U.S. Pat. No. 9,717,995

Drawings - Reference Numerals10Attachment unit134aUpper elastic support ring11Mounting arm134bUpper elastic support ring111Threaded hinge knuckle135aLower elastic support ring112Pivot sleeve135bLower elastic support ring1121Pivot set screw hole14Rod arm hub113Retaining brackets141Rod arm insertion hole12Stabilizing arm142Rod arm set screw hole121Hinge knuckle143Pivot insertion hole122Counterweight sleeve15Pivot13Sighting unit16Rod arm set thumbscrew131Sight17Pivot set thumbscrew1311Attachment arm18Hinge pin1312Rod insertion hole19Hinge pin wingnut132Rod20Counterweights133Rod arm21Counterweight shaft1331Rod insertion hole22Counterweight thumbscrews23Prior art computer ortelevision monitor(shown in broken lines)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

One embodiment of the aiming aid device is illustrated inFIG. 1(exploded perspective view) andFIG. 2(close-up exploded perspective view). Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of an embodiment of present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, in one embodiment, the aiming aid device consists of two main units. An attachment unit10is used to mount the device on the top edge of a computer or television monitor. A sighting unit13is pivotably connected to the attachment unit10, serving as a means for adjustably connecting a sight131to the attachment unit10.

In the attachment unit10, a mounting arm11is pivotably connected to a stabilizing arm12using a hinge. The hinge comprises a threaded hinge pin18, a threaded hinge knuckle111, and a hinge knuckle121. The threaded hinge knuckle111is part of the mounting arm11, and the hinge knuckle121is part of the stabilizing arm12. One end of the hinge pin is tightly screwed into the threaded hinge knuckle111. The other end of the hinge pin is inserted through the hinge knuckle121, so that a portion of the pin protrudes outside the hinge knuckle. A hinge pin wingnut19is screwed onto this end of the hinge pin. The wingnut is used to secure the connection of the mounting arm and the stabilizing arm via the hinge bearing, while allowing for relative rotation of the mounting arm11and the stabilizing arm12around the hinge pin.

The stabilizing arm12comprises the hinge knuckle121on one end, and a counterweight sleeve122on its other end. A counterweight shaft21is inserted through the sleeve122, with the shaft's ends protruding equally on either side of the sleeve. The shaft has threaded holes in either of its bases. Cylindrical counterweights20are threaded onto each end of the shaft. The lengths of the shaft and of the counterweights are such that each of the shaft bases is flush with the surface of the outside bases of the counterweights. Counterweight thumbscrews22are screwed into the threaded holes in the shaft to secure the counterweights in place.

The general shape of the mounting arm11resembles the capital letter “T”, as shown onFIG. 1. The mounting arm comprises the threaded hinge knuckle111on one end, a pair of retaining brackets113on the other end, and a pivot sleeve112closer to the threaded hinge knuckle. The pivot sleeve112has a threaded pivot set screw hole1121at the top.

A pivot15has an unthreaded section roughly equivalent in length to the length of the sleeve112. This unthreaded section of the pivot is inserted into the sleeve112. The sizes of the cross-section of the pivot15and of the sleeve112are such that the pivot can move freely inside and through the sleeve. A pivot set thumbscrew17is screwed into the hole1121. When the thumbscrew17is fully tightened against the pivot15inside the sleeve112, it sets the pivot in place relative to the sleeve. Releasing the thumbscrew allows for the pivot to move freely inside the sleeve, or to be extracted from the sleeve.

The pivot15has a threaded section that protrudes outside the sleeve112when the pivot is inserted into the sleeve. The threaded section of the pivot is screwed into a threaded pivot insertion hole143in a rod arm hub14. The pivot is tightened inside the hole143so that it bears firmly against the back of the hole. The rod arm hub14is cylindrical in shape. It has a rod arm insertion hole141, and a threaded rod arm set screw hole142. A rod arm set thumbscrew16is screwed into the hole142.

The sighting unit13is shown in greater detail onFIG. 2. The unit comprises the sight131, a rod132(the full length of rod not shown onFIG. 2in the interest of demonstrating other parts in higher detail), a rod arm133, upper elastic support rings134aand134b, and lower elastic support rings135aand135b. The sight131illustrated here is in a shape of a thin circle segment with a triangular post. The apex of the triangular post is located at the center of the circle. An attachment arm1311is immovably joined with the outside surface of the circle segment, and extends at a right angle to the vertical axis of the triangular post. The attachment arm1131is rectangular in cross-section. The attachment arm1131has a rod insertion hole1312in the arm's distal portion. The direction of the hole is parallel to the vertical axis of the triangular post.

The sight131is attached to the rod132by means of inserting the bottom end of the rod through the lower support ring135a, through the rod insertion hole1312in the attachment arm1311of the sight131, and through the lower support ring135b. The elastic support rings135aand135bare of such size as to impart sufficient frictional resistance against the rod132to prevent the sight from sliding down the rod under the effect of gravity. The rings are also pliant enough to allow the user to move them up and down the rod. The diameter of the rod insertion hole1312is slightly larger than the diameter of the cross-section of the rod132. This allows for the user to insert the rod132through the rod insertion hole, and enables the user to rotate the sight131around the rod132, with minimal amount of manual force.

The rod arm133is rectangular in cross-section, and has a rod insertion hole1331in close proximity of one of its ends. The rod arm is attached to the rod132by inserting the top end of the rod through the upper elastic support ring134b, through the rod insertion hole1331in the rod arm133, and through the upper elastic support ring134a. The elastic support rings134aand134bare identical to the elastic support rings135aand135b. The rings are of such size as to impart sufficient frictional resistance against the rod132to prevent the rod, with the sight131attached to it, from sliding down through the hole1331under the effect of gravity. The rings are also pliant enough to allow the user to move them up and down the rod.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the opposite end of the rod arm133is inserted into the rod arm insertion hole141of the rod arm hub14. The relative sizes of the hole141and of the cross-section of the rod arm133are such as to allow the rod arm to rotate freely inside the hole, and move freely through it. When the rod arm set thumbscrew16is fully tightened against the rod arm133inside the rod arm hub14, it fixes the rod arm in place relative to the hub. Releasing the thumbscrew allows for the rod arm to move freely inside the hole141of the hub, or to be extracted from the hub.

With the exception of the elastic support rings134a,134b,135a, and135b, the parts of the aiming aid device are made of any suitable rigid material or a combination of such materials, such as molded polypropylene, other types of plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, and the like. The parts are made so that they do not contain any sharp edges or rough surfaces, so as to not damage the surfaces the device comes in contact with during use. The elastic support rings134a,134b,135a, and135bare made of rubber or any other rubber-like elastic material that provides necessary properties as described above.

Operation

FIGS. 3(front perspective view),4(front view), and5(side view) illustrate the aiming aid device assembled and deployed in a typical manner, mounted on top of a prior-art computer or television monitor23. The monitor is depicted in broken lines.

The user predetermines the location on the screen of the monitor23that corresponds to the location in the software-generated visual environment to which the software directs projectiles. Normally this location corresponds to the center of the viewable area of the screen. The user then installs the aiming aid device as depicted onFIGS. 3 and 4, so that the sight131is positioned in front of the monitor23, in a plane approximately parallel to the screen. The user then utilizes the sight131to align one's line of vision with the center of the sight131and with the predetermined location on the screen. The user then utilizes the controls of the software to cause the protagonist to launch projectiles when the intended target is anticipated to be in the area indicated by one's line of vision through the sight131to the predetermined location on the screen.

To achieve the desired positioning of the aiming aid device, the attachment unit10is mounted in the middle of the top edge of the monitor23. The mounting arm11rests horizontally on the horizontal aspect of the top edge of the monitor23. The retaining brackets113descend downward in front of the bezel of the monitor. The mounting arm and its retaining brackets thus abut the top edge of the monitor. If there's a webcam built into that area of the bezel of the monitor, the user places the mounting arm11so that the retaining brackets113are located on either side of the webcam.

The stabilizing arm12is pivoted downward at the hinge and extends downward behind the monitor23, at such an angle as to allow the counterweights20to rest against the back of the monitor. Installed in this manner, the mounting arm and the stabilizing arm form an L-shaped bracket assembly that abuts the top edge of the monitor. The retaining brackets113prevent the aiming aid device from tipping back behind the monitor. The counterweights20, resting against the back of the monitor, prevent the aiming aid device from tipping forward in front of the monitor. The user can easily lift the entire device up, or slide it along the top edge of the monitor, to adjust its position.

The mounting arm11is of sufficient length so as to accommodate depths of typical flat-screen monitors. If the depth of a monitor doesn't allow for the stabilizing arm12to descend behind the monitor, the hinge can be used to extend the stabilizing arm12on the same plane as the mounting arm11, and for it to rest horizontally on the horizontal aspect of the top edge of the monitor.

The sighting unit13is pivotably connected to the mounting arm11via the rod arm hub14, the pivot15, and the pivot sleeve112. To utilize the sight131for aiming, the user releases the pivot set thumbscrew17to allow for the pivot15to rotate inside the pivot sleeve112, and rotates the pivot so that the rod132descends downward in front of the monitor. The sight131is rotated around the rod132so that the sight is positioned in a plane approximately parallel to the screen of the monitor. To adjust the distance of this plane from the screen of the monitor, the user releases the rod arm set thumbscrew16, and slides the rod arm133closer towards the user or further towards the back of the monitor. Once the desired distance is achieved, the user fully tightens the rod arm set thumbscrew16against the rod arm133.

To achieve desired positioning of the sight131in a plane approximately parallel to the screen of the monitor23, the user can adjust the sight's vertical and horizontal position along this plane in a number of ways:

(a) Move the entire aiming aid device along the top edge of the monitor, thus changing the horizontal position of the sight131.

(b) Slide the sight131up or down the rod132, thus changing the vertical position of the sight.

(c) Adjust the length of the segment of the rod132extending downward from the rod insertion hole1331. This is achieved by sliding the rod132up or down through the rod insertion hole1331in the rod arm133. This effectively changes the vertical position of the sight131. Normally, only a small portion of the rod132protrudes under the sight's attachment arm1311, sufficient to attach the lower elastic support ring135b. The rest of the rod extends upward from the sight's attachment arm1311.

(d) Release the pivot set thumbscrew17and move the pivot15along the axis of the pivot sleeve112, thus changing the horizontal position of the sight131. Once the desired position shift is achieved, the user fully tightens the pivot set thumbscrew17against the pivot15.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate the aiming aid device mounted on a monitor23, depicted in broken lines, with the sighting unit13rotated so as to be positioned outside the line of vision between the user and the screen of the monitor. This allows the user to temporarily discontinue the use of the sighting unit13without having to remove the entire amining aid device from the monitor.

To achieve the position depicted onFIG. 6the user releases the rod arm set thumbscrew16, rotates the rod arm133by 90 degrees clockwise inside the rod arm insertion hole141of the rod arm hub14, so that the rod132is fully above the top edge of the monitor23, and then tightens the rod arm set thumbscrew16fully against the rod arm133.

To achieve the position depicted onFIG. 7the user releases the pivot set thumbscrew17, then rotates the pivot15inside the pivot sleeve112until the sighting unit13is in the desired position fully above the top edge of the monitor23, and then tightens the pivot set thumbscrew17against the pivot15.

Alternative Embodiments

There are various possibilities with regard to materials, shapes, and dimensions of the aiming aid device and its components, and the mechanisms of mechanically connecting the components.

The sight131can be of any shape suitable for assisting with aiming. The sight can be constructed in a modular manner that allows the user to adjust its dimensions as desired.

The sight can be implemented using a transparent digital screen, well known in the art, with a reticle digitally displayed on the screen.

The dimensions of rod132can be changed to accommodate monitors of various sizes. The rod can be made extendable using a telescopic mechanism well known in the art. The rod can be made in a modular manner that allows the user to adjust its length as needed. Crank-driven geared mechanisms, such as rack and pinion or worm (helical) geared, well known in the art, can be used to adjust the position of the rod.

The sight can be suspended from a wire, with the attachment unit10attached to the top edge of the monitor. The wire can be permanently attached to the attachment unit. Alternatively, a toggle, well known in the art and similar to the types of drawstring toggles used in the clothing or luggage gear industry, can be attached to the attachment unit so that the length of the wire between the attachment unit the sight can be manually adjusted and then fixed using the toggle, with the extra length of the wire hidden behind the monitor.

The attachment unit can be implemented using a clamp, a conventional device well known in the art. Any suitable type of clamp can be used, and clamps of varying sizes can be used to accommodate monitors of various sizes. The attachment unit may consist of two clamps attached to opposing edges of the monitor, with the sight suspended in the desired position on two taught wires attaching to each of the clamps.

The attachment unit can be implemented using a handle made of pliable material, a method well known in the art and similar to the types of handles used to mount web cameras on top of computer monitors. The user can adjust the shape of the handle so that it abuts the top edge of the monitor.

Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, the reader will see that the aiming aid device of the various embodiments provides a convenient, effective, and aesthetically pleasing way to use an external sight in first-person video games and video simulators. The device obviates the need to alter the surface of the screen of the monitor. The device can be easily installed or removed without the danger of soiling or damaging the screen, either with the device's parts or with the user's hands. The device allows for the sighting unit to be easily moved out of the line of vision between the user and the monitor, without requiring for the entire device to be removed. The device allows for the sighting unit to be then easily redeployed when needed, without requiring the user to reattach the entire device and redetermine its proper positioning.

Furthermore, the aiming aid device positions the sight in a plane approximately parallel to the screen of the monitor, and located between the user and the monitor. This creates an additional focus plane for the user, creating a new user experience.

Additionally, the aiming aid device can be highly customizable to suit a variety of user environments, needs, and preferences.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the sight can have other shapes, or implemented using a transparent digital screen with a reticle digitally displayed on it. Various mechanisms can be used to implement the attachment unit; for example, a clamp or a clip can be used to attach the device to any of the edges of the monitor. A variety of mechanisms can be used to attach the sight to the attachment unit and regulate the sight's position, such as a telescopic rod or a wire.

Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.