Reticle for telescopic gunsight and method for using cross reference to related application

• US 20050005495A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas D Smith, III
• Original Assignee: Thomas D Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. A method of aiming a gun (or other projectile producing device) equipped with any optical system such as a telescopic sight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said 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 (or other projectile producing device), a transparent reticle (or an electronically or otherwise created visual reticle) in said optical system (or in any aiming system of similar design or effect) between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly, and four (or more or less) straight horizontal (or slightly angled) range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the method comprising:

a) a means of determining distance to a target employing said reticle, and

b) using said determined distance and said reticle range marker hairlines to ascertain a precise aiming point on said reticle for aiming said device at a specific target.

2. A method of aiming a gun (or other projectile producing device) equipped with any optical system such as a telescopic sight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said 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 (or in any aiming system of similar design or effect or such a system on any other projectile producing device), a transparent reticle (or an electronically or otherwise created visual reticle) in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities (but where other designs are feasible, where appropriate, as to maximize usefulness in a particular application), and four (or more) straight horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the method comprising:

a) determining the distance to the target employing said reticle, and

b) using said determined distance, said reticle range marker hairlines and said posts to ascertain a precise aiming point on said reticle for aiming said gun at the target.

3. A method of aiming a gun (or other projectile producing device) equipped with any optical system such as a telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said 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 (or other projectile producing device), a transparent reticle (or an electronically or otherwise created visual reticle) in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities (but other designs are feasible for specific applications), and four (or more) straight horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the method comprising:

a) determining distance to target employing said reticle;

b) determining correction for wind of known (or estimable) speed and direction;

c) determining correction for magnus and yaw of repose effects on bullet;

d) determining correction for uphill or downhill shooting angle;

e) determining correction for target speed and direction;

f) using said determined distance, estimated wind speed and direction, estimated magnus effect, estimated uphill or downhill angle, estimated target speed and direction, and said reticle range marker hairlines and said posts to ascertain a precise aiming point on said reticle for aiming said gun at the target with sufficient accuracy to produce the desired shot placement.

4. A method of aiming a gun (or other projectile producing device) equipped with any optical system such as a telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said 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 (or other projectile producing device), a transparent reticle (or an electronically or otherwise created visual reticle) in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities (but other designs are feasible for specific applications), and four (or more) straight or curved horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline and at an angle to the perpendicular to said vertical hairline, the method comprising:

a) determining distance to target employing said reticle;

b) determining correction for wind of known (or estimable) speed and direction;

c) automatic correction for magnus and yaw of repose effects on bullet;

d) determining correction for uphill or downhill shooting angle;

e) determining correction for target speed and direction;

f) using said determined distance, estimated wind speed and direction, estimated uphill or downhill angle, estimated target speed and direction, and said reticle range marker hairlines and said posts to ascertain a precise aiming point on said reticle for aiming said gun at the target with sufficient accuracy to produce the desired shot placement with the vertical components of wind correction automatically incorporated into the aiming system.

6. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight having an optical system comprising a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and an intervening erector lens element aligned along an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a gun (or other projectile producing device) for shooting a bullet at a target, a transparent reticle (or an electronically or otherwise created visual reticle) in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia thereon, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly, and four (or more) straight (or curved) horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially increasing incremental lengths disposed below said center horizontal hairline and parallel (or nearly so, see claim 4) thereto and in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the vertical spacing of said range-marker hairlines below said center horizontal hairline being proportional to the drop of said bullet at regularly increased target ranges, as described by the parabolic flight of real projectiles fired in any gravitational field.

7. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 4 wherein said target ranges are 300 yards, 400 yards, 500 yards and 600 yards respectively but where other incremental ranges are appropriate for other types of guns and loads.

9. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 6 wherein said target ranges are 300 yards, 400 yards, 500 yards and 600 yards respectively but where other incremental ranges are appropriate for other types of guns and loads.

10. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 6 wherein the spacing of said range marker hairlines below said horizontal center hairline are 2.0, 4.8, 7.5, and 10.5 inches of subtention at 100 yards respectively but where other spacing ratios can be applied to specific other types of guns and loads for special or unique situations.

11. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 4 wherein the lengths of said range-marker hairlines on either side of the center vertical hairline are proportional to the effect of a 10 mph wind on said bullet at the respective target ranges but where other lengths can be used for specific other applications.

12. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 9 wherein the lengths of said range marker hairlines on either side of the center vertical hairline are 2.06, 2.95, 4.16 and 4.86 inches of subtention at 100 yards respectively but where other lengths can be used for specific other applications.

13. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 9 wherein the lengths of said range marker hairlines on either side of the center vertical hairline are specific multiples of 2.06, 2.95, 4.16 and 4.86 inches of subtention at 100 yards respectively and where specific multiples of those lengths are indicated by some means, such as line width changes or hash makes, so as to indicate specific wind speed (or moving target lead) corrections.

15. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 11 wherein the lengths of said range-marker hairlines on either side of the center vertical hairline are proportional to the effect of a 10 mph wind on said bullet at the respective target ranges but where other lengths can be used for specific other applications.

16. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 11 wherein the distance of the innermost points of the posts on the center horizontal hairline from the center vertical hairline is directly proportional to the speed of a specific running animal but where other lengths can be used for specific other applications.

5. A method of aiming a gun (or other projectile producing device) equipped with any optical system such as a telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said 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 (or other projectile producing device), a transparent reticle (or an electronically or otherwise created visual reticle) in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities (but other designs are feasible for specific applications), and four (or more) straight or curved horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline and at an angle to the perpendicular to said vertical hairline, and with specific length increments on each such range-marker, on each side of the vertical hairline, marked in any manner so as to indicate required correction for various crosswind speeds, the method comprising:

a) determining distance to target employing said reticle;

b) determining correction for wind of known (or estimable) speed and direction;

c) automatic correction for magnus and yaw of repose effects on bullet;

d) determining correction for uphill or downhill shooting angle;

e) determining correction for target speed and direction;

f) using said determined distance, estimated wind speed and direction, estimated uphill or downhill angle, estimated target speed and direction, and said reticle range marker hairlines and said posts to ascertain a precise aiming point on said reticle for aiming said gun at the target with sufficient accuracy to produce the desired shot placement with the vertical components of wind correction automatically incorporated into the aiming system.

8. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in claim 5 wherein said target ranges are 300 yards, 400 yards, 500 yards and 600 yards respectively but where other incremental ranges are appropriate for other types of guns and loads.

14. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight having an optical system comprising a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and an intervening erector lens element aligned along an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a gun (or other projectile producing device) for shooting a bullet at a target, a transparent reticle (or an electronically or otherwise created visual reticle) in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia thereon, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and four (or more) straight Horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially increasing incremental lengths disposed below said center horizontal hairline and parallel (or nearly so) thereto and in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the vertical spacing of said range-marker hairlines below said center horizontal hairline being proportional to the drop of said bullet at regularly increased uniform target ranges, as defined by the ballistic parabola.

17. A optical system such as a telescopic gun (or other projectile producing device) sight as defined in all claims above where the main hairlines may be different in specific design, orientation, number, etc. but where the general principal of the sighting system follows the claims above so as to provide for automatic ranging, drop, crosswind, etc. corrections for a projectile following a parabolic trajectory.