Reticle for telescopic gunsight and method for using

• US 7,069,684 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas D Smith, III
• Original Assignee: Thomas D Smith, III
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/983,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 421/22, 421/23
• 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 defines a system of dimensioned indicia spaced at specific separations to improve aiming accuracy of a gun. The indicia may include perpendicularly intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, and four (or more or less) horizontal range-marker lines disposed at specific angular separations below the horizontal hairline in bisected relationship with the center vertical hairline. Spacing of the range marker lines below the center horizontal hairline is proportional to bullet drop at selected ranges, depending upon ballistic characteristics of bullet used. Relative lengths of said range-marker bars on each side of the central vertical crosshair are proportional to a specific crosswind (say 10 mph) at target range reflected by respective range marker. The method involves employing this reticle to determine distance to target, and using distance thus determined to ascertain a precise aiming point on the reticle. These indicia also have other useful characteristics that allow the shooter to easily mentally calculate corrections for crosswind, moving targets and shooting at targets that are above or below the shooter at a significant angle.

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, the elements being aligned upon an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing, the improvement comprising:

the addition into the optical system of a transparent reticle having aiming indicia, the indicia comprising, orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, second aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the first aiming indicia, third aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the second aiming indicia, and wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are each operable for providing first, second, third and fourth aiming points, respectively, for a first bullet trajectory at first, second, third and fourth predetermined ranges, respectively, from the telescopic gunsight, and for a second bullet trajectory at fifth, sixth, seventh and eight predetermined ranges, respectively, from the telescopic gunsight, and wherein the second aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 4.5 inches, and the third aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 7.5 inches, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

2. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines a bullet impact aiming point for the first aiming point at approximately 100 yards for the first bullet trajectory and approximately 200 yards for the second bullet trajectory.

3. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first, second, and third aiming indicia constitute bullet impact aiming points, respectively, at ranges of approximately 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for the first bullet trajectory, and approximately 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for the second bullet trajectory.

4. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourth predetermined ranges are approximately 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, and the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth predetermined ranges are approximately 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively.

5. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourth aiming points are operable for providing aiming points in an incremental increase of approximately 100 yards for both the first bullet trajectory and the second bullet trajectory.

6. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 5 wherein the first, second, third and fourth aiming points provide aiming points at approximately 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for the first bullet trajectory, and at approximately 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for the second bullet trajectory.

7. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the third aiming indicia.

8. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 1 further comprising distance-measuring indicia.

9. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are further operable for providing the first, second, third and fourth aiming points, respectively, for a third bullet trajectory at ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelve predetermined ranges, respectively, from the telescopic gunsight, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth predetermined ranges as a group are different from the fifth, sixth, seventh and eight predetermined as a group, which are different from the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelve predetermined ranges a as a group.

10. 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, the elements being aligned upon an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing, the improvement comprising:

the addition into the optical system of a transparent reticle having aiming indicia, the indicia comprising, orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, second aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the first aiming indicia, third aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the second aiming indicia, and wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are each operable for providing first, second, third and fourth aiming points, respectively, for a first bullet trajectory at first, second, third and fourth predetermined ranges, respectively, from the telescopic gunsight, and for a second bullet trajectory at fifth, sixth, seventh and eight predetermined ranges, respectively, from the telescopic gunsight, and wherein the first, second and third aiming indicia axe spaced from the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 2.0, 4.8 and 7.5 inches, respectively, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

11. 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, the elements being aligned upon an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing, the improvement comprising:

the addition into the optical system of a transparent reticle having aiming indicia, the indicia comprising, intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines defining a center point, first aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, second aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the first aiming indicia, third aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the second aiming indicia, and wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are each operable for providing first, second, third and fourth aiming points, respectively, for a bullet trajectory, and wherein the distances of separation of the first, second and third aiming indicia from the center point are such as to cause the sequential spacing between them to progressively increase, and wherein the second, third and fourth aiming points are positioned and operable for providing aiming points at ranges of approximately 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, and wherein the second aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 4.5 inches, and the third aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 7.5 inches, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

12. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first aiming point is further positioned and operable for providing an aiming point at a range of approximately 100 yards.

13. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 11 further comprising:

fourth aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the third aiming indicia and operable for providing a fifth aiming point for the bullet trajectory, the fourth aiming indicia positioned and operable for providing an aiming point at a range of approximately 600 yards.

14. A reticle for use in a telescopic gunsight, the reticle comprising:

intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, second aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the first aiming indicia, third aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the second aiming indicia, and wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are each operable for providing a set of aiming points, respectively, for a first bullet trajectory at a first set of predetermined ranges, respectively, from the reticle, and for providing the set of aiming points, respectively, for a second bullet trajectory at a second set of predetermined ranges, respectively, from the reticle, and wherein the first set of predetermined ranges is different than the second set of predetermined ranges, and wherein the second aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 4.5 inches, and the third aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 7.5 inches, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

15. The reticle in accordance with claim 14 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines defines a center point, and the first and second aiming indicia each provide range increments of about 100 yards for both the first set of ranges and the second set of ranges.

16. The reticle in accordance with claim 15 wherein the center point, first aiming indicia and second aiming indicia define aiming points at ranges of about 100, 200 and 300 yards, respectively, in the first set of ranges, and the center point, first aiming indicia and second aiming indicia define aiming points at ranges of about 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, in the second set of ranges.

17. The reticle in accordance with claim 14 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines a bullet impact aiming point for the first aiming point at approximately 100 yards for the first bullet trajectory and approximately 200 yards for the second bullet trajectory.

18. The reticle in accordance with claim 17 wherein the first, second and third aiming indicia constitute bullet impact aiming points, respectively, at ranges of approximately 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for the first bullet trajectory, and approximately 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for the second bullet trajectory.

19. The reticle in accordance with claim 14 wherein the first set of predetermined ranges are approximately 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, and the second set of predetermined ranges are approximately 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively.

20. The reticle in accordance with claim 14 wherein the aiming points comprise first, second, third and fourth aiming points that are operable for providing aiming points in an incremental increase of approximately 100 yards for both the first bullet trajectory and the second bullet trajectory.

21. The reticle in accordance with claim 20 wherein the first, second, third and fourth aiming points provide aiming points at approximately 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for the first bullet trajectory, and at approximately 100, 200, 300 and 500 yards, respectively, for the second bullet trajectory.

22. The reticle in accordance with claim 14 further comprising:

fourth aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the third aiming indicia.

23. The reticle in accordance with claim 14 further comprising distance-measuring indicia.

24. The reticle in accordance with claim 14 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are further operable for providing the set of aiming points, respectively, for a third bullet trajectory at a third set of predetermined ranges, respectively, from the reticle, and wherein the first set of predetermined ranges is different than the second set of predetermined ranges and different from the third set of predetermined ranges.

25. A reticle for use in a telescopic gunsight, the reticle comprising:

intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, second aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the first aiming indicia, third aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the second aiming indicia, and wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are each operable for providing a set of aiming points, respectively, for a first bullet trajectory at a first set of predetermined ranges, respectively, from the reticle, and for providing the set of aiming points, respectively, for a second bullet trajectory at a second set of predetermined ranges, respectively, from the reticle, and wherein the first set of predetermined ranges is different than the second set of predetermined ranges, and wherein the first, second and third aiming indicia are spaced from the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 2.0, 4.8 and 7.5 inches, respectively, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

26. A gun scope comprising:

an elongated tubular structure, comprising, a forward objective lens element, a rear lens element, and a reticle aligned upon an optical axis with the forward and rear lens elements constituting a line of sight, the reticle comprising, orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, second aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the first aiming indicia, third aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the second aiming indicia, and wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are each operable for providing first, second, third and fourth aiming points, respectively, for a first bullet trajectory at first, second, third and fourth predetermined ranges, respectively, from the scope, and for a second bullet trajectory at fifth, sixth, seventh and eight predetermined ranges, respectively, from the scope, and wherein the second aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 4.5 inches, and the third aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 7.5 inches, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

27. The scope in accordance with claim 26 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines a bullet impact aiming point for the first aiming point at approximately 100 yards for the first bullet trajectory and approximately 200 yards for the second bullet trajectory.

28. The scope in accordance with claim 27 wherein the first, second and third aiming indicia constitute bullet impact aiming points, respectively, at ranges of approximately 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for the first bullet trajectory, and approximately 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for the second bullet trajectory.

29. A gun scope comprising:

an elongated tubular structure, comprising, a forward objective lens element, a rear lens element, and a reticle aligned upon an optical axis with the forward and rear lens elements constituting a line of sight, the reticle comprising, intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, second aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the first aiming indicia, third aiming indicia intersecting the center vertical hairline and disposed below the second aiming indicia, and wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, the first aiming indicia, the second aiming indicia, and the third aiming indicia, are each operable for providing a set of aiming points, respectively, for a first bullet trajectory at a first set of predetermined ranges, respectively, from the scope, and for providing the set of aiming points, respectively, for a second bullet trajectory at a second set of predetermined ranges, respectively, from the scope, and wherein the first set of predetermined ranges is different than the second set of predetermined ranges, and wherein the second aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 4.5 inches, and the third aiming indicia is positioned below the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines at about 7.5 inches, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

30. The scope in accordance with claim 29 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines a bullet impact aiming point for the first aiming point at approximately 100 yards for the first bullet trajectory and approximately 200 yards for the second bullet trajectory.

31. The scope in accordance with claim 30 wherein the first, second and third aiming indicia constitute bullet impact aiming points, respectively, at ranges of approximately 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for the first bullet trajectory, and approximately 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for the second bullet trajectory.

32. The scope in accordance with claim 29 wherein the center point, first aiming indicia and second aiming indicia define aiming points at ranges of about 100, 200 and 300 yards, respectively, in the first set of ranges, and the center point, first aiming indicia and second aiming indicia define aiming points at ranges of about 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, in the second set of ranges.