Laser or light target designator device

• US 4,916,713 A
• Filed: 05/26/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oerlikon Contraves AG
• Original Assignee: Peter Gerber
• Inventors: Gerber, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Jr., Leon
• Application Number:
  US07/199,119
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 372/106, 372/109, 372/65, 372/75, 372/107
• US Class Current: 372/109
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

A light source aiming device comprising a case for a light source having an optical axis. An adjusting device adjustably positions the light source within the case along x and y axes both perpendicular to said optical axis. The adjusting device includes a bracket for supporting the light source and two adjustment elements each of which provides an adjustment along a respective one of the x and y axes. Each of the adjustment elements is received in a groove in the bracket along the respective axis so that it holds the element stationary along the respective axis while it is slidable in the groove along the direction of the other axis.

Claims

1. A light source aiming device comprising, a light source having an optical axis;

a case for said light source and adjusting means for adjustably positioning said light source within said case along an x axis in one direction and along a y axis in another direction, the x and y axes intersecting each other and also being perpendicular to said optical axis, said adjusting means comprising a bracket within said case for supporting said light source and first and second adjustment elements for adjustably positioning said bracket along said x and y axes, respectively, wherein each of said adjustment elements engages said bracket along its respective one of said x and y axes in a locking relationship for moving said bracket in a direction along its respective axis, and each of said adjustment elements is slidably held in said bracket for movement along the direction of the other one of said x and y axes.

7. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said case has and is defined by opposite walls, and each said adjustment element comprises an adjusting screw with a thread and a coupling member engaged by said thread of said adjusting screw, each said adjusting screw extending across said bracket and being rotatably supported at said opposite walls of said case for rigidly supporting said bracket in the direction of said optical axis.

8. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bracket has defined in it a respective guiding bore for each of said coupling members, said guiding bores extend across said bracket along said x and y axis, respectively.

9. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said coupling members comprises an elongated rodlike element held within a respective one of said bores in said bracket, said rodlike elements and said bores having cooperating, contacting rounded-off walls extending along the respective said grooves such that each said coupling member together with its said adjusting screw is turnable around said cooperating, contacting walls and is also slidable along its axis of elongation within its said guiding bore.

10. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for tiltably supporting one end of said light source and said tiltable supporting means being in the vicinity of a front end of said case, and the other end of said light source is adjustably displaceable along said x axis and along said y axis by said adjusting means so that said light source can be placed in a tilted position relative to said optical axis.

11. A laser device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said adjusting means is located near said other end of said light source.

2. A light source aiming device comprising, a light source having an optical axis;

a case for said light source and adjusting means for adjustably positioning said light source within said case along an x axis in one direction and along a y axis in another direction, the x and y axes intersecting each other and also being perpendicular to said optical axis, said adjusting means comprising a bracket within said case for supporting said light source and first and second adjustment elements for adjustably positioning said bracket along said x and y axes, respectively, wherein each of said adjustment elements engages said bracket along its respective one of said x and y axes in a locking relationship for moving said bracket in a direction along its respective axis, and each of said adjustment elements is slidably held in said bracket for movement along the direction of the other one of said x and y axes, and wherein each adjustment element comprises an adjusting screw extending in the respective direction of its said axis, said screw having a thread, and a coupling member engaged by said thread of said adjusting screw, said bracket comprising a respective groove for guiding each of said coupling members, wherein said guiding groove for the said coupling member that extends in the direction of said x axis that said guiding groove extends in the direction of the y axis while said guiding groove for the said coupling member that extends in the direction of said y axis that said guiding groove extends in the direction of the x axis.

3. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said coupling members comprises a nut and said grooves within said bracket have cross sections which slidably receive a respective one of said nuts for blocking said nut from moving along the respective said axis of said nut while permitting said nut to slide along the other of said x and y axes;

said nuts having external shapes for cooperating with said cross-sections of the respective said grooves for blocking each said nut against rotation within its respective said groove.

4. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a spring for biasing said bracket against said case in a direction along said optical axis for defining the position of said bracket in the direction of said optical axis.

5. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said coupling members comprises an elongated rodlike element held within a respective one of said grooves in said bracket, said rodlike elements and their respective said grooves have cooperating, contacting rounded-off walls extending along the lengths of the respective said grooves such that each said coupling member together with its said adjusting screw is turnable around said cooperating, contacting walls and is also slidable along its axis of elongation within its said guiding groove in said bracket.

6. A light source aiming device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a spring for biasing said bracket against said case in a direction along said optical axis for defining the position of said bracket in the direction of said optical axis.