Patent Abstract:
A combined target sight and range finder with a bulls-eye pin and slotted sight plate that receives an adjustable “belly bar” is disclosed. A “set-in” procedure is used to establish a set-in distance and to generate a scale of various target sizes. The “set-in” procedure involves adjusting such that the bulls-eye pin is consistently aimed at the bulls-eye of a target, yet hits the target at a distance above the target. The archer moves progressively farther away from the target until a “set-in” distance at which aiming at the bulls-eye produces shots that hit the bulls-eye is reached. Various targets are presented at the set-in distance, and the belly bar is positioned such that the bulls-eye pin and belly bar frame each target. The belly bar can then later quickly be placed in its slot at the position corresponding to the target size, thereby accounting for the distance between the shooter and the target.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/363,547, filed Mar. 13, 2002. The contents of the provisional application are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to target sights to be used particularly in bow hunting and other archery activities, and more particularly to sights which include range finders. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Many attempts have been made previously to design and produce a sight that will compensate or adjust the sight for varying distances between a projectile launcher, such as an archery bow, and the intended target. In such designs, the failure to provide the required degree of accuracy and ease of use have prevented the designs from making any significant impact in the archery industry. The cost of manufacture of such designs and the projected retail prices have also hindered any widespread adoption of designs proposed to date. 
   The relatively recent introduction and wide popularity of compound bows has further added to the difficulty of designing a combined sight and range finder. Compound bows allow for a wide variety of arrow speeds (initial velocity), both among different bow designs and among different users of particular types of bow. The range of possible arrow speeds with the bows in use today is from about 150 feet per second (fps) to about 350 fps. This range of possible arrow speeds has made certain designs useful only for a small variety of available bows. The required accuracy cannot be realized across this entire range. 
   Other designs have proven to be too cumbersome to adjust to different target sizes at varying distances, requiring slow or complicated operations to adjust for these criteria, as well as for varying arrow speeds. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,368, issued to Sprandel, discloses an archery sight and range finder which employs a trigger mechanism to slide two sight bars along a vertical track, with one sight bar moving a greater distance than the other for a given pull of the trigger. This enables the sight bars to be moved farther apart and closer together, as appropriate, to frame targets located at different distances. The patent discloses that the length of one of the links can be adjusted by turning a finger knob to accommodate the use of the sight for different sized targets. This adjustment is fairly complicated to achieve, and is not useful for making such adjustments in the field when encountering game or other targets of varying sizes. In addition, the use of a bulls-eye sight disposed on the lower bar, and designed to be used to sight between the bars, limits the distances at which the sight may be used. It also introduces potential error due to the fact that the bulls-eye sight is at a fixed distance from the lower bar, whereas the actual target area (generally, the heart region) on a given type of game will be at a different height relative to the upper and lower bars framing the target. Further, the patent does not address any means by which the sight and range finder can be adapted for use with varying arrow speeds which are a result of the various bow designs now available, the various arrow designs, and the differing manner in which the bows are used by archers (e.g., amount of string pull to “full draw”). 
   The Reichert patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,919, addresses the more modern-day concern as to how to adapt a sight and range finder to varying arrow speeds, in addition to varying target sizes. The solution proposed by Reichert is to change out cam elements in the device to make these adjustments. An initial cam selection process may be made for a given bow used by a given archer, however, that process is time consuming and tedious. Beyond that, the requirement to then change out cam components as an adjustment for varying target sizes means that this design is not well suited for adjustments being made in the field upon encountering game or other targets of varying sizes. 
   It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a target sight which overcomes the disadvantages of the designs previously proposed. 
   More specifically, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a combined sight and range finder which can be set up or calibrated for a wide variety of bow speeds/arrow speeds, in a relatively simple manner. 
   It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide a combined sight and range finder which can be quickly adjusted in the field for various target sizes that may be encountered. 
   It is yet a further principal object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable and accurate combined sight and range finder which can provide accuracy to distances on the order of 70-75 or more yards. 
   It is an additional principal object of the invention to provide a simple sight/range finder set up procedure which takes into account the specific bow speed/arrow speed of each individual bow and shooter. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above and other objects of the present invention are realized in the combined target sight and range finder of the present invention. It is to be noted that, while most of the discussion herein will be directed to an embodiment which is especially suited for use as a bow sight for archery applications, the sight/range finder will be readily adapted for use in many other types of redundant launching or shooting, meaning that the initial velocity or the trajectory characteristics of the projectile remain substantially constant from launch-to-launch or shot-to-shot. It may also be noted herein, with respect to the use of the device as a bow sight, that the term “arrow speed” is not used strictly to refer to the initial velocity of the arrow as it is launched by the bow. It will be recognized that other trajectory characteristics for a particular arrow, such as its weight, drag, center of gravity, etc., also have an effect on the trajectory of a particular arrow. For the sake of simplicity, however, all of the characteristics of a particular arrow which contribute to its flight trajectory will be included when reference is made to the “arrow speed”. The “arrow speed” of an arrow, as used herein, is largely determined by the bow rating or construction and the particular operation of a given bow by a given archer. As used herein “arrow speed” is determined based upon a particular archer&#39;s “full draw” of the bow that he/she is operating. 
   The bow sight/range finder employs an essentially standard bracket for mounting the sight to the bow, and has essentially standard windage and elevation adjustment devices coupling the mounting bracket to the remainder of the sight. The elevation adjustment device includes a substantially vertically oriented main frame member, from which a lower link depends, with the lower link being angled slightly forwardly. A sight plate is pivotably mounted at a lower front face of the main frame member. The sight plate is roughly in the shape of a lower case “H”, having its leg extending vertically upwardly and then angled further upwardly and forwardly to a forward sight bar, which is preferably substantially parallel to the main frame member when at an initial or starting position. 
   A lower end of the forward sight bar has a forward link pivotably connected thereto. The pivot axis between these two components, when the frame is at the initial or starting position, is at substantially the same level as is the sight plate pivot axis on the main frame member. Forward link is of a length such that, when the frame is in the initial or starting position, it may be pivotably connected to a trigger link extending between the forward link and lower link extending downwardly from the main frame member. Trigger link is pivotably connected to both the forward link and the lower main frame link with the pivot axis being at substantially the same level when the frame is at the initial or starting position. 
   Forward sight bar has a bulls-eye pin protruding laterally therefrom. The forwardly angled portion of the sight plate is slotted to receive an adjustable “belly bar” protruding laterally therefrom, substantially parallel to the bulls-eye pin. The belly bar-is positioned in the slot at a position corresponding to the size (in profile) of the upper and lower extents of the type of target being shot. The trigger is pulled as necessary to move the frame from its initial or starting position to a position such that the bulls-eye pin and the belly bar frame the upper and lower extents of the profile of the target. When the sight has been previously properly calibrated or “set-in”, this framing of the target by a simple pull of the trigger functions to properly range the distance to the target. 
   The “set-in” procedure involves standing at an initial predetermined distance from the target and adjusting the windage and elevation adjustment devices such that the archer will, at “full draw” of the bow string (a repeatable distance of string draw or displacement unique to each archer) consistently have the bulls-eye pin aimed at the bulls-eye of a target, yet hit the target a predetermined distance above the target. These adjustments are of a fairly routine nature for bow sights, albeit the adjustments are generally made such that aiming at the bulls-eye results in hitting the bulls-eye. 
   Once the adjustments are made such that the archer is hitting higher than the bulls-eye by the predetermined amount, the archer will move progressively farther away from the target in increments until shooting from a distance at which aiming at the bulls-eye produces shots which hit the bulls-eye. At that distance, referred to herein as the “set-in distance”, and with the sight in its initial or starting position, various targets of different standard sizes are presented, and, as each target is presented, the belly bar is positioned such that the bulls-eye pin and belly bar frame the target. A scale provided on the upper surface of the link above the slot in which belly bar travels is marked for the position of the belly bar for each of the target sizes. 
   With the target sight set up in this manner, the archer may go into the field, and, when encountering a particular type of game, will be able to quickly set the belly bar in its slot at the position corresponding to the size of that type of game, and then to pull the trigger from its initial position as necessary to frame the top and bottom of the game. By operation of the sight linkages, both the bulls-eye pin and belly bar will rotate. The archer will, however, see substantially only vertical movement of the bulls-eye bar/pin and belly bar, in which the bars come closer together or move further apart, as necessary, to frame the target. As the bulls-eye pin begins dropping, the archer must raise the front of the bow to maintain the bulls-eye pin at the top of the target, and when the target is framed, the shooting angle of the bow has been raised to account for the distance between the shooter and the target. The archer will then preferably drop the bulls-eye pin to the portion of the target that is to be hit. 
   The relative sizes and relative rotations of the links of the sight, as well as the use of the unique “set-in” procedure, provide a very simple system for achieving highly accurate ranging and aiming at a variety of potential targets, once the straightforward and relatively simple set-in or calibration procedure has been used to establish a set-in distance and to generate a scale of various target sizes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the present invention will be better understood from the ensuing detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to represent like parts, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of the target sight and range finder in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the target sight and range finder at an initial position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the target sight and range finder at a position moved from the initial position. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagrammatical view of the movement of the bulls-eye bar and belly bar, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the sight bar of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the sight plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present application. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the calibration or “set-in” process and initial target size calibration according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a target sight/range finder  100  (hereafter “sight”) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The sight  100  is equipped with a bow mount or mounting bracket  102 , for securing the sight to a bow. As is more-or-less standard in the art of bow sights, the bow mount  102  has a plurality of sets of bores through which mounting screws can be inserted to mount sight  100  to a bow at varying relative positions, based upon several parameters involving the archer, including his/her physical size, the position at which the bow is held relative to the archer&#39;s head and eye, etc. 
   Sight  100  has an adjustment bar  104  which couples bow mount  102  to main sight frame member  106 . The adjustment bar  104  extends in a substantially horizontal orientation, and is adjustably secured to bow mount  102 . This is preferably accomplished by providing adjustment bar  104  with a protruding dovetail profile, and by providing bow mount  102  with a complementary sized and shaped dovetail recess, within which the adjustment bar can slide transversely to the shooting direction. A bow mount dovetail screw  108  is provided, which is adapted to clamp the walls of the dovetail recess onto the protruding dovetail profile to secure the adjustment bar at a desired transverse position. 
   Adjustment bar  104  is provided, at its terminal end, with a vertically oriented dovetail recess, which is adapted to receive therein a dovetailed projection extending along the length of main frame member  106 . An adjustment bar dovetail screw  110  is preferably provided, and is operable to clamp the dovetailed projection of the main frame member within the dovetail recess. 
   Main frame member  106  is preferably oriented in a substantially vertical orientation when the bow is held in its substantially vertical orientation. Main frame member has a lower link element  112  depending downwardly therefrom and angled slightly forwardly (in the direction of a target). Main frame member  106  has a flange  114  extending forwardly at a lower extent thereof, just above lower link element  112 . Flange  114  has a bore  116  extending therethrough. 
   Sight plate  118  is pivotably connected to main frame member  106  by a clutch bolt  120  extending through frame member bore  116  and a corresponding bore  122  disposed at the lower extent of rear leg  124  of sight plate  118 . Clutch bolt  120  is of a known construction and may be adjusted by turning an external wheel to either increase or decrease the resistance to the pivoting of sight plate  118  relative to main frame member  106 . This allows the user to adjust the force which must be exerted on a trigger to move the sight elements in the ranging operation. 
   Rear leg  124  extends upwardly from bore  122  for a short distance, and then is angled upwardly and forwardly at an approximately 20°-60° angle, and more preferably at about 30°-40° angle, and even more preferably at about a 32.5° angle, from a substantially horizontal plane (with main frame member  106  being in a substantially vertical plane). Forward sight bar  126  is disposed at the forward end of rear leg  124 , and in the starting or initial position of the sight  100  (FIG.  2 ), is preferably at a substantially parallel orientation to main frame member  106 . 
   Forward sight bar  126  extends both upwardly and downwardly from the area at which it connects to rear leg  124 . A slot  128  is present in forward sight bar  126 , which slot extends along a substantial portion of the length of the forward sight bar. 
   At a lower end of forward sight bar  126 , a bore  127  is provided. This bore is adapted to be pivotably joined to forward link  130 , which extends downwardly from forward sight bar  126 . Forward link  130  is preferably a straight link member having bores  132 ,  134 , at its upper and lower ends. Forward link is pivotably connected to forward sight bar by a pivotal nut  136 , extending through the bores of those elements. 
   The length of forward link  130  is preferably selected such that the bore  134  at the lower end thereof is at substantially the same level as is a bore  138  disposed at a lower end of lower link element  112 , when the sight is in the initial or starting position (FIG.  2 ). A trigger link  140  is sized such that it may be pivotably connected to forward link  130  and to lower link element  112  at the respective bores  134 ,  138 . Trigger link  140  is provided with forward and rear bores, and additional pivotal nuts  142 ,  144 , of known construction are employed to pivotably connect the trigger link to the forward link and the lower link element. 
   Trigger link  140  has a trigger  141  extending downwardly therefrom, which trigger is positioned to be within easy grasp of the archer using the bow. The lengths of forward link  130  and lower link element  112  are selected in part to enable the trigger link and depending trigger to be at such a position to enable easy access. 
   Each of the main frame member, the sight plate, the forward link, the trigger link, and the lower link elements of main frame member may preferably be constructed from an aluminum alloy, such as Aluminum 6061, which is preferably anodized to a black finish. The use of an aluminum alloy provides the necessary strength at low weight, and the black finish reduces or eliminates glare and reflection. As a further weight-reduction measure, the bodies of one or more of the link elements may be milled to partially or completely remove material from the link, as is illustrated by the presence of grooves  146  in the forward link, the trigger link, and the lower link element. 
   The sight plate has a sight guard  148  extending transversely to the target direction. As illustrated, the sight guard is preferably a substantially squared-off U-shaped section of black anodized aluminum secured to an upper end of forward sight bar, and to a lower end of forward sight bar above bore  132 . This sight guard protects a bulls-eye pin  150  mounted to sight bar  126  from impact, and also aids in shielding light and glare which may interfere with the archer attempting to aim at a target. 
   As noted previously, forward sight bar  126  has a slot  128  extending along the majority of its length. Slot  128  is employed to mount a bulls-eye pin  150  to the forward sight bar  126 . In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the bulls-eye pin  150  is mounted such that its vertical position along forward sight bar can be changed to accommodate various shooting distances. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , distance scale  152  is preferably provided on the front surface of the forward sight bar. The distance scale will preferably have a marking for a “home” position H which is used for performing the basic “set-in” or calibration process. The scale can also be marked by the archer with one or more “known distance” markings that have been determined by shooting to hit bulls-eyes at various distances of interest (40, 60, 80 yards shown as an example). 
   The bulls-eye pin is secured to the forward sight plate by a thumbscrew  154  extending through slot  128 , which can be loosened to allow the bulls-eye pin to be moved as desired within the slot, and tightened to secure the bulls-eye pin at the desired position within the slot. The function and operation of this thumbscrew will be readily understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
   The bulls-eye pin is preferably made of aluminum or other metal, and comprises a base  156  which abuts up against forward sight bar  126 , and a thin, needle-like rod  158  extending orthogonally to the base. At its end farthest from the base, the rod has an opening  160  adapted to receive and retain therein an end of an optical fiber  162 . The optical fiber  162  is preferably of a small diameter, for example, between about 0.019″ to about 0.029″ in diameter. The end of the optical fiber  162  is positioned through the opening, and will appear to the archer as a small, bright dot which is to ultimately (e.q., after ranging) be aimed at the target area of the target. 
   The angled portion of rear leg  124  also has a slot  170  extending along the majority of its length. This slot  170  is adapted to retain a second needle-like rod  172 , which will be referred to alternatively herein as a “belly bar”. The belly bar  172  is secured to the rear leg  124  by a thumbscrew  174 , which is essentially identical to the thumbscrew employed to hold bulls-eye pin  150  in place. 
   Belly bar  172  includes a base  176  which abuts up against the rear leg  124 , and a thin, needle-like rod  178  extending orthogonally to the base. Belly bar  172  may be constructed in a manner similar to bulls-eye pin  150 , including having one or more openings along its length (e.g., at the base end and at the end farthest from the base), into which the ends of optical fibers are placed (not shown). This will aid in making the level of the belly bar more clear to the archer viewing through the sight. The belly bar  172  and bulls-eye pin  150  are used by the archer in the ranging function of the sight, as will be discussed in further detail below. The belly bar  172  may alternatively be a substantially solid pin-like element. 
   As is the case with all archery sights, the sight  100  must undergo some initial adjustments once mounted on a bow. An archer will mount the sight to a bow with mounting bracket  102 . The archer will then perform basic windage and elevation adjustments by standing at a predetermined distance from the target, for example, at 15 yards, and shooting arrows at a bulls-eye or other small target area. In this basic setup, the archer aims the fiber optic “bead” i.e., the end of the optical fiber inserted through the opening in bulls-eye pin  150 , at the target, and shoots a succession of arrows. As is known, the archer must repeatedly and reliably bring the bow string to what is referred to as the “full draw” position for that particular archer. The “full draw” position will vary somewhat from archer to archer, based upon the archer&#39;s physical size and strength, which affect how far the archer will pull the bow string. Different bows will also be pulled to different “full draw” positions by a particular archer. As is known in the art, the important criterion is that the archer be consistent in pulling the bow string to the same “full draw” position each time. 
   In between shots or groups of shots, a windage adjustment may be made to account for any side-to-side discrepancies between the point aimed at and the point(s) where the arrows actually hit the target. The windage adjustment is made in the present invention by moving adjustment bar  104  transversely relative to bow mount  102 , to bring the shots to the center of the target. As is common practice, a windage shim or shims (not shown) may preferably be provided with the sight  100 , in the event that the sight  100  must be mounted away from the surface of the bow in order to obtain the proper windage correction. 
   The elevation adjustment is made by moving main frame member  106  vertically relative to adjustment bar  104  within the dovetail recess. The elevation adjustment as preferably used herein marks the beginning of a departure from prior art elevation adjustment processes. In the prior art, the archer will aim a bulls-eye pin or marker at a particular spot, generally the bulls-eye of a target, and will adjust the elevation of the sight to a point where the archer consistently hits the bulls-eye. In the present invention, an initial set-in or calibration procedure will have the archer adjust the elevation of the sight such that, when aiming at the bulls-eye, the arrow or arrows hit the target at a point that is a predetermined distance above the spot on the target that would normally represent an accurate shot. In the case of shooting from approximately 15 yards away from the target, for example, experimentation has shown that the predetermined distance can preferably be about two inches (2″) high of the point at which the arrow was aimed. 
   It is to be noted that, while the position of the bulls-eye pin  150  is vertically adjustable, it is preferred that the bulls-eye pin be fixed at a predesignated “home” position (H, see  FIG. 5 ) at or near the upper end of slot  128  while this elevation calibration is performed. The “home” position is, as noted previously, preferably marked on the scale  152  at the front surface of forward sight bar  126 . The initial elevation adjustment is preferably made by adjusting the height of main frame member  106  relative to adjustment bar  104 . As is known in the art, an elevation bracket (not shown) is preferably provided with the sight  100  to allow the archer to move the position of the entire sight vertically, in the event that the range of vertical adjustment for main frame member  106  is insufficient to accomplish the objetive. 
   Once the elevation adjustment achieves the result of arrows hitting the target a predetermined distance above the spot at which the bulls-eye pin  150  is aimed, the archer continues the calibration or set-in process by incrementally moving farther away from the target and shooting additional arrows at the target while aiming the bulls-eye pin at the same spot (e.g., the bulls-eye) as before. If the arrows continue to hit high of the spot, the archer will continue to move back from the target until shots begin to consistently hit the aimed-at spot, such as the bulls-eye. 
   The increments at which the archer moves back from the target may be any of one or more feet, half-yards, yards, or the increments may be left up to the archer himself. For example, if an archer begins the process by standing 15 yards from the target and adjusting the elevation of the sight to hit two inches (2″) high of the aimed-at spot, and then moves back one yard (to a distance of 16 yards), and finds that he is still hitting the target nearly 2 inches above the spot, then he/she may move back several yards in the next increment, and see how close the arrows hit to the aimed-at spot. It will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that if, in performing this calibration or set-in procedure, the arrows begin to hit below the spot, then the archer will need to move closer to the target. 
   The distance from the target at which, using the above-described procedure, the archer will regularly hit the spot that is aimed at, will be referred to as the “set-in” distance for that particular archer using that particular bow and arrow. It has been determined, through experimentation, that the “set-in” distance using the sight of the present invention will generally fall between 15 and 35 yards, based upon the combinations of bows and arrows available on the market today, and based upon the typical range of “full draws” that various archers will employ with these bows. 
   The determination for this “set-in” distance is the aspect of the invention which makes the sight especially accurate at a wide range of distances, for example, from about 15 yards to about 75 yards, and more. If the arrow speed is actually known in advance, or can be accurately estimated, a lookup chart may be referred to in order to determine what the set-in distance should be. TABLE I below provides an example of a lookup chart, with the column headed “F.P.S.” representing initial arrow speeds in feet per second. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE I 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               SET IN YARDAGES 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               F.P.S. 
               YARDS 
               FEET 
               INCHES 
               TENTHS 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               130 
               10 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               131 
               11 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               132 
               11 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               133 
               11 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               134 
               11 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               135 
               11 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               136 
               11 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               137 
               12 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               138 
               12 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               139 
               12 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               140 
               12 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               141 
               12 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               142 
               12 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               143 
               12 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               144 
               13 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               145 
               13 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               146 
               13 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               147 
               13 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               148 
               13 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               149 
               13 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               150 
               13 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               151 
               14 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               152 
               14 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               153 
               14 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               154 
               14 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               155 
               14 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               156 
               14 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               157 
               14 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               158 
               15 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               159 
               15 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               160 
               15 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               161 
               15 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               162 
               15 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               163 
               15 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               164 
               15 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               165 
               16 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               166 
               16 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               167 
               16 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               168 
               16 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               169 
               16 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               170 
               16 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               171 
               17 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               172 
               17 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               173 
               17 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               174 
               17 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               175 
               17 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               176 
               17 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               177 
               17 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               178 
               18 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               179 
               18 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               180 
               18 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               181 
               18 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               182 
               18 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               183 
               18 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               184 
               18 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               185 
               19 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               186 
               19 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               187 
               19 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               188 
               19 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               189 
               19 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               190 
               19 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               191 
               20 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               192 
               20 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               193 
               20 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               194 
               20 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               195 
               20 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               196 
               20 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               197 
               20 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               198 
               21 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               199 
               21 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               200 
               21 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               201 
               21 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               202 
               21 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               203 
               21 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               204 
               21 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               205 
               22 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               206 
               22 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               207 
               22 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               208 
               22 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               209 
               22 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               210 
               22 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               211 
               22 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               212 
               23 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               213 
               23 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               214 
               23 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               215 
               23 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               216 
               23 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               217 
               23 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               218 
               23 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               219 
               24 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               220 
               24 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               221 
               24 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               222 
               24 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               223 
               24 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               224 
               24 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               225 
               25 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               226 
               25 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               227 
               25 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               228 
               25 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               229 
               25 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               230 
               25 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               231 
               25 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               232 
               26 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               233 
               26 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               234 
               26 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               235 
               26 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               236 
               26 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               237 
               26 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               238 
               26 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               239 
               27 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               240 
               27 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               241 
               27 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               242 
               27 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               243 
               27 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               244 
               27 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               245 
               27 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               246 
               28 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               247 
               28 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               248 
               28 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               249 
               28 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               250 
               28 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               251 
               28 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               252 
               28 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               253 
               29 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               254 
               29 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               255 
               29 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               256 
               29 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               257 
               29 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               258 
               29 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               259 
               30 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               260 
               30 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               261 
               30 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               262 
               30 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               263 
               30 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               264 
               30 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               265 
               30 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               266 
               31 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               267 
               31 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               268 
               31 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               269 
               31 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               270 
               31 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               271 
               31 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               272 
               31 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               273 
               32 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               274 
               32 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               275 
               32 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               276 
               32 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               277 
               32 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               278 
               32 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               279 
               32 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               280 
               33 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               281 
               33 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               282 
               33 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               283 
               33 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               284 
               33 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               285 
               33 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               286 
               33 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               287 
               34 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               288 
               34 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               289 
               34 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               290 
               34 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               9 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               291 
               34 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               292 
               34 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               293 
               35 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               294 
               35 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               295 
               35 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               296 
               35 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               5 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               297 
               35 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               298 
               35 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               299 
               35 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               8 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               300 
               36 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               2 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
               301 
               36 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .5 
             
             
                 
               302 
               36 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               0 
               in. 
               .8 
             
             
                 
               303 
               36 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .1 
             
             
                 
               304 
               36 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               11 
               in. 
               .4 
             
             
                 
               305 
               36 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               4 
               in. 
               .7 
             
             
                 
               306 
               36 yrds. 
               2 ft. 
               10 
               in. 
               .0 
             
             
                 
               307 
               37 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               3 
               in. 
               .3 
             
             
                 
               308 
               37 yrds. 
               0 ft. 
               6 
               in. 
               .6 
             
             
                 
               309 
               37 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               1 
               in. 
               .9 
             
             
                 
               310 
               37 yrds. 
               1 ft. 
               7 
               in. 
               .2 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Once the set-in distance is established, the ranging aspect of the calibration process is performed. With the archer standing at the set-in distance, a series of targets of known sizes are presented. The known target sizes are based upon the nominal size of a target area of various types of game that might be encountered in the field. For example, it is known that the back to breast height on a deer is approximately 14 inches, so a target 14 inches in height is used for this step. A squirrel will present a target size of about 24 inches, so a target of that size may be used as well. Larger game, such as moose, may present a target area on the order of 30-32 inches, so a target 30-32 inches in height may be used as well. 
   Each of the different sizes of target is positioned at the set-in distance from the archer. With the sight  100  in its initial position (FIG.  2 ), and with the bulls-eye pin  150  having previously been set at the home (H,  FIG. 5 ) level, the archer will frame the upper and lower extents of the target with the sight, placing the bulls-eye bar at the top surface of the target, and moving the belly bar  172  in its slot  170  until it appears at the lower surface of the target, as the archer looks through the sight. For each target, the belly bar  172  is tightened in slot  170  such that the target is framed by the bulls-eye pin  150  and belly bar  172 . In this part of the process, the sight is to remain at its initial position, as seen in FIG.  2 . 
   A target scale  180  ( FIG. 6 ) is provided on an upper surface of rear leg  124 , and the archer will mark the scale with suitable markings representing the positions of the belly bar  172  for each of the various target sizes. For illustrative purposes, the scale  180  is shown as being marked “S” for the position of the belly bar for a squirrel-sized target (about 2-4 inches) at the set-in distance. Similarly a “D” line is marked on the scale for a deer-sized target, and an “M” line for a moose-sized target. 
   Once these markings are made, the set-in or calibration process is complete. By establishing the belly bar target scale at the set-in distance with the sight in its initial position (FIG.  2 ), the sight will have effectively been calibrated to accurately perform a ranging function in addition to the aiming function, up to distances of about 75 yards or more. 
   When the archer takes the bow into the field, only one very simple and quick adjustment need be made to the sight. Upon encountering a particular type of game, the archer will loosen belly bar thumbscrew  174  and position belly bar  172 , using scale  180 , to the proper target size for that type of game. Once this is effected, the archer will look through the sight, and will need to frame the upper and lower surfaces of the target area with the bulls-eye pin  150  and belly bar  172 . Instead of moving the belly bar  172  in slot  120 , as was done in the calibration step, the archer will pull on trigger  141  to operate the linkages such that bulls eye pin  150  and belly bar  172  move closer together (see  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) in a vertical direction, until the bulls-eye pin  150  is at the top surface of the target/game, and the belly bar  172  is at the bottom surface of the target/game, when looking through the sight and having the bow at full draw. A particular size of target (e.g., a deer) will appear to be smaller at increasing distances, and the framing of the target with the bulls-eye pin and belly bar performs a ranging function based on this principle. 
   The archer, when holding the bow at full draw, will see the movement of bulls-eye pin  150  and belly bar  172  as purely vertical movement, even though, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the bulls-eye pin and belly bar actually travel in arcs along two different radii. The symbols D 1  and D 2  are used to illustrate the distance of the vertical separation of the bulls-eye pin and belly bar, as seen by the archer, at the initial position (D 1 , FIG.  2 ), where the trigger is all of the way forward, and at a second position (D 2 ,  FIG. 3 ) after the archer has pulled the trigger to frame the target between the bulls-eye pin and the belly bar. 
   It can be seen, in comparing  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and also in looking at  FIG. 4 , that when the trigger  141  is pulled to move the bulls-eye pin and belly bar closer together vertically, the bulls-eye pin travels through an arc that moves the bulls-eye pin vertically lower. Since the archer must keep the bulls-eye pin at the top surface of the target, he/she will have to raise the bow as bulls-eye pin moves lower in this vertical direction. This has the effect of having the archer automatically shoot at an increased trajectory to compensate for the increased archer-to-target distance. Once the target is thus framed, i.e., once the ranging is effected, the archer will then aim the fiber optic bead of the bulls-eye pin at the desired impact point on the target. 
   The particular sight construction, which moves the bulls-eye pin  150  and belly bar  172  through arcs of two different radii R 1 , R 2  (see FIG.  4 ), about a common pivot point at clutch bolt  120  in combination with the calibration or set in process, which factors in the variations in arrow speed caused particularly by different bow constructions, has demonstrated in tests that this sight provides highly accurate ranging and aiming functions at distances up to about 75 yards and beyond, for a wide variety of target sizes. Because of the target size adjustment, in which the belly bar is moved to a desired position in slot  120 , using scale  180 , the radius R 2  will vary based upon where the belly bar is positioned. This variance of the R 2  radius based upon target size is also believed to operate to enhance the accuracy of the sight. 
   The sight  100  has also been shown to be accurate, without further calibration or adjustment when shooting from elevated positions, up to about 20-25 feet above the target. Further, as seen in  FIG. 5 , the sight bar scale  152  can be marked with fixed distance indicia such that the bow can be used for known, fixed distance shooting without the requirement to use the ranging. (framing) function, such as when taking target practice from a single distance or in competitions. These markings are generated leaving the elevation adjustment of the sight at the same position as used in the set-in or calibration process, and shooting from a known distance, for example 40 yards, using the bulls-eye pin to aim at the bulls-eye or other designated spot on the target. Leaving the elevation adjustment fixed, the level of the bulls-eye pin  150  is raised or lowered within slot  128 , and tightened with thumbscrew  154 , until the archer is able to aim at the bulls-eye/designated spot with the bulls-eye pin, and able to hit that spot regularly. The scale  152  is then marked to indicate the required position for the bulls-eye pin in slot  128  for shooting at that distance. 
   As such, the sight is able to function as a sight for fixed distance shooting without affecting the set-in or calibration of the sight when used in the ranging mode for non-fixed distance shooting. 
   The sight of the present invention is not limited to use in archery applications, although that is the use for which it was originally developed. A sight according to the present invention can be used for aiming and ranging in connection with any system in which projectiles having repeatable, regular initial launch characteristics are shot or launched. The set-in calibration process, as well as the target sizing process would remain essentially the same. 
   The foregoing description and illustrations of the preferred embodiment are presented for illustrative purposes, and the invention is not to be limited strictly to the embodiment described. Variations and modifications of the device may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and such variations and modifications will fall within the scope of spirit of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5