Locking adjustment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11255636-B2
Application number	US-202016807051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2020
Priority date	Jan 4, 2012
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

A locking adjustment device for adjusting a setting of an aimed optical device, such as a riflescope, locks at a home or baseline position to provide expedient feedback regarding an adjustment position of the adjustable setting. The device includes a knob mountable for rotation about a rotational axis when the adjustment device is installed on the aimed optical device, where the knob is rotatable about the rotational axis. The device further includes a catch that automatically locks the knob in the home or baseline position and prevents further rotation of the knob until the catch is released. A lock-release mechanism carried by the knob is manually actuable to disengage the catch and allow the knob to be manually rotated away from the locked position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A riflescope comprising:
a housing;
an adjustable element mounted within the housing; and
a locking adjustment device mounted to the housing, the locking adjustment device including:
a knob rotatable about a rotational axis in a first direction and in an opposite second direction, wherein rotation of the knob about the rotational axis adjusts the adjustable element to change a setting of the riflescope;
a catch including (i) a first member fixedly supported on the riflescope and constrained from rotating about the rotational axis relative to the housing, and (ii) a second member supported by the knob for rotation therewith relative to the first member, wherein the catch defines a home position of the knob at which the first and second members automatically cooperate with one another to prevent further rotation of the knob in both the first and second directions when the knob is at the home position; and
a lock-release mechanism carried by the knob for rotation therewith relative to the first member, wherein the lock-release mechanism is responsive to a manually-applied force to disengage the catch and allow the knob to be rotated from the home position to an adjustment position, and wherein at the adjustment position and all rotational positions about the rotational axis other than the home position, the knob being rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the first member after removal of the manually-applied force from the lock-release mechanism, to thereby adjust the adjustable element and change the setting of the riflescope.

2. The riflescope of claim 1 , wherein the manually-applied force is applied in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob, and wherein the manually-applied force on the lock-release mechanism urges movement of the second member in the radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob.

3. The riflescope of claim 1 , wherein the lock-release mechanism drives the second member in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob in response to the manually-applied force.

4. The riflescope of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element that biases the lock-release mechanism in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob, and wherein at least a portion of the lock-release mechanism protrudes outwardly relative to a surface of the knob when the knob is at the home position.

5. The riflescope of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element that biases the second member in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob.

6. The riflescope of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a notch, and wherein the second member includes a tab, the tab seated within the notch when the knob is at the home position.

7. The riflescope of claim 1 , further comprising a stop fixed relative to the riflescope at a terminal rotational position different from the home position, wherein the stop interferes with the second member of the catch at the terminal rotational position to prevent rotation of the knob beyond the stop in one of the first and second directions, the knob being rotatable from the terminal rotational position in the other of the first and second directions away from the stop without further manual actuation of the lock-release mechanism.

8. The riflescope of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator unit carried by the knob and visible on a surface thereof, wherein the indicator unit is at a first position when the knob is in the home position and at a second position when the knob is in the adjustment position.

9. The riflescope of claim 1 , wherein the lock-release mechanism includes an indicator unit that is visible relative to a surface of the knob, wherein the indicator unit and the lock-release mechanism are at a first position when the knob is in the home position and at a second position when the knob is in the adjustment position.

10. The riflescope of claim 1 , wherein the knob encloses the catch when the knob is coupled to the housing.

11. The riflescope of claim 10 , wherein the knob further includes a scale comprising indicia spaced apart on a circumference of the knob to facilitate fine adjustments.

12. The riflescope of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable element includes a lens assembly, the lens assembly being movable relative to the housing in response to rotation of the knob about the rotational axis.

13. A riflescope comprising:
a housing;
an adjustable element mounted within the housing; and
a locking adjustment device mounted to the housing, the locking adjustment device including:
a ring coupled to the riflescope and constrained from rotation relative to the housing, the ring including a notch defining a home position relative to the housing;
a knob mountable over the ring and rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the ring in a first direction and in an opposite second direction, wherein rotation of the knob about the rotational axis adjusts the adjustable element to change a setting of the riflescope;
a tab moveable relative to the knob, the tab cooperating with the notch when the knob is rotated to the home position at which the tab is aligned with the notch and prevents further rotation of the knob in both the first and second directions when the knob is at the home position; and
a lock-release mechanism carried by the knob for rotation therewith relative to the ring, wherein the lock-release mechanism is responsive to a manually-applied force to urge movement of the tab and allow the knob to be rotated from the home position to an adjustment position, and wherein at the adjustment position and all rotational positions about the rotational axis other than the home position, the knob being rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the ring after removal of the manually-applied force from the lock-release mechanism to thereby adjust the adjustable element and change the setting of the riflescope.

14. The riflescope of claim 13 , wherein the adjustable element includes a lens assembly, the lens assembly being movable relative to the housing in response to rotation of the knob about the rotational axis.

15. The riflescope of claim 13 , wherein the tab is movable within the notch along a radial direction relative to the rotational axis.

16. The riflescope of claim 13 , wherein the lock-release mechanism urges movement of the tab relative to the notch in response to the manually-applied force.

17. The riflescope of claim 13 , wherein the lock-release mechanism drives the tab in a radial direction in response to the manually-applied force.

18. The riflescope of claim 13 , further comprising a biasing element that biases the lock-release mechanism in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob, and wherein at least a portion of the lock-release mechanism protrudes outwardly relative to a surface of the knob when the knob is at the home position.

19. The riflescope of claim 13 , further comprising a biasing element that urges movement of the tab relative to the knob.

20. The riflescope of claim 13 , further comprising an indicator unit carried by the knob and visible on a surface of the knob, wherein the indicator unit is at a first position when the knob is in the home position and at a second position when the knob is in the adjustment position.

Assignees

• Leupold & Stevens Inc

Inventors

• Crispin Quint

Classifications

• F41G1/16 Primary

  Adjusting mechanisms therefor; Mountings therefor · CPC title

• F41G1/38

  Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance (telescopic sights in general G02B); Supports or mountings therefor · CPC title

• G02B23/00

  Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices · CPC title

• F41G1/22

  Friction clamps · CPC title

• F41G1/545

  Tools for adjustment of sights · CPC title