Locking inter-pupillary distance and convergence adjustment mechanism

• US 7,675,678 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DenMat Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Perioptix Co.
• Inventors: Greelis, Jack, Woker, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chapel; Derek S
• Application Number:
  US11/269,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 359/412
• 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 25/004 having binocular arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/002 Mounting on the human body
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs

Abstract

Improvement to an adornable binocular device having a telescope pair and an adjustable inter-pupillary distance (IPD) where both telescopes move simultaneously and substantially the same distance when the IPD is adjusted, the improvement including a mechanism for releasably preventing unintentional adjustment of the IPD and including a first releasably pivoting coupling between each telescope and arm and a second releasably slideable coupling between each telescope and arm.

Claims

1. An adornable binocular device including:

a telescope pair;

two arms with one of the telescope pair attached to each arm;

a housing, the housing holding at least a portion of two arms;

a first telescope of the telescope pair pivotally mounted to the first arm and the other telescope of the telescope pair pivotally mounted to the second arm to enable independent line of sight convergence adjustment and each telescope of the telescope pair having a rear to be located proximal from an eye when in use and a front to be located distal from the eye when in use;

a pivoting coupling between the first telescope and the first arm and located at a first location on the first telescope and a releasably slideable coupling between the first telescope and the first arm located at a second location on the first telescope, the second location offset from the first location so the first telescope horizontal line of sight may be angularly changed; and

a pivoting coupling between the second telescope and the second arm and located at a first location on the second telescope and a releasably slideable coupling between the second telescope and the second arm located at a second location on the second telescope, the second location offset from the first location so the second telescope horizontal line of sight may be angularly changed.

2. The adornable binocular device of claim 1, wherein each arm includes a partially elongated slot releasably slideably coupled to the second location of each telescope pair.

3. The adornable binocular device of claim 2, wherein the partial elongated slot in each arm is dimensioned to permit at least 4 degrees of horizontal rotational movement between the front and the rear of the corresponding telescope.

4. The adornable binocular device of claim 3, wherein the second location of each telescope is located more distal from the rear of the telescope than the first location.

5. The adornable binocular device of claim 3, wherein the partially elongated slot in each arm forms a partial radial arc.

6. The adornable binocular device of claim 3, further including a non-lockable mechanical element extending from each pivoting coupling to the arm coupled to each telescope.

7. The adornable binocular device of claim 1, further including an inter-pupillary distance (IPD) adjustment mechanism coupled to the housing and for moving each telescope of the telescope pair relative to a center point.

8. The adornable binocular device of claim 7, wherein the IPD adjustment mechanism is activated by a rotational force.

9. The adornable binocular device of claim 7, further including teeth on the housing and a prevention mechanism for releasably preventing unintentional activation of the IPD adjustment mechanism, the prevention mechanism including teeth releasably mateable with the housing teeth and wherein the IPD adjustment mechanism is not adjustable when the prevention mechanism teeth is mated with the housing teeth and the IPD adjustment mechanism is adjustable when the prevention mechanism teeth is not mated with the housing teeth.

10. The adornable binocular device of claim 9, wherein the prevention mechanism includes a spring.

11. The adornable binocular device of claim 7, further comprising a prevention mechanism for preventing the displacement of the moveable arms by releasably applying compressive force from the at least a portion of the two moveable arms to the housing.