US20040255506A1

US20040255506A1 - Front sight night vision device

Info

Publication number: US20040255506A1
Application number: US10/772,463
Authority: US
Inventors: Guan-Ming Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-31
Filing date: 2004-02-06
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: US6868631B2; US20040200118A1

Abstract

A night vision device to mark the location of a front sight on a rifle or a modern bow includes a casing, a power source and a light emission device adapted to the front sight. Wherein, the casing contains the power source connected to the light emission device, and a light conductor is further provided to the front of the light emission device so to mark the location of the front sight to aim at a selected target by the light emitted from the light emission device during night hours or where poor visual contact presents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a front sight night vision device, and more particularly, to one that is adapted to a rifle or a bow that emits light to mark the location of the front sight during night hours or where the visual contact is poor.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Whereas, a front sight is required to aim at the target in shooting a bow or a rifle, the front sight may be easily seen during daytime or where well-lighted. However, during night hours or where with poor visual contact, the front sight may not be easily seen, thus to affect the percentage of hitting. Therefore, it is necessary to design a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight during night hours. To achieve the purpose, the present invention is essentially comprised of a casing, a power source, and an light emission device adapted to the front sight; wherein, the casing contains a tube and a switch, the switch controls the power source conducted through the light emission device so to mark the location of the front sight during night hours or where the visual contact is poor.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight during night hours; wherein, a light conductor is further provided at the front end of light emission device to direct the light to the front sight.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein, the casing contains a tube and a switch, and the switch includes a first switch and a second switch. The second switch includes an elastic member and a sleeve. Both ends of the tube are externally threaded, and both of the first and the second switches respectively in relation to the tube are also threaded so to engage to both ends of the tube. A hole is drill through the mid section of the tube. One end of the elastic member is fixed in the second switch and the other end of the elastic member is fixed to the sleeve. The power source is provided with a first electrode and a second electrode. The light emission device is provided with a first electrode pin and a second electrode pin so that the light emission device is inserted through the hole in the mid of the tube of the casing with the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin of the light emission device to be contained in the tube. The power source is received in the tube of the casing and is threaded to one end of the tube with the first switch. The second electrode of the power source contacts the first electrode pin of the light emission device, and the second electrode of the power source contacts the first is switch. The second switch is threaded to another end of the tube. By tightening up the second switch, the elastic member and the sleeve hold against the second electrode pin of the light emission device. The first switch is released from contacting the first electrode of the power source by loosening up the first switch; or by loosening up the second switch, both of the elastic member and the sleeve are released from contacting the second electrode pin of the light emission device by loosening up the second switch.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein, a retainer is provided in the first switch, an insulation elastic washer is inserted at the bottom of the retainer so that once the first switch is tightened up, the elastic washer is slightly compressed for the retainer to hold against the power source.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein, the light conductor is an optical fiber.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein, the light conductor is an optical fiber wrapped in a protection tube.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a night vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein, the protection tube wrapping up the light conductor is comprised of a flexible section connected with a rigid section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 2 is a view showing the operation of a first switch of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0013]
FIG. 3 is a view showing the operation of a second switch of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0014]
FIG. 4 is a view showing that the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to an automatic rifle. [0015]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0016]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0017]
FIG. 7 is a view showing that the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to an automatic rifle. [0018]
FIG. 8 is a view showing that the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to a modern bow. [0019]
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing that the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to the modern bow. [0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a casing ([0021] 1), a power source (2), a light emission device (3) adapted to a front sight housing (51) (as illustrated in FIG. 4). The light emission device (3) emits the light to mark the location of a front sight in the front sight housing (51).
The casing ([0022] 1) includes a hollow tube (11) and a switch set. The switch set includes a first switch (12) and a second switch (13). The second switch (13) contains an elastic member (14) and a sleeve (15). The tube (11) has its both ends respectively provided with external threads (111) and (112). Threads (121) and (131) are respectively provided on the first switch (12) and the second switch (13) for both of the first switch (12) and the second switch (13) to be respectively engaged to both ends of the tube (11). A washer (122) is adapted to the first switch (12) for waterproof once the present invention is assembled. A hole (113) is drilled through the mid of the tube (11). One end of the elastic member (14) is fixed to the second switch in the tube (11), and the other end of the elastic member (14) is fixed to the sleeve (15).
The power source ([0023] 2) contains a first electrode (21) and a second electrode (22).
The light emission device ([0024] 3) includes a first electrode pin (31) and a second electrode pin (32). An insulation block (33) is inserted into the gap between the first electrode pin (31) and the second electrode pin (32). Another washer (34) is adapted to the insulation block (33) for waterproof purpose once the present invention is assembled.
Upon assembling, the light emission device ([0025] 3) is inserted through the hole (113) in the mid of the tube (11) of the casing (1) to be contained together with the first electrode pin (31) and the second electrode pin (32) inside the tube (11). The power source (2) is contained inside the tube (11) of the casing (1) with the thread (121) of the first switch (12) to be engaged to the thread (111) at one end of the tube (111) so that the second electrode (22) of the power source (2) contacts the first electrode pin (31) of the light emission device (3), and the first electrode (21) of the power source (2) contacts the first switch (12). The second switch (13) is engaged to the thread (112) on the other end of the tube (11) with the thread (131). The sleeve (15) at one end of the elastic member (14) holds against the second electrode pin (32) of the light emission device (3) by tightening up the second switch (13). The casing (1) is conducted through the power source (2) and the light emission device (3) for the light emission device (3) to emit light due that the tube (11), the first switch (12), the second switch (13) of the casing (1), and the elastic member (14) and the sleeve (15) are all conductors.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the light emission device ([0026] 3) is prevented from emitting light by loosening up the first switch (12) for the first switch (12) to no longer contact the first electrode (21) of the power source (2) to form an off circuit between the power source (2) and the light emission device (3).
Now referring to FIG. 3, the light emission device ([0027] 3) is prevented from emitting light by loosening up the second switch (13) for both of the elastic member (14) and the sleeve (15) no longer contact the second electrode pin (32) of the light emission device (3) to form an off circuit between the power source (2) and the light emission device (3).
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing that the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied to an automatic rifle ([0028] 5). Wherein, the front sight housing (51) of the automatic rifle (5) is comparatively larger in size, a drill is in the front sight housing (51) to directly fix the tube (11) of the casing (1) to the front sight housing (51) to expose both of the first switch (12) and the second switch (13) out of the front sight housing (51) to facilitate the operation of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, a hole (52) in smaller diameter is drilled through the front sight housing (51) to be directly connected through the location of a front sight (53) while the light emission device (3) is located in the front sight housing (51) below the hole (52) for the light emitted from the light emission device (3) to be signed through the hole (52) in the front sight housing (51) at where the front sight (53) is located, thus for a user of the automatic rifle (5) to identify the location of the front sight (53).
A second preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 5 is comprised of a casing ([0029] 1A), a power source (2A), and a light emission device (3A). The casing (1A) includes a hollow tube (11A), a first switch (12A), a second switch (13A), and an elastic member (14A). Both ends of the tube (11A) are respectively provided with external threads (111A) and (112A). Threads (121A) and (131A) are respectively provided on the first switch (12A) and the second switch (13A) to be respectively engaged to both ends of the tube (11A). A washer (122A) is adapted to the first switch (12A) for waterproof purpose once the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is assembled. A hole (113A) is drilled in the mid of the tube (11A) and connected into the tube (11A). One end of the elastic member (14A) is fixed into the second switch (13A) while the other end of the elastic member (14A) is fixed to the sleeve (15A). The power source (2A) includes a first electrode (21A) and a second electrode (22A). The light emission device (3A) contains a first electrode pin (31A) and a second electrode ping (32A). An insulation block (33A) is provided between the first electrode pin (32A) and the second electrode pin (33A) and another washer (34A) is adapted to the light emission device (3A) for waterproof purpose once the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is assembled. The second preferred embodiment differs the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in that a retainer (123A) is provided in the first switch (12A) of the second preferred embodiment and an insulation elastic washer (124A), i.e., an O-ring as illustrated, is inserted at the top of the retainer (123A) so that upon tightening up the first switch (12A), the elastic washer (124A) is slightly compressed for the retainer (123A) to hold against the first electrode (21A) of the power source (2A) thus to conduct both of the power source (2A) and the light emission device (3A) for the light emission device (3A) to emit light; on the contrary, the light emission device (3A) is prevented from emitting the light upon loosening up the first switch (12A).
As illustrated in FIG. 6, a third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a casing ([0030] 1B), a power source (2B), a light emission device (3B) and a light conductor (4).
The casing ([0031] 1B) includes a tube (11B), a first switch (12B), and a second switch (13B). Both ends of the tube (11B) are respectively provided with external threads (111B) and (112B) and matching threads (121B) and (131B) are respectively to be engaged to both ends of the tube (11B). A washer (122B) is adapted to the first switch (12B) for waterproof purpose once the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is assembled. A retainer (123B) is provided in the first switch (12B) and an insulation elastic washer (124B), i.e., an O-ring as illustrated, is inserted at the top of the retainer (123B). When tightening up the first switch (12B), the elastic washer (124B) is slightly compressed for the retainer (123B) to hold against a first electrode (21B) of the power source (2B) thus to conduct both of the power source (2B) and the light emission device (3B) for the light emission device (3A) to emit light. On the contrary, the light emission device (3B) is prevented from emitting the light upon loosening up the first switch (12B). The second switch (13B) in the third preferred embodiment is not operated in the normal use as it is only loosened up when the replacement of the light emission device (3B) is required.
The power source ([0032] 2B) includes the first electrode (21B) and a second electrode (22B).
The light emission device ([0033] 3B) contains a first electrode pin (31B) and a second electrode ping (32B); an insulation block (33B) is provided between the first electrode pin (32B) and the second electrode pin (32B), both of the first electrode pin (32B) and the first electrode pin (31B) is inserted into the insulation block (33B) while the second electrode pin (32B) rests flushed on the outer side of the insulation block (33B).
The light conductor ([0034] 4) includes an optical fiber (41), a flexible protection tube (42), and a rigid protection tube (43). One end of the optical fiber (41) is inserted and fixed to the second switch (13B) at where in front of the light emission device (3B). The optical fiber (41) is wrapped up with a protection tube comprised of the flexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protection tube (43). One end of the flexible protection tube (42) is fixed to the second switch (13B) to conduct the light emitted from the light emission device (3B) into the optical fiber (42). Another end of the flexible protection tube (42) is connected to one end of the rigid protection tube (3B) while the other end of the rigid protection tube (43) is provided on the front sight (53A) (as illustrated in FIG. 7).
Upon assembling, the power source ([0035] 2B) is provided in the mid of the tube (11B) of the casing (1B) and the light emission device (3B) is inserted into the tube (11B) with the insulation block (33B). Though the first electrode pin (31B) for being inserted into the insulation block (33B) does not contact the inner wall of the tube (11B), the first electrode pin (31B) contacts the second electrode (22B) of the power source (2B), and the second electrode pin (32B) of the light emission device (3B) contacts the inner wall of the tube (11B). Furthermore, the second switch (13B) is engaged with the thread (131B) to the thread (112B) on the other end of the tube (11B) and the second electrode (22B) of the power source (2B) contacts the first electrode pin (31B) of the light emission device (3B) so that by tightening up the first switch (12B), the elastic wash (124B) is slightly compressed for the retainer (123B) to hold against the first electrode (21B) of the power source (2B) to conduct the power source (2B) and the light emission device (3B) for the light emission device (3B) to emit light; on the contrary, the light emission device (3B) is prevented from emitting the light by loosening up the first switch (12B).
The operation of loosening up the switch for the third preferred embodiment is similar to that for the second preferred embodiment of the present invention by referring to the description given for FIG. 5, therefore, the description of the operation will not be repeated here. [0036]
FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the application of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention in a rifle ([0037] 5A) where a front sight housing (51A) of the rifle (5A) is too small in size to drill a hole for direct fixation of the tube (11B) of the casing (1B). Therefore, the tube (11B) of the casing (1B) is provided on a barrel or a hand guard of the rifle (5A) leaving both of the first switch (12B) and the second switch (13B) exposed to facilitate the operation. Although the light conductor (4) is fixed to the tube (11B), the flexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protection tube (43) are extended to the other end of the optical fiber (41) (not illustrated as it is contained in both of the flexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protection tube (43)) at the very location of the front sight (51A).
FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views showing that the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied in a modern bow ([0038] 6). Wherein, a comparatively special front sight (61) is provided to the modern bow (6). Therefore, the tube (11B) of the casing (1B) is directly fixed to the front sight (61) of the modern bow (6) while leaving both of the first switch (12B) and the second switch (13B) exposed to facilitate operation. Though the light conductor (4) is fixed to the tube (11B), the flexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protection tube (43) are extended to the other end of the optical fiber (41) (not illustrated as it is contained in both of the flexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protection tube (43)) at the very location of a front sight housing (62).

Claims

1. A night vision device to mark the location of a front sight comprising a casing, a power source, and a light emission device adapted to the front sight having a light conductor located on a front end of the light emission device to conduct the light emitted by the light emission device to the front sight; wherein, the casing includes a tube and a switch set, the tube containing the power source connected to the light emission device; and the switch set controls conduction to the light emission device to mark by the light emitted from the light emission device the location of the front sight during night hours or where the visual contact is poor.

2-5. (canceled).

6. The night vision device to mark the location of a front sight as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the light conductor is an optical fiber.

7. The night vision device to mark the location of a front sight as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the light conductor is an optical fiber wrapped up with a protection tube.

8. A night vision device to mark the location of a front sight as claimed in claim 7, wherein, the protection tube wrapping up the optical fiber of the conductor is comprised of a flexible section connected to a rigid section.