keyed pathway and second aperture includes a second keyed pathway different than the first keyed pathway;   a coupling element removably disposed within the passageway to pivotally couple the first swivel element relative to the second swivel element,   wherein the coupling element includes a retainer portion to engage at least one of the first or second swivel elements to prevent movement of the coupling element along a transverse axis of the passageway when the coupling element is disposed within the passageway, wherein the retainer has a first cross-sectional portion corresponding to the first keyed pathway and the a second cross-sectional portion corresponding to the second keyed pathway, and   wherein the coupling element may be coupled to, or removed from, the passageway when the first and second keyed pathways align to enable passage of the first and second cross-sectional portions of the coupling element.   
   
   
       22 . A sight apparatus as described in  claim 21 , wherein the coupling element comprises a hinge pin having a head portion and a cylindrically-shaped stem portion, and wherein the retainer comprises a protruding lip adjacent the head portion and a planar portion to define the first cross-sectional portion of the hinge pin, and wherein the planar portion defines the second cross-sectional shape of the hinge pin.