Locking Turret Knob

• US 20090205461A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Inventors: Windauer, Bernard T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/553
• 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 1/40 Periscopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance periscopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/08 with means for compensating for speed, direction, temperature, pressure, or humidity of the atmosphere measuring G01
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/12 for holding members in an indefinite number of positions, e.g. by a toothed quadrant G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1494 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

A locking turret knob includes an adjustment member, a first member, and a second member. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The first member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement member. The second member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement surface. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface. The adjustment member is locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface. The adjustment member can be coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, such as a telescopic sight, a telescope or a microscope.

Claims

1. A locking turret knob, comprising:

an adjustment member adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation;

a first member disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and comprising at least one engagement member; and

a second member disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and comprising at least one engagement surface,

the adjustment member being adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface, and the adjustment member being locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface.

2. The locking turret knob according to claim 1, wherein the first member is fixably coupled to the adjustment member.

3. The locking turret knob according to claim 1, wherein the second member is fixably coupled to the adjustment member.

4. The locking turret knob according to claim 1, wherein at least one engagement surface comprises an aperture and at least one engagement member comprises a protuberance that engages the aperture.

5. The locking turret knob according to claim 4, wherein the protuberance comprises a pin member.

6. The locking turret knob according to claim 1, wherein at least one engagement surface comprises part of a spline structure.

7. The locking turret knob according to claim 6, where at least one engagement member comprises part of a spline structure that engages the engagement surface of another spline structure.

8. The locking turret knob according to claim 6, wherein the at least one engagement member comprises a protuberance that engages the engagement surface of another spline structure.

9. The locking turret knob according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment member comprises coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, the adjuster comprising an adjustment setting, and a change in the selected position of the adjustment member produces a change in the adjustment setting of the adjuster of the optical enhancement device.

10. The locking turret knob according to claim 9, wherein the optical enhancement device comprises one of a telescopic sight, a telescope and a microscope.

11. The locking turret knob according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment member becomes unlocked in response to application of a force and is adjustably positionable to a newly selected position about the axis of rotation, and

wherein the adjustment member becomes locked in the newly selected position about the axis of rotation in response to removal of the force.

12. The locking turret knob according to claim 1, further comprising a locking selection member coupled to the first member, the locking selection member being responsive to a force applied to the locking selection member by causing each engagement member of the first member to disengage each engagement surface of the second member.

13. The locking turret knob according to claim 12, wherein the force rotates the locking selection member when the force is applied in a first rotational direction.

14. The locking turret knob according to claim 13, wherein when the force is removed and when a second force that is applied to the locking selection member in a second rotational direction, the locking selection member enables at least one engagement member of the first member to engage a corresponding engagement surface of the second member.

15. The locking turret knob according to claim 12, wherein when the force is removed, the locking selection member enables at least one engagement member of the first member to engage a corresponding engagement surface of the second member.

16. The locking turret knob according to claim 15, wherein the force comprises a pulling force applied to the locking selection member.

17. The locking turret knob according to claim 16, wherein the second force comprises a pushing force applied to the locking selection member.

18. The locking turret knob according to claim 15, wherein the force comprises a pushing force applied to the locking selection member.

19. A method of manufacturing a locking turret knob, the method comprising:

providing an adjustment member adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation;

providing a first member disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and comprising at least one engagement member; and

providing a second member disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and comprising at least one engagement surface,

the adjustment member being adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface, and the adjustment member being locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface.

29. The method according to claim 19, wherein the adjustment member becomes unlocked in response to application of a force and is adjustably positionable to a newly selected position about the axis of rotation, and

wherein the adjustment member becomes locked in the newly selected position about the axis of rotation in response to removal of the force.

20-28. -28. (canceled)

30-36. -36. (canceled)