Sight Assembly

Abstract

Described herein are sight assemblies that can be used, for example, with a firearm. Methods for using the described sight assemblies are also described herein.

1 . A sight assembly comprising:
 a post, said post being configured for aiming the firearm;   said post being rotatably coupled to a pivot, thereby forming a first movement sub-system; and   said pivot being rotatably coupled to a base, thereby forming a second movement sub-system,   wherein said first movement sub-system allows said post to rotate with respect to said pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a barrel of the firearm between a folded state and a first extended state, and said second movement sub-system allows said post and pivot to rotate with respect to said base about said longitudinal axis between said first extended state and a second extended state different from said first extended state.   
     
     
         2 . The sight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in said folded state, said post defines an axis that is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         3 . The sight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 in said first extended state, said post defines an defines axis that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         4 . The sight assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein
 in said second extended state, said post defines an axis that is angled with respect to a plane including said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         5 . The sight assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein
 in said second extended state, said axis of said post is angled between 30 and 80 degrees with respect to said plane including said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         6 . The sight assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein
 in said second extended state, said axis of said post is angled at  65  degrees with respect to said plane including said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         7 . The sight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said first movement sub-system includes at least one spring and at least one ball supported by said pivot, and at least first and second detents formed in said post each configured to engage said at least one ball, said first and second detents are spaced from one another such that said first detent corresponds to said folded state and said second detent corresponds to said first extended state.   
     
     
         8 . The sight assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein
 said second movement sub-system includes at least one spring and at least one ball supported by said base, and at least first and second detents formed in a block rotatably coupled to said base, each of said first and second detents is configured to engage said at least one ball, said first and second detents are spaced from one another such that said first detent corresponds to said first extended state and said second detent corresponds to said second extended state.   
     
     
         9 . The sight assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein
 said second movement sub-system includes a retaining pin supported by said base, and at least first and second grooves formed inside of said pivot each configured to engage said retaining pin, said first and second grooves are angled with respect to one another such that said first groove corresponds to said first extended state and said second groove corresponds to said second extended state.   
     
     
         10 . The sight assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said pivot includes a third groove angled with respect to said first and second grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The sight assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein
 said second movement sub-system includes a biasing member disposed between an end of said pivot and an inner surface of said base; and   said pivot is axially movable with respect to said base between a locked position in which said retaining pin is received in one of said at least first and second grooves and unlocked position in which said retaining pin is disengaged from said at least first and second grooves, said biasing member biasing said pivot in said locked position.   
     
     
         12 . The sight assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said biasing member is a compression spring. 
     
     
         13 . The sight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said post includes an aiming pin or an aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A method of orienting a sight assembly for a firearm, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sight assembly including a post, the post being configured for aiming the firearm, the post being rotatably coupled to a pivot, thereby forming a first movement sub-system, and the pivot being rotatably coupled to a base, thereby forming a second movement sub-system;   rotating the post with respect to the pivot via the first movement sub-system about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a barrel of the firearm between a folded state, in which an axis of the post is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a first extended state, in which an axis of the post is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and   rotating the post and the pivot with respect to the base via the second movement sub-system about the longitudinal axis between the first extended state and a second extended state, which is angularly offset from the first extended state.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the first movement sub-system includes at least one spring and at least one ball supported by the pivot, and at least first and second detents formed in the post each configured to engage the at least one ball, and   said first and second detents are spaced from one another such that when the post is rotated with respect to the pivot from the folded state to the first extended state, the at least one ball disengages from the first detent and engages the second detent.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the second movement sub-system includes at least one spring and at least one ball supported by the base, and at least first and second detents formed in a block rotatably coupled to the base, each of the first and second detents is configured to engage the at least one ball, and   the first and second detents are spaced from one another such that when the post and the pivot are rotated with respect to the base between the first extended state and the second extended state, the at least one ball disengages from the first detent and engages said second detent.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the second movement sub-system includes a retaining pin supported by the base, and at least first and second grooves formed inside of the pivot each configured to engage the retaining pin, and   the first and second grooves are angled with respect to one another such that when the post and the pivot are rotated with respect to the base, the retaining pin disengages the first groove and engages the second groove.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of
 moving the pivot axially with respect to the base between a locked position in which the retaining pin is received in one of the first and second grooves and an unlocked position in which the retaining pin is disengaged from the first and second grooves.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of
 biasing the pivot in the locked position.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein
 a third groove is provided in the pivot that is angled with respect to the first and second grooves such that when the post and the pivot are rotated with respect to the basem the retaining pin disengages either of the first and second grooves and engages the third groove.