Scope having a zoom slider
View Patent ↗A scope having a zoom mechanism that includes a cam tube holding an optical train of lenses whose relative positions change when said cam tube is rotated, causing an image seen through the scope to expand or contract. A gear is in contact to said cam tube and is positioned so as to rotate said cam tube when said gear is rotated. Finally, an actuator is positioned on a side of said scope and operatively connected to said gear so that said actuator causes said gear to turn when a user moves said actuator.
1. A scope having a zoom mechanism, comprising:
(a) a cam tube holding an optical train of lenses whose relative positions change when said cam tube is rotated, causing an image seen through the scope to expand or contract;
(b) a gear operatively connected to said cam tube and positioned so as to rotate said cam tube when said gear is rotated;
(c) an actuator operatively connected to said gear so that said actuator causes said gear to turn when a user moves said actuator; and
(d) wherein said actuator has a range of movement that permits said actuator to operatively rotate said cam tube by more than 300 degrees; and
(e) wherein said cam tube defines a set of irregular helical slots and wherein said slots extend for greater than 300 degrees around said cam tube.
2. The scope of claim 1 , wherein said actuator has a range of movement that permits said actuator to operatively rotate said cam tube by more than a complete rotation and said cam tube irregular helical slots extend for greater than a full rotation around said cam tube.
3. The scope of claim 1 , wherein said scope further has an ocular portion having a housing and said actuator is a knob on the right hand side of said ocular portion housing, from the perspective of a shooter using said scope.