Sighting system for a fire arm

• US 7,797,873 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FN Herstal SA (Government of France)
• Original Assignee: FN Herstal SA (Government of France)
• Inventors: Gering, Armand, Macaluso, Tony, Joannes, René
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US11/515,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20070056203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 421/05, 421/13, 421/36, 421/42
• US Class Current: 42/105
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/34 combined with light source, e.g. spot light
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/44 Spirit-level adjusting means, e.g. for correcting tilt; Means for indicating or correcting tilt or cant
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/48 for firing grenades from rifles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/52 for rifles or shotguns having two or more barrels, or adapted to fire different kinds of ammunition, e.g. ball or shot
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C

Abstract

Improved sighting system for a fire arm, characterised in that it comprises a single indicator light (6); a sighting device (7) providing an alignment opening (8) with a longitudinal reference plane (XoX′) which is parallel or mainly parallel to the axis (Y-Y′) of the barrel (4) and which is aligned with the indicator light (6); an inclinometer to measure the elevation angle (A) of the fire arm (1); a ballistic calculator (9) connected to the indicator light (6) and to the inclinometer, making it possible to calculate the desired angle of inclination of the fire arm (1) as a function of the distance of the target (18) and to control the indicator light (6) so as to signal at what moment the measured elevation angle (A) corresponds to the calculated elevation angle.

Claims

1. Sighting system for a fire arm having a barrel, comprising a single indicator light (6);

a sighting device (7) providing an alignment opening (8) with a longitudinal reference plane (XoX′

) which is parallel or mainly parallel to the axis (Y-Y′

) of the barrel (4), and which is aligned with the indicator light (6);

an inclinometer for obtaining a measured elevation angle (A) of the fire arm (1);

a ballistic calculator (9) connected to the indicator light (6) and to the inclinometer, arranged for calculation of a calculated elevation angle of the fire arm (1) as a function of the distance of the target (18) and to control the indicator light (6) so as to signal at what moment the measured elevation angle (A) corresponds to the calculated elevation angle.

2. Sighting system according to claim 1, including a range finder (10) connected to the ballistic calculator (9) and arranged to measure the distance of the target (18).

3. Sighting system according to claim 2, wherein the ballistic calculator (7) is arranged to register the initial elevation angle of the fire arm (1) at the time of the range finding, such that when calculating the calculated elevation angle, the inclined position of the target (18) in relation to the shooter (17) is taken into account.

4. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the indicator light (6) comprises at least one light spot which emits a light signal with a colour, as long as the measured elevation angle (A) does not correspond to the calculated elevation angle, and which emits a different colour, as soon as the measured elevation angle (A) corresponds to the calculated elevation angle.

5. Sighting system according to claim 4, wherein the indicator light (6) comprises a single light spot in line with the longitudinal reference plane (XoX'"'"') of the alignment opening (8).

6. Sighting system according to claim 4, wherein the indicator light (6) comprises two light spots (19), laterally spaced on either side of the sighting device (7).

7. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the signal of the indicator light (6) is a signal that blinks as long as the measured elevation angle (A) is inferior to the calculated elevation angle, whereas the signal is a continuous signal as soon as the measured elevation angle (A) reaches the calculated elevation angle or exceeds said calculated elevation angle value.

8. Sighting system according to claim 7, wherein the blinking becomes faster and faster as soon as the measured elevation angle (A) approaches the calculated elevation angle.

9. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the sighting device (7) provides a vertical alignment opening (8).

10. Sighting system according to claim 9, wherein the sighting device (7) comprises two walls (14) that are parallel or mainly parallel to the axis (Y-Y′

) of the barrel (4) of the fire arm (1).

11. Sighting system according to claim 10, wherein the height of the walls (14) diminishes towards a front far end (15) of the fire arm (1).

12. Sighting system according to claim 10, wherein the indicator light (6) is situated between the two walls (14).

13. Sighting system according to claim 9, wherein the sighting device (7) is formed of a raised frame (20) forming an angle (B) with the axis (Y-Y′

) of the barrel (4) of the fire arm (1).

14. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the sighting device (7) is hinged.

15. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the sighting device and indicator light are mounted on the fire arm at a distance from the eye of the shooter (17) when the latter is in a firing position.

16. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the length in the longitudinal sense of the fire arm (1) of the sighting device (7) and the light indicator (6) as a whole amounts to 10 cm or less.

17. Sighting system according to claim 1, including a second inclinometer connected to the ballistic calculator (9) arranged to measure the lateral inclination of the longitudinal reference plane of the sighting device (7) in relation to the horizontal, and wherein the ballistic calculator (9) is arranged to calculate the correction of the elevation angle of the arm (1) as a function of said measured lateral inclination angle.

18. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the ballistic calculator (9) is connected to the firing mechanism of the fire arm (1) so as to start firing as soon as the fire arm (1) has reached the right firing position calculated by the ballistic calculator (9).

19. Sighting system according to claim 18, wherein the connection of the ballistic calculator (9) to the firing mechanism of the fire arm (1) is interrupted when the trigger of the fire arm (1) is not activated.

20. Sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the sighting system is arranged so that the sighting system can be dismounted from the fire arm (1).