DUAL FOCAL PLANE RETICLES FOR OPTICAL SIGHTING DEVICES

• US 20150276346A1
• Filed: 06/17/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sheltered Wings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sheltered Wings Incorporated
• Inventors: Hamilton, David M., Hamilton, Samuel J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,900,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/345 for illuminating the sights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/32 Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system

Abstract

A dual focal plane optical sighting device, such as a riflescope, having two focal planes, with a first reticle at the first focal plane, and a second reticle at the second focal plane. The reticle at the first focal plane is a glass etched reticle; the reticle at the second focal plane is a wire reticle. The two reticles have different patterns or markings providing the appearance of a single reticle or complementary markings when viewed through the optical sighting device.

Claims

1. An optical sighting device comprising:

a body with a first end and a second end and having a center axis;

an objective lens system disposed within the body;

an eyepiece lens disposed within the body;

an erector lens system disposed within the body;

the objective lens system, eyepiece lens, and erector lens system forming an optical system having a first focal plane and a second focal plane, the first focal plane proximate the objective lens system and the second focal plane proximate the eyepiece lens;

a first reticle at the first focal plane;

a second reticle at the second focal plane; and

the first reticle including at least one first marking;

the second reticle including at least one second marking; and

wherein the at least one first marking and the at least one second marking provide complementary markings creating the appearance of a single reticle when viewed along the center axis.

2. The optical sighting device of claim 1, wherein the first reticle is a glass etched reticle.

3. The optical sighting device of claim 1, wherein the second reticle is a wire reticle.

4. The optical sighting device of claim 2 wherein the first reticle includes at least one subtension marking.

5. The optical sighting device of claim 2 wherein the first reticle includes mil dot markings.

6. The optical sighting device of claim 3, wherein the second reticle includes at least one stadia line.

7. The optical sighting device of claim 1, wherein the first reticle has a pattern of markings.

8. The optical sighting device of claim 1, wherein the second reticle includes at least one target dot.

9. The optical sighting device of claim 8, wherein the at least one target dot is illuminated by an LED.

10. The optical sighting device of claim 9, wherein the at least one target dot comprises an optic fiber having a first end and a second end, wherein light enters the first end and illuminates the second end.

11. The optical sighting device of claim 10, wherein the optic fiber includes a light collector at the first end.

12. The optical sighting device of claim 10, wherein the second end includes an angled cut wherein the light reflects off of the angled cut.

13. The optical sighting device of claim 10, wherein the optic fiber is aligned with and tracks along a stadia line.

14. The optical sighting device of claim 1, wherein either the first reticle or the second reticle is a wire reticle.

15. The optical sighting device of claim 14, wherein the second reticle is a wire reticle having at least one target dot illuminated by an LED, the target dot comprising an optic fiber having a first end and a second end, the first end including a light collector and the second end including an angled cut wherein the light from the LED passes through the optic fiber and reflects off of the angled cut.

16. An optical sighting device comprising:

a body with a first end and a second end and having a center axis;

an objective lens system disposed within the body;

an eyepiece lens disposed within the body;

an erector lens system disposed within the body;

the objective lens system, eyepiece lens, and erector lens system forming an optical system having a first focal plane and a second focal plane, the first focal plane proximate the objective lens system and the second focal plane proximate the eyepiece lens;

a first reticle at the first focal plane;

a second reticle at the second focal plane;

the first reticle including at least one first marking;

the second reticle including at least one second marking;

wherein the at least one first marking and second marking do not overlap each other when viewed along the center axis; and

wherein the second reticle is a wire reticle.

17. The optical sighting device of claim 16, wherein the second reticle has at least one target dot illuminated by an LED, the target dot comprising an optic fiber having a first end and a second end, the first end including a light collector and the second end including an angled cut wherein the light from the LED passes through the optic fiber and reflects off of the angled cut.

18. The optical sighting device of claim 17, wherein the optic fiber is aligned with and tracks along a stadia line.

19. An optical system for use in an optical sighting device, the optical system comprising:

an objective lens system;

an erector system;

an eyepiece;

a glass etched reticle located at a first focal plane between the objective lens system and the erector system, the glass etched reticle having a marking pattern;

a wire reticle at a second focal plane between the erector system and the eyepiece, the wire reticle including stadia lines;

wherein the marking pattern of the glass etched reticle appears to be superimposed on the stadia lines of the wire reticle when the reticles are viewed through the eyepiece.

20. The optical system of claim 19, wherein the wire reticle at the second focal plane further comprises an illuminated feature.