Pendulum crosshair for weapon sight

Abstract

The pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight incorporates a thin, rigid wire pivotally suspended at its upper end to a point at or immediately above the peripheral end point of the fixed vertical crosshair in the reticle of a weapon sight. If the weapon, and thus the sight, is tilted or canted from the vertical when aiming, the pendulum crosshair will misalign with the fixed vertical crosshair in the sight to indicate to the shooter that the weapon is canted. This allows the shooter to correct the cant or tilt of the weapon to avoid the lateral displacement of the shot that would otherwise occur due to lateral displacement of the elevation correction for the sight line.

1 . A pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight, comprising:
 a sight reticle support defining a periphery;   a fixed vertical crosshair disposed diametrically across the sight reticle support, the fixed vertical crosshair having an upper end adjacent the periphery of the sight reticle support;   a pendulum crosshair mount disposed at the periphery of the sight reticle support adjacent the upper end of the fixed vertical crosshair; and   a movable crosshair pivotally suspended from the crosshair mount.   
     
     
         2 . The pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight according to  claim 1 , further comprising a weapon sight, the sight reticle support being mounted in the weapon sight. 
     
     
         3 . The pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight according to  claim 2 , wherein the weapon sight is a firearm telescopic sight. 
     
     
         4 . The pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight according to  claim 2 , wherein the weapon sight is an archery bowsight. 
     
     
         5 . The pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight according to  claim 1 , wherein the sight reticle support has a vertical span, the movable crosshair having a length substantially one-half the vertical span of the sight reticle support. 
     
     
         6 . The pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight according to  claim 1 , wherein the pendulum crosshair attachment is a pin, the pendulum crosshair being suspended from the pin, the pendulum crosshair further comprising a spacer disposed on the pin between the pendulum crosshair and the periphery of the sight reticle support. 
     
     
         7 . The pendulum crosshair for a weapon sight according to  claim 1 , wherein the pendulum crosshair is a thin metal wire. 
     
     
         8 . A sight, comprising a weapon sight having a pendulum crosshair assembly, the assembly having:
 a sight reticle support mounted in the weapon sight, the sight reticle support defining a periphery;   a fixed vertical crosshair disposed diametrically across the sight reticle support, the fixed vertical crosshair having an upper end adjacent the periphery of the sight reticle support;   a pendulum crosshair pivot disposed adjacent the upper end of the fixed vertical crosshair and axially aligned therewith; and   a movable crosshair pivotally suspended from the crosshair pivot.   
     
     
         9 . The sight according to  claim 8 , wherein the weapon sight is a firearm telescopic sight. 
     
     
         10 . The sight according to  claim 8 , wherein the weapon sight is an archery bowsight. 
     
     
         11 . The sight according to  claim 8 , wherein the sight reticle support has a vertical span, the movable crosshair having a length substantially one half the vertical span of the sight reticle support. 
     
     
         12 . The sight according to  claim 8 , wherein the pendulum crosshair attachment is a pin, the pendulum crosshair being suspended from the pin, the sight further comprising a spacer disposed on the pin between the pendulum crosshair and the periphery of the sight reticle support. 
     
     
         13 . The sight according to  claim 8 , wherein the pendulum crosshair is a thin metal wire.