US5636918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-08-30
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2016-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A precision sighting device is provided for viewing dark recesses as well as obstructed areas in general which are difficult to see with the naked eye comprising a longitudinally extendable/retractable rigid rodlike member, a focusable light source mounted at one end of the rodlike member, longitudinally parallel and adjacent to the rodlike member by at least one holding bracket such that light may be emitted from the focusable light source and directed lengthwise and parallel to the rodlike member toward an opposite end of the rodlike member, a tandem ball joint at said opposite end of the rodlike member formed in part by a first ball integral to said opposite end of the rodlike member, and a mirror pivotally connected by a flange extending from a peripheral portion of the mirror, to a second ball of said tandem ball joint--such that light emitted from the focusable light source may form a focal point or area on the center of the mirror at an exponential number of positions of the mirror with respect to a focal length of light emitted from the focusable light source. An object of the invention is to provide a focusable high intensity light source integral to a compact structural design to consistently provide for optical convergence of light at a center point of an integral mirror at many different focal lengths from the light source and angular positions of the mirror with respect to the integral light source. Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument which is especially suited for precision in aiming light and illuminating details very brightly for accurate and clear viewing while greatly reducing light reflected from the background of the area surrounding the mirror thereby providing much improved visual contrast.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey M. Lott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/24; A61B1/06; A61B1/0627; A61B1/0661; A61B1/0669; F; F21; F21V; F21V33/00; F21V33/008; F21V33/0084; G; G02; G02B; G02B25/00; G02B25/02; G02B7/00; G02B7/18; G02B7/182; G02B7/1822; G02B7/1824
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas, which comprises: a longitudinally extendable/retractable rigid rodlike member, a focusable light source mounted at one end of the rodlike member, longitudinally parallel and adjacent to the rodlike member by at least one holding bracket such that light may be emitted from the focusable light source and directed lengthwise and parallel to the rodlike member toward an opposite end of the rodlike member, a tandem ball joint at said opposite end of the rodlike member formed in part by a first ball integral to said opposite end of the rodlike member, and a mirror pivotally connected by a flange extending from a peripheral portion of the mirror, to a second ball of said tandem ball joint--such that light emitted from the focusable light source may form a focal point on the center of the mirror at an exponential number of positions of the mirror with respect to a focal length of light emitted from the focusable light source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas, which comprises: a longitudinally extendable/retractable rigid rodlike member, a focusable light source mounted at one end of the rodlike member, longitudinally parallel and adjacent to the rodlike member by at least one holding bracket such that light may be emitted from the focusable light source and directed lengthwise and parallel to the rodlike member toward an opposite end of the rodlike member, a tandem ball joint at said opposite end of the rodlike member formed in part by a first ball integral to said opposite end of the rodlike member, and a mirror pivotally connected by a flange extending from a peripheral portion of the mirror, to a second ball of said tandem ball joint--such that light emitted from the focusable light source may form a focal point on the center of the mirror at an exponential number of positions of the mirror with respect to a focal length of light emitted from the focusable light source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 1 wherein the focusable light source is cylindrical and is mounted by two holding brackets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extendable/retractable rigid rodlike member is slidably telescoping.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 1 wherein the tandem ball joint is formed by the first and second balls clamped between two generally flat oblong plates, each plate having two semihemispherical sockets for receiving a semi hemisphere of each of the first and second balls and a central bore located at a flat portion between the sockets for passage therethrough of a bolt to hold the plates together against the balls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 1 wherein the mirror is round.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 5 wherein the mirror is concave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 1 wherein the mirror is oblong.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 1 wherein the mirror is elliptical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A holding bracket for use with the precision sighting instrument according to claim 1 comprising: a rigid rectangular box shape body, an upright longitudinal face of the body having an upper bore for passage therethrough of the focusable light source, and a lower bore for passage therethrough of the rodlike member, a slit therethrough the upright longitudinal face of the body passing from a bottom of the upper bore to a bottom of the body to enable clamping action, and an upright longitudinal side of the body having at least one bore below a profile of the upper bore for passage therethrough of a bolt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A holding bracket according to claim 9 wherein: the upright longitudinal face of the body has an arched top width.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A holding bracket according to claim 10 wherein: the upright longitudinal face of the body has an arched bottom width.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
263 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas, which comprises: a longitudinally extendable/retractable rigid rodlike member, a focusable light source mounted at one end of the rodlike member, longitudinally parallel and adjacent to the rodlike member by at least one holding bracket such that light may be emitted from the focusable light source and directed lengthwise and parallel to the rodlike member toward an opposite end of the rodlike member, wherein said holding bracket is comprised of a rigid rectangular box shape body, an upright longitudinal face of the body having an upper bore for passage therethrough of the focusable light source, and a lower bore for passage therethrough of the rodlike member, a slit therethrough the upright longitudinal face of the body passing from a bottom of the upper bore to a bottom of the body to enable clamping action, and an upright longitudinal side of the body having at least one bore below a profile of the upper bore for passage therethrough of a bolt, and a tandem ball joint at said opposite end of the rodlike member formed in part by a first ball integral to said opposite end of the rodlike member, and a mirror pivotally connected by a flange extending from a peripheral portion of the mirror, to a second ball of said tandem ball joint--such that light emitted from the focusable light source may form a focal point on the center of the mirror at an exponential number of positions of the mirror with respect to a focal length of light emitted from the focusable light source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
263 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas, which comprises: a longitudinally extendable/retractable rigid rodlike member, a focusable light source mounted at one end of the rodlike member, longitudinally parallel and adjacent to the rodlike member by at least one holding bracket such that light may be emitted from the focusable light source and directed lengthwise and parallel to the rodlike member toward an opposite end of the rodlike member, wherein said holding bracket is comprised of a rigid rectangular box shape body, an upright longitudinal face of the body having an upper bore for passage therethrough of the focusable light source, and a lower bore for passage therethrough of the rodlike member, a slit therethrough the upright longitudinal face of the body passing from a bottom of the upper bore to a bottom of the body to enable clamping action, and an upright longitudinal side of the body having at least one bore below a profile of the upper bore for passage therethrough of a bolt, and a tandem ball joint at said opposite end of the rodlike member formed in part by a first ball integral to said opposite end of the rodlike member, and a mirror pivotally connected by a flange extending from a peripheral portion of the mirror, to a second ball of said tandem ball joint--such that light emitted from the focusable light source may form a focal point on the center of the mirror at an exponential number of positions of the mirror with respect to a focal length of light emitted from the focusable light source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 12 wherein the upright longitudinal face of the body of the holding bracket has an arched top width.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 13 wherein the focusable light source is cylindrical and is mounted by two holding brackets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 12 wherein the longitudinally extendable/rigid rodlike member is slidably telescoping.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 12 wherein the tandem ball joint is formed by the first and second balls clamped between two generally flat oblong plates, each plate having two semihemispherical sockets for receiving a semi hemisphere of each of the first and second balls and a central bore located at a flat portion between the sockets for passage therethrough of a bolt to hold the plates together against the balls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 12 wherein the mirror is round.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 17 wherein the mirror is concave.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 12 wherein the mirror is oblong.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precision sighting instrument for viewing obstructed areas according to claim 12 wherein the mirror is elliptical.
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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) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |