The field of the present disclosure relates to automatically-locking (auto-locking) devices used to make adjustments.
Rotatable adjustment knobs, or dials, are commonly used to make adjustments to an adjustable portion of a device such as an optical or electrical device. For example, rotatable dials are commonly used to adjust an elevation setting and a windage setting for a riflescope or other suitable weapon aiming device. Rotatable dials are also used to adjust other features of riflescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, or other suitable optical device, such as parallax, focus, illumination brightness, or other suitable feature. Other examples of rotatable dials used to adjust an adjustable portion of a device include volume control dials, channel selection dials, and other suitable dials.
The present inventor has recognized that in many applications it would be advantageous for an adjustment knob or dial to automatically lock in place, thus helping ensure that the setting selected by a user remains set despite accidental forces imparted to the knob or dial, for example, during transit or other handling. Others have attempted to create knobs that lock in place. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0205461 A1 describes one such knob that requires a user to grasp the knob while imparting a secondary motion such as pulling or pushing in order to rotate the knob.
In one embodiment, an adjustment mechanism includes an actuator that moves substantially transverse to an axis of rotation to unlock the adjustment mechanism for rotation. When the actuator is released, the adjustment mechanism automatically locks in place.
Preferred adjustments include elevation or windage adjustments to a sighting device, weapon aiming device, riflescope, spotting scope, or other optical device, but disclosed auto-locking devices may be used in other mechanical or electrical devices for making a volume, channel, or station selection, or other suitable mechanical, electrical, or electronic adjustment.
The auto-locking devices described herein help prevent unintentional adjustments and otherwise help to keep an adjustment locked while a device is used, transported, or otherwise handled. For example, the auto-locking devices help prevent accidental changes to the elevation or windage adjustments when a user transports a sighting device or places the sighting device in a storage case.
The present inventor has recognized that a knob or dial manipulated by a user with a natural grasping and rotating motion, such as pinching a knob or dial between a thumb and finger and rolling the dial between the thumb and finger, without requiring additional manipulation may facilitate ease of use and may be intuitive to use.
According to one embodiment, an auto-locking dial for adjusting a portion of an optical device comprises a fixed portion non-rotatably attached to the optical device; an engagement surface non-rotatably attached to the fixed portion; and a rotatable portion rotatable about an axis of rotation and rotatably coupled to the fixed portion for rotation with respect to the engagement surface, wherein the rotatable portion includes a mechanical arrangement that rotates with the rotatable portion for driving an adjustment member. The auto-locking dial also comprises an adjustment member operatively connected to the adjustable portion of the optical device, wherein the adjustment member is operatively connected to the mechanical arrangement such that rotation of the rotatable portion about the axis of rotation causes the adjustment member to adjust the adjustable portion of the optical device; and a locking mechanism carried by the rotatable portion, the locking mechanism including a link moveable along the axis of rotation and an engagement member, wherein the engagement member contacts the engagement surface to prevent rotation of the rotatable portion with respect to the engagement surface when the link is in a lock position, and facilitates rotation of the rotatable portion with respect to the engagement surface when the link is in an unlock position. A biasing element arranged to bias the link into the lock position; and an actuator moveably coupled to the rotatable portion, wherein the actuator is configured to (a) move relative to the rotatable portion substantially transverse to the axis of rotation and (b) to engage a portion of the link to cause movement of the link along the axis of rotation toward the unlock position when an external force is applied to move the actuator are also included.
Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
With reference to the above-listed drawings, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize in light of the teachings herein that there is a range of equivalents to the example embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that make up the described embodiments.
For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.
In one embodiment, an auto-locking device is actuated by squeezing or radially pinching two buttons that are rotationally coupled to a dial or knob. The two buttons, in turn, move actuator shafts inward, which causes a contact or linkage to move downward along with a lock pin (which is coupled to the linkage). The lock pin includes a circumferential groove into which a portion of a clicker can enter. The downward motion of the lock pin causes the circumferential groove of the lock pin to align with the clicker, which allows the clicker (and a spindle to which the clicker is rotationally coupled) to freely rotate against a stationary lock ring, thereby allowing a threaded plunger or screw to move up or down relative to a spindle base. The auto-locking device may include an indicator, which allows the user to monitor the extent of rotation of the knob, and may permit a user to customize a knob to a particular device by replacing the indicator ring. The pinch-and-turn motion preferably allows the user to unlock the knob and make an adjustment with relative ease using a natural grasping motion, and preferably allows the user to avoid performing multiple separate motions (e.g., grasp, pull-up and turn or grasp, push-down and turn) to make an adjustment.
Within the main tube 102 of the riflescope, an inner tube 103 (
An aperture 105 is formed at the base of the bore 104 and is sized to receive a threaded plunger or screw 120. The plunger 120 interacts with one end of the inner tube 103 and is constrained from rotating about an axis of rotation 130 (
There are many other possible configurations for the main tube 102 and the inner tube 103 and for the optics or reticle, such as the riflescopes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,279,259, 6,351,907, 6,519,890, and 6,691,447, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Referring now to
The spindle 140 includes a lower base portion 142 and an upper neck portion 144, which preferably is smaller in diameter than the lower base portion 142. The lower base portion 142 of the spindle 140 is sandwiched between a flanged lock nut 150 and the spindle base 110. Thus, the spindle 140 is rotatable about the axis of rotation 130 but is constrained from traveling along the axis of rotation 130 by the flanged lock nut 150 (which is threaded into spindle base 110) and the spindle base 110 (which is threaded into the bore 104 of the main tube 102). A washer 160 may be sandwiched between a shoulder 143 of the spindle 140 and the flanged lock nut 150 to facilitate rotation of the spindle 140 within a cavity 111 of the spindle base 110. The washer 160 may be made from any suitable wear-resistant low friction material, such as nylon, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) polymer (e.g., Teflon®), or other suitable material. The upper neck portion 144 of the spindle 140 extends through a central aperture 152 of the flanged lock nut 150 and includes a cavity 145 (
The spindle base 110 is threaded onto the main tube 102 so that the spindle base 110 does not rotate relative to the seat 101 as the spindle 140 rotates about the axis of rotation 130. A lock ring 190 is interposed between a shoulder 112 of the spindle base 110 and the flanged lock nut 150 and is preferably constrained from rotating about the axis of rotation 130. For example, as the outer threads 154 on the flanged lock nut 150 are threaded into the interior threads 113 of the spindle base 110, the lock ring 190 is pinched between the shoulder 112 of the spindle base 110 and the flanged lock nut 150 to thereby prevent the lock ring 190 from rotating about the axis 130. The lock ring 190 may be prevented from rotating about the axis 130 in other ways, such as being secured to the spindle base 110 (e.g., via a weld or epoxy). In addition, a pin (not shown) may extend between the spindle base 110 and the lock ring 190 to prevent rotation relative to each other. Thus, the seat 101, the lock ring 190, and the flanged lock nut 150 are anchored to the main tube 102 and are prevented from rotating about the axis 130 when the auto-locking device 100 is in a locked or unlocked position.
In a preferred arrangement, lock ring 190 includes an engagement surface 192 that faces spindle 140. The engagement surface 192 includes regularly spaced apart features, such as detents 193. The detents 193 or other engagement features may include splines or a series of evenly spaced grooves, indentations, apertures, or other suitable features that may be included on or formed in the engagement surface 192. Regularly spaced apart features preferably include ramped surfaces that facilitate a clicker or wedge pin 180 transitioning from one engagement feature to another engagement feature when spindle 140 is rotated about axis 130 as described in further detail below. Lock ring 190 therefore preferably provides an engagement surface suitable for holding a locking mechanism in place when the locking mechanism is in a locked position and suitable for providing audible clicks, tactile clicks, or both when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position. In other arrangements, a lock ring, such as lock ring 190, may provide only an engagement surface suitable for holding a locking mechanism in place when the locking mechanism is in a locked position.
The linkage 170 is nested in a portion of the cavity 145 between a bottom surface 147 of the cavity 145 and a retaining nut 200. The retaining nut 200 is provided with outer threads 202 that mate with inner threads 148 of the neck 144 of the spindle 140. The retaining nut 200 limits the travel of the linkage 170 along the axis 130. The linkage 170 includes a bore 172 sized to receive a biasing element, such as spring 210, which is provided to bias the linkage 170 toward a locked position, for example upward (e.g., away from the bottom surface 147 of the cavity 145). In other embodiments (not shown), a locked position of linkage 170 may be proximate the bottom surface 147 and the biasing element may bias linkage 170 toward the bottom surface 147. The linkage 170 also includes an offset bore 174, which includes interior threads sized to mate with a threaded portion 222 of a locking pin 220. A protrusion 176 of the linkage 170 extends through an aperture 204 of the retaining nut 200 for interaction with a pair of actuator shafts 230 and 232. Thus, the linkage 170 is configured for movement between a first (locked) position (
The locking pin 220 includes a circumferential groove 224 into which a butt 182 of the wedge pin 180 can enter. When the locking pin 220 is positioned as shown in
When the locking mechanism, including locking pin 220, is positioned as shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
A knob 250 is installed over the spindle 140 and the spindle base 110. In some embodiments, a rotatable portion of a dial constitutes a spindle, such as spindle 140, and a knob, such as knob 250. In other embodiments a rotatable portion of a dial constitutes either a spindle or a knob. The knob 250 includes a set of opposed threaded bores 251 sized to receive a pair of threaded set screws 260 and 262. Any number of set screws may be provided around the axis 130. As illustrated in
An indicator 270 slips over a base of the knob 250 and is typically marked with a scale around its circumference that allows the user to take a reading with respect to an index mark on the seat 101. The indicator ring 270 preferably includes a notch 272 that mates with a boss 252 on the knob 250 so that the indicator ring 270 can be aligned with the knob 250. As a lock ring 280 is threaded onto the base of the knob 250, the indicator ring 270 is sandwiched between a shoulder 253 of the knob 250 and the lock ring 280. The indicator ring 270 may be replaced with another similar indicator ring, but bearing a different set of markings to customize an auto-locking dial for a particular device. For example, when an auto-locking dial is used to adjust a setting of a riflescope, such as elevation, an indicator ring 270 that is specific to the caliber of the rifle to which the riflescope is mounted may be included on the knob 250. Such a caliber-specific indicator ring 270 preferably includes markings appropriately spaced to compensate for bullet drop for the caliber at particular distances. With such an indicator ring 270 attached to knob 250, after a rifle is zeroed at a known distance a shooter merely turns the knob 250 to a different distance indicated by ring 270 to hit a target at that distance using the specific caliber of the rifle. In other embodiments, indication marks may be made directly on a knob, such as knob 250.
A set of actuator shafts 230 and 232 are inserted into a set of opposed bores 254 formed in the knob 250. The actuator shafts 230 and 232 include a threaded portion 233 that threads into a threaded bore 243 of buttons 240 and 242 (which are shown having a C-shape). In the illustrated embodiment, actuator shafts are inserted into cavity 256 of knob 250 such that shoulders 234 prevent actuator shafts 230 and 232 from passing completely through bores 254. Connecting actuator shafts 230 and 232 to buttons 240 and 242, respectively, help hold buttons 240 and 242 in place on knob 250. In other embodiments, actuator shafts, such as actuator shafts 230 and 232, may be formed as part of buttons, such as buttons 240 and 242. A set of biasing elements, such as springs 290 and 292, are optionally provided to bias the buttons 240 and 242 toward an extended position (as shown in
The actuator shafts 230 and 232 are provided with a sloped surface 231, which may include a frustoconical shaped portion that interacts with a sloped portion 171, such as a hemispherical shaped portion of the linkage 170. The sloped surface of actuator shafts 230 and 232 and the sloped portion of linkage 170 may include flat or relatively flat surfaces, curved surfaces, or other suitable shapes or contours. In other embodiments, sloped surfaces 231 and 171 are configured and arranged to pull linkage 170 upwardly away from surface 147 when buttons 240 and 242 move toward the axis 130. In one such embodiment a circumferential groove similar to circumferential groove 224 may be included in protrusion 176 such that the circumferential groove is located below actuator shafts 230 and 232. Circumferential groove 224 may be located underneath wedge pin 180 instead of over wedge pin 180 as illustrated in
As shown in
The operation of the auto-locking device 100 will now be described with reference to
The sloped surfaces 231 of the actuator shafts 230 and 232 interact with the sloped portion 171 of the linkage 170 to cause the linkage 170 to move along with the locking pin 220 (which is coupled to the linkage 170) against the bias of spring 210 to an unlock position. In other words, the interaction between the actuator and the linkage 170 is configured to convert radial motion of the actuator shafts 230 and 232 into axial motion of the locking pin 220. After the linkage 170 has moved to an unlocked position, for example adjacent or abutting the bottom surface 147 of the cavity 145, the circumferential groove 224 of the locking pin 220 is aligned with the wedge pin 180. As previously noted, the wedge pin 180 is biased by the spring 186 to engage the engagement surface 192 of the lock ring 190. But, when the circumferential groove 224 is aligned with the wedge pin 180, the butt 182 of the wedge pin 180 can enter the circumferential groove 224 thus permitting wedge pin 180 to engage and disengage the engagement surface 192 of the lock ring 190 as the user rotates the knob 250 the spindle 140, and wedge pin 180 about the axis 130. Rotation of the spindle 140 causes the plunger 120 to move along the axis 130 thereby adjusting a position of an adjustable portion of a device, such as the inner tube 103, for example. In other arrangements, an engagement member, such as wedge pin 180, may be coupled to a link, such as linkage 170 and locking pin 220, for movement along axis 130. Accordingly, an engagement surface is preferably positioned and configured to interferingly interact with the engagement member when the link is in a lock position and to facilitate rotation of a rotatable portion when the link is in an unlock position.
When the user releases the buttons 240 and 242, the springs 290 and 292 cause the buttons 240 and 242 and the actuator shafts 230 and 232 to move to the position illustrated in
Any number of optional seals, such as O-rings, may be provided to keep out contamination. For example, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, a knob, such as knob 250, or a spindle, such as spindle 240, may not be needed. Other embodiments include both a spindle and a knob, for example, the embodiment illustrated in
With reference to the embodiment illustrated in
Referring now to
The spindle 2 includes a lower base portion 408 and an upper neck portion 410, and is similar to the spindle described above, including being sandwiched between a flanged lock nut 8 and the spindle base 1. Spindle 2 is rotatable about the axis of rotation 406 but is constrained from traveling along the axis of rotation 406 by the flanged lock nut 8 and the spindle base 1. A washer 23, similar to washer 160 described above, may optionally be included to facilitate rotation of the spindle 2 within a cavity 414 of the spindle base 1. The upper neck portion 410 of the spindle 2 extends through a central aperture of the flanged lock nut 8 and includes a cavity 416 into which a contact or linkage 4 nests. The spindle 2 also includes a bore 418 into which a clicker or wedge pin 9 extends. Additional details of the linkage 4 and the wedge pin 9 will be described in more detail below.
The spindle base 1 is threaded onto the seat 90 so that the spindle base 1 does not rotate relative to the seat 90 as the spindle 2 rotates about the axis of rotation 406. A click or lock ring 19 is interposed between a shoulder 420 of the spindle base 1 and the flanged lock nut 8 and is preferably constrained from rotating about the axis of rotation 406. For example, as the outer threads on the flanged lock nut 8 are threaded into the interior threads of the spindle base 1, the lock ring 19 is pinched between the shoulder 420 of the spindle base 1 and the flanged lock nut 8 to thereby prevent the lock ring 19 from rotating about the axis 406. The lock ring 19 may be prevented from rotating about the axis 406 in other ways, such as being secured to the spindle base 1 (e.g., via a weld or epoxy). In addition, a pin may extend between the spindle base 1 and the lock ring 19 to prevent rotation relative to each other. Thus, the spindle base 1, the lock ring 19, and the flanged lock nut 8 are anchored to the seat 90 and are prevented from rotating about the axis 406 when the auto-locking device 400 is in a locked or unlocked position.
A locking mechanism includes a linkage 4 nested in the cavity 416 of the spindle 2 between a bottom surface 422 of the cavity 416 and a spindle retaining nut 6. The retaining nut 6 is provided with outer threads 424 that mate with inner threads 426 of the neck 410 of the spindle 2. The retaining nut 6 limits the travel of the linkage 4 along the axis 406. The linkage 4 includes a bore 426 sized to receive a spring 7, which is provided to bias the linkage 4 toward a locked position, for example, away from the bottom surface 422 of the cavity 416. The linkage 4 also includes an offset bore 430, which includes interior threads sized to mate with a threaded portion 432 of a locking pin 5. Locking pin 5 is assembled with linkage 4 to form a link. Other suitable links, such as those describe above, may be used. A protrusion 434 of the linkage 4 extends through an aperture 436 of the retaining nut 6 for interaction with a pair of actuator shafts 17. Thus, the linkage 4 is configured for movement between a first (locked) position (
The locking pin 5 includes a circumferential groove 442 into which a butt 444 of the wedge pin 9 can enter, for example, as described above. When the locking pin 5 is positioned as shown in
A knob 11 is installed over the spindle 2 and the spindle base 1. The knob 11 includes a set of opposed threaded bores 450 sized to receive a pair of threaded set screws 14. Any number of set screws may be provided around the axis 406. As illustrated in
A circumferential groove 452 is formed in spindle 2 and is sized to accommodate a snap ring 26. The snap ring 26 is compressed when inserted into the circumferential groove 452 so that the snap ring 26 will expand into a circumferential groove 454 or 455 formed in the knob 11 when either circumferential groove 454 or 455 is aligned with the circumferential groove 452 (which will be described in more detail with reference to
An indicator 12 slips over a base of the knob 11 and is typically marked with a scale around its circumference that allows the user to take a reading with respect to an index mark on the main tube 27. The indicator 12 may be provided with a notch that mates with a boss on the knob 11 so that the indicator 12 can be aligned with the knob 11, for example, as described above with reference to
A set of actuator shafts 17 are inserted into a set of opposed bores 460 formed in the knob 11. The actuator shafts 17 include a threaded portion 462 that threads into a threaded bore 464 of buttons 16 (which are shown having a C-shape). A set of springs 15 are provided to bias the buttons 16 toward an extended position (as shown in
As shown in
The operation of the auto-locking device 400 will now be described with reference to
When the user releases the buttons 16, the springs 15 cause the buttons 16 and the actuator shafts 17 to move to the position illustrated in
A marksman may calibrate the auto-locking device 400 (i.e., reorient the indicator 12 relative to the spindle 2) by loosening the set screws 14, which allows the knob 11 and indicator 12 to rotate relative to the spindle 2. After completing the calibration, the set screws 14 are again tightened to rotationally couple the knob 11 to the spindle 2.
As described with reference to
In addition to the variations and combinations previously presented, other arrangements and features are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No 2009/0205461 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In one example, a dial comprises a selectively lockable mechanism including, (A) a linkage coupled to the spindle for rotation therewith such that the linkage is moveable along the axis of rotation between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the linkage includes a first sloped surface, (B) a locking pin extending from the linkage, (C) a wedge pin slidably mounted in the spindle, and (D) a lock ring supported by the device such that the lock ring is not rotatable about the axis of rotation. The locking pin is configured to inhibit the wedge pin from moving away from the lock ring when the linkage is in the locked position and to facilitate movement of the wedge pin away from the lock ring when the linkage is in the unlocked position and the spindle is rotated about the axis of rotation. Also, the wedge pin and the lock ring are configured to non-moveably engage each other when the linkage is in the locked position, and the wedge pin and the lock ring are configured to moveably engage each other when the linkage is in the unlocked position. The dial also comprises and actuator including (E) a button slidably engaging the knob, wherein the button is configured to move substantially transverse to the axis of rotation, and (F) an actuator shaft coupled to the button for movement therewith, wherein the actuator shaft includes a second sloped surface engaging the first sloped surface of the linkage, and wherein the actuator shaft extends from the button through the knob to a position proximate the axis of rotation. Also, the second sloped surface of the actuator shaft is configured to exert force on the first sloped surface of the linkage in response to movement of the button substantially transverse to the axis of rotation, and the linkage is configured to move along the axis of rotation to the unlocked position in response to the second sloped surface exerting force on the first sloped surface.
In another example, the dial described in the preceding paragraph further comprises a spindle base interposed between the threaded spindle and the seat, the spindle base coupled to the seat and including a sidewall extending away from the device, the sidewall defining a recess into which the spindle nests; and a retaining nut coupled to the spindle base to retain a portion of the spindle between the retaining nut and the spindle base to constrain the spindle from traveling along the axis of rotation but permitting the spindle to rotate about the axis of rotation.
The terms and descriptions used above are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations can be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, not be limited to the above specific examples, but is defined by the claims below.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/258,190 titled “Pinch-To-Turn Auto-Locking Adjustment” filed on Nov. 4, 2009, which is incorporated by reference herein.
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