BALLISTIC RETICLE AND RIFLESCOPE FOR PROJECTILE WEAPON AIMING SYSTEM

• US 20090199451A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Gary R., Peter, Laura, Zaderey, Serge, O'Connor, Tim L., Timm, Steven R., Peters, Victoria J., Lesser, Tim
• Application Number:
  US12/163,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/122
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor

Abstract

A reticle of a projectile weapon aiming system such as a riflescope includes a primary aiming mark adapted to be sighted-in at a first selected range and further includes a plurality of secondary aiming marks spaced apart below the primary aiming mark. The secondary aiming marks are positioned to compensate for ballistic drop at preselected incremental ranges beyond the first selected range, for a selected group of ammunition having similar ballistic characteristics. Angles subtended by adjacent aiming marks of the reticle can be adjusted by changing the optical power of the riflescope, to thereby compensate for ballistic characteristics of different ammunition. In some embodiments, the reticle includes a set of windage aiming marks spaced apart along at least one secondary horizontal axis intersecting a selected one of the secondary aiming marks, to facilitate compensation for the effect of crosswinds on the trajectory of the projectile.

Claims

1. A reticle for a projectile weapon aiming system, comprising:

a primary aiming mark indicating a primary aiming point adapted to be sighted-in at a first selected range;

a plurality of secondary aiming marks spaced progressively increasing incremental distances below the primary aiming point and indicating corresponding secondary aiming points along a vertical axis intersecting the primary aiming mark, the secondary aiming points positioned to compensate for ballistic drop at preselected regular incremental ranges beyond the first selected range for a group of ammunition having similar ballistic characteristics; and

a set of windage aiming marks spaced apart along a secondary horizontal axis intersecting a selected one of the secondary aiming points, the set of windage aiming marks including at least

(a) first and second windage aiming marks spaced apart to the left of the vertical axis at distances from the vertical axis selected to compensate for leftward crosswinds of preselected first and second incremental velocities, respectively, at the range of said selected secondary aiming point, and

(b) third and fourth windage aiming marks spaced apart to the right of the vertical axis at distances from the vertical axis selected to compensate for rightward crosswinds of preselected third and fourth incremental velocities equal and opposite the respective first and second incremental velocities of the leftward crosswinds, at the range of said selected secondary aiming point,

the reticle thereby facilitating aiming compensation for ballistics and windage for two or more preselected incremental crosswind velocities, at one or more preselected incremental ranges.

2. A reticle according to claim 1, wherein each secondary aiming point is intersected by a secondary horizontal axis along which a set of windage aiming marks is spaced for facilitating aiming compensation for ballistics and windage for two or more preselected incremental crosswind velocities, at the range of the corresponding secondary aiming point.

3. A reticle according to claim 2, wherein each set of windage aiming marks includes windage aiming marks positioned to compensate for leftward and rightward crosswinds of 10 miles per hour and 20 miles per hour at the range of the secondary aiming point corresponding to said set of windage aiming marks.

4. A reticle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the secondary aiming marks includes a horizontal line.

5. A reticle according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal line intersects at least the first and third windage aiming marks.

6. A reticle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the secondary aiming marks extends horizontally from the vertical axis and is thicker at a distal end than immediately adjacent the vertical axis.

7. A reticle according to claim 1, wherein the primary aiming mark is formed by an intersection of a primary horizontal sight line and a primary vertical sight line.

8. A reticle according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the primary vertical sight line and the primary horizontal sight line includes a widened post portion located radially outward from the primary aiming point, the widened post portion having an innermost end located proximal of the primary aiming point.

9. A reticle according to claim 7, further comprising a set of windage aiming marks spaced apart along the primary horizontal sight line to the left and right of the primary aiming point to compensate for leftward and rightward crosswinds of 10 miles per hour and 20 miles per hour, at the first selected range.

10. A riflescope comprising:

an elongate housing supporting an objective lens and an eyepiece lens proximate opposite ends of the housing, and further supporting a power-adjusting erector lens assembly between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens;

a power selector mechanism operably coupled to the erector lens assembly for adjusting an optical power of the riflescope;

a reticle positioned between the erector lens assembly and the eyepiece, the reticle including;

(a) a primary aiming mark indicating a primary aiming point adapted to be sighted-in at a first selected range, and

(b) a plurality of secondary aiming marks indicating corresponding secondary aiming points spaced apart below the primary aiming point along a vertical axis intersecting the primary aiming point, the secondary aiming points positioned to compensate for ballistic drop at preselected incremental ranges beyond the first range; and

a set of fiducial marks positioned along the power selector mechanism and prescribing at least two different optical power settings corresponding to at least two different groups of ammunition, each of the fiducial marks indicating an optical power setting at which the secondary aiming points accurately compensate for ballistic drop for a selected group of ammunition at the preselected incremental ranges.

11. A riflescope according to claim 10, wherein the reticle further includes:

a set of windage aiming marks spaced apart along a secondary horizontal axis intersecting a selected one of the secondary aiming points, the set of windage aiming marks including at least;

(a) first and second windage aiming marks spaced apart to the left of the vertical axis at distances from the vertical axis selected to compensate for leftward crosswinds of preselected first and second incremental velocities, respectively, at the range of said selected secondary aiming point, and

(b) third and fourth windage aiming marks spaced apart to the right of the vertical axis at distances from the vertical axis selected to compensate for rightward crosswinds of preselected third and fourth incremental velocities equal and opposite the respective first and second incremental velocities of the leftward crosswinds, at the range of said selected secondary aiming point;

the reticle thereby facilitating aiming compensation for ballistics and windage for two or more preselected incremental crosswind velocities at one or more preselected incremental ranges.

12. A riflescope according to claim 11, wherein each secondary aiming point is intersected by a secondary horizontal axis along which a set of windage aiming marks is spaced for facilitating aiming compensation for ballistics and windage for two or more preselected incremental crosswind velocities at each of the preselected incremental ranges.

13. A riflescope according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the secondary aiming marks includes a horizontal line intersecting at least some of the windage aiming marks.

14. A riflescope according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the secondary aiming marks includes a horizontal line.

15. A riflescope according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the secondary aiming marks extends horizontally from the vertical axis and is thicker at a distal end than immediately adjacent the vertical axis.

16. A riflescope according to claim 10, wherein the primary aiming mark is formed by an intersection of a primary horizontal sight line and a primary vertical sight line.

17. A riflescope according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the primary vertical sight line and the primary horizontal sight line includes a widened post portion located radially outward from the primary aiming point, the widened post portion having an innermost end located proximal of the primary aiming point.

18. A riflescope according to claim 17, wherein the innermost end of the widened post portion and the primary aiming mark subtend between approximately 7 minutes of angle and approximately 8 minutes of angle when the riflescope is adjusted to its lowest optical power setting.

19. A riflescope according to claim 17, further comprising a set of ranging fiducials positioned along the power selector mechanism, the ranging fiducials cooperating with the power selector mechanism and the reticle to indicate an estimated range to a target sized approximately 16 inches across when the optical power setting of the riflescope is adjusted so that the 16-inch target is framed by the primary aiming mark and the innermost end of the widened post portion.