Actuating Element for a Telescopic Sight

• US 20070240356A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kahles Ges. M.B.H.
• Original Assignee: Kahles Ges. M.B.H.
• Inventors: Klepp, Christian, Theisinger, Hermann, Wagensommerer, Roman
• Granted Patent: US 7,581,346 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: G02B 23/00 Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating element for setting the aim mark of a telescopic sight. According to the invention, the actuating element is rotatbly located on the telescopic sight in the form of a rotary knob and the aim mark is displaced in a vertical and/or horizontal direction by means of a mechanical actuator, when the rotary knob is turned. In addition, the rotational area of the rotary knob is restricted in both rotational directions by at least one working region stop. The rotary knob is detachably coupled to the mechanical actuator. The working region stop(s) can be deactivated, allowing the rotary knob to be turned beyond the working region stop in both directions. The actuating element can be switched between at least three different modes. In mode A, the rotary knob is coupled to the mechanical actuator and the working region stop is inactive. In mode B, the rotary knob is decoupled from the mechanical actuator when the working region stop is active and in mode C, the rotary knob is coupled to the mechanical actuator and the working region stop is active.

Claims

1. An actuator for adjusting a lead mark of a telescopic sight, in which the actuator is in the form of a rotary knob mounted on the telescopic sight for rotation, which rotation of said rotary knob adjusts a position of the lead mark via an adjusting mechanism in a vertical and/or horizontal direction, and in which a turning range of said rotary knob is restricted by at least one operating range limit stop in both directions of rotation,

wherein

the rotary knob is releasably coupled to said adjusting mechanism;

the at least one operating range limit stop can be deactivated such that the rotary knob can be turned in both directions beyond said at least one operating range limit stop; and

the actuator can be switched between at least three different modes;

a) in mode A the rotary knob is coupled to the adjusting mechanism and the at least one operating range limit stop is inactive,

b) in mode B the rotary knob is decoupled from the adjusting mechanism and the at least one operating range limit stop is activated, and

c) in mode C the rotary knob is coupled to the adjusting mechanism and the at least one operating range limit stop is activated.

2. The actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein in the interior of the rotary knob there is provided a limit stop members, which, when turned in a first, lower position butts against the at least one operating range limit stop so that the at least one operating range limit stop is active, and when turned in a second, upper position, the limit stop member travels beyond said at least one operating range limit stop so that said at least one operating range limit stop is deactivated.

3. The actuator as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one limit stop member is a pin which is displaceable in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotary knob.

4. The actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotary knob is connected to a first coupler element, which engages a second coupler element that is connected to said adjusting mechanism such that when said rotary knob is turned, said adjusting mechanism is entrained, and the first and second coupler elements can be disengaged.

5. The actuator as defined in claim 4, wherein the second coupler element comprises one or more orifices or projections disposed at the periphery of said adjusting mechanism, and the first coupler element has or is a projection or orifice, and in a decoupled state a projection engages an orifice.

6. The actuator as defined in claim 4, wherein the first and second coupler elements form a friction clutch.

7. The actuator as defined in claim 4, wherein the first or second coupler element can be displaced in a direction parallel to tan axis of rotation of the rotary knob for the purpose of declutching.

8. The actuator as defined in claim 2, wherein in the interior of the rotary knob there is disposed a control element that is rotatable about an axis of rotation relatively to said rotary knob, at least one operating cam being adapted to rotate around the periphery of said control element and to cooperate with said at least one limit stop member and the first coupler element, which at least one operating cam follows a continuous path showing rising or falling sections in certain peripheral regions.

9. The actuator as defined in claim 8, wherein said control element can be fixed in position relatively to said rotary knob.

10. The actuator as defined in claim 8, wherein said control element is coupled to said rotary knob by means of a friction clutch or power clutch.

11. The actuator as defined in claim 8, wherein said control element is rotatably mounted in said rotary knob itself.

12. The actuator as defined in claim 8, wherein an upper cover plate of said control element is substantially flush with a cover surface of said rotary knob.

13. The actuator as defined in claim 8, wherein said control element has at its top surface one or more orifices for the accommodation of a key, and by means of said key the control element can be rotated relatively to said rotary knob.

14. The actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism has in its upper region a displacement indicator, which, when said adjusting mechanism is turned, is moved upwardly or downwardly in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation into a corresponding orifice in said control element and, depending on its position, is flush with, projecting above, or positioned below, a cover surface of said rotary knob or a cover plate of said control element.

15. The actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotary knob has one or more indexing elements, by means of which one or more positions of the lead mark can be indexed, wherein in an actuating mode rotation of said rotary knob entrains the one or more indexing elements therewith and in an indexing mode the one or more indexing elements can be displaced in a peripheral direction of said rotary knob independently of the rotary knob, and said rotary knob has one or more recesses on its lateral surface in the peripheral direction, and in at least one of the one or more recesses at least one of the one or more indexing elements is mounted for rotation in the peripheral direction, and wherein the one or more indexing elements is coupled to said rotary knob via its/their one or more recesses in such a manner that when said rotary knob is turned it/they are entrained therewith.

16. The actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein in each of the one or more recesses there is disposed at least one indexing element.

17. The actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein the one or more indexing elements are coupled via a frictional connection or a friction lock to said rotary knob in said one or more recesses.

18. The actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein in each of the one or more recesses there is disposed just one indexing element.

19. The actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein the one or more recesses each form a closed ring around the lateral surface.

20. The actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein each of the one or more indexing elements is in the form of a ring section or a closed ring.

21. The actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein each of the one or more indexing elements has at least one depression.

22. The actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein the external surface of each of the one or more the indexing elements is offset from the lateral surface of said rotary knob in the direction of an axis of rotation of said rotary knob.

23. A telescopic sight having an actuator as defined in claim 1.