Universal scope mounting system

Abstract

A universal scope mounting system for a firearm includes an integral base/lower ring half component having a base panel portion and a split ring portion extending therefrom, and defining a plurality of mounting holes for receiving mounting screws to attach the base/lower ring half component to a firearm. The system also includes an upper ring half component for attachment to the base/lower ring half component to engage a scope within a receiver opening defined therebetween. The mounting holes of each base/lower ring half component define two or more different mounting hole configurations, permitting universal application to firearms having different scope mounting hole arrangements.

1 . A universal scope mounting system for a firearm, said mounting system comprising:
 a base and lower ring half component having a base panel portion with a split ring portion extending therefrom, the base and lower ring half component defining a plurality of mounting holes for receiving mounting screws to attach the base and lower ring half component to a firearm; and   an upper ring half component for attachment to the base and lower ring half component to engage a scope within a receiver opening defined between the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component and the upper ring half component.   
   
   
       2 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the base and lower ring half component comprises three mounting holes for receiving mounting screws to attach the base/lower ring half component to a firearm. 
   
   
       3 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting screws comprise a first mounting screw type and a second mounting screw type, wherein the second mounting screw type comprises a smaller diameter threaded portion and a larger diameter shoulder portion. 
   
   
       4 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper ring half component is attached to the base and lower ring half component by two attachment screws, and wherein the upper ring half component and the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component each comprise equally spaced pairs of attachment screw holes for receiving the attachment screws. 
   
   
       5 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 4 , wherein the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component comprises first and second side portions extending transversely from opposite sides of the base panel portion. 
   
   
       6 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component defines a semicircular channel between the first and second side portions. 
   
   
       7 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of mounting holes in the base and lower ring half component are spaced from one another along a first axis, and wherein the attachment screw holes of the base and lower ring half component are spaced from one another along a second axis, the first and second axes being generally perpendicular to each other. 
   
   
       8 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting holes in the base and lower ring half component comprise an array of first, second and third mounting holes spaced from one another to define a smaller mounting hole spacing between the first and second mounting holes, and a larger mounting hole spacing between the first and third mounting holes. 
   
   
       9 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 8 , wherein the smaller mounting hole spacing between the first and second mounting holes is about 0.50″, and wherein the larger mounting hole spacing between the first and third mounting holes is about 0.86″. 
   
   
       10 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the split ring portion of the base and lower ring half component defines a first semi-circular channel, and wherein the upper ring half component defines a second semi-circular channel, the first and second semi-circular channels having generally equal radii, and wherein the receiver opening is formed by the combination of the first and second semi-circular channels when the upper ring half component is attached to the base and lower ring half component. 
   
   
       11 . The universal scope mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the base and lower ring half component is an integrally formed, unitary piece. 
   
   
       12 . A scope mounting system comprising first and second mounting units, each of the first and second mounting units comprising:
 a lower component for mounting to the firearm, the lower component comprising at least one mounting hole for receiving a mounting screw to affix the lower component to the firearm; and   an upper component for attachment to the lower component, wherein the upper component and the lower component define a scope receiving channel therebetween when assembled.   
   
   
       13 . The scope mounting system of  claim 12 , wherein the lower component comprises first, second and third mounting holes, defining a first mounting hole spacing between the first and second mounting holes, and a second mounting hole spacing between the first and third mounting holes, wherein the first mounting hole spacing corresponds to the pre-drilled mounting hole configuration of a first firearm manufacturer, and the second mounting hole spacing corresponds to the pre-drilled mounting hole configuration of a second firearm manufacturer. 
   
   
       14 . The scope mounting system of  claim 13 , wherein the first mounting hole spacing is about 0.500″, and wherein the second mounting hole spacing is about 0.860″. 
   
   
       15 . The scope mounting system of  claim 12 , wherein the upper component and the lower component each define a semi-circular recess forming one half of the scope receiving channel. 
   
   
       16 . The scope mounting system of  claim 15 , wherein the upper component and the lower component each define equally spaced first and second attachment holes formed on opposite sides of the semi-circular recess. 
   
   
       17 . The scope mounting system of  claim 16 , wherein the first, second and third mounting holes of the lower component lie along a first axis, and wherein the first and second attachment holes of the lower component lie along a second axis, the first and second axes being generally perpendicular to one another. 
   
   
       18 . The scope mounting system of  claim 12 , wherein the lower component comprises an integrally formed, unitary piece. 
   
   
       19 . A method of mounting a scope to a firearm, the method comprising affixing an integral base and lower ring half component to the firearm, and attaching an upper ring half component to the base and lower ring half component with the scope engaged therebetween, wherein the integral base and lower ring half component comprises a plurality of mounting holes configured to permit mounting to firearms having different mounting hole configurations. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the scope is mounted to the firearm using a pair of mounting units, each mounting unit including an integral base and lower ring half component and an upper ring half component.