SIGHTING DEVICE WITH MICROSPHERES
An aiming sight has a base, at least one light emitting element on the base, and a clear cover over the light emitting element. The light emitting element is made of light gathering plastic combined with self-luminous microspheres. When ambient light is present, the light emitting element functions as a light gathering rod that emits light from the back end. When no light is present, the light emitting element is self-luminous.
1 . A sighting device for a weapon comprising:
a base having a lower mounting portion for attachment to said weapon and an upper element holder, and
an elongated, translucent light emitting element sized and shaped to mount on said element holder, said light emitting element having a front end, a spaced back end, a light gathering peripheral surface extending between said front and back ends, and a plurality of light emitting microspheres distributed inside said light emitting element between said front and back ends, said back end being shaped to emit light gathered by said peripheral surface and light emitted by said microspheres,
whereby said back end is visible for aiming said weapon in bright light, low light and dark conditions.
2 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light emitting element is made of a mixture of translucent plastic and said microspheres.
3 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plastic is a bright color and is one of green, crimson, yellow and orange.
4 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said microspheres are generally evenly and randomly distributed throughout said light emitting element.
5 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 1 including a clear cover attached to said base, said cover extending over said light emitting element.
6 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said back end of said light emitting element is textured to emit light rearwardly.
7 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said microspheres contain a radioactive gas and particles of a phosphor that emit light in response to radioactive decay in said gas.
8 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said gas is tritium.
9 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 1 :
wherein said base includes a pair of laterally spaced element holders and a sight channel between said element holders, and said mounting portion is sized and shaped to mount near a breech of a firearm, and
including a light emitting element for each said element holder,
whereby a user sights between said light emitting elements.
10 . The sighting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light emitting element is injection molded,
whereby said light emitting element can be made in any selected shape.
11 . A sighting device for a weapon comprising:
a base having a lower mounting portion for attachment to said weapon and an upper element holder,
an elongated light emitting element sized and shaped to mount on said element holder, said light emitting element having a front end, a spaced back end, a light gathering peripheral surface extending between said front and back ends, and a plurality of light emitting microspheres generally evenly and randomly distributed throughout said light emitting element, said back end being textured and shaped to emit light gathered by said peripheral surface and light emitted by said microspheres, said light emitting element being injection molded and made of a mixture of brightly colored, translucent plastic and said microspheres, said microspheres containing tritium gas and particles of a phosphor that emit light in response to radioactive decay in said tritium, and
a clear cover attached to said base, said cover extending over said light emitting element,
whereby said back end is visible for aiming said weapon in bright light, low light and dark conditions.
12 . A sighting device for a weapon comprising:
a base having a lower mounting portion for attachment to said weapon, a pair of laterally spaced upper element holders and a sight channel between said element holders,
an elongated light emitting element for each said element holder sized and shaped to mount on said element holder, each said light emitting element having a front end, a spaced back end, a light gathering peripheral surface extending between said front and back ends, and a plurality of light emitting microspheres generally evenly and randomly distributed throughout said light emitting element, said back end being textured and shaped to emit light gathered by said peripheral surface and light emitted by said microspheres, each said light emitting element being injection molded and made of a mixture of brightly colored, translucent plastic and said microspheres, said microspheres containing tritium gas and particles of a phosphor that emit light in response to radioactive decay in said tritium, and
a clear cover for each said light emitting element, each said cover being attached to said base and extending over said light emitting element,
whereby said back end is visible for aiming said weapon in bright light, low light and dark conditions.