Reticle-equipped telescopic gunsight and aiming system

• US 6,357,158 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas D Smith, III
• Original Assignee: Thomas D Smith, III
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buckley, Denise J
• Application Number:
  US09/152,320
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 332/45, 421/22, 421/30
• 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 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/32 Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system

Abstract

A gunsight reticle having a system of critically dimensioned and positioned target spanning indicia improves the aiming of a rifle. The indicia include orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, and four horizontal range-marker lines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the horizontal hairline in bisected relationship with the center vertical hairline. The effectiveness of the gunsight is enhanced by a shooter'"'"'s training program, interactive with the gunsight, which emphasizes the thought processes involving the planning, aiming and execution of a shot.

Claims

1. In a telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said elements being aligned upon an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a rifle, the improvement comprising the addition into said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements of a transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal straight hairlines, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines having radially distal portions which are widened so as to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and four straight horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline.

2. The telescopic gunsight of claim 1 wherein the intersection of said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines a bullet impact point at 100 and 200 yards.

3. The telescopic gunsight of claim 2 wherein the sites of intersection of said first, second, third and fourth range-marker hairlines with said vertical hairline constitute first, second, third and fourth alternative bullet impact points, respectively, at ranges of 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards, respectively.

4. The telescopic gunsight of claim 1 wherein the innermost extremities of said posts are disposed upon a circular locus about said center point.

5. The telescopic gunsight of claim 1 wherein the dimension of the various features of said reticle correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

6. The telescopic gunsight of claim 5 wherein the width of the unwidened portions of said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines is 0.6 inches.

7. The telescopic gunsight of claim 5 wherein the distance between said center point and the innermost extremities of said posts is 25 inches.

8. The telescopic gunsight of claim 5 wherein the distances of separation of said range marker lines from said center point are such as to cause the sequential spacing between said range marker lines to progressively increase.

9. The telescopic gunsight of claim 5 wherein the distances of separation of said first, second, third and fourth range marker lines from said center point are 2.0, 4.8, 7.5 and 10.5 inches, respectively.

10. The telescopic gunsight of claim 5 wherein the lengths of said first, second, third and fourth range marker lines are 4.12, 5.90, 8.32 and 9.72 inches, respectively.