Range finder

A range finder for estimating a plurality of distances from an object having an approximately determinable linear dimension of less than 1.5 feet, said range finder comprising:

• a portion through which to view said linear dimension's image;
• means to correlate the size of said linear dimension's image to the actual distance from said object to the user;
• wherein said means is determined in accordance with the formula z=xy/d, where z is the width of said viewing portion, x is the approximately determinable linear dimension of said object, y is the distance from the user's eye to said range finder, and d is the actual distance from said object to the user's eye;
• and
• wherein said determination of said actual distance is adjusted in accordance with the formula a2=b2+c2, where a is the distance from said object to the user's eye, b is the distance from the user's eye to a second object adjacent to the user on approximately the same level as said object, and c is the distance from said object to said second object.

The method of determining distance between two objects on a common level where object A is the distant object, object B is the nearer object, where object B is located at the user, and at least one linear dimension of object A can be approximately determined, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device having a transparent viewing portion through which to view said object A and positionable to accommodate a linear dimension of said object A transverse to a line from said object A to said device when viewed through said viewing portion;
• positioning said device at a defined distance from the user's eye;
• viewing and positioning the image of said object A through said viewing portion;
• referring to means indicating the actual distance to said object A when said object A just fills said viewing portion, said actual distance being determined in accordance with the formula z=xy/d, where z is the width of said viewing portion, x is the approximately determined linear dimension of object A, y is the defined distance from the user's eye to said device, and d is the distance from object A to the user's eye;
• and
• adjusting said distance measurement in accordance with the formula a2=b2+c2, where a is the distance from object A to the user's eye, b is the distance from the user's eye to object B, and c is the distance from object A to object B.

A range finder for estimating a plurality of distances from an object having an approximately determinable linear dimension of less than 1.5 feet, said range finder comprising:

• a portion through which to view said linear dimension's image;
• means to correlate the size of said linear dimension's image to the actual distance from said object to the user;
• wherein said means is determined in accordance with the formula z=xy/d, where z is the width of said portion, x is the approximately determinable linear dimension of said object, y is the distance from the user's eye to said range finder, and d is the actual distance from said object to the user's eye;
• and
• wherein said determination of said actual distance is adjusted in accordance with the formula a2=b2+c2, where a is the distance from said object to the user's eye, b is the distance from the user's eye to a second object adjacent to the user on approximately the same level as said object, and c is the distance from said object to said second object.