Abstract:
A gun sight system includes a front sight and a rear sight providing high shot accuracy and immediate target acquisition. Each sight having light-gathering means functions dependently defining a highly visible aiming point. An elongated light-gathering plastic rod retained on a front sight base member includes a triangular viewing surface. An oval-shaped light-gathering plastic rod, retained within a rear sight housing, includes two triangular shaped viewing surfaces disposed in a V-shaped void of the housing. From a user&#39;s perspective three lighted triangular shaped viewing ends of the light-gathering means define an aiming point and provide immediate target acquisition. Multi-colored light-gathering means and the creation of hot-spots further improve the present gun sight system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/038,128, filed Jan. 2, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a gunsight system for a firearm allowing faster target acquisition and providing a more precise aiming point. More particularly, the system utilizes a plurality of light gathering means to accurately define an aiming point while providing immediate target acquisition. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the years, firearm sights have been improved consistently to provide a user more accuracy under nearly all conditions. The use of reflective materials, light-gathering flourescent fibers and fiber optics have been utilized to design highly visible gun sights under all conditions, including low-light. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,503 (the &#39;503 Patent) to Howe et al., and assigned to the assignee of the present application, discloses a high visibility gun sight system for detachable mounting on a gun barrel. The system uses a light-gathering plastic rod to provide a highly visible gun sight in low light conditions. As taught by the &#39;503 Patent, the gun sight system, including the plastic rod, is mounted on an upper surface of a gun barrel in line with a raised bead sight normally manufactured near a distal end of the gun barrel. The plastic rod thereby instantly attracts a user&#39;s focus under circumstances that the raised bead will not. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,604 (the &#39;604 Patent) to Lorocco discloses various configurations of sighting devices for projectile type weapons. Each design configuration employs light-gathering flourescent fiber to gather and amplify natural light. In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 of the &#39;604 Patent, three individual light-gathering fibers form a sight plane for aiming within a scope housing. Set screws permit said light-gathering fibers to be adjusted within the scope housing. 
     While the &#39;503 and &#39;604 Patent disclose useful gun sights, the need exists to implement a gun sight system, for all firearms most notably a shotgun with a ventilated ribbed barrel, able to accurately define an aiming point while allowing immediate target acquisition. The present invention utilizes a front and rear sight each including light-gathering means to define a precise aiming point providing immediate target acquisition. Triangular ends of said light-gathering means viewable by a user clearly define an aiming point. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The system of the present invention includes a rear and front sight each having colored light-gathering means as known in the art. Said front sight comprises a base member, retaining an elongated light-gathering rod, mounted to a gun barrel spaced from a muzzle end of said gun barrel. One end of said light-gathering rod viewable by a user is in the shape of a triangle directed upward. 
     The rear sight comprises a housing, with a retaining member for retaining an oval-shaped light-gathering rod with two ends, mounted to the gun barrel spaced rearward of said front sight. Said ends of the oval-shaped pipe define an aiming plane within a void bounded by said housing. Each end of the oval-shaped pipe viewable by the user is formed in the shape of a triangle in planar alignment with one another. 
     The front and rear sights are aligned such that the three pipe triangles define a precise aiming point for the user. From the user&#39;s perspective, an upper point of the front triangle aligned flush with an imaginary line joining the rear triangles results in an accurate shot. However, both the front and rear sights include adjustable means to implement the most accurate configuration and alignment of triangles considering all circumstances. 
     Two methods for improving the effectiveness of the light-gathering means, and therefore the gun sight system, have further been developed. A first method provides a multi-colored light-gathering means and a second method provides a “hot-spot” within a viewable target acquisition surface of a light-gathering means. 
     A multi-colored light-gathering viewing surface is formed by separately fabricating two light-gathering halves of different colors. Preferably, the two halves are fabricated with commonly known injection molding techniques. For example, the front sight of the present invention having the triangular viewing surface can be formed with an orange base and a green apex area. An elongated upper portion is molded such that an under-surface is flat along its entire length. At a viewing end, the upper section includes a triangular portion that will form an apex area of a complete triangular viewing area. An elongated lower portion is molded such that an upper-surface is flat along its entire length. At a viewing end, the lower section includes a triangular portion, having a flattened top, that will form a base of the complete triangular viewing area. The flat surfaces of the upper section and lower section are then joined by ultrasonic welding techniques. The joining of the two halves forms a complete triangular viewing area at one end thereof. Alternative means for joining the halves, or any number of members, are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the method. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features and advantages, will become better appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the claims, specification and drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention mounted on a ventilated ribbed gun barrel; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention mounted on a ventilated ribbed gun barrel; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear gun sight housing of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view (from a user&#39;s perspective) of the rear gun sight housing; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear gun sight light-gathering means, 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the rear gun sight light-gathering means; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rear sight retainer member of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a rear view (from a user&#39;s perspective) of the present invention mounted on a ventilated ribbed gun barrel. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an upper section and lower section of a multicolored light-gathering means used in a front sight of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a rear view (from a user&#39;s perspective) of the multi-colored light-gathering means the front sight; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of a light-gathering means having a hot-spot and used in the rear gun si of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a close-up bottom view of a triangular viewing portion of the light-gathering means having a hot-spot used in the rear gun sight of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 13 is a rear view (from a user&#39;s perspective) of the light-gathering means including the hot-spot in the rear sight of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the present invention mounted on a gun barrel  10  including a front sight  30  and a rear sight  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the sights  30 ,  50  are mounted to a ventilated rib  68  extending along a top edge of the barrel  10 . 
     The front sight  30  includes a base member  35  having spaced stirrups  40  extending upwardly from an upper surface thereof. Said stirrups  40  define a longitudinal passage therethrough for detachably securing a first light gathering tube or rod means  45 . Three stirrups  40  are spaced apart along the length of the plastic rod and positioned such that they hold and support the plastic rod in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel  10  and in proper alignment with the longitudinal axis of the barrel  10 . 
     Said base member  35  is mounted to the top edge of the barrel  10 , spaced from a front end thereof, by means of a screw  36  inserted through a base member opening  36 , having a countersink to receive a head of the screw  36 , and then inserted and tightened by means of screw  36  threads into the rib  68  securing the base member  35 . A commercially available compound known as Loctite® my be used in conjunction with the screw  36  or double-sided tape may be applied along the underside of the base member  35  to further secure the base member  35 . 
     Said base member  35  preferably slopes upward 1½ toward a front end of the base member  35 . The slight slope is designed to prevent the pressure created by the attachment means at the front end of the base member  35  from forcing the rearward end of the base member  35  above the gun barrel  10 . The slightest fluctuation in the position of the base member  35  will reduce the accuracy of the gun sight system. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first light-gathering means  45  comprises a length of solid cylindrical colored plastic rod which is light-transparent. Preferably the exterior surface of the plastic rod is very smooth or polished. The forward end  31  of the plastic rod is preferably a sloped planer end. The rearward end or viewing end  32  of the plastic rod is triangular shaped and preferably has a planer surface which is a matte or slightly roughened surface. 
     The plastic rod can be formed from a variety of well-known plastics such as acrylics, nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene, etc. in which a soluble colored dye is included. In general terms, any self-supporting light-transparent plastic may be used for this purpose. 
     Preferably the upper surface of the base member  35  includes a longitudinal recess or groove for guiding the plastic rod when the plastic rod is being slidably inserted beneath the stirrups  40  on the base member  35 . A stop member  38  at a forward end of the base member  35  serves to prevent the plastic rod from being pushed too far forwardly on the base member. It also prevents the forward end of the plastic rod from catching or snagging on brush, weeds, twigs, etc. 
     Since the plastic rod is detachable from the base member  35 , it is very easy to install different plastic rods whenever that is necessary or desirable. Different colored plastic rods may be more effective in differing light conditions. Further, different sized triangular viewing ends  32  of the plastic rod provide a means for adjusting the elevation of the front sight  30  to account for vertical firing inaccuracies. Therefore, the interchangeable rods are used to effectively calibrate the firing of the gun in a vertical plane. 
     Now referring to FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  the rear sight  50  comprises a housing  55 , a retainer member  70  and a second light-gathering means  65 . Said housing  55 , including a first leg  57  and a second leg  60 , defines a V-shaped void  77 . Said first leg  57  includes two openings  56 , spaced from a bottom surface thereof, having countersinks to receive heads of bolts  58  which extend through openings  56  and then through vents  66  of rib  68  and insert through corresponding openings  59  spaced from a bottom surface of the second leg  60  such that a nut may be applied thereto, causing said legs  57 ,  60  to detachably engage opposite sides of rib  68 . 
     The second light-gathering means  65  is comprised of the same material, with the same properties, as the first light-gathering means  45  described above. However, the second light-gathering means  65  comprises a semi-oval plastic rod with two ends  67  each triangular in shape defining a planar space therebetween. The two triangular-shaped ends  67  project, when installed, in the rearward direction such that the ends  67  are offset from a plane defined by the semi-oval plastic rod. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, the ends  67  can also be implemented within the plane defined by the semi-oval plastic rod. In other words, it is not imperative that the ends “project” in the rearward direction but they need only face in the rearward direction. As with the first light-gathering means  45 , viewable surfaces of ends  67  preferably have a planer surface which is a matte or slightly roughened surface. 
     Upon installation, said semi-oval plastic rod seats in groove  69  that traverses the perimeter of retaining member  70  that inserts into a recess  75  in the housing  55 . The retaining member  70  has the overall shape of the semi-oval plastic rod such that, while seated in groove  69 , the plastic rod circumscribes the retaining member  70 . As required, the recess  75  allows a majority of the oval-shaped plastic rod to be exposed to light. 
     A rectangular planar surface  72  extending from an upper surface of said retaining member  70 , includes an opening  73 , having a countersink, for insertion of a screw  74  therethrough and into opening  75  in said housing thereby securing the retaining member  70  and the second light-gathering means  65  to the housing  55 . The planar surface  72  is accommodated by a rectangular notch  76  on an upper surface of the housing  55 . Said notch  76  has a greater length that the planar surface  72  allowing the retaining member  70  to be shifted laterally for reasons described hereinafter. To facilitate the lateral shift of the retaining member  70 , said opening  73  is oval-shaped and larger than a head of screw  74  permitting screw  74  to be properly aligned with opening  75  even though the retaining member  70  may have been shifted laterally. 
     Now referring to FIG. 8, when mounted together, each end  67  of the oval-shaped plastic rod of the rear sight  50  extends into the V-shaped void  77  from opposite directions to define a planar space therebetween. Except for the triangular ends  67 , the housing  55  and arms  78  of the retaining member  70  conceal the oval-shaped plastic rod from a rearward view so as to quickly focus a firearm user&#39;s attention to the triangular ends  67 . 
     Besides protecting the oval-shaped plastic rod of the rear sight  50  from breakage, the retaining member  70  also allows for lateral shifting of the oval-shaped plastic rod. Further, lateral shifting of the oval-shaped plastic rod provides a means for accounting for horizontal firing inaccuracies. Therefore, the shifting means is used to effectively calibrate the firing of the gun in a horizontal plane. 
     From a firearm user&#39;s view, the two sights  30 ,  50  and their respective light-gathering means  45 ,  65  provide three viewable lighted triangular surfaces defining a precise aiming point. During use, the lighted triangles quickly draw the attention of a firearm user providing quick target acquisition and firing capability. 
     FIG. 9 shows an upper section  91  and lower section  92  of a multi-colored light-gathering means prior to their combination. The upper section  91  and lower section  92  have partial semi-circular cross-sections and are fabricated of a different colored light-gathering means. The sections  91 ,  92  are preferably fabricated using known injection molding techniques. The viewing end of the upper section  91  includes a triangular portion  93  which forms an apex area of a complete viewing area upon the integration of the two sections  91 ,  92 . The upper section  91  has a substantially flat bottom  91   a . The lower section  92  includes a generally triangular shaped end  94  which forms the base portion of the complete triangular viewing end of a gun sight. The lower section  92  has a substantially flat top  92   a . To facilitate connection, the flat bottom  91 a includes a plurality of spaced projections  98  and the flat top  92 a includes a plurality of spaced cavities  99  for receipt of the projections  98 . Now referring to FIG. 10, the flat sections  91   a ,  92   a  are joined by inserting said projections  98  into said cavities  99  and exposing the joined sections  91 ,  92  to ultrasonic welding techniques. The two joined sections  91 ,  92  provide a multi-colored triangular viewing portion for a user. Alternatively, the two sections  91 ,  92  can be joined using an adhesive. 
     Both the upper section  91  and the lower section  92  transmit light along their lengths to the viewing end. In this arrangement, the triangular viewing area  32  attracts the user&#39;s eyes and the triangular portion  93  immediately focuses the user&#39;s eyes on an intended target. For example, the lower section triangle shape  94  may be colored orange and the triangular portion  93  may be colored green whereby the orange quickly attracts the user&#39;s eyes which then immediately focus on the green apex  93 . Any gun sight viewing shape (e.g. circle formed of two semi-circles) can be formed utilizing the method described herein. The multi-colored light-gathering means is ideal for the front gun sight  30  of the present invention. 
     A hot-spot within a viewing end of a light-gathering means is achieved by properly angling specific surfaces of the light-gathering means. Again, injection molding techniques are the preferred procedure for fabricating the light-gathering means having a hot-spot. For example, the rear sight  50  having two triangular viewing surfaces  67  can be formed such that an apex, or any portion, of the triangular viewing surfaces  67  are brighter than the remaining portions of the triangular viewing surfaces  67 . 
     FIG. 11 shows a top view of the rear light-gathering means  65  of the rear gun sight  50  having two triangular viewing surfaces  67 . When implemented the user will view the rear light-gathering means  65  in the direction of arrow A. Angled surfaces  95  cause the light transmitted by the light-gathering means  65  to focus at a common location  99  as seen in FIG.  13 . FIG. 12 shows a preferred angle of 36°. Other angles may be used, but angles near the preferred angle of 36° maximize the effect. FIG. 13 shows a user&#39;s view of the rear light-gathering means  65  including the “hot-spots”  99 . In reality, the “hot-spots”  99  are brighter than the other portions of the triangular viewing areas. The hot-spot technology may also be used in conjunction with the multi-colored light-gathering means. Therefore, in the previous example, the green triangular portion  93  may further include a hot-spot at the apex. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is designed to hunt turkey. The turkey&#39;s frame is unique in that the head is remotely located from the turkey&#39;s body by an elongated neck. Turkey hunters desire to kill turkeys with head shots and therefore require a gun sight with supreme accuracy. Turkeys rarely remain still further requiring means to quickly acquire precise aim on the turkey&#39;s head. The present invention provides the needed accuracy and immediate target acquisition necessary to effectively hunt turkeys. While well-suited for turkey hunting, the gun sight system disclosed herein is effective for hunting all varieties of game. 
     Although the gun sight system is shown implemented on a ventilated ribbed barrel  10 , it is to be understood that the gun sight system of the present invention is equally efficient with all firearms, including those with non-ribbed barrels. Moreover, the base member  35 , housing  55  and the retainer member  70  are preferably fabricated of nylon but said components may be fabricated of any plastic, metal, alloy, polymer, etc. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiment, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.