Actuating element for a telescopic sight

#This application is a U.S. National Stage application of PCT Application No. PCT/AT2005/000278, filed Jul. 18, 2005, which claims priority from Austrian Application No. A 1391/2004, filed on Aug. 18, 2004.

#The invention relates to an actuator for adjusting the position of the lead mark of a telescopic sight, the actuator being in the form of a rotary knob mounted for rotation on the telescopic sight, rotation of said knob causing the lead mark to be adjusted by means of an adjusting mechanism in a vertical and/or horizontal direction while the turning range of the rotary knob is restricted by at least one operating range limit stop in both directions of rotation.

#Telescopic sights have a lead mark, for example in the form of a reticle. In order to be able to adjust the lead mark to the actual point of impact for specific ballistics (caliber, projectile mass, type of projectile, charge, etc.) and a specific barrel for a specific zero range, the lead mark is usually adjustable for elevation and deflection in known manner by means of an adjusting mechanism.

#The invention is described below in more detail with reference to the drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 shows an actuator according to the invention in a perspective cutaway view,

#FIG. 2 shows the actuator of FIG. 1 in another cutaway section,

#The invention described in this document relates to the positioning of a limit stop as well as to the definition of an adjustment range for a lead mark. Such adjustment, etc. is of particular advantage in connection with an actuator that permits indexing of the lead mark and, in particular, multiple indexing. The invention is therefore described below in more detail with reference to a specific actuator that permits multiple indexing. It may be pointed out, however, that the invention is also suitable for other actuators with multiple indexing or even for those that do not permit multiple indexing.

#With the actuator shown, however, it is an advantage that the appropriate mechanism according to the invention can be particularly well accommodated in the rotary knob because of its special design.

#The actuator BET shown consists, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1-4, in known manner, of, for instance, a rotary knob DRE that, when turned about its axis of rotation ACH, adjusts a reticle (lead mark) by means of the adjusting mechanism STE not illustrated in detail, which comprises, for example, a spindle. Depending on the arrangement of the actuator BET, this rotating motion results in an adjustment of the lead mark in a vertical or horizontal direction, or, if desired, in both horizontal and vertical directions. It is to be noted, however, that usually a separate actuator is used for adjustments in the horizontal direction and another one for adjustments in the vertical direction.