LOCKING ADJUSTMENT DEVICE

• US 20130167425A1
• Filed: 01/04/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Inventors: Crispin, Quint
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/119
• 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

Abstract

A locking adjustment device for changing an adjustable setting of a device such as a riflescope locks in a baseline position to provide expedient feedback regarding an adjustment position of the adjustable setting. The device includes a guideway extending around an axis and a knob mountable over the guideway for rotation about the axis. The guideway includes a notch and a curved slide surface sized to slidably receive a guide tab carried by the knob. The guide tab is biased so as to urge at least a portion of the guide tab into the notch when the knob is rotated to a locked position, thereby preventing inadvertent rotation of the knob from the locked position. A button carried by the knob is depressible to urge the guide tab out of the notch and thereby allow the knob to be manually rotated away from the locked position.

Claims

1. A locking adjustment device for adjusting a setting of a riflescope or other aiming device, comprising:

a guideway including a curved slide surface portion extending around a rotational axis, and a notch formed in a first end of the curved slide surface portion;

a knob mountable over the guideway for rotation about the rotational axis when the adjustment device is installed on the aiming device;

a guide tab carried by the knob for rotation therewith and slidably received in the guideway when the adjustment device is installed on the aiming device, the guide tab being biased so as to urge at least a portion of the guide tab into the notch when the knob is rotated to a locked position at which the guide tab is aligned with the notch, thereby preventing inadvertent rotation of the knob relative to the aiming device from the locked position; and

a button carried by the knob for rotation therewith, the button operably associated with the guide tab and manually depressible to urge the guide tab out of the notch and thereby allow the knob to be manually rotated about the rotational axis away from the locked position.

2. The locking adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the guideway includes a second curved slide surface portion extending around the axis and linked to the curved slide surface portion via a transition section.

3. The locking adjustment device of claim 2, wherein the guideway includes a second end on the second curved slide surface opposite the first end on the curved slide surface, and wherein the second end defines a stop that blocks the guide tab to limit rotation of the knob beyond the second end.

4. The locking adjustment device of claim 3, wherein the guideway is spiraled and the curved slide surface is at a first radial position from the rotational axis and the second curved slide surface is at a second radial position from the rotational axis.

5. The locking adjustment device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator unit carried by the knob and visible on a surface of the knob, wherein the indicator unit is at a first position when the guide tab is aligned with the notch and at a second position when the guide tab is positioned along the curved slide surface away from the first end.

6. The locking adjustment device of claim 5, wherein the indicator unit is coupled to the guide tab and the locking adjustment device further comprises a biasing element operatively associated with the guide tab and the indicator unit to urge movement of the indicator unit between the first and second positions.

7. The locking adjustment device of claim 5, wherein the indicator unit is slidably received in a slot arranged on the surface of the knob.

8. The locking adjustment device of claim 3, further comprising:

an indicator unit coupled to the guide tab and visible on a surface of the knob; and

a biasing element operatively associated with the guide tab and the indicator unit to urge movement of the indicator unit, wherein the indicator unit is configured to move between a first position when the guide tab is aligned with the notch, a second position when the guide tab is positioned along the curved slide surface away from the notch, and a third position when the guide tab is positioned along the second curved slide surface.

9. The locking adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the aiming device includes a housing and the locking adjustment device further comprises:

a spindle mounted to the housing for rotation about the axis; and

a threaded plunger extending within the housing of the aiming device and threadably coupled to the spindle, wherein rotation of the core about the axis causes movement of the threaded plunger along the axis.

10. The locking adjustment device of claim 9, wherein the guideway is formed along a substantially circular guide ring.

11. The locking adjustment device of claim 10, further comprising a retaining ring surrounding the adjustment core for securing the adjustment core to the housing, wherein the guide ring is press fit to the retaining ring.

12. The locking adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the notch extends in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis, and wherein the guide tab is biased in the radial direction.

13. The locking adjustment device of claim 12, wherein the guide tab extends inwardly within the knob toward the aiming device.

14. A locking adjustment device for adjusting a setting of a riflescope or other aiming device, comprising:

a knob mountable for rotation about a rotational axis when the adjustment device is installed on the aiming device, the knob rotatable to a lock position whereat a catch automatically engages to releasably prevent rotation of the knob relative to the aiming device; and

a lock-release mechanism carried by the knob for rotation therewith, the lock-release mechanism being manually actuatable to disengage the catch and allow the knob to be rotated from the lock position to an adjustment position whereat the knob is rotatable about the rotational axis for adjustment of the setting of the aiming device without further actuation of the lock-release mechanism.

15. The locking adjustment device of claim 14, further comprising a guideway including a curved slide surface portion extending around the rotational axis, and a notch formed in a first end of the curved slide surface portion.

16. The locking adjustment device of claim 15, wherein the guideway includes a second curved slide surface portion extending around the axis and linked to the curved slide surface portion via a transition section, the second curved slide surface having a second end opposite the first end on the curved slide surface, and wherein the second end defines a stop that blocks the knob to limit rotation of the knob in the adjustment position beyond the stop.

17. The locking adjustment device of claim 15, wherein the catch includes a guide tab carried by the knob for rotation therewith about the rotational axis, the guide tab slidably received in the guideway when the adjustment device is installed on the aiming device, and wherein at least a portion of the guide tab automatically engages the notch when the knob is in the lock position.

18. The locking adjustment device of claim 17, further comprising a biasing element operatively associated with the guide tab to urge movement of the guide tab into the notch when the knob is in the lock position.

19. The locking adjustment device of claim 14, further comprising an indicator unit carried by the knob and visible on a surface of the knob, wherein the indicator unit is at a first position when the knob is in the lock position and at a second position when the knob is in the adjustment position.

20. The locking adjustment device of claim 19, wherein the indicator unit is slidably received in a slot arranged on the surface of the knob.