Using Contrasting Material Or Color (e.g., Bead, Etc.) Patents (Class 42/144)
  • Patent number: 11841209
    Abstract: A reflective gun sight includes a rear sight including a light source; and a front sight including a reflective surface that is directly opposing the light source and recessed within an aperture of a front sight housing, wherein light emitted from the light source travels through the aperture and is reflected by the reflective surface toward the rear sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Centre Firearms Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Juan D. Cabrera, Andrew Lees, Richard Ryder Washburn, III, Richard Ryder Washburn, II
  • Patent number: 11815332
    Abstract: An adjustable firearm sight includes a body made of a flexible and resilient material. The body includes an elevation arm connected to the body and extending proximally therefrom to a sight portion, where the elevation arm and the body comprise a monolithic structure. A cam body below the elevation arm has a cam surface in contact with a bottom surface of the elevation arm, where the cam body is rotatable to change a vertical position of the sight portion. Also disclosed is a front sight assembly where a sight element is disposed in a longitudinal bore through a sight body. A proximal end of the longitudinal bore has a reduced size. At a distal end, a retention pin is disposed in a retention bore that extends transversely to and intersects the longitudinal bore such that the retention pin occupies the longitudinal bore to retain the sight element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sig Sauer, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Eaton, Tyler Rainaud, Chris Bova, Benjamin L. Froburg
  • Patent number: 11703305
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are alignment features for scopes, such as alignment rings for telescopic sights. For example, a scope can includes a proximal end having an interior surface. The proximal end is that which a user aligns his or her eye in order to visualize a target. The scope may also include an alignment ring on the interior surface of the proximal end. The alignment ring assists a user in determining whether his or her eye is properly aligned with a longitudinal axis of the scope. With correct eye alignment, the alignment ring is not visible. With incorrect eye alignment, at least a portion of the alignment ring is visible, thus ensuring accurate sighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CRIMSON TRACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Johnston, Jason Clark, Eric Petterson, Eric David Marvin
  • Patent number: 11698242
    Abstract: A phosphorescent sight system is provided comprising a rear sight for disposition along a proximal portion of a slide substrate of a firearm and a front sight for disposition along a distal portion of the slide substrate. The sight system may further comprise an optical waveguide disposed within a waveguide cavity of the rear sight or the front sight. Further, a phosphorescent element may be disposed adjacent a proximal portion of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventor: Jens Rohrer
  • Patent number: 11644275
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a sighting device mountable to a gun to assist a shooter in aiming at a target. The apparatus comprises an optical element and a light source which provide feedback to the user regarding alignment with a target. The alignment aid optical element is a ring of transparent material with a user-facing, contoured surface with an inner and outer edge. The contoured surface is coated with a reflective material that reflects a narrow band of light wavelengths. The apparatus further comprises a light source coupled to a mount located at a focal point of the lens wherein the emission of light from the light source faces the lens. The wavelengths emitted from the light source correspond to those of the coatings on the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Jordan Kristomas Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11391540
    Abstract: A reflective sight for use with a firearm includes a rear sight including a light source; and a front sight including a reflective surface directly opposing the light source, where light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflective surface toward the rear sight. The rear sight can include a plurality of light sources and at least two of the plurality of light sources emit different colors of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CENTRE FIREARMS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Juan D. Cabrera, Andrew Lees, Richard Ryder Washburn, III, Richard Ryder Washburn, II
  • Patent number: 11047645
    Abstract: A sighting apparatus for a firearm includes a front sight affixed to an upper surface at a front end of the firearm, and a rear sight affixed to the upper surface at an opposing rear end of the firearm. The rear sight includes a main body and an indexing element positioned thereon. The indexing element has its terminus aligned with the top surface of the rear sight body. The front sight is positioned higher than the rear sight, such that aiming the firearm involves pointing the front sight at the target, then aligning the bottom of the front site with the upper terminus of the indexing element on the rear sight. In one embodiment of the invention, the rear sight has a low-profile that enables the user to regain significant field of view that was blocked by prior art rear sights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: VINCENT TACTICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Kyle J. Berean
  • Patent number: 11015887
    Abstract: A firearm safety selector lever, including at least some of a lever element having a head portion and an extension portion, wherein the extension portion includes an extension portion top wall and an extension portion sidewall; a visual element recess extending from an open first end formed in a terminal sidewall portion of the extension portion sidewall through at least a portion of the extension portion; a primary viewing aperture extending from the extension portion top wall to at least a portion of the visual element recess; and a visual element at least partially positionable within the visual element recess such that at least a portion of the visual element is viewable through the primary viewing aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: BattleArms IP, LLC
    Inventor: George Huang
  • Patent number: 10969195
    Abstract: A translucent reflective hand gun front sight includes a rectangular top portion of acrylic, polycarbonate or other suitable plastic having a vertical rear wall, a vertical front wall, a reflective horizontal top wall, a top front wall radiused transition portion forming an internal rectangular solid sight bead to be placed on the target when viewed through the vertical rear wall. The rectangular portion also includes a vertical reflective right side wall and a vertical reflective left side wall. Below the side walls are reflective right and left side shoulders extending outwardly and downwardly from the side walls transitioning into reflective lower vertical side portions extending vertically and downward from the shoulders. A lower most mounting base to affix the front sight to the gun is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Clinton J. Clark
  • Patent number: 10859345
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are alignment features for scopes, such as alignment rings for telescopic sights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Crimson Trace Corporation
    Inventors: William Johnston, Jason Clark, Eric Petterson, Eric David Marvin
  • Patent number: 10746489
    Abstract: A safety selector lever, including at least some of a lever element having a head portion and an extension portion, the extension portion includes an extension portion top wall, two extension portion sidewalls, and an extension portion bottom wall, a visual element recess is formed through at least a portion of the extension portion, at least a primary viewing aperture extends from the extension portion top wall to at least a portion of the visual element recess, and a securing screw aperture extends from the extension portion bottom wall to the visual element recess; a visual element is at least partially positionable within the visual element recess; and a securing screw is rotatably engageable within at least a portion of the securing screw aperture, such that a terminal end of the securing screw extends to contact at least a portion of the visual element within the visual element recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Battlearms IP, LLC
    Inventor: George Huang
  • Patent number: 10684100
    Abstract: A weapon sight interface for mounting a device on a weapon having a rear sight and front sight, including an enhanced rear sight for replacing the rear sight of the weapon, having a base for installing in a dovetail slot of the weapon, an elongated tail that extends along the barrel of the weapon; and one or more tritium dots or white dots configured to enable use of the enhanced rear sight as a rear sight of the weapon; and also having a quick release interface for attaching to the device and locking onto the enhanced rear sight, having guides to securely fit onto the enhanced rear sight, a quick release lever, which in a first position causes the guides to lock onto the enhanced rear sight and in a second position releases the enhanced rear sight so that the quick release interface can slide off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MEPROLIGHT (1990) LTD
    Inventors: Zeev Pniel, Yakov Dekhtyar
  • Patent number: 10408569
    Abstract: A rear-sight aiming device to aid a shooter of a firearm. The device includes a housing with a tunnel alignable with the front aiming sight; an elongated optical fiber in a non-linear configuration is disposed inboard within the tunnel; an annular light-transmitting cylinder, disposed within the tunnel between the optical fiber and the shooter of the firearm during shooting; and a self-activating light source coaxially and completely disposed within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Yigal Abo
  • Patent number: 10288377
    Abstract: An alignment aid that includes a surface that defines a plane. First, second, and third references are aligned along a first axis of the surface, wherein each reference has a length along the first axis and a width along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. A distance is between adjacent references along the first axis. Each reference includes a first alignment feature adjacent to a second alignment feature. Each first alignment feature has a first alignment feature elevation orthogonal to the first and second axes. Each second alignment feature has a second alignment feature elevation orthogonal to the first and second axes. For each reference, the first alignment feature elevation is higher than the second alignment feature elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventor: Allen Daniel Stephenson
  • Patent number: 10234237
    Abstract: An integrated fixed sight on a firearm consists of a front sighting device and an external muzzle device. The external muzzle device includes a proximal end, a central axis, a mount body, a top surface, and a distal end. The front sighting device is laterally aligned with the central axis and mounted onto the top surface adjacent the proximal end. The front sighting device can vary in size and shape. The external muzzle device is mounted onto the barrel of the firearm through a clamp and a fastening mechanism. Since the threads on the barrel are not used, the threads of the barrel are preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventor: John Jager
  • Patent number: 9909838
    Abstract: The embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to fiber optic weapon sights that use a reflector to direct ambient light to a fiber optic rod and thus provide weapon sights that are bright in any lighting condition. In one instance, the reflector can have a concave shape, such as a spherical or parabolic shape, that can focus ambient light on the fiber optic rod and thereby significantly increase the brightness of the weapon sight. The embodiments of the present invention can accordingly provide enhanced fiber optic front and/or rear sights for weapons including rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Jason Stewart Jackson
  • Patent number: 9903686
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first gunsight and a second gunsight, where both the first and the second sights are configured to be positioned on a forward portion of a barrel of a firearm. According to an embodiment, a third gunsight may be configured to be positioned on the forward portion of the barrel. The gunsight may be interchangeable with different gunsights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: John Maynard
  • Patent number: 9658030
    Abstract: A gun sight is provided having a rear sight including at least two apertures which are offset horizontally. A forward sight is also provided with sight features which correspond to the at least first and second apertures of the rear sight. The user or shooter may learn to accurately fire the weapon and more easily acquire a target with less extensive training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Lee Philip Heacock
  • Patent number: 9587910
    Abstract: The embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to fiber optic weapon sights that use a reflector to direct ambient light to a fiber optic rod and thus provide weapon sights that are bright in any lighting condition. In one instance, the reflector can have a concave shape, such as a spherical or parabolic shape, that can focus ambient light on the fiber optic rod and thereby significantly increase the brightness of the weapon sight. The embodiments of the present invention can accordingly provide enhanced fiber optic front and/or rear sights for weapons including rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Jason Stewart Jackson
  • Patent number: 9360278
    Abstract: An aiming apparatus and associated methods for aiming a device such as a firearm are disclosed herein. In various aspects, the aiming apparatus may include a front sight configured as a post and a rear sight configured to include a notch. An image portion is formed on the front sight and a complementary image portion formed on the rear sight such that the image portion and the complementary image portion present a unitary image to a viewer of the front sight through the notch when the front sight is aligned with the rear sight, in various aspects. Note that this abstract is presented to meet requirements of the USPTO. This abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Mansfield
  • Patent number: 9335118
    Abstract: The embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to fiber optic weapon sights that use a reflector to direct ambient light to a fiber optic rod, and thus can provide weapon sights that are bright, or at least visible, in a variety of lighting condition. In one instance, the reflector can have a concave shape, such as a spherical or parabolic shape, that can focus ambient light on the fiber optic rod and thereby significantly increase the brightness of the weapon sight. The embodiments of the present invention can accordingly provide enhanced fiber optic front and/or rear sights for weapons including rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Jason Stewart Jackson
  • Patent number: 9328993
    Abstract: A gun sight is provided having a rear sight including at least two apertures which are offset vertically and horizontally to correctly sight the gun relative to two perpendicular axes. A forward sight is also provided which corresponds to the at least first and second apertures of the rear sight. These features also offset vertically and horizontally to aid in fast acquisition and targeting. The user or shooter may learn to accurately fire the weapon and more easily acquire a target with less extensive training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventor: Lee Philip Heacock
  • Patent number: 9322614
    Abstract: A front iron sight for a firearm including a housing defining an open unobstructed tubular aperture for a sightline therethrough and a partially open top portion, and preferably with a leading end of the front iron sight housing including a straight flat top portion and straight exterior side wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventors: Dwight P. Williams, Kenneth W. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8919027
    Abstract: A firearm sight comprising: a sight base; a left contrast geometry wall extending generally upward from the sight base, the left contrast geometry wall having a left operator end and a left firing end; a right contrast geometry wall extending generally upward from the sight base, the right contrast geometry wall having a right operator end and a right firing end, and where the left contrast geometry wall and right contrast geometry wall are tapered in position with respect to each other such that distance between the left operator end and the right operator end is greater than the distance between the left firing end and the right firing end; a targeting space located generally between left and right firing ends; a mounting interface attached to the underside of the base, and configured to attached to a top surface of a firearm; where the left and right contrast geometry walls each have an inner surface that has a visually contrasting appearance such that user intuitively adjusts the firearm such that the con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Curry
  • Patent number: 8863433
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gun sight system that utilizes vernier acuity to provide a single point of sight for aiming that requires little or no visual and mental estimation such that the respective firearm can be quickly, easily and accurately aimed at a still or moving target. The sight system includes a front sight comprising a sighting structure extending substantially orthogonally from the end of the slide that includes a ‘V-shaped’ notch in a distal end. The system additionally includes a rear sight comprising a sighting stud extending substantially orthogonally from a rear of the slide includes a ‘inverted-V-shaped’ tip such that when a user looks longitudinally along the top of the slide, the user can align an apex of the rear sight ‘inverted-V-shaped’ tip with a nadir of the front sight ‘V-shaped’ notch with the target nested within the front sight ‘V-shaped’ notch to accurately aim the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: I.P. Holding Group I, LLC.
    Inventor: Russell E. Kruse
  • Patent number: 8739454
    Abstract: Handgun front sight 140 has an elongated, rectangular body with a light pipe 21 inserted into the open space between the rear opening 141 and forward opening 142. The base of the front sight is slanted to raise the proximate end relative to the distal end. The rear sight 120 has a body 102 with a circular opening for centering the target. A compass ring 60 fits inside the circular opening. A pair of light pipes 116a, 116b in the body of the rear sight are aligned with 90 and 270 degree points of the compass ring to establish an imaginary line across the diameter. The front light pipe is centered along that imaginary line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Dead Ringer, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Erdle, Mike Furla, Kristian Meyer
  • Publication number: 20140096430
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gun sight system that utilizes vernier acuity to provide a single point of sight for aiming that requires little or no visual and mental estimation such that the respective firearm can be quickly, easily and accurately aimed at a still or moving target. The sight system includes a front sight comprising a sighting structure extending substantially orthogonally from the end of the slide that includes a ‘V-shaped’ notch in a distal end. The system additionally includes a rear sight comprising a sighting stud extending substantially orthogonally from a rear of the slide includes a ‘inverted-V-shaped’ tip such that when a user looks longitudinally along the top of the slide, the user can align an apex of the rear sight ‘inverted-V-shaped’ tip with a nadir of the front sight ‘V-shaped’ notch with the target nested within the front sight ‘V-shaped’ notch to accurately aim the firearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: I.P. HOLDING GROUP I, LLC.
    Inventor: Russell E. Kruse
  • Publication number: 20130255129
    Abstract: A firearm sight comprising: a sight base; a left contrast geometry wall extending generally upward from the sight base, the left contrast geometry wall having a left operator end and a left firing end; a right contrast geometry wall extending generally upward from the sight base, the right contrast geometry wall having a right operator end and a right firing end, and where the left contrast geometry wall and right contrast geometry wall are tapered in position with respect to each other such that distance between the left operator end and the right operator end is greater than the distance between the left firing end and the right firing end; a targeting space located generally between left and right firing ends; a mounting interface attached to the underside of the base, and configured to attached to a top surface of a firearm; where the left and right contrast geometry walls each have an inner surface that has a visually contrasting appearance such that user intuitively adjusts the firearm such that the con
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Curry
  • Publication number: 20130185984
    Abstract: A sighting system for a firearm is provided and may include a rear-sight assembly having a rear surface opposing a shooter, a pair of rear-aiming points, and a U-shaped opening disposed between the pair of rear-aiming points. The rear surface may be formed at an angle relative to a top surface of the firearm such that a bottom portion of the rear surface disposed proximate to the top surface of the firearm is farther away from a shooter than a top portion of the rear surface. The sighting system may also include a front-sight assembly including a housing having a front-aiming point, a brightly colored material surrounding the front-aiming point, and a top coat extending over the brightly colored material and the front-aiming point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: TRIJICON, INC.
    Inventor: Trijicon, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130185983
    Abstract: A sight assembly for a firearm is provided and may include a main body attached to the firearm and a pair of projections defining a first surface opposing a shooter and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the projections than the first surface. The first surface may be formed at an angle relative to a top surface of the firearm such that a bottom portion of the first surface disposed proximate to the top surface of the firearm is farther away from a shooter than a top portion of the first surface. The sight assembly may further include a U-shaped opening disposed between the pair of projections and in communication with a passage defined by the pair of projections, whereby the passage widens along a length of the pair of projections in a direction extending from the first surface to the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: TRIJICON, INC.
    Inventor: Trijicon, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130180156
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a rear sight configured to be coupled with a firearm, the rear sight comprising a left upward member and a right upward member comprising a left horizontal linear alignment indicator and the right upward member comprising a right horizontal linear alignment indicator, wherein a distance between the left horizontal linear alignment indictor and the top surface of the left upward member is less than or substantially equal to the height of the left horizontal linear alignment indicator and a distance between the right horizontal linear alignment indictor and the top surface of the right upward member is less than or substantially equal to the height of the right horizontal linear alignment indicator is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: SHEBARO TACTICAL CONSULTANTS INC.
    Inventor: Alan Mazin SHEBARO
  • Patent number: 8479433
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a rear sight configured to be coupled with a firearm, the rear sight comprising a left upward member and a right upward member comprising a left horizontal linear alignment indicator and the right upward member comprising a right horizontal linear alignment indicator, wherein a distance between the left horizontal linear alignment indictor and the top surface of the left upward member is less than or substantially equal to the height of the left horizontal linear alignment indicator and a distance between the right horizontal linear alignment indictor and the top surface of the right upward member is less than or substantially equal to the height of the right horizontal linear alignment indicator is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Shebaro Tactical Consultants Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Mazin Shebaro
  • Patent number: 8443542
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for a firing pin sight system. At least one rearwardly facing sight is located at a rear contact surface of a firing pin of a firearm. The at least one rearwardly facing sight is viewable to a shooter from the rear of the firearm. The at least one rearwardly facing sight forms a high contrast surface (in respect the rear surface of the firearm) allowing the shooter to align the at least one rearwardly facing sight point with a target located in front of said firearm. An optical alignment signaling indicia indicates to the shooter when the aim line of the handgun is either off-sight alignment or on-sight alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Shaun W. Galbraith
  • Patent number: 8261481
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a rear sight configured to be coupled with a firearm, the rear sight comprising a left upward member and a right upward member comprising a left horizontal linear alignment indicator and the right upward member comprising a right horizontal linear alignment indicator, wherein a distance between the left horizontal linear alignment indictor and the top surface of the left upward member is less than or substantially equal to the height of the left horizontal linear alignment indicator and a distance between the right horizontal linear alignment indictor and the top surface of the right upward member is less than or substantially equal to the height of the right horizontal linear alignment indicator is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Shebaro Tactical Consultants Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Mazin Shebaro
  • Publication number: 20120144721
    Abstract: A sighting system for a firearm is provided and may include a rear-sight assembly having a rear surface opposing a shooter, a pair of rear-aiming points, and a U-shaped opening disposed between the pair of rear-aiming points. The rear surface may be formed at an angle relative to a top surface of the firearm such that a bottom portion of the rear surface disposed proximate to the top surface of the firearm is farther away from a shooter than a top portion of the rear surface. The sighting system may also include a front-sight assembly including a housing having a front-aiming point, a brightly colored material surrounding the front-aiming point, and a top coat extending over the brightly colored material and the front-aiming point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: TRIJICON, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan R. Glimpse, Robert W. Condra, Joshua Lee Varner, Joseph R. Adkins
  • Patent number: 8104218
    Abstract: A firearm accessory mounting rail with an integrated back up sight system including an elongated Picatinny rail having longitudinally spaced apart first and second end regions and a transverse profile. A first sight element has a visual marker substantially centrally positioned. A second sight element has laterally spaced apart visual markers. A substantially centered longitudinal channel extends along the upper surface of the rail between the first and second sight elements. The firearm may be sighted by visually aligning the marker of the first sight element between the markers of the second sight element, the visual alignment being at least partially through the longitudinal channel. The sight elements may be defined completely within the transverse profile of the rail so as not to interfere with the normal attachment of any accessories to the rail and may be adjustable for windage and/or elevation. The visual markers may be illuminated by light gathering fiber optic or tritium elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Richard J. McCann
  • Patent number: 8091268
    Abstract: According an embodiment, a projectile weapon aiming system includes a computer-controllable reticle with crosshairs or other aiming marks having a color and/or illumination that can be selectively changed to provide feedback to a shooter to indicate when the projectile weapon aiming system (and hence the projectile weapon itself) is accurately aimed to compensate for a particular range, inclination, crosswind, and/or other ballistic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew W. York
  • Publication number: 20110197491
    Abstract: A firearm accessory mounting rail with an integrated back up sight system including an elongated Picatinny rail having longitudinally spaced apart first and second end regions and a transverse profile. A first sight element has a visual marker substantially centrally positioned. A second sight element has laterally spaced apart visual markers. A substantially centered longitudinal channel extends along the upper surface of the rail between the first and second sight elements. The firearm may be sighted by visually aligning the marker of the first sight element between the markers of the second sight element, the visual alignment being at least partially through the longitudinal channel. The sight elements may be defined completely within the transverse profile of the rail so as not to interfere with the normal attachment of any accessories to the rail and may be adjustable for windage and/or elevation. The visual markers may be illuminated by light gathering fiber optic or tritium elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Richard J. McCann
  • Patent number: 7934334
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems for aiming devices. For example, the aiming systems can be used to aim a firearm. The aiming systems can comprise a front sight portion having a cross-section with a truncated triangle shape when viewed by an operator aiming the device. The aiming systems can further comprise a rear sight portion including a notch having a truncated triangle shape with a base, a left side, a right side, and an opening that is narrower than the base. The front sight portion is alignable relative to the notch for aiming the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventor: Timothy W. Kraft
  • Patent number: 7908783
    Abstract: An aiming sight has a base, two oppositely facing light emitting elements on the base, a pivot upon which the base rotates, a detent that holds the base at selected positions, and a spring, magnet or other structure that presses the sight towards the aimed device upon which the sight is mounted. The sight is selectively rotated so that one of the light emitting elements faces the user for aiming, without removing the sight or the light emitting elements from the aimed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Phillip D. Howe, Richard A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7905046
    Abstract: A system and method for use of an enhanced aiming system which includes a marker displayed at a first position in an aiming scope, a user input of a start position and an ending position to measure a desired impact zone, a calculator for determining a range to the target based on the known dimension of the impact zone and the magnification value of the aiming scope, and a display in the aiming scope for showing an aiming point dot or bar to compensate for projectile drop at the calculated range, and optionally for windage and optionally for moving target hold-over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas D. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 7832138
    Abstract: A gun sight system featuring point-to-point visual alignment is provided. A front sight coupled to a forward end of a gun includes a top sighting point and optionally lateral sighting points. A rear sight coupled to a rearward end of the gun includes a pair of spaced apart rear lateral sighting points each visually alignable with and visually touching one of the front lateral sighting points or the top sighting point for visually touching the top sighting point with a target while simultaneously visually aligning at least one of the rear lateral sighting points with a point on the front sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Donald H. Price
  • Publication number: 20100077647
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems for aiming devices. For example, the aiming systems can be used to aim a firearm. The aiming systems can comprise a front sight portion having a cross-section with a truncated triangle shape when viewed by an operator aiming the device. The aiming systems can further comprise a rear sight portion including a notch having a truncated triangle shape with a base, a left side, a right side, and an opening that is narrower than the base. The front sight portion is alignable relative to the notch for aiming the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventor: Timothy W. Kraft
  • Patent number: 7526890
    Abstract: A rugged, adjustable optical alignment device well suited for use as a pistol rear sight is adapted for use in a dovetail, as is customarily seen on the slide of an automatic pistol. The sight assembly includes a rear notch, but could just as easily include a peep aperture or other optical alignment structure. The rear sight provides an easy click-detent adjusting mechanism for horizontal translation of the notch, as well as a second click-detent mechanism for vertical translation of the structure defining the notch, thereby providing adjustments for windage and elevation. A base hingedly supports a vertical tilt member. A horizontal slide member mounted on the rear of the vertrical tilt member is horizontally translatable by adjustment of a windage adjustment screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventors: Da Keng, Maciej W. Matuszczak
  • Patent number: 7434345
    Abstract: The present invention is a reticule featuring both rapid close-quarters target acquisition and precise distance shooting functionality. The reticule features a broad central aiming ring and four sets of aiming point-indicating dots. The lowest set comprises dots of differing dimensions and distances apart. Ranging rings are also provided. In an alternate embodiment the aiming ring comprises a plurality of varying transparent and opaque cells. The reticule can be illuminated through known or future discovered means for low-light or night shooting. A further alternate embodiment features a caliber specific ranging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventor: Edward A. Verdugo
  • Patent number: 6978569
    Abstract: A tilt indicator for use on a firearm includes a signal to indicate if the firearm is level or out of level. The signal is located to be viewed by a user via the user's peripheral vision and his secondary concentration so the user can maintain his primary concentration on the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Long-Shot Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: Warren P. Williamson, IV, David C. Yates, Craig B. Berky
  • Patent number: 6865022
    Abstract: An improved reticle for optical instruments such as telescopic sights, riflescopes and surveying telescopes, provides a primary indicator at the focal plane of the instrument and a secondary indicator spaced, axially, apart from, and viewable with, the primary indicator. When an operator's eye is properly centered on the optical axis of the instrument, the indicators provide visual feedback to the operator of such proper alignment. When an operator's eye is laterally displaced from the optical axis, the indicators provide visual feedback indicative of improper positioning of the eye. Thus, an operator may readily, and intuitively, make the necessary adjustments to the relationship of the eye to the optical axis to correct for misalignment without the need for cumbersome mechanical adjustments and special mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventors: Stanley J. Skinner, Sidney D. Moore
  • Patent number: 6711846
    Abstract: A gun sight system including a front sight portion and a rear sight portion. The rear sight portion comprises a truncated triangle and the front sight portion comprises a triangle substantially the same size and of the same inclined angle as a truncated portion of the rear sight portion. When the front and rear sight portions are vertically and horizontally aligned, an image of a complete triangle is formed for the user and a target is placed on a top point of the triangle of the front sight portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Nasef
  • Publication number: 20040010956
    Abstract: An aiming device for pistols comprises a rear sight (2) and front sight having a luminous dot on the side facing the eye (rear sight). The rear sight has a luminous mark and a recess which accommodates the contour of the front sight. The recess comprises a base line or bottom wall and two side lines or side walls. For aiming in poor visibility, the rear sight has a trapezoidal external contour, with the inclined trapezoid sides forming an acute angle at their upper ends with the side lines of the recess, and the rear sight has a second luminous dot centrally under the recess which is located precisely under the first luminous dot on the front sight when the pistol is being aimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Wilhelm Bubits
  • Patent number: 6604315
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting a shooter in holding an aiming eye at a predetermined level relative to the barrel of a shotgun. Light is reflected or projected along a path extending at a predetermined rearward, so that the shooter's aiming eye receives a first image when it is at the proper level and a second image when it is above the proper level, thus indicating to the shooter when the aiming eye has been raised too high. The images may be different colors, produced by dispersing the beam by reflecting it from a diffraction grating or passing it through a prism. A lenticular sheet may also be used to create different colors or images that are received above and below the dividing plane. Moirè patterns may also be used to produce an image that shifts with movement of the aiming eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Cleveland C. Smith, Jadin C. Jackson