RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/942,788, filed Dec. 3, 2019, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to an illuminated sight of a firearm that includes a light source and a mechanism used to mount the sight to the firearm.
Discussion of the Related Art Sighting systems can be mounted on small arms to assist the user in aiming and firing a projectile towards a target. Small arms may include a machine gun, rifle, shotgun, handgun, pistol, paint-ball gun, air gun, bow, crossbow, and the like. The term firearm is used throughout to denote any gun or small arm, including but not limited to those just described, that can benefit from the inclusion of a sight used to increase shooting accuracy.
Well-known, mechanical or iron sights typically include two components mounted and fixed at different locations on the firearm that are visually aligned with the line of sight of the shooter and the target. As shown on the firearm 100 in FIG. 1, mechanical sights can include a front sight 110 and a rear sight 120. The front sight 110 is closest to the barrel or front end of the firearm, away from the shooter, and the rear sight 120 is closest to the shooter. In use, the shooter visually lines up his eye, a feature on the rear sight 120, a feature on the front sight 110, and the intended target. Features on the front sight 110 and the rear sight 120 used in target alignment can include a metal blade, a ring, a notch, a post, a bead, a groove, and a crosshair reticle, or the like. Many sighting systems are adjustable to improve accuracy.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a front sight 210 side-by-side with a rear sight 220 of a mechanical sighting system. As shown in FIG. 2, the front sight 210 includes a post 212 and a protective shroud 214 around the post 212. The rear sight 220 includes a ring 222 used as a peephole to line up the post 212 of the front sight 220 with the target. Both the front sight 210 and the rear sight 220 include features used to mount the sights to the firearm. For example, mounting features can include a notch or dove tail 230 to mount to a rail on the firearm. FIG. 3 is a view from a shooter's perspective through a ring of a rear sight aligned with a post of a front sight.
It is also well known that mechanical sighting systems have inherent problems. Target acquisition and alignment time can be lengthy depending on the sight system, target distance, lighting conditions, and shooter's visibility. Glare from the front sight can increase the apparent brightness of the post or bead on one side of the sight causing alignment errors. While target shooters generally prefer that sights have a matte black finish to reduce the chance of glare and to increase the contrast between the sight system features, matte black sights do not offer good visibility with dark targets or in low light conditions, such as those often encountered in hunting, military, or self-defense situations. A variety of different contrast enhancements techniques has been developed to address alignment and target acquisition problems. The contrast of the front sight should be somewhat higher compared to the contrast of the rear sight from the shooter's perspective to enhance the sight picture.
Some contrast enhancement techniques include painting or inserting a high-visibility dot in a portion of the front sight. Optionally, a brass or gold bead can be used in the front sight. Optionally, a light pipe that collects and directs ambient light can be used in the front sight. Inserting a self-luminous tritium material into sight features has been found to provide contrast enhancement and to increase sight visibility in extremely low light situations where normal sights would be degraded or even useless. However, the glow from tritium is not noticeable or is minimally noticeable in bright conditions and diminishes over time.
SUMMARY In view of the problems of target acquisition time and accuracy of mechanical sighting systems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide illuminated front sights each with light output that can be adjusted to reduce target acquisition time and improve accuracy over a wide range of ambient light conditions.
Other preferred embodiments of the present invention provide illuminated front sights each of which is foldable and low profile in the closed configuration so that it is less susceptible to damage when stored.
Additional preferred embodiments of the present invention provide collapsible reflective sights each capable of optical enhancement where the light source is easily filtered, made secure by reducing its infrared signature, or made compatible with night-vision optics.
An illuminated sight of a firearm, the illuminated sight can include a base that mounts the sight to the firearm; a post assembly mounted to the base; and a light source in the post assembly and visible when aligning the sight with a target.
The post assembly can be folded for storage and the light source can be filtered.
The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a mechanical sight system on a firearm according to the related art.
FIG. 2 is a view of front and rear sights according to the related art.
FIG. 3 shows a shooter's perspective through a mechanical sighting system.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of an illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of an illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of an illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a post assembly separated from a base.
FIG. 8 is a view of an illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a post assembly separated from a base.
FIG. 9 is rear view of a post assembly of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is front view of a post assembly of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is side view of a post assembly of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is rear view of a base of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is top view of a base of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a top view of an illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a post assembly separated from a base.
FIG. 15 is view of a light-emitting diode of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is view of a battery of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a view of an illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary. The descriptions herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Illuminated sights, in accordance with exemplary preferred embodiments as disclosed herein, are mountable to a firearm and capable of being activated to illuminate a portion of the sight. The intensity of the illumination can be adjusted. The illuminated sight is capable of being rotated or folded in a collapsed configuration, which is also referred to as a closed or stored configuration, in which sight components are folded together into a low profile where the components are protected, and the sight is not usable.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of an exemplary illuminated front sight 400 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the illuminated front sight 400 mounted at a forward position on a rail 490 of a firearm, although any suitable mounting technique and position is possible. Optionally, the illuminated front sight 400 can be mounted in a position as a back-up sight in case a primary optical sight became inoperable. For example, the front sight 400 can be mounted in a position offset from the 12 o'clock position on the firearm. Optionally, the illuminated sight 400 can be mounted as a rear sight. Optionally, the illuminated sight 400 can be mounted and used for sighting a target in conjunction with a second illuminated sight either of the same or a different configuration. For example, the illuminated sight 400 can be mounted as a front sight and the rear sight can be illuminated with dots or rings. FIGS. 4 and 5 also show a location of the illumination dot 450.
FIG. 17 is a side view of an illuminated front sight 400 mounted to a firearm 1700 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the post assembly folded down into the collapsed position.
FIG. 6 is a side view of an illuminated front sight 600 of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a post assembly 610 mounted to a base 620. Also shown in FIG. 6 is a fastener 660 used in the mounting mechanism used to mount the illuminated front sight 600 to the rail on the firearm. FIG. 6 also shows a fastener 670 used to mount the post assembly 610 to the base 620. Optionally, a separate fastener can additionally be used on the side opposite to that shown to mount the post assembly 610 to the base 620. For storage, it is possible to rotate, fold, or collapse the post assembly 610 with respect to the base 620 so that the post assembly 610 is even with or below a top surface of the base 620 to protect the post assembly 610 from damage due to mechanical impact or shock when not in use.
FIG. 7 is a side view of an illuminated front sight 700 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the post assembly 710 separated from the base 720. As shown in FIG. 7, the fasteners have been removed to show the mounting holes 765 and 775 in the base 720 and the mounting hole 777 in the post assembly 710. Mounting hole 765 is used to accept a fastener to mount the illuminated front sight 700 to the firearm and can be a smooth bore, a counter bore, or include threads. Mounting hole 775 is used to accept a fastener to mount the post assembly 710 to the base 720 and can be a smooth bore, a counter bore, or include threads. FIG. 7 also shows wiring 785 that transmits power from a power supply or battery located in the base 720 to a light source located in the post assembly 710.
FIG. 8 is a view of an illuminated front sight 800 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the post assembly 810 separated from a base 820. FIG. 8 also shows wiring 885 from a battery, which is hidden from view within potting 887 and which has been removed from the base 820, to a light source located in the post assembly 810.
FIG. 9 is rear view of a post assembly 910 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Although other shapes are possible, FIG. 9 shows that the post assembly 910 includes a substantially cubic body 912 with a mounting hole 977 from one side to an opposite side at a lower portion of the body 912 and with a recessed portion 918. As shown, the sides of the body 912 are flat and transition to two rounded portions 914 defining a shroud. The two rounded portions 914 are circularly arced and do not come together, but optionally can join to define in a complete circle. A centrally located post 916 projects from an upper portion of the body 912 to be in the middle of and protected by the two round portions 914 of the shroud. An optically transmissive diffuser that defines the illumination dot 950 can be located in a recess at a central upper portion of the post 916. FIG. 9 also shows wiring 985 between the body 912 and the potting 987.
The body 912 with rounded portions 914 and the post 916 can be fabricated from metal, alloy, ceramic, composite, plastic, or any other suitable material. Optionally, the body 912, the rounded portions 914, and the post 916 can be made as one piece. Optionally, the body 912, the rounded portions 914, and the post 916 can be made by a 3-D printing technique into a monolithic one-piece structure.
FIG. 10 is front view of the post assembly 1010 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows the post assembly 1010 including the body 1012, the two rounded portions 1014, and the post 1016. FIG. 10 also shows that the body 1012 includes a groove 1090 that has been defined in the body 1012 to create space for the wiring 1085 and the potting 1087 when the post assembly 1010 is attached to a base. FIG. 10 also shows an opening 1095 to a cavity inside the body 1012 in which the light source (not visible) is inserted. The light source and wiring 1085 can be pressed or force fit into the cavity so that they can be easily repaired or replaced in case of a failure. Optionally, the light source and wiring 1085 can be retained within the cavity with an adhesive, silicone, or other suitable material to harden the light source and wiring 1085 to shock, vibration, moisture, and other detrimental environmental effects.
FIG. 11 is side view of the post assembly 1110 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows the body 1112, the mounting hole 1177, the groove 1190, and the opening 1195.
FIG. 12 is rear view of a base 1220 of the illuminated front sight of a firearm according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the base 1220 can be monolithic and can be block shaped with a cavity 1290 in which to accept a post assembly. The cavity 1290 can include a recess, cavity, or pocket 1295 that is a space for the power supply or battery for the light source. Optionally, the base 1220 can include a switch used to turn on and off the power supply and the light source.
Optionally, the base 1220 can include a switch or mechanism that dims and/or brightens the light source. Such a device allows the illuminated front sight to be suitably adjusted by a shooter to increase contrast in a wide range of ambient light conditions. Optionally, the base can retain an ambient light sensor used to detect an amount of ambient light and a controller that automatically adjusts the light intensity of the light source based on the amount of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor. Optionally, the user can control the controller to override the automatic adjustment and manually adjust the light intensity of the light source.
The base 1220 can be fabricated from metal, alloy, ceramic, composite, plastic, or any other suitable material. Optionally, the base 1220 can be made by a 3-D printing technique into a monolithic one-piece structure.
FIG. 13 is top view of a base 1320 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows the cavity 1390 and the recess 1395.
FIG. 14 is a top view of an illuminated front sight with a post assembly 1410 separated from a base 1420. In FIG. 14, the potting 1487 can be seen in the recess in the cavity of the base 1420.
FIG. 15 is view of a light source 1550 of the illuminated front sight according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 shows that the light source 1150 can be a light-emitting diode (LED) chip connected to wiring 1585, but the light source can be a sub-miniature incandescent lamp, an LED package, or any other suitable light source. The light source can emit anywhere in the UV, visible, and infrared wavelength regions. Optionally, the light source can emit only a portion of one of those regions, for example, only infrared. The light source 1150 can fit through the opening in the cavity of the post assembly and illuminates a diffuser, fiber, light guide, or the like that routes light to the illuminating dot on the post. Optionally the light from the light source 1150 can be filtered to change the color, to reduce the infrared signature, to reduce the visible signature, or to render the light compatible with night-vision optics or goggles. As shown, the wiring 1585 includes two wires connected to the light source 1550 that route power to the light source 1550 from a power supply.
FIG. 16 is view of a battery 1697 of the illuminated front sight according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The battery 1697 can be the power supply that powers the light source. Optionally, the power supply can be a different suitable battery or power source. Optionally, the battery can be rechargeable. Optionally, the power supply can be solar powered. Optionally, the illuminated front sight can include a switch to turn on and off the power supply.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
