Patent Publication Number: US-9897414-B2

Title: Firearm sight system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/168,264, filed on May 29, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to firearms and iron sights used with firearms, and more particularly to an improved firearm sight system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known that iron sights are used on firearms to assist the operator in aligning the firearm with the intended target. Typically, this includes the alignment of the rear sight with the front sight and then with the intended target. It also known that at all stages of sight alignment for current sight applications, the front sight and rear sight geometries as observed by the operator remain unchanged. 
     There remains a need in the art to improve the rapid alignment of the front and rear sights with the intended target to create a more accurate and consistent alignment with the target. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates generally to firearms and sights used with firearms, such as, rifles, carbines, pistols, shotguns, hand guns, long guns, and the like, and more particularly to an improved firearm rear sight that obscures any portion of any front sight to create a new front sight geometry observed by the operator that then represents an aligned sight picture. In other words, the firearm sight system of the disclosed embodiments includes a rear sight that changes the image of the front sight, i.e., what the operator observes when viewing the front sight through the rear sight. The rear sight accomplishes this front sight image change by obscuring portions of the front sight and its shape when the operator observes the front sight looking through the rear sight, thereby resulting in the observance of a new front sight shape or geometry. For instance, the front sight may define the shape of an irregular shaped pentagon, but when the irregular shaped pentagon is viewed through the rear sight the irregular shaped pentagon is seen as the shape of a diamond. This change in appearance results from the rear sight, and its particular configuration, obscuring portions of the front sight when the operator is viewing the front sight through the rear sight. From a firearm alignment standpoint, once the diamond shape is observed through the rear sight, the operator knows that the rear and front sights are properly aligned and thus the firearm is properly aligned. The operator then simply needs to align the top-most point of the diamond on the intended target and the firearm becomes properly aligned with the target. 
     The invention provides several advantages over conventional front and rear sights. As an example, the invention provides quicker target acquisition, greater target area visibility, precision accuracy in all lighting conditions, and customizable sight schemes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary front and rear sight of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an exemplary front and rear sight of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is another isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the front and rear sights moving closer to alignment. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the front and rear sights properly aligned. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the mounting of an exemplary embodiment on an exemplary firearm. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the exemplary firearm of  FIG. 7  illustrating the exemplary front and rear sights moving closer to alignment. 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of the exemplary firearm of  FIG. 7  illustrating the exemplary front and rear sights in alignment. 
         FIG. 10  is a close-up view of the exemplary front and rear sights in proper alignment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, there are depicted exemplary embodiments of a firearm and a firearm sight system that includes a rear sight that obscures and changes the observed image of the front sight when the operator observes the front sight looking through the rear sight. The resulting change in the appearance of the front sight geometry to a desired geometry (for example, a diamond shape) indicates that the rear and front sights are properly aligned on the firearm. The embodiments of the invention are intended to cover any rear sight obscuring of the front sight shape that results in a different and particular front sight shape indicating that the rear and front sights are aligned. It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments may be used with any type of firearm, including, without limitation rifles, carbines, pistols, shotguns, handguns, long guns, and the like, including any models of the foregoing. The concepts of the disclosed embodiments may also have application beyond the use on firearms and may be applied to any other structure, device or item where a first end needs to be aligned with a second end and both ends then need to be aligned to a desired target or object that is distant from the first and second ends. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, and referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a front sight  10  may define in an exemplary aspect an irregular shaped pentagon. The front sight may be mounted to any type of firearm. A rear sight  12  includes a body that defines a v-notch  14  located on the top of the rear sight body. The rear sight may also be mounted to any type of firearm. 
     More particularly, in an exemplary embodiment, the front sight  10  may define a rectangular base  20 . Upwardly extending side walls  22  may be on opposite sides of the base. Extending angularly and upwardly from the side walls are angled top surfaces  24  that join at an apex  26 . The apex  26  is the top-most point of the front sight. The angled top surfaces  24  may extend at any number of possible angles and yet join to form an apex. The formed apex may be a line formed by the edges of the top surfaces  24 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the apex  26  may be a point formed by the convergence of the top surfaces  24  at a point. In either embodiment, the apex  26 , when viewed through the rear sight, will appear as a point, which in use is the aimpoint for the front sight. The operator of the firearm will position the aimpoint or apex  26  on the intended target. 
     The front sight may also include a front surface  30  and a rear surface  32 . In one embodiment, the front surface  30  may define an angularly extending, planar surface that defines a top-most point at the apex  26 . The front surface  30  may also extend more vertically from the base  20 . In an exemplary embodiment, the front surface  30  defines an irregular shaped pentagon. This irregular shaped pentagon is formed by the base  20 , the opposing and upwardly extending side walls  22 , and the angled top surfaces  24  that join at the apex  26 . The rear surface may also define an irregular shaped pentagon. This surface is also formed by the base  20 , the opposing and upwardly extending side walls  22 , and the angled top surfaces  24  that join at the apex  26 . 
     In an exemplary aspect, where the side walls  22  join with the top surfaces  24 , the front sight may include an undercut  34  that extends along the line formed where the side walls and top surfaces join. The undercut  34  will create the appearance of an overhang between the top surfaces  24  and the side walls  22 . The undercut  34  will also give the appearance of a sharp transition between the top surfaces and the side walls. When viewing the front sight from the front surface, this sharp transition formed by the undercut gives the appearance of a distinctive edge. This distinctive edge of the top surfaces  24  will assist the operator to visually observe the distinctive diamond shape formed when the front sight is aligned with the rear sight and the operator is observing the front sight through the rear sight, as explained more fully below. More importantly, this distinctive edge will allow the operator to more quickly observe the formed diamond shape after the front and rear sights are properly aligned. This will permit the operator of the firearm to more quickly align the sights and then align the sights with the intended target. In one embodiment, the undercut  34  may form a downwardly and angularly extending surface that matches the angle of the v-notch  14  formed in the rear sight. This matching of the angular surface of the undercut  34  with the angle of the v-notch  14  will further assist in allowing the operator to more quickly form the distinctive diamond shape when aligning the front and rear sights, thereby improving the speed at which the sights are aligned with the intended target. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the rear sight  12  may define a base  36  that forms several base surfaces  37 ,  38 ,  39 . The base surfaces may be used to mount the rear sight to the firearm and align and more securely hold the rear sight onto the firearm. The base surfaces may define numerous possible shapes and configurations depending on the type of firearm to which the rear sight is mounted. Opposing side walls  40  may extend upwardly from the base. The side walls  20  may terminate at top surface  42 . In an exemplary embodiment, the top surface  42  may define a flat, planar surface that extends parallel to the base surfaces. In an alternative embodiment, the top surface  42  may define a pair of surfaces located on both sides of the v-notch  14  that extend angularly downward away from the v-notch, as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The top surface  42  is the top-most portion of the rear sight. 
     Extending angularly and upwardly from the base is a rear sight front face or surface  44  that joins with the top surface  42 . The front face or surface  44  of the rear sight may extend at any number of possible angles and yet join with the top surface. The front face or surface  44  of the rear sight is used to obscure or block features of the front sight when the operator views the front sight through the rear sight. In one embodiment, the front face or surface  44  defines a planar, black surface that has a shape defined by the side walls and the top surface. The size of the front surface may vary depending on the desired amount of obscuring required of the front sight. In an exemplary aspect, the size of the front surface is large enough to obscure the entirety of the front sight, except for the formed diamond shape that appears through the v-notch when the front and rear sights are properly aligned. In other embodiments, the front surface of the rear sight may obscure less than the entirety of the front sight even after the formed diamond shape appears through the v-notch. In this embodiment, additional or different sight picture shapes are formed that may be indicative of the front and rear sights being properly aligned. 
     Extending upwardly from the base is a rear surface  46  that joins with the top surface  42 . The rear surface  46  may extend vertically or at any number of possible angles and yet join with the top surface. The rear surface  46  may define several beveled surfaces, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Formed within the top surface and extending down along the front surface is the v-notch  14 . In an exemplary embodiment, the v-notch  14  is centered laterally along the top surface when viewing the v-notch from the front surface  44 . The v-notch  14  may be cut-out or recessed from the top surface. The v-notch  14  may define angled surfaces  48  that merge or join to give the appearance of a v-shape. The angle of the surfaces  48  in relation to the top surface may vary depending on the desired amount of obscuring of the front sight by the rear sight front surface  44 . In an exemplary embodiment, in relation to a horizontal plane, the angle of the surfaces  48  may match the angle of the top surfaces  24  of the front sight. This will create the appearance of an even sided diamond shape, as illustrated by  FIG. 6 . The angle of the surfaces  48  may also match the angle of the undercut  34  formed in the front sight. As indicated above, this angle matching will allow the operator to more quickly form the diamond shape and thus align the front and rear sights. The cut-out or recess that defines the v-shape  14  may extend any desired depth into the rear sight. In one embodiment, the cut-out or recess may extend downwardly approximately 25% of the height of the front sight. In another embodiment, the cut-out or recess may extend downwardly approximately 33% of the height of the front sight. In yet another embodiment, the cut-out or recess may extend downwardly approximately 50% of the height of the front sight. The amount of obscuring of the front sight by the rear sight will vary depending on the amount the cut-out extends downwardly. 
     In alternative embodiments of the rear sight, the angled surfaces  48  may define planar surfaces or may define non-planar surfaces. The surfaces  48  may be less than or more than the two depicted surfaces. The surfaces may be three or more surfaces that define numerous other possible shapes. The recess or notch  14 , therefore, may define numerous other possible shapes and configurations. As explained below, these other possible shapes will create different sight pictures of the front sight. That is, these other possible shapes of the cut-out, along with the front surface  44  which obscures the front sight, will create other possible front sight geometries, which will be indicative of the front and rear sights being properly aligned. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , when the irregular shaped pentagon front sight  10  is moved into alignment with the rear sight such that front sight is placed into and aligned with the v-notch  14  of the rear sight  12 , so that the two angled top surfaces of the irregular pentagon align with the top of the v-notch, a diamond shape is created and observed by the operator, as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The created diamond shape is the aligned sight picture, meaning that when the diamond shape is formed, the front and rear sights are properly aligned on the firearm. Once the top-most point or apex  26  on the diamond shape is aligned with the intended target, the firearm is then aligned with the target. In other words, and as depicted in the drawings, the function of the rear sight is to obscure portions of the front sight, thereby altering the geometry of the front sight, in the case of the shown exemplary embodiment, from a first perceived shape, such as an irregular shaped pentagon, to a second perceived shape, such as a diamond shape. The second or newly formed shape (e.g., a diamond shape) of the front sight is the geometry that then represents an aligned sight picture. 
     The front and rear sights may define different colors to further enhance the sight alignment. That is, the rear sight may be a first color, while the front sight may be a second color. The different colors assist the operator in visually aligning the sights more consistently and more rapidly. Any and all colors may be used with the sights of the disclosed embodiments depending on the operator&#39;s preferences. In one embodiment, the front sight may be a bright color or an illuminating color, while the rear sight may be black. During nighttime or dark conditions, the bright color front sight will appear as an irregular pentagon shape but then becomes a diamond shape when the front sight is properly aligned with the rear sight. The black color rear sight will assist with the quick alignment of the sights because the black color will make the bright color front sight stand out more during nighttime or dark conditions. In use in dark or night conditions, and as indicated above, to align the firearm with the intended target, the operator simply needs to place the top-most point of the front sight on the intended target and once the irregular pentagon shape changes to the diamond shape when viewing the front sight through the rear sight, the firearm is properly aligned with the target. 
     In an alternative aspect, the front and/or rear sight may also glow in the dark or otherwise illuminate in the dark if first exposed to light. For example, the front and/or rear sight may include fluorescent materials or polymers, such as, fluorescent solid, translucent and transparent materials. The sights may also be made of glow-in-the dark plastics or fiber optic materials. The sights may be made of any number of bright colors or color combinations. Still other means for enhancing the visibility and appearance of the front and rear sights are possible with the embodiments of the invention. In an exemplary and more preferred embodiment, the front sight may define a bright or illuminated color and the rear sight may define a black color. In this embodiment, the front sight will be more pronounced and will stand out more clearly for the operator during sight alignment, thereby allowing the operator to more quickly align the front and rear sights. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , the exemplary embodiments are depicted mounted to a top surface of an exemplary firearm  50 . The firearm  50  may be the depicted handgun, or may be any of the numerous known handgun models. The exemplary firearm  50  may include a frame  52 , a hand grip  54  mounted to the frame, a trigger assembly  56  mounted to and within the frame, a barrel  58 , and a top slide  60  movable in relation to the frame for charging the firearm. As stated previously, the exemplary embodiments may also be used with rifles, carbines, pistols, shotguns, long guns, and the like. The front sight  10  and rear sight  12  are capable of being mounted to or mountable to the top of the handgun. The front and rear sights are also detachable from the firearm. The front and rear sights may be adjusted for elevation and windage by adding or subtracting shims of different thicknesses which are placed under the base of each sight. Examples of adjustable front and rear sights and elevation and windage adjustment techniques that may be used with the exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,946,075, which is commonly owned by the applicant. In one embodiment, the sights are attached to the top slide of the handgun and will travel with the slide when the operator charges the handgun. 
     As can be seen when comparing  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when the irregular shaped pentagon front sight  10  is moved into alignment with the rear sight  12  such that the front sight is placed into and aligned with the v-notch  14  of the rear sight  12 , so that the two horizontal angles of the irregular pentagon align with the top of the v-notch, a diamond shape is created and observed by the operator, as depicted in  FIG. 8 . The formed diamond shape is the result of the rear sight obscuring portions of the front sight. The formed diamond shape is the aligned sight picture which means the front and rear sights are properly aligned on the firearm. To align the firearm  50  with the intended target, the operator only needs to align the top-most point on the diamond shape with the target. Due to the shape of the formed diamond shape greater target area visibility is achieved because less target area is obscured by either the front or rear sights. This provides for greater speed with target acquisition and greater accuracy with both short range and long range shooting. 
     It should be understood that the front and rear sight geometries depicted in the figures are merely exemplary and the present invention is not limited to the depicted geometries. While one possible embodiment has the irregular pentagon shape front sight changing to the diamond shape when the sights are properly aligned, numerous other geometries are possible and are contemplated with the invention. For example, a formed geometry could be a tear drop shape, triangle, circle, arrow, oval, polygon, or any other desired shape. It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the scope of the invention includes any front and rear sight where the rear sight alters the geometry or shape of the front sight to create an aligned sight picture. The altered front sight represents the aligned sight picture, meaning the altered front sight geometry indicates the firearm sights are correctly aligned on the firearm and can then be aligned with the intended target. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth herein and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention.