Rifle scope mounting height assessment tool

Abstract

A rifle scope mounting height assessment tool has a frame having a mounting facility configured to removable 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. The cradle may be constrained for only vertical translation movement with respect to the frame. The cradle may be moved only in translation with respect to the frame. The cradle may define an upwardly open channel. The rifle scope support passage may include a lower surface portion facing upward and configured to contact a lower surface of a cylindrical scope tube.

I claim: 
     
         1 . 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.   
     
     
         2 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the cradle is constrained for only vertical translation movement with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the cradle is moved only in translation with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the cradle defines an upwardly open channel. 
     
     
         5 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         6 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the cradle includes a centering facility configured to resist movement of a rifle scope laterally off center. 
     
     
         7 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the cradle includes opposed spring elements configured to laterally center the rifle scope. 
     
     
         8 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the frame defines a plurality of apertures, each associated with a selected vertical position. 
     
     
         9 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 8  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. 
     
     
         10 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 8  wherein the apertures are grouped into a plurality of groups, each associated with a scope tube diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 10  including indicia associated with each group associated with the scope tube diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 8  including a pin passing through a selected aperture, and supportively contacting a lower surface portion of the cradle. 
     
     
         13 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 12  wherein the pin has a length greater than a width of the cradle such that the pin contacts opposed sidewalls of the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  including a second retention element connected to the frame and operable to secure the cradle and a supported rifle scope to the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         16 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of different vertical positions is selected from a list including positions associated with a selected limited inventory of scope support structures. 
     
     
         17 . The rifle scope mounting height assessment tool of  claim 1  wherein the scope support structures are scope rings.