Sighting device

Claim 2

A sighting device comprising: a. reticle means operative to convert ambient light into a first colored light of a first predetermined relatively narrow wavelength range, said reticle means having an end wall which is illuminated by said first colored light to provide a colored aiming point for said device; b. transparent means operative to transmit and convert ambient light into a second colored light of a second predetermined relatively narrow wavelength range different from said first wavelength range, said transparent means being arranged to provide a background of said second colored light by which said end wall having said first colored light is surrounded; c. means providing a field of view in which a target can be sighted; d. collimating means operative to collimate an image of said aiming point; and e. image deflecting means including dichroic beam splitter means, said image deflecting means being operative to deflect said image of said aiming point into said field of view, and said dichroic beam splitter means being operative to reflect colored light in said first wavelength range toward a viewer''s eye and transmit colored light in said second wavelength range away from a viewer''s eye whereby said aiming point appears to a viewer looking at the field of view through said beam splitter means as a colored area in said field of view and said background is not seen by the viewer in said field of view.

Claim 3

The sighting device of claim 1, wherein said reticle means is fluorescent.

Claim 4

The sighting device of claim 2, wherein said reticle means is a cylindrical rod.

Claim 5

The sighting device of claim 3, wherein said rod has a diameter of less than about 0.200 inch.

Claim 6

The sighting device of claim 3, wherein said rod has a diameter in the range of about 0.020 inch to about 0.120 inch.

Claim 7

A sighting device comprising: a. fluorescent means operative to convert ambient light into colored fluorescent light, said fluorescent means having an end wall which is illuminated by said fluorescent light to provide a fluorescently colored aiming point for said device, said fluorescent means having a thickness dimension forming at least one dimension of said end wall, which thickness dimension is less than about 0.200 inch; b. means on said device providing a field of view in which a target can be sighted; c. reflecting means operative to superimpose an image of said aiming point over said field of view, said reflecting means comprising at least one dichroic beam splitter means operative to reflect substantially all light in the wavelength range corresponding to the color of said aiming point, and transmit substantially all light of a color corresponding to another preselected wavelength range; d. collimating means interposed between said fluorescent means end wall and at least a part of said reflecting means to collimate said aiming point image; and e. transparent means operative to transmit and convert ambient light into colored light corresponding to said other preselected wavelength range, said transparent means being arranged to provide a background of colored light of said other preselected wavelength range surrounding said colored aiming point, said dichroic beam splitter means transmitting substantially all of the light transmitted by said transparent means whereby said transparent means is not seen by a viewer in said beam splitter means.

Claim 8

A sighting device comprising: a. fluorescent means operative to convert ambient light into colored fluorescent light, said fluorescent means having an end wall which is illuminated by said fluorescent light to provide a fluorescently colored aiming point for said device, said fluorescent means having a thickness dimension forming at least one dimension of said end wall, which thickness dimension is less than about 0.200 inch; b. means on said device providing a field of view in which a target can be sighted; c. reflecting means operative to superimpose an image of said aiming point over said field of view, said reflecting means comprising at least one dichroic beam splitter means operative to reflect substantially all light in the wavelength range corresponding to the color of said aiming point, and transmit substantially all light of a color corresponding to another preselected wavelength range; d. collimating means interposed between said fluorescent means end wall and at least a part of said reflecting means to collimate said aiming point image; and e. transparent means operative to transmit and convert ambient light into colored light corresponding to said other preselected wavelength range, said transparent means being arranged to provide a background of colored light of said other preselected wavelength range surrounding said colored aiming point, said dichroic beam splitter means transmitting substantially all of the light transmitted by said transparent means whereby said transparent means is not seen by a viewer in said beam splitter means.