US3500545A - Visual aiming devices - Google Patents

Visual aiming devices Download PDF

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Publication number
US3500545A
US3500545A US686069A US3500545DA US3500545A US 3500545 A US3500545 A US 3500545A US 686069 A US686069 A US 686069A US 3500545D A US3500545D A US 3500545DA US 3500545 A US3500545 A US 3500545A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
light
sleeve
target
sight
sighting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US686069A
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English (en)
Inventor
Michael H Chivers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AUXARMES INTERN LT Pty
AUXARMES INTERN Ltd Pty
Original Assignee
AUXARMES INTERN LT Pty
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AUXARMES INTERN LT Pty filed Critical AUXARMES INTERN LT Pty
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Publication of US3500545A publication Critical patent/US3500545A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41G—WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
    • F41G1/00—Sighting devices
    • F41G1/32—Night sights, e.g. luminescent
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41G—WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
    • F41G1/00—Sighting devices
    • F41G1/06—Rearsights
    • F41G1/08—Rearsights with aperture ; tubular or of ring form; Peep sights
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/32—Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system
    • G02B27/34—Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system illuminated

Definitions

  • a visual sighting device particularly, for use on a weapon such as a rifle comprises a thin walled metal sleeve fitted within a wider walled cylindrical tube of translucent material which, in turn, is fitted into a metallic sleeve or mounting block.
  • the mounting block is carried on a post which may be mounted on a support or pillar secured on the weapon.
  • the translucent cylindrical tube is advantageously formed with a uniform wall thickness cylindrical portion at one end and an outwardly flaring conical portion of outwardly increasing thickness at the opposite end which is adapted to be oriented toward the target.
  • the increased thickness of translucent cylindrical tube of this end permits a greater inclusion of light around the thin walled metallic sleeve which functions to provide a ring which may be centered on the target.
  • a ring of luminous material is formed in the vicinity of the boundary between the translucent tube and the mounting block so that the translucent tube is illuminated during the darkened hours to highlight the ring which will surround the target.
  • the sight may be used as a single unit forming a peep-type sight or two such sights may be arranged at spaced locations along the length of the gun barrel. In the latter case, the two sights form a series of concentric rings which facilitate the locating of the target within the innermost ring.
  • This invention relates to visual sighting systems and has particular, but not exclusive, application to weapons, navigation instruments, surveying instruments, optical equipment, directional radio equipment, and other equipment requiring visual sighting either as a sole means of aiming the weapon or instrument or as a preliminary or auxiliary aiming means hereinafter referred to as the type described.
  • Aperture sights have been used for specific problems, in particular target shooting, where the target produces a geometrical pattern and is artificially illuminated, but this solution is incompatible against targets set against terrain backgrounds, with various shadows, light and background problems when the true circle of the aperture is distorted or lost.
  • Patented Mar. 17, 1970 It is known to use electronic aids, such as infra-red, in sighting systems under poor illumination conditions but due to the bulk and specialization requirements of these aids, the advantages thereof under normal conditions are limited. Furthermore, such known types of night sights do not solve daylight problems of fog, haze, smoke, directional lighting, background reflection and the like.
  • a visual sighting device of the type described comprising an apertured member of light-transmitting material.
  • the apertured member may be of annular configuration in tube or disc form and preferably the light-transmitting material is translucent.
  • the member may be disposed between inner and outer sleeves of opaque material the inner sleeve defining the aperture.
  • the outer surface of the inner sleeve and the inner surface of the outer sleeve are light reflective and the inner surface of the inner sleeve is non-reflective.
  • luminous material is located in the device so as to be capable of illuminating the tube of light-transmitting material.
  • the invention also encompasses sighting systems incorporating the devices of the invention.
  • Elements constructed in accordance with the invention find particular application as sights of rifles and other small arms for both sporting and military use.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a weapon showing alternative locations of the sighting device
  • FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of one form of sighting device for attachment to a weapon as illustrated in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of the sighting device of FIGURE 2 attached to the standard foresight protector of a weapon of the type illustrated in FIGURE 1, as seen by the user;
  • FIGURE 4 is a sectional view in side elevation of the sighting device
  • FIGURE 5 is a two-part view of another embodiment of the device illustrating adjustment means
  • FIGURE 6 illustrates use of the sighting device in daylight conditions with a terrain background
  • FIGURE 7 illustrates use of the sighting device in bad light or night conditions with a terrain background showing the halo effect provided by the light-transmitting material
  • FIGURE 8 illustrates use of the sighting device under normal conditions
  • FIGURE 9 illustrates use of the sighting device with a moving target showing the facility for aiming-off.
  • FIGURE 10 illustrates an embodiment of the sighting system using two sighting devices.
  • FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 the embodiment as illustrated in detail in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 comprises an outer cylindrical sleeve 5 of metal, the exterior of which has a non-reflective or matt black surface.
  • the tube 6 is formed for part of its length of frustoconical form as at S.
  • the larger diameter end of the frusto-conical part of tube 6 is, in use, directed towards the fixing pont or target and acts to provide a greater light collection effect in said tube 6.
  • the inner surface of sleeve 7 is non-reflective, for example, matt black, and the outer surface of sleeve 7 and the inner surface of sleeve 5 are both polished so as to be highly reflective.
  • a circumferential groove 9 containing a radioactivated luminous paint such as a promethium activated phosphorus paint.
  • a radioactivated luminous paint such as a promethium activated phosphorus paint.
  • groove 9 may, if desired, be formed on the inner surface 10 of sleeve 5, or the inner surface 11 of tube 6.
  • a hollow torus of translucent material filled with luminous phosphor gas under pressure may be located in said groove 9.
  • Sleeve 5 is formed integrally with a mounting pillar 12 by means of which it may be mounted in a conventional foresight protector 13 by means of a screw 14 and pin 15.
  • the weapon may be provided with a peep-aperture form of backsight which backsight is capable of adjustment to enable zeroing of the weapon. It is not essential that a backsight be used in conjunction with the sighting device of the present invention which may, if desired, be located substantially midway between the conventional locations of the backsight and the foresight such as shown in broken line in FIGURE 1, or both the backsight and foresight may comprise sighting devices of the invention.
  • FIGURE 10 illustrates the use of sighting devices of the invention for both the backsight and foresight, wherein the ability of the eye to quickly and easily recognise and align concentric circles is utilised to provide accuracy and speed of aim or sighting.
  • FIGURE 10 where is the outer metal sleeve, 26 is the translucent tube and 27 is the thin-walled sleeve of the backsight that an annular ring forming part of outer sleeve 5 of the foresight is presented to the firers eye between the backsight inner ring 27 and tube 26 and the foresight inner ring 7 and tube 6.
  • the size of this annular ring is of course dependent on the distance between the backsight and the foresight and the position of the firers eye relative to the backsight.
  • the Sleeve 5 is detachably located in pillar .12 by means of post 16 engageable in slot 17 and adapted to be held at the required vertical adjustment by screw 18.
  • the device of FIGURE 5 when used as a vertically adjustable foresight attachment does not require the more sophisticated form of adjustable backsight.
  • the sighting device of FIGURE 5 may also be provided with means allowing transverse adjustment with respect to the mounting pillar 12 and in which case a fixed backsight may be used if desired.
  • the ratio between the inside diameter of tube 6, i.e. the aiming circle, and the target takes into account the relationship of target movement range and practical size of engagement at various battle/sporting ranges, for example:
  • the average human torso silhouette occupies /a of the aiming radius.
  • the average human figure silhouette width occupies /3 of the aiming radius.
  • the ratio of length to inside diameter of tube 6 may be varied substantially from the above described specific ratio to give a wider field of view whilst retaining the desired alignment between the line sight and the axis of the bore of the weapon by the ability of the eye to recognise two spaced-apart concentric circles whilst focusing on the target.
  • the particular weapon sight described in the above embodiments is effective under all lighting conditions wherein the fixing point or target can be seen by the naked eye.
  • bright light aim may be taken by means of the thin-walled sleeve which appears as a dark silhouette ringing the centre of the sight.
  • the user of the weapon under these conditions after focusing upon the target adjusts his weapon until the target is located at the centre of the silhouette in the sight. He is enabled to do this by reason of the ability of the average person to locate the centre of a symmetrical pattern even though no centering aids are provided in the pattern.
  • the backsight aperture enables the firer to align the weapon with his line of sight, and the concentric foresight tubes act as a pair of symmetrical patterns by means of which the user is able to estimate the centre of the ring silhouette.
  • the inner sleeve no longer stands out in sharp silhouette and its influence upon the aiming judgment of the user of the weapon decreases accordingly.
  • the effect of the light passing through the translucent cylinder becomes more marked and results in the appearance of an halo extending around and contrasting with the distinct view afforded by the unobstructed interior of the inner sleeve.
  • the luminous source within the foreseight produces a glow which is reflected between the exterior wall of the inner sleeve and the interior wall of the outer sleeve so as to continue to produce a clearly defined halo effect around the aperture. It is particularly important, however, that the light source within the sight should not be so bright as to have a substantial effect on the adjustment of the users eye to the prevailing light conditions, otherwise, the pupil of the aiming eye may contract to allow for the brightness of the sighting light and may not be able to react to light rays passing through the aperture from the target.
  • variable aperture backsight which may be adjusted as required to allow for the natural adjustment of the eye for light.
  • a backsight having an aperture of predetermined size may be used to cover a major range of lighting conditions without resulting in any marked effect as regards accuracy.
  • a backsight/foresight combination of this type providing excellent accuracy through all light conditions has been described above in relation to FIGURE 10.
  • the light-transmitting material is designed to collect the maximum light from the target and to override the luminous material until the effect of the luminous material becomes essential.
  • the light-transmitting material is selfadjusting to light and the luminous material would not be necessary, for example, under normal moonlight conditions and would in fact destroy night vision of the fixing point or target under such conditions if the adjustment in the optical capsule tube 6 was not apparentthe same applies in daylight conditions.
  • the main advantage is the inherent adaptability of the sight to the lighting conditions in which it is used.
  • the sight is effective in lighting conditions varying from a light level at which the target can barely be seen to bright daylight.
  • the speed with which the user can aim his Weapon is greatly increased with the present sight. This is because the user does not need to focus the foresight but concentrates throughout on the target. This eliminates the delay experienced in the use of normal sights in which the user must focus the target and the foresight alternately.
  • the inner foresight sleeve has an orthoptic effect and acts as a stop in front of the users eye, thereby increasing the depth of focus of the aiming eye. It has been found in practice that a person using the sight at night can see more clearly than with the naked eye. It Will also be appreciated that the present sight is eminently suitable for aiming-off moving targets in view of the field of view provided by the sight.
  • the sight is particularly advantageous in military use, since it requires less training to enable a recruit to use it accurately than the sights at present used.
  • a visual gun sighting device comprising an inner member of light transmitting material having an aperture in the direction of the sight line, an outer sleeve of opaque material surrounding said inner member, and an inner thin wall centering sleeve located in the aperture of said inner member.
  • a device according to claim 1 wherein said member is of tubular configuration.
  • a device according to claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the outer sleeve is highly reflective, and the inner surface of the thin-walled sleeve is non-reflective with the outer surface thereof being highly reflective.
  • a device wherein a ring of luminous material is located around a surface of said inner member so as to be capable of illuminating the light-transmitting material of said member.
  • a device according to claim 1 wherein said inner member is of tubular configuration having an outer surface in part of frusto-conical form.
  • a device wherein the ring of luminous material is located in a peripheral groove around the outer surface of said inner member part Waybetween the ends thereof.
  • a device according to claim 4 wherein the luminous material is a radio-activated phosphorus paint.
  • the luminous material is a phosphor gas contained under pressure in a torus of translucent material.
  • a visual gun sighting device comprising a mounting pillar member attached to an outer sleeve member having located therein a tubular member of translucent maerial, an inner thin-walled sleeve member located within said translucent tubular member and a ring of luminous material located between said outer sleeve member and said rtanslucent member, said translucent member having an outer surface in part of frusto-conical configuration.
  • a visual gun sighting device including a peep-aperture backsight mounted in alignment with said tubular member for cooperation therewith.
  • a visual gun sighting device including an identical tubular member of translucent material mounted in spaced relationship therewith and forming a foresight in cooperation with said tubular member forming a backsight.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
  • Telescopes (AREA)
US686069A 1966-12-02 1967-11-28 Visual aiming devices Expired - Lifetime US3500545A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU14760/66A AU409199B2 (en) 1966-12-02 1966-12-02 Improvements in and relating to visual aiming devices

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3500545A true US3500545A (en) 1970-03-17

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ID=3704809

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US686069A Expired - Lifetime US3500545A (en) 1966-12-02 1967-11-28 Visual aiming devices

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3500545A (de)
JP (1) JPS499520B1 (de)
AU (1) AU409199B2 (de)
BE (1) BE707328A (de)
CH (1) CH463324A (de)
DE (1) DE1578271C3 (de)
ES (1) ES347855A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1201779A (de)
IL (1) IL29040A (de)
SE (1) SE341911B (de)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744143A (en) * 1971-01-04 1973-07-10 D Kilpatrick Circular segmented sighting mechanism
US3777380A (en) * 1971-12-23 1973-12-11 P Theodore Gunsight
US3886667A (en) * 1973-06-22 1975-06-03 Carl E Rueb Gun sight attachment
US4458436A (en) * 1981-04-01 1984-07-10 Bohl Thomas G Sight for shotguns
USRE33485E (en) * 1980-10-31 1990-12-11 Scopus Optical Industry Lighted gun sights
US5052112A (en) * 1989-02-21 1991-10-01 Macdonald Stewart F Drill guide and support therefor
US5246197A (en) * 1989-02-21 1993-09-21 Macdonald Stewart F Drill guide and support therefor
US5878503A (en) * 1996-09-05 1999-03-09 North Pass, Ltd. Gun sight system
US5930906A (en) * 1997-01-28 1999-08-03 North Pass, Ltd. Gun sight system
US6216351B1 (en) 1999-04-07 2001-04-17 Highlander Sports, Inc. Day and night weapon sights
US6233836B1 (en) * 1999-04-23 2001-05-22 Highlander Sports, Inc. Day and night weapon sights
US20060137234A1 (en) * 2004-12-29 2006-06-29 Castagnozzi Michael P Sighting system and method of using thereof
WO2007058675A2 (en) * 2005-05-27 2007-05-24 Defense Holdings, Inc. Photoluminescent (pl) weapon sight illuminator
US10274285B2 (en) * 2016-09-16 2019-04-30 Hiviz Llc Weapon sight light emission system
US20200103201A1 (en) * 2018-10-02 2020-04-02 Centre Firearms Co., Inc. Reflective sight for a firearm

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2154332A (en) * 1984-01-24 1985-09-04 Robert Kelvin Newton Optical sight
DE3702560C1 (de) * 1987-01-29 1988-08-18 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Einrichtung zur Visierbeleuchtung
DE10139806B4 (de) 2001-08-14 2005-09-22 Swarovski Optik Kg, Absam/Hall Teleskop mit geneigtem Einblick
AT509117A1 (de) * 2009-12-02 2011-06-15 Mb Microtec Ag Visiereinrichtung

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1307646A (en) * 1919-06-24 Sight fob firearms
US2706335A (en) * 1949-09-01 1955-04-19 Herbert H Munsey Gun sight
US2969594A (en) * 1959-04-13 1961-01-31 Frank R Palmer Gun sight
US3112566A (en) * 1962-11-09 1963-12-03 Jones Robert Will Gunsight

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1307646A (en) * 1919-06-24 Sight fob firearms
US2706335A (en) * 1949-09-01 1955-04-19 Herbert H Munsey Gun sight
US2969594A (en) * 1959-04-13 1961-01-31 Frank R Palmer Gun sight
US3112566A (en) * 1962-11-09 1963-12-03 Jones Robert Will Gunsight

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744143A (en) * 1971-01-04 1973-07-10 D Kilpatrick Circular segmented sighting mechanism
US3777380A (en) * 1971-12-23 1973-12-11 P Theodore Gunsight
US3886667A (en) * 1973-06-22 1975-06-03 Carl E Rueb Gun sight attachment
USRE33485E (en) * 1980-10-31 1990-12-11 Scopus Optical Industry Lighted gun sights
US4458436A (en) * 1981-04-01 1984-07-10 Bohl Thomas G Sight for shotguns
US5052112A (en) * 1989-02-21 1991-10-01 Macdonald Stewart F Drill guide and support therefor
US5246197A (en) * 1989-02-21 1993-09-21 Macdonald Stewart F Drill guide and support therefor
US5878503A (en) * 1996-09-05 1999-03-09 North Pass, Ltd. Gun sight system
US5930906A (en) * 1997-01-28 1999-08-03 North Pass, Ltd. Gun sight system
US6216351B1 (en) 1999-04-07 2001-04-17 Highlander Sports, Inc. Day and night weapon sights
US6233836B1 (en) * 1999-04-23 2001-05-22 Highlander Sports, Inc. Day and night weapon sights
US20060137234A1 (en) * 2004-12-29 2006-06-29 Castagnozzi Michael P Sighting system and method of using thereof
WO2007058675A2 (en) * 2005-05-27 2007-05-24 Defense Holdings, Inc. Photoluminescent (pl) weapon sight illuminator
WO2007058675A3 (en) * 2005-05-27 2007-11-15 Defense Holdings Inc Photoluminescent (pl) weapon sight illuminator
US20080295380A1 (en) * 2005-05-27 2008-12-04 Defense Holdings, Inc. Photoluminescent (PL) weapon sight illuminator
US7676981B2 (en) 2005-05-27 2010-03-16 Defense Holdings, Inc. Photoluminescent (PL) weapon sight illuminator
US8425063B2 (en) 2005-05-27 2013-04-23 Defense Holdings, Inc. Photoluminescent (PL) weapon sight illuminator
US10274285B2 (en) * 2016-09-16 2019-04-30 Hiviz Llc Weapon sight light emission system
US20200103201A1 (en) * 2018-10-02 2020-04-02 Centre Firearms Co., Inc. Reflective sight for a firearm
US10928161B2 (en) * 2018-10-02 2021-02-23 Cf Finance Llc Reflective sight for a firearm
US11391540B2 (en) * 2018-10-02 2022-07-19 Centre Firearms Co., Inc. Reflective sight for a firearm
US11841209B2 (en) 2018-10-02 2023-12-12 Centre Firearms Co., Inc. Reflective sight for a firearm
US12117265B2 (en) 2018-10-02 2024-10-15 Centre Firearms Co., Inc. Reflective sight for a firearm

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE341911B (de) 1972-01-17
CH463324A (de) 1968-09-30
BE707328A (de) 1968-04-01
DE1578271A1 (de) 1971-09-09
IL29040A (en) 1972-01-27
DE1578271C3 (de) 1974-01-03
AU409199B2 (en) 1971-01-04
DE1578271B2 (de) 1973-05-30
JPS499520B1 (de) 1974-03-05
GB1201779A (en) 1970-08-12
AU1476066A (en) 1969-05-01
ES347855A1 (es) 1969-02-16

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