Dual powered illuminated fiber optic gun sight

• US 20020157298A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John T. Carlson
• Original Assignee: John T. Carlson
• Inventors: Carlson, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,571,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/132
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/345 for illuminating the sights

Abstract

A dual powered fiber optic sight for a gun, which can be illuminated either by ambient light or by a light source. The light source is preferably a light-emitting diode (LED). Ambient light and light from the LED are carried by a fiber optic rod to a target screen and the rod appears as a bright dot on the target screen on the front sight of the gun. An optional rear sight also receives light from the ambient light or from the light source.

Claims

1. A dual-powered, illuminated open sight for a gun, that can be attached to the gun barrel without significantly modifying the gun barrel, the gun sight comprising:

a) a window adapted to gather ambient light;

b) an artificial light source;

c) a target screen; and

c) a fiber optic device adapted to transmit light from the window and from the artificial light source to the target screen, the fiber optic device appearing as an illuminated dot on the target screen.

2. The gun sight of claim 1, wherein the artificial light source is a light-emitting diode.

3. The gun sight of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic device is a monofilament plastic rod.

4. The gun sight of claim 2, further comprising a flexible circuit on which the light-emitting diode is mounted and further comprising batteries mounted on the flexible circuit.

5. The gun sight of claim 4, further comprising a sliding switch connecting the batteries to the light-emitting diode.

6. The gun sight of claim 5, further comprising a housing enclosing the window, light-emitting diode, fiber optic device, flexible circuit, and batteries, the sliding switch forming a portion of the housing, the housing comprising opposing halves, and further comprising O-rings holding the housing halves together.

7. The gun sight of claim 2, wherein the fiber optic device has a green color and wherein the light-emitting diode is red, whereby the fiber optic device will appear green when illuminated by ambient light and will appear red when illuminated by the light-emitting diode.

8. A dual-powered, illuminated open sight for a gun, that can be attached to the gun barrel without significantly modifying the gun barrel, the gun sight comprising:

a) a front sight having a window adapted to gather ambient light, a light-emitting diode, a target screen, and a fiber optic device adapted to transmit light from the window and from the artificial light source to the target screen, the fiber optic device appearing as an illuminated dot on the target screen;

b) a rear sight; and

c) a second fiber optic device connecting the front sight to the rear sight.

9. The gun sight of claim 8, wherein the artificial light source is a light-emitting diode.

10. The gun sight of claim 9, further comprising a flexible circuit on which the light-emitting diode is mounted and further comprising batteries mounted on the flexible circuit.

11. The gun sight of claim 10, further comprising a sliding switch connecting the batteries to the light-emitting diode.

12. The gun sight of claim 11, further comprising a housing enclosing the window, light-emitting diode, fiber optic device, flexible circuit, and batteries, the sliding switch forming a portion of the housing.

13. The gun sight of claim 9, wherein the fiber optic device has a green color and wherein the light-emitting diode is red, whereby the fiber optic device will appear green when illuminated by ambient light and will appear red when illuminated by the light-emitting diode.

15. The gun sight of claim 14, wherein the artificial light source further comprises a light-emitting diode.

16. The gun sight of claim 15, further comprising a flexible circuit on which the light-emitting diode is mounted and further comprising batteries mounted on the flexible circuit.

17. The gun sight of claim 16, further comprising a sliding switch connecting the batteries to the light-emitting diode.

18. The gun sight of claim 15, wherein the fiber optic device has a green color and wherein the light-emitting diode is red, whereby the fiber optic device will appear green when illuminated by ambient light and will appear red when illuminated by the light-emitting diode.

14. A dual-powered, illuminated open sight for a gun, that can be attached to the gun barrel without significantly modifying the gun barrel, the gun sight comprising:

a) a front sight further comprising a housing, a window adapted to gather ambient light, an artificial light source and a fiber optic device adapted to transmit light from the window and from the artificial light source, the fiber optic device extending outside the housing and being mounted on a rail, the rail being mounted on the gun barrel;

b) a rear sight mounted on a second rail, the second rail being mounted on the gun barrel; and

c) a second fiber optic device connecting the front sight to the rear sight.