Telescopic sight with level indicator

• US 5,223,650 A
• Filed: 06/26/1992
• Issued: 06/29/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Finn
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Finn
• Inventors: Finn, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US07/906,044
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 42/101, 42/100, 42/103, 42/1.01, 42/97, 33/241, 33/240, 33/245, 33/246
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/44 Spirit-level adjusting means, e.g. for correcting tilt; Means for indicating or correcting tilt or cant

Abstract

A tilt or cant indicator for telescopic sights incorporates a gravity responsive device aligned with the reticle or vertical crosshair of the sight. A pendulum device incorporating a pointer is installed with its rotational axis intersecting the vertical crosshair such that canting is indicated when the vertical crosshair is not the pointer.

Claims

1. For use with a firearm, a telescopic sight including a barrel, lenses in said barrel, and vertical and horizontal crosshairs visible in said barrel;

characterized in that gravity responsive means including gravity indicating means is located entirely within said barrel;

said gravity responsive means comprising a ring having an annular face affixed in said barrel, and a pendulum member including a pointer pivotally fastened to said annular face of said ring, said pendulum member having its rotational axis intersecting said vertical crosshair; and

such that alignment of said vertical crosshair and said pointer is indicative that said firearm is not tilted.

2. A telescopic sight as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pendulum member is attached to said ring by means of a screw and said screw is adjustable to vary the response of said gravity responsive means.

3. A telescopic sight for use with a rifle having a bore, said sight including a barrel, lenses in said barrel, and a reticle in said barrel include a vertical crosshair;

characterized in that a ring having an annual face is affixed in said barrel, said vertical crosshair is carried on said ring, and a pendulum member including a vertical indicating pointer is attached to said annular face of said ring such that the rotational axis of said pendulum member intersects said vertical crosshair, whereby canting of said rifle is indicated by a misalignment of said pointer relative to said vertical crosshair.

4. A telescopic sight as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pendulum member includes a weight normally positioned below its rotational axis such that when said firearm is not canted, said pointer it aligned with said vertical crosshair.