POP-UP ADJUSTMENT CAP SYSTEM FOR SIGHTING DEVICE

• US 20080236018A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Inventors: Halverson, Erik R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/135
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/16 Adjusting mechanisms therefor; Mountings therefor
• 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: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/06 for holding members in one or a limited number of definite positions only G05G5/005, G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence

Abstract

Adjustment mechanisms that may be employed for making operational adjustments to sighting mechanisms such as riflescopes, telescopes, binoculars, monoculars or other types of viewing devices. One configuration being directed to a pop-up cap that is retained and remains connected to the adjustment mechanism, the pop-up cap translating between a first position (typically the closed position) where rotation of the cap does not engage the adjustment mechanism to a second (typically the extended position) where rotation of the cap engages the adjustment mechanism.

Claims

1. An apparatus for engaging an adjustment mechanism for a sighting device, comprising a cap that is retained and remains connected to the sighting device, the cap translating from a first closed position where rotation of the cap does not engage the adjustment mechanism to a second extended position where rotation of the cap engages the adjustment mechanism.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for biasing or urging the cap between the closed position to the extended position.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for biasing or urging comprises a spring.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the spring comprises a wave spring.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for biasing or urging comprises a magnet.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for biasing or urging comprises first and second disk-shaped magnets disposed between the cap and the adjustment mechanism, the first magnet being attached to the cap and the second magnet being attached to the adjustment mechanism.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first and second magnets each has a diametrically-opposed magnetic configuration, wherein depending upon the rotational alignment of the magnets relative to one another, the magnets either repel or attract each other.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first and second magnets are comprised of Neodymium magnetic material.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first and second magnets each have diametrically opposed north and south poles, wherein at a first relative rotational alignment, the south pole of the first magnet aligns with the north pole of the second magnet thereby attracting first and second magnets together and wherein at a second relative rotational alignment, the south pole of the first magnet aligns with the south pole of the second magnet thereby repelling the first and second magnets apart.

10. A sighting device such as a riflescope, binocular or spotting scope, comprising

an adjustment mechanism of the type having a manually rotatable member adapted for rotatable mounting on the sighting device for adjusting the sighting device;

a cap that is retained and remains connected to the adjustment mechanism, the cap radially translating between a first position at a first radial distance from the sighting device where rotation of the cap does not engage the adjustment mechanism and a second position at a second radial distance from the sighting device where rotation of the cap engages the adjustment mechanism for allowing adjustment of the sighting device.

11. A sighting device according to claim 10 further comprising

an interconnection between the cap and the adjustment mechanism, the interconnection comprising flats on an inner surface of the cap that selectively engage flats on an outer surface of the adjustment mechanism depending upon radial position of the cap.

12. A sighting device according to claim 11 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment screw that translates radially in response to rotation of the cap when the cap is in the second position.

13. A sighting device according to claim 11 wherein adjustment mechanism includes a means for biasing or urging the cap between the first position and the second position.

14. A sighting device according to claim 12 further comprising a spring mechanism for biasing the cap between the first position and the second position.

15. A sighting device according to claim 14 wherein the spring mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a coil spring, a wave spring, a compressible bladder, a magnet, a pair of disk magnets, and combinations thereof.

16. A sighting device according to claim 14 wherein the spring mechanism comprises first and second disk-shaped magnets disposed between the cap and the adjustment mechanism, the first magnet being attached to the cap and the second magnet being attached to the adjustment mechanism.

17. A sighting device according to claim 16 wherein each of the first and second magnets has a diametrically-opposed magnetic configuration, wherein depending upon the rotational alignment of the magnets relative to one another, the magnets either repel or attract each other.

18. A sighting device according to claim 17 wherein each of the first and second magnets has diametrically opposed north and south poles, wherein at a first relative rotational alignment, the south pole of the first magnet aligns with the north pole of the second magnet thereby attracting first and second magnets together and wherein at a second relative rotational alignment, the south pole of the first magnet aligns with the south pole of the second magnet thereby repelling the first and second magnets apart.

19. A method of adjusting a sighting device such as a riflescope, binocular or spotting scope having an adjustment mechanism of the type having a manually rotatable member adapted for rotatable mounting on the sighting device for adjusting the sighting device, comprising the steps of

moving the rotatable member from (a) a first radial position where the adjustment mechanism is not engaged when rotating the rotatable member to (b) a second radial position where the adjustment mechanism is engaged when rotating the rotatable member;

while in the second radial position, rotating the rotatable member to make a desired adjustment to the sighting device.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising

including first and second disk magnets with the first magnet attached to the rotatable member and the second magnet attached to the adjustment mechanism, wherein each of the first and second magnets has diametrically opposed north and south poles, wherein at a first relative rotational alignment, the south pole of the first magnet aligns with the north pole of the second magnet thereby attracting first and second magnets together and wherein at a second relative rotational alignment, the south pole of the first magnet aligns with the south pole of the second magnet thereby repelling the first and second magnets apart;

rotating the rotatable member from the first relative rotational alignment to the second relative rotational alignment whereby at the second relative rotational alignment, the magnets repel thereby actuating the rotatable member from a first radial position to a second radial position.