US3123915A - wilkinson - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1964 l.. A. WILKINSON RANGE-FINDING GUN SIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 0G12. 14, 1960 LEONARD A. W/LK/NSON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. A. WILKINSON RANGE-FINDING GUN SIGHT March 10, 1964 Filed OCT.. 14, 196C) 1N V EN TOR. LEONARD A VV/K/NSON A TTONE VS.

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RANGE-FINDING GUN SIGHT IJG. I3 116.]4

qZOJIG- J5 JNVENTOR.

ATTONEVS.

United States Patent Oiitice 3,l23,9l Patented Mar. 10, 1964 3,123,915 RANGE-FINDING GUT-J SIGI- Leonard A. Will-zinsen, Snyder, N.Y., assigner to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass. Filed Oct. 14, 195m, Ser. No.. 62,669 I9 Ciaims. itil. S33-Sil) This invention relates to telescopic rie sights and more particularly to an improved combination range finder and automatic sight reticle adjusting device.

Broadly stated, the invention provides a telescopic sight incorporating an improved range finding mechanism of the type utilizing a fixed wire and a parallel movable wire, which when positionally adjusted to frame a target object of known height automatically adjusts the elevation of the reticle so that when the reticle is centered on the target, trajectory is compensated for. The operating principles of this type gun sight are disclosed and explained in US. Patent 2,811,894, and the present invention provides new and improved operative mechanisms therefor, and in addition incorporates novel means for adjusting the mechanism to suit the ballistic characteristics of the particular ammunition being used.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a riile sight of the above described capabilities which is operable with improved facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sight as aforesaid which includes manual adjustment means to compensate for the different ballistic characteristics of different types of ammunition.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved rifle sight as aforesaid which is of improved structural form so as to require no protruding elements or housings or turrets or the like, outside a common periphery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a range finding gun sight as aforesaid which is rugged and troublefree and which is not subject to inadvertent disturbances of the settings of the various adjustment components.

Other objects and advantages of the range finding sight of the invention will appear from the detailed description hereinbelow and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary diagrammatic illustration of the use of a rifle scope of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation showing the principle of operation of the adjustment mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a representation of the view through the riiie scope of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on enlarged scale through the adjustment mechanism of a sight of the invention, taken substantially along line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary View, partially in vertical section, of a telescope sight of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a View through the sight when adjusted as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 6 but shows the mechanism of the device of the invention in a different position of adjustment;

FIG. 9 is a View like FIG. 7, but corresponding to the adjustment condition shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 corresponds to FIGS. 6 and 8 but shows the mechanism in still another position of adjustment;

FIG. l1 corresponds to FIGS. 7 and 9 but relates to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a portion of FIG. 8, as indicated at XII--XII thereon;

FIG. 13 is a front end view, rotated 90 degrees of the device of FIG. 12;

' arranged to pivot upon a movable fulcrum 34.

FIG. 14 is a sectional View taken along line XI--XI of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the cam device disassociated from the mechanism of FIG. 12.

The principle of operation of the range finding sight of the invention is schematically shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing herewith. As illustrated, the range finding and sight adjusting mechanism of the invention employs a manually movable main cam as indicated at 20 (FIG. 2) which is formed with two separate camming surfaces as indicated at 22, 24. As shown herein the cam surface Z2 is provided to regulate the position, within the rifle scope cylinder, of a horizontally disposed and vertically movable range hair or wire as indicated at 26. This wire 26 is at all times disposed in generally parallel relation to a horizontally disposed and positionally fixed range hair or wire 28; the wires 26, 2S being disposed in the telescope cylinder in such manner as to intercept the line of vision through the telescope towards the target object. As shown in FIG. 2, the cam surface Z2 regulates the motion of the movable wire 26 through means of an intermediate linkage comprising a cam follower as indicated at 30 which actuates a lever 32; the movable wire 26 being carried by the opposite end of the lever 32. The lever 32 is Motions of the cam surface 22 relative to the follower 3i) will cause the latter to be displaced and move the lever 32 to cause the movable wire 26 to move toward or away from the fixed wire 2S. In the rangeiinding system being used the height of the target object is assumed to be a known quantity and this factor is fed into the system through the medium of the movable fulcrum 34. The fulcrum point 34 is mounted upon the fixed structure of the device and is arranged to be positionally adjustable by a suitable manually movable adjustment device, whereby the gunner may adjust the position of the fulcrum 34 longitudinally of the lever 32 to modify the rate of travel of the movable wire 26 responsive to adjustment of the cam 2h, in accord with his estimate of the height of the target object. For example, if a hunter recognizes the target to be of a certain approximate height, say for example two feet, he will then set the manual adjustment device to its calibrated 24 inch position which will thereby move the fulcrum 34 to an appropriate position transversely of the lever 32, so that the linkage system will be adjusted to cause the range wires 26, 28 to be relatively positioned so that when the range wires are adjusted to frame the target the adjustments in the rest of the system will reflect a range which is accurate in close proportion to the accuracy of the estimate of target height. Incidentally, rthe mechanism may include a suitably calibrated scale which will be simultaneously moved in conjunction with positional adjustments of the movable wire 26 so that the range to the target s0 estimated may be read from the scale. It is a particular feature of the mechanism herein that coincident with determination of the target range, the aiming reticle of the sight, which is indicated at 36 is simultaneously positionallyadjusted automatically within the view through the rie scope, in such manner as to be at all times positionally regulated vertically to compensate for the range distance. In other words, when the gunner adjusts in the range nding cam (having previously adjusted the object-height fulcrum control) he need not read the estimated range scale but simply uses the aiming reticle 36 as a direct sight on the target. The range distance is automatically compensated for by supporting the aiming reticle upon a pedestal 38 or other suitable support which is automatically displaced positionally in response to movement of the cam surface of the cam device 2r@ whenever the latter is manually adjusted. The slopes of the cam surfaces and the dimensions and relative arrangements of the linkage mech- 3 anisms are arranged as such that whenever the gunner displaces the cam device 26 to frame the target object, the aiming reticle is automatically appropriately displaced vertically to the correct elevational adjustment so that the gun barrel will be suitably elevated while the reticle is dead on the target object.

Further, in accord with the present invention provision is made for modifying the profile of the surface 24 of the cam device to provide for compensation for different ballistic characteristics of different kinds of ammunition as effect trajectory. In the case of the present invention this is accomplished by inclusion of means for moving the cam surface 24 to change the rate and degree of travel of the reticle 36 responsive to movement of the cam Ztl. As shown in FIG. 2, this effect is obtained by pivotally bending the cam surface 24 at a reduced section of arm portion 4t). An eccentric cam device as indicated at 42 is arranged to bear against the section 46 so as to flex it, relative to the main body Ztl in such manner as to change the position of the cam surface 24 as indicated in FIG. 2. The cam 42 is arranged to be manually adjustable from externally of the device to be pre-set in accord with the type of ammunition being used, thus accomplishing modiiication of the action of the sighting device to suit the trajectory of the particular ammunition in use.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4-15 of the drawing herewith, a preferred version of the invention may be embodied in a telescopic rifle sight comprising (FIG. 1) a basically tubular housing 44 mounting at one end the objective lens assembly 45 and at the other end an eye piece 46. The range finding unit of the invention, designated generally at 47, is incorporated into the telescope structure just ahead of the eye piece in the manner shown in detail in FIG. 4. A flanged coupler 46 is threaded into the housing 44 and mounts an internally threaded collar 5) which threads onto a cylindrical housing portion 52 of the range nding unit and thereby couples it to the housing 44. The housing portion 52 is shouldered as indicated at 53 and a ring 54 is slip-fitted on the housing to abut the shoulder. The space between collar and ring 54 is occupied by a rotatable cam sleeve 56, the inner surface of which is spirally grooved as shown at 5S. The sleeve 56 is externally shouldered to receive a manual control assembly comprising a pair of rings 59-69 joined in screw thread coupled relation thereon. The ring 64B is knurled to facilitate manual adjustments of the cam ring 56 for purposes to be explained hereinafter.

In the form of the invention illustrated the main cam member (corresponding to the cam 2t) of FIG. 2) comprises a cam ring 64 which at one side is formed with two separate inclined cam surfaces 65 and 66 and at its other side with a shoulder 67. An internally threaded coupling ring 68 is formed with a shoulder 69 against one side of which bears the main cam ring 64. A shouldered retainer ring 7@ in screw thread connection with a knurled control band 72 cooperates to hold the parts in assembly so that manual rotation of the band 72 will cause the cam ring 64 to rotate; these parts being keyed together by the squeeze fit provided by the screw assembly of parts 70-72 against the shoulder 67 of cam ring 64.

The barrel 52 mounts interiorly thereof a cradle ring 74 which is fixed to the barrel by machine screws as indicated at 76 (FIG. 5). At its bottom the cradle ring is formed with a flat land to which is fixed by screws 77 one end of a leaf spring 78 which extends forwardly therefrom into connection at 79 with a reticle frame 8i) mounting a reticle glass 81. At its top portion the reticle frame is pivotally suspended from one end of a bellcrank 62 which is fulcrumed at 83 in a vertically slotted top portion of the cradle ring 74. The other arm of the bellcrank 82 extends through a slotted portion of the barrel 52 into cam following bearing relation with the cam surface 66 of the cam ring 64. Hence, rotation of the cam 64 will cause the bellcrank 82 to pivot and either lift or lower the reticle Within the barrel, according to direction of rotation of the knurled band 72. The reticle glass carries a reticle as indicated at S5 for aiming at the target impact point after range finding adjustments are made as will be explained hereinafter.

The range finding system of the mechanism includes a positionally fixed range hair or wire 9@ which spans horizontally the bore of the cradle ring 74 and is anchored to opposite sides thereof. A first and second yoke are connected, as fully described below, so as to provide a movable range hair means. Specifically, in parallel relation to the fixed hair there is disposed a movable range hair or wire 92 anchored at its opposite ends to the corresponding ends of a pair of arms 95. The other ends of the arms 95-95 are interconnected by a cross plate 97 whereby the arms 95-95 and plate 97 form the aforesaid second yoke; such yoke being fulcr'umed to pivot inside the cradle ring 74 by means of a positionally movable pin 96. Pin 96 extends through a horizontal slot in the cradle ring 74 into connection with a push-pull arm 93 carrying a cam follower pin 99 which rides in the groove 58 of the cam ring 56 previously described. Hence it will be understood that manual adjustments of the knurled ring 66 will cause the pivot pin 96 to shift longitudinally of the barrel. The arms 95 ofthe second yoke are also pivotally connected as indicated at 10ft- 160 to corresponding lever arms 102-162 which extend horizontally outside of the cradle ring 74. The arms 102 are interconnected by a yoke piece 164 whereby the arms 162-162 and yoke piece 164 form the first yoke and the arms 12-12 thereby move in unison, and one arm is slotted to accommodate for vertical as well as horizontal shifting relative to the pin 96. The first yoke comprising the arms 162 and yoke piece 104 is pivoted to the cradle ring 74 as indicated at 166. From the bottom of the yoke piece 164 a cam follower pin 108 extends through suitable clearance slots in members 78 and 52 into bearing relation against cam surface 65. A tension spring is coupled to the plate 97 of the second yoke and to the cradle ring 74 to bias the movable Wire assembly upwardly and pressures the follower 10S against the cam surface 65.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, the telescope eye piece barrel as indicated at 112 is conveniently mounted on the device by a screw thread connection with the coupling sleeve 66. Hence, it will be understood that the mechanism of FIGS. 4-15 is operable in accord with the prin-t ciples explained in reference to FIG. 2. The knob 60 is first adjusted so that indicia on portion 59 (FIG. 8) is set for the estimated target size, the pivot 96 being displaced thereby longitudinally of the arm 95 so as to adjust the mechanism to function appropriately for the vertical size of the target. Then as the target is viewed through the scope the knob 72 may be rotated to move the movable wire 92 so that the fixed and movable wires vertically frame the target object. As a result, the cam surface 66 will displace the follower $2 to shift the reticle vertically so that when it is spotted directly on the target, the gun muzzle elevation has been automatically adjusted for the target distance.

The structure for providing means for modifying the profile of cam 64 to compensate for trajectories of different ammunition is best shown in FlG. l5. The cam ring 64 is cut through as indicated at 126 to permitit to function as explained in connection with FIG. 2. An eccentric cam Wheel 122 mounted on a shaft 124 is manually rotatable as by a screw driver slot arrangeY ment 126, and carries an index wheel 128 calibrated for different types of ammunition; lthe cam 122 correspending to the cam member 42 of FIG. 2. Thus the effect of cam surface 66 on the position of the reticle may be modified at will in accord with the ballistic char-- acteristics of the ammunition to be used.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the to be manufactured relatively inexpensively by simple shop procedures and easily assembled into foolproof operative form. The user is thereby provided with a telescopic sight arrangement, the external configuration of which presents no substantial dimensional enlargements and undesirable protuberances. The adjustment control devices are disposed at such positions and are operative in such manner as to provide for maximum ease of operation and field adjustments of the device.

lt will of course be understood that although only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail hereinabove, various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A combination range finder and gun sight comprising, a telescope barrel having eye piece and objective lens components at opposite ends thereof, a cradle ring fixed Within said barrel intermediately of said eye piece and objective lens units, a cantilever spring extending from said cradle ring and supporting a reticle glass for vertical movements inside said barrel, a cylindrical control knob rotatably mounted upon and encircling said barrel and having separate rst and second cam surfaces, a bellcrank device fulcrumed upon said cradle ring and having one end extending through a slotted portion of said barrel into cam following relation with said first cam surface and connected at its other end to support said glass whereby rotation of said knob will cause said glass to move vertically within said barrel, a stationary cross wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel and fixed at its opposite ends to said cradle ring, a first yoke pivotally mounted upon said cradle ring and having a cam follower device extending therefrom into bearing relation with said second cam surface, said iirst yoke having a pair of parallel arms extending longitudinally of said barrel, a second yoke pivotally mounted upon the arms of said first yoke, said second yoke having parallel lever portions extending longitudinally of said barrel and carrying at their front ends a second wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, said cradle ring and said second yoke both having slotted portions, a pivot pin disposed within said slotted portions, a second control knob rotatable about said barrel and having a spiral cam surface, a cam follower engaged therewith and carried by a pushpull link mounting said pivot pin, whereby rotation of said second control knob will displace said pivot pin to vary the pivot connection position of said secondl yoke relative to said cradle ring and whereby said second wire will be vertically displaced upon rotation of said second control knob.

2. A combination range finder and gun sight comprising, a telescope barrel having eye piece and objective lens components at opposite ends thereof, an arc-shaped mount fixed within said barrel intermediately of said eye piece and objective lens units, a cantilever spring extending from said mount and supporting a reticle glass for vertical movements inside said barrel, a cylindrical control 1knob rotatably mounted upon and encircling said barrel and having separate first and second cam surfaces, a bellcrank device fulcrumed upon said mount and having one end extending through a slotted portion of said barrel into cam following relation with said first cam surface and connected at its other end to support said glass whereby rotation of said knob will cause said glass to move vertically within said barrel, a stationary cross wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, opposite ends to said mount, a first yoke pivotally mounted upon said mount and having a cam follower device extending therefrom into bearing relation with said second cam surface, said first yoke having a pair of parallel arms extending longitudinally of said barrel, a second yoke pivotally mounted upon the arms of said first yoke, said second yoke having parallel lever portions extending longitudinally of said barrel and carrying at their front ends a second wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, said mount and said second yoke both having slotted portions, a pivot pin disposed to extend through both of said slotted portions, a second control knob rotatable about said barrel and having a spiral cam surface, a cam follower engaged therewith and carried by a pushpull link mounting said pivot pin, whereby rotation of said second control knob will displace said pivot pin to vary the pivot connection position of said second yoke relative to said mount and whereby said second wire will be vertically displaced upon rotation of said second control knob, and means for manually altering the functional setting of said first cam surface.

3. A combination range finder and gun sight comprising, a telescope barrel having eye piece and objective lens components at opposite ends thereof, a cradle fixed within said barrel intermediately of said eye piece and objective lens units, a cantilever spring extending from said cradle and supporting a reticle glass for vertical movements inside said barrel, a cylindrical control knob rotatably mounted upon and encircling said barrel and having separate first and second cam surfaces, a bellcrank device fulcrumed upon said' cradle and having one end extending through a slotted portion of said barrel into cam following relation with said first cam surface and connected at its other end to support said glass whereby rotation of said knob will cause said glass to move vertically within said barrel, a stationary cross wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel and fixed at its opposite ends to said cradle, a first yoke pivotally mounted upon said cradle and having a cam follower device extending therefrom into bearing relation with said second cam surface, said iirst yoke having a pair of parallel arms extending longitudinally of said barrel, a second yoke pivotally mounted upon the arms of said first yoke, said second yoke having parallel lever portions extending longitudinally of said barrel and carrying at their front ends a second wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, said cradle and said second yoke both having slotted portions, a pivot pin disposed within said slotted portions, a second control knob rotatable about said barrel and having a spiral cam surface, a cam follower engaged therewith and carried by a push-pull link mounting said pivot pin, whereby rotation of said second control knob will displace said pivot pin to vary the pivot connection position of said second yoke relative to said cradle and whereby said second wire will be vertically displaced upon rotation of said second control knob.

4. A combination range finder and gun sight comprising, a telescope barrel having eye piece and objective lens components at opposite ends thereof, a cradle fixed within said barrel intermediately of said eye piece and objective lens units, a cantilever spring extending from said cradle and supporting a reticle glass for vertical movements inside said barrel, a cylindrical control knob rotatably mounted upon and encircling said barrel and having separate first and second cam surfaces, a bellcrank device fulcrumed upon said cradle and having one end extending through a slotted portion of said barrel into cam following relation with said rst cam surface and connected at its other end to support said glass whereby rotation of said knob will cause said glass to move vertically within said barrel, a stationary cross wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, a first yoke pivotally mounted upon said cradle and having a cam follower device extending therefrom into bearing relation with said second cam surface, said iirst yoke having a pair of parallel arms, extending longitudinally of said barrel, a second yoke mounted upon the arms of said iirst yoke, said second yoke having parallel lever portions extending lonigtudinally of said barrel and carrying at their front ends a second wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, said cradle and said second yoke both having slotted portions, a pivot pin disposed within said slotted portions, a second control knob rotatable about said barrel and having a spiral cam surface, a cam follower engaged therewith and carried by a push-pull link mounting said pivot pin, whereby rotation of said second control knob will displace said pivot pin to vary the pivot connection position of said second yoke relative to said cradle and whereby said second wire will be vertically displaced upon rotation of said second control knob.

5. A combination range finder and gun sight cornprising, a telescope barrel having eye piece and objective lens components at opposite ends thereof, a cradle ring fixed within said barrel intermediately of said eye piece and objective lens units, means extending from said cradle ring and supporting a reticle glass for vertical movements inside said barrel, a control knob rotatably mounted upon said barrel and having separate first and second cam surfaces, a bellcrank device fulcrumed upon said cradle ring and having one end extending through a slotted portion of said barrel into cam following relation with said first cam surface and connected at its other end to support said glass whereby rotation of said knob will cause said glass to move vertically within said barrel, a stationary cross wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel and fixed at its opposite ends to said cradle ring, a first yoke shaped to conform generally to the inside shape of said barrel and pivotally mounted upon said cradle ring and having a cam follower device extending therefrom into bearing relation with said second cam surface, said first yoke having a pair of parallel arms extending longitudinally Within said barrel, a second yoke also shaped to conform generally to the inside wall form of said barrel and pivotally mounted upon the arms of said first yoke, said second yoke having parallel lever portions extending longitudinally within and against opposite sides of said cradle ring and carrying at their front ends a second wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, said cradle ring and said second yoke being both slotted at one side of the device, a pivot pin disposed within said slotted portions, a second control knob rotatable about said barrel and having a spiral cam surface, a cam follower engaged therewith and carried by a push-pull link mounting said pivot pin, whereby rotation of said second control knob will displace said pivot pin to vary the pivot connection position of said second yoke relative to said cradle ring and whereby said second wire will be vertically displaced upon rotation of said second control knob.

6. A combination range finder and gun sight comprising, a telescope barrel having eye piece and objective lens components at opposite ends thereof, a cradle ring fixed within said barrel intermediately of said eye piece and objective lens units, means extending from said cradle ring and supporting a reticle glass forvertical movements inside said barrel, a control knob rotatably mounted upon said barrel and having separate first and second cam surfaces, a bellcrank device fulcrumed upon said cradle ringiand having one end extending through a slotted portion of said barrel into cam following relation with said first cam surface and connected at its other end to support said glass whereby rotation of said knob will cause said glass to move vertically within said barrel, a stationary cross wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel and fixed at its opposite ends to said cradle ring, a first yoke pivotally mounted upon said cradle ring and having a cam follower device extending therefrom into bearing relation with said second cam surface, said first yoke having arm means extending longitudinally within said barrel, a second yoke pivotally mounted upon the arm means of said first yoke, said second yoke haivng lever means extending longitudinally within said cradle ring and carrying at the front end thereof a second wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, said cradle Vring and said second yoke being both slotted at one side of the device, a pivot pin disposed within said slotted portions, a second control knob rotatable about said barrel and having a spiral cam surface, a cam follower engaged therewith and carried by a push-pull link mounting said pivot pin, whereby rotation of said second control knob will displace said pivot pin to vary the pivot connection position of said second yoke relative to said cradle ring and whereby said second wire will be vertically displaced upon rota-` tion of said second control knob.

7. A combination range finder and gun sight comprising, a telescope barrel having eye piece and objective lens components at opposite ends thereof, a cradle ring fixed within said barrel intermediately of said eye piece and objective lens units, means extending from said cradle ring and supporting a reticle glass for vertical movements inside said barrel, a control knob rotatably mounted upon said barrel and having separate first and second cam surfaces, a bellcrank device fulcrumed upon said cradle ring and having one end extending through a slotted portion of said barrel into cam following relation with said first cam surface and connected at its other end to support said glass whereby rotation of said knob will cause said glass to move vertically within said barrel, a stationary cross wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel and xe'd at its opposite ends to said cradle ring, a first yoke shaped to conform generally to the inside shape of said barrel and pivotally mounted upon said cradle ring and having a cam follower device extending therefrom into bearingrelation with said second cam surface, said first yoke having a pair of parallel arms extending longitudinally within said barrel, a second yoke also shaped to conform generally to the inside wall form of said barrel and pivotally mounted upon the arms of said first yoke, said second yoke having parallel lever portions extending longitudinally within and against opposite sides of said cradle ring and carying at their front ends a second wire horizontally spanning the interior of said barrel, said cradle ring and said second yoke being both slotted at one side of the device, a pivotpin disposed within said slotted portions, a second control knob rotatable about said barrel and having a spiral cam surface, a cam follower engaged therewith and carried by a push-pull link mounting said pivot pin, whereby rotation of said second control knob will displace said pivot pin to vary the pivot connection position of said second yoke relative to said cradle ring and whereby said second wire will be, vertically displaced upon rotation of said secondl control knob, and means for manually altering said first cam surface.

8. A combination gun sight and range finder including a telescope housing to be aflixed to a gun, a first range finder reference mark fixedly mounted within said telescope housing, linkage means mounted within said housing, a second range finder reference mark carried by said linkage means, an actuator for said linkage disposed outside said housing, a movable aim point reticle mounted in said housing and movable in response to operation of said actuator, a first settable means for altering the action of said linkage to vary the rate of movement of said second range finder reference mark in response to movement of said actuator, and a second settable means for altering travel of said aim point reticle relative to said housing responsive to said actuator.

9. A combination gun sight and range finder including a cylindrical telescope housing to be axed to a gun, a first range finder reference mark fixedly mounted within said telescope housing, linkage means mounted within said housing, a second range finder reference mark carried by said linkage means, a circular actuator dial for said linkage mounted on the outside of and encircling said housing, a movable aim piont reticle mounted in said housing and movable in response to operation of said actuator dial, a first settable means for altering the action of said linkage to Vary the rate of movement of said second range finder reference mark in response to movement of said actuator if? dial, and a second settable means for altering the travel of said aim point reticle relative to said housing responsive to said actuator.

l0. A combination gun sight and ra e nder including a cylindrical telescope housing to be ailixed to a gun, a :iirst range finder reference mark rixedly mounted within said telescope housing, linkage means mounted wir" in said housing, a second range finder reference mark carried by said linkage means, a circular actuator dial for said linkage mounted on the outside or" and encircling said housing, a movable aim point reticle mounted housing and movable in response to operation of said actuator l, a rst settable means for alt ring the action of said linkage to vary the rate of movemen of said second range nder reference mark in response to movement of said actuator dial, said first settable means comprising a circular dial mounted for rotation on the outside of and encircling said housing, and a second settable means for altering the travel of said aim point reticle relative to said housing responsive to said actuator.

1l. A combination gun sight and range inder including a cylindrical telescope housing to be aiixed to a gun, a rst range finder reference mark iredly mounted within said telescope housing, linkage means mounted within said housing, a second range nder reference mark carried by said linkage means, a circular actuator cam for said linkage mounted on the outside of and encircling said housing, a movable aim point reticle mounted in said housing and movable in response to operation o said actuator cam, a first settable means for altering the action of said linkage to vary the rate of movement o said second range i'inder reference mark in response to movement of said actuator cam, said rst settable means comprising a circular cam mounted for rotation on the outside of and encircling said housing, and a second settable means for altering the travel of said aim point reticle relative to said housing responsive to said actuator.

12. A combination gun sight and range finder including a cylindrical telescope housing to be aiiixed to a gun, a rst range finder reference mark iixedly mounted within said telescope housing, linkage means mounted within said housing, a second range finder reference mak carried by said linkage means, a circular actuator cam for said linkage mounted for rotation on the outside of and encircling said housing, a movable aim point reticle mounted in said housing and movable in response to Operation of said actuator cam, a irst settable means for altering the action of said linkage to vary the rate of movement of said second range nder reference mark in response to movement of said actuator cam, said rst settable means comprising a circular cam mounted for rotation on the outside O' and encircling said housing, and a second settable means for altering the operating eiect of said actuator cam.

13. A combination gun sight and range finder including a cylindrical telescope housing to be aixed to a gun, a iirst range nder reference mark xedly mounted within said telescope housing, linkage means mounted within said housing, a second range finder reference mark carried by said linkage means, a circular actuator for said linkage mounted on the outside of and encircling said housing, a movable aim point reticle mounted in said housing and movable in response to operation of said actuator cam, a rst settable means for altering the action of said linkage to vary the rate of movement of said second range finder reference mark in response to movement of said actuator cam, and a second settable means for altering the travel of said aim point reticle relative to said housing responsive to said actuator, said second settable means being calibrated to match the action of said linkage to the ballistic characteristics of ammunition used said gun.

14. ln a combination gun sight and rance finder, iirst second reference marks for framing a target therebetween, an aim point reticle, means for simultaneously (a) varying the framing space between said reference marks and b) moving said aim point reticle within such space, and means for independently varying the rate of movement of said aim point reticle relative to the rate of movement between said reference marks.

15. ln the gun sight according to claim i4 including means for independently varying the rate of movement between said reference marks relative to the rate of movement of said aim point reticie.

16. ln a combination gun sigdt and range finder, irst and second reference marks for framing a target therebetween, an aim point reticle, means for simultaneously (rz) varying the framing space between said reference marks and (b) moving said aim point reticle within such space, and means for independently varying the rate of movement between said reference marks relative to the rate of movement of said aim point reticle.

17. A combination sight and range nder comprising a tubular housing for the optical cor iponents of the system, reticle means disposed within said housing, said reticle means consisting of a fixed reference mark, a movable reference mark and an aim point mark, annular actuator cam encircling said housing and having a pair of circumferentially spaced cam surfaces thereon, means engaged with one of said cam surfaces and connected with said movable reference mark and means engaged with the other of stid cam surfaces and connected with said aim point mark whereby both of the movable portions of the reticle means are responsive to actuation by said actuator cam, said means connected with said movable reference mark being a linkage system, an annular cam sleeve encircling said housing, and means engafed with said cam sleeve forming a movable fulcrum for said linkage system.

18. The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein the portion of said actuator cam forming said other cam surface is movable relative to said one cam surface to vary the camming effect of such other cam surface,

19. A combination gun sight and range finder cornprising a tubular housing for the optical components of the system, reticle means disposed within siad housing, said reticle means consisting of a fixed reference mark, a movable reference mark and an aim point mark, an annular actuator cam encircling said housing and having a pair of circumferentially spaced cam surfaces thereon, means engaged with one of said cam surfaces and connected with said movable reference mark and means engaged with the other of said cam surfaces and connected with said aim point mark whereby both of the movable portions of the reticle means are responsive to actuation by said actuator cam, the portion o said actuator cam forming said other cam surface being movable relative to said one cam surface to vary the camming eriect ot such other cam surface.

Leupold `lan. 23, 1951 Braker Nov. 5, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEICE CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 123,915 March lO, 1964 Leonard A., Wilkinson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 18, before "pin" insert pivot column l6, line 69, before "mounted" insert pivotally column 8, line 62, before "travel" insert the column 9, line 14, for "movemen" read ,movement column lO, line 47, for *"siad" read -i said l (SEAL) Signed and sealed this 7th day of July 1964, i Attest: 1

yTEST w; `swTDEE EDWARD J. BRENNER ,meeting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

14. IN A COMBINATION GUN SIGHT AND RANGE FINDER, FIRST AND SECOND REFERENCE MARKS FOR "FRAMING" A TARGET THEREBETWEEN, AN AIM POINT RETICLE, MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY (A) VARYING THE "FRAMING" SPACE BETWEEN SAID REFERENCE MARKS AND (B) MOVING SAID AIM POINT RETICLE WITHIN SUCH SPACE, AND MEANS FOR INDEPENDENTLY VARYING THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID AIM POINT RETICLE RELATIVE TO THE RATE OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID REFERENCE MARKS.

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