Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Telescope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-01-16
Henry, Jon (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Telescope
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175447
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a binocular instrument (telescope and microscope) having a pair of right- and left-hand optical systems and a protective section for protection of the optical systems, where its pupil (interpupilary) distance is adjustable.
2. Related Art Statement
In general, a binocular instrument is constructed such that objectives and eyepieces are set at front and rear end portions of a pair of lens barrels in an exposed state to the external, which incurs attachment of dust and greases on the surface of the lenses if it is left as it is in non-using state (in a stored condition), so that there is a possibility of damages to the lenses when the attached dust or the like is wiped up. For this reason, lens caps have been used as lens protective members for a group of objectives and a group of eyepieces of the right- and left-hand lens barrels.
Meanwhile, since the lens cap is fitted over the barrel circumferential surface only under contact pressure, it can easily be removed therefrom by an external force or the like or can be misplaced. For preventing misplacement, there has been proposed a binocular instrument in which one end of the lens cap is connected through a string-like member to the barrel body.
However, if the lens cap is connected through a string-like member to the barrel body, the binocular instrument becomes hard to handle because the lens cap is unstable while being removed, besides its appearance is unacceptable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been developed in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and it is an object of this invention to provide a binocular instrument capable of, in addition to switching between a using condition where lenses are open and a non-used condition where the lenses are covered and adjusting the pupil distance, facilitating the switching operation between these conditions.
According to an aspect of this invention, a binocular instrument comprises a pair of right- and left-hand lens barrels each equipped with a lens optical system, an optical-axis-separation changing mechanism for changing a distance between the optical axis of the pair of lens barrels, and a lens protective section capable of shifting to a closing position for covering the lens optical system and to an opening position for exposing an exposure surface of the lens optical system, wherein the lens protective section is driven in connection with the optical-axis-separation changing mechanism.
Furthermore, according to another aspect of this invention, a binocular instrument comprises a pair of rightand left-hand lens barrels each equipped with a lens optical system, an optical-axis-separation changing mechanism for changing a distance between the optical axis of the pair of lens barrels, and a lens protective section capable of shifting to a closing position for covering the lens optical system and to an opening position for exposing an exposure surface of the lens optical system. The optical-axis-separation changing mechanism has a first area for changing the binocular instrument to a storage state and to a use state and a second area for changing the distance between the optical axis within a predetermined range in the use state. The lens protective section is made to operate in connection with a movement of the optical-axis-separation changing mechanism in the first area and takes the closing position when the binocular instrument is in the storage state while taking the opening position when being in the use state.
The object and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3266367 (1966-08-01), Dowling et al.
patent: 5640271 (1997-06-01), Nishitani et al.
Koide Wataru
Torikoshi Yuichi
Henry Jon
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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