Sight Having Flexible Target Adjust

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 18/074,359, titled “SIGHT HAVING FLEXIBLE TARGET ADJUST, filed Dec. 2, 2022, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/285,425, titled “SIGHT HAVING TARGET ADJUST,” filed Dec. 2, 2021, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This disclosure is directed to targeting sights, and, more particularly, to targeting sights having a target emitter mounted to a flexible, adjustable, arm.

Reflex type gun sights, also commonly referred to as red-dot sights, provide a shooter a quick and easy way to sight a target compared to conventional iron sights. Reflex sights are optical sights that include a partially reflecting element on which an aiming light or target is projected. An LED or other light emitter is commonly used as the light source. When the emitter generates its light signal, the projected light reflects from the reflecting element, such as a lens or other optic, and the reflection is seen by the shooter as being superimposed on the target or field of view. This reflection is referred to as a Point of Aim (PoA). In operation, the shooter then aligns the target to the PoA to accurately aim the firearm at the target.

Modern reflex sights typically include a positioning apparatus to change the relative location of the emitted light on the reflective lens. Changing the relative location of the emitted light allows the shooter to compensate for targets at various distances or for a misalignment between the sight and the barrel. Without compensation, the shooter may have to aim the firearm at a non-indexed location that is different than the actual PoA to account for these effects.

A typical positioning apparatus on a reflex sight includes a positioning or carrier plate to which the light emitter is mounted. Then, the shooter may adjust the longitudinal and/or latitudinal position of the plate relative to the reflective lens of the optic, typically by turning threaded adjusters that are mechanically coupled to the plate. Moving the position of the carrier plate, in turn, moves the reflected position of the light emitted from the emitter back to the shooter, allowing the reflex sight to cause the targeting dot to be positioned in the new position. Positioning apparatuses on modern reflex sights are complex, require tight manufacturing tolerances, and are subject to wear and breakage. Further, it is possible that extreme shocks, such as caused by dropping the firearm, can cause the carrier plate to move or even dislodge. In addition, typical carrier plate systems can have undesirable phenomena while adjusting, such as non-linear travel, dead clicks, and inconsistency in resolution per revolution.

Embodiments according to the disclosure address these and other limitations of present sights.

illustrate side views of a target sight, which uses a light emitter to generate a target aiming light. As seen in, brightness control buttons,control the light intensity of a target light emitter that is within the target sight. A windage adjustmentcontrols a left/right position of the target light emitter, as discussed below.

illustrate rear and front views of the target sight, respectively. A mechanical sight, commonly called an iron sight, allows the shooter to aim the firearm when the target sightis not active, i.e., when the target light emitter is off. As illustrated in, a reflective glassis mounted near the front of the target sight and, among other purposes, provides a reflective surface for the target light emitter so that light generated by the target light emitter reflects off the reflective glass back to the shooter, which provides the point of aim (PoA).

, which is a top view of the target sight, illustrates an elevation adjustment, which controls an up/down position of the target light emitter, described in detail below.

is a bottom view of the target sight, and illustrates a flexible cantilever arm, which is used in the target sightto adjust a position of the target light emitter of the sight, as described below. The cantilever armincludes a fixed endand a controllably movable portionat an end opposite the fixed end. The cantilever armmay further include one or more pre-bends, such as pre-bend. Pre-bends may be horizontal, vertical, or a combination of horizontal and vertical. The controllably movable portionof the cantilever armterminates in a termination, where the cantilever arm is coupled to an emitter carrier, which is occluded in. The emitter carrier supports the target light emitter, which is also occluded, but shown in later figures. The target light emitter is typically a Light Emitting Diode (LED), but may be embodied by any type of light source. As describe below, the position of the emitter carrier may be adjusted using the windage and elevation adjustments,, which causes the position of the reflection of the targeting light generated by the target light emitter to move relative to the target sight.

As best seen in, in the illustrated embodiment, the fixed endof the cantilever armincludes three apertures, which are used to secure the cantilever arm to the target sight. In one embodiment, illustrated in, two indexing pins or dowelsare inserted, respectively, in the outside apertures, and a screw or other fasteneris inserted through the center aperture to compress and secure the fixed endof the cantilever armto the target sight. A main portion of the cantilever armextends from the fixed end. With reference back to, the cantilever armmay be mounted within the target sightsuch that its main body is offset from a vertical or horizontal plane of the main body of the target sight. In, note how the apertures of the fixed endare not aligned to either a vertical or horizontal plane of the sight. Note, too, that the main portion of the cantilever armextends at an angle perpendicular to the fixed end. Since the fixed endis angled from the main body of the target sight, the main portion of the cantilever arm also extends from the fixed end in a direction that is offset from any vertical or horizontal plane of the main body of the target sight.

In embodiments, the cantilever armextends between 50% and 95% of the length of the main body of the target sight. In other embodiments, the cantilever armextends between 80% and 90% of the length of the main body of the target sight. Final dimensions of the cantilever arm may be implementation specific.

Further illustrated inis an emitter carrier, on which a target emitteris mounted. The emitter carriermay be integrally molded or formed as a part of the cantilever arm. In other embodiments the emitter carrieris a separate element that is attached to the cantilever armat the termination. Electrical leads that couple to the target light emitter are also not illustrated in, for clarity. Such leads provide an electrical connection between the target light emitterand an electrical circuit used to control the operation of the target light emitter. As described below, the electrical circuit that controls the electrical operation of the target sightis typically powered by a battery.

illustrates a top view of the cantilever armand windage adjustmentcomponents of the target sight, in isolation. The windage adjustmentmay include an assembly of, for example, an adjustment screw, a bias spring, and a spring retainer. Other embodiments of the windage adjustmentare possible so long as they preserve the function of controlling the lateral position of the emitter carrierand the target emitter.illustrate the results of the biased mounting position of the cantilever armto the long axis of the target sightdescribed above with reference to. When the windage adjustmentis installed in the housing of the target sight, it creates an offset to the free state of the cantilever arm. The cantilever armis formed of plastic, nylon or other durable material that may bend, or flex, without permanent deformation. In some embodiments the cantilever armis formed of metal, such as spring steel, titanium, beryllium copper, or other spring metal having resilient properties. Additionally, the cantilever armmay be formed to include a pre-bendbetween its fixed endand movable portion.illustrates a bias forcecreated as a result of the mechanical interference between the windage adjustmentand the emitter carrierbased on the offset mounting position of the cantilever armrelative to the target sighthousing, as described above. In other words, as the windage adjustmentis inserted into the housing of the target sight, a bias force represented as referenceis imparted to the emitter carrierportion of the cantilever arm. The amount or degree of pre-bendmay also add to or reduce the bias forcedepending on the amount of pre-bendin the cantilever arm. In the biased position, the emitter carrieris forced to the desired location by a portionof the windage adjustmentthat physically contacts the emitter carrieras the windage adjustment is controlled by the user. In operation, adjusting the windage adjustmentallows the user to generate a controllable amount of lateral movement of the movable portionof the cantilever arm, and, by extension to the emitter carrier. This lateral movement of the emitter carriergenerated by controlling the windage adjustmentcauses the attached target light emitterto move relative to the reflective glassof the target sight(), thereby allowing the shooter to laterally adjust (left/right) the resulting target dot relative to the firearm barrel. Note that, when movements to the windage adjustmentare made, due to the flexible nature of the cantilever arm, only the moveable portionof the cantilever arm moves, while the fixed endof the cantilever arm remains fixed within the target sight.

Similarly to the lateral adjustment described above, the flexible nature, pre-bend characteristics, and mounting position of the cantilever armwithin the target sightfurther allows an elevation (up/down) adjustment of the target light emitteras well. This elevation adjustment allows the shooter to adjust the elevation of the target dot, which translates to distance between the firearm and the intended target. An elevation bias of the cantilever armis illustrated inby illustrating a decreasing amount of pre-bend in a pre-bend portionof the cantilever arm between the locations of the cantilever armin. In, the pre-bend portionbiases the movable portionof the cantilever arm, and, by extension, the emitter carrier, in a downward direction. When the elevation adjustmentis installed in the housing of the target sight, it forces the emitter carrierupwards, away from the barrel of the firearm. This results in a biasing forceinto the elevation adjustment, as shown in. The elevation adjustmentmay include a tabthat provides purchase into the emitter carrier. This purchase allows the elevation position of the emitter carrierto be controlled by a user operating the elevation adjustment, such as by turning an adjustment screw. The elevation adjustmentmay include an assembly of, for example, an adjustment screw, a bias spring, and a spring retainer. Other embodiments of the elevation adjustmentare possible so long as they preserve the function of controlling the elevation position of the emitter carrier.illustrates the emitter carrier, held by the cantilever armin an elevated position relative to the position of the emitter carrierin.

In operation, the windage adjustmentand elevation adjustment, individually and independently, may be adjusted from min to max ranges as the cantilever armflexes to move the emitter carrierinto its controlled position. Moving the emitter carriercauses the flexible cantilever armto react the load into the fixed end. This action results in a reaction force from the emitter carrierinto the adjustments,. This force maintains the location of the emitter carrier, and, by extension, the target light emitter. Thus, this targeting system including the flexible cantilever armallows controlled adjustment of the target light emitterin both lateral and elevation directions. The adjustments,mechanically interfere with the emitter carrierin such a way that the flexible cantilever armcannot be jolted nor stuck in a state other than resting where adjusted.

With reference back to, embodiments according to the disclosure additionally include a battery retaining system that allows different thicknesses of a battery source for the target light emitterto be used. As is well known, a thin-cell or button battery typically powers reflex sights.

As illustrated in the above figures, the battery for the target sightis located to one side of the target sight. This placement allows for a lower deck height for the target sightcompared to other sights. This deck height directly affects the backup iron sightthat is integrated into the sight, as illustrated in, allowing it to be lower to the barrel than conventional target sights, which increases accuracy. This design also allows for modularity with battery caps. The battery for the target sight sits in a battery cup having a threaded perimeter, the position of which is illustrated at locationof. A battery capincludes mating threads around its internal perimeter that engage the threads of the battery cup. Different battery capsmay be used to secure the battery to the target sightto accommodate the different thicknesses of different batteries. For example, a user may select to power the target sightby any one of batteries CR1616, CR1620, and CR1632. The lowest capacity battery, CR1616, is the thinnest, and therefore, when the capis threaded into place to secure the battery, the cap has a relatively low protrusion from the target sight. If the user selects a thicker battery, the cap, which may be a different cap than the once used for the thinner battery, may protrude further from the target sight. The battery capfor the thickest battery, in the above example, CR1632, may protrude even further. The larger the battery capacity, the further its capprotrudes out from the body of the target sight. The user can choose, battery life or slimness of the sight.

The previously described versions of the disclosed subject matter have many advantages that were either described or would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill. Even so, all of these advantages or features are not required in all versions of the disclosed apparatus, systems, or methods. All features disclosed in the specification, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Additionally, this written description makes reference to particular features. It is to be understood that the disclosure in this specification includes all possible combinations of those particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in the context of other aspects and embodiments.

Also, when reference is made in this application to a method having two or more defined steps or operations, the defined steps or operations can be carried out in any order or simultaneously, unless the context excludes those possibilities.

Furthermore, the term “comprises” and its grammatical equivalents are used in this application to mean that other components, features, steps, processes, operations, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” or “which comprises” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or it can contain components A, B, and C along with one or more other components.

Also, directions such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “right,” “left,” “upward,” and “downward” are used for convenience and in reference to the views provided in figures. But the target sight and components thereof may have a number of orientations in actual use. Thus, a feature that is vertical, horizontal, to the right, or to the left in the figures may not have that same orientation or direction in actual use.