Rifle scope with adjustment knob having multiple detent forces

• US 20070137089A1
• Filed: 04/08/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Down Range Solutions Group LLC
• Original Assignee: US Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Baroldi, Nick, William, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,415,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/122
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/44 Spirit-level adjusting means, e.g. for correcting tilt; Means for indicating or correcting tilt or cant

Abstract

A rifle scope has a body with a number of optical elements. An adjustment knob is rotated we connected to the body and interacts with at least one of the optical elements to provide an image shift in response to rotation of the knob. A detent mechanism interacts with the knob, and has a number of detent positions. Many of the detent positions have a first detent force, and a selected subset the detent positions have a greater second force. The selected subset of detent positions may correspond to selected major distance intervals.

Claims

1. A rifle scope comprising:

a body;

a plurality of optical elements in the body;

an adjustment knob rotatably connected to the body;

the adjustment knob being connected to at least one of the optical elements, such that an image shift is generated in proportionate response to rotation of the adjustment knob;

a detent mechanism operationally engaged to the adjustment knob;

the detent mechanism having a plurality of detent positions;

each detent position having a corresponding detent force by which the detent mechanism resists movement;

the detent force for a first plurality of the detent positions having a first value; and

the detent force for a second plurality of the detent positions having a second value greater than the first value.

2. The rifle scope of claim 1 wherein the detent mechanism includes a first element having a plurality of similar evenly spaced elements for engagement by a first spring biased contact element.

3. The rifle scope of claim 2 wherein the detent mechanism includes a second element having a plurality of second elements for engagement by a spring biased contact element, and wherein there are fewer second elements than first elements.

4. The rifle scope of claim 3 wherein each of the evenly spaced elements of the second element corresponds to one of the second plurality of detent positions.

5. The rifle scope of claim 1 wherein the detent mechanism includes a plurality of evenly spaced first elements for engagement by a spring biased contact element, each of the first elements corresponding to the same angular adjustment.

6. The rifle scope of claim 5 wherein the detent mechanism includes a plurality of second elements, each of the second elements corresponding to one of the first elements.

7. The rifle scope of claim 6 wherein there are fewer second elements than first elements.

8. The rifle scope of claim 7 wherein there are several times as many first elements as there are second elements.

9. An aiming device for a firearm comprising:

an adjustment mechanism operable to controllably shift the point of aim relative to a point of impact of a firearm;

the adjustment mechanism having a plurality of major detents;

the adjustment mechanism having a plurality of minor detents; and

the major detents being tactilely differentiable from the minor detents.

10. The aiming device of claim 9 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a rotatable knob.

11. The aiming device of claim 9 wherein the adjustment mechanism is an elevation control.

12. The aiming device of claim 9 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a first detent element having a plurality of first detent features, each of the major detents and each of the minor detents corresponding to one of the first detent features.

13. The aiming device of claim 12 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a second detent element having a plurality of second detent features, each of the second detent features corresponding to a major detent.

14. The aiming device of claim 12 wherein the first detent features are evenly spaced.

15. The aiming device of claim 9 wherein at least some of the major detents are spaced apart from adjacent major detents by a plurality of minor detents.

16. The aiming device of claim 15 wherein a first quantity of minor detents by which a first pair of adjacent major detents are spaced apart is different from a second quantity of minor detents by which a second pair of adjacent major detents are spaced apart.

17. The aiming device of claim 9 wherein each major detent corresponds to a selected distance, and wherein each minor detent corresponds to an angular aiming increment.

18. The aiming device of claim 9 wherein the major detents define a series of regular distance intervals.

19. The aiming device of claim 9 including a first visual indicator corresponding to each of the minor detents, and a different second visual indicator corresponding to each of the major detents.

20. The aiming device of claim 19 wherein the second visual indicator is a distance measurement.