Abstract:
A targeting viewing device is disclosed that couples a laser pointer to a viewing device such as binoculars or a spotting scope. In one embodiment the laser pointer includes a switch to selectively activate a laser beam to project a spot of light on a distant target so as to identify the target from within a group of potential targets to other observers of the targets. The viewing device may include a spotting scope, monocular, binocular or camera.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/592,275, filed Jan. 30, 2012, entitled TARGETING BINOCULARS, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    During a big game hunt often a number of potential target animals are found grouped together in a herd. A hunting guide typically will point out to his or her client a particularly desirable animal to shoot with his or her fingers. The guide pointing to the animal is not the ideal way to determine which animal is to be shot. It is very imprecise. Often the intended target animal is not hit and instead a different animal is targeted by the hunter client. Therefore there is a need for a more precise and convenient way to quickly identify to a hunter a specific target animal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    The present disclosure directly addresses this problem. A target identifying device in accordance with the present disclosure includes an optical viewing element; and a laser pointer fastened to the viewing element. The viewing element permits a user to view a target through the element. The pointer projects a laser spot on a target being viewed through the viewing element, such that another person adjacent the person using the viewing element can see the laser spot. 
         [0004]    One particular device in accordance with the present disclosure is a targeting binocular which includes a modified laser pointer fastened to a pair of binoculars. The laser pointer is adjusted so that the laser spot projected by the pointer is positioned at the center of the field of view of the binoculars and its power is sufficient to illuminate a spot on a target that can in turn be clearly seen through the binoculars. When the guide selects the target animal, centers the binoculars on that animal and activates the pointer, an illuminated spot is projected onto the animal. This illuminated spot is bright enough to be seen through the hunter&#39;s riflescope. The hunter then aims at that animal for the shot. Furthermore, the illuminated spot is typically sufficiently defined such that it can be used by the guide to indicate the point of aim on the animal to indicate a clean kill shot to the hunter. 
         [0005]    Further features, advantages and characteristics of the embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent from reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a targeting binocular viewing device in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a shooting situation in which the targeting binocular viewing device can be used. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a targeting binocular viewing device in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the targeting binoculars shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the viewing device in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of the process necessary to use the viewing device in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    An exemplary embodiment of a targeting binocular viewing device  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Mounted to one of the lens casings or to the binocular frame is a battery powered laser pointer  102 . This pointer  102  is a high power laser device of sufficient power to produce a bright illuminated circle of light, typically red, on a target at 100-200 yards that is separately visible to an observer located close to but spaced from the user of the binoculars. The pointer  102  has an activation switch  103  preferably on its side that can be easily turned on and off by the guide  106  using the binoculars. 
         [0013]    The pointer  102  in accordance with the present disclosure is very high power, on the order of 10-100× brighter that a conventional office whiteboard laser pointer. For example, a 100 mW laser is believed to be sufficiently powerful for this use. One such laser pointer is an E3 Elite Series red laser pointer marketed by Wicked Lasers. 
         [0014]    A schematic scene of the use of the binocular viewing device  100  is shown in  FIG. 2 . A hunter  104  and a guide  106  are shown viewing a herd of animals  110  at a distance, such as 50-200 yards. The guide  106  uses the binoculars  100  to assess the herd and pick out a suitable target animal for the hunter  104  to shoot. When the guide identifies an appropriate target animal  112 , he or she switches on the pointer  102  via the switch  103 . The pointer  102 , aligned with the field of view of the binoculars  100 , projects a target spot  114  onto the animal  112 . The guide fine tunes the location of the spot  114  on the animal  112 . The hunter  104 , using his or her riflescope  105  can then aim directly at the illuminated target spot  114  for the shot. 
         [0015]    A second embodiment of a viewing device in accordance with the present disclosure is a pair of targeting binoculars  200  as is shown in a perspective view in  FIG. 3  and in a side view in  FIG. 4 . A laser pointer/targeting assembly  202  is fastened to one of the hinges of a conventional pair of binoculars  201 . The exemplary pair of binoculars illustrated is a pair of roof prism system binoculars. 
         [0016]    The Laser targeting assembly  202  on this exemplary set of binoculars  201  has an elongated, rectangular cylinder body  203  that houses the electronics for the laser, and has an on/off switch  204  extending axially rearward at its rear end. A battery power supply  210  is connected to the electronics via a wire cord  212 . This battery supply  210  may be fastened to one of the binocular barrels by any suitable means, or, if the cord  212  is long enough, the supply  210  can be carried in one of the viewing device user&#39;s pockets. Alternatively, the battery power supply may be miniaturized and housed within the body  203  itself, thus eliminating the need for a box type battery supply  210  and cord  212 . 
         [0017]    The front end of the body  203  is fastened to a front laser portion  205  that carries the optical elements of the laser. The front portion  205  has a flange  206  for fastening the assembly  202  to the hinge screw  208  of the binoculars  201 . The laser assembly  202  is adjusted on the hinge screw  208  such that the laser points coincident with the center of the view field of the binoculars  201  so that the user can easily point the laser spot  114  on the target animal as shown in  FIG. 2  and described above with reference to the first embodiment. 
         [0018]    Many variations of the target viewing device exemplified by the targeting binoculars  100  and  200  can be made. The pointer  102  may be integrated into the binocular housing itself. The pointer  102  may alternatively be attached to or integrated into a monocular or conventional spotting scope, or any other viewing device, and may alternatively attached to a camera. The laser assembly  202 , for example, may be furnished with a Velcro type hook and loop type fastener strip attached to the body  202  so that the laser assembly  202  may be removably fastened either tubular part of the binoculars  201 . 
         [0019]    An alternative viewing device  300  with a laser targeting assembly  302  mounted on the barrel of a spotting scope  301  is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, a removable configuration, the flange  206  that is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is modified. The laser targeting assembly  302  again has an elongated body  303  attached to or integral with a laser portion  305 . The body  303  carries a switch  304  for energizing the laser targeting light beam that is projected by the assembly  302 . The laser portion  305  of the body  302  includes a flange  306  that has an axially extending leg that extends parallel to the body  302 . The flange leg  308  is spaced from the body  302  just enough to receive a strap  310  of hook and loop fastener material that is snugly wrapped around the barrel of the spotting scope  301  rather than receiving a mounting screw  208  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  to fasten the assembly  202  in place. In this embodiment  300 , the battery power supply is preferably miniaturized and housed within the body  303  as is shown, or it may alternatively be a separate battery pack supply as is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates the sequence  400  of operations necessary to be performed by a user such as guide  106  and hunter  104 , in utilizing any one of the viewing devices  100 ,  200  and  300  in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    These operations begin in operation  402  where a first party such as the guide  106  is provided with a viewing device  100 ,  200 , or  300  before tracking a group of target animals such as deer, antelope, lion or elephant with a second party such as hunter  104 . 
         [0022]    Next the first and second parties locate a group of targets in a conventional manner in operation  404 . The first party then views the targets and selects a particular target such as a particular animal target  112  in operation  406 . The first party then energizes the laser targeting assembly  102 ,  202  or  302 , looks at the target through the viewing device  100 ,  200  or  300  in operation  408  and positions the targeting spot  114  of laser light on the target animal  112  at the desired place  114  in operation  410 . The second party, e.g., the hunter  104 , then sights his or her weapon at the targeting spot  114  on the target  112  in operation  412  and in operation  414  takes the shot. 
         [0023]    Many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The hunter  104  may be a bow hunter, or other category of hunter utilizing any conceivable weapon, not just a rifle as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The present disclosure also applies to non-hunting activity as well, such as photographers and bird watchers to name a few. The targeting viewing device may be used in any circumstance where a first party wants to indicate, or single out, a particular target area from within any type of broader grouping to a second party. Furthermore, the color of the laser light, e.g. red, green, blue, yellow, may be selected so as to minimize detection by the target animals. A green laser is particularly suitable for large game in Africa, for example. Optionally optical filters may be attached to the binocular or spotting scope objective lenses to enhance visible contrast of the laser spot on a target. Such filters may also be used on a hunter&#39;s telescopic sight or glasses for this purpose. This may improve the ability of each party to distinguish the laser spot on a target in bright sunlight conditions. All such changes, alternatives and equivalents in accordance with the features and benefits described herein, are within the scope of the present disclosure. Such changes and alternatives may be introduced without departing from the spirit and broad scope of this disclosure as defined by the claims below and their equivalents.