Tripod attachment for binoculars

• US 7,905,459 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carson Optical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Carson Optical Incorporated
• Inventors: Cameron, Richard, Gupta, Manishi
• Primary Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US11/646,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 248/221.11, 248/225.21, 248/220.21, 248/220.22, 248/227.1, 248/176.3, 248/176.1, 24D/IG.52, 243/03, 702/76, 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.4, 403/326, 359/404, 359/407, 359/409, 359/480, 359/811
• US Class Current: 248/222.11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12

Abstract

A tripod attachment assembly for attaching to a pair of binoculars, the tripod attachment comprising a support assembly; a coupling assembly releasably coupleable to the support assembly, for coupling the binoculars to the support assembly; and a locking assembly for releasably locking the coupling assembly to the support assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the coupling assembly is magnetically coupleable to the support assembly.

Claims

1. A tripod attachment assembly for attaching to a pair of binoculars, the tripod attachment comprising:

a support assembly;

a coupling assembly releasably coupleable to the support assembly, for coupling the binoculars to the support assembly, wherein the coupling assembly is magnetically coupleable to the support assembly; and

a locking assembly for releasably locking the coupling assembly to the support assembly;

wherein the coupling assembly comprises a hook, and wherein the locking assembly comprises a latch;

wherein when the latch engages the hook when the coupling assembly is coupled to the support assembly, the coupling assembly is inhibited from decoupling from the support assembly.

2. The tripod attachment assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly comprises a coupler, a ring comprising the hook, and a cap for retaining the ring on the coupler, wherein the ring is rotatable relative to the coupler so that the hook is alignable with the latch for engaging the hook.

3. The tripod attachment assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking assembly comprises an arm to which the latch is coupled, wherein the arm is biased so that the latch acts to resist the coupling assembly from disengaging with the support assembly.

4. The tripod attachment assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the arm is spring biased relative to the support assembly such that the latch acts to pull the hook and resist the coupling assembly from disengaging with the support assembly.

5. The tripod attachment assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the arm has a first end to which the latch is coupled and a second end that is pivotally coupled to the support assembly,

wherein the latch is pivotable such that the latch is disengageable with the hook when the arm is pivoted in a first direction, and pivotable in a direction opposite the first direction so as to assist in resisting the disengagement of the coupling assembly from the support assembly when the latch is engaged with the hook.

6. A tripod attachment assembly for attaching to a device through which a user can view, the tripod attachment comprising:

a support assembly;

a coupling assembly releasably coupleable to the support assembly, for coupling the device through which a user can view to the support assembly; and

a locking assembly for releasably locking the coupling assembly to the support assembly;

wherein the coupling assembly comprises a hook, and wherein the locking assembly comprises a latch;

wherein when the latch engages the hook when the coupling assembly is coupled to the support assembly, the coupling assembly is inhibited from decoupling from the support assembly; and

wherein the coupling assembly comprises a coupler, a ring comprising the hook, and a cap for retaining the ring on the coupler, wherein the ring is rotatable relative to the coupler so that the hook is alignable with the latch for engaging the hook.

7. The tripod attachment assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling assembly is magnetically coupleable to the support assembly.

8. A tripod attachment assembly for attaching to a device through which a user can view, the tripod attachment comprising:

a support assembly;

a coupling assembly releasably coupleable to the support assembly, for coupling the device through which a user can view to the support assembly; and

a locking assembly for releasably locking the coupling assembly to the support assembly;

wherein the coupling assembly comprises a hook, and wherein the locking assembly comprises a latch;

wherein when the latch engages the hook when the coupling assembly is coupled to the support assembly, the coupling assembly is inhibited from decoupling from the support assembly; and

wherein the locking assembly comprises an arm to which the latch is coupled, wherein the arm is biased so that the latch acts to resist the coupling assembly from disengaging with the support assembly, wherein the arm is spring biased relative to the support assembly such that the latch acts to pull the hook and resist the coupling assembly from disengaging with the support assembly, and wherein the arm has a first end to which the latch is coupled and a second end that is pivotally coupled to the support assembly,

wherein the latch is pivotable such that the latch is disengageable with the hook when the arm is pivoted in a first direction, and pivotable in a direction opposite the first direction so as to assist in resisting the disengagement of the coupling assembly from the support assembly when the latch is engaged with the hook.