US3394461A - Reticle construction - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1968 R. s. THOMAS RETICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 17, 1966 NVENTOR EH QQ 54 50 @g 'zflguo 5e 1 1205521- S THOMAS United States Patent 3,394,461 RETICLE CONSTRUCTION Robert S. Thomas, Perry, W. Va. 26844 Filed Mar. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 541,445 3 Claims. (Cl. 33-50) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reticle having a cored wire wherein the cover for the core is reduced or the core exposed at a central portion thus to create the effect of a tapered reticle.

This invention pertains to telescopic sighting devices, and more specifically, to reticle constructions employed in such devices. It is the general objective of this invention to provide new and novel reticles of the tapered variety and improved means for the formation of such reticles.

Recent developments in the art of construction of telescopic sighting devices have been concerned with devices of variable magnification. Particularly, in the field of firearm sighting devices, it has become desirable to incorporate reticles which include cross strands, posts, or the like which are tapered such that they are of minimum dimension at their intersections or substantially at the center of the device at the focal plane thereof. Such tapering of the crossed devices is known to the art, and is disclosed, for example, in a prior US. patent to Benford, No. 2,800,718, among others. A primary object of the present invention relates to the formation of tapered reticles of improved form, these reticles being formed by an improved process which is inexpensive, requires no special tools or equipment, and which provides a reticle wherein the crossed strands or posts may be reduced to minimum dimension, and specifically shaped.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a first form of reticle of this invention at an intermediate stage of manufacture;

FIGURE 2 shows the reticle of FIGURE 1 at a further intermediate manufacturing level;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, central view of the inner section of two cross strands of the material of fabrication employed in the formation of one type of reticle hereof;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged sectional view on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows the FIGURE 3 material following one type of processing hereof;

FIGURE '6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, showing a finished cross strand arrangement following a second type of treatment;

FIGURE 8 shows a modification involving a different type of material;

FIGURE 9 is another modification embodying the material employed in the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 discloses still another form.

In the formation of telescope reticles, it is customary to connect one or more strands or the like to a ring element, or to inscribe indicia on a substantially transparent disc. Materials employed for the strands and the like include extremely fine diameter wires, and similar materials. It is recognized as desirable, particularly in the case of telescopic firearm sighting devices, that the strand 3,394,461 Patented July 30, 1968 ice be of minimum dimension at its center, or at the intersection of plural strands where more than one is employed.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing a conventional reticle retaining ring 20 of annular form is shown, having a peripheral outer edge 22, and side surfaces 24. In the first forms of the invention (FIGURES 3 through 7) cross strands 26 and 28 are secured to the ring, as by affixing their ends to one side suface or face 24 with a mastic substance or solder 30, thus fixing the strands in cross relation on the ring to divide it into segments. As is Well known, where cross strands are thus employed, means are provided for positioning the intersection at substantially the focal plane of the sighting device whereby the intersection of the strands becomes the point of aim of the device. The strands 26 and 28 hereof each include an inner core 32 of a selected material resistant to the action of certain solvents, and an outer encasement 34 of a material readily attacked by said solvent. Examples of such material which are currently available and suitable for use herein are Wollaston wirewith an inner core 32 of platinum, and an encasement 34 of metal with a high silver content; and wire of various metals coated with enamels or lacquers. Wollaston wire is known to possess the property of forming extremely small diameter reticle wires, which is achieved through re moval of the outer encasement following affixation of the wire, and such construction has heretofore been employed in aircraft bomb sights and similar high modification devices.

In the practice of the first form of the present invention a solvent, such as nitric acid, is employed to etch or dissolve the outer encasement 34 of the wire at one or more selected locations. Silver is subject to dissolution by said Solvent, while platinum is highly resistant thereto. The solvent is applied at a selected location by manual placement with an acid impervious probe 36 in small drops or quantities 38. In FIGURE 5, the solvent has been applied to a determined central section of each of the strands 26 and 28, and has been neutralized following a selected time of exposure, short of com lete dissolution of the encasement, whereby the central sections have reduced diameter encasements 40 tapering from the unaffected sections 42. Neutralization of the acid is accomplished through application of a rinse, which may employ water as the rinse vehicle.

In FIGURE 7, the encasement 34 is fully removed at the central section by permitting a longer exposure of the encasement to the acid, whereby the cross strands at substantially the center of the focal plane of the sighting device, are of minimum dimension. The encasement removal process leaves abrupt shoulders 46, tapering toward the center cross lines which also serve as an aid in sight alignment.

FIG'URES 8 through 10 show a series of reticles formed of a monometallic wire 50 employed as one of the cross strands, and conventional cross hair devices 52 arranged either substantially perpendicular or parallel thereto. The monometallic wire 50 is subject to solvent attack throughout its full dimension or thickness. The configuration of the strands of the wires 50 is a function of the exposure thereof to the solvent and the application of the rinsein the same manner as applied 3 4 Alternative methods of reducing the diameter of the core toward the central portion of the strand to form strands at selected areas are available, as for example, said graduated taper. by concentrated abrasive application, mechanical expedi 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein: ents, and the like. the core is exposed at said central portion.

What is claimed is: 5 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein: 1. A reticle for a telescopic sighting device adapted at least two strands are provided and comprise a pair for disposition at the focal plane of said device, the reticle of crossed devices. compnsmg: References Cited an annular ring having opposing faces; a strand of sighting material spanning said ring and 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS affixed to one of said faces; 848,757 4/1907 Lomb et a1 3350.5 X the strand being of graduated taper; 1,386,611 8/1921 Ely 33-505 X the strand including a discrete core with an encase- 2,180,184 11/1939 Weaver 3350.5 ment therearound; and 3,229,370 1/1966 Plisk et al. 3 350.5

said encasement being tapered in the direction of the 15 SAMUEL S M ATTHEWS Primary Emminer

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