Illuminated Sight for use with Firearms and other instruments

Abstract

A front sight assembly includes a self powered substantially permanent light source such as tritium source carried within a bore defined in a housing, where the housing preferably defines a structure symmetrically aligned along a central plane, where the bore carrying the light source has a central axis that lies within or parallel to the housing's central plane. The sight assembly housing terminates proximally in a proximal surface that faces the user when mounted on a firearm or other instrument. The sight assembly housing's proximal surface further includes a region surrounding or defining a periphery around the light source which is coated with, laminated with or altered to define a region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of light source.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIMS AND REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims priority to related and commonly owned U.S. provisional patent application No. 61 / 136,776, filed Oct. 2, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to sights and, more particularly, to sights adapted for use in low-light environments on firearms and other instruments.[0004]2. Discussion of the Prior Art[0005]For purposes of nomenclature and as an example of one type of firearm, FIG. 1 illustrates a Glock model 17 pistol. When using or shooting a pistol, the user grasps grip frame and aims by aligning a notch or aperture included as part of a rear sight with the distal front sight, thereby pointing the pistol's muzzle at a target. The front sight is usually an upwardly projecting protuberance mounted at or near the muzzle or distal end of the pistol's barrel or slide. An importa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned difficulties by providing an effective, convenient and unobtrusive sight system and method for providing an illuminated sight picture.

[0014]In accordance with the present invention, a sight is provided that is highly effective for use at indoor shooting ranges, where lighting is usually too dim for using fiber optic sights yet not dark enough to effectively use tritium. The sight of the present invention is also suitable for use on outdoor shooting ranges and for all other environments where lighting conditions vary.

[0018]The photo-luminescent material provides a bright, highly visible ‘glow’ that remains highly visible to the user for an extended period after receiving a ‘charge’ from a secondary light source. The user can deliberately ‘charge’ the photo-luminescent material with a common handheld flashlight or any other artificial light source (light bulb, table lamp, indoor lighting, chemical light stick, etc). This ‘charge’ creates a bright, highly visible surface on the sight, making the sight very noticeable and allowing the user to quickly acquire the sight and focus on the sight for improved performance.

Problems solved by technology

Shooting in low light situations makes front sight acquisition and sight alignment more of a challenge.

They are also favored by the military for critical applications where illumination of the glow-in-the-dark sort is desired but a powered light source may not be available.

Prior art self-powered light sources used radium paint, which posed health risks.

As the tritium component of the lighting is expensive, manufacturers try to use as little as possible.

Sights using a fiber optic rod to transfer collected light to a surface facing the user are ideal for outdoor use, but require a constant source of ambient light (e.g., sunlight for outdoors or adequate artificial light for indoors) and are not effective without abundant ambient light to make the fiber optic surface ‘glow’.

Brightly painted sights, although visible with in an area with adequate lighting, are not effective in low light situations.

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