Rifle scope with a low-light visible element

• US 7,937,879 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sheltered Wings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sheltered Wings Incorporated
• Inventors: Hamilton, Samuel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US12/381,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 421/11, 42119-132, 42144-145
• US Class Current: 42/132
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/345 for illuminating the sights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor

Abstract

Rifle scopes with low-light visible elements include a scope body, a movable optical element defining an optical axis enclosed by the scope body, a turret operably connected to the optical element for adjusting the optical axis, and a low-light visible element attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the low-light visible element. A tactile indicator may be attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by touch. A plurality of indicia may be attached to the perimeter of the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the indicia. At least one of the indicia may be visible in low-light conditions.

Claims

1. A rifle scope with a low-light visible element comprising:

a scope body;

a movable optical element defining an optical axis connected to the scope body, a turret operably connected to the optical element for adjusting the optical axis;

a low-light visible element attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the low-light visible element; and

wherein the low-light visible element is an elongated member having a substantial portion of its length exposed to ambient light and an exposed end visible laterally from an axis defined by the turret'"'"'s rotation.

2. The rifle scope of claim 1, further comprising the scope body having a rear, wherein the exposed end of the low-light visible element is visible when viewed from the rear of the scope body when the optical element is in a selected reference position.

3. The rifle scope of claim 2, wherein the selected reference position corresponds to 0 Minutes of Angle of adjustment to the optical axis.

4. The rifle scope of claim 1, further comprising a tactile indicator attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by touch.

5. The rifle scope of claim 4, wherein the tactile indicator is aligned with the axis of the scope body when the tactile indicator is in a selected reference position.

6. The rifle scope of claim 5, wherein the selected reference position corresponds to 0 Minutes of Angle of adjustment to the optical axis.

7. The rifle scope of claim 4, wherein the tactile indicator is an elongated surface feature.

8. The rifle scope of claim 4, wherein the tactile indicator is a channel defined in the top of the turret and receiving the low-light visible element.

9. The rifle scope of claim 7, wherein the tactile indicator is at least one of the group comprising a recessed groove and the low-light visible element.

10. The rifle scope of claim 1, further comprising an indicium attached to the turret.

11. The rifle scope of claim 10, wherein the indicium is attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the indicium.

12. The rifle scope of claim 10, further comprising the turret having a perimeter, wherein the indicium is attached to the perimeter of the turret.

13. The rifle scope of claim 10, wherein the indicium is a luminous marker.

14. The rifle scope of claim 10, further comprising the scope body having a rear, wherein the indicium is visible when viewed from the rear of the scope body when the optical element is in a selected reference position.

15. The rifle scope of claim 14, wherein, the selected reference position corresponds to 0 Minutes of Angle of adjustment to the optical axis.

16. The rifle scope of claim 10, wherein the indicium is visible in low-light conditions.

17. The rifle scope of claim 10, wherein the indicium is illuminated by the low-light visible element.

18. A rifle scope with a low-light visible element comprising:

a scope body;

a movable optical element defining an optical axis connected to the scope body;

a turret operably connected to the optical element for adjusting the optical axis;

a low-light visible element attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the low-light visible element; and

wherein the low-light visible element is an elongated light-transmissive body.

19. The rifle scope of claim 18, further comprising a tactile indicator attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by touch.

20. The rifle scope of claim 19, wherein the tactile indicator is aligned with the axis of the scope body when the tactile indicator is in a selected reference position.

21. The rifle scope of claim 20, wherein the selected reference position corresponds to 0 Minutes of Angle of adjustment to the optical axis.

22. The rifle scope of claim 19, wherein the tactile indicator is an elongated surface feature.

23. The rifle scope of claim 19, wherein the tactile indicator is a channel defined in the top of the turret and receiving the low-light visible element.

24. The rifle scope of claim 22, wherein the tactile indicator is at least one of the group comprising a recessed groove and the low-light visible element.

25. The rifle scope of claim 18, further comprising an indicium attached to the turret.

26. The rifle scope of claim 25, wherein the indicium is attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the indicium.

27. The rifle scope of claim 25, further comprising the turret having a perimeter, wherein the indicium is attached to the perimeter of the turret.

28. The rifle scope of claim 25, wherein the indicium is a luminous marker.

29. The rifle scope of claim 25, further comprising the scope body having a rear, wherein the indicium is visible when viewed from the rear of the scope body when the optical element is in a selected reference position.

30. The rifle scope of claim 29, wherein the selected reference position corresponds to 0 Minutes of Angle of adjustment to the optical axis.

31. The rifle scope of claim 25, wherein the indicium is visible in low-light conditions.

32. The rifle scope of claim 25, wherein the indicium is illuminated by the low-light visible element.

33. A rifle scope with a low-light visible element comprising:

a scope body;

a movable optical element defining an optical axis connected to the scope body;

a turret operably connected to the optical element for adjusting the optical axis;

a low-light visible element attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the low-light visible element; and

wherein the low-light visible element is selected from the group comprising fiber-optic filaments, rods, tritium vials, fluorescent materials, and luminous paint.

34. The rifle scope of claim 33, further comprising a tactile indicator attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by touch.

35. The rifle scope of claim 34, wherein the tactile indicator is aligned with the axis of the scope body when the tactile indicator is in a selected reference position.

36. The rifle scope of claim 35, wherein the selected reference position corresponds to 0 Minutes of Angle of adjustment to the optical axis.

37. The rifle scope of claim 34, wherein the tactile indicator is an elongated surface feature.

38. The rifle scope of claim 34, wherein the tactile indicator is a channel defined in the top of the turret and receiving the low-light visible element.

39. The rifle scope of claim 37, wherein the tactile indicator is at least one of the group comprising a recessed groove and the low-light visible element.

40. The rifle scope of claim 33, further comprising an indicium attached to the turret.

41. The rifle scope of claim 40, wherein the indicium is attached to the turret such that the rotational position of the turret can be determined by viewing the indicium.

42. The rifle scope of claim 40, further comprising the turret having a perimeter, wherein the indicium is attached to the perimeter of the turret.

43. The rifle scope of claim 40, wherein the indicium is a luminous marker.

44. The rifle scope of claim 40, further comprising the scope body having a rear, wherein the indicium is visible when viewed from the rear of the scope body when the optical element is in a selected reference position.

45. The rifle scope of claim 44, wherein the selected reference position corresponds to 0 Minutes of Angle of adjustment to the optical axis.

46. The rifle scope of claim 40, wherein the indicium is visible in low-light conditions.

47. The rifle scope of claim 40, wherein the indicium is illuminated by the low-light visible element.