Optical aiming device

Abstract

An aiming device for a projectile launcher, such as an archery bow, has 2 concentric light bending devices. A rotation mechanism allows the light bending devices to be rotated in opposite directions relative to one another in a synchronic manner that carries a line of sight through the aiming device to move along a substantially straight vertical line as the rotation mechanism is rotated. The rotation mechanism is calibrated to show how much rotation causes the line of sight to pass through where a projectile launched from the projectile launcher would be when it reaches a particular distance from the projectile launcher.

1 ) An aiming device for a projectile launcher, comprising: 
 a) first and second light bending elements which are concentrically aligned;    b) a rotation mechanism which allows counter rotation of said first and second light bending elements relative to one another in a synchronous manner such that a line of sight through the aiming device moves along a substantially straight vertical line as said rotation mechanism is rotated;    c) a calibration element associated with said rotation mechanism which indicates the amount of rotation of said rotation mechanism that causes said line of sight to pass through the point where a projectile launched by the projectile launcher will be when it reaches a particular distance from the projectile launcher.    
   
   
       2 ) The aiming device of  claim 1  wherein said light bending elements are wedge-shaped prisms.  
   
   
       3 ) The aiming device of  claim 1  wherein said rotation mechanism allows both of said light bending elements to be rotated 180 degrees.  
   
   
       4 ) The aiming device of  claim 1  wherein said light bending elements are located in an elongate tubular shell.  
   
   
       5 ) The aiming device of  claim 1  wherein light bending elements are mounted in two rotatable rings and the light bending element in one ring is equal to the light-bending element in the other ring.  
   
   
       6 ) The aiming device of  claim 5  wherein said rotation mechanism comprises of one or more cable-like linkages between said rotatable rings.  
   
   
       7 ) The aiming device of  claim 6  wherein said one or more cable-like linkages include two or more rollers to change the direction of the tension of said cable-like linkages.  
   
   
       8 ) The aiming device of  claim 5  wherein the said rotation mechanism comprises said rotatable rings having gear-like ridges that facilitate the synchronization of concentric opposite rotation of said rotatable rings.  
   
   
       9 ) The aiming device of  claim 8  wherein said rotation mechanism comprises gear-like linkage between said rotatable rings.  
   
   
       10 ) The aiming device of  claim 9  wherein said gear-like linkage includes one gear-like link.  
   
   
       11 ) The aiming device of  claim 9  wherein said gear-like linkage includes more than one gear-like link.  
   
   
       12 ) The aiming device of  claim 11  wherein the gear-like linkage is staggered in relationship to the rotatable rings such that at least one or more of the gear-like linkages is not in the same phase of engagement with said gear-like ridges.  
   
   
       13 ) The aiming device of  claim 5  wherein said rotation elements include friction engagement elements which facilitate the synchronization of the concentric opposite rotation of said rings.  
   
   
       14 ) The aiming device of  claim 13  wherein said friction engagement elements include rollers.  
   
   
       15 ) The image-moving device of  claim 14  wherein there is one of said rollers.  
   
   
       16 ) The image-moving device of  claim 14  wherein there are more than one of said rollers.  
   
   
       17 ) The device of  claim 5  wherein said rotation elements include a ridged linkage which synchronizes the concentric opposite rotation of said rings.  
   
   
       18 ) The device of  claim 17  wherein said ridged linkage is linked to a common point that when moved causes a synchronized and concentric opposite rotation of said rings.