Light operated target shooting systems

• US 4,048,489 A
• Filed: 11/10/1975
• Issued: 09/13/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carlo Giannetti
• Original Assignee: Carlo Giannetti
• Inventors: Giannetti, Carlo
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gellner, M. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/630,091
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 240/6.41, 240/10.62, 273/101.1, 35/25, 42/1 A
• US Class Current: 362/110
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser

Abstract

An electro-optic light pulse generator is completely contained in a gun sight holder and serves as the light source in any light responsive target shooting system. The gun sight holder is arranged for mounting on any long barrelled gun without need for modification of the gun so that its utility for shooting regular ammunition is not disturbed. The pulse generator is a laser or other light emitting unit, mounted with an optical system, electronic controls, and a battery power source in the interior of the unit. When the user "shoots" the gun, light pulses are beamed in the direction that the gun and its sight holder are pointed. The resolution of the system and its range are such as to warrant use with a telescopic sight and in one form of the invention, the gun sight holder is a telescope mount. The recoil of the gun or an action simulating recoil, is used to trigger emission of the light beam.

Claims

1. A light source for use with a gun in a light responsive target shooting system, comprising:

a switch;

a light emitting semi-conductor and operating means for causing said light emitting semi-conductor to discharge a light beam pulse as an incident to closure of said switch;

means for fixing said light emitting semi-conductor to the upper side of the barrel of the gun such that said light beam pulse is directed in a direction corresponding to that in which said gun is pointed; and

means for closing said switch in response to a movement of said gun corresponding to recoil movement.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said means for fixing said light emitting semi-conductor to said gun comprises a gun sight holder.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 in which said gun sight holder comprises an elongated member having a central bore;

said light emitting semi-conductor being mounted in said central bore;

said operating means comprising a battery, a capacitor, means for charging a capacitor from said battery and an electric switching element for discharging said capacitor through said light emitting semi-conductor as an incident to operation of said switch;

said operating means and said battery being disposed in said bore rearwardly of said light emitting semi-conductor.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 which further comprises an optical lens disposed in said bore forwardly of said light emitting semi-conductor.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 in which said means for closing said switch comprises a weight moveable longitudinally in said bore, means in the form of an electrical contact for closing a circuit in said operating means as an incident to displacement of said weight, and means for biasing said weight against such displacement.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 which further comprises means for displacing said weight manually.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 in which said light emitting semi-conductor comprises a laser.

8. A light source for use with a gun in a light responsive target shooting system, comprising:

a switch;

a laser;

operating means for causing said laser to discharge a light beam pulse as an incident to closure of said switch;

means comprising a telescope mount for fixing said laser to said gun such that said light beam pulse is directed in a direction corresponding to that in which said gun, with its telescope mount, is pointed.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 in which said telescope mount comprises an elongated member having a central bore;

said laser being mounted in said central bore;

said operating means comprising a battery, a capacitor, means for charging the capacitor from said battery, and means in the form of an electronic switching element for discharging said capacitor through said laser as an incident to operation of said switch;

said operating means and said battery being disposed in said bore rearwardly of said laser.

10. A light source for use with a gun in a light responsive target shooting system, comprising:

a switch;

a laser;

operating means for causing said laser to discharge a light beam pulse as an incident to closure of said switch;

means comprising a telescope mount for fixing said laser to said gun such that said light beam pulse is directed in a direction corresponding to that in which said gun, with its telescope mount, is pointed;

said telescope mount comprising an elongated member having a central bore;

said laser being mounted in said central bore of the member;

said operating means comprising a battery, a capacitor, means for charging the capacitor from said battery, and means in the form of an electronic switching element for discharging said capacitor through said laser as an incident to operation of said switch;

said operating means and said battery being disposed in said bore rearwardly of said laser;

an optical lens disposed in said bore forwardly of said laser;

said switch comprising a weight movable longitudinally in said bore and means in the form of an electrical contact for closing a circuit in said operating means as an incident to displacement of said weight, and means for biasing said weight against such displacement.

11. The invention defined in claim 10 which further comprises means for displacing said weight manually.

12. In a target shooting system, in combination:

a gun having a barrel;

a gun sight holder mounted on said gun and extending along said barrel from a forward end to a rearward end;

said gun sight holder being formed with an inner cavity and a bore extending from said cavity substantially in the direction of said bore and opening at said forward end;

means within said cavity for generating a pulse of beamed light in response to a control signal and directing said pulse of beamed light through said bore to emerge in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of said barrel; and

means for developing said control signal.

13. The invention defined in claim 12 in which said means for developing said control signal comprises a switch.