Firearm Sight with Colored Front Aiming Point

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior-art sighting systems for small firearms do not provide a quick and effective way for shooters to differentiate between the front-aiming point and rear-aiming points, making it difficult to accurately align the firearm with a target.

Innovation Solution

A sighting system with a rear-sight assembly and a front-sight assembly, where the rear-sight assembly includes a U-shaped opening and illumination devices with tritium lamps for rear-aiming points, and the front-sight assembly features a brightly colored material for the front-aiming point, allowing clear and quick alignment by reducing glare and enhancing visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional sighting systems use standard aiming points without special differentiation features, then the structure remains simple, but the shooter cannot quickly differentiate between front-aiming point and rear-aiming points

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSpeed of differentiation between aiming pointsVSAvoidStructure complexity of sight assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by using brightly colored material (such as fluorescent or phosphorescent materials) on the front-aiming point to make it visually distinct from the rear-aiming points. This color differentiation allows shooters to quickly identify and differentiate the front-aiming point without adding mechanical complexity to the sight assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by modifying only the front-aiming point with special brightly colored material while leaving the rear-aiming points unchanged. This localized modification provides the necessary differentiation functionality without requiring changes to the entire sight assembly, thus maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If prior-art sighting systems use basic aiming points, then manufacturing remains simple, but alignment accuracy with target is reduced due to difficulty in quick differentiation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAlignment accuracy of firearm with targetVSAvoidManufacturing complexity of sight assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by incorporating brightly colored material (fluorescent or phosphorescent) on the front-aiming point. This enhances visibility and allows for quicker and more accurate alignment with the target, while the manufacturing process remains relatively simple as it only requires applying colored material to an existing aiming point structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Illumination intensity

If standard aiming points are used without glare reduction features, then the sight assembly remains simple, but visibility is reduced in various lighting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVisibility of aiming points in various lighting conditionsVSAvoidStructure complexity of sight assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses brightly colored material with fluorescent or phosphorescent properties on the front-aiming point. These materials have the ability to absorb and re-emit light, providing enhanced visibility in various lighting conditions including low light. This achieves improved illumination intensity without adding complex optical systems or active lighting components to the sight assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables shooters to quickly and accurately align the front-sight with the rear-sight, improving the likelihood of hitting a target by providing clear and distinct aiming points, even in various lighting conditions.

Implementation Method 1

illumination devices with tritium lamps for rear-aiming points

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTritium: Tritium

Implementation Method 2

front-sight assembly features a brightly colored material for the front-aiming point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection/emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3301395B1Gun sight
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 TRIJICON INC
  • EP3301395B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3301395B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3301395B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A sighting system (10) for a firearm (16) is provided and may include a rear-sight assembly (12) having a rear surface (31) opposing a shooter, a pair of rear-aiming points (26, 68), and a U-shaped opening (42) disposed between the pair of rear-aiming points (26). The rear surface (31) may be formed at an angle relative to a top surface (48) of the firearm (16) such that a bottom portion of the rear surface (31) disposed proximate to the top surface (48) of the firearm (16) is farther away from a shooter than a top portion of the rear surface (31). The sighting system (10) may also include a front-sight assembly (14) including a housing (80) having a front-aiming point (100), a brightly colored material surrounding the front-aiming point (100), and a top coat extending over the brightly colored material and the front-aiming point. The sighting system (10) may also comrise that the rear surface (31) is substantially perpendicular to the top surface (48) of the firearm (16) to provide a surface against which a force may be applied to actuate a slide mechanism (19) of the firearm (16).