US3833799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gun sight system for use under low ambient light conditions
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-15
•
Granted: 1974-09-03
•
Expires: 1992-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A gun sight system for use with a conventional firearm or the like under low ambient light conditions. The system includes a conventional rear sight and an illuminated front sight bead employing a light-emitting diode as the source of visible light for the bead. Also included is a direct current power supply and driving circuit for operating the light-emitting diode. Another aspect of the invention is the employment of a photosensitive transistor and associated circuitry for adjusting the light output of the light-emitting diode so that will be proportion from to the ambient light. Thus the intensity of light from the diode increases when the amount of ambient light increases, and alternately, the output of the diode decreases when the amount ambient light decreases.
Inventors
- 👤 N Audet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:27
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G1/00; F41G1/32; F41G1/34; F41G1/345; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A front sight device for use under low ambient light conditions with a conventional firearm or the like having a rear sight member carried thereon, said front sight device comprising: light-emitting means for radiating visible light toward the rear sight member in response to the application of electric current thereto; means for securing the light-emitting means to a conventional firearm; means for providing electric current to said light-emitting means; means for conducting electric current from said power means to said light-emitting means, said means including adjusting means responsive to ambient light rays for automatically adjusting current flow from said power means to said light-emitting means so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means increases as the intensity of the ambient light rays increases and, alternately so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means decreases as the intensity of the ambient light rays decreases; and means for securing said power means to a conventional firearm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A front sight device for use under low ambient light conditions with a conventional firearm or the like having a rear sight member carried thereon, said front sight device comprising: light-emitting means for radiating visible light toward the rear sight member in response to the application of electric current thereto; means for securing the light-emitting means to a conventional firearm; means for providing electric current to said light-emitting means; means for conducting electric current from said power means to said light-emitting means, said means including adjusting means responsive to ambient light rays for automatically adjusting current flow from said power means to said light-emitting means so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means increases as the intensity of the ambient light rays increases and, alternately so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means decreases as the intensity of the ambient light rays decreases; and means for securing said power means to a conventional firearm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The front sight device as defined in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting means is characterized further to include: a light-emitting semiconductor device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The front sight device as defined in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting means is characterized further to include: a light-emitting diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
The front sight device as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjusting means for automatically adjusting current flow from said power means to said light-emitting means is characterized further to include: photosensitive means for absorbing ambient light rays and producing an increased electric current output in response to an increase in intensity of ambient light rays and, alternately, producing a decreased current output in response to a decrease in intensity of ambient light rays; circuit means responsive to the current output of said photosensitive means for increasing the electric current provided to said light-emitting means in response to increased current output of said photosensitive means and, alternately, decreasing the electric current provided to said light-emitting means in response to decreased current output of said photosensitive means; means for electrically interconnecting said photosensitive means and said circuit means; and means for electrically interconnecting said circuit means and said light-emitting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The front sight device as defined in claim 4 wherein said adjusting means is characterized further to include: manual adjusting means for adjusting the input-to-output ratio of said photosensitive means to a predetermined standard; and switch means for alternately electrically connecting and disconnecting said light-emitting means to said power means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
A sight system for visUally aligning an apparatus such as a conventional firearm under conditions of low ambient light, comprising: a conventional rear sight mounted on the apparatus; a front sight device carried by the apparatus and characterized further to include: light-emitting means for radiating visible light toward said rear sight in response to an electric current input thereto; power means for providing an electric current output; and means for electrically interconnecting said light-emitting means and said power means to provide the electric current input to said light-emitting means from the electric current output of said power means, said means including adjusting means responsive to ambient light rays for automatically adjusting current flow from said power means to said light-emitting means so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means increases as the intensity of the ambient light rays increases and, alternately, so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means decreases as the intensity of the ambient light rays decreases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
A sight system for visUally aligning an apparatus such as a conventional firearm under conditions of low ambient light, comprising: a conventional rear sight mounted on the apparatus; a front sight device carried by the apparatus and characterized further to include: light-emitting means for radiating visible light toward said rear sight in response to an electric current input thereto; power means for providing an electric current output; and means for electrically interconnecting said light-emitting means and said power means to provide the electric current input to said light-emitting means from the electric current output of said power means, said means including adjusting means responsive to ambient light rays for automatically adjusting current flow from said power means to said light-emitting means so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means increases as the intensity of the ambient light rays increases and, alternately, so that the intensity of visible light radiation from said light-emitting means decreases as the intensity of the ambient light rays decreases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sight system as defined in claim 6 wherein said light-emitting means is characterized further to include: a light-emitting diode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The sight system as defined in claim 6 wherein said adjusting means is characterized further to include: photosensitive means for absorbing ambient light rays and producing an electric current output in response thereto; circuit means responsive to the output of said photosensitive means for varying the electric current provided to said light-emitting means; means for electrically interconnecting said photosensitive means and said circuit means; means for electrically interconnecting said circuit means and said light-emitting means; manual adjusting means for adjusting the input-to-output ratio of said photosensitive means to a predetermined standard; and switch means for alternately electrically connecting and disconnecting said light-emitting means to said power means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |