Aperture sighting device

Abstract

A sighting device includes an aperture body having a sighting aperture therein. The sighting aperture includes four intersecting sides that jointly define horizontally opposing corners and vertically opposing corners. A horizontal reference axis of the aperture body extends through the horizontally opposing corners and a vertical reference axis of the aperture body extends through the vertically opposing corners such that a first pair of the sides are entirely above the horizontal reference axis and a second pair of the sides are entirely below the horizontal reference axis. The first pair of the sides are of approximately equal length and the second pair of the sides are of approximately equal length.

1 . A sighting device, comprising:
 an aperture body having a rhombus shaped sighting aperture therein, wherein the rhombus shaped sighting aperture is oriented such that a vertical reference axis of the aperture body extends through vertically opposing corners of the rhombus shaped sighting aperture.   
   
   
       2 . The sighting device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 side posts extending outwardly from respective peripheral edge portions of the aperture body, wherein said side posts extend from the aperture body along a horizontal reference axis that extends through horizontally opposing corners of the rhombus shaped sighting aperture.   
   
   
       3 . The sighting device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of the aperture body, wherein the top post extends from the aperture body along the vertical reference axis.   
   
   
       4 . The sighting device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the aperture body has a front surface and a rear surface; and   the rhombus shaped sighting aperture extends therebetween.   
   
   
       5 . The sighting device of  claim 4  wherein:
 edges defining the rhombus shaped sighting aperture at the front surface are each a first length; and   edges defining the rhombus shaped sighting aperture at the rear surface are each a second length different than the first length.   
   
   
       6 . The sighting device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure having a first attachment portion configured for being attached to a mounting structure of an apparatus requiring precision aiming and a second attachment portion having the aperture body pivotably attached thereto, wherein the aperture body is pivotable about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical reference axis of the rhombus shaped aperture body whereby the aperture body is pivotable to a first position such that the sighting aperture is in a use orientation with respect to the mounting structure and to a second position such that the rhombus shaped sighting aperture is in a non-use orientation with respect to the mounting structure.   
   
   
       7 . The sighting device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a shade cover attached to at least one of the mounting structure and the aperture body, wherein the shade cover extends at least partially over the aperture body and wherein the shade cover and the mounting structure are jointly configured for providing an unobstructed line of sight through the rhombus shaped sighting aperture when the rhombus shaped sighting aperture is in the use orientation.   
   
   
       8 . The sighting device of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 side posts extending outwardly from respective peripheral edge portions of the aperture body, wherein said side posts extend from the aperture body along a horizontal reference axis that extends through horizontally opposing corners of the rhombus shaped sighting aperture; and   a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of the aperture body, wherein the top post extends from the aperture body along the vertical reference axis extending through said vertically opposing corners.   
   
   
       9 . The sighting device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure having a first attachment portion configured for being attached to a mounting structure of an apparatus requiring precision aiming and a second attachment portion having the aperture body attached thereto in a manner allowing the aperture body to be retained in a use orientation with respect to the mounting structure; and   a shade cover attached to at least one of the mounting structure and the aperture body, wherein the shade cover extends at least partially over the aperture body and wherein the shade cover and the mounting structure are jointly configured for providing an unobstructed line of sight through the rhombus shaped sighting aperture when the rhombus shaped sighting aperture is in the use orientation.   
   
   
       10 . A sighting device, comprising:
 an aperture body having a sighting aperture therein, wherein the sighting aperture includes four intersecting sides that jointly define horizontally opposing corners and vertically opposing corners, wherein a horizontal reference axis of the aperture body extends through said horizontally opposing corners and a vertical reference axis of the aperture body extends through said vertically opposing corners such that a first pair of said sides are entirely above the horizontal reference axis and a second pair of said sides are entirely below the horizontal reference axis and wherein the first pair of said sides are of approximately equal length and the second pair of said sides are of approximately equal length.   
   
   
       11 . The sighting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 side posts extending outwardly from respective peripheral edge portions of the aperture body, wherein said side posts extend from the aperture body along the horizontal reference axis.   
   
   
       12 . The sighting device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of the aperture body, wherein the top post extends from the aperture body along the vertical reference axis extending through said vertically opposing corners.   
   
   
       13 . The sighting device of  claim 10  wherein:
 the aperture body has a front surface and a rear surface; and   the sighting aperture extends therebetween.   
   
   
       14 . The sighting device of  claim 13  wherein:
 edges defining the sighting aperture at the front surface are each a first length; and   edges defining the sighting aperture at the rear surface are each a second length different than the first length.   
   
   
       15 . The sighting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure having a first attachment portion configured for being attached to a mounting structure of an apparatus requiring precision aiming and a second attachment portion having the aperture body pivotably attached thereto, wherein the aperture body is pivotable about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical reference axis whereby the aperture body is pivotable to a first position such that the sighting aperture is in a use orientation with respect to the mounting structure and to a second position such that the sighting aperture is in a non-use orientation with respect to the mounting structure.   
   
   
       16 . The sighting device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a shade cover attached to at least one of the mounting structure and the aperture body, wherein the shade cover extends at least partially over the aperture body and wherein the shade cover and the mounting structure are jointly configured for providing an unobstructed line of sight through the sighting aperture when the sighting aperture is in the use orientation.   
   
   
       17 . The sighting device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 side posts extending outwardly from respective peripheral edge portions of the aperture body, wherein said side posts extend from the aperture body along the horizontal reference axis; and   a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of the aperture body, wherein the top post extends from the aperture body along the vertical reference axis.   
   
   
       18 . The sighting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure having a first attachment portion configured for being attached to a mounting structure of an apparatus requiring precision aiming and a second attachment portion having the aperture body attached thereto in a manner allowing the aperture body to be retained in a use orientation with respect to the mounting structure; and   a shade cover attached to at least one of the mounting structure and the aperture body, wherein the shade cover extends at least partially over the aperture body and wherein the shade cover and the mounting structure are jointly configured for providing an unobstructed line of sight through the sighting aperture when the sighting aperture is in the use orientation.   
   
   
       19 . A sighting device, comprising:
 an aperture body having a rhombus shaped aperture therein, wherein a vertical reference axis of the aperture body extends through vertically opposed corners of the rhombus shaped aperture and a horizontal reference axis of the aperture body extends through horizontally opposed corners of the rhombus shaped aperture, wherein each edge portion of the rhombus shaped aperture above the horizontal reference axis extends substantially parallel to an adjacent respective peripheral edge portion of the aperture body; and   side posts extending outwardly from respective peripheral edge portions of the aperture body, wherein said side posts extend from the aperture body along the horizontal reference axis.   
   
   
       20 . The sighting device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of the aperture body, wherein the top post extends from the aperture body along a vertical reference axis extending through said vertically opposing corners.   
   
   
       21 . The sighting device of  claim 19  wherein:
 the aperture body has a front surface and a rear surface; and   the rhombus shaped sighting aperture extends therebetween.   
   
   
       22 . The sighting device of  claim 21  wherein:
 edges defining the rhombus shaped sighting aperture at the front surface are each a first length; and   edges defining the rhombus shaped sighting aperture at the rear surface are each a second length different than the first length.   
   
   
       23 . The sighting device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure having a first attachment portion configured for being attached to a mounting structure of an apparatus requiring precision aiming and a second attachment portion having the aperture body pivotably attached thereto, wherein the aperture body is pivotable about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical reference axis of the aperture body whereby the aperture body is pivotable to a first position such that the rhombus shaped sighting aperture is in a use orientation with respect to the mounting structure and to a second position such that the rhombus shaped sighting aperture is in a non-use orientation with respect to the mounting structure.   
   
   
       24 . The sighting device of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a shade cover attached to at least one of the mounting structure and the aperture body, wherein the shade cover extends at least partially over the aperture body and wherein the shade cover and the mounting structure are jointly configured for providing an unobstructed line of sight through the rhombus shaped sighting aperture when the rhombus shaped sighting aperture is in the use orientation.   
   
   
       25 . The sighting device of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of the aperture body, wherein the top post extends from the aperture body along the vertical reference axis.   
   
   
       26 . The sighting device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure having a first attachment portion configured for being attached to a mounting structure of an apparatus requiring precision aiming and a second attachment portion having the aperture body attached thereto in a manner allowing the aperture body to be retained in a use orientation with respect to the mounting structure; and   a shade cover attached to at least one of the mounting structure and the aperture body, wherein the shade cover extends at least partially over the aperture body and wherein the shade cover and the mounting structure are jointly configured for providing an unobstructed line of sight through the rhombus shaped sighting aperture when the sighting aperture is in the use orientation.   
   
   
       27 . A sighting device assembly, comprising:
 an aperture body having a plurality of aperture carrying legs, wherein each one of said aperture carrying legs has a sighting aperture therein, wherein each sighting aperture includes four intersecting sides that jointly define horizontally opposing corners and vertically opposing corners, wherein each one of said aperture carrying legs has a respective horizontal reference axis that extends through said horizontally opposing corners thereof such that a first pair of said sides of the respective sighting aperture are entirely above the respective horizontal reference axis and a second pair of said sides of the respective sighting aperture are entirely below the respective horizontal reference axis, wherein the first pair of said sides of each sighting aperture are of a respective approximate equal length and the second pair of said sides of each sighting aperture are of a respective approximate equal length and wherein each sighting aperture is oriented such that said vertically opposing corners thereof have a respective radial reference axis of the aperture body extending therethrough; and   a mounting structure having a first attachment portion configured for being attached to a mounting structure of an apparatus requiring precision aiming and a second attachment portion having the aperture body pivotably attached thereto, wherein the aperture body is pivotable about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to said radial reference axes of the aperture body whereby the aperture body is pivotable to a first position such that a first one of said aperture carrying legs is in a respective use orientation and to a second position such that a second one of said aperture carrying legs is in a respective use position.   
   
   
       28 . The sighting device of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 side posts extending outwardly from respective peripheral edge portions of each one of said aperture carrying legs, wherein said side posts extend from each one of said aperture carrying legs along the respective horizontal reference axis thereof.   
   
   
       29 . The sighting device of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of each one of said aperture carrying legs, wherein the top post extends from each one of said the aperture carrying legs along the respective radial reference axis thereof.   
   
   
       30 . The sighting device of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a shade cover attached to at least one of the mounting structure and the aperture body, wherein the shade cover extends at least partially over the aperture body and wherein the shade cover and the mounting structure are jointly configured for providing an unobstructed line of sight through the sighting aperture in the respective use orientation.   
   
   
       31 . The sighting device of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 side posts extending outwardly from respective peripheral edge portions of each one of said aperture carrying legs, wherein said side posts extend from each one of said aperture carrying legs along the respective horizontal reference axis thereof; and   a top post extending upwardly from a respective peripheral edge portion of each one of said aperture carrying legs, wherein the top post extends from each one of said the aperture carrying legs along the respective radial reference axis thereof.