Optical sight with side focus adjustment

Abstract

A scope for a firearm can be used for a gun sight. The scope comprises a main tube that contains imaging optics therein. In certain embodiments, the main tube comprises a single continuous tubular body extending uninterrupted from a widened proximal end portion through a narrow medial portion to a widened distal end portion. A side focus assembly is positioned along the tubular body. The side focus assembly is used to vary the position of optics within the scope to adjust the overall focus of the scope.

1 .- 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A scope comprising: 
 a scope body having interior sidewall surfaces;    a distally arranged objective lens assembly disposed in said scope body;    a proximally arranged ocular lens assembly disposed in said scope body;    a flexible erector tube disposed in said scope body between said objective lens assembly and said ocular lens assembly, said flexible erector tube having exterior sidewall surfaces, said flexible erector tube housing erector optics, said flexible erector tube including a movable portion and a fixed portion, said fixed portion secured to said scope body; and    at least one positioning member disposed on a first side of said scope body, said positioning member having a first position wherein said positioning member applies pressure from a first side of said scope body, thereby inducing flexure of said flexible erector tube, said flexible erector tube biased toward said positioning member and away from a second side of said scope body substantially opposite said first side independent of any biasing element between said interior sidewall surfaces of said scope body and said exterior sidewall surfaces of said flexible erector tube.    
   
   
       32 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said at least one positioning member comprises a windage screw disposed in said scope body for adjusting windage.  
   
   
       33 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said at least one positioning member comprises an elevation screw disposed in said scope body for adjusting elevation.  
   
   
       34 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said fixed portion of said flexible erector tube comprises a mounting flange.  
   
   
       35 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said flexible erector tube comprises a flexible portion that is less rigid than said fixed portion to permit flexure of said flexible erector tube.  
   
   
       36 . The scope of  claim 35 , wherein said flexible portion comprises openings in said flexible erector tube to permit flexure of said flexible erector tube.  
   
   
       37 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said flexible erector tube includes a slotted portion between said fixed portion and said movable portion, said slotted portion to permit flexure of said flexible erector tube.  
   
   
       38 . The scope of  claim 37 , wherein said slotted portion comprises metal.  
   
   
       39 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said movable portion is disposed off-center of a central axis through said scope body toward said at least one positioning member so as to provide said bias.  
   
   
       40 . The scope of  claim 39 , wherein said flexible erector tube is bent such that said movable portion is laterally displaced with respect to said fixed portion.  
   
   
       41 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said flexible erector tube is tilted so as to provide said biasing.  
   
   
       42 . The scope of  claim 31 , wherein said distal end of said flexible erector tube is shifted with respect to said proximal end independent of said position elements and said any bias element.  
   
   
       43 . The scope of  claim 31 , further comprising a side-mounted focus assembly disposed to one side of the scope body so as to be offset laterally with respect to a central axis of the scope body, wherein the focus assembly translates user actuation into translational movement of at least lens so as to adjust focus of the scope.  
   
   
       44 . A method of manufacturing a scope, said method comprising: 
 providing a hollow scope body;    inserting a flexible erector tube having first and second end portions that can be flexed with respect to each other in said hollow scope body;    disposing at least one positioning member with respect to said flexible erector tube to flex said first end of said flexible erector tube with respect to said second end of said flexible erector tube; and    biasing said first end of said flexible erector tube toward said positioning member to provide said bias independent of any biasing element between said flexible erector tube and said scope body.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising forming openings in said flexible erector tube to permit said flexure.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising orienting said first end of said flexible erector tube toward said at least one positioning member to bias said first end of said flexible erector tube toward said positioning member.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said orienting comprises angling said first end with respect said second end of said flexible erector tube.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said orienting comprises laterally displacing said first end with respect said second end of said flexible erector tube.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said first end is shifted laterally with respect to said second end so as to provide said biasing.  
   
   
       50 . A scope comprising: 
 a scope body;    an objective in a distal portion of said scope body;    an ocular in a proximal portion of said scope body;    a means for housing erector optics, said erector optics housing means disposed in said scope body between said objective and said second ocular; and    a means for applying pressure to said erector optics housing means such that said erector optics housing means flexes to adjust at least one of elevation and windage,    wherein said erector optics housing means is biased against pressure from said pressure applying means independent of any springs between said erector optics housing means and said scope body.    
   
   
       51 . The scope of  claim 50 , wherein said erector optics housing means comprises a flexible erector tube.  
   
   
       52 . The scope of  claim 50 , wherein said pressure applying means comprises at least one positioning member.  
   
   
       53 . The scope of  claim 50 , wherein said pressure applying means comprises a windage screw disposed in said scope body for adjusting windage.  
   
   
       54 . The scope of  claim 50 , wherein said pressure applying means comprises an elevation screw disposed in said scope body for adjusting elevation.  
   
   
       55 . The scope of  claim 50 , wherein said erector optics housing means is bent such that a movable portion is laterally displaced with respect to a fixed portion, said fixed portion secured to said scope body.  
   
   
       56 . The scope of  claim 50 , wherein said erector optics housing means has distal and proximal portions, said distal portion laterally shifted with respect to said proximal portion so as to provide biasing.  
   
   
       57 . The scope of  claim 50 , wherein said erector optics housing means is tilted so as to provide said biasing.