Eye alignment assembly

• US 7,814,668 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FeraDyne Outdoors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Field Logic (FeraDyne Outdoors, LLC)
• Inventors: Pedersen, Bill, Pulkrabek, Larry, Engstrom, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US12/726,594
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 332/63, 332/64, 332/65, 332/66, 333/34
• US Class Current: 33/263
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/03 Skeet, clay pigeon shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/04 Bow shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/19 Skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/14 Details of bows; Accessories for arc shooting sighting devices for bows F41G1/467
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/467 for bows

Abstract

An eye alignment assembly for aligning a tool with a user. The eye alignment assembly is mounted to the tool. The eye alignment assembly includes a sight point of an optical fiber positioned a distance behind an alignment indicia on a lens. An adjustment system is provided to reposition the sight point of the optical fiber relative to the alignment indicia on the lens. The eye alignment assembly provides an indication of orientation of the user relative to the tool in at least two degrees of freedom.

Claims

1. An eye alignment assembly for aligning a tool with a user, the eye alignment assembly comprising:

an eye alignment assembly mounted to the tool, the eye alignment assembly comprising a sight point of an optical fiber positioned a distance behind an alignment indicia on a lens; and

an adjustment system adapted to reposition the sight point of the optical fiber relative to the alignment indicia on the lens, the eye alignment assembly providing an indication of orientation of the user relative to the tool in at least two degrees of freedom.

2. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the eye alignment assembly decouples the user'"'"'s line of sight from an operating axis/plane of the tool.

3. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the eye alignment assembly provides an indication of orientation of the user relative to the tool without aligning the user'"'"'s line of sight with an operating axis/plane of the tool.

4. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the eye alignment assembly provides an indication of an optimum interface of an operating plane/axis of the tool with a domain.

5. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustment system permits the sight point of the optical fiber to be adjusted in at least two degrees of freedom relative to the lens.

6. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the lens includes a magnification such that the sight point is only in focus when the lens is a predetermined distance from the user.

7. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the alignment indicia rotates relative to the lens to provide an indication of level.

8. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the alignment indicia on the lens is aligned with the sight point on the optical fiber only when the user is in a predetermined relationship with respect to the tool.

9. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 comprising a luminescent material optically coupled to a proximal end of the optical fiber.

10. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical fiber is fluorescent.

11. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the optical fiber extends beyond the eye alignment assembly to collect ambient light.

12. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 comprising an indication of the user relative to the tool in the pitch and yaw directions.

13. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 comprising an indication of the user in six degrees of freedom relative to the tool.

14. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the eye alignment assembly provides an indication of orientation of the user relative to the tool in at least three degrees of freedom.

15. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the distance between the sight point of the optical fiber and the lens is adjustable.

16. The eye alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein the sight point comprises a side edge of the optical fiber treated to radiate light.

17. A alignment system comprising:

a tool;

an eye alignment assembly mounted to the tool, the eye alignment assembly comprising a sight point of an optical fiber positioned a distance behind an alignment indicia on a lens; and

an adjustment system adapted to reposition the sight point of the optical fiber relative to the alignment indicia on the lens, the eye alignment assembly providing an indication of orientation of the user relative to the tool in at least two degrees of freedom.

18. The alignment system of claim 17 wherein the tool is selected from one of a bow, a firearm, a golf club, power tools, pool cue, tractor, or snow skis.

19. A method of aligning a tool with a user, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting to the tool an eye alignment assembly including an optical fiber and a lens with an alignment indicia;

adjusting a location of the sight point of an optical fiber relative to the alignment indicia on a lens so the sight point appears aligned with the alignment indicia when the tool is in a predetermined orientation relative to the user; and

orienting the tool relative to the user prior to use so the sight point is aligned with the alignment indicia.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of orienting the tool in at least two degrees of freedom relative to the user prior to use.

21. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of orienting the tool in six degrees of freedom relative to the user prior to use.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the alignment indicia is permitted to rotate relative to the lens, the method comprising the step of determining a roll position of the tool prior to use.

23. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of adjusting a distance between the sight point of the optical fiber and the lens.