Gunsight and reticle therefor

• US 6,032,374 A
• Filed: 08/05/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HVRT Corp
• Original Assignee: Horus Vision LLC (Horus Vision Reticle Technologies)
• Inventors: Sammut, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buckley, Denise J.
• Application Number:
  US09/129,729
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 33/245, 33/246
• US Class Current: 42/122
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/01 characterised by the visual combination effect of the respective geometrical forms of fore and rear sight F41G1/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/033 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/12 with line or mark other than notch
• 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 3/00 Aiming or laying means sighting devices F41G1/00; determining direction, distance or velocity by use of radio or other waves G01S; computers G06; antennas H01Q
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/08 with means for compensating for speed, direction, temperature, pressure, or humidity of the atmosphere measuring G01
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/12 with means for compensating for muzzle velocity or powder temperature with means for compensating for gun vibrations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/145 Zoom viewfinders

Abstract

An improved telescopic gunsight is provided by combining a conventional telescopic gunsight with a reticle having a primary vertical cross-hair, a primary horizontal cross-hair intersecting the primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along the primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of the secondary horizontal cross-hairs and a range-finder positioned in one of the quadrants formed by the intersection of the primary vertical and horizontal cross-hairs. Some of the secondary horizontal cross-hairs are marked with a unique identifying character to assist the shooter in quickly finding an aiming point. The thickness of, and spacing between, the cross-hairs can be based upon an easy to learn inches of angle (or centimeters of angle) scale, or upon any other conventional scale. A ring having a center aligned with the optical center and circumscribing the cross-hairs can be included to aid the shooter in centering his eye in the field of view. An aiming dot can also be provided for the same purpose, and to aid in rapid acquisition of a moving target.

Claims

1. An improved telescopic gunsight, comprising:

(a) a housing, including a means for mounting said housing in a fixed, predetermined position relative to a gun barrel;

(b) an objective lens mounted in said housing at one end thereof;

(c) an ocular lens mounted in said housing at an opposite end thereof;

(d) a reticle mounted in said housing between said objective lens and said ocular lens, said reticle having an optical center and a plurality of aiming points, said aiming points formed bv a primary vertical cross-hair, a primary horizontal cross-hair intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair to form an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower left quadrant, and a lower right quadrant, a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs intersecting said primary vertical cross hair and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along said primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs intersecting at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each said intersecting cross-hair forming one of said plurality of aiming points and rangefinding markings positioned in one of said quadrants.

2. The improved gunsight of claim 1 additionally including variable power optics for permitting a user to select the optical power of the gunsight within a predetermined range, and wherein said reticle is mounted between said variable power optics and said objective lens.

3. The improved gunsight of claim 1 wherein said rangefinding markings and said cross-hairs are all based upon an inch of angle scale.

4. The improved gunsight of claim 1 wherein said rangefinding markings and said cross-hairs are all based upon a centimeter of angle scale.

5. The improved gunsight of claim 1 wherein at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs each include a unique marking for identification purposes.

6. The improved gunsight of claim 1 additionally including a ring having a center that aligns with said optical center and circumscribing said cross-hairs and rangefinding markings for aiding users in aligning their line of sight through the telescopic gunsight.

7. The improved gunsight of claim 6 wherein said ring is located on said reticle.

8. The improved gunsight of claim 1 additionally including an aiming dot of predetermined size positioned at said optical center.

9. The improved gunsight of claim 8 wherein said aiming dot is located on said reticle.

10. The gunsight of claim 1 wherein said primary vertical cross-hair and said primary horizontal cross-hair intersect at said optical center.

11. The gunsight of claim 10 wherein rangefinding markings are in one of said upper quadrants.

12. A reticle for use in a telescopic gunsight including a mount for mounting said gunsight in a fixed, predetermined position relative to a gun barrel, said reticle having an optical center and comprising:

(a) a primary vertical cross-hair having a predetermined thickness;

(b) a primary horizontal cross-hair having a predetermined thickness intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair to form an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower left quadrant, and a lower right quadrant;

(c) a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along and intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair, each said secondary horizontal cross-hair forming an aiming point with said primary vertical cross-hair, each of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs being shorter than said primary horizontal cross-hair;

(d) a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each said secondary vertical cross-hair forming an aiming point with said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each said secondary vertical cross-hair being shorter than said primary vertical cross-hair; and

,

(e) rangefinding markings positioned in one of said quadrants.

13. The reticle of claim 12 wherein said rangefinding markings comprises a vertical marking and an intersecting horizontal marking, each of which is provided with a plurality of range finding cross-hairs evenly spaced a predetermined distance along said vertical and said horizontal markings.

14. The reticle of claim 13 wherein said thickness of and said predetermined spacing of said vertical and horizontal cross-hairs and said range-finding cross-hairs are all based upon an inch of angle scale.

15. The reticle of claim 13 wherein said thickness of and said predetermine spacing between said vertical and horizontal cross-hairs and said range-finding cross-hairs are all based upon a centimeter of angle scale.

16. The reticle of claim 12 wherein at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs include a unique marking for identification purposes.

17. The reticle of claim 12 additionally comprising a ring having a center aligned with said optical center and circumscribing said cross-hairs and rangefinding markings for permitting users to center their line of sight through a telescopic gunsight.

18. The reticle of claim 12 wherein said primary horizontal cross-hair intersects said primary vertical cross-hair at said optical center.

19. The reticle of claim 18 wherein said rangefinding markings are located in one of said upper quadrants.

20. The reticle of claim 17 additionally including an aiming dot of predetermined size superimposed over the optical center.

21. A method for hitting a target of known or estimable size with a bullet fired from a firearm using a telescopic gunsight mounted to the firearm, the telescopic gunsight having a reticle with an optical center and a plurality of aiming points, a primary vertical cross-hair, a primary horizontal cross-hair intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair to form an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower left quadrant, and a lower right quadrant, a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs intersecting and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along said primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs intersecting and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each intersecting cross-hair forming one of the plurality of aiming points, unique identifying markings associated with at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, and an optical rangefinder positioned in one of said quadrants, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) locating a target of known or estimable actual size;

(b) determining the number of evenly spaced, scaled markings on the rangefinder which span the target area, to determine an observed size;

(c) calculating range to the target using the relationship between the actual size and the observed size;

(d) selecting from said primary and secondary horizontal cross-hairs a horizontal cross-hair which has been predetermined to correlate to the calculated range;

(e) selecting as an aiming point on the selected horizontal cross-hair the intersection between the selected horizontal cross-hair and a vertical cross-hair based on windage considerations;

(f) aligning said selected aiming point with a center of said target; and

,

(g) shooting at the target.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said telescopic gunsight is calibrated for range before shooting at a target, whereby the horizontal cross-hairs are assigned known range values based upon relevant factors including the firearm and ammunition used.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said telescopic gunsight additionally comprises a ring having a center aligned with said optical center and circumscribing said cross-hairs and rangefinder, the method additionally comprising aligning said aiming point with a center of said target while centering the reticle in the telescopic gunsight using said ring.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said telescopic gunsight additionally comprises an aiming dot superimposed over the optical center, the method additionally comprising the step of aligning said aiming dot in the center of the field of view while aligning said aiming point with a center of said target.