Angle cosine indicator

• US 6,568,092 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ward W. Brien
• Original Assignee: Ward William Brien
• Inventors: Brien, Ward William
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Guadalupe, Yaritza
• Application Number:
  US09/699,097
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 33/1.SB, 33/1.SA, 33/1.SD, 332/27, 332/28, 332/65, 332/76--78, 332/82--84, 333/91, 333/99, 334/01, 421/22, 421/30, 421/35, 421/42
• US Class Current: 33/1.0PT
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/00 Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders tapes, chains or wheels for measuring length G01B3/00; active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, G01S17/48

Abstract

The invention relates to a targeting device comprising a casing which houses a wheel. The wheel is weighted and free to rotate relative to the casing. A mount on the casing mates with a receiving apparatus on the rifle, thereby securing the casing to the rifle. The wheel'"'"'s absolute orientation remains fixed, while the casing rotates with the rifle as it is aimed upward or downward. The casing has a window through which the wheel is visible. For any angle at which the rifle is positioned, a marker inscribed on the wheel aligns with a cosine number inscribed on the window, indicating the cosine of the angle at which the rifle is positioned. The cosine numbers are readable without requiring the shooter to break his cheek weld with the rifle. The shooter can then calculate the horizontal distance to target by multiplying the cosine by the straight-line distance to target.

Claims

1. A targeting device, comprising:

a casing having a window and attachable to a rifle or scope;

an inner wheel rotatably disposed within the casing and viewable through the window;

a stabilizer attached to the wheel for maintaining an absolute orientation of the wheel while the casing is rotated;

indicia and a marker attached to the wheel or casing, whereby for any angle at which the rifle is positioned, the marker aligns with specific indicia, indicating departure of the rifle'"'"'s position from horizontal and permitting corrected target distance to be determined.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the window is disposed along the circumferential edge of the casing permitting viewing of the inner wheel from a vantage point on an axis normal to an axis about which the casing rotates.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the casing includes a mount, mateable with a receiver on the rifle or scope.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer comprises a weight attached to the wheel.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicia are cosine values corresponding to angles of the rifle from horizontal.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicia are angle values of the rifle from horizontal.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the window is a transparent section of the outer casing and the indicia is inscribed thereon, and wherein the marker is imprinted onto an outer surface of the wheel, whereby for any angle at which the rifle is positioned, the marker on the wheel aligns with specific indicia on the window.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicia is inscribed upon the wheel and the marker is inscribed upon the casing, whereby for any angle at which the rifle is positioned, the marker on the casing aligns with specific indicia on the wheel.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer is embedded in the wheel.

10. A targeting device, comprising:

a casing, attachable to a rifle or scope;

a window comprised of a transparent section of the casing;

an inner wheel rotatably disposed within the casing and viewable through the window;

a stabilizer comprised of a weight attached to the wheel for maintaining an absolute orientation of the wheel while the casing is rotated;

indicia comprised of cosine values inscribed on the window;

a marker inscribed on the wheel, whereby for any angle at which the rifle is positioned, the marker aligns with specific indicia, indicating the cosine of the angle of the rifle from horizontal and permitting corrected target distance to be determined.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the window is disposed along the circumferential edge of the casing permitting viewing of the inner wheel from a vantage point on an axis normal to an axis about which the casing rotates.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the casing includes a mount, mateable with a receiver on the rifle or scope.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the stabilizer is embedded in the wheel.

14. A targeting device, comprising:

a casing, attachable to a rifle or scope;

a window comprised of a transparent section of the casing;

an inner wheel rotatably disposed within the casing and viewable through the window;

a stabilizer comprised of a weight attached to the wheel for maintaining an absolute orientation of the wheel while the casing is rotated;

indicia comprised of angle values inscribed on the window;

a marker inscribed on the wheel, whereby for any angle at which the rifle is positioned, the marker aligns with specific indicia, indicating the angle of the rifle from horizontal and permitting the corrected target distance to be determined.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the window is disposed along the circumferential edge of the casing permitting viewing of the inner wheel from a vantage point on an axis normal to an axis about which the casing rotates.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the casing includes a mount, mateable with a receiver on the rifle or scope.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the stabilizer is embedded in the wheel.