Illuminated Sight for use with Firearms and other instruments

Abstract

A front sight assembly includes a self powered substantially permanent light source such as tritium source carried within a bore defined in a housing, where the housing preferably defines a structure symmetrically aligned along a central plane, where the bore carrying the light source has a central axis that lies within or parallel to the housing's central plane. The sight assembly housing terminates proximally in a proximal surface that faces the user when mounted on a firearm or other instrument. The sight assembly housing's proximal surface further includes a region surrounding or defining a periphery around the light source which is coated with, laminated with or altered to define a region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of light source.

1 . A sight assembly, comprising:
 a first self powered substantially permanent light source carried within a bore defined in a housing;   wherein said sight housing preferably defines an elongate substantially planar segment symmetrically aligned along a central plane,   wherein said sight assembly terminates proximally in a proximal surface that will face the user; and   wherein said sight assembly housing's proximal surface further includes a region surrounding or defining a periphery around said light source which is altered to define a region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said light source.   
   
   
       2 . The sight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first self powered substantially permanent light source comprises a tritium vial carried within the bore defined in said housing. 
   
   
       3 . The sight assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said bore carrying said tritium vial has a central axis within or parallel to said housing's central plane. 
   
   
       4 . The sight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sight assembly's proximal surface that will face the user when the sight assembly is mounted on a firearm near the muzzle. 
   
   
       5 . The sight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said region surrounding or defining a periphery around said light source which is coated with a substance to define said region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said light source. 
   
   
       6 . The sight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said region surrounding or defining a periphery around said light source which is laminated with a substance to define said region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said light source. 
   
   
       7 . The sight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the region surrounding or defining a periphery around said light source is defined within a counterbore, thereby providing a protective proximally projecting encircling wall around the photo-luminescent region and light source. 
   
   
       8 . The sight assembly of  claim 7 , wherein, when using a pistol or other firearm equipped with the sight assembly of the present invention, the user looks down the central axis of the counterbore, so that the protection is provided without any adverse impact upon the visibility of the photo-luminescent region or light source. 
   
   
       9 . A sight assembly, comprising:
 a sight body with a proximal surface and an upper surface, said body including an elongate substantially longitudinal notch defined in said upper surface and symmetrically aligned along a central axis, wherein said sight body's proximal surface is defined around said notch's proximal end so said proximal surface faces the user whereby the user can sight along said notch;   a first self powered substantially permanent light source carried within a first bore defined in the housing;   a second self powered substantially permanent light source carried within a second bore defined in the housing;   wherein said sight assembly housing's proximal surface further includes a first region surrounding or defining a periphery around said first light source which is altered to define a region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said first light source; and   wherein said sight assembly housing's proximal surface further includes a second region surrounding or defining a periphery around said second light source which is altered to define a region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said second light source.   
   
   
       10 . The sight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said first and second self powered substantially permanent light sources each comprises a tritium vial carried within said bores defined in said housing. 
   
   
       11 . The sight assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first bore carrying said first tritium vial has a central axis parallel to said housing's central axis. 
   
   
       12 . The sight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said sight assembly's proximal surface that will face the user when the sight assembly is mounted proximally on a firearm. 
   
   
       13 . The sight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said first region surrounding or defining a periphery around said first light source which is coated with a substance to define said first region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said first light source. 
   
   
       14 . The sight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said first region surrounding or defining a periphery around said first light source which is laminated with a substance to define said first region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said first light source. 
   
   
       15 . The sight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first region surrounding or defining a periphery around said first light source is defined within a first counterbore, thereby providing a protective proximally projecting encircling wall around the first photo-luminescent region and first light source. 
   
   
       16 . The sight assembly of  claim 15 , wherein, when using a pistol or other firearm equipped with the sight assembly of the present invention, the user looks down the central axis of the sight body and through the notch, so that the protection is provided without any adverse impact upon the visibility of the first photo-luminescent region or first light source. 
   
   
       17 . A sight assembly, comprising:
 a housing adapted to be mounted to an instrument or firearm;   a first self powered substantially permanent light source which generates light in a first selected color, wherein said light source is carried within a bore defined in the housing;   wherein said sight assembly terminates proximally in a proximal surface that will face the user when grasping the instrument or firearm;   wherein said sight assembly housing's proximal surface further includes a region surrounding or defining a periphery around said light source which is altered to define a region of photo-luminescence that is substantially concentric with the center of the visible portion of said light source; and   wherein said region of photo-luminescence defines a region which emits light in a second color.   
   
   
       18 . The sight assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said first selected color is selected from the colors green, yellow and orange. 
   
   
       19 . The sight assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said region of photo-luminescence emits light in a second color which is selected from the colors white, orange and green. 
   
   
       20 . The sight assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the region surrounding or defining a periphery around said light source is defined within a counterbore, thereby providing a protective proximally projecting encircling wall around the photo-luminescent region and light source.