Optical: systems and elements – Barrel end eye guard
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-08-28
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Barrel end eye guard
C359S511000, C359S611000, C359S236000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280040
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical apparatus including a barrier member for protecting an optical system and a hood member (eyecup member) adapted to contact a viewer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an optical apparatus such as a telescope (binoculars, monocular, and others) is constructed such that an objective and an eyepiece are set at the front and rear end portions of a lens barrel in an exposed state. In this state, the telescope incurs attachment of dust, greases or the like on the surfaces of the lenses, if it is left as is when not in use, so that there is a possibility of damage to the lenses when the attached dust or the like is removed therefrom. For this reason, lens caps have been used as lens protective members for the objectives and eyepieces of the right- and left-hand lens barrels.
Since the lens cap is fitted over the barrel circumferential surface only under contact pressure, there is a possibility that it easily may be removed therefrom by an external force or the like. For preventing such removal, there has been proposed an optical apparatus in which one end of the lens cap is connected through a string-like member to the barrel body.
In addition, if the optical apparatus such as binoculars, a monocular or a telescope is used in the daytime, unwanted light such as sunlight comes in from the eyepiece side, making viewing difficult. Accordingly, an eyecup (viewing opening) forming a hood member is commonly mounted on the aforesaid optical apparatus.
However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional optical apparatus in which the lens cap is connected through a string-like member to the barrel body, it becomes hard to handle because the lens cap is unstable while being removed and presents an appearance that is unacceptable. Additionally, when a person wearing spectacles uses the conventional optical apparatus where the eyecup is set upright, this requires shifting the eyecup because the distance between the viewer's eyes(s) and the eyepiece(s) becomes great, making viewing difficult. As with removal of the lens cap, operation of the eyecup overlap becomes troublesome and makes observation hard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been developed in consideration of the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the invention to provide an optical apparatus with a simple structure, which is capable of easily accomplishing the movement and opening and closing operations of a barrier member for protecting a hood member and an optical system.
For this purpose, according to an aspect of this invention, an optical apparatus comprises an optical system, a hood member and a barrier member positioned between one end portion of the hood member and an end portion of the optical system to be movable to a position for protecting the optical system and further to a position for retreating from the optical system, with the barrier member being moved to the position for protecting the optical system or retreated from the optical system.
In addition, according to another aspect of this invention, an optical apparatus comprises an optical system, a hood member, a barrier member positioned between one end portion of the hood member and an end portion of the optical system to be movable to a position for protecting the optical system and further to a position for retreating from the optical system, and a holding member for holding the barrier member so that the barrier member is openable and closable and for holding the hood member so that the hood member is movable in a direction of an optical axis, with the barrier member being held by the holding member to be openable and closable while the hood member is held by the holding member to be movable in the optical axis direction.
The object and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4876563 (1989-10-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 5051765 (1991-09-01), Yoshizaki et al.
patent: 5294954 (1994-03-01), Nomura et al.
patent: 5408359 (1995-04-01), Ferrett et al.
patent: 5602607 (1997-02-01), Kato et al.
patent: 5623367 (1997-04-01), Immel
Nguyen Thong
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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