Reticle for telescopic gunsight and method for using

• US 7,343,707 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• 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:
  US10/983,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 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 distance-measuring and aiming indicia, the indicia comprising,

orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines,

four horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline,

wherein the dimension of the various features of the reticle correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards and wherein the center horizontal hairline includes two radially distal portions each forming a post having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and wherein the distance between the center point and each of the innermost extremities of the posts is about 25 inches.

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 distance-measuring and aiming indicia, the indicia comprising,

orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines,

four horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline,

wherein the distances of separation of the first, second, third and fourth range marker lines from the center point are about 2.0, 4.8, 7.5 and 10.5 inches, respectively.

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 distance-measuring and aiming indicia, the indicia comprising,

orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines,

four horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the center horizontal hairline and each intersecting the center vertical hairline,

wherein the lengths of the first, second, third and fourth range marker lines are about 4.12, 5.90, 8.32 and 9.72 inches, respectively.

4. A telescopic gunsight 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,

a center vertical hairline and a center horizontal hairline intersecting in an intersection point,

a first range-marker disposed below the center hairline and at a first distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline,

a second range-marker disposed below the first range-marker and at a second distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline,

a third range-marker disposed below the second range-marker and at a third distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline,

a fourth range-marker disposed below the third range-marker and at a fourth distance below the horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline, and

wherein the various features of the reticle correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards, and the first distance is about 2.0, the second distance is about 4.8, the third distance is about 7.5 and the fourth distance is about 10.5.

5. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first, second, third and fourth range-markers are horizontal hairlines of sequentially incremental length.

6. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 5 wherein the lengths of the first, second, third and fourth range marker lines are about 4.12, 5.90, 8.32 and 9.72 inches, respectively.

7. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 4 wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines an approximate bullet impact point at 100 and 200 yards, and wherein the sites of intersection of the first, second, third and fourth range-markers with the center vertical hairline constitute first, second, third and fourth alternative approximate bullet impact points, respectively, at ranges of 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards, respectively.

8. The reticle in accordance with claim 7 wherein the approximate bullet impact points are operable when the telescopic gunsight is used with a first gun type, and the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines an approximate bullet impact point at 100 yards and the sites of intersection of the first, second, third and fourth range-markers with the center vertical hairline constitute first, second, third and fourth alternative approximate bullet impact points, respectively, at ranges of 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, are operable when used with a second gun type different from the first gun type.

9. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 4 wherein center vertical hairline and the center horizontal line each include two radially distal portions each forming a post having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities.

10. The telescopic gunsight in accordance with claim 9 wherein the distance between the intersection point of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines and each of the innermost extremities of the posts on the center horizontal hairline is about 25 inches.

11. A gun comprising:

a scope having an elongated tubular structure, and further 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,

a center vertical hairline and a center horizontal hairline intersecting in an intersection point,

a first range-marker disposed below the center hairline and at a first distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline,

a second range-marker disposed below the first range-marker and at a second distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline,

a third range-marker disposed below the second range-marker and at a third distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline,

a fourth range-marker disposed below the third range-marker and at a fourth distance below the horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline, and

wherein the various features of the reticle correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards, and the first distance is about 2.0, the second distance is about 4.8, the third distance is about 7.5 and the fourth distance is about 10.5.