Auto-locking adjustment device

• US 9,188,408 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leupold & Stevens Incorporated
• Inventors: Huynh, Xuyen
• Primary Examiner(s): Luong, Vinh
• Application Number:
  US12/938,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20110100152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 745/04, 748/13.L, 745/53, 421/19, 421/26, 359/821, 702/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/22 Friction clamps
• 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 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20474 Rotatable rod, shaft, or post
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

A dial for adjusting an adjustable portion of a device includes an actuator that moves substantially transverse to an axis of rotation to unlock the dial for rotation. When the actuator is released, the dial automatically locks in place.

Claims

1. An auto-locking adjustment device for an optical device, comprising:

an engagement surface fixed relative to the optical device;

a spindle rotatably supported on the optical device for rotation about an axis and relative to the optical device and the engagement surface, the spindle operatively coupled to an adjustable portion of the optical device to thereby adjust the adjustable portion in response to rotation of the spindle;

a locking mechanism carried by the spindle for rotation therewith, the locking mechanism switchable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition; and

a button carried by the spindle for rotation therewith and manually depressible transverse to the axis, the button mechanically driving the locking mechanism such that manually depressing the button switches the locking mechanism from the locked condition, wherein the locking mechanism interlocks with the engagement surface and prevents rotation of both the spindle and the button relative to the optical device, to the unlocked condition, wherein both the spindle and the button are rotatable about the axis relative to the optical device and the engagement surface.

2. The adjustment device of claim 1, further comprising a linkage carried by the spindle for rotation therewith and moveable along the axis relative to the spindle in response to depressing and releasing the button, to thereby switch the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked conditions.

3. The adjustment device of claim 1, further comprising a means for biasing the locking mechanism to the locked condition, the means for biasing being opposed by depressing the button.

4. The adjustment device of claim 1, wherein:

the engagement surface includes multiple regularly spaced detents; and

when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition, a portion of the locking mechanism rides across the detents as the spindle is rotated to provide tactile feedback indicating the extent of rotation of the spindle.

5. The adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a linkage coupled to the spindle for rotation therewith and moveable along the axis of rotation relative to the spindle between the locked condition and the unlocked condition;

a wedge pin carried by the spindle for rotation therewith and slidably mounted to the spindle for movement relative to the spindle transverse to the axis; and

wherein the linkage bears against the wedge pin when the linkage is in the locked condition to prevent the wedge pin from moving relative to the spindle and the engagement surface, to thereby prevent the spindle from rotating relative to the optical device.

6. The adjustment device of claim 5, further comprising a means for biasing the linkage into the locked condition.

7. The adjustment device of claim 5, further comprising a means for biasing the wedge pin toward the engagement surface.

8. The adjustment device of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a locking pin having a groove that aligns with the wedge pin when the linkage is in the unlocked condition, the groove receiving a portion of the wedge pin as the spindle is rotated.

9. The adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the spindle is constrained from moving along the axis.

10. The adjustment device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical coupling operatively connected to the spindle and constrained so that rotation of the spindle about the axis causes the mechanical coupling to move along a predetermined path relative to the axis, and the mechanical coupling couples the spindle to the adjustable portion of the optical device to thereby adjust a position of the adjustable portion of the optical device in response to rotation of the spindle.

11. The adjustment device of claim 1, further comprising a plunger threadably attached to the spindle and restrained from rotating about the axis relative to the optical device, such that rotation of the spindle about the axis causes the plunger to translate linearly along the axis, the plunger bearing against the adjustable portion of the optical device.

12. An optical device including the adjustment device of claim 11, wherein the optical device is a weapon aiming device comprising:

an outer tube on which the adjustment device is mounted; and

the adjustable portion, including an inner tube positioned within the outer tube and movable therein, and the plunger drives movement of the inner tube in response to rotation of the spindle, to thereby adjust an elevation or windage of the weapon aiming device.

13. The adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the button includes:

a first button and

a second button opposing the first button,

wherein the first and second buttons are moved toward each other when manually depressed and are biased away from each other.

14. The adjustment device of claim 13, further comprising an actuator shaft attached to each of the first and the second buttons and extending toward the axis, wherein each actuator shaft includes a sloped surface that bears against the locking mechanism to drive the locking mechanism.

15. The adjustment device of claim 14, wherein each of the first and the second actuator buttons must be depressed radially toward the axis such that an outer surface of each button is located inward of an outer surface of the spindle to switch the locking mechanism to the unlocked condition.

16. The adjustment device of claim 14, wherein the two actuator shafts are linearly aligned with each other.

17. The adjustment device of claim 14, wherein the two actuator shafts are offset from each other.

18. The adjustment device of claim 1, further comprising a knob installed over the spindle and coupled to the spindle for rotation therewith, and wherein the button is slidably supported on the knob.

19. The adjustment device of claim 18, further comprising an indicator ring mounted on the knob for rotation therewith to provide a visual indication of the amount of rotation of the knob, and wherein the knob is selectively coupled to the spindle for selecting either rotation with the spindle or rotation relative to the spindle.

20. The adjustment device of claim 19, further comprising a set screw selectively securing the knob to the spindle.

21. The adjustment device of claim 18, further comprising an actuator shaft attached to the button and extending from the button through a bore in the knob to a position proximate the axis.

22. The adjustment device of claim 1, further comprising a rotation- limiting adjustment stop that is movable relative to the spindle between a stop position and a non-stop position, wherein the rotation-limiting adjustment stop limits rotation of the spindle to one full rotation when the rotation-limiting adjustment stop is in the stop position.

23. An optical device inc tiding the adjustment device of claim 1.

24. An auto-locking adjustment device for an optical device, comprising:

an engagement surface fixed relative to the optical device;

a spindle rotatably supported on the optical device for rotation about an axis and relative to the optical device and the engagement surface, the spindle operatively coupled to an adjustable portion of the optical device to thereby adjust the adjustable portion in response to rotation of the spindle;

a locking mechanism carried by the spindle for rotation therewith, the-locking mechanism switchable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;

a first and an opposing second button attached to the spindle for rotation therewith and manually depressible transverse to the axis, wherein the first and second buttons are moved toward each other when manually depressed and are biased away from each other, at least one of the first and second buttons mechanically driving the locking mechanism such that manually depressing the at least one of the first and second buttons switches the locking mechanism from the locked condition, wherein the locking mechanism interlocks with the engagement surface and prevents rotation of both the spindle and the button relative to the optical device, to the unlocked condition, wherein both the spindle and button are rotatable about the axis relative to the optical device and the engagement surface; and

an actuator shaft attached to each of the first and the second buttons and extending toward the axis, wherein each actuator shaft includes a sloped surface that bears against the locking mechanism to drive the locking mechanism.

25. An auto-locking adjustment device for an optical device, comprising:

an engagement surface fixed relative to the optical device;

a spindle rotatably supported on the optical device for rotation about an axis and relative to the optical device and the engagement surface, the spindle operatively coupled to an adjustable portion of the optical device to thereby adjust the adjustable portion in response to rotation of the spindle;

a locking mechanism carried by the spindle for rotation therewith, the locking mechanism switchable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;

a knob installed over the spindle and coupled to the spindle for rotation therewith;

a button carried by the spindle for rotation therewith and slidable supported on the knob, the button manually depressible transverse to the axis, the button mechanically driving the locking mechanism such that manually depressing the button switches the locking mechanism from the locked condition, wherein the locking mechanism interlocks with the engagement surface and prevents rotation of both the knob and the button relative to the optical device, to the unlocked condition, wherein both the knob and the button are rotatable about the axis relative to the optical device and the engagement surface; and

an actuator shaft attached to the button and extending from the button through a bore in the knob to a position proximate the axis.