GB2056704A - Slide projector - Google Patents

Abstract

A basic slide projector unit of the kind comprising a main box-like housing (10) on which the projection lens system (14) is mounted, an outer housing (18) extending parallel with the main housing and a slide compartment (20) formed between the housings, is provided with means (22) for the simple attachment of auxiliary housings containing ancillary equipment and having connecting means for cooperation with the attachment means (22). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slide projector Generally, commercially available slide projectors have a main box-like housing containing the projection lens system, an outer housing extending parallel with the main housing and a slide compartment formed in the space between said housings. The height and length of the individual housings may vary according to the required design, the outer housing generally being lower than the main housing. The technical equipment of commercially available projectors may also vary but all of them possess the basic requirements for successful operaition. In their design, too, all projectors, however much they may vary from one to another, possess common features.Any modification in'the outward appearance of a projector may require the production of a housing of different shape, for which purpose, it may be necessary to re-tool, resulting in considerable additional expense.

The object of the invention is to so further develop the known type of projectors as to avoid their disadvantages and vary their technical equipment and design without increasing the cost of manufacture.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the provision of a basic unit having means for the attachment of auxiliary housings provided with various technical equipment and means for connecting said equipment to existing equipment or sources of power.

The invention has a number of advantages. One is that the projector, both in terms of its outward appearance and its technical equipment, is extremely versatile. In spite of this great verrsatility, economic manufacture is achieved.

These advantages accrue from the fact that the same basic housing can be used for various forms of projector. By attaching auxiliary housings for additional equipment the entire appearance and overall design of the projector can be varied within a very wide range, since the auxiliary housings may vary considerably in form.

The same advantages occur in respect of technical equipment. The basic unit may have the minimum amount of technical equipment necessary to carry out the elementary functions of a projector. The auxiliary housings in turn may contain further technical equipment which supplements or completes the technical capability of the basic unit. In this way, it is possible to produce an entire range of projectors having different technical capabilities, all of which have the same basic unit and the same basic technical equipment. The technical versatility is achieved by the different technical equipment or accessories provided in the auxiliary housing.

A further considerable advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that both the variation in design and also the technical conversion of the projector are possible after the initial purchase. This can happen for example when the owner of a basic model acquires an auxiliary housing provided with accessory equipment and fits it to his basic model.

Also users of projectors with auxiliary housings can alter their technical equipment and also change the appearance of the projector by exchanging the existing auxiliary housing for another auxiliary housing which only has to be attached or plugged into the basic unit.

A further advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the auxiliary housings make additional space available for the accomodation of technical equipment. In this way, accessories which would otherwise need to be specially purchased and either carried separately in an accessories case or some other container, can be accomodated in the auxiliary housing which can be connected to the projector at all times simply by being plugged into it.

According to a further feature of the invention, plug-in contacts may be provided on the basic unit and also on the auxiliary housing in order to establish electrical- connection with the technical equipment in the auxiliary housinq.

According to another feature of the invention, the auxiliary housings are provided with panels housing operating elements. This further development of the invention affords an opportunity, with identically shaped housings, to vary the appearance of the projector within a very wide range by varying the disposition of the operating knobs and buttons.

The operating side of the projector may be s & designed that by using different types of alternately attachable housings, variations in the specification and design can be created.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the operating elements are located on top of the auxiliary housing. The operating elements can however also be provided at the side of the housing, which is particularly advantageous if the projector is to be turned on end.

The housing may also have a lateral inclined panel on which the operating elements are disposed. This embodiment of the invention is of advantage when the projector is used in a horizontal position and also when it is turned on end.

The auxiliary housing may extend over the entire length of the basic unit. It is however also within the scope of the invention to construct the equipment for simultaneous accomodation of a plurality of auxiliary housings.

The auxiliary housings themselves may have mechanical fixing means for simple attachment or exchange of additional technical equipment. The auxiliary housings may also have electrical plug-in contacts for connection of the additional technical equipment to a source of power. This further development of the invention makes it possible, with identically shaped auxiliary housings, to vary the function of the projector by the interchange of different small technical packages, so that manufacturing costs can be considerably reduced.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a basic model; Figure 2 is a front view of the basic model shown in-Figure 1 with an auxiliary attachment prbvided with operating elements disposed at its upper end; Figure 3 is a front view of the basic model shown in Figure 1 with an auxiliary attachment having operating elements disposed on an oblique surface thereof; and Figure 4 is a view of the basic model shown in Figure 1 with an auxiliary attachment having laterally disposed operating elements.

Figure 1 shows a front view of the basic model provided with the basic equipment. This basic model comprises a box-like main housing 10, the front wall of which has a lens mount 12 and an objective lens 14. The top left-hand corner of the box-like housing 10 shown in Figure 1 is formed with an angular recess 16, the function of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

On the left-hand side of Figure 1 is a conventional outer housing 18 which extends parallel with the main housing. The outer housing 18 and the box-like housing 10 define between them a space 20 which forms a slide compartment to accomodate slides which are to be projected.

The outer housing 18 has a centring projection 24 at its upper end. Furthermore, the broken lines in Figure 1 denote recesses 22 which form means for the simple attachment of accessories.

In Figures 2,3 and 4, those parts which are identical are indicated by the same reference numer als as in Figure 1.

In Figure 2 an auxiliary attachment 26 is fitted to the outer housing 18 of the basic model. The recesses 22 receive synthetic plastics tongues 28 moulded integrally with the attachment 26 and having locking detents 30 at their lower ends. These connecting means 28,30 and also the means 22 cooperating with them, are illustrated in the drawing by broken lines as they are not seen from outside.

Figure 2 shows an operating knob 32 at the top of the attachment 26, which knob symbolically represents the operating elements located at the top of the attachment which is illustrated in the form of a housing.

At its upper right-hand corner, the housing 26 has an angular recess 34. The recesses 34 and 16 serve to accommodate an additional cover plate 38.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 differs from that in Figure 2 in that a housing 46 which is fitted on the basic unit has an oblique surface 44 on which operating elements 42 are located.

In the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, housing 56 is illustrated which has operating ele ments 52 on its left-hand side. This embodiment of the invention is particularly useful when the project tor is turned on end.

Figure 4 furthermore shows an electrical connection which consists of a plug60 located in the housing 56 and a socket 62 disposed in the outer housing 18. The plug 60 is connected via a cable 64 to the technical equipment (not shown) in the housing 56 and the plug 62 is connected by a cable 66 to corresponding contacts in the basic unit.

In all the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the reference numeral 50 denotes the additionally acquired space for technical equipment in the auxiliary housings which can hold switches, conductor panels, cables for remote operation, sensors and amplifiers for cordless remote control.

Claims (12)

1. A slide projector characterised by a basic unit having means for the simple attachment of auxiliary housings containing technical equipment and provided with connecting means for cooperation with said attachment means.

2. A projector according to Claim 1, having at least one auxiliary housing attached thereto, characterised in that both the basic unit and the auxiliary housing are provided with plug-in contacts to estab- lish electrical connection between the basic unit and the technical equipment in the auxiliary housing.

3. A projector according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the auxiliary housings are provided with panels having operating elements.

4. A projector according to Claim 3, characterised in that the operating side of the basic unit is so designed that various alternative specifications and designs can be achieved by the alternate use of different fitted auxiliary housings.

5. A projector according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the operating elements are provided on the top of the auxiliary housing.

6. A projector according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the operating elements are provided on the side of the auxiliary housing.

7. A projector according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the auxiliary housing has a lateral oblique surface on which the operating elements are located.

8. A projector according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the auxiliary housing is constructed to extend over the full length of the basic unit.

9. A projector according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said attachment means are formed for the simultaneous attachment of a plurality of auxiliary housings.

10. A projector according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the auxiliary housings have mechanical fixing means for simple fitment or interchange of various technical facilities or equipment.

11. A projector according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the auxiliary housings have electrical plug-in contacts for connection of the technical equipment to be accomodated to a source of power.

12. Aslide projector substantially as herein be fore described with reference to or as shown in any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.