Optical viewing system and clamping device therefor
First Claim
1. A clamping device for releasably coupling two objects together, the clamping device comprising:
- a hollow sleeve having a first end and a second end;
a first clamping portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve first end;
a second clamping portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve second end;
each of the first and second clamping portions having a split collar that is adapted to receive one of the objects, each collar having a pair of clamping legs with a generally longitudinally extending space therebetween, at least one of the clamping legs being separated from the sleeve by a slot that extends at least part way around a perimeter of the sleeve in a direction generally transverse to the space to thereby permit movement of at least one of the clamping legs toward and away from the other of the clamping legs, wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg toward the other clamping leg reduces a cross dimension of the split collar to thereby clamp one of the objects therein, and wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg away from the other clamping leg increases a cross dimension of the split vollar to thereby release a clamped object.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical viewing assembly and system for transferring image information from one image modifying device to another image modifying device. The optical viewing assembly includes a first image modifying device connected to a second image modifying device through a quick-release clamping arrangement. The clamping arrangement includes first and second clamping portions integrally formed at opposite ends of a hollow sleeve. Each clamping portion has a split collar that is adapted to receive one of the image modifying devices. Each collar includes a pair of clamping legs that are separated from the sleeve by a slot that extends at least part way around a perimeter of the sleeve to thereby permit movement of the clamping legs toward and away from each other. Movement of the clamping legs toward each other reduces a cross dimension of the split collar to thereby clamp one of the image modifying devices therein. Conversely, movement of the clamping legs away from each other increases a cross dimension of the split collar to thereby release a clamped image modifying device. One of the image modifying devices may be in the form of a scope, while another of the image modifying devices may be in the form of a fiber optic viewer. The fiber optic viewer includes a fiber optic bundle that is divided into first and second fiber optic segments. A forward end of the fiber optic bundle is connected to the ocular end of the scope for transferring an image incident at the first image modifying device to a rearward end of each fiber optic segment. One of the segments may be connected to a digital video camera for recording or transmitting the image, and another of the segments may be connected to an eyepiece for simultaneously viewing the image by a user. Other image modifying devices, such as a night vision monocular, may be connected through a further quick release clamp to the opposite end of the scope for viewing images in low light conditions.
92 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A clamping device for releasably coupling two objects together, the clamping device comprising:
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a hollow sleeve having a first end and a second end;
a first clamping portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve first end;
a second clamping portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve second end;
each of the first and second clamping portions having a split collar that is adapted to receive one of the objects, each collar having a pair of clamping legs with a generally longitudinally extending space therebetween, at least one of the clamping legs being separated from the sleeve by a slot that extends at least part way around a perimeter of the sleeve in a direction generally transverse to the space to thereby permit movement of at least one of the clamping legs toward and away from the other of the clamping legs, wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg toward the other clamping leg reduces a cross dimension of the split collar to thereby clamp one of the objects therein, and wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg away from the other clamping leg increases a cross dimension of the split vollar to thereby release a clamped object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A clamping device for relesably coupling two objects together, the clamping device comprising:
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a hollow sleeve having a first end and a second end;
a first clamping portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve first end;
a second clamp portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve second end;
each of the first and second clamping portions having a split collar that is adapted to receive one of the objects, each collar having a pair of clamping legs with a generally longitudinally extending space therebetween, at least one of the clamping legs being separated from the sleeve by a slot that extends at least part way around a perimeter of the sleeve in a direction generally transverse to the space to thereby permit movement of at least one of the clamping legs toward and away from the other of the clamping legs, wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg toward the other clamping leg reduces a cross dimension of the split collar to thereby clamp one of the objects therein, and wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg away from the other clamping leg increases a cross dimension of the split collar to thereby release a clamped object;
at least one of the clamping portions further comprising;
a locking lever pivotally connected to one of the camping legs at a first pivot joint; and
a link arm having a first end pivotally connected to the other clamping leg at a second pivot joint and a second end pivotally connected to the locking lever at a third pivot joint;
wherein rotation of the locking lever in one direction causes the clamping legs to move toward each other and rotation of the locking lever in an opposite direction causes the clamping legs to move away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A clamping device for releasably coupling two objects together, the clamping device comprising:
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a hollow sleeve having a first end and a second end;
a first clamping portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve first end;
a second clamping portion integrally connected to the hollow sleeve second end;
each of the first and second clamping portions having a split collar that is adapted to receive one of the objects, each collar having a pair of clamping legs with a generally longitudinally extending space there between at least one of the clamping legs being separated from the sleeve by a slot that extends at least part way around a perimeter of the sleeve in a direction generally transverse to the space to thereby permit movement of at least one of the clamping legs toward and away from the other of the clamping legs, wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg toward the other clamping leg reduces a cross dimension of the spilt collar to thereby clamp one of the objects therein, and wherein movement of the at least one clamping leg away from the other clamping leg increases a cross dimension of the split collar to thereby release a clamped object;
each clamping portion further comprising;
a locking lever pivotally connected to one of the clamping legs at a first pivot joint; and
a link arm having a first end pivotally connected to the other clamping leg at a second pivot joint and a second end pivotally connected to the locking lever at a third pivot joint;
wherein rotation of the locking lever in one direction causes the clamping legs to move toward each other and rotation of the locking lever in an opposite direction causes the clamping legs to move away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification