Reticle for telescopic gunsight and method of using

• US 7,194,838 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• 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:
  US10/983,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 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 adapted to be securely affixed to a gun. 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, three horizontal hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and first indicia disposed below the three horizontal hairlines and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the center horizontal hairline includes two radially distal portions each forming a post having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and wherein the center point and each of the innermost extremities of the posts are separated by about 25 inches, wherein the spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

2. 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 adapted to be securely affixed to a gun, 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, three horizontal hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and first indicia disposed below the three horizontal hairlines and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the center horizontal hairline includes two radially distal portions each forming a post having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and wherein the three horizontal hairlines and the first indicia are spaced from the center point are about 2.0, 4.8, 7.5 and 10.5 inches, respectively, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

3. 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 adapted to be securely affixed to a gun, 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, three horizontal hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and first indicia disposed below the three horizontal hairlines and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the first horizontal hairline has a first length, the second horizontal hairline has a second length, and the third horizontal hairline has a third length, the first length less than the second length and the second length less than the third length, wherein the respective lengths of the first, second and third horizontal hairlines are operable to provide aiming adjustment for a predetermined cross-wind at a corresponding range, and wherein the first length is about 4, the second length is about 6, and the third length is about 8, and wherein these length dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

4. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 3 wherein the lengths of the first, second, and third horizontal hairlines are about 4.12, 5.90 and 8.32 inches, respectively.

5. 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 adapted to be securely affixed to a gun, the improvement comprising:

the addition into the optical system of a transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, the indicia comprising, orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first and second indicia of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and third indicia disposed below the first and second indicia and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the center horizontal hairline includes two radially distal portions each forming a post having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and wherein the center point and each of the innermost extremities of the posts are separated by about 25 inches, wherein the spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

6. 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 adapted to be securely affixed to a gun, the improvement comprising:

the addition into the optical system of a transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, the indicia comprising, orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first and second indicia of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and third indicia disposed below the first and second indicia and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the first, second and third indicia are spaced from the center point are about 2.0, 4.8 and 7.5 inches, respectively, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

7. 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 adapted to be securely affixed to a gun, the improvement comprising:

the addition into the optical system of a transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, the indicia comprising, orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first and second indicia of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and third indicia disposed below the first and second indicia and intersecting the center vertical hairline wherein the first, second and third indicia are spaced from the center point are about 2.0, 4.8 and 10.5 inches, respectively, and wherein these spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

8. 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 adapted to be securely affixed to a gun, the improvement comprising:

the addition into the optical system of a transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, the indicia comprising, orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, first and second indicia of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and third indicia disposed below the first and second indicia and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the first indicia has a first length and the second indicia has a second length, and wherein the first length is less than the second length, wherein the respective lengths of the first and second indicia are operable to provide aiming adjustment for a predetermined cross-wind at a corresponding range, wherein the first length is about 4 and the second length is about 6, and wherein these length dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

9. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 8 wherein the lengths of the first and second indicia are about 4.12 and 5.90 inches, respectively.

10. 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 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines defines a center point, three horizontal hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, and first indicia disposed below the three horizontal hairlines and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the three horizontal hairlines comprise a first horizontal hairline spaced about 2.0 inches below the center point and a second horizontal hairline spaced about 4.8 inches below the center point, and wherein the center point, the first horizontal hairline and the second horizontal hairline define aiming points at ranges of about 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for a bullet trajectory of a first type and define aiming points at ranges of about 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for a bullet trajectory of a second type, and wherein the spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

11. The gun scope in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a third horizontal hairline spaced about 7.5 inches below the center point, and wherein the first indicia is spaced about 10.5 inches below the center point.

12. 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 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines defines a center point, first and second indicia of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline, 1and third indicia disposed below the first and second indicia and intersecting the center vertical hairline, wherein the first and second indicia are spaced about 2.0 inches and about 4.8 inches below the center point, and wherein the center point, the first indicia and the second indicia define aiming points at ranges of about 200, 300 and 400 yards, respectively, for a bullet trajectory of a first type and define aiming points at ranges of about 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for a bullet trajectory of a second type, and wherein the spacing dimensions correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards.

13. The gun scope in accordance with claim 12 wherein the third indicia is spaced about 7.5 inches below the center point.