Door wicket or viewing port with polarizing lens

• US 4,719,720 A
• Filed: 07/03/1986
• Issued: 01/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John W. Olsen
• Original Assignee: John W. Olsen
• Inventors: Olsen, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kannan, Philip C.
• Application Number:
  US06/881,916
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 49/171, 350/407
• US Class Current: 49/171
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/30 Peep-holes; Devices for speaking through; Doors having windows
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/04 affording a wide-angle view, e.g. through a spy-hole
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/28 for polarising used in stereoscopes G02B30/25

Abstract

A viewing port for doors such as residences including a light polarizing assembly including at least two linear polarized optical elements, one mounted for rotation with respect to the other element(s) to change the viewing port from light passing to light blocking or reduced transmission condition. The light polarizing assembly is located at the inner side of the door and is surrounded by a tapered portion of its mounting toward the outer face to provide undistorted wide angle viewing of the area surrounding the door. In another embodiment of this invention, my viewing port is designed to be integrated into a stained glass window.

Claims

1. A polarizing assembly for use in an optically transparent window for converting said optically transparent window to selectively light passing and light blocking window comprising:

a first linear polarized element of size corresponding generally to the size of the portion of the optically transparent window which is desired to remain optically transparent under the control of the user;

a second linear polarized element;

means superimposing said second linear polarized element on said first linear polarized element;

planar means secured to said window and coextensive in size with the portions of said window to be continuously nontransparent for blocking transmission of light through any areas of said optically transparent window outside of the parameter of said second linear polarized element; and

means for rotating said second linear polarized element to selectively pass and block light transmission through the portion of said second linear polarized element;

wherein said window comprises a multi-paned stained glass window and said planar light transmission blocking means corresponds in size to one of the panes which is relatively transparent.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for superimposing said second linear polarized element comprises an opaque spacer having a circular aperture therethrough and wherein said second linear polarized element is circular and dimensioned to fit within the circular aperture in said spacer.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 including a third linear polarized element superimposed upon said second linear polarized element;

and

in which said first linear polarized element, said spacer and said third linear polarized element are secured together to confine said second linear polarized element;

said assembly being substantially the thickness of said linear polarized elements and spacer whereby said combination does not add significantly to the thickness of the window.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 in which said first linear polarized element, said spacer and said third linear polarized element are adhesively secured together without a frame;

and

said third linear polarized element includes an arcuate opening therethrough approximating 90 degrees of arc length; and

include a handle extending through said arcuate opening in said third linear polarized element and engaging said second linear polarized element to allow control of its orientation to control light transmission through said window.