Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1068Z4S
GUN SIGHT NIGHT LIGHTING ATTACHMENT
This invention relates to gun sight lighting
device and more particularly to an attachment that can be
affixed to a gun sight to enable the gun and the sight to
be used in situations where very little incidental light
is present.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many modern gun sights employ a prism and/or mirror
reflecting system whereby the user of the gun looks through
the sight and sees an optical sighting image superimposed
upon the target. A gun sight of this nature is fully described
and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 3,439,970. A gun sight using
an optical image is available on the market and is known as
the Weaver "Qwik-Point"* sight, Model R-l, U.S.A.
Another type of gun sight is designed to permit
the user of the gun to use both eyes in lining the gun up
with the target. One eye is used to look through the sight ~-
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and the other is used to look alongside the sight at the
target. The brain of the user then collates the two images -
seen by the two eyes to assist in lining the gun up with the
target.
Essentially, the Weaver "Qwik-Point"* sight presents
to the viewer a spot or dot sighting image which is developed
;by~means~of a thin red, or similarly coloured, glass or
transparent plastic rod, such as "LUCITE"*, which is located
in~a~horizontal posit~ion parallel to the barrel of the rifle
within a~transparent glass or plastic housing at the front
o the sight. This thLn~glass or plastic rod, located inside
the~transparent plastic housing, collects daylight and
30~ ~transmLt~s;~it through the end of the rod nearest the viewer.
Th~end of the rod is then seen by the viewer by means of
a~se;rLes of~ pr1sms and mirrors which superimpose the image
of the rear tip of the rod in the centre of a tube that is
located below the chamber that houses the thin glass or
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plastic rod and the transparent housing. The effect of this
rod tip imaging system is that when the viewer sights through
the lower tube, which is located immediately above the rifle,
the viewer sees a red or similarly coloured dot superimposed
upon the target. The dot represents the path along which
the bullet will travel when the rifle is fired. To use the
sight in combination with the rifle, the user of the rifle
lines the rifle up with the intended target by sighting
through the tube and superimposing the red or similarly
coloured dot on the target area which he intends to hit
with the bullet.
The Weaver "Qwik-Point"* sight is very useful
during the day when there is substantial incidental light
about because it enables the user of the rifle to position
the image spot on the target quickly and thereby line the
rifle up with the target quickly. However, as the amount of
incidental light decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult
fcr the viewer to see the red or similarly coloured dot
superimposed on the target. Consequently, the Weaver
"Qwik-Point"* sight is less than ideal in relatively dark
conditions.
To enable the Weaver "Qwik-Point"* sight, and other
gun sights which operate on a similar image superimposing
principle, to be used in conditions where there is very little
incidental light present, I have invented an attachment which
astens readily to the sight and enables the sight to be used
in almost all conditions of light. The only requirement is
that there must be sufficient incidental light present to
permit the target to be seen by the user of the sight. Since
there are very few situations where the target is not illuminated
by incidental light to the point that it can be seen dimly,
my attachment greatly increases the usefulness of the Weaver
"Qwik-Point"* sight, and other similar sighting devices.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention consists of a gun sight lighting
attachment comprising a source of light which is attached
to a gun sight of the type that operates on the principle
of superimposing a sighting image on a target and which
light source is directed specifically at illuminating the `
object that is used to develop the sighting image so that
the gun sight can be used in conditions where the level of
incidental light present is insufficient to enable the
sighting image to be readily seen by the user of the sight,
but the level of incidental light is sufficient to permit
the target to be seen by the user of the sight.
The attachment may be constructed mainly of plastic,
aluminum or an alluminum alloy so that it will be durable
but light in weight. The light source may be a battery and
a light bulb combination which is readily portable. To
avoid too much occasional light, which tends to present
distractions, the light from the light source in my attach-
~;ment is directed specifically at the object that is used to
develop the sighting image. The light source can be turnedon or off. Means are also included to enable the user of
the sight to determine whether the light source is on or
offO
~;A pin-hole can be used as the means for directing
the light from the light source specifically at the object
that is used to develop the sighting image. The portion
~;of~the attachment that fits with the gun sight is machined
to provide a snug but readily detachable fit between the
attachment and the gun sight.
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DRAWINGS
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In the drawings:
FIGURE 1 represents a three dimensional view of
the attachment in place on a gun sight mounted on a rifle; -
FIGURE 2 represents a side view of the attachment
in place on a gun sight;
FIGURE 3 illustrates the sighting image in the gun
sight superimposed on a target as seen by the user of the
sight;
FIGURE 4 represents a partially sectioned side view
of the gun sight fitting component of the attachment; and
FIGURE`5 represents a sectioned side view of the
battery holding component of the attachment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The gun sight lighting attachment consists of two
main parts, namely, a gun sight fitting 1 and a battery
hoIder 2. The gun sight fitting 1 is mainly cylindrical in
construction. As seen in Figure 2, the interior surface 3
of the fitting 1 is machined to close tolerances so that it
~20 fits snuggly but detachably about the front end of the
Weaver "Qwik-Point" sight 4. It will be understood, however,
that rather than a snug fit, some other design such as a
rubber washer or clamp-like device can be used to provide
a secure fit between the attachment and the front end of the
sigh*.
he~end~5 of the gun sight fitting 1 opposite the
end that fits over the Weaver "Qwik-Point"* sight tSee Figure 4)
is machined so that it has a somewhat cup-like appearance.
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Extendlng from this closed end 5 is a cylindrical projection 6
upon whlch are machined male threads 7. The cylindrical
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projection 6 is of a narrower diameter than the diameter of
the gun sight fitting 1 and is positioned so that its centre
line aligns with the centre line of the gun sight fitting 1.
Machined in the cylindrical projection 6 along the centre
line is a cylindrical opening 8. This cylindrical opening 8
is of a smaller diameter than the cylindrical projection 6.
The exterior of the battery holder 2 has a generally
tapering or telescoping shape. The battery holder is open
at one end. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 4, the
exterior of the battery holder 2 is constructed in the form
of a series of adjoining cylinders all having a common axis
and increasingly smaller diameters until the closed end 9 ~
of the battery holder 2 is reached. -
The interior of the battery holder 2 is hollow and ~-
machined to different diameters in order to form a battery `
receptacle 10 and a larger diameter light bulb receptacle 11.
The battery receptacle 10 and the light bulb receptacle 11
are substantially cylindrical in shape and have a common
axis with the axis of the battery holder 2. The light bulb`
2~ receptacle 11 has female threads 12 machined about its
circumference closest to the open end of the battery holder 2.
The female threads 12 are machined to coordinate with and be
of approximately the same diameter as the male threads 7 of
the gun sight fitting 1. By means of the similar dimensions
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of the female threads 12 and the male threads 7, the gun
sight fitting 1 can be screwed into the battery holder 2. Of
course, other methods rather than threads, for example, inter-
locking slots, can be used to provide a secure readily discon-
nectable joint between the gun sight fitting 1 and the battery
holder 2.
When the gun sight fitting 1 is screwed into the
battery holder 2, the cylindrical opening 8, the battery
receptacle 10, and light bulb receptacle 11, provide a chamber
which is large enough to hold a light bulb 13, a light
bulb holder 14, and a battery 15 (See Figure 2). To
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keep the dimensions of the gun sight fitting 1 and the
adjoining battery holder 2 relatively small, it is preferable
that the light bulb 13 and the battery 15 be of pen-light
size. However, it will be recognized that other light source
generating devices can be used.
The light bulb 13 is held in place by the light
bulb holder 14. This holder 14 may be of many suitable
constructions such as a coil spring that surrounds the base -
of the light bulb 13, or a small cylindrical holder stampèd
out of metal sheet or constructed of plastic. The function
of the light bulb holder 14, or variant thereof, is to keep
the light bulb 13 centred more or less on a line with the
axis of the battery holder 2.
A battery spring 16 is positioned at the bottom of
the battery receptacle 10 between the closed end 9 of the
battery holder 2 and the battery 15. The function of this
battery spring 16 is to apply pressure to the base of the
battery 15 so that the battery 15 remains in close electrical
contact with the base of the light bulb 13. Of course,
other suitable ohvious devices may be used in place of the
battery spring 16, so long as they operate to keep the battery
15 in electrical contact with the base of the light bulb 13.
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The light bulb 13 can be turned on or off by
rotating the battery holder 2 in relation to the gun sight
flttLng l about the respective male threads 7 and female
threads 12. By rotation in this manner, the distance between
contact point 17 of the gun sight fitting 1 and contact
point L8 of the battery holder 2 can be varied. By shortening
;the~dlstance between the contact points 17 and 18, and indeed
30~ bringin~g~them tQgether~ the battery 15 is brought into contact
with the base of the light bulb 13, which is held in place
by the light bulb holder 14 against the end of the cylindrical
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projection 6. An electrical current then passes from the
battery 15 to the light bulb 13 thereby lighting the light
bulb 13.
When it is desired to turn off the light bulb 13,
the battery holder 2 is rotated several turns counter-clockwise
in relation to the gun sight fitting 1. This rotation
lengthens the distance between contact points 17 and 18 until
electrical contact between the light bulb 13 and the battery
15 is broken. In that position, no electrical current passes
from the battery 15 into the light bulb 13 and the light bulb
13 is not lit.
While the foregoing method of turning on and off
the light bulb 13 is shown in the drawings, it will be readily
recognized by anyone considering the construction of the
attachment that an electrical switch, or other suitable on-off
mechanism, can be installed on or in the battery holder 2
to turn the light bul~ 13 on or off.
In order to tell when the light bulb is on or off,
it is preferable to have a small observation hole 19 drilled
in the sid of the gun sight fittingl. The size of this
observation hole 19 should be sufficiently large so that it
can be readily seen whether the light bulb 11 is on or off.
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But at the same time, the observation hole 19 should not be
so;large that a sizeable amount of light from the light bulb 11
will escape through the observation hole 19. Too much light
will annoy or distract other members of any group in which
the person carrying the gun might be a member, or, when
` co;ndltions~are relatively dark, betray the position of the
perso~n~ carrying the gun. Concealing the position of the
person carrying the gun might be important in hunting, war
or police work situations. I have found that an observation
hole of ap~oximate~y l~l~ inch diameter is suitable.
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If the light bulb 13 were permitted to shine
unimpeded upon the glass or transparent plastic rod 20 of
the Weaver "Qwik-Point"* sight 4, a distracting halo
surrounding the image of the rod would be presented to the
viewer. It is therefore important that the light is permitted
to shine directly on only the end of the rod 20. In this
way, a distinct point of light from the end of the rod 20
is presented to the viewer. To meet this requirement and
eliminate the halo, I have found that an opaque disc 21
with a pin hole 22 drilled through the centre of it can be
installed in the interior of the gun sight fitting 1 adjacent
the closed end 5. The diameter of the disc 21 coincides
with the diameter of the interior surface 3 of the sight
fitting 1 so that the disc 21 fits snuggly inside the
interior surface 3 adjacent the closed end 5. A linear pin
hole 22 is machined along the circumferential axis of the
disc 21 so that it meets and aligns with the end of the
rod 20. I have found that a hole of 1/32 inch diameter
permits the proper amount of light from the light bulb 13
~o to reach the end of the rod 20 so that the image 23 (See
Figure 3) presented to the viewer is of maximum intensity,
yet is not surrounded by an annoying halo from the light
bulb 13.
It should be kept in mind that it is not necessary
to have the dlsc 21 and linear pin hole arrangement as a
separate element in the gun sight fitting 1. The con-
struction of the gun sight fitting 1 can be designed so
that a predetermined width of metal will lie between the
light bulb 13 and the rod 20, and that apin hole,or some
other light transmitting aperture, can be machined in this
width of metal. Accordingly, the disc 21 and pin hole 22
should be regarded only as a preferred embodiment. The
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The advantage of a separate disc 21 is that it can be removed
and replaced with another disc that is of different width -
or has a different size of pin hole 22. -
It will be appreciated by any person skilled in .
the art of designing gun sights that the foregoing description ~.
of the gun sight attachment is only one embodiment of the -`
invention and that various design modifications can be made
to the respective parts of the attachment and to the functions
of those parts and also the attachment without departing
from the overall concept of the invention. It is to be
understood that any such modifications in design are to be
considered to fall within the scope of my invention which
is defined by the following claims.
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