Small arms sight for use during daylight and nighttime conditions

• US 4,822,994 A
• Filed: 09/23/1987
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Electro Optical Products
• Inventors: Augustine, Francis J., Johnson, Charles B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Application Number:
  US07/099,926
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 250/213 VT, 250/330, 33/233, 33/234, 33/250, 33/261, 33/245, 350/1.2, 356/247
• US Class Current: 250/214.0VT
• 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: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02

Abstract

There is disclosed a small arms sight assembly which enables a firearm such as a revolver or rifle to be employed for both nighttime and daytime use. The gun sight assembly includes a typical telescopic sight assembly of a conventional design which sight assembly includes an image intensifier module which can be selectively removed from the telescopic sight. The intensifier module or assembly when employed in conjunction with the remaining sight components enables the user to operate the weapon under low light conditions. During daytime operation the intensifier module housing section is removed. In this manner there is described a sight which enables a small weapon to be employed for daytime or nighttime use while providing increased effective weapon range when compared to conventional sight devices.

Claims

1. A sight apparatus for sue in conjunction with firearms to enable a user of the firearm to operate the same during daylight as well a low light or nighttime conditions, comprising:

a first housing section having a first end and a second end, a port for receiving light located at said first end and first coupling means located at said second end;

a second housing section having a third end and a fourth end, second coupling means located at said third end and a port located at said forth end for viewing received light via the eye of a user;

a lens assembly positioned in at least one of said first and said second housing section for increasing the visual angle when viewing said received light during daytime conditions; and

an image intensifier module housing having an internal hollow for accommodating an image intensifier means to enable said user to view images at said increased visual angle during nighttime operation, said image intensifier module having two opposed ends, first coacting coupling means located at one of said opposed ends and second coacting coupling means located at the other of said opposed ends,

wherein in a first arrangement said first coupling means is selectively coupled directly to said second coupling means for operation in daylight conditions and in a second arrangement said first coupling means is selectively coupled to said first coacting coupling means and said second coacting coupling means is coupled to said second coupling means for operation in nighttime conditions.

2. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first housing section includes an ocular lens assembly and said second housing section includes an objective lens assembly.

3. The sight apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first housing section includes an adjustable zoom lens assembly.

4. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, further including a windage and elevation control means coupled to one of said first and second housing sections.

5. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, further including a battery coupled to one of said first and second sections and operative to apply a high voltage potential to said image intensifier means.

6. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image intensifier means includes a high voltage source for applying operating potential to an image intensifier tube.

7. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, further including bracket means coupled to said first section to enable said sight apparatus to be secured to said firearm.

8. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, including means located on said intensifier module housing for varying the intensification gain.

9. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second coupling means includes a first flange located at said other end of said first section and a congruent flange located at said other end of said second section to enable said first and second sections to be attached in a first mode and detached in a second mode wherein said intensifier module may be coupled therebetween.

10. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said firearm is a small type firearm of the type capable of being hand held.

11. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image intensifier means includes a micro channel plate image intensifier.

12. The sight apparatus according to claim 1, further including focusing means coupled to said housing and operative to focus said telescopic lens assembly.