Weapon aiming accessory

Abstract

A weapon aiming accessory system, associated components, and associated methods. A secondary aiming accessory can be selectively used in conjunction with a primary aiming accessory to provide magnification of a target. The secondary aiming accessory is movable between stowed and operational positions. The secondary aiming accessory can include one or more aiming points that can be calibrated with respect to a calibrated aiming point of the primary aiming accessory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weapon aiming system for use by a user, the system comprising:
 a primary aiming accessory comprising a primary sight defining at least one primary aiming point, the primary sight configured to permit the user to view a target through the primary sight to position the primary aiming point in registration with the target along an aiming axis for aiming the weapon at the target;   a secondary aiming accessory comprising a secondary sight, the secondary sight being movably mounted with respect to the primary sight to permit movement of the secondary sight between a stowed position and an operational position, the secondary sight when in the stowed position being located to permit the user to view the target through the primary sight along the aiming axis without looking through the secondary sight, the secondary sight when in the operational position being located to permit the user to view the target through the secondary sight and the primary sight along the aiming axis extending through the primary and secondary sights, the secondary sight including a magnifying lens through which the aiming axis extends in the operational position for magnifying the target as viewed through the secondary sight, the secondary sight including at least one secondary aiming point movable with respect to the primary sight when the secondary sight is in the operational position.   
     
     
         2 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the primary sight comprises a reflector sight. 
     
     
         3 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the primary sight comprises a lens off which a light source is reflected to generate the primary aiming point. 
     
     
         4 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary aiming accessory includes retaining structure configured to maintain the secondary sight in at least one of the stowed position or the operational position. 
     
     
         5 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the retaining structure is configured to hold the secondary sight in the stowed position and in the operational position. 
     
     
         6 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the retaining structure comprises a detent. 
     
     
         7 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary aiming point comprises multiple secondary aiming points including at least a first secondary aiming point and a second secondary aiming point, the second secondary aiming point being located below the first secondary aiming point. 
     
     
         8 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the multiple secondary aiming points comprises a third secondary aiming point, the third secondary aiming point being located below the second secondary aiming point. 
     
     
         9 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary aiming point is movable with respect to the primary sight for windage and elevation adjustment. 
     
     
         10 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary sight includes at least one adjustment actuator operable to move the at least one secondary aiming point with respect to the at least one primary aiming point when the secondary sight is in the operational position. 
     
     
         11 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the primary and secondary aiming accessories are connected to the weapon. 
     
     
         12 . A weapon aiming system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary sight is pivotable about a pivot axis for moving the secondary sight between the stowed and operational positions. 
     
     
         13 . A method of aiming a weapon, the method comprising:
 connecting a secondary sight to a weapon,   viewing a primary sight on the weapon through a magnifying lens of the secondary sight,   moving an aiming point of the secondary sight to calibrate the aiming point with respect to a primary aiming point of the primary sight by viewing the primary aiming point through the magnifying lens of the secondary sight,   selectively moving the secondary sight between a stowed position and an operational position,   when the secondary sight is in the stowed position, looking through the primary sight to aim the weapon at a first target by locating the target in registration with the primary aiming point along an aiming axis, and   when the secondary sight is in the operational position, looking through the primary sight by looking through the secondary sight thereby viewing a second target to aim the weapon at the second target.   
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein selectively moving the secondary sight between the stowed and operational positions comprises pivoting the secondary sight laterally with respect to the aiming axis about a pivot axis. 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising maintaining the secondary sight in the operational position using a detent. 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising, before moving the aiming point of the secondary sight to calibrate the aiming point of the secondary sight, moving the primary aiming point of the primary sight to calibrate the primary aiming point with respect to the weapon. 
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein moving the aiming point of the secondary sight to calibrate the aiming point of the secondary sight with respect to the primary aiming point comprises aligning the aiming point of the secondary sight in registration with the primary aiming point along the aiming axis. 
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein looking through the primary sight by looking through the secondary sight thereby viewing the second target to aim the weapon at the second target comprises aiming at the second target using the aiming point of the secondary sight. 
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the aiming point of the secondary sight is a first aiming point of the secondary sight, and wherein looking through the primary sight by looking through the secondary sight thereby viewing the second target to aim the weapon at the second target comprises using a second secondary aiming point of the secondary sight.