Locking adjustment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022170717-A1
Application number	US-202217651789-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 18, 2022
Priority date	Jan 4, 2012
Publication date	Jun 2, 2022
Grant date	—

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 actuatable to disengage the catch and allow the knob to be manually rotated away from the locked position.

First claim

1 - 11 . (canceled)

12 . A riflescope comprising:
a housing; an adjustable element supported by the housing; and a locking adjustment device mounted to the housing, the locking adjustment device including:
a knob graspable by a user, the knob being manually rotatable relative to the housing 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 defining a home position of the knob whereat the catch prevents rotation of the knob in both the first direction and the second direction; and
a lock-release mechanism carried by the knob for rotation therewith, 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 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.

13 . The riflescope of claim 12 , the catch further including a first portion constrained from rotating about the rotational axis and a second portion rotatable with the knob about the rotational axis.

14 . The riflescope of claim 13 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the catch cooperate to retain the knob at the home position.

15 . The riflescope of claim 13 , wherein the first portion further includes a notch formed therein, the riflescope further comprising a tab seated within the notch when the knob is at the home position.

16 . The riflescope of claim 15 , further comprising a biasing element that drives movement of the tab.

17 . The riflescope of claim 12 , wherein the manually-applied force on the lock-release mechanism is applied in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob.

18 . The riflescope of claim 17 , wherein the manually-applied force drives movement of a tab in the radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob.

19 . The riflescope of claim 12 , further comprising a biasing element that biases the lock-release mechanism, 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.

20 . The riflescope of claim 12 , 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.

21 . The riflescope of claim 20 , wherein the indicator unit is movable in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis.

22 . The riflescope of claim 12 , further comprising a tab that is movable in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob.

23 . The riflescope of claim 12 , wherein the knob further includes a scale comprising indicia spaced apart on a circumference of the knob to facilitate fine adjustments.

24 . A riflescope comprising:
a housing; an adjustable element supported by the housing; and a locking adjustment device mounted to the housing, the locking adjustment device including:
a ring constrained from rotation relative to the housing, the ring including a notch formed therein;
a knob mounted over the ring and graspable by a user, the knob being manually rotatable relative to the housing 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 tab seated within the notch when the knob is at a home position whereat the knob is prevented from rotating in both the first direction and the second direction about the rotational axis; and
a lock-release mechanism carried by the knob for rotation therewith, wherein the lock-release mechanism is responsive to a manually-applied force to drive movement of the tab relative to the notch 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 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.

25 . The riflescope of claim 24 , wherein the tab is movable within the notch along a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob.

26 . The riflescope of claim 24 , further comprising a biasing element that drives movement of the tab along a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the knob.

27 . The riflescope of claim 24 , further comprising a biasing element that biases the lock-release mechanism, 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.

28 . The riflescope of claim 24 , 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.

29 . The riflescope of claim 28 , wherein the indicator unit is movable in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis.

30 . The riflescope of claim 24 , wherein the knob further includes a scale comprising indicia spaced apart on a circumference of the knob to facilitate fine adjustments.

31 . The riflescope of claim 24 , 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.

Assignees

• Leupold & Stevens Inc

Inventors

• Crispin Quint

Classifications

• F41G1/38

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

• F41G1/16 Primary

  Adjusting mechanisms therefor; Mountings therefor · CPC title

• G05G1/10

  Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles {(G05G1/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F41G1/22

  Friction clamps · CPC title

• G02B7/00

  Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements · CPC title