Pop-up adjustment cap system for sighting device

• US 7,934,335 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Inventors: Halverson, Erik R.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US11/868,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20080236018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 421/15, 421/39, 421/36, 421/37, 421/38, 332/98, 333/34, 359/428, 701/59
• US Class Current: 42/137
• 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 having (1) an outer annular surface that is grippable by a user and (2) a rotational axis, wherein the cap is operative for axially translating along the axis between (a) a first closed axial position where rotation of the cap does not engage the adjustment mechanism and (b) a second extended axial position where rotation of the cap actuates the adjustment mechanism for making a position adjustment to an internal component of the sighting device,

wherein in the first axial position, the cap is rotatable from (i) a first rotational position at which the cap is restrained from axial translation to (ii) a second rotational position at which the cap is released for axial translation from the first closed axial position to the second extended axial position,

wherein the cap is constructed and arranged to remain connected to the sighting device in both the first closed position and the second extended position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for biasing or urging the cap between the closed position and 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. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a sighting device selected from a riflescope, binocular or spotting scope, the sighting device including the cap and the adjustment mechanism, wherein the cap is operative to engage the adjustment mechanism when the cap is in the second extended position.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 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 axial position of the cap.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment screw that translates axially in response to rotation of the cap when the cap is in the second extended axial position.

13. An apparatus for engaging an adjustment mechanism for a sighting device, comprising

a cap having (1) an outer annular surface that is grippable by a user and (2) a rotational axis, wherein the cap is operative for axially translating along the axis between (a) a first closed axial position where rotation of the cap does not engage the adjustment mechanism and (b) a second extended axial position where rotation of the cap actuates the adjustment mechanism for making a position adjustment to an internal component of the sighting device, wherein in the first axial position, the cap is rotatable from (i) a first rotational position at which the cap is restrained from axial translation to (ii) a second rotational position at which the cap is released for axial translation from the first closed axial position to the second extended axial position, wherein the cap is constructed and arranged to remain connected to the sighting device in both the first closed position and the second extended position;

a spring mechanism operative, once the cap is in the second rotational position, to bias the cap from the first closed position to the second extended position.