Open-Top Reflex Sight with Removable Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reflex sights have a tall profile, which increases the risk of snagging and obscures a significant portion of the target due to protective frames and glass lenses that are prone to damage, making target acquisition slower and more difficult.
Innovation Solution
An open-top reflex sight design with a removable and replaceable optical element, where the upper edge of the lens is exposed and can be coated for protection, allowing for customizable optical elements suited for different light conditions, reducing the overall height and profile of the sight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective frame with top frame guard and rubber bumper is used to protect the lens, then the lens is protected from damage, but the profile of the sight increases and target acquisition is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the top frame guard and upper rubber bumper from the protective frame, extracting the harmful protective elements that obscured the target. The lens is protected through alternative means such as protective coating on the lens surface itself, eliminating the need for protruding protective structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies protective coating specifically to the lens surface where protection is needed, rather than using a bulky protective frame. This localized protection maintains the lens integrity while preserving the optical path and minimizing the sight's profile height.
2Ease of operation
If the lens is positioned high above the body to ensure dot visibility, then the dot remains in the full field of view, but the sight profile increases and snagging risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the top frame guard that forced the lens to be positioned high. Without this protective structure, the lens can be positioned lower on the sight body while still maintaining full dot visibility in the field of view, reducing the overall profile height.
3Illumination intensity
If glass lenses are used for the optical element, then optical clarity is maintained, but the lens is prone to scratching and cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction by applying protective coating to the lens surface. This coating layer provides scratch and impact resistance while the underlying glass lens maintains optical clarity. The combination delivers both optical performance and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective coating is applied in advance to the lens surface to prevent scratching and cracking before damage occurs. This pre-applied protective layer acts as a cushion against mechanical damage during use.
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
Enhances target acquisition by providing a wider field of view, reduces the risk of snagging, and allows for quick replacement of damaged optical elements, improving usability in various lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
An optical element, such as a lens, is mounted relative to the frame and extends upward from the base
Implementation Method 2
The focal point of most reflex sight lenses is usually located at the geometric center of the lens. Thus, the lens has to sit rather high above the body of the reflex sight to ensure the dot remains in the full field of view of the user
Data Source
AI summary
An aiming device is provided including a body, an illumination device associated with the body and an optical element, where the illumination device is operable to selectively display a dot on the optical element being visible to a user. The optical element can include an upper edge and a lower edge, and the dot can display closer to the upper edge than to the lower edge, in some cases in the upper half or one third of the height of the optical element. The device can include a protective frame to which the optical element is joined, and the optical element upper edge can be unconcealed by any part of the protective frame above the upper edge, falling within an open top span of the frame. The optical element can be removable and replaceable relative to the protective frame, with a retainer plate temporarily securing the element to the frame.