Patents by Inventor Bernard T. Windauer

Bernard T. Windauer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9665120
    Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for adjusting a setting of a sighting device, such as a riflescope or telescope, includes an adjustment knob operatively coupled to an adjustment mechanism, where rotation of the adjustment knob about a rotational axis drives the adjustment mechanism to adjust the setting of the sighting device. The adjustment apparatus further includes a lock mechanism including a first lock element fixed relative to the sighting device and a second lock element selectively movable relative to the first lock element. When the lock elements engage one another, the adjustment knob is in a locked position and restrained from rotating about the rotational axis. The adjustment apparatus may further include a lock-release mechanism operable to disengage the lock elements and allow the adjustment knob to rotate about the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Publication number: 20160274619
    Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for adjusting a setting of a sighting device, such as a riflescope or telescope, includes an adjustment knob operatively coupled to an adjustment mechanism, where rotation of the adjustment knob about a rotational axis drives the adjustment mechanism to adjust the setting of the sighting device. The adjustment apparatus further includes a lock mechanism including a first lock element fixed relative to the sighting device and a second lock element selectively movable relative to the first lock element. When the lock elements engage one another, the adjustment knob is in a locked position and restrained from rotating about the rotational axis. The adjustment apparatus may further include a lock-release mechanism operable to disengage the lock elements and allow the adjustment knob to rotate about the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 9292034
    Abstract: A locking turret knob includes an adjustment member, a first member, and a second member. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The first member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement member. The second member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement surface. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface. The adjustment member is locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface. The adjustment member can be coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, such as a telescopic sight, a telescope or a microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Publication number: 20140165782
    Abstract: A locking turret knob includes an adjustment member, a first member, and a second member. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The first member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement member. The second member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement surface. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface. The adjustment member is locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface. The adjustment member can be coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, such as a telescopic sight, a telescope or a microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 8713843
    Abstract: An adjustment turret knob for a telescopic sight comprises a programmable function in which rotational positions of the knob for a specific projectile, at selected ranges, ambient atmospheric conditions, or field conditions, or any combination thereof, are stored and later used for adjusting elevation or windage settings based on the determined range of a target or conditions experienced in the field. In one exemplary embodiment, the turret knob is capable of determining, or calculating, a “best fit” trajectory curve for a specific projectile based on the stored rotational positions of the turret knob relating to the conditions under which the projectile was fired and conditions stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 8670179
    Abstract: A turret knob comprises first and second adjustment members that are both adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation, and a slip/engagement member positioned between the first and the second adjustment members along the axis of rotation. The slip-engagement member is movable between three positions along the axis of rotation. In a first position, the slip-engagement member does not engage the first or the second adjustment members. In the second position, the slip/engagement member engages the first adjustment member to rotatably adjust only the first adjustable member about the axis of rotation as the slip/engagement member is rotated about the axis of rotation. In the third position, the slip/engagement member engages the second adjustable member to rotatably adjust only the second adjustable member about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 8528458
    Abstract: A gas block assembly for a firearm comprises a gas cylinder fluidly coupled to the bore of a barrel of the firearm through a gas inlet port, and an automatically adjusting gas pressure relief port. The gas cylinder receives a gas pressure generated in the barrel of the firearm, and the gas pressure relief port vents gas pressure in the gas cylinder directly or indirectly into the bore of the barrel of the firearm or attached sound suppressor if the gas pressure in the gas cylinder is greater than or equal to a predetermined and preset gas pressure. A pressure relief mechanism is fluidly coupled between the gas cylinder and the gas pressure relief port and vents gas pressure from the gas cylinder to the gas pressure relief port if the gas pressure in the gas cylinder is greater than or equal to the predetermined gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 8516736
    Abstract: A locking turret knob includes an adjustment member, a first member, and a second member. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The first member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement member. The second member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement surface. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface. The adjustment member is locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface. The adjustment member can be coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, such as a telescopic sight, a telescope or a microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Publication number: 20130025445
    Abstract: A gas block assembly for a firearm comprises a gas cylinder fluidly coupled to the bore of a barrel of the firearm through a gas inlet port, and an automatically adjusting gas pressure relief port. The gas cylinder receives a gas pressure generated in the barrel of the firearm, and the gas pressure relief port vents gas pressure in the gas cylinder directly or indirectly into the bore of the barrel of the firearm or attached sound suppressor if the gas pressure in the gas cylinder is greater than or equal to a predetermined and preset gas pressure. A pressure relief mechanism is fluidly coupled between the gas cylinder and the gas pressure relief port and vents gas pressure from the gas cylinder to the gas pressure relief port if the gas pressure in the gas cylinder is greater than or equal to the predetermined gas pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 8317100
    Abstract: An automatic optical sighting system generates at least one adjustment for an adjustable optical system based on at least one detected condition, an appropriate dynamic model of a projectile in flight, and a solution of the equations of motion in flight, so that the projectile will have a trajectory between an origin and a selected target that helps the projectile to hit the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: AOSS, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard T. Windauer, William True McDonald, Ted C. Almgren
  • Patent number: 8270104
    Abstract: A turret knob comprises an adjustable member, an engagement member and a plurality of stop members. The adjustable member is capable of being adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The engagement member is coupled to the adjustment member, and a relative position of the engagement member with respect to the axis of rotation corresponds to a position of the adjustable member as the adjustable member is adjustably positioned about the axis of rotation. The plurality of stop members are each selectably positioned about the axis of rotation. Each stop member is capable of interfering with the engagement member and blocking movement of the adjustable member as the adjustable member is adjustably positioned about the axis of rotation. The adjustable member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation between adjacent stop member positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Publication number: 20120216653
    Abstract: A locking turret knob includes an adjustment member, a first member, and a second member. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The first member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement member. The second member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement surface. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface. The adjustment member is locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface. The adjustment member can be coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, such as a telescopic sight, a telescope or a microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Publication number: 20120186131
    Abstract: An adjustment turret knob for a telescopic sight comprises a programmable function in which rotational positions of the knob for a specific projectile, at selected ranges, ambient atmospheric conditions, or field conditions, or any combination thereof, are stored and later used for adjusting elevation or windage settings based on the determined range of a target or conditions experienced in the field. In one exemplary embodiment, the turret knob is capable of determining, or calculating, a “best fit” trajectory curve for a specific projectile based on the stored rotational positions of the turret knob relating to the conditions under which the projectile was fired and conditions stored in memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Publication number: 20120053878
    Abstract: An automatic optical sighting system generates at least one adjustment for an adjustable optical system based on at least one detected condition, an appropriate dynamic model of a projectile in flight, and a solution of the equations of motion in flight, so that the projectile will have a trajectory between an origin and a selected target that helps the projectile to hit the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Bernard T. Windauer, William T. McDonald, Ted C. Almgren
  • Publication number: 20120030988
    Abstract: An optical sighting system comprises an adjustable optical system and an adjustment member. The adjustable optical system comprises at least one optical adjustment, and an optical pathway that extends along a longitudinal axis of the optical sighting system. The adjustment member is coupled to the at least one optical adjustment, such that the adjustment member comprises an axis of rotation about which the adjustment member rotates to actuate the at least one optical adjustment. The axis of rotation about which the adjustment member rotates is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the optical sighting system. The at least one optical adjustment comprises a vertical optical adjustment and/or a horizontal optical adjustment, and depending on the embodiment, the axis of rotation about which the adjustment member rotates substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the optical sighting system or is different from the longitudinal axis of the optical sighting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 8033464
    Abstract: An automatic optical sighting system generates at least one adjustment for an adjustable optical system based on at least one detected condition, an appropriate dynamic model of a projectile in flight, and a solution of the equations of motion in flight, so that the projectile will have a trajectory between an origin and a selected target that helps the projectile to hit the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventors: Bernard T. Windauer, William True McDonald, Ted C. Almgren
  • Publication number: 20110242650
    Abstract: A turret knob comprises first and second adjustment members that are both adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation, and a slip/engagement member positioned between the first and the second adjustment members along the axis of rotation. The slip-engagement member is movable between three positions along the axis of rotation. In a first position, the slip-engagement member does not engage the first or the second adjustment members. In the second position, the slip/engagement member engages the first adjustment member to rotatably adjust only the first adjustable member about the axis of rotation as the slip/engagement member is rotated about the axis of rotation. In the third position, the slip/engagement member engages the second adjustable member to rotatably adjust only the second adjustable member about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Patent number: 8006429
    Abstract: A locking turret knob includes an adjustment member, a first member, and a second member. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The first member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement member. The second member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement surface. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface. The adjustment member is locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface. The adjustment member can be coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, such as a telescopic sight, a telescope or a microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer
  • Publication number: 20110162250
    Abstract: An automatic optical sighting system generates at least one adjustment for an adjustable optical system based on at least one detected condition, an appropriate dynamic model of a projectile in flight, and a solution of the equations of motion in flight, so that the projectile will have a trajectory between an origin and a selected target that helps the projectile to hit the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Bernard T. Windauer, William T. McDonald, Ted C. Almgren
  • Publication number: 20110099717
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a frame assembly comprising a first side member and a second side member, and at least one spreader member. The spreader member comprises a first triangular member, a coupling member and a second triangular member. The first and second triangular members each comprise a vertex end and a base end. The coupling member comprises first and second end portions. The first triangle member is coupled to the first side member along the base end of the first triangular member. The second triangle member is coupled to the second side member along the base end of the second triangular member. The vertex end of the first triangular member and the vertex end of the second triangular member are respectively coupled to the first and second end portions of the coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Bernard T. Windauer