Device to determine the correct mounting height of an optical sight on a rifle

Abstract

A fixture for establishing a mounting position of a riflescope. The fixture comprises a base configured to connect to a rifle; the base having opposed standard extending upward and defining a passage configured to receive a rifle scope; a plurality of lateral apertures defined in each standard configured to removable receive lateral supports at a plurality of different levels; a plurality of lateral supports; and a retainer connected to the base and operable to bias the riflescope against the lateral supports.

1 . A fixture for establishing a mounting position of a riflescope, the fixture comprising:
 a base configured to connect to a rifle;   the base having opposed standard extending upward and defining a passage configured to receive a rifle scope;   a plurality of lateral apertures defined in each standard configured to removable receive lateral supports at a plurality of different levels;   a plurality of lateral supports; and   a retainer connected to the base and operable to bias the riflescope against the lateral supports.   
     
     
         2 . A rifle scope mounting height assessment tool for a rifle having a mounting facility configured to receive scope support structures, the tool comprising:
 a frame having a mounting facility configured to removably connect to the mounting facility of the rifle;   a cradle movably connected to the frame and operable to move among a plurality of different vertical positions;   the cradle defining a rifle scope support passage; and   a retention element operable to secure the cradle relative to the frame in a selected one of the plurality of different vertical positions.   
     
     
         3 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the cradle is constrained for only vertical translation movement with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the cradle is moved only in translation with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the cradle defines an upwardly open channel. 
     
     
         6 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the rifle scope support passage includes a lower surface portion facing upward and configured to contact a lower surface of a cylindrical scope tube. 
     
     
         7 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the cradle includes a centering facility configured to resist movement of a rifle scope laterally off center. 
     
     
         8 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the cradle includes opposed spring elements configured to laterally center the rifle scope. 
     
     
         9 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the frame defines a plurality of apertures, each associated with a selected vertical position. 
     
     
         10 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 9  wherein the frame has opposed sidewalls and the apertures are defined in pairs, with an aperture of each pair in one of the opposed sidewalls. 
     
     
         11 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 9  wherein the apertures are grouped into a plurality of groups, each associated with a scope tube diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 11  including indicia associated with each group associated with the scope tube diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 9  including a pin passing through a selected aperture, and supportively contacting a lower surface portion of the cradle. 
     
     
         14 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 13  wherein the pin has a length greater than a width of the cradle such that the pin contacts opposed sidewalls of the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  including a second retention element connected to the frame and operable to secure the cradle and a supported rifle scope to the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  including a second frame and cradle assembly configured to mount to the mounting facility of the rifle in a spaced-apart relation with the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of different vertical positions is selected from a list including positions associated with a selected limited inventory of scope support structures. 
     
     
         18 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 2  wherein the scope support structures are scope rings.