Self-illuminating Turret Cover with Edge Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shooters face difficulty in visualizing adjustment marks on turret covers, especially in low-light conditions, which impairs aiming adjustments for zeroing in or compensating for bullet drop and windage in firearm aiming devices.
Innovation Solution
A self-illuminated turret cover with internal lighting elements that use an edge lighting process to illuminate adjustment marks, powered by a battery assembly and mounted within a transparent plastic exterior sleeve portion to enhance visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If adjustment marks are made visible in low-light conditions, then visibility and recognition of marks is improved, but device complexity increases due to addition of lighting elements and battery assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the turret cover with an illumination assembly and battery assembly into a single integrated unit. The lighting elements are embedded within the turret cover structure, and the battery assembly is housed in a dedicated compartment, creating a unified device that provides both protective covering and illumination functions without requiring separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The turret cover is designed to be self-illuminating through integrated lighting elements that activate automatically or on demand to illuminate adjustment marks. The battery assembly is self-contained within the turret cover, allowing the device to serve its own illumination needs without external power sources or additional equipment.
2Illumination intensity
If lighting elements are integrated into the turret cover, then visibility of adjustment marks is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turret cover is divided into functional segments: the main cover body, the illumination assembly with lighting elements, and the battery assembly housed in a separate compartment. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled together, simplifying the overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining illumination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a circuit board as an intermediary component to connect the battery assembly to the lighting elements. This mediator simplifies the electrical connections and allows for modular assembly, where the battery and lighting components can be manufactured separately and then easily integrated through standardized electrical interfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves recognition and visibility of adjustment marks in low-light conditions, facilitating accurate aiming adjustments by providing clear illumination of etched marks on the turret cover.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination assembly includes a circuit board having a downwardly facing surface including a plurality of lighting elements
Implementation Method 2
The lower portion includes an exterior sleeve portion of an at least partially transparent plastic material that includes a plurality of etched adjustment marks
Data Source
AI summary
A turret cover for a turret assembly. In one or more embodiments the turret cover includes an upper portion including a turret housing defining a battery recess and an illumination recess. An illumination assembly can be mounted in the illumination recess. In various embodiments, the illumination assembly includes a downwardly facing surface including a lighting element. In various embodiments, the turret cover includes a lower portion including an exterior sleeve portion of an at least partially transparent plastic material and a plurality of etched adjustment marks. In some embodiments, the lower portion is at least partially inserted into the illumination recess such that an upwardly facing edge of the exterior sleeve portion is positioned adjacent to the lighting element of the illumination assembly such that, in operation, the lighting element illuminates the plurality of etched adjustment marks via an edge lighting process.