Telescopic scope having an integrally formed saddle

• US 4,200,355 A
• Filed: 08/08/1978
• Issued: 04/29/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fontaine Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fontaine Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, John B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US05/931,939
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 350/10, 350/67, 350/61, 350/252, 350/242, 350/178, 350/319, 350/54, 33/245-246
• US Class Current: 359/424
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02

Abstract

A telescopic scope for use in conjunction with a firearm, the scope of the type having a tubular member, at least one eye-piece lens proximal to one end of the tubular member, at least one objective lens proximal to the other end of the tubular member, an erector lens system intermediate said eye-piece lens and said objective lens, a reticle intermediate said eye-piece lens and said objective lens, and turrets for adjusting the erector lens system can be improved by having the tubular member include a one-piece integrally formed main tube including a saddle integrally formed with the main tube intermediate the ends of the main tube. The scope is attached to the firearm by scope mounting rings which attach directly to the main tube. The erector lens system includes an erector tube which fits inside the main tube and contains at least one erector lens. The saddle and the main tube have two passage holes normal to the longitudinal axis of the main tube and normal to each other and mounted on the saddle over the passage holes are the turrets. The turrets are attached to adjustment screws which link to the erector tube and move the erector tube in response to movement of the turrets. The lenses are mounted to the main tube and to the erector tube utilizing a combination of lens seats and a flexible cradle ring. The flexible cradle rings fit over the lenses and in turn are held by the lens seats.

Claims

1. In a telescopic scope of the type having a tubular member, said tubular member capable of fitting into scope mounting rings attaching said scope to a firearm, at least one eye-piece lens means proximal to one end of said tubular member, at least one objective lens means proximal to the other end of said tubular member, an erector means intermediate said eye-piece lens means and said objective lens means, a reticle means intermediate said eye-piece lens means and said objective lens means, turret means, the improvement which comprises:

said tubular member including a one-piece integrally formed main tube;

said tubular member including a saddle integrally formed on said main tube intermediate the ends of said main tube, said saddle circumventing said main tube;

said scope mounting rings attaching to said main tube;

said erector means including an erector tube;

said erector tube fitting inside said main tube;

at least one erector lens means;

said erector lens means mounted in said erector tube;

said saddle and said main tube including at least one passage hole;

said passage hole normal to the longitudinal axis of said main tube;

said turret means mounted on said saddle;

at least one erector adjustment linking member means;

said erector adjustment linking member passing through said passage hole to the interior of said main tube and linking said turret means to said erector tube.

2. The scope of claim 1 wherein:

said saddle and said main tube includes two passage holes;

said passage holes being mutually normal to the longitudinal axis of said main tube and to each other;

said turret means includes two turrets mounted on said saddle over said holes;

two erector adjustment linking member means;

each one of said erector adjustment linking member means passing through one of said passage holes to the interior of said main tube and each linking one of said turrets to said erector tube.

3. The scope of claim 2 wherein:

said eye-piece lens means includes at least one eye-piece lens;

said object lens means includes at least one object lens;

at least two lens cradle means;

said eye-piece lens and said object lens each mounted in one of said lens cradle means;

said lens cradle means attaching to said tubular member.

4. The scope of claim 3 wherein:

said erector lens means includes at least one erector lens;

said reticle means includes a reticle;

at least four lens cradle means;

said eye-piece lens, said object lens, said erector lens and said reticle each mounted in one of said lens cradle means.

5. The scope of claim 4 wherein:

said lens cradle means includes a seat means and a flexible cradle ring means;

said flexible cradle ring means fitting into said seat means.

6. The scope of claim 5 wherein:

said seat means includes a seat ring and a lock ring;

said flexible cradle ring means comprising a flexible cradle ring;

said flexible cradle ring fitting around the outside perimeter of a lens;

said flexible cradle ring and said lens fitting inside said seat ring;

said lock ring locking said flexible cradle ring and said lens in said seat ring.

7. In a telescopic scope of the type having a tubular member, said tubular member capable of fitting into scope mounting rings attaching said scope to a firearm, at least one eye-piece lens means proximal to one end of said tubular member, at least one objective lens means proximal to the other end of said tubular member, an erector means intermediate said eye-piece lens means and said objective means, a reticle means intermediate said eye-piece lens means and said objective lens means, turret means, the improvement which comprises:

said tubular member including a one-piece integrally formed main tube;

said tubular member including a saddle integrally formed on said main tube intermediate the ends of said main tube, said saddle circumventing said main tube;

said scope mounting rings attaching to said main tube;

said erector means including an erector tube;

said erector tube fitting inside said main tube;

at least one erector lens means;

said erector lens means mounted in said erector tube;

said saddle and said main tube includes two passage holes;

said passage holes being mutually normal to the longitudinal axis of said main tube and to each other;

said turret means includes two turrets mounted on said saddle over said holes;

two erector adjustment linking member means;

each one of said erector adjustment linking member means passing through one of said passage holes to the interior of said main tube and each linking one of said turrets to said erector tube;

said eye-piece lens means includes at least one eye-piece lens;

8. said object lens means includes at least one object lens;

said erector lens means includes at least one erector lens;

said reticle means includes a reticle;

at least four lens cradle means;

said eye-piece lens, said object lens, said erector lens and said reticle each mounted in one of said lens cradle means;

said lens cradle means includes a seat means and a flexible cradle ring means;

said flexible cradle ring means fitting into said seat means;

said seat means includes a seat ring and a lock ring;

said flexible cradle ring means comprising a flexible cradle ring;

said flexible cradle ring fitting around the outside perimeter of a lens;

said flexible cradle ring and said lens fitting inside said seat ring;

said lock ring locking said flexible cradle ring and said lens in said seat ring;

said seat ring comprises a first cylindrical member;

said first cylindrical member including external screw threads on its outer surface;

said first cylindrical member including an inward projecting annular flange on one end of said first cylindrical member;

said first cylindrical member including internal screw threads extending on the interior surface of said first cylindrical member from said end not having said flange a portion of the way toward said end having said flange;

said flexible cradle ring comprising a flexible annular flat ring;

said annular flat ring including an inward projecting annular flange on both ends of said annular flat ring;

said lock ring comprises a second cylindrical member having external screw threads on its outer surface.

10. The scope of claim 8 wherein:

said erector means includes an erector tube;

said erector tube fitting inside said main tube;

at least one erector lens means;

said erector lens means mounted in said erector tube;

said saddle and said main tube includes two passage holes;

said passage holes being mutually normal to the longitudinal axis of said main tube and to each other;

said turret means includes two turrets mounted on said saddle over said holes;

two erector adjustment linking member means;

each one of said erector adjustment linking member means passing through one of said passage holes to the interior of said main tube and each linking one of said turrets to said erector tube.

9. In a telescopic scope of the type having a tubular member, said tubular member capable of fitting into scope mounting rings attaching said scope to a firearm, at least one eye-piece lens means proximal to one end of said tubular member, at least one objective lens means proximal to the other end of said tubular member, an erector means intermediate said eye-piece lens means and said objective lens means, a reticle means intermediate said eye-piece lens means and said objective lens means, turret means, the improvement which comprises:

said eye-piece lens means including at least one eye-piece lens;

said object lens means including at least one object lens;

said erector lens means including at least one erector lens;

said reticle means including a reticle;

at least four lens cradle means;

said eye-piece lens, said object lens, said erector lens and said reticle each mounted in one of said lens cradle means;

said lens cradle means including a seat means and a flexible cradle ring means;

said flexible cradle ring means fitting into said seat means;

said tubular member includes a one-piece integrally formed main tube;

said tubular member includes a saddle integrally formed on said main tube intermediate the end of said main tube, said saddle circumventing said main tube.