Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Telescope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-07-24
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Telescope
C359S412000, C359S413000, C359S418000, C359S480000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266185
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to binoculars having a focusing mechanism mounted on the outside of a rearmost bridge connecting the body tubes and particularly to a focusing mechanism including a gear extending to each tube through the bridge and in which focusing is not affected by adjustments made to the distance between the tubes.
2. Description of the Related Technology
DE-PS 154 142 discloses binoculars having two spaced articulably jointed bridges connected to a pair of body tubes housing the optical components of the binoculars. Since the bridges are not connected by a center axle, an open space is formed between the two body tubes and the connecting bridges so that one tube can be enclosed by the user's hand. This reach-through ensures safe handling of the binoculars and in particular considerably facilitates holding and carrying the binoculars with one hand.
In conventional binoculars, the focusing mechanisms are formed by mounting the eyepieces in tubular inserts telescopically displaceable within the binocular's body tubes. These tubular inserts have external toothing, and an internal thread for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the tube. The external toothings are engaged by intermediate gearwheels mounted on the bridge and seated on each of two focusing knobs mounted concentrically and in tandem.
When the body tubes in conventional binoculars are swivelled around the joint axis the focus necessarily changes due to the relative rotation of the gear-wheels and focusing knobs. Conventional binoculars are therefore extremely difficult to handle. In addition, focusing must be effected by simultaneous rotation of the two focusing knobs mounted closely in tandem, which is also difficult.
An alternative binocular focusing scheme uses a hollow double-jointed bridge in which a central focusing device is mounted for operating the focusing mechanism via a gear. The focusing mechanism is mounted in sleeves within the tubes, this configuration known as internal focusing (cf. e.g. DE 39 29 825 C1). Due to the large bridge required to handle this focusing structure, conventional binoculars do not permit a user to reach through between the body tubes. The binoculars are also considered to be unwieldy due to the wide, hollow jointed bridge and the heavy gearing substantially filling said bridge.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a light, easy-to-handle binocular type telescope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to binoculars and, more particularly, to binoculars having two body tubes connected via at least one jointed bridge for adjusting the distance between the eyes, both tubes having axially displaceable focusing means operated by a common focusing knob mounted on the jointed bridge engaging respective gears extending through the jointed bridge.
In order to facilitate handling, the binoculars according to the invention have two jointed bridges disposed a distance apart without a center axle provided therebetween. In addition, the gear for operating the focusing mechanism is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the tube and is formed so that focusing is effected independently of the adjustment of the distance between the eyepieces, i.e., independently of the change of the angular position of the jointed bridges. Furthermore, handling of the binoculars is facilitated since focusing mechanisms for both of the binocular telescopes are operated by a common focusing knob.
The binoculars according to the invention include an extremely space-saving gear for operating the focusing mechanism. This feature of the invention provides for a jointed bridge which is narrow enough that it can be spaced sufficiently far from the other jointed bridge and without a center axle therebetween so as to provide a reach-through. The space-saving gear preferably has one two-armed, preferably angular, lever acting upon each of the two focusing mechanisms and swiveling about an axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the binoculars, engaging one end of the particular focusing mechanism. The end of the angle lever opposite the focusing mechanism acts upon a stop axially displaceable by rotation of the focusing knob and which is preferably formed as a conical surface. A screw thread is provided within the focusing knob for axial displacement of this stop or support and thus for operation of the angle levers for displacing the focusing mechanisms.
For diopter adjustment, one of the two levers can be formed to be radially displaceable by a further gear independently of the other lever. This gear can be formed, for example, by an eccentric operated by the focusing knob axle, and a coupler between the eccentric and the radially displaceable lever. The focusing knob is preferably formed so that it can be used for both focusing, on the one hand, and diopter adjustment, on the other hand. It is thus axially displaceable between a focusing position and a diopter adjustment position. A focusing knob coupling permits both levers to move in the focusing position and only one lever to move in the diopter adjustment position. The coupling preferably has a coupling disk connected so as to rotate in unison with the focusing knob axle and connected so as to rotate in unison (i) at one face with the gear for axial displacement of the stop in the focusing position of the focusing knob axle, and (ii) at its opposite face with the eccentric shaft in the diopter adjustment position of the focusing knob axle. The focusing position is preferably the position of the focusing knob axle when fully inserted into the focusing knob housing, and the diopter adjustment position the position of the axle when pulled out of the focusing knob housing. The coupling disk is preferably connected with the focusing knob axle by a snap connection which connects the coupling disk with the gear for axial displacement of the stop when the focusing knob axle is inserted, and with the eccentric shaft when the axle is pulled out.
The two-armed levers for operating the focusing mechanism provide a relatively long sliding path for the focusing mechanisms within the body tubes. The binoculars thus have enhanced close focusing capabilities on the order of a few meters.
Although the above-described gear for operating the focusing mechanism is preferred, other gears and gearing arrangements may also be employed which provide focusing using a common focusing knob for both focusing the binoculars independent of the change of the distance between the body tubes, on the one hand, while providing a reach-through between two jointed bridges, on the other hand, e.g., a cardan gear.
The articulably jointed bridge including focusing gear can generally be made narrow and light-weight according to the invention. The invention is thus applicable to multiple uses beyond binoculars having two articulably jointed bridges, including those with and without a reach-through therebetween. For example, a single articulably jointed bridge can be used instead of two spaced bridges. Likewise, the binoculars can have two jointed bridges and a thin axle to provide a reach-through space.
The binoculars according to the invention can be formed using either roof (Dach) prisms, i.e., with substantially aligned objective and eyepiece axes, or Porro prisms, i.e., with the objective axes clearly offset from the two eyepiece axes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1022340 (1912-04-01), Steinle
patent: 4436387 (1984-03-01), Shimizu
patent: 4989963 (1991-02-01), Farnung et al.
Miller Benno
Murg Erwin
Pernstich Ludwig
Assaf Fayez
Fulbright & Jaworski
Schuberg Darren
Swarovski Optik KG
LandOfFree
Binocular telescope does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Binocular telescope, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Binocular telescope will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2563372