Operating Element for a Telescopic Sight

• US 20080066364A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KAHLES Gesellschaft m.b.H.
• Original Assignee: KAHLES Gesellschaft m.b.H.
• Inventors: Wagensommerer, Roman, Theisinger, Hermann, Klepp, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 7,578,091 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 operating element adjusting the cross-hairs of a telescopic sight. The operating element is in the form of a rotating knob, arranged to rotate on the telescopic sight, whereby a rotation of the rotating knob adjusts the cross-hairs be means of an adjuster mechanism. The rotating knob comprises one or several index marks, by means of which one or more positions of the cross-hairs may be indexed. The one or several index element(s) is/are arranged in one or several recess(es) and may be displaced therein in the circumferential direction of the rotating knob. The index elements are furthermore coupled to the rotating knob in the recesses such as to be rotated with the rotating knob on a rotation of the same. According to the invention, the outer surface(s) of the index element(s) are recessed relative to the outer surface of the rotating knob in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotating knob and the one or several index element(s) is/are arranged to be permanently displaceable in the recess(es).

Claims

1. An actuator for adjusting the lead mark of a telescopic sight, wherein said actuator is in the form of a rotary knob mounted for rotation on said telescopic sight and, when said rotary knob is turned, the position of the lead mark displaced via an adjusting mechanism in the vertical and/or horizontal direction, and said rotary knob has one or more indexing elements, by means of which one or more positions of the lead mark can be indexed, and when said rotary knob is turned in an actuating mode the one or more indexing elements are entrained with said rotary knob and in an indexing mode the indexing elements are displaced, independently of said rotary knob, in the peripheral direction of said rotary knobs, which rotary knob has one or more recesses in the peripheral direction at its lateral surface MAN, wherein, in at least one recess there is mounted at least one indexing element for rotation in the peripheral direction, said one or more indexing elements being coupled in their recesses to said rotary knob in such a manner that they are entrained with said rotary knob when the latter is turned,

wherein

the external surface of said one or more indexing elements is offset from the lateral surface of said rotary knob in the direction of the axis of rotation of said rotary knob and said one or more indexing elements are permanently and displaceably disposed in said recesses.

2. An actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein in each recess there is disposed at least one indexing element.

3. An actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein the indexing elements are coupled via a frictional connection or a friction lock to said rotary knob (DR-E-) in said recesses.

4. An actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein in each recess there is disposed just one indexing element.

5. An actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more recesses each form a closed ring around the lateral surface.

6. An actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein an indexing element is in the form of a ring section or a closed ring.

7. An actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein an indexing element has at least one depression.

8. An actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein the turning range of the rotary knob is delimited by at least one operating range limit stop in both directions of rotation and that

the rotary knob is releasably attached to the adjusting mechanism,

at least one operating range limit stop is capable of being deactivated such that the rotary knob can be turned in both directions beyond the operating range limit stop, and

the actuator can be switched between at least three different modes of operation, wherein:

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

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

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

9. An actuator as defined in claim 8, wherein in the interior of the rotary knob there is provided a limit stop member, which, when turned in a first, lower position butts against an operating range limit stop so that the operating range limit stop is active, and when turned in a second, upper position, the limit stop member travels beyond said operating range limit stop so that said operating range limit stop is deactivated.

10. An actuator as defined in claim 9, wherein the limit stop member is a pin which is displaceable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

11. An actuator as defined in claim 8, 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.

12. An actuator as defined in claim 11, 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 the coupled state a projection engages an orifice.

13. An actuator as defined in claim 11, wherein the first and second coupler elements form a friction clutch.

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

15. An actuator as defined in claim 9, wherein in the interior of the rotary knob there is disposed a control element that is rotatable about the 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 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.

16. An actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein said control element can be fixed in position relatively to said rotary knob.

17. An actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein said control element is coupled to said rotary knob by means of a friction clutch or power clutch.

18. An actuator as defined in claim 15, characterized in that said control element is rotatably mounted in said rotary knob (DRE) itself.

19. An actuator as defined in claim 15, wherein the upper cover plate of said control element is substantially flush with the cover surface said rotary knob.

20. An actuator as defined in claim 15, 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.

21. An actuator as defined in claim 8, characterized in that 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 the axis of rotation into a corresponding orifice in said control element and, depending on its position, is flush with, projects above, or is positioned below, the cover surface of said rotary knob or the cover plate of said control element.

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