Patents by Inventor Brian J. Bellah

Brian J. Bellah has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11953291
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-use laser rangefinder usable in either of hand-held and weapon-mounted modes. It includes a compact laser rangefinder (LRF) removably mountable to a weapon system and an optical aiming unit separate from a weapon system optical sighting device. The compact optical aiming unit has a point of aim viewable therethrough and is removably attachable to the rangefinder. The LRF has a point of aim adjustable to a point of aim of the weapon system when mounted and to the point of aim of the optical aiming unit when LRF is demounted and the optical aiming unit is attached to the LRF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lightforce USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Bellah
  • Patent number: 11733000
    Abstract: Provided is a weapon aiming system including a riflescope and a laser rangefinder (LRF). The riflescope has at least one turret for adjusting the position of an internal reticle aimpoint. At least one encoder senses a relative position change of the turret and/or reticle. The LRF includes at least one pair of Risley prisms operable to adjustably position a LRF aimpoint to coincide with the aimpoint of the riflescope reticle. A motor is associated with each Risley prism. The system is configured such that adjusting the aimpoint of the riflescope reticle causes the encoder to send a position change signal to a controller programmed to, in response, direct the motor to reposition the prisms so that the LRF aimpoint continues to coincide with the reticle aimpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Lightforce USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Bellah, Chad VanBrunt, Kali Gagne Morici, Kyle Klosterman
  • Publication number: 20220074709
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-use laser rangefinder usable in either of hand-held and weapon-mounted modes. It includes a compact laser rangefinder (LRF) removably mountable to a weapon system and an optical aiming unit separate from a weapon system optical sighting device. The compact optical aiming unit has a point of aim viewable therethrough and is removably attachable to the rangefinder. The LRF has a point of aim adjustable to a point of aim of the weapon system when mounted and to the point of aim of the optical aiming unit when LRF is demounted and the optical aiming unit is attached to the LRF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventor: Brian J. Bellah
  • Publication number: 20220065586
    Abstract: Provided is a weapon aiming system including a riflescope and a laser rangefinder (LRF). The riflescope has at least one turret for adjusting the position of an internal reticle aimpoint. At least one encoder senses a relative position change of the turret and/or reticle. The LRF includes at least one pair of Risley prisms operable to adjustably position a LRF aimpoint to coincide with the aimpoint of the riflescope reticle. A motor is associated with each Risley prism. The system is configured such that adjusting the aimpoint of the riflescope reticle causes the encoder to send a position change signal to a controller programmed to, in response, direct the motor to reposition the prisms so that the LRF aimpoint continues to coincide with the reticle aimpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Brian J. Bellah, Chad VanBrunt, Kali Gagne Morici, Kyle Klosterman
  • Patent number: 10823531
    Abstract: Provided is an illuminated dot reticle for use in a rifle scope having an optical path defined through axially spaced-apart objective and ocular lenses and method manufacturing a reticle disc assembly. A reticle disc has a first surface facing the objective lens and a second surface facing the ocular lens. A first reticle pattern, including a central aiming point, is applied to one of the reticle disc surfaces. An optical fiber has a proximal end portion and a distal end, with a light source configured to deliver light to the proximal end portion of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is secured to one of the reticle plate surfaces such that the distal end is positioned to transmit light from the light source toward the ocular lens in the optical path, providing an illuminated dot at the central aiming point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Lightforce USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Bellah, Grant M. W. Minor
  • Patent number: 10670852
    Abstract: Provided is an illuminated reticle assembly for an optical aiming device. The assembly includes a reticle plate has a first surface on which a physical reticle pattern is applied. A laser light source is configured to project a beam of laser light into the reticle plate at a first angle and toward an inner side of a second surface at an angle of incidence that directs a reflected beam of laser light toward at least a selected portion of the physical reticle pattern. The reflected laser light illuminates the at least selected portion of the physical reticle pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Lightforce USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Bellah, Chad D. Beauregard
  • Patent number: 10534166
    Abstract: An optical projection system (12) for a weapon system aiming scope (10) having at least objective and ocular lenses (24, 26) defining an optical path through which a target image (30) is observed. The projection system (12) includes a primary beamsplitter (62) positioned in the optical path, a secondary beamsplitter (64) positioned adjacent the primary beamsplitter (62) and off the optical path, a micro-display (60) that provides a data image (38, 88) containing targeting information (100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112), and an illumination source (52). The illumination source (52) generates light directed through the secondary beamsplitter (64) to illuminate and reflect off the micro-display (60) so as to define a reflected data image (88), and the secondary beamsplitter (64) directs the reflected data image (88) into the primary beamsplitter (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Lightforce USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Abram W. Summerfield, Brian J. Bellah, Chad D. Beauregard
  • Publication number: 20190219813
    Abstract: An optical projection system (12) for a weapon system aiming scope (10) having at least objective and ocular lenses (24, 26) defining an optical path through which a target image (30) is observed. The projection system (12) includes a primary beamsplitter (62) positioned in the optical path, a secondary beamsplitter (64) positioned adjacent the primary beamsplitter (62) and off the optical path, a micro-display (60) that provides a data image (38, 88) containing targeting information (100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112), and an illumination source (52). The illumination source (52) generates light directed through the secondary beamsplitter (64) to illuminate and reflect off the micro-display (60) so as to define a reflected data image (88), and the secondary beamsplitter (64) directs the reflected data image (88) into the primary beamsplitter (62).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Abram W. Summerfield, Brian J. Bellah, Chad D. Beauregard
  • Publication number: 20180224242
    Abstract: Provided is an illuminated dot reticle for use in a rifle scope having an optical path defined through axially spaced-apart objective and ocular lenses and method manufacturing a reticle disc assembly. A reticle disc has a first surface facing the objective lens and a second surface facing the ocular lens. A first reticle pattern, including a central aiming point, is applied to one of the reticle disc surfaces. An optical fiber has a proximal end portion and a distal end, with a light source configured to deliver light to the proximal end portion of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is secured to one of the reticle plate surfaces such that the distal end is positioned to transmit light from the light source toward the ocular lens in the optical path, providing an illuminated dot at the central aiming point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Brian J. Bellah, Grant M. W. Minor
  • Publication number: 20180224649
    Abstract: Provided is an illuminated reticle assembly for an optical aiming device. The assembly includes a reticle plate has a first surface on which a physical reticle pattern is applied. A laser light source is configured to project a beam of laser light into the reticle plate at a first angle and toward an inner side of a second surface at an angle of incidence that directs a reflected beam of laser light toward at least a selected portion of the physical reticle pattern. The reflected laser light illuminates the at least selected portion of the physical reticle pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Brian J. Bellah, Chad D. Beauregard