Abstract:
A range finder for hunting applications. In one embodiment, a method of using a range finder is disclosed. The method comprises coupling the range finder to a weapon having an associated scope. Positioning at least part of a display of the range finder in front of a select portion of the associated scope. Activating the range finder. Determining the distance to a target and displaying the distance to the target through optics of the scope.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional application of U.S. aplication Ser. No. 10/018,960, filed Dec. 21, 2004 and titled “RANGE FINDER” (Attorney Docket NO. 119.003US04), which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/804,372, filed Mar. 19, 2004 and titled “RANGE FINDER” (Attorney Docket No. 119.003US03) (abandoned) which is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/641,169 filed Aug. 14, 2003 and titled “RANGE FINDER,” (Attorney Docket No. 119.003US02) all of which are herein incorporated by reference. Further, U.S. Patent No. 119.003US02 issued Jan. 24, 2006 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,351 is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/090,333, filed Mar. 4, 2002, issued Sep. 9, 2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,531 and titled “RANGE FINDER,” (Attorney Docket No. 119.003US01) which is herein incorporated by reference and claimed in priority. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to range finders and in particular range finders for hunting applications.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Range finders can be a useful tool when hunting for game. A ranger finder conveys the distance to an object (game target). This information is helpful to a hunter because it allows a hunter to determine if the target is beyond the range of a firearm or bow. Knowing the distance to a target also aids the hunter in the placement of the sight of the firearm or bow. For example, if the target is a great distance from a firearm, a hunter can raise the sight of the firearm over the target a select distance to compensate for the trajectory of a projectile (bullet) fired from the firearm. The distance found by the range finder can aid the hunter in determining how much the sight should be raised over the target.  
         [0004]     Traditional range finders can be disruptive in a hunting situation. The hunter must operate the hunting weapon and the range finder at the same time. Moreover, telescopes incorporating range finder circuits are generally heavy, bulky and expensive to purchase.  
         [0005]     For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an inexpensive range finder that is non-disruptive to operate in a hunting situation.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     The above-mentioned problems with range finders and other problems are addressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, a method of using a range finder is disclosed. The method comprises coupling the range finder to a weapon having an associated scope. Positioning at least part of a display of the range finder in front of a select portion of the associated scope. Activating the range finder. Determining the distance to a target and displaying the distance to the target through optics of the scope.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment another method of operating a range finder is disclosed. The method comprises coupling the range finder to a counterweight bar of a bow. Aiming the range finder at a desired target. Activating the range finder. Determining the distance to the target and displaying the distance to the target on a display. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments and the following figures in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention coupled to a barrel of a firearm;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention coupled to a barrel of a firearm;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side partial cut-out view of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention coupled to a counterweight bar of a bow;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention coupled to a scope of a firearm;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top view of yet another embodiment of the present invention coupled to a scope of a firearm; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of yet another embodiment of the present invention coupled to a scope. 
     
    
       [0019]     In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.  
         [0021]     Embodiments of the present invention relate to range finder that is adapted to be mounted to a firearm. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side perspective view of one embodiment of a range finder  100  coupled to a firearm  101  of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated, the range finder  100  is coupled to the barrel  112  of the firearm  101  with a first bracket  116  and a second bracket  118 . The range finder  100  of this embodiment is illustrated as having a cylindrical main housing  103  and a display housing  102  that extends from a mid portion  105  of the main housing  103 . Main housing  103  includes a circuit housing  104  and a weather cover  106 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is remote unit  108 . Remote unit  108  is selectively coupled to the forearm  114  of the firearm by an adhesive, a loop and hook fastener or the like. The remote control unit  108  has an activation button  109 . When the activation button  109  is depressed, the range finder  100  is activated. The remote control unit  108 , of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , is electrically coupled to the range finder by attaching cord  110 . In another embodiment, the remote control unit  108  is in wireless communication with the range finder  100 .  
         [0022]     A rear view of one embodiment of a range finder  200  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated, a display  202  is encased in the display housing  102 . The display may be a liquid crystal display or other type of display capable of conveying a message. When activated, the display  202  displays indicia  204  to convey the distance from the range finder  200  to an object it is pointed at. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the indicia  204  conveys the distance in yards and meters. A brightness control  206  is mounted through the display housing  102  to control the brightness of the display  202 .  
         [0023]     Also illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is first bracket  116 . As illustrated, the first bracket  116  includes a first bracket portion  208  and a second bracket portion  210 . In this embodiment, the first bracket portion  208  fits over a barrel of a firearm and the second bracket portion  210  fits under the barrel of a firearm. The first bracket portion  208  and the second bracket portion  210  are coupled together by bolts  216  and  218 . In particular, bolt  216  secures the first bracket portion  208  to the second bracket portion  210  with nut  217  and bolt  218  secures the first bracket portion  208  to the second bracket portion  210  with nut  219 . In addition, bolt  216  passes through a connection flange  207  to secure the range finder  200  to the first bracket  116 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the display housing  102  extends from a first side  203  of the circuit housing  310  and the flange  207  extends from a second side  205  that is opposite the first side  203 . Moreover, although not shown, the second bracket is constructed in the same manner to couple the range finder  200  to the barrel  112  of the firearm  101  at another location.  
         [0024]     Further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is a first protective material  212  positioned adjacent a first inner surface  209  of the first bracket portion  208  and a second protective material  214  positioned adjacent a second inner surface  211  of the second bracket portion  210 . The first and second protective material  212  and  214  are used to protect the barrel  112  of the firearm  101 . Moreover, in one embodiment, the first and second protective material  212  and  214  come in different thickness to accommodate different barrel diameters. The first and second protective material  212  and  214  are made from material such as foam rubber and the like.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , at top view of an embodiment of a range finder  300  of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated, the range finder  300  is coupled so that it is positioned along a side  301  of the barrel  112  of the firearm  101 . The positioning of the range finder  300  in this manner not only allows for a quick viewing of the distance by the hunter, it is also positioned so as to not interfere with the sight of the firearm. Embodiments, of the present invention can be mounted on either side of the barrel  112  of the firearm  101 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 3 , is an on/off button  306  to turn on and off the range finder  300 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3 , further illustrates the barrel longitudinal axis  302  of the firearm. The barrel longitudinal axis  302  is the path of a bullet fired from the barrel  302 . Further illustrated is a range finder longitudinal axis  304 . The range finder longitudinal axis  304  is the path upon which the distance is determined. In the embodiments of the present invention, the range finder longitudinal axis  304  is adjusted to be generally parallel to the barrel longitudinal axis  302  so the distance of the bullet path is accurately determined by the range finder  300 . Since some barrels  112  of firearms taper in diameter, a means of compensating to obtain parallel range finder and barrel longitudinal axis&#39;  304  and  305  in needed.  
         [0027]     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , one method of adjusting the position of the range finder  200  in relation to the barrel  112  to obtain parallel range finder and barrel longitudinal axis&#39; is illustrated. The connection flange  207  has an adjusting aperture  220  with a lateral length  230  larger than the diameter of bolt  216  to allow the first bracket to be spaced at different distances from the range finder  200 . In particular, bolt  216  passes through adjusting aperture  220  in coupling the first bracket to the range finder  200 . Once a desired distance between the barrel of the firearm and the range finder  200  is achieved, nut  217  is tightened on bolt  216  thereby snugly coupling the first bracket  116  to the flange  207 . Although not shown, the second bracket  118  is constructed in a similar manner to aid in aligning the range finder longitudinal axis  304  with the barrel longitudinal axis  302  of  FIG. 3 . In further another embodiment made for a specific barrel, the adjusting aperture  220  is placed in the flange  207  at a select position to obtain a desired distance between the first bracket  116  and the range finder  200 .  
         [0028]     A side partial cross-sectional view of another range finder  400  embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The circuit housing  104  of the range finder  400  encases or houses the range finder circuit  401  that includes a range finder control circuit  402 , a transmitter  404  and a receiver  406 . The range finder control circuit  402  controls the range finding operations and is in electrical communication with the display  202 , the transmitter  404  and the receiver  406 . The transmitter  404  is used to transmit a laser signal and the receiver  406  is used to receive the signal after it has been reflected off a target (the object in which the distance to is to be determined). The range finder control circuit  402  then uses the transit time to determine the distance to the target. Once the distance has been determined, the range finder control  334 , directs the display  202  to display the distance to the target. In the above-described embodiment, a range finder incorporating a light propagation time measuring method to determine the distance to an object is described. However, it will be understood in the art that other types of range finders could be used in the present invention such as the light-section method, the binocular sterosis method and the like, and the present invention is not limited to the light propagation time measuring method.  
         [0029]     Also illustrated in  FIG. 4 , are power sources  408  and  410 , which in this embodiment are batteries  408  and  410 . The batteries  408  and  410  are housed in the weather cover  106  and are selectively coupled to supply power to the range finder control circuit  402 , the transmitter  404 , the receiver  406  and the display  202  when the weather cover is coupled to the circuit housing. A battery connection  418  is also shown. The weather cover  106  has a first end  407  and a second end  409 . The second end  409  is enclosed. Moreover, the first end  407  of the weather cover  106  has external threads  412  that terminate in a shoulder  417 . In addition, the circuit housing  104  has a first end  411  that has internal treads  414  that are adapted to threadably engage the external threads  412  of the weather cover  102 . A seal  46  is positioned against the shoulder  417  so that when the external threads  412  of the weather cover  12  are threadably engaged with the internal threads  414  of the circuit housing  104  and tightened, the seal  417  is depressed against the shoulder  417  thereby creating a weatherproof seal. In addition, when the weather cover  106  is coupled to the circuit housing  104 , the batteries  408  and  409  as well as other internal circuits are protected from weather like rain and snow. Moreover, when the weather cover  106  is not coupled to the circuit housing  104 , a user has access to the batteries.  
         [0030]     A flow chart  500  illustrating one embodiment of the operation of the range finder control circuit  402  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Once, turned on, the range finder control circuit monitors the activation button  108  ( 502 ). Once, the activation button  108  is depressed, a range finder circuit  401  is activated to determine the distance to an object ( 504 ). The distance to the object is then displayed on display  202  ( 506 ). It is determined if 30 seconds has past since the distance was first displayed ( 508 ). If 30 seconds has not past, the activation button is monitored to see if it has been depressed ( 510 ). If it has not been depressed, the display continues to display the distance ( 506 ). If the activation button has been depressed, the range finder circuit is once again activated ( 504 ). If 30 seconds has past since the distance was first displayed, the display is cleared ( 512 ). The range finder control circuit  402  then monitors the activation button to see if it has been depressed ( 502 ). Although, this embodiment uses 30 seconds before clearing the display, other embodiments of the present invention use different selected times.  
         [0031]     Another embodiment of a range finder  600  of present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the range finder  600  is adapted to be mounted to a counterweight  602  of a bow  620 . Since, the counterweight bar  602  is cylindrical in shape, like the barrel of the firearm, the method of attachment as illustrated in  FIG. 2  is also applicable in this embodiment. The embodiment of  FIG. 6 , allows a bow hunter to use a range finder  600  in a fast and efficient manner without interfering with the hunt. The bow is illustrated as having a riser  606 , a flexible bow element  612 , a cable guard  608 , bow string  610  and an internally threaded metal insert  604  that is adapted to receive external threads on the counterweight bar  602 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , yet another embodiment of the range finder  700  of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated, this embodiment is adapted to be coupled to a scope  701  of a firearm  101 . The range finder  700  is coupled to the scope with the first and second brackets  116  and  118  in the same manner the first and second brackets  116  and  118  couple the above-described range finder embodiments to the barrel  112  of firearm  101  and the counterweight bar  602  of bow  620 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 7  is remote control unit  108  and activation button  109  as is described in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The embodiment of  FIG. 7 , also includes a second activation button  720 , wherein in this embodiment a user can either activate the range finder  700  by depressing activation button  109  or second activation button  720 . Moreover, unlike the previous embodiments, in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the display housing  102  extends from a first end  802  of the circuit housing  104 . This is further illustrated in the range finder  800  embodiment of  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, the display housing  104  extends approximate a first end  804  of the scope  701 . In fact, in this embodiment, the display housing  104  covers a portion of the first end  804  of the scope.  FIG. 8  also illustrates the on/off button that is coupled to turn on and off the range finder  800  when depressed. Moreover,  FIG. 8  further illustrates a second end  306  of the scope  701 . The second end  806  of the scope  701  is the end in which a user looks through in sighting the scope on a target.  
         [0033]     A rear view of one embodiment of a range finder  900  coupled to a scope  701  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . As illustrated, the display  202  of this embodiment, uses indicia  204  to convey the distance the range finder  900  determines in two different locations. A first location of the display  202  with the indicia  204  is above the scope  701 , so the user can determine distances without looking through the scope  701 . A second location of the display  202  with the indicia  204  is in front of a portion of the scope so it can be viewed by looking through the second end of the scope  806 . In this embodiment, the indicia  204 , in the second display location, is optically adapted so the user can read the conveyed distance through the scope. Moreover, in this embodiment, the second location of the display  202  is positioned in front of an upper portion of the first end  804  of the scope  701  so the distance can be read above a sight  902  of the scope  701 . Placing a portion of the display  202  in front of a portion of the first end  804  of the scope  701 , allows the user the opportunity to view the distance and the sight  902  of the scope  701  at the same time thereby allowing the user the opportunity to read the distance without looking away from the sight  902 .  
         [0034]     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.