Range adjustable laser sight for bows

• US 5,419,050 A
• Filed: 03/28/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: P&L Industries Incorporated (Crimson Trace Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tac Star Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Moore, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US08/218,081
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 33/265, 33/241, 33/DIG. 21, 124/87
• US Class Current: 42/115
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/467 for bows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

An adjustable laser beam sight comprises a supporting plate and first, second and third serially arranged and rotationally coupled levers mounted on the supporting plate by two pivots. The first pivot rotationally couples the first lever to the supporting plate and the second pivot rotationally couples the third lever to the supporting plate. A laser beam emitting device is attached to the first lever. Rotation of the third lever, acting through the second lever, imparts a change in direction of the first lever and the laser beam. A range scale with its reference center substantially at the second pivot is provided on the supporting plate. An indicator on the third lever moves across the range scale as the third lever is moved to adjust the aim of the laser beam, thereby indicating a range setting.

Claims

1. A light beam sight for bows, comprising:

a supporting plate;

a first arm having first and second opposed ends and rotationally coupled to the supporting plate by a first pivot located near the first end of the first arm and having a second pivot proximate the second end of the first arm;

a second arm having first and second opposed ends and rotationally coupled to the second pivot of the first arm at a first location proximate the first end of the second arm, and having a third pivot proximate the second end of the second arm;

a third arm having first and second opposed ends and rotationally coupled to the third pivot near the first end of the third arm and a fourth pivot for providing rotational coupling of the third arm to the supporting plate, the fourth pivot being located between the third pivot and the second end of the third arm; and

a light emitting device coupled to the first arm for projecting a light beam toward a desired target, the direction of the light beam being adjusted by rotation of the third arm around the fourth pivot.

2. The sight of claim 1 further comprising a range scale on a surface of the supporting plate, wherein the range scale is located in relationship to the third arm so that rotation of the third arm indicates various ranges on the range scale.

3. The sight of claim 2 wherein the supporting plate has a peripheral surface facing away from the direction of the light beam, wherein the peripheral surface is curved in an arc having a center passing through the fourth pivot, and the range scale is located on the peripheral surface.

4. The sight of claim 3 further comprising an indicator means located proximate to the second end of the third arm and passing over the range scale located on the peripheral surface as the third arm is rotated about the fourth pivot, for indicating various markers on the range scale as the third arm is rotated and the light beam direction changed.

5. The sight of claim 1 wherein the light emitting device is an LED.

6. The sight of claim 1 wherein the third and fourth pivots are separated by a distance D and wherein the third and second pivots are separated by a distance in the range of 7 to 20 times D, and the second and first pivots are separated by a distance in the range of 7 to 27 times D.

7. The sight of claim 1 wherein rotation of third arm around the fourth pivot by about 35 degrees, produces a rotation of the first arm around the first pivot of about 2.5 to 3.5 degrees.

8. The sight of claim 1 wherein the second arm further comprises a clearance recess to permit the second arm to rotate and translate in response to the rotation of the third arm around the fourth pivot without the second arm contacting the fourth pivot.

9. The sight of claim 1 wherein the fourth pivot comprises a friction providing means to substantially hold the arms in a temporarily fixed relationship in the absence of intentional motion of the third arm.

10. The sight of claim 1 wherein the fourth pivot comprises self-releasing means for preventing free rotation of the arms in the absence of a force applied to the second end of the third arm.

11. A laser sight for bows, comprising:

a support means for coupling the laser sight to the bow;

first lever rotationally coupled near a first end by a first pivot to the support means and having near an opposed second end a second pivot;

second lever rotationally coupled near a first end to the first lever by the second pivot, and having near an opposed second end a third pivot;

third lever having a length L and rotationally coupled near a first end to the second lever by the third pivot and rotationally coupled to the support means by a fourth pivot, the third and fourth pivots being separated on the third lever by a distance D smaller than L; and

a laser beam emitting device attached to the first lever.

12. The sight of claim 11 wherein D is less than 1/10th of L.

13. The sight of claim 11 wherein the first and second pivots are separated on the first lever by a distance X and the second and third pivots are separate on the second lever by a distance Y and wherein X takes on values from 7 to 27 times D, Y takes on values of 7 to 20 times D.

14. The sight of claim 11 wherein the support means comprises a curved surface region having a center of rotation located substantially at the fourth pivot, said curved surface region comprising range marks, each of said range marks corresponding to a predetermined drop of the laser beam below a reference location at a predetermined distance from the laser sight, and wherein movement of said third lever causes successive ones of the range markers to be indicated.

15. The sight of claim 14 wherein the curved surface region is located on a rearward facing surface of said support means visible to a user when the bow is in a position to fired.

16. An adjustable light beam sight, comprising, a supporting plate and first, second and third serially arranged and rotationally coupled levers mounted on the supporting plate by first and second pivots, the first pivot rotationally coupling the first lever to the supporting plate and the second pivot rotationally coupling the third lever to the supporting plate, the second lever being allowed to rotate and translate with respect to the support plate in response to rotation of the first and third levers around, respectively, the first and second pivots, a light beam emitting device coupled to the first lever so that motion of the third lever imparts a change in direction of the light beam, and a range scale coupled to the supporting plate and referenced substantially to the second pivot, wherein the second lever is rotationally coupled to the first and third levers by, respectively, third and fourth pivots located adjacent respective ends of the second lever.

17. The sight of claim 16 wherein the second and fourth pivots are more closely spaced than the first and third pivots.

18. The sight of claim 17 wherein the second and fourth pivots are spaced apart a distance D and the first and third pivots are spaced apart a distance X and X is at least about seven times D.

19. The sight of claim 18 wherein X is less than about twenty times D.