Method and device useful for aiming a firearm

• US 9,261,331 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr. Erez Gur, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dr. Erez Gur, Ltd.
• Inventors: Gur, Erez, Shvalb, Nir, Ben-Moshe, Boaz
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US13/912,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 421/11, 421/35, 421/42, 42/10.1, 892/00, 235/414, 235/415, 235/416
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/16 Sighting devices adapted for indirect laying of fire

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of aiming a firearm operated by an operator, comprising: a) at a range-determining rate of at least as frequent as once a second, determining the range to an object along an aiming line of a firearm; b) generating a signal audible to the operator, wherein at least one characteristic of the audible signal is modulated as a function of said determined range; and c) discharging the firearm in response to the characteristic of the signal. Also disclosed is a device useful in helping to aim a firearm, comprising: a) a range-determining unit configured for mounting on a firearm, further configured for determining the range to an object along an aiming line at a range-determining rate of at least as frequent as once a second; and b) a reporting unit functionally associated with the range-determining unit, configured to generate a signal audible to a human operator, wherein at least one characteristic of the signal is modulated as a function of a range determined by the range-determining unit. Also disclosed is a firearm comprising: a firearm body including a barrel having a muzzle at a distal end; and mounted on the firearm body, a range-determining unit of the device useful in helping to aim a firearm.

Claims

1. A method of aiming a firearm operated by an operator, comprising:

a) at a range-determining rate of at least as frequent as once a second, determining the range to an object along an aiming line of a firearm;

b) generating a signal audible to the operator, wherein at least one characteristic of said audible signal is modulated as a function of said determined range; and

c) discharging said firearm in response to said characteristic of said signal;

wherein said discharging is when said characteristic of said signal indicates to said operator that said firearm is properly aimed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said range-determining rate is at least as frequent as 5 times a second.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said range-determining rate is at least as frequent as 10 times a second.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said audible signal is generated by a reporting unit that is in wireless communication with a component performing said determining of the range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said audible signal is generated by a reporting unit that is not physically connected to said firearm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said characteristic of said signal is frequency of said signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said frequency of said signal is such that a higher audible frequency indicates a closer range and a lower audible frequency indicates a longer range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said discharging of said firearm is effected without changing the direction of said aiming line of said firearm.

9. A device useful in helping to aim a firearm, comprising:

a) a range-determining unit configured for mounting on a firearm, further configured for determining the range to an object along an aiming line at a range-determining rate of at least as frequent as once a second; and

b) a reporting unit functionally associated with said range-determining unit, configured to generate a signal audible to a human operator, wherein at least one characteristic of said signal modulated as a function of a range determined by said range-determining unit.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said range-determining rate is at least as frequent as five times a second.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said range-determining rate is at least as frequent as ten times a second.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said reporting unit is in wireless communication with said range-determining unit.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said reporting unit is not physically connected to said range-determining unit.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said reporting unit is configured to be worn by a human operator.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein said characteristic of said signal is frequency of said signal.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said frequency of said signal is such that a higher audible frequency indicates a closer range and a lower audible frequency indicates a longer range.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said frequency of said signal is such that a lower audible frequency indicates a closer range and a higher audible frequency indicates a longer range.

18. The device of claim 9, further comprising an activation-switch configured for functional association with the trigger of a firearm so that touching of said trigger causes said activation switch to activate said range-determining unit to determine said range at said range-determining rate and/or to activate said reporting unit to generate said audible signal.

19. The device of claim 18, said activation-switch biased to a state so that when no touch of the trigger is detected, said range-determining unit does not determine said range and/or said reporting unit does not generate said audible signal.

20. A firearm comprising:

a firearm body including a barrel having a muzzle at a distal end; and

mounted on said firearm body, a range-determining unit of a device of claim 9.