US3847467A - Collapsible stereoscopic viewer - Google Patents
Collapsible stereoscopic viewer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3847467A US3847467A US00302888A US30288872A US3847467A US 3847467 A US3847467 A US 3847467A US 00302888 A US00302888 A US 00302888A US 30288872 A US30288872 A US 30288872A US 3847467 A US3847467 A US 3847467A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- viewer
- foldable
- body portions
- viewing
- portions
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B30/00—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
- G02B30/20—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes
- G02B30/34—Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
- G02B30/37—Collapsible stereoscopes
Definitions
- Cooperative tabs extending from the body portion' and top member are mated with slots in the side [56] References C'ted and end flaps to form the assembled viewer.
- a re- UNITED STATES PATENTS tainer integral with the body portion secures the end 2,131,444 9/1938 Lateltin et al. 350/140 flaps when nestled above folded side flaps and top 3,005,378 lO/l96l Golden member. 3,145,253 8/1964 Patton 350/140 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE STEREOSCOPIC VIEWER
- the present invention is directed-to a folding stereoptic viewer suitable for use in conjunction with manually rotatable discs of information.
- the-present invention is directed to a compact and efficient viewer of unitary type of contruction which is collapsible and adapted to fold upon itself, thereby rendering such a viewer in the folded position compact and easy to store.
- the present invention represents and possesses a number of advantages over such prior art, especially insofar as commercialization is concerned.
- the instant invention is directed to a new and novel viewer that is of unitary construction and includes integral hinges which can be either molded or coined in a secondary operation.
- prior viewers which are made of many pieces with each individually requiring separate manufacturing operations, and ultimatelyincreasing the cost of the finished product; the instant invention is simpler to produce. Serious questions concerning product integrity and product life which need be considered with prior art viewers, especially those that makeuse of a plastic cloth ora tape as a hinging medium are no longer quite so important.
- the instant invention since it is designed to be a low cost item for production and manufacture, is considered to have enormous marketing potential as compared to prior art viewers and it is expected that economies on the order of 33 /a percent can result by means of the viewer of the present invention when compared to the prior art.
- the instant invention represents a substantial cost savings, as well as contributes to the compactness and ease of operation of the over-all assembly.
- the present invention is of unitary construction which is very simple to construct from the knock-down to'the in-use position. Certainly children and others who are not specifically mechanically oriented are intended to have no difficulty in placing this viewer in the in-use condition. When compared to the prior art, this representsan important advantage in that the end-user need not rely on anyone else to .place this viewer into condition for usage.
- the instant invention contemplates a structure of a unitary construction making use of a flat sheet of pliable material which when folded. together, offers a rigid and yet flexible viewersuitable for folding into a compact unit.
- a unitary member which includes a pair of discs or circular shaped body portions, adaptable for accepting the viewing reels, through which such discs can be rotated from scene to scene as they are viewed via stereoptic lenses through viewing windows.
- the structure provides points of weakening at the end flap portions of the viewer to enable such flaps to be bent and engaged with tabs extending from the circular body portion and thus offer rigidity, as well as-to establish a properfocal length from the lens to the viewing screen.
- the tabs are adapted to be engagedby slots that are provided in the flap portions, with engagement in the form of a mortise and tenon arrangement. This provides for a secure construction and unitary structure.
- the central body portion which is that portion including: a bendable section, that enables the side flap to be retained through .a tab extending'from the main circular disc body portion.
- all of the structural members that add to the rigidity and to the proper focal length are all nestled andare held in position under the flap portion.
- the present design contemplates utilizing sufficient points of weakening along a tranverse extending from the upper portion of the central body member up to and including the points of contact with the end flap. By such points of weakening, it-is possible to fold the viewer over several times, as the working portions of the unit are retained by the flap.
- the strength of the hinge is obviously a function of joint design, as well as choice of materials. Ithas been found that the joint at the point of weakening could take the form of a regular square notch enabling the folding portion to be folded as much as from to with respect to the vertical.
- the choice of materials in order to achieve this have included, for an example: polyethylene or polypropylene.
- a series of ribs are provided as surfaces rising above the vertical in the form of semi-circular surfaces, which are adapted to engage with circular openings in a manner to permit doubling over-of the main body portion (left and right portions respectively), so as to form a circular structure for the acceptance of the viewing disc.
- This design feature contemplates having the rib to provide sufficient clearnace space to permit insertion and withdrawal of the viewing disc as required.
- Two viewing areas located along a line of travel in the horizontal direction are such, that when the end flaps are folded over and are snapped into place, the lenses form a proper and sufficient focal length to enable viewing without any difficulty.
- One rear face of the viewing main body portion is provided with a beveled spindle adapted to engage a hole in the viewing disc and thereby minimize any slippage or deviation from the viewing windows as such disc is manually rotated by the movement of a forefinger over the periphery of the disc in a given direction from one scene to the next.
- Still another feature of the present invention is to provide for a hand viewer which is of unitary construction and compact in size and has a minimum number of working parts.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible viewer which is adapted to fold upon itself in such a manner that the ultimate size in the fold down position is approximately one half that of what would normally be found in the prior art.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a folding view which is adaptable for use with a disc of information and is capable of being folded and unfolded on numberous times without failure at the point of hinge or other points of contact.
- FIG. 1 is a view of the invention before folding, showing the lens in place.
- FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1.
- the present invention includes viewing lenses 1 which are retained and positioned in lens plate 2, such as by snapping the lenses 1 into a pair of seats 3, which are provided integral with the lens plate 2.
- the main body of the viewer is assembled by folding the rear plate 4 along a pair of hinges 5 so that it aligns itself behind a front plate 6, which front plate is basically of a similar configuration to that of 4.
- Holes 7 in the rear of plate 4 are disposed to align themselves with corresponding snaps 8 which are in the front plate 6. By urging the holes 7 into the snaps 8 it is possible to retain the front plate 6 to the rear plate 4.
- the front plate 6 also includes a pair of spaced apart substantially square openings 30 and 31, which serve as viewing windows as noted hereinbefore.
- a pair of end fl ps 11 are folded vertically along hinge 12 and are in proximity to the lens plate 2.
- ' lens plate 2 is folded vertically along hinge 13 which is a longitudinal hinge extending across the lower portion of the top plate 14.
- the top plate 14 is folded vertically along hinges 15 which are disposed on either side of the front plate 6.
- the entire structure is held in this position by suitable sliding tabs 16, disposed on either side of the front plate 6.
- the sliding tabs on top plate 14 are adapted to be inserted through slot 17 in the end flap 11 and by sliding tabs 18 on front plate 6 through slot 19 in the end flap. With this type of joining, it is possible to have the various tabs retained in the slots through ribs 20 which are disposed on tabs 16 and 18.
- This means of forming the integral structure of the viewer provides a very simple and positive approach to viewer assembly, as discussed hereinbefore.
- the prior art arrangements necessitate the use of a multitude of elements for assembling a compatible viewing structure.
- the use of tabs and slots in conjunction with integral hinges provides for a sure and positive fit of the various parts.
- FIG. 3 The assembled unit after proceeding along the lines suggested above, is seen in FIG. 3.
- the end flaps 11 and the lens plate 2 are joined and held in place by a foldable body or top plate 14 which is then bent over to form the canopy or the viewing area free from the glare of light which is not necessary for required viewing.
- a pair of recesses 21 in the end flap 11 are provided to allow for clearnace of the lenses 1 when such lenses and lens seat 3 are in the folded position as shown in FIG. 4.
- the reel is inserted into the clearance that has been provided as a result of the shoulders 9 on snap 8 and rib 10 on plate 4.
- the reel sits on a spindle 25 provided with a bevel (see FIG. 2) sufficient to allow the reel to be more easily inserted into the viewer.
- the operator merely rotates the reel about the periphery from scene to scene and completes his viewing after 360 of rotation
- details for use of these reels with a viewer of this type are more fully and completely explained in US. Pat. No. 3,145,253 which has been discussed above.
- An' improved foldable stereoptic viewer adapted for convenient conversion between an in-use configuration suitable for use with rotatable viewing discs and a folded configuration adapted for compact storage, said viewer being a unitary construction of molded plastic including a plurality of interconnecting elements consisting essentially of:
- end flap means foldably connected by integrally molded hinge means to said lens plate at the end portions thereof, said end flap means being positioned against said lens plate when in the folded position and extending generally normal thereto and contacting said first body position when said viewer is in its in-use position; and g. spindle means positioned between said first and second body portions and adapted to rotatably secure the viewing disc positioned between said first and second body portions, whereby the unitary construction and integrally molded hinge means for folding said plurality of interconnecting elements facilitates the enhanced compactness and utility of said viewer and its adaptability for convenient portability and use.
Abstract
Description
Claims (5)
- 2. The foldable viewer of claim 1 and including tab means extending at the end portions of said top plate and from said first body portion, said end flap means having slot portions cooperatively positioned with said tab means so as to enable said viewer to be secured in said in-use position.
- 3. The foldable viewer of claim 1 and including engageable snap means and openings in said first and second body portions adapted to positively retain said body portions in a fixed spaced apart relationship.
- 4. The foldable viewer of claim 1 and including an integrally molded retaining means on said first body portion for retaining said end flaps in the desired folded position.
- 5. The foldable viewer of claim 1 in which said integrally molded hinge means comprise points of weakening between said interconnected elements of said viewer of unitary construction.
- 6. The foldable viewer of claim 1 in which at least one of said body portions includes integrally molded rib means on the side thereof facing the other portion when said viewer is in its in-use position, said rib means serving to fix the predetermined clearance between said first and second body portions of the viewer.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00302888A US3847467A (en) | 1972-11-01 | 1972-11-01 | Collapsible stereoscopic viewer |
US00374930A US3836228A (en) | 1972-11-01 | 1973-06-29 | Folding viewer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00302888A US3847467A (en) | 1972-11-01 | 1972-11-01 | Collapsible stereoscopic viewer |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3847467A true US3847467A (en) | 1974-11-12 |
Family
ID=23169640
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00302888A Expired - Lifetime US3847467A (en) | 1972-11-01 | 1972-11-01 | Collapsible stereoscopic viewer |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3847467A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5000543A (en) * | 1989-04-10 | 1991-03-19 | James Curtin | 3-D viewers made from sheet materials |
US6487013B2 (en) | 1999-07-20 | 2002-11-26 | Monte Jerome Ramstad | Folding prism stereoscope |
WO2004031835A1 (en) * | 2002-10-03 | 2004-04-15 | Fischer Tibor C | Device for the stereoscopic viewing of images |
US20090134370A1 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-05-28 | Herve Cartier | Conductive halogen free flame retardant thermoplastic composition |
JP2017040809A (en) * | 2015-08-20 | 2017-02-23 | パーセク合同会社 | Stereoscopic display tool |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2131444A (en) * | 1936-01-04 | 1938-09-27 | Lateltin Hugo | Stereoscope |
US3005378A (en) * | 1959-12-07 | 1961-10-24 | Sawyer S Inc | Folded plastic stereoscopic viewer |
US3145253A (en) * | 1961-05-01 | 1964-08-18 | Sawyer S Inc | Collapsible plastic stereoscopic viewer |
-
1972
- 1972-11-01 US US00302888A patent/US3847467A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2131444A (en) * | 1936-01-04 | 1938-09-27 | Lateltin Hugo | Stereoscope |
US3005378A (en) * | 1959-12-07 | 1961-10-24 | Sawyer S Inc | Folded plastic stereoscopic viewer |
US3145253A (en) * | 1961-05-01 | 1964-08-18 | Sawyer S Inc | Collapsible plastic stereoscopic viewer |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5000543A (en) * | 1989-04-10 | 1991-03-19 | James Curtin | 3-D viewers made from sheet materials |
US6487013B2 (en) | 1999-07-20 | 2002-11-26 | Monte Jerome Ramstad | Folding prism stereoscope |
WO2004031835A1 (en) * | 2002-10-03 | 2004-04-15 | Fischer Tibor C | Device for the stereoscopic viewing of images |
US20090134370A1 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-05-28 | Herve Cartier | Conductive halogen free flame retardant thermoplastic composition |
JP2017040809A (en) * | 2015-08-20 | 2017-02-23 | パーセク合同会社 | Stereoscopic display tool |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3847467A (en) | Collapsible stereoscopic viewer | |
MXPA97004812A (en) | Multiple picture image exhibitors | |
EP0947354A2 (en) | Book | |
WO1987005121A1 (en) | Foldable binocular and blank therefor | |
US5309281A (en) | Foldable stereoscopic viewer | |
JP3011483U (en) | Spherical binoculars | |
US2768554A (en) | Optical device of foldable material | |
US4502760A (en) | Accessory holder module for optical equipment | |
US4549785A (en) | Stereo viewer | |
US3836228A (en) | Folding viewer | |
US5229884A (en) | Kaleidoscope assembly | |
US2580164A (en) | Photographic slide viewer | |
US2190646A (en) | Optical device | |
US4242818A (en) | Collapsible photographic slide viewer | |
US3005378A (en) | Folded plastic stereoscopic viewer | |
US5557457A (en) | Folding binocular apparatus and binocular blank | |
US4410088A (en) | Holders for photographic slides | |
US5058990A (en) | Stereoscopic viewer and view panels therefor | |
EP0680621A1 (en) | Stereoscopic viewing device | |
US5940210A (en) | Collapsible stereoscopic viewer | |
US1299431A (en) | Photographic camera. | |
US2657488A (en) | Invertible and adjustable picture holder | |
GB2221054A (en) | Viewer for stereoscopic images | |
KR940003268Y1 (en) | Folding optical equipment | |
US6028700A (en) | Collapsible viewing instrument |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VIEW-MASTER INTERNATIONAL GROUP, P.O. BOX 490, POR Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:GAF CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004048/0981 Effective date: 19810329 Owner name: VIEW-MASTER INTERNATIONAL GROUP, A LIMITED PARTNER Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GAF CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004048/0981 Effective date: 19810329 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VIEW-MASTER INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC. Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:VIEW-MASTER INTERNATIONAL GROUP, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NY;REEL/FRAME:004197/0867 Effective date: 19831026 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MIDLANTIC NATIONAL BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW-MASTER IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005240/0060 Effective date: 19890906 Owner name: MIDLANTIC NATIONAL BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW-MASTER IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005240/0039 Effective date: 19890906 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNITED JERSEY BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: MIDLANTIC NATIONAL BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: MERIDIAN BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: FIDELITY BANK, N.A. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: MARINE MIDLAND BANK, N.A. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, THE Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: NCNB NATIONAL BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: PHILADELPHIA NATIONAL BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY, THE Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 Owner name: STANDARD CHARTERED BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW MASTER-IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005853/0041 Effective date: 19910731 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NATIONSBANK OF NORTH CAROLINA, N.A. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TYCO INDUSTRIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:006225/0964 Effective date: 19920603 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VIEW-MASTER IDEAL GROUP, INC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:MIDLANTIC NATIONAL BANK, AS AGENT;REEL/FRAME:006522/0015 Effective date: 19920602 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TYCO INDUSTRIES II, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VIEW-MASTER IDEAL GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:006732/0321 Effective date: 19920601 Owner name: TYCO INDUSTRIES, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: BY WAY OF EXPLANATION, "OLD" TYCO INDUSTRIES, INC. MERGED INTO TYCO INDUSTRIES II, INC. AND TYCO INDUSTRIES II, INC. CHANGED ITS NAME TO TYCO INDUSTRIES, INC.;ASSIGNOR:TYCO INDUSTRIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:006744/0964 Effective date: 19920601 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TYCO INDUSTRIES, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS), FORMERLY KNOWN AS NATIONSBANK OF NORTH CAROLINA, N.A., AS AGENT;REEL/FRAME:007363/0210 Effective date: 19950224 |