Dual powered illuminated fiber optic gun sight

• US 6,640,482 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John T. Carlson
• Original Assignee: John T. Carlson
• Inventors: Carlson, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKLEY, DENISE J
• Application Number:
  US10/059,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 421/11--48
• US Class Current: 42/132
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/345 for illuminating the sights

Abstract

A dual powered fiber optic sight for a gun, which can be illuminated either by ambient light or by a light source. The light source is preferably a light-emitting diode (LED). Ambient light and light from the LED are carried by a fiber optic rod and the rod appears as a bright dot on the front sight of the gun. The electronics are enclosed and protected from the environment by a water-proof adhesive. The end of the fiber optic rod may be cut at a 45 degree angle to increase the rod'"'"'s light-gathering ability.

Claims

1. A dual-powered, illuminated open sight for a gun, that can be attached to the gun barrel without significantly modifying the gun barrel, the gun sight comprising:

a) an artificial light source;

b) a fiber optic device adapted to transmit light from the artificial light source, the fiber optic device appearing as an illuminated dot; and

c) wherein the fiber optic device is a monofilament plastic rod having an end adjacent the artificial light source, wherein the rod has a longitudinal axis and wherein the end of the rod adjacent the artificial light source is cut at an angle to the longitudinal axis.

2. The gun sight of claim 1, wherein the artificial light source is a light-emitting diode.

3. The gun sight of claim 2, further comprising a flexible circuit on which the light-emitting diode is mounted.

4. The gun sight of claim 2, wherein the fiber optic device has a green color and wherein the light-emitting diode is red, whereby the fiber optic device will appear green when illuminated by ambient light and will appear red when illuminated by the light-emitting diode.

5. The gun sight of claim 1, further comprising a mount adapted to attach the fiber optic device to the gun barrel and a cap attached to the mount by water-proof adhesive.

6. The gun sight of claim 5, wherein the water-proof adhesive is a silicone adhesive.

7. The gun sight of claim 1, wherein the cut angle is about 45 degrees, thereby increasing the surface area of the cut end of the rod and thereby increasing the light-gathering ability of the rod.

8. A dual-powered, illuminated open sight for a gun, that can be attached to the gun barrel without significantly modifying the gun barrel, the gun sight comprising:

a) an artificial light source;

b) a fiber optic device adapted to transmit light from the artificial light source, the fiber optic device appearing as an illuminated dot;

c) a mount adapted to attach the fiber optic device to the gun barrel and a cap attached to the mount by a water-proof adhesive.

9. The gun sight of claim 8, wherein the water-proof adhesive is a silicone adhesive.

10. A dual-powered, illuminated open sight for a gun, that can be attached to the gun barrel without significantly modifying the gun barrel, the gun sight comprising:

a) an artificial light source;

b) a fiber optic rod adapted to transmit light from the artificial light source, the fiber optic rod appearing as an illuminated dot;

c) wherein the fiber optic rod has a longitudinal axis and wherein the end of the fiber optic rod adjacent the artificial light source is cut at an angle to the longitudinal axis.

11. The gun sight of claim 10, wherein the cut angle is about 45 degrees, thereby increasing the surface area of the cut end of the rod and thereby increasing the light-gathering ability of the fiber optic rod.