Patent Application
20220049929
The application relates in general to a sighting device, and in particular to a sighting device that includes a rangefinder module.
Thanks to the ongoing development of technology, electronic products such as sighting devices are becoming increasingly versatile. For example, such devices can be mounted or disposed on a hunting implement such as a hunting rifle, to aid in targeting game. The possible applications of such devices grow as newer models continue to offer high performance. Traditional sighting devices for hunting game usually includes a mirror or a glass where an aim point is shown thereon, and the user directly watches the target and the aim point shown on the glass to aim at the target by eye. However, when hunting in the early morning or close to night, it is difficult for the user to sight a target using only his or her eyes. Therefore, to provide a good product design which is convenient for the user and easier to operate is an important issue.
To address the deficiencies of conventional sighting devices, an embodiment of the invention provides a sighting device configured to aim at a target. The sighting device includes a sight module, a rangefinder module, and a securing mechanism configured to detachably secure the rangefinder module to the sight module. The rangefinder module is configured to determine the distance between the rangefinder module and the target. The rangefinder module is disposed on a side of the sight module and has a digital numeric display, and the distance between the rangefinder module and the target is displayed on the digital numeric display.
In some embodiments, the digital numeric display comprises a seven segment display that has a plurality of red, blue, white, yellow, green or yellow-green LEDs.
In some embodiments, the securing means comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member, the first clamp member is connected to the rangefinder module, and the second clamp member is detachably connected to the first clamp member, wherein the sight module is clamped between the first and second clamp members in a vertical direction.
In some embodiments, the sighting device further includes at least one screw fastened through the second clamp member into the first clamp member.
In some embodiments, the sight module includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens portion and a lens barrel connected to the objective lens portion, wherein the objective lens portion has a greater diameter than the lens barrel, and the lens barrel is clamped between the first and second clamp members.
In some embodiments, the sight module includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens portion and a lens barrel connected to the objective lens portion, wherein the objective lens portion has a greater diameter than the lens barrel, and the objective lens portion is clamped between the first and second clamp members.
In some embodiments, the securing means further includes a third clamp member and a quick-release lever, the third clamp member is movably connected to the first clamp member, and the quick-release lever is rotatably connected to the first and third clamp members, wherein the rangefinder module is clamped between the first and third clamps in a horizontal direction by the rotating quick-release lever around an axis parallel to the horizontal direction.
In some embodiments, the rangefinder module has a protrusion received in a recess formed between the first and third clamp members.
In some embodiments, the sighting device further includes at least one screw fastened through the second clamp member to the first clamp member in a direction angled relative to the vertical direction.
In some embodiments, the sight module includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens portion and a lens barrel connected to the objective lens portion, and the rangefinder module protrudes from the objective lens portion in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the sight module.
In some embodiments, the sight module include a compound bow sight that has a ring-shaped frame and at least an aiming pin disposed in the ring-shaped frame, and the rangefinder module is disposed on a lateral side of the ring-shaped frame.
In some embodiments, the securing means includes a first clamp member, a second clamp member movably connected to the first clamp member, and a third clamp member connected to the first clamp member, wherein the compound bow sight is clamped between the first and second clamp members in a first direction, and the rangefinder module is clamped between the second and third clamp members in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
In some embodiments, the first and second clamp members respectively have two hook portions to clamp the compound bow sight.
In some embodiments, each of the first and second clamp members has a curved surface that is shaped corresponding to the curved inner surface of the ring-shaped frame.
In some embodiments, the securing means further includes a nut and a bolt engaged with each other, and the bolt extends through the nut, the first clamp member, and the second clamp member.
In some embodiments, the securing means further includes a quick-release lever rotatably connected to the first and third clamp members, wherein the rangefinder module is clamped between the first and third clamp members by the rotating the quick-release lever around an axis parallel to the second direction.
In some embodiments, the rangefinder module has a protrusion received in a recess formed between the first and third clamp members.
In some embodiments, the sighting device further includes a spirit level disposed on the bottom of the compound bow sight.
In some embodiments, the digital numeric display includes a seven segment display that has a plurality of red, blue, white, yellow, green or yellow-green LEDs.
In some embodiments, the rangefinder module is switched into a low power mode when idle for a certain period of time.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The making and using of the embodiments of the sighting devices are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that each term, which is defined in a commonly used dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning conforming to the relative skills and the background or the context of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted by an idealized or overly formal manner unless defined otherwise.
As shown in
In this embodiment, the sight module 10 may be a gun sight or crossbow sight that is configured to sight or aim at a target, and it is able to mount on a shooting device (e.g. hunting rifle or crossbow) for accurate hunting shoot. The rangefinder module 20 can transmit an infrared beam or laser beam to measure the distance from the rangefinder module 20 to the target. Here, the first clamp member C1 of the securing mechanism is affixed to the bottom surface of the rangefinder module 20 by screws. In some embodiments, the first clamp member C1 may be detachably attached to the rangefinder module 20 by magnets or hook-and-loop fasteners.
The sight module 10 in
In this embodiment, the rangefinder module 20 is disposed above the sight module 10, and it may be a laser rangefinder which uses a laser beam to determine the distance to the target. For example, the rangefinder module 20 can emit a laser pulse toward the target and start timing, and then stop timing when the reflected light is received.
Still referring to
In this embodiment, the rangefinder module 20 can transmit a laser beam to a target through the window 23, and the laser beam can be reflected by the target and enter the rangefinder module 20 via the window 23, whereby the distance between the rangefinder module 20 and the target is determined. The distance information between the rangefinder module 20 and the target is then displayed on the digital numeric display 24, so that the user can make an accurate hunting shot via the sighting device.
For example, the digital numeric display 24 may be a seven segment display that is suitable for use outdoors in the dark, wherein the seven segment display may comprise a plurality of red, blue, white, yellow, green or yellow-green LEDs. However, the digital numeric display 24 may also be an LCD, OLED or touch display. When the user is inactive and the system is idle for a certain period of time (e.g. 3 to 5 minutes), the rangefinder module 20 can automatically turn off the digital numeric display 24 and switch into a low power mode for power saving. Additionally, a cable may be used to electrically connect the rangefinder module 20 to a power bank or computer via the connection port 25 (e.g. USB port), whereby a rechargeable battery inside the rangefinder module 20 can be charged even during usage.
The sighting device of
Still referring to
On the contrary, when the user does not need the rangefinder module 20, the rotating quick-release lever L can be rotated around the axis A in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, so that the quick-release lever L and the third clamp member C3 are loosen from the first clamp member C1. Therefore, the rangefinder module 20 can be rapidly detached from the recess R to achieve convenient disassembly of the sighting device.
In
Referring to
Moreover, as shown in
In this embodiment, the first and second clamp members C1 and C2 respectively have two hook portions K to clamp a sight module 10, such as the compound bow sight shows in
As shown in
The sight module 10 (compound bow sight) in
Referring to
In this embodiment, the rangefinder module 20 has a power button 21, a control button 22, a window 23, a digital numeric display 24, and a connection port 25. As shown in
Specifically, when the user is inactive and the system is idle for a certain period of time (e.g. 3 to 5 minutes), the rangefinder module 20 can automatically turn off the digital numeric display 24 and switch into a low power mode for power saving. As shown in
In summary, the invention provides a sighting device configured to aim at a target. The sighting device includes a sight module, a rangefinder module, and a securing mechanism configured to detachably secure the rangefinder module to the sight module. Since the securing mechanism includes several clamp members and is easy to assemble, the rangefinder module can be easily mounted on the sight module, so that the user can make an accurate hunting shot via the sighting device. Moreover, as the rangefinder module has a seven segment display, it is especially suitable for use outdoors in the dark. In some embodiments, the seven segment display of the rangefinder module may comprise a plurality of red, blue, white, yellow, green or yellow-green LEDs, so that it is also suitable for red-green or blue-yellow colorblind users.
Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the invention. It is intended that the standard and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope of the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.
