US Patent 8707610 Scope mounting apparatus for firearm

Scope mounting apparatus including a base designed to mate with a dovetail mounting rail on a firearm, and a mounting ring including arcuate elements pivotally joined together and movable between an open and a closed orientation. The ring is designed to receive a scope body in the open orientation and to enclose the scope body in the closed orientation. Mounting elements are fixed to the ring and positioned together in the closed orientation. A mounting block receives mounting elements therein. A mounting screw extends upwardly through the mounting block and into threaded engagement with a nut carried by the mounting elements. In the threadedly engaged orientation, the mounting screw and nut firmly hold the ring in the closed orientation.