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US 6,591,537 B2Granted
Reticle for telescopic gunsight and method for using
OwnerThomas D. Smithinventor
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OwnerThomas D. Smithinventor
Estimating the term…
A gunsight reticle defines a system of dimensioned indicia spaced at specific separations to improve aiming accuracy of a rifle. The indicia include perpendicularly intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, and four horizontal range-marker lines disposed at specific angular separations below the horizontal hairline in bisected relationship with the center vertical hairline. Spacing of the range marker lines below the center horizontal hairline is proportional to bullet drop at selected ranges, depending upon ballistic characteristics of bullet used. Relative lengths of said range-marker bars on each side of the central vertical crosshair are proportional to a cross-wind of 10 mph at target range reflected by respective range marker. The method involves employing this reticle to determine distance to target, and using distance thus determined to ascertain a precise aiming point on the reticle. These indicia also have other useful characteristics that allow the shooter to easily mentally calculate corrections for crosswind, moving target and shooting at targets that are above or below the shooter at a significant angle.
A method of aiming a rifle equipped with a telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said elements being aligned upon an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a rifle, a transparent reticle in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly, and four straight horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the method comprising:
A method of aiming a rifle equipped with a telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said elements being aligned upon an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a rifle, a transparent reticle in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and four straight horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the method comprising:
A method of aiming a rifle equipped with a telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprised of a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and intervening erector lens element, said elements being aligned upon an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a rifle, a transparent reticle in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said transparent reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and four straight horizontal range-maker hairlines of sequentially incremental length disposed below said center horizontal hairline in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the method comprising:
A telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprising a forward objective lens element, a rear eye-piece lens element and an intervening erector lens element aligned along an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a rifle for shooting a bullet at a target, a transparent reticle in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia thereon, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly, and four straight horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially increasing incremental lengths disposed below said center horizontal hairline and parallel thereto and in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the vertical spacing of said range-marker hairlines below said center horizontal hairline being proportional to the drop of said bullet at regularly increased uniform target ranges.
A telescopic gunsight having an optical system comprising a forward objective lens element, a rear eyepiece lens element and an intervening erector lens element aligned along an optical axis constituting a line of sight and protectively confined within an elongated tubular housing adapted to be securely affixed to a rifle for shooting a bullet at a target, a transparent reticle in said optical system between said objective and erector lens elements, said reticle having distance-measuring and aiming indicia thereon, said indicia comprising a center vertical straight hairline and a center horizontal straight hairline, said center vertical and center horizontal hairlines intersecting perpendicularly and each having radially distal portions which are widened to form posts having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities, and four straight Horizontal range-marker hairlines of sequentially increasing incremental lengths disposed below said center horizontal hairline and parallel thereto and in vertically bisected relationship with said center vertical hairline, the vertical spacing of said range-marker hairlines below said center horizontal hairline being proportional to the drop of said bullet at regularly increased uniform target ranges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.