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. A horizontal reference axis of the aperture body extends through the horizontally 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 define a corner vertically offset above the horizontal reference axis and equidistant between the horizontally opposing corners. The first pair of the sides are of approximately equal length.

1 . 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, wherein a horizontal reference axis of the aperture body extends through said horizontally 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, wherein the first pair of said sides define a corner vertically offset above the horizontal reference axis and equidistant between said horizontally opposing corners and wherein the first pair of said sides are of approximately equal length.   
   
   
       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 the horizontal reference axis that extends through said horizontally opposing corners of the 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 a vertical reference axis extending through said vertically offset corner.   
   
   
       4 . The sighting device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the aperture body has a front surface and a rear surface; and   the sighting aperture extends therebetween.   
   
   
       5 . The sighting device of  claim 4  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.   
   
   
       6 . The sighting device of claim  31 , 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 a vertical reference axis extending through said vertically offset corner 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.   
   
   
       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 sighting aperture when the 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 the horizontal reference axis thereof; 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.   
   
   
       9 . The sighting device of  claim 7 , 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 sighting device aperture 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.   
   
   
       10 . A sighting device, comprising:
 an aperture body including a plurality of elongated members interconnected at end portions thereof to define a sighting aperture, wherein the sighting aperture includes horizontally opposing corners, wherein a horizontal reference axis of the aperture body extends through said horizontally opposing corners such that a first pair of said elongated members are entirely above the horizontal reference axis and a second pair of said elongated members are entirely below the horizontal reference axis, wherein the first pair of said elongated members define a corner vertically offset above the horizontal reference axis and equidistant between said horizontally opposing corners and wherein the first pair of said elongated members 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 a vertical reference axis extending through said vertically offset corner.   
   
   
       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 a vertical reference axis extending through said vertically offset corner 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 a vertical reference axis extending through said vertically offset corner.   
   
   
       18 . The sighting device of  claim 16 , 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 sighting device aperture 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 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 one of sighting apertures includes four intersecting sides that jointly define horizontally 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 one of said sighting apertures define a respective corner vertically offset above the respective horizontal reference axis, wherein the first 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 offset corner thereof has 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 the vertical reference axis of the aperture body whereby the sighting device 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.   
   
   
       20 . The sighting device of  claim 19 , 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.   
   
   
       21 . The sighting device of  claim 20 , 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.   
   
   
       22 . The sighting device of  claim 19 , 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 either one of said aperture carrying legs is in the respective use orientation.   
   
   
       23 . The sighting device of  claim 22 , 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.