Focal-length adjusting assembly for binoculars

• US 5,028,123 A
• Filed: 06/30/1989
• Issued: 07/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kamakura KOKI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kamakura KOKI Company Limited
• Inventors: Watanabe, Naomi, Shimofuruta, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, James
• Application Number:
  US07/373,439
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 350/545, 350/550, 350/551, 350/552, 350/555, 350/556, 350/563
• US Class Current: 359/418
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/06 Focusing binocular pairs

Abstract

The present invention relates to a focal-length adjusting assembly for a pair of binoculars which adjusts the eyepieces relative to the optics and which can hold the adjusting screw or rod in a click-stopped position which automatically positions the eyepieces in a position for viewing an object at an infinite distance.

Claims

1. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars which comprises, a tubular central shaft (6), right and left telescopes (1, 1A) rotatably installed upon said tubular central shaft for a width adjustment, a focusing rod (7) axially movable within said tubular central shaft (6), an eyepiece lens width adjusting apparatus (20) secured on an outer end of said focusing rod, said eyepiece lens width adjusting apparatus including arms (25) and (25A) which are rotatable at one end relative to said outer end of said focusing rod, said arm 25 being connected at its other end to a right eyepiece lens and said arm 25A being connected at its other end to a left eyepiece lens, said right and left eyepiece lenses being movable with said focusing rod, a rotatable adjusting mechanism (9) secured relative to said focusing rod for adjustment of said focusing rod and said right and left eyepiece lenses, and an apparatus which can automatically click-stop said focusing rod at a focal length of infinity.

2. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 1 in which said right and left telescopes are rotatably installed for rotation about said central shaft by spaced support pieces (4, 4A) and (5, 5A), said adjusting mechanism (9) is secured between said spaced support pieces and rotatable about said central shaft (6), a linear slot (33) in said central shaft, a spiral groove (32) in an inner wall of said adjusting mechanism, a radial aperture in said focusing rod (7) in radial alignment with said slot in said central shaft, a pin which extends into said aperture through said slot, said pin having a head (34) which protrudes into said spiral groove in said inner wall of said adjusting mechanism (9), whereby said focusing rod is moved axially within said central shaft as said adjusting mechanism is rotated about said central shaft.

3. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 2, in which said click-stop apparatus comprises a concave, annular groove formed in an outer end of said focusing rod, a click-ring having an annular groove in an inner wall thereof, means for securing said click ring relative to said outer end of said focussing rod, a stopping piece inserted in said groove in said inner wall of said click-ring whereby said focusing rod can be stopped by said stopping piece at a position for a focal length of infinity.

4. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 1, in which said click-stop apparatus comprises a concave, annular groove formed in an outer end of said focusing rod, a click-ring having an annular groove in an inner wall thereof, means for securing said click ring relative to said outer end of said focussing rod, a stopping piece relative in said groove in said inner wall of said click-ring whereby said focusing rod can be stopped by said stopping piece at a position for a focal length of infinity.

5. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 4 in which said click-stop apparatus comprises a V-like concave groove formed in an outer end of said focusing rod and a focusing rod stopping piece for insertion into said V-like concave groove at a focal length of infinity by movement of said focusing rod relative to said click-stop apparatus.

6. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 1 in which said click-stop apparatus comprises a V-like concave groove formed in an outer end of said focusing rod and a focusing rod stopping piece for insertion into said V-like concave groove at a focal length of infinity by movement of said focusing rod relative to said click-stop apparatus.

7. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 1 in which an outer end of said central shaft includes a radial flange (13), a V-like concave, annular groove formed in an outer end of said focusing rod (7), said click-stop apparatus being assembled relative to said annular flange (13), said click-stop apparatus including a restricted ring secured to said flange, and a stopping piece related to said restricted ring for insertion into said V-like concave annular groove at a position in which a focal length is at infinity.

8. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars which comprises a tubular central shaft, right and left telescopes rotatably secured to said tubular central shaft, a focusing rod (7) which is axially shiftable relative to said tubular central shaft (6), an eyepiece lens supporting apparatus secured to an outer end of said focusing rod, means for supporting right and left eyepiece lenses (2, 2A), said right and left eyepiece supporting means including oppositely directed arms (25, 25A), said oppositely directed arms being rotatably connected at one end thereof to said eyepiece lens supporting apparatus for width adjustment of said lenses, and each of said oppositely directed arms are connected at their opposite ends to said right and left eyepiece lenses, respectively, said focusing rod being rotatable for axial movement of said eyepiece lenses, a focusing rod adjusting mechanism (9) which is rotatably installed around an outer wall of said tubular central shaft, an adjusting apparatus (10) operative by rotation of said focusing rod adjusting mechanism for axially moving said focusing rod, a click-stop apparatus which can automatically click-stop said focusing rod in a position of an infinity focal length of said eyepiece lenses.

9. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 8 in which said click-stop apparatus is secured to an inner end of said focusing rod (7), said click-stop apparatus includes a restricted screw (57), a V-like annular groove (39) in an outer surface of said restricted screw, a stopping piece (35A) secured on an inner wall of said central shaft and a ring-spring (37) which drops into said annular groove at a focal length of infinity by movement of said focusing rod.

10. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 9 in which said focusing rod adjusting mechanism includes threads (51) along an inner surface of said central shaft (6), a screw pipe (53) with threads (52) thereon that correspond with threads (50) on said central shaft, threads (54) on an inner surface of said screw pipe that engage threads (55) on an outer surface of said focusing rod, and a manipulating wheel (56) for rotating said screw pipe for adjustment of said focusing rod.

11. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars comprising a tubular central shaft to which right and left telescopes are rotatably installed for a width adjustment, a focusing rod within said tubular central shaft for axial movement therein, an eyepiece lens supporting apparatus secured to an outer end of said focusing rod, said eyepiece lens supporting apparatus including oppositely disposed arms (25, 25A), one end of each of said arms being rotatable about a bearing tubular part (24), an opposite end of each of said arms being secured to right and left eyepiece lenses, respectively, for permitting a width adjustment of said eyepiece lenses, an adjusting mechanism which is rotatably installed about an outer wall of said central shaft, an adjusting apparatus between said adjusting mechanism and said focusing rod which moves said focusing rod axially by rotation of said adjusting mechanism, means for stopping said focusing rod in a position for a focal length at infinity, said means for stopping said focusing rod including a stopping ring holding piece (61), a stop ring (69), a spacing between said stop ring (69) and said focusing rod, a ring spring in said spacing which may inhibit a movement of the focusing rod, a non-slip rubber sheet surrounding a portion of said focusing rod juxtaposed said ring spring, means for adjusting said focusing rod axially and for applying a force on said ring spring to force said ring spring against said non-slip rubber sheet to position said focusing rod at a position of a focal length of infinity.

12. A focal length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as described in claim 11 in which said means for stopping said focusing rod at a position for a focal length of infinity is secured about an outer end of said focusing rod.

13. A focal-length adjusting mechanism for binoculars as set forth in claim 11 in which said means for stopping said focusing rod at a position for a focal length at infinity is secured to an inner end of said focusing rod.