Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With support
Patent
1994-03-25
1996-06-11
Epps, Georgia Y.
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With support
359811, 359819, 359821, G02B 702
Patent
active
055261949
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an optical element support particularly, but not exclusively, for supporting filters or other optical elements on a camera, such as a film camera.
It is known to locate optical elements in front of a camera lens on a support or "Matt Box" which is attached to the lens housing. The support includes a ring which has a screw thread adapted to fit the required camera lens. The ring snap fits onto a back plate of an optical element holder. The optical holder includes a number of grooves of fixed size and location into which an optical element may be mounted.
As the ring snap-fits onto the back plate of the holder it is difficult to rotate the ring relative to the holder. Also, the force required to remove the holder may place undesirable strain on the camera lens. Additionally, since the grooves are of fixed size and location, there is a limitation on the usefulness of the support.
It has been proposed to mount additional supports on the first support to increase the number of optical elements that can be mounted. This can be cumbersome, however, and there is still a limitation on the thickness of filter or other optical element that can be used.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved support for optical elements.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is an optical element support attachable to a camera for supporting optical elements adjacent to a lens of the camera, the support comprising an optical element holder and an attachment means interlockable with the holder for attaching the holder to the camera, the holder including a stack of discrete holder members adapted to hold a desired selection, by number and dimension, of optical elements, the holder members being removably connected to the holder, such that a rearrangement of the stack of holder members permits the accomodation in the support of optical elements of different number or dimension.
Preferably the attachment means permits rotation of the holder relative to the camera and there are two opposing stacks of holder members, each optical element extending between corresponding holder members in the respective stacks.
Also preferably the holder members are `L`-shaped, and the length of the base of the `L`-shaped holder member is varied between the holder members depending on the required width of the optical element to be held.
Advantageously the attachment means includes a threaded portion which can be screwed on to the lens of the camera and more than one attachment means are provided, each one being adapted to fit a different sized lens.
Preferably the attachment means is interlockable with the holder by means of a latch releasable by the user.
Preferably the or each stack of holder members is connected to the holder by tension means extending through the stack.
Advantageously the or each stack of holder members is connected to the holder by screws extending through the stack.
Optionally a plurality of optical element holders may be coupled together by coupling means.
The invention also includes a kit of parts for an optical element support attachable to a camera for supporting optical elements adjacent to a lens of the camera, comprising one or more holder base plates, a plurality of attachment means each adapted to fit a different lens ring of a camera, the appropriate attachment means serving to attach the holder plate to the camera; and a plurality of discrete holder members adapted for mounting on the holder plate in at least one stack to hold a desired selection, by number and dimension, of optical elements, differing stacking arrangements of holder members on the holder plate serving to accommodate differing selections, by number and dimension, of optical elements.
Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an optical element support, attached to a lens housing, according to one aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view thereof, removed from the lens housing, taken along line II II o
REFERENCES:
patent: 4383735 (1983-05-01), Stravitz
patent: 5353166 (1994-10-01), Hanford
Epps Georgia Y.
Mack Ricky
Panavision Europe Limited
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