This invention relates to sights on weapons, and in particular to systems, devices, and methods for mounting front and rear IR and visible LEDs sights on weapons, so the LEDs illuminate the sights in low light environments. allowing a shooter, the ability to see both sights, and acquire sights in low light without projecting any visible light and being battery powered with an on/off and dimmer switch giving the shooter ability to use at their convenience without projecting light.
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers (usually metal) used as sighting devices to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector (reflex) sights.
The earliest and most simple iron sights are fixed and cannot be easily adjusted. Many iron sights can be adjustable, so that the sights can be adjusted for windage and elevation.
On many firearms the rear sight is adjustable for elevation or windage. Rear sights are usually mounted in a dovetail on the barrel or receiver, closer to the eye of the shooter, allowing for easy visual pick-up of the notch.
Front sights can be mounted to the barrel by dovetailing, sweat soldering, screwing, or staking close to the muzzle and on a ramp. Some front sight assemblies include a detachable hood intended to reduce glare and if the hood is circular, then this provides a reference where the eye will naturally align one within the other.
With typical blade or post iron sights, the shooter would center the front post in the notch of the rear sight and the tops of both sights should be level. Since the eye is only capable of focusing on one plane, and the rear sight, front sight, and target are all in separate planes, only one of those three planes can be in focus. Which plane is in focus depends on the type of sight, and one of the challenges to a shooter is to keep the focus on the correct plane to allow for best sight alignment.
Different types of iron sights have included three-dot, white outline rear, straight eight, sight inserts, bar/dot or express sight, gold bead, night sights, and fiber optic.
For the three-dot, on semi-automatic handguns, the most common type of enhancement is a bright white dot painted on the front sight near the top of the blade, and a dot on each side of the rear sight notch. In low lighting conditions, the front sight dot is centered horizontally between the rear sight dots, with the target placed above the middle (front) dot. Some sight vendors offer differently colored dots for the front and rear sights.
The white outline rear is a contrast variation which uses a dot front sight with a thick and bright white outline around the rear sight notch.
For the straight eight, Heinie Specialty Products produces a variant of high visibility sights in which a single dot front sight and a rear notch with a dot below can be lined up vertically to form a figure “eight”.
Sight inserts can be popular on revolvers, where the enhancement includes a colored plastic insert in the front sight blade, usually red or orange in color.
The bar/dot or express sight is similar to the straight eight type, which can be traditional on express rifles and is also found on some handguns. The open, V-shaped rear allows for faster acquisition and wider field of view, though less accurate for longer range precision type shooting. The dot on the front sight is aligned or set directly above the vertical bar on the rear sight, commonly referred to as “dotting the “I”.
The gold bead which generally includes a colored dot on an end of a shotgun barrel is preferred by many competitors in IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) and IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) shooting.
Night sights are used on tactical firearms, where enhancements can include trasers containing tritium gas whose radioactive decay causes a fluorescent material to glow. Self-luminous tritium sights provide visibility in extremely low light situations where normal sights would be degraded or useless. The tritium glow is not noticeable in bright conditions such as during daylight however. As a result, some manufacturers have started to integrate fiber optic sights with tritium vials to provide bright, high-contrast firearms sights in both bright and dim conditions. However, tritium usually gives off a constant light.
Short pieces of optical fibers for the dots is a growing trend, started on air rifles and muzzleloaders, made in such a way that ambient light falling on the length of the fiber is concentrated at the tip, making the dots slightly brighter than the surroundings. This method is most commonly used in front sights, but many makers offer sights that use fiber optics on front and rear sights. Fiber optic sights can now be found on handguns, rifles, and shotguns, both as aftermarket accessories and a growing number of factory guns.
Modern day iron sights are ineffective in low light due to the shooters inability to see both front and rear components of the system.
A primary objective of this invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for mounting front and rear LED illuminating sights on weapons that use the lights to illuminate both the front and rear sights to make them useful in low light environments (dusk, darkness and dawn).
A secondary objective of this invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for mounting front and rear IR (infrared lights) LED (light emitting diode) sights on weapons so that military and law enforcement shooters have the ability acquire sights in low light environments (dusk, darkness and dawn) without projecting any visible lights when using night vision goggles.
A third objective of this invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for mounting front and rear LED illuminating sights on weapons being battery powered with an on/off dimmer allowing the shooter use without projecting light. The dimmer being adjustable between low IR to high IR light to off, or between low visible to high visible light to off.
A fourth objective of this invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for mounting front and rear LED illuminating sights on weapons which allows projected light to be adjusted up to no visible light emissions, unlike tritium sights which gives off a constant light.
An LED illuminating weapon sighting system, can include a rear sight assembly for mounting on an automatic weapon, adapted to be closest to a shooters eye, the rear sight assembly including a rear LED (light emitting diode) lighting system, and a front sight post assembly for mounting on the weapon adjacent to a muzzle of the weapon, the front sight assembly including a front LED (light emitting diode) lighting system, wherein the rear sight assembly and the front sight post assembly are adapted to align with the shooters eye and target to create a sight picture and the rear LED lighting system and the front LED lighting system are adapted to assist the shooter to acquire the sight picture in low light environments.
The rear LED lighting system and the front LED lighting system can each include IR (Infrared) LED light used for night vision illumination and a visible LED light used for standard illumination without the night vision illumination.
The rear LED lighting system can include a rear fiber optic rod and a rear fiber optic board positioned about a rear aperture, with a circle etched onto the rear fiber optic board, wherein turning on the rear sight assembly will channel light from the IR LED light and the visible LED light to illuminate the etched circle with the IR LED light or the visible LED light.
The front LED lighting system can include a front fiber optic rod and a front fiber optic board inside of a front sight post, wherein turning on the front sight assembly will channel light from the IR LED light and the visible LED light to illuminate the front sight post with the IR LED light or the visible LED light
The rear LED lighting system can include a rear battery power supply and a rear switch for turning on the rear LED lighting system and for adjusting brightness of the rear IR LED light source and the rear visible LED light source.
The rear switch can include a rotary switch.
The rear LED lighting system can include a windage adjuster to move a rear sight left or right to correct direction of the rear sight assembly.
The front LED lighting system can include a front battery power supply and a front switch for turning on the rear LED lighting system and for adjusting brightness of the front IR LED light source and the front visible LED light source. The front switch can include a rotary switch.
The front sight post in the front LED lighting system can include a telescoping adjustable front sight post for sighting elevation of the target.
The front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly can each include clamps for mounting the front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly about picatinny rails on the weapon.
The front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly can each include clamps for mounting the front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly about M-lok rails on the weapon.
The front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly can each include clamps for mounting the front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly about KeyMod rails on the weapon.
The front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly can each include pivot members for allowing upper portions on the front sight assembly and the rear sight assembly to fold up when being used and fold down when not being used.
The rear LED lighting system and the front LED lighting system can each include an IR (Infrared) LED light used for night vision illumination.
The rear LED lighting system and the front LED lighting system can each include a visible LED light used for standard illumination without the night vision illumination.
Another embodiment of an LED illuminating weapon sighting system, can include a rear sight assembly for mounting on an automatic weapon, adapted to be closest to a shooters eye, a front sight post assembly for mounting on the weapon adjacent to a muzzle of the weapon and an LED lighting system, wherein the rear sight assembly and the front sight post assembly are adapted to align with the shooters eye and target to create a sight picture and the LED lighting system is adapted to assist the shooter to acquire the sight picture in low light environments.
The LED lighting system can include a rear fiber optic rod and a rear fiber optic board positioned about a rear aperture, with a circle etched onto the rear fiber optic board, wherein turning on the rear sight assembly will channel light from an IR LED light and a visible LED light to illuminate the etched circle with the IR LED light or the visible LED light.
The LED lighting system can include a front fiber optic rod and a front fiber optic board inside of a front sight post, wherein turning on the front sight assembly will channel light from an IR LED light and a visible LED light to illuminate the front sight post with the IR LED light or the visible LED light.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.
Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification does not include all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.
In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.
A list of components will now be described.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
The front sight assembly can include one IR (Infrared) LED (light emitting diode) 126I used for night vision illumination. This light is only visible with the use of night vision goggles (NVG), and the system can include one visible LED (light emitting diode) 126V used for standard illumination without the use of NVG's. The front sight assembly can be powered by a battery 127, such as but not limited to a 2032 lithium battery. A switch 109 such as but not limited to a rotary switch can be used for on/off and the changing of the LED's 126I, 126V brightness. The rotary knob can be a C&K Model MA00S1Nz6D manufactured by C&K of Newton, Mass.
The front sight assembly 100 can include a telescopic adjustable bladed post 105, 110 for sighting the systems elevation. A knob, such as a rotatable knob 101 can be rotated left counter-clockwise or right clockwise in the direction of arrow 150 with horizontal gear 130 and gear contact 134 with vertical gear 132 to raise and lower front sight post housing 131 up and down in the direction of double arrows 151
The LED lights 126I, 126V can be housed in a base 111. The LED lights 126I, 126V can use a fiber optic rod 128 to channel the light up into the fiber optic board 106 bladed inside the front sight post housing 131. When turned on, the front sight post will illuminate either visible light or IR. The front sight post is facing the shooter and does not project light.
Referring to
The rear sight assembly 200 can include one IR (Infrared) LED 126I used for night vision illumination. This light is only visible with the use of night vision goggles (NVG). The rear sight assembly 200 can include one visible LED 126V used for standard illumination without the use of NVG's. The rear sight assembly 200 can be powered by a battery 127, such as but not limited to a 2032 lithium battery. A switch 109 such as but not limited to a rotary switch can be used for on/off and the changing of the LED's 126I, 126V brightness.
An adjustable aperture for sighting the systems windage can be controlled by a windage adjustment knob 230 being rotatable clockwise or counter-clockwise in the direction of arrow 251 is attached to a windage screw 233 for providing left and right movement 250 of the reticle housing 206.
The LED lights 126I, 126I, can be housed in the base 211. A fiber optic rod 128 (
When turned on the etched circle will illuminate either visible light or IR (infrared light). The etched circle is facing the shooter around the rear aperture 201 and does not project light.
Referring to
While the sight assemblies 100, 200 are not in use the upper assembly of both sights will be folded down in the 180 degree position 121 as shown in
The operation of the sight assemblies 100, 200 is normal as long as the environment has light. In low light or no light environments, the shooter can turn both sight assemblies 100, 200 on by rotating the rotary switch 109 to a selected position. The shooter has the option of Infrared or visible lighting on the sights 126. If the shooter is using night vision goggles the rotary switch 109 can be rotated to the selected infrared LED 126 brightness position.
If night vision goggles are not being used, the shooter can rotate the rotary switch 109 to the selected visible light LED 126 brightness position. The front sight post can have a fiber optic board 106 that illuminates and faces the shooter.
The rear sight assembly 200 can have a fiber optic board 205 with an etched circle 201 that illuminates and faces the shooter. Once the shooter has identified a target 141, the shooter can line up both front and rear sights to get a good sight picture 140. Looking through the rear sights fiber optic reticle 205 and focusing on the front sight post fiber board 106, the shooter will align them with the target creating a clear sight picture. The shooter can engage the target 141 and evaluate the accuracy of the shots taken.
If adjustments need to be made for windage the shooter can rotate the windage knob 230 located on the rear sight assembly 200, left or right in the direction of arrow 151 to the correct direction needed.
If the elevation needs to be adjusted the shooter can rotate the elevation knob 101 located on the front sight post assembly 100, left or right in the direction of arrow 150 to the correct direction needed.
If the sights are no longer needed, the shooter can rotate both front and rear assemblies to the 180 degree position 121, 221 to the base 111, 211.
The electronics front cap 108 can be located on the base 111, 211 of both front and rear sight assemblies 100, 200 and can be removed to change the battery 127 as needed. An LED push button controller mounted on a circuit board can also be used in place of a rotary switch.
The LED controllers can be the same as the rotary switch. Controlling the on/off and also the brightness of the LEDs.
The novel system can use LED lights to illuminate both front and rear sight assemblies 100, 200 to make them useful in low light environments. Modern day iron sights are ineffective in low light due to the shooters inability to see both front and rear components of the system.
Military or Law enforcement can benefit from the IR function of the novel system greatly do to the shooters ability to acquire the sights in low light environment without projecting any visible light with the use of night vision goggles (NVG's).
Being battery powered with an on/off and dimmer switch gives the shooter the ability to use the system at their convenience without projecting light. Having a rotary switch allows the projected light to be adjusted, unlike tritium sights which give off a constant light source.
Weapons that can use the novel front and rear sight assemblies can include but are not limited to any types of rifles and pistols that have mounting rails that include picatinny rails, M-Lok rails, which is a modular locking accessory mounting system for direct attachment for hard mounting accessories to a negative space mounting point and KeyMod rails which is an open source universal attachment system.
The term “approximately” can be +/−10% of the amount referenced. Additionally, preferred amounts and ranges can include the amounts and ranges referenced without the prefix of being approximately.
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/369,771 filed Aug. 2, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its' entirety.
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