Abstract:
A sight apparatus for attachment to a paintball marker having two distinct reticles to assist with the placement accuracy of paintballs. The sight apparatus comprises a body, a first reticle and a second reticle. The first reticle is substantially transparent and includes a diameter line, at least two radius lines, and at least three segment lines extending from each of at least two radius lines. The second reticle is substantially transparent and has a rectangular outline.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/813,979, filed Jun. 15, 2006. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of paintball marker accessories. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to a paintball marker sight. 
   2. Description of the Known Art 
   As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, sight devices are used to increase accuracy of shooting. Patents and patent publications disclosing information relevant to sights and paintball sights include U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,461, issued to Thomas on Jul. 30, 1968; U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,339, issued to Steck on Oct. 24, 1972; U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,046, issued to Burris on Jul. 5, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,916, issued to Vogl et al. on Jun. 3, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,159, issued to Cannon on Sep. 22, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,450, issued to Ekstrand on Feb. 20, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,782, issued to Watson on Sep. 18, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,754, issued to Otteman et al. on Oct. 2, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,497, issued to Adda on Sep. 3, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,026, issued to Uppiano et al. on Jan. 21, 2003; United States Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0066950, published for Yu on Mar. 31, 2005. Each of these patents are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,461, issued to Thomas on Jul. 30, 1968 entitled Reticle Construction. The abstract provides the following information. A reticle having a cored wire wherein the cover for the core is reduced or the core expose at a central portion thus to create the effect of a tapered reticle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,046, issued to Burris on Jul. 5, 1977 entitled Riflescope Reticle. The abstract provides the following information. This invention relates to a reticle for riflescopes and the like having crossed filaments defining the aiming reference, the center sections of such wires being flattened in a direction parallel to the viewing axis. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,916, issued to Vogl et al. on Jun. 3, 1980 entitled Artillery Collimator Symbol Plate. The abstract provides the following information. A symbol plate for an artillery collimator and an artillery gun sight has a vertical center line across the plate and symbols arranged in a row symmetrically in relation to the center line. The symbols are formed of digits which are arranged to indicate numeral values proportionally variable with the distance to the center line, the digits being arranged with opposite inclination on opposite sides of the center line. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,497, issued to Adda on Sep. 3, 2002 entitled Optical Sighting System. The abstract provides the following information. An optical sighting system includes at least one optical channel with which there is associated at least one reticle. The reticle includes at least one mark which demarcates a blind spot, which is visible to an observer using the optical sighing system and which is centered approximately about a centering point that is situated substantially at a distance which is representative of a sighting angle of between 13. degree. and 18. degree., with respect to a predetermined direction of observation along a first direction. This first direction is representative on the optical sighting system of the direction passing substantially by the centers of the eyes of an observer who is using the optical sighting system. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,339, issued to Steck on Oct. 24, 1972 entitled Gun Sight. The abstract provides the following information. A sight for use with a firearm which sight includes a fluorescent reticle mounted in a holder which also carries a collimating lens operative to direct the image of the reticle along parallel lines to the eye of the shooter. The sight is sufficiently small, and is designed for use at a distance of three to four feet from the eye of the shooter so as to obscure very little of the image of the target from the field of vision of the shooter&#39;s eye, thereby permitting a shooter to use the sight with either one eye or two eyes open. 
   Thus, it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved sight for use with a paintball gun is needed to overcome these limitations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to an improved sight apparatus for a paintball marker. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sight for a paintball marker is provided having two differing reticles and a point sight enclosed within a body adapted to be attached to a paintball marker, an airgun, a firearm, a crossbow, or a compound bow. 
   In one embodiment, the invention includes a first reticle having a diagram to assist a user of the sight apparatus in determining the arcuate path of a target location, a second reticle having a diagram to assist a user of the sight apparatus in determining the range of a discharged paintball, and a point sight to assist a user of the sight apparatus in determining a point of impact of a discharged paintball. It is an object of the present invention to increase the accuracy of placement of discharged paintballs. 
   The body of the sight apparatus generally includes a body portion and reticle portions composed of a durable, lightweight material, such as plastic, to allow for safe, easy transportation of the sight apparatus during use. When attached to a paintball marker, the body generally extends along the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker. Attachment ports having dovetail rails may further be included on the exterior of the sight apparatus to allow for the attachment of additional accessories and a larger attachment port to allow for the attachment of the sight to the paintball marker. The main attachment port generally includes a platform to distance the sight from the paintball marker body. 
   The sight apparatus contains two reticles: a first reticle placed at the rear end of the sight apparatus and a second reticle placed at the front end of the sight apparatus. The reticles may be composed of a variety of materials, including plastic or glass, however the chosen material must be substantially transparent to allow a user of the sight apparatus to see through the sight. The first reticle assists a viewer in determining the arcuate flight path of a paintball discharged from a paintball marker. Further, the first reticle presents an angle configuration which may be utilized to frame the body of an opposing player to determine the distance to that player. The second reticle assists a viewer in determining the range of a paintball discharged from a paintball marker for up to one hundred feet. 
   The sight apparatus may include additional tools for increasing the accuracy of a paintball. These tools include a point sight, a LED flashlight, an LCD display screen, or an OLED display screen. The point sight may serve as a guide for a user of the sight apparatus on a paintball marker to ascertain if he or she is pointing the marker in the appropriate direction when engaging the trigger of the marker. Further, the rotation of the butt of the paintball marker stock downward by the paintball player raises the aim point of the reflected beam of light from the point sight on the front reticle. Additionally, this downward rotation raises the marker barrel equal to the aim point of light. Further, the point sight may be used in conjunction with a covered first reticle to create an occluded paintball sight. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a paintball marker sight. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view thereof. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
       FIG. 6  is a right elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 7  is a left elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 8  is an environmental view thereof. 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view of the second reticle of the paintball marker sight. 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of the first reticle of the paintball marker sight. 
       FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view of the paintball marker sight. 
       FIG. 12  is an environmental view showing additional accessories. 
       FIG. 13  is an environmental view of the paintball marker sight. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 8  of the drawings, the present invention is shown as a sight apparatus  100  for a paintball marker. As contemplated by the present invention, the sight apparatus  100  is suitable for mounting on a paintball marker along the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker. The sight apparatus  100  is further suitable for mounting on a variety of other an airgun, a firearm, a crossbow, or a compound bow. 
   As shown in the drawings, the sight apparatus  100  generally includes a body  300 , an attachment port  500 , a first reticle  600 , a second reticle  800 , and a point sight  900 . 
   The sight apparatus  100  is housed within a hollow container or body  300 . As shown, the body  300  can formed from a canister or tube structure suitable for mounting to a paintball marker. Other suitable structures, such as rectangular or octagonal cylinders, may be additionally utilized to form the body  300  of the sight apparatus  100 . The body is composed of a durable, lightweight material, such as plastic, to allow for safe, easy transportation of the sight apparatus  100  during use. The body  300  generally has a forward end  305 , a rearward end  306 , a left side  307 , a right side  308 , a top  309 , and a bottom  310 . When attached to a paintball marker, the body generally extends between the forward end  305  and the rearward end  306  along the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker. The body  300  encloses a hollow interior  315  allowing a user of a paintball marker to see through an opening  311  in the forward end  305  to an opening  312  in the rearward end  306  of the body  300 . 
   The body  300  of the sight apparatus may further include reticle covers  350 ,  351  at the forward end  305  and the rearward end  306 . The reticle covers  350 ,  351  are adapted to protect the first reticle  600  and the second reticle  800  while the sight apparatus  100  is not in use. As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the reticle covers  350 ,  351  are the same shape as the opening  311 ,  312  of the forward end  305  and rearward end  306  of the body  300 . The reticle covers  350 ,  351  may be attached to the body in a variety of ways, including the use of tethers, clamps or other similar attachment means. In the preferred embodiment, the reticle covers  350 ,  351  are connected by a hinge  352 ,  353  to the body  300  of the sight apparatus  100 . The hinge  352 ,  353  is adapted to allow a user of the sight apparatus to access the covered reticles  600 ,  800  quickly by the pressure of one finger against the reticle covers  350 ,  352 . 
   Attachment ports  400 ,  401  may further be included on the exterior sides  307 ,  308  of the body  300  of the sight apparatus  100  to allow for the attachment of additional accessories to the sight apparatus  100 . The attachment ports  400 ,  401  are placed on the left  307  and right  308  sides of the body  300 . In the preferred embodiment, the attachment ports  400 ,  401  feature ⅜ dovetail joints for attachment. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sight apparatus  100  has an attachment port  500  positioned on the bottom  310  of the body  300  to allow connection of the sight apparatus  100  to a paintball marker. The attachment port generally includes a platform  510  and an attachment means  515 . As can be appreciated, the shape of the body  300  may require the use of the platform  510  to distance the body  300  from the paintball marker body. The platform  510  provides a uniformly planar surface for placement of the attachment means  515  of the sight apparatus  100 . A variety of attachment means  515  can be utilized to connect the sight apparatus  100  to a paintball marker. These means include clamps, screws, and dovetail grooves. In the preferred embodiment, the sight apparatus  100  is attached utilizing a clamp  516 . For attachment, the clamp  516  can be placed around a portion of a paintball marker, properly positioned, and then a set of screws  517  can be tightened to draw the clamp  516  together around the portion of the paintball marker until secure. Some paintball markers will not have an appropriate location on the marker for attachment of the sight apparatus  100 , and therefore, it may be necessary to have a subsequent accessory for placement on the paintball marker to provide an attachment location for the sight apparatus  100 . The sight apparatus  100  may be positioned either above the paintball marker or along the side of the paintball marker. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8 through 11 , the sight apparatus  100  contains two reticles: a first reticle  600  placed at the rearward end  306  of the sight apparatus  100  and a second reticle  800  placed at the forward end  305  of the sight apparatus  100 . 
   The first reticle  600  assists a viewer in determining the arcuate flight path of a paintball discharged from a paintball marker. The first reticle  600  may be composed of a variety of materials, including plastic or glass, however the chosen material must be substantially transparent to allow a user of the sight apparatus  100  to see through the sight. The first reticle  600  is generally shaped in accordance with the opening  312  of the rearward end  306  of the sight apparatus  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the opening  312  and the first reticle  600  are circular. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the first reticle  600  has a multitude of lines. These lines may be placed on the reticle by various methods, such as painting or etching, and can be various colors depending upon the background for use of the sight apparatus  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the lines on the first reticle  600  are painted black. 
   The first reticle  600  is generally composed of a straight diameter line  605 , three radius lines  606 ,  607 ,  608 , and six segment lines. In a preferred embodiment, the first reticle  600  also includes reference numerals  610  to note distance to the user of the paintball marker. The diameter line  605  is the length of the diameter of the reticle and extends from the left side  611  of the first reticle  600  to the right side  612  of the first reticle  600  bisecting the first reticle  600 . The three radius lines  606 ,  607 ,  608  radiate from the center  613  of the first reticle  600  and extend to the perimeter  614  of the first reticle  600 . The first radius line  606  extends upwards from the center  613  to the top  615  of the first reticle  600 . The second radius line  607  and the third radius line  608  extend downwards from the center  613  towards the bottom  616  of the first reticle. The angle  640  created by the intersection of the second radius line  607  and the third radius line  608  is acute measuring between forty and fifty degrees. The second radius line  607  has three segment lines  625 ,  626 ,  627  extending towards the right side  612  of the first reticle  600  parallel with, the diameter line  605 . The third radius line  608  has three segment lines  628 ,  629 ,  630  extending towards the left side  611  of the first reticle parallel with the diameter line  605 . 
   The diameter line  605  and the three radius lines  606 ,  607 ,  608  intersect the perimeter  614  of the first reticle  600  at five points creating five distinct arcs. The bottom arc  617  created between the end point  618  of the second radius line  607  and the end point  619  of the third radius line  608  is smaller in length than the remaining four arcs. The smaller arc  617  positions the second radius line  607  and the third radius line  608  closer together, thus influencing the position of the segment lines. 
   The segment lines, as mentioned before, note distances. In the preferred embodiment, reference numerals  610  are placed next to the segment lines to relate a specific distance with a specific segment line. Specifically, a reference numeral  610  of “100” is placed next to the top segment line  625  on the right side  612  of the first reticle  600 , a reference numeral  610  of “75” is placed next to the middle segment line  629  on the left side  611  of the first reticle  600 , and a reference numeral  610  of “50” is placed next to the bottom segment line  627  on the right side  612  of the first reticle  600 . It is envisioned that the reference numerals  610  may be placed on alternating sides of the first reticle  600 . In this manner, a user of the present invention with a paintball marker may judge the flight distance of a paintball discharged from the marker. Further, the angle width at the various segment lines created by the intersection of the second radius line  607  and the third radius line  608  may be used to judge the distance of an opposing player by placing the shoulder span of the player within the angle. 
   The first reticle  600  is placed proximate the rearward end  306  of the sight apparatus  100 . The first reticle  600  is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker and positioned such that the diameter line  605  is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker when said body is attached to the paintball marker. 
   The second reticle  800  assists a viewer in determining the range of a paintball discharged from a paintball marker for up to one hundred feet. The second reticle  800  may be composed of a variety of materials, including plastic or glass, however the chosen material must be substantially transparent to allow a user of the sight apparatus  100  to see through the sight. The second reticle  800  is generally shaped in accordance with the opening  311  of the forward end  305  of the sight apparatus  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the opening  311  and the second reticle  800  are circular. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the second reticle  800  has a multitude of lines. These lines may be placed on the reticle by various methods, such as painting or etching, and can be various colors depending upon the background for use of the sight apparatus  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the lines on the second reticle  800  are painted black. 
   The second reticle  800  is generally composed of a rectangular outline  805  positioned in the center of the second reticle  800 . The second reticle  800  is placed proximate the forward end  305  of the sight apparatus  100 . The second reticle  800  is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker and positioned such that a base of the rectangular outline  805  is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker when said body is attached to the paintball marker. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , the sight apparatus  100  includes a point sight  900  placed within the hollow interior  315  of the body  300 . The point sight  900  is adapted to transmit a beam of light through the opening  312  of rearward end  306  of the body  306  to illuminate a portion of a target. The point sight  900  may consist of a LED point sight. In the preferred embodiment, the point sight  900  may be a red LED point sight adapted for low light conditions. In another embodiment, the point sight  900  may consist of a LED point sight adapted for full sunlight conditions. In another embodiment, the point sight  900  may further include a self-adjusting laser for range-finding capabilities. The beam  903  of light, as shown in  FIG. 8 , is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the paintball marker. Thus, the point sight  900  serves as a guide for a user of the sight apparatus  100  on a paintball marker to ascertain if he or she is pointing the marker in the appropriate direction when engaging the trigger of the marker. Further, the rotation of the butt of the paintball marker stock downward by the paintball player raises the aim point of the reflected beam  903  of light from the point sight on the front reticle  600 . Additionally, this downward rotation raises the marker barrel equal to the aim point of light. Further, the use of the point sight  900  may be used with either one eye or two eyes open. It is contemplated that the reticle cover  350  of the forward end  305  of the paintball sight  100  can be closed to create an occluded paintball sight  100 . This occluded paintball sight  100  super-imposes a dot upon a target when both eyes are open. 
   The sight apparatus  100  may further include a LED flashlight  950 , an LCD display screen  965 , or an OLED display screen  970 . The LED flashlight  950 , LCD display screen  965 , and the OLED display screen  970  may be attached to the sight apparatus  100  at the attachment ports  400 ,  401  on the body  300  of the apparatus  100 . It is envisioned that the LCD display screen  965  or the OLED display screen  970  will be adapted to show a user of the sight apparatus  100  the number of discharged ammunition, the time of the playing session, the remaining time for play, the temperature, the GPS location, and the time of day. It is envisioned that the LCD display screen  965  or the OLED display screen  970  will be electronically connected to the electronic components of the paintball marker. 
   Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and the drawings correspond to the following elements: 
   From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.