Patent Publication Number: US-7721479-B2

Title: Sight for a handheld weapon

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates to a sight for a handheld weapon, and more particularly to a rear sight for a handheld weapon. 
   In practice, a rear sight is used in combination with a front sight that is located near the front end of the barrel of a weapon and that includes a reticule (e.g., cross hairs), the rear sight being operatively located on the weapon between the front sight and the position of a person&#39;s eye when aiming the weapon at a target. Insofar as it is contemplated that the rear sight can also be independently used as a sight on certain specific weapons, any reference hereinafter to a rear sight must be interpreted accordingly. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention there is provided a rear sight for a handheld weapon which includes, in operation when mounted on a weapon, a tubular device including a tubular member comprising a material capable of transmitting visible light so that a target may be viewed through the tubular member, the tubular device having at least two circle-like images at different locations along the length thereof that are visible when aiming the weapon on which the rear sight is mounted at a target by viewing the target through the tubular member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     Further features of the rear sight of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to an example of a rear sight for a weapon, which is illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional side view of a rear sight for a weapon, in accordance with the invention; and 
       FIG. 2  shows, on an enlarged scale, a front view of the rear sight of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings, a rear sight for a weapon forming in combination with a front sight, a part of a weapon sight in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The front sight of the weapon sight of which the rear sight also forms a part will in practice be located near the front end of an associated weapon, while the rear sight  10  will be located on the weapon in a location between the front sight and the position of a person&#39;s aiming eye when aiming the weapon at a target, this location being adjustable in order to accommodate different requirements as will be explained in more detail hereafter. 
   The rear sight  10  includes a tubular device  11  which includes a tubular member  12  formed of a material through which visible light may be viewed, e.g. of a polycarbonate or of a nylon material. The tubular member may, preferably, be partially encased within a metal housing  14  for protection, but be so constructed as to permit absorption of light through the tubular member for the purpose described hereafter. The metal housing includes a mount  16  whereby the rear sight  10  can be mounted on a weapon, the configuration of the mount being greatly variable and permitting adjustment of the exact positioning of the rear sight with respect to the position of a person&#39;s aiming eye when aiming the firearm at a target. 
   The tubular device  11  also includes a first sleeve forming element  18  which is located on the inner periphery within the tubular member  12  in a spaced location from the front end  20  of the tubular member  12 , the element  18  being formed of a material through which visible light may be transmitted and particularly of a material as manufactured by Bayer under the trade name LISA. This material absorbs light through the outer surfaces thereof and transmits the light in a concentrated mode from the edges thereof, the edge  22  of the element thus forming a bright circle-like image within the tubular member  12 . 
   The tubular device  11  also includes a second sleeve-forming element  24  which is formed of the same material of which the element  18  is formed and which thus forming an edge  26  that creates a bright circle-like image, also within the tubular member  12 . The two elements,  18  and  24 , are of different colors, e.g. red and green, the circle-like images formed thereby thus being of clearly contrasting colors to render them easily visible for the purpose described hereafter. It is particularly contemplated in the above regard that the configuration and location of the housing will be such that the transmission of light is such that the circle-like images are bright and suitably contrasted, to render them readily visible within the tubular member  12  when looking through the tubular member  12  from the location indicated by the eye  28 , as shown. 
   It will be understood in the above regard that in addition to the circle-like images formed by the elements,  18  and  24 , the front face  30  of the tubular member also forms a circle-like image,  FIG. 2  identifying the circle-like image formed by the tubular member  12  by the numeral  32 , the circle-like image formed by the element  18  by the numeral  34  and the circle-like image formed by the element  24  by the numeral  36 . In use, the person aiming the weapon must position his eye at a spaced location from the front face  30  of the tubular device  11  and then maneuver the weapon until the alignment of the tubular member with respect to his eye is such that all three circle-like images,  32 ,  34  and  36 , are concentrically disposed as shown in  FIG. 2 , thus providing essentially for required alignment of his eye with respect to the rear sight. With his eye so aligned, the front sight of the weapon will be clearly visible within the inner circle-like image  36 , it being contemplated that the front sight also may comprise a tubular device which has a circle-like image that will then be concentrically positioned with respect to the inner circle-like image  36 . The reticule of the front sight then merely has to be positioned on the target, at which time the weapon will be precisely aimed at the target. It is submitted that the maneuvering of the weapon with respect to a person&#39;s eye in order to provide for the proper alignment of his eye with respect to the sight will be an extremely quick and accurate operation, insofar as the bright circle-like images referred to will be clearly visible and easily maneuverable into their required concentric configuration. Once this configuration is achieved, accuracy while aiming at a target is further enhanced by merely positioning the reticule of a front sight on the target, at which time the weapon can be discharged. 
   It must be understood that within the principles of the rear sight as above described, the exact configuration of the rear sight is variable, particularly in relation to the circle-like images. In this regard it is contemplated, for example, that the rear end of the tubular member of the rear sight also can serve to define a circle-like image, whereas more than two sleeve-like elements also can be located within the tubular member. The tubular member also may taper from the front end thereof to the rear end thereof. 
   It is also contemplated that the actual position of the second sleeve forming element  24  is variable in order to accommodate different spacings of the rear sight with respect to a person&#39;s eye, for example, where a person&#39;s eye is positioned nearer the front end of the rear sight  10 , the spacing between the two elements,  18  and  24 , should be reduced (see the sight lines  40  from a person&#39;s eye  28  to the circle-like images as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
   The rear sight may be formed of various different materials. The invention extends also individually to a front sight and a rear sight that can together form a sight for a weapon, as well as to a sight equivalent to the rear sight which can in itself serve the purpose of a weapon sight, i.e. without a front sight, in relation to a particular weapon. The dimensions of the rear sight of the invention are greatly variable and are determined in practice by the specific requirements in relation to the weapon with respect to which the sight is to be utilized. 
   In use of the rear sight of the invention, when aiming the associated weapon on which it is mounted at a target, the aiming eye of the user will look through the rear sight toward the target and for proper alignment with respect to the target, will maneuver the weapon until the two or more circle-like images are concentrically disposed. It is contemplated that the above mode of aiming will be extremely quick, maneuvering the weapon for positioning the two or more circle-like images concentrically with respect to one another, in practice, being a very simple operation to perform. 
   The length and diameter of the tubular member, in relation to the use of the rear sight on a particular weapon, is determined such that the circle-like images are clearly visible and easily positionable in a concentric configuration with respect to one another when aiming the weapon at a target by viewing through the tubular member. The above parameters will be determined in practice by the particular requirements of the weapon on which the rear sight is to be mounted, taking into account requirements regarding speed of sight acquisition, accuracy, and the like, and the location of the rear sight on the weapon with respect to the ordinary position of a person&#39;s eye when aiming the weapon, particularly also in adverse conditions of duress and/or in low light conditions. 
   The tubular member of the tubular device of the rear sight may have a constant diameter along the length thereof, i.e. may be cylindrical. It will be understood that this cylindrical configuration of the tubular member, for a particular operative position of the rear sight on a weapon, will cause the tubular member to appear to taper from the front end of the member to the rear end of the member. The tubular member also may taper from the front end thereof to the rear end thereof. 
   The circle-like images formed by the tubular device may be formed by the tubular member itself and, as such, may be formed on the front face of the tubular member and on the rear end of the tubular member. In order to enhance the clarity of these circle-like images, an opaque coating may be applied to the front face of the tubular member and within the tubular member at the rear end thereof. 
   Still further according to the invention, at least one circle-like image may be formed by a sleeve forming element located in the tubular member at a location along the length thereof. The sleeve forming element located in the tubular member may form a circular face projecting from the inner surface of the tubular member, forming the circle-like image formed by the sleeve forming element. 
   The tubular member also may have at least two sleeve forming elements located therein at different locations along the length thereof, each forming a circle-like image. As such, one sleeve forming element may be located near the front end of the tubular member and a second sleeve forming element may be located near the rear end of the tubular member. 
   Each sleeve forming element as above contemplated may be formed of a translucent material which, through absorption of light through the translucent tubular member of the tubular device, provides for the edge thereof that forms a circle-like image to emit concentrated light, sharply defining and rendering the circle-like image clearly visible. The sleeve forming elements may thus be of contrasting colors, e.g. red and green. Where a sleeve forming element is formed of a see-through material as envisaged, a particularly suitable material that is known in the trade and that is considered suitable for the purpose is a material manufactured by Bayer under the trade name LISA or a material manufactured by A.E.C.I. under the trade name LUCITE, although any other suitable material can be utilized also for the purpose. 
   It must be understood that where two sleeve forming elements are located within the tubular member, positioning of the circle-like images formed thereby in a concentric configuration may in itself provide for aiming of the associated weapon, or both the circle-like images also may be concentrically positioned with respect to any other circle-like image formed by the tubular device for aiming of the associated weapon. 
   It must be understood still further that the dimensions of the sleeve forming elements and particularly the thickness of these elements may be variable, with the particular objective being to form clearly contrasting bright and sharp circle-like images that will enhance aiming of an associated weapon at a target, with particular emphasis on speed and accuracy, particularly in conditions of low light. 
   It is contemplated also that the spacing between the circle-like images that are formed by the sleeve forming elements may be rendered variable in order to accommodate an individual person&#39;s requirements, it being particularly contemplated that the position of either one or both sleeve forming elements located within the tubular member of the tubular device may be adjustable. The tubular member of the tubular device of the rear sight of the invention may be formed of any suitable see-through material, the device typically being formed of any one of a polypropylene material, nylon, perspex, glass, and the like. The tubular member also may be partially encased in a metallic housing for protection. As such, the housing may incorporate mounting means for mounting the tubular device on a weapon. The mounting means optionally may permit adjustable mounting of the tubular device on a weapon. 
   Where the rear sight of the invention is used in combination with a front sight on a weapon, the front sight also may comprise a tubular device of a see-through material and optionally also may have a sleeve forming element located therein that will provide for it to define a bright and sharply defined circle-like image to contrast with the circle-like images formed by the rear sight, hence to facilitate aiming of the associated weapon by positioning the reticule of the front sight on the target. The invention extends also to a sighting system for a weapon which includes a rear sight, in accordance with the invention, and a front sight to be mounted on a weapon near the front end thereof.