Stereomicroscope having a closing member for protecting lenses

Details Stereomicroscope having a closing member for protecting lenses Stereomicroscope having a closing member for protecting lenses

2000-02-07

2001-04-03

Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)

Optical: systems and elements

Protection from moisture or foreign particle

Cap or cover

C359S368000, C359S507000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06210007

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based upon and claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-030061 filed on Feb. 8, 1999, the contents being incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique regarding a stereomicroscope for observing objects such as preparations. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for effectively protecting objective lens groups of the stereomicroscope when the stereomicroscope is carried or kept during unused time.
BACKGROUND ART
A stereomicroscope, generally, comprises a microscope unit including objective lens groups and eyepiece lens groups, a base on which an observing stage is placed, and a focusing unit for moving said microscope unit up and down in a direction perpendicular to the base. The stereomicroscope, recently, has a trend to be folded smaller in height during unused time, because it is easy to carry outdoors or to keep in a narrower space. Although the eyepiece lens groups, when such a stereomicroscope is used, are considerably protruded from the microscope body, the eyepiece lens groups, when the stereomicroscope is carried or kept, are moved towards the base by turning the microscope unit upside down around a shaft supported by the focusing unit. When the stereomicroscope is carried or kept during unused time, a dust cover made of material such as rubber is fitted to an opening of the microscope unit, or the stereomicroscope is kept in a protecting case that houses the entire stereomicroscope, because otherwise dust or rain could enter the microscope unit through the opening.
There is a problem that the dust cover or protecting case could be lost outdoors or anywhere, because the dust cover or protecting case is a separate thing from the stereomicroscope. When the stereomicroscope is carried without the dust cover, with the microscope unit being turned upside down, it is inevitable that dust or rain enter the stereomicroscope through the opening and clings to the surface of an objective lens. Furthermore, there is another problem. Even if the dust cover or protecting case is not lost, users tend to carry the stereomicroscope without covering the opening, because it is troublesome to fit the dust cover to the opening or to put the stereomicroscope into the protecting case.
Thus, there are needs for a stereomicroscope that is able to prohibit dust or rain from entering the stereomicroscope and clinging to the lenses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a stereomicroscope having a closing member to effectively protect objective lens groups when the stereomicroscope is carried or kept during unused time.
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stereomicroscope, comprising a microscope unit having a microscope body that holds eyepiece lens groups and objective lens groups; a base for supporting said microscope unit; a focusing unit that connects movably said microscope unit up and down to the base; wherein said microscope body is provided with a closing member to close an opening for said objective lens groups. In this invention, a user closes the opening with the closing member of the microscope body when he carries or keeps the stereomicroscope.
Furthermore, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the focusing unit may connect the microscope unit to the base in a manner that the microscope unit is able to be turned upside down.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the closing member may be a sliding shutter that is slidably held to the stereoscope body.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, the stereomicroscope may further comprise a drive device that opens and closes said closing member. The user closes or opens the opening by operating or actuating said drive device.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the drive device may operate in association with the upside down turning movement of the microscope unit.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4019192 (1977-04-01), Miyagawa
patent: 4295706 (1981-10-01), Frost
patent: 5784195 (1998-07-01), Mac Collum
patent: 5841576 (1998-11-01), Aikawa
English Abstract of the Japanese application, Serial No. 5-314941, Nov. 1993.

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