Angle slope level indicator and uses thereof
The present invention relates to instruments for achieving improved accuracy in targeting objects from a distance. In particular, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the slope of a reference point to an object at a distance. In addition, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the cant level of a reference point to an object at a distance.
The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/763,233, filed Jan. 30, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to instruments for achieving improved accuracy in targeting objects from a distance. In particular, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the slope of a reference point to an object at a distance. In addition, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the cant level of a reference point to an object at a distance.
BACKGROUNDAccurately targeting an object with a weapon (e.g., rifle) requires keen perception and skill. For long-range targets, the use of a scope with the weapon greatly enhances a user's precision. However, the use of scopes does not correct for all limitations. For example, a user must account for cant level errors, and a user must account for slope and cosine measurements. What is needed are improved devices for obtaining enhanced accuracy with a weapon (e.g., rifle).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to instruments for achieving improved accuracy in targeting objects from a distance. In particular, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the slope of a reference point to an object at a distance. In addition, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the cant level of a reference point to an object at a distance.
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides an angle slope level indicator (ASLI) device, comprising a housing secured with an attachment member, the housing having therein a slope indicator and a cant level indicator, wherein the cant level indicator is configured to display changes in cant level resulting from movement of the device, and wherein the slope indicator is configured to display changes in slope level resulting from movement of the device. In certain embodiments, the attachment member is configured for attachment onto a rifle scope. In certain embodiments, the cant level indicator is separated from the slope indicator.
In certain embodiments the present invention provides a system, comprising an ASLI device rigidly attached onto a scope. In certain embodiments, the device is used with a spotting scope, rifle, telescope, artillery launcher, or any other device that launches projectiles.
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods of targeting an object, comprising providing an ASLI instrument secured to a shooting device (e.g., a rifle). In some such embodiments, a user views the object through the scope, measures the slope measurement with the slope indicator, measures the cant level with the cant indicator, and adjusts the aim of the object based upon the slope measurement and the cant level measurement. In some embodiments, a ballistics calculator or computer is used to further assist in aiming.
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides kits comprising an ASLI instrument of the present invention and a scope.
The following description relates to instruments for achieving improved accuracy in targeting objects from a distance. In particular, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the slope of a reference point to an object at a distance. In addition, the present invention provides instruments designed to measure the cant level of a reference point to an object at a distance.
The angle slope level indicator (ASLI) instruments provided in the present invention are designed, for example, for a sophisticated rifleman who engages targets at high or low angles. The ASLI instruments of the present invention provide fast, precise, easy to read, vertical angle information and, in some embodiments, corresponding cosine values. In addition, the ASLI instruments of the present invention provide cant leveling for retaining a bullet's flight path in line with an optical sighting. Factoring accurate cant and slope measurements into, for example, a firing solution dramatically reduces the margin of shooting error. In some embodiments, the present invention provides an ASLI instrument capable of slope and cant level measurement combined into a single, precision-engineered, hermetically sealed unit. The ASLI instruments are not limited for use with particular devices. Indeed, the ASLI instruments of the present invention are designed for use with rifles, grenade launching devices, tanks, binoculars, telescopes, hand-guns, bows, cross-bows, etc (e.g., any device requiring improved target accuracy through obtaining cant level and/or slope measurements).
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The ASLI instruments of the present invention are designed for numerous type of uses. In preferred embodiments, the ASLI instruments are designed to improve the targeting of an object through with a scope by allowing a user the option of correcting cant level inaccuracies and adjusting an aim based upon slope measurement. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods of targeting an object, comprising providing an ASLI instrument secured with a scope (e.g., a rifle scope). In such embodiments, a user views the object through the scope, measures the slope measurement with the slope indicator, measures the cant level with the cant indicator, and adjusts the aim of the object based upon the slope measurement and the cant level measurement.
In certain embodiments, systems including ASLI instruments of the present invention are provided. For example, in certain embodiments, systems comprising an ASLI instrument of the present invention rigidly attached with a scope (e.g., a rifle scope) are provided. In certain embodiments, kits including ASLI instruments of the present invention are provided. For example, in certain embodiments, kits comprising an ASLI instrument of the present invention and a scope (e.g., a rifle scope) are provided.
In some embodiments, the ASLI instrument is provided as part of a shooting system. The system may comprise the ASLI instrument and any one or more shooting devices and components, including, but not limited to, a riflescope, a reticle, a firearm, ballistics software, a spotting scope, a computing device, a laser, night-vision equipment, and a device that measures or calculates an environment condition. Other shooting system components are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,681,512, 6,516,699, 6,453,595, 6,032,374, and 5,920,995, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2005/0021282, and pending applications U.S. Ser. Nos. 10/579,119, 11/389,723, and 60/763,233, herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
All publications and patents mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilled in the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A device, comprising
- a housing secured with an attachment member, said housing having therein a slope indicator and a cant level indicator,
- wherein said cant level indicator is configured to display changes in cant level resulting from movement of said device,
- wherein said slope indicator is configured to display changes in slope level resulting from movement of said device, and
- wherein said attachment member is configured for secure attachment with a rifle or scope.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said cant level indicator is separated from said slope indicator.
3. A system, comprising
- a device rigidly attached onto a scope, wherein said device comprises a housing secured with an attachment member, wherein said attachment member is rigidly attached with said scope, wherein said housing has therein a slope indicator and a cant level indicator, wherein said cant level indicator is configured to display changes in cant level resulting from movement of said system, wherein said slope indicator is configured to display changes in slope level resulting from movement of said system.
4. A method of targeting an object, comprising
- a) providing a device rigidly attached onto a scope, wherein said device comprises a housing secured with an attachment member, wherein said attachment member is rigidly attached with said scope, wherein said housing has therein a slope indicator and a cant level indicator, wherein said cant level indicator is configured to display changes in cant level resulting from movement of said system, wherein said slope indicator is configured to display changes in slope level resulting from movement of said system; and
- b) viewing said object through said scope;
- c) measuring the slope measurement for said scope based upon said viewing of said object with said slope indicator;
- d) measuring the cant level for said scope based upon said viewing of said object with said cant indicator; and
- e) adjusting said viewing based upon said measured cant level and said measured slope measurement.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 30, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2007
Inventors: Dennis J. Sammut (Woodside, CA), Dave Duff (Woodside, CA), Ron Cox (Foster City, CA)
Application Number: 11/699,711
International Classification: F41G 1/38 (20060101);