Gun Sight Rear-Mounted Reflex Reticle Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing firearm sighting devices, particularly occluded eye gun sights, face challenges in providing effective dry fire training due to the lack of real-time user feedback on accuracy, and their mounting arrangements disrupt the natural balance and usage of firearms.

Innovation Solution

A reflex sight is positioned behind the barrel of a handgun, with a light source projecting a collimated beam to create an illuminated reticle, and an optical system with peripheral refractive surfaces to guide the user in aligning the sight, allowing for binocular vision and adjustable mounting to maintain balance and compatibility with conventional sights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an occluded eye gun sight is mounted on the side or top of the receiver, then the sight can be positioned for viewing, but the mounting interferes with conventional open sights and changes the balance of the firearm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing positionVSAvoidcompatibility with conventional sights
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the occluded eye gun sight behind the barrel of the handgun, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the firearm rather than mounting on the traditional side or top surfaces. This dimensional shift allows the sight to be viewed through by the user's eye positioned at the rear of the firearm, eliminating interference with conventional sights mounted on the top surface while maintaining proper balance and ergonomics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If an occluded eye gun sight is mounted on the side or top of the receiver, then the sight can be positioned for viewing, but a custom or modified holster and shooting position are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing positionVSAvoidholster and shooting position modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By relocating the sight to the rear of the firearm behind the barrel, the design maintains the firearm's original profile and balance point, allowing users to retain their standard holsters and shooting positions without requiring custom modifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If a reflex sight projects an illuminated reticle for aiming, then target acquisition is improved, but real-time feedback on accuracy during dry fire training is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget acquisition speedVSAvoidaccuracy feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism that provides real-time information to the user during dry fire training. The system compares the position of the illuminated reticle with the actual aim point or intended target location, and provides corrective feedback to help the user understand and improve their aiming accuracy without requiring live ammunition or external instructors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables precise and intuitive aiming with real-time feedback during dry fire training, maintaining the firearm's balance and compatibility with existing sighting systems, enhancing user accuracy and training efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a substantially peripheral external surface adapted to refract the light to provide a guide at a peripheral area of the user-viewable interface to aid a user to reposition the gun sight to view the reticle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

an optical system that projects an approximately collimated beam of light from the light source toward a user of the sight to create an image of an illuminated reticle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCollimated light projection: Light

Data Source

PatentEP2943736B1Gun sight
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 SUREFIRE LLC
  • EP2943736B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2943736B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2943736B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A gun sight (4010A) includes a light source (4231) adapted to project light, a user-viewable interface (4238A), and an optical element (4232). The optical element includes a first surface (4604) adapted to pass the light to provide a reticle at the user-viewable interface. The optical element also includes a second surface (4606) adapted to refract the light to provide a light guide at a peripheral area of the user-viewable interface to aid a user to substantially align the user's eye with the reticle. Various mechanisms for aligning gun sights, attaching gun sights, related methods, and other embodiments are also provided.