US3655264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Binocular viewing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-18
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1990-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A binocular device having a housing provided with a pair of prism assemblies, there being an assembly for each eye, respectively. Each assembly includes a pair of prisms used in the Dove mode with the prisms being disposed with their hypotenuse or long sides in proximity to each other. Spacing means separates the two prisms of each assembly slightly apart. The housing has means for mechanically holding each prism assembly against relative movement. The prism assemblies are relatively convergent as the forward extremity of the housing is approached. The prism assemblies operate to provide a left-to-right reversal and a fore-to-aft reversal of images of distant and concomitant closeup objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore C Pickett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/02; G02B27/022; G02B17/00; G02B17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A binocular viewing device comprising: a housing having a pair of light entrance ports and a pair of light exit ports, each light exit port being aligned wiTh a respective light entrance port to present a corresponding light path through the housing; a pair of prism assemblies, there being a prism assembly for each light path, respectively, each prism assembly including a pair of triangular prisms with each prism having an internal reflecting surface; and means coupled with the housing for rigidly mounting each prism assembly therewithin across the respective light pAth with the prisms thereof being mounted in the Dove mode and with the reflecting surfaces of the prisms being in proximity to each other and extending longitudinally of the respective light path, the plane of each internal reflecting surface of each of the prism assemblies being convergent toward a corresponding plane of the other prism assembly as the corresponding light entrance port is approached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A binocular viewing device comprising: a housing having a pair of light entrance ports and a pair of light exit ports, each light exit port being aligned wiTh a respective light entrance port to present a corresponding light path through the housing; a pair of prism assemblies, there being a prism assembly for each light path, respectively, each prism assembly including a pair of triangular prisms with each prism having an internal reflecting surface; and means coupled with the housing for rigidly mounting each prism assembly therewithin across the respective light pAth with the prisms thereof being mounted in the Dove mode and with the reflecting surfaces of the prisms being in proximity to each other and extending longitudinally of the respective light path, the plane of each internal reflecting surface of each of the prism assemblies being convergent toward a corresponding plane of the other prism assembly as the corresponding light entrance port is approached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the prisms is a right angle prism having a hypotenuse, the prisms of each assembly being positioned with the hypotenuse of one prism in proximity to the hypotenuse of the other prism, and including means between said prisms of each prism assembly, respectively, for spacing the same apart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said spacing means includes a layer of reflective material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said spacing means includes a pair of spacers disposed at spaced locations between the prisms of each assembly, respectively, to present an air space therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said prism has an apex, said mounting means including a mounting member having a recess for complementally receiving the apex of a respective prism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a number of ribs for each assembly, respectively, the ribs corresponding to each assembly being secured to the housing and forming a recess for complementally receiving the assembly to thereby prevent any relative movement between the prisms thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing has a top cover and a bottom wall, the prisms of said prism assemblies spanning the distance between said top cover and said bottom wall, each of said cover and said wall having rib means on the inner surface thereof for engaging the adjacent outer surfaces of respective prisms of each assembly, respectively, to hold the assemblies in operative positions and to prevent any relative movement between the prisms of each assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided means on the housing adjacent to at least one of said ports for attaching an accessory to the housing across the port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
A binocular viewing device comprising: a pair of prism assemblies, each assembly including a pair of triangular prisms with each prism having an internal reflecting surface; a support; and means rigidly mounting the assemblies on the support at spaced locations to permit the assemblies to be viewed by respective eyes with each assembly being positioned with internal reflecting surfaces of its prisms spaced from and in proximity to each other and extending longitudinally of the direction in which an object is to be viewed, said internal reflecting surfaces of each assembly being relatively convergent to the internal reflecting surfaces of the other assembly as the assemblies approach an object to be viewed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A binocular viewing device comprising: a pair of prism assemblies, each assembly including a pair of triangular prisms with each prism having an internal reflecting surface; a support; and means rigidly mounting the assemblies on the support at spaced locations to permit the assemblies to be viewed by respective eyes with each assembly being positioned with internal reflecting surfaces of its prisms spaced from and in proximity to each other and extending longitudinally of the direction in which an object is to be viewed, said internal reflecting surfaces of each assembly being relatively convergent to the internal reflecting surfaces of the other assembly as the assemblies approach an object to be viewed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said support includes a housing, said mounting means comprising structure in the housing for mechanically holding the prisms of each assembly in proximity to each other, and including a layer of reflective material between the prisms of each assembly, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the angle of convergence between the internal reflecting surfaces of each assembly is in the range of 0.4 degrees to 2.0 degrees.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as set forth in claim 11, wherein each prism comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse, the internal reflecting sUrface of each prism extending along its hypotenuse, the length of the hypotenuse being in the range of 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
A device as set forth in claim 11, wherein each prism comprises a right angle prism, whereby each assembly has a pair of opposed, generally rectangular ends, said support comprising a housing having a top and a bottom, the ends of each assembly being adjacent to the top and the bottom, respectively, said mounting means including a number of ribs on each of the top and bottom, the ribs corresponding to each assembly being disposed to present a pair of aligned recesses to complementally receive the opposed ends of the corresponding assembly and to hold the prisms thereof in proximity to each other to thereby prevent any substantial relative movement therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device as set forth in claim 11, and including means between the prisms of each assembly for spacing the same from each other, said spacing means including a sheet of nonreflective material coated on both sides with said material having a finely grained, pointed surface texture providing spatial separation of the prisms of the corresponding assembly with the texture providing substantially only point contacts with adjacent prisms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |