GB2173098A - Portable periscope - Google Patents

Abstract

A kit of parts for use as a periscope for watching sporting and other events over the heads of a crowd, comprises a pair of mirrors having angled clips for attachment to an elongated article such as a walking stick. The clips, which may be spring clips, can be at a fixed angle of 45 DEG to the reflecting surfaces, or the angle can be adjustable. The clips can include a hinge so that the mirrors can be stored along the length of the stick. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable periscope This invention relates to a kit of parts for use in conjunction with an elongated cylindrical object such as a walking stick or portablespectatorseatfor forming a periscope to enable spectator sports to be seen in conditions where there is a crowd of people between the spectator and what he wishes to watch.

Simple periscopes have already been proposed for this purpose which were constituted by a cardborad frame or box supporting two mirrors in appropriately spaced relationship. However, these were somewhat cumbersome, costly and short-lived.

According to the invention a kit of parts forthe above purpose comprises a pair of identical plane reflectors each comprising a mirror having a clip at one edge thereof and adapted to be attached to an elongated cylindrical object, the clip conforming to the cylindrical surface of the object and arranged at such an angletothe reflecting surfaces ofthe reflector that when attached to the object, the said surfaces are at about 45" to the longitudinal axis of the object.

In its simplest form the clip is a spring clip ofthe kind used for holding tools on a wall rack but it may be a more complex kind in the eventthat say more secure fastening is desired.

An example ofthe invention is now described in relation to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a walking stick with a pair of mirrors of the invention attached thereto, and Figure 2 is an enlarged scrap view of partof Figure 1 showing the attachment of a suitable spring clip to one edge of the mirror.

Referring to the drawing a walking stick 1 is shown in inverted position and has attached to it near the handle a mirror 2 by means of a spring clip 3, the clip 3 grips the cylindrical surface ofthe stick 1 and is secured to the mirror 2 by a rivetS which fastens it to a right-angle bracket 4which is secured to the mirror 2 by adhesive or by a pair of rivetsforwhich holes 6 are provided. The bracket 4 is cranked so as to locate the rivet 5 on an extension of a centre-line ofthe reflecting surface ofthe mirror 2.

A similar mirror 2 is fastened in the same wayto the other part ofthe stick but with its reflecting surface facing that ofthe first mirror. The mirrors may be plane or may have a re-inforcing edge, as shown, and may be identical, but preferably the mirror 2 is smaller thanthe mirror 12. Forexamplethemirror2maybe about 10 cm x 5 cm while the mirror 12 may be about 15cmx9cm.

The arrangement ofthe bracket is shown in more detail in Figure 2. The mirror 12 is preferably of plastics material such as a polycarbonate and the bracket4 may be fastened directly to it by adhesive applied to a flat portion 4A. The portion 4A may alternatively be attached to the mirror by rivets through the holes 6. A swan-necked portion 4B is provided which carries a furtherfiat portion 4C at right angles to the first.The rivet 5 is in line with the reflecting surface 2A of the mirror 12 and serves to fasten the spring clip 3tothe bracket which has struck-out portions 4D for engaging the edges ofthe clip 3 so as to locate itwith its axis at 45" to the mirror surface so that when attached to the walking stick 1 the mirror is at approximately 45" to the longitudinal axis of the stick.

The two mirrors then form an effective periscope by which a user can obtain a line of sight as indicated by the pecked line 7 in Figure 1 which enables an event such as golf match to be seen overthe heads ofthe crowd.

The kit of parts consisting as it does of two lightweight and compact mirrors each with an attached spring clip is highly portable and compact and since it can be attached very quickly to a stick or a .ubularframed portable seat orsimilarstructure can be producedforuse on the instant and otherwise kept in a pocket. Moreover, being simple it is inexpensive 13ut atthe sametime is robustand long-lasting.

The above description is byway of example only and various modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention. For example, the brackets 4 may be rivettedto the back ofthe mirrorwith only the fivet heads showing onthereflectiveface.

In afurtherform ofthe invention the connection betweenthespring clip 3 of each of the mirrors and the corresponding bracket 4 may 4may be by way of a hinge member the pin axis ofwhich is such that the mirrors can be folded flatto lie alongside the stick so as to occupy a minimum ofspaceforcarrying.The hinge is preferably provided with click stops at its extreme positions so that the mirror can be relocated without having to make minor adjustments.

The kit or parts of the invention may, if desired, include a telescopic stick, and a pouch may be providedtocontainthe parts, including the stick or not as the case may be. The pouch may have loops for attaching itto a belt, or may have a shoulder strap.

1. A kit of parts for use in conjunction with an elongated cylindrical object, such as a walking stick, forforminga periscope, including a pair of plane reflectors each comprising a mirror having a clip at one edge thereof and adapted to be attached to an elongated cylindrical object, the clip conforming to the cylindrical surface ofthe object and capable of being arranged at such an angletothe reflecting surface that when both reflectors are attached to the objectthe surfaces are at about 45" to the longitudinal axis ofthe object.

2. A kit of parts according to Claim 1, wherein the angle ofthe clip to the reflecting surface is adjustable.

3. A kit of parts according to Claim 2, wherein the position ofthe clip which corresponds to 45" is determined by a stop.

4. A kit of parts according to Claim 3, wherein a click mechanism is associated with said stop.

5. A kit of parts according to anyone ofthe preceding claims, wherein a hinge is provided between the reflector and the part ofthe clip that is adapted to embrace the elongated object.

6. A kit of parts substantially as herein described

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Portable periscope This invention relates to a kit of parts for use in conjunction with an elongated cylindrical object such as a walking stick or portablespectatorseatfor forming a periscope to enable spectator sports to be seen in conditions where there is a crowd of people between the spectator and what he wishes to watch. Simple periscopes have already been proposed for this purpose which were constituted by a cardborad frame or box supporting two mirrors in appropriately spaced relationship. However, these were somewhat cumbersome, costly and short-lived. According to the invention a kit of parts forthe above purpose comprises a pair of identical plane reflectors each comprising a mirror having a clip at one edge thereof and adapted to be attached to an elongated cylindrical object, the clip conforming to the cylindrical surface of the object and arranged at such an angletothe reflecting surfaces ofthe reflector that when attached to the object, the said surfaces are at about 45" to the longitudinal axis of the object. In its simplest form the clip is a spring clip ofthe kind used for holding tools on a wall rack but it may be a more complex kind in the eventthat say more secure fastening is desired. An example ofthe invention is now described in relation to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a walking stick with a pair of mirrors of the invention attached thereto, and Figure 2 is an enlarged scrap view of partof Figure 1 showing the attachment of a suitable spring clip to one edge of the mirror. Referring to the drawing a walking stick 1 is shown in inverted position and has attached to it near the handle a mirror 2 by means of a spring clip 3, the clip 3 grips the cylindrical surface ofthe stick 1 and is secured to the mirror 2 by a rivetS which fastens it to a right-angle bracket 4which is secured to the mirror 2 by adhesive or by a pair of rivetsforwhich holes 6 are provided. The bracket 4 is cranked so as to locate the rivet 5 on an extension of a centre-line ofthe reflecting surface ofthe mirror 2. A similar mirror 2 is fastened in the same wayto the other part ofthe stick but with its reflecting surface facing that ofthe first mirror. The mirrors may be plane or may have a re-inforcing edge, as shown, and may be identical, but preferably the mirror 2 is smaller thanthe mirror 12. Forexamplethemirror2maybe about 10 cm x 5 cm while the mirror 12 may be about 15cmx9cm. The arrangement ofthe bracket is shown in more detail in Figure 2. The mirror 12 is preferably of plastics material such as a polycarbonate and the bracket4 may be fastened directly to it by adhesive applied to a flat portion 4A. The portion 4A may alternatively be attached to the mirror by rivets through the holes 6. A swan-necked portion 4B is provided which carries a furtherfiat portion 4C at right angles to the first.The rivet 5 is in line with the reflecting surface 2A of the mirror 12 and serves to fasten the spring clip 3tothe bracket which has struck-out portions 4D for engaging the edges ofthe clip 3 so as to locate itwith its axis at 45" to the mirror surface so that when attached to the walking stick 1 the mirror is at approximately 45" to the longitudinal axis of the stick. The two mirrors then form an effective periscope by which a user can obtain a line of sight as indicated by the pecked line 7 in Figure 1 which enables an event such as golf match to be seen overthe heads ofthe crowd. The kit of parts consisting as it does of two lightweight and compact mirrors each with an attached spring clip is highly portable and compact and since it can be attached very quickly to a stick or a .ubularframed portable seat orsimilarstructure can be producedforuse on the instant and otherwise kept in a pocket. Moreover, being simple it is inexpensive 13ut atthe sametime is robustand long-lasting. The above description is byway of example only and various modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention. For example, the brackets 4 may be rivettedto the back ofthe mirrorwith only the fivet heads showing onthereflectiveface. In afurtherform ofthe invention the connection betweenthespring clip 3 of each of the mirrors and the corresponding bracket 4 may 4may be by way of a hinge member the pin axis ofwhich is such that the mirrors can be folded flatto lie alongside the stick so as to occupy a minimum ofspaceforcarrying.The hinge is preferably provided with click stops at its extreme positions so that the mirror can be relocated without having to make minor adjustments. The kit or parts of the invention may, if desired, include a telescopic stick, and a pouch may be providedtocontainthe parts, including the stick or not as the case may be. The pouch may have loops for attaching itto a belt, or may have a shoulder strap. CLAIMS

1. A kit of parts for use in conjunction with an elongated cylindrical object, such as a walking stick, forforminga periscope, including a pair of plane reflectors each comprising a mirror having a clip at one edge thereof and adapted to be attached to an elongated cylindrical object, the clip conforming to the cylindrical surface ofthe object and capable of being arranged at such an angletothe reflecting surface that when both reflectors are attached to the objectthe surfaces are at about 45" to the longitudinal axis ofthe object.

2. A kit of parts according to Claim 1, wherein the angle ofthe clip to the reflecting surface is adjustable.

3. A kit of parts according to Claim 2, wherein the position ofthe clip which corresponds to 45" is determined by a stop.

4. A kit of parts according to Claim 3, wherein a click mechanism is associated with said stop.

5. A kit of parts according to anyone ofthe preceding claims, wherein a hinge is provided between the reflector and the part ofthe clip that is adapted to embrace the elongated object.

6. A kit of parts substantially as herein described with reference to the drawing.

7. A periscope comprising a rigid elongated rod or tube having two spaced detachable reflectors projecting laterallytherefrom.