GB2367234A

GB2367234A - An inflatable protective case

Info

Publication number: GB2367234A
Application number: GB0118483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Holbl
Original assignee: Swarovski Optik AG and Co KG
Current assignee: Swarovski Optik AG and Co KG
Priority date: 2000-10-02
Filing date: 2001-07-27
Publication date: 2002-04-03
Also published as: GB0118483D0; US20020046790A1; DE10048853A1

Abstract

An inflatable protective case for an observation telescope is adapted to fit against the outside wall 3 of the telescope when it is in the inflated state. The protective case may comprise at least one air chamber 1, and may be provided with a smooth sheathing 2 made of a robust, flexible material. The protective case may be in the form of a tube with an opening in one end, the case being adapted so as to be drawn over the telescope in a longitudinal direction. The open end of this tube may protrude beyond the telescope. The case may further comprise an opening or gap 7 through which the tripod leg of the telescope 8 may be passed. The protective case may be provided with a longitudinal slit 18 and may comprise a transparent or semi-transparent material.

Description

2367234 Protective case for observation telescope The present invention

relates to a protective case for an observation telescope.

Observation telescopes are used above all in the open air, for example for bird watching. They are thereby exposed to numerous loads such as shock or impact during transport, or environmental influences such as rain, sand or sunlight.

Protective cases for observation telescopes are therefore known which have a tubular form and are made of textile materials or leather. A disadvantage of such conventional cases is that it is awkward and timeconsuming to put them on and take them off the telescope. Therefore, conventional protective cases are suitable substantially only for longterm storage of an observation telescope.

Further, conventional protective cases made of textile materials or leather are known which have a tubular form and can be partially opened on the eyepiece portion, the operating portion and the objective portion of the observation telescope. Thus designed protective cases have the disadvantage that their opened parts hang down during observation and thus disturb the handling of the telescope or can in case of wind produce noise which can have a disturbing effect on the objects under observation. Another disadvantage is that such protective cases are also awkward to handle so that they cannot be quickly put on and taken off.

In addition, conventional protective cases offer only restricted protection from shock or impact loads on the observation telescope.

The present invention is therefore based on the problem of avoiding the abovementioned disadvantages of conventional protective cases and providing a protective case for observation telescopes which is firstly easy to handle and therefore easy and fast to put on and take off, and secondly offers good protection from environmental influences and simultaneously from shock or impact.

The invention is based on the finding that the abovementioned problems can be solved by a protective case which is of inflatable design and fits closely against the telescope in the inflated state.

The present invention therefore provides a protective case which includes an inflatable air chamber of airtight material and fits closely against the outside wall of the observation telescope.

The inventive protective case firstly provides very good protection from shock and/or impact loads which are absorbed or cushioned by the air cushion of the case. Secondly, it achieves good protection from every kind of environmental influence such as rain, sand or sunlight. In addition, the inventive protective case can be easily and quickly put on and taken off the telescope since this is done in the uninflated state and the close fit of the case is produced only by inflation of the air chamber.

Another advantage of the protective case is that it can be stowed in very spacesaving fashion in the uninflated state. The inventive protective case is thus optimally suited for animal or bird watching.

The inventive protective case preferably includes a plurality of air chambers. This ensures that the form of the case in the inflated state can be adapted very well to the outer form of the observation telescope.

The inventive protective case preferably also includes a smooth sheathing of robust, flexible material. This material can be for example GORE-TEM The protective case of this embodiment has the additional advantages that the robust, flexible material firstly protects the air chambers from damage by outside influences, and the smoothness of the surface of the sheathing avoids dirt deposits on the case.

According to one embodiment, the inventive protective case has a tubular form, at least one end of the tube being open. The open end of the tube can protrude beyond the telescope. The open end can be provided on the eyepiece side or the objective side. Since the telescope has a greater diameter on the objective side, at least the objective side of the tube is preferably open to permit the telescope to be inserted. On the open side the objective can thus e.g. be covered with. a protective cap.

In another embodiment, the protective case likewise has a tubular form, the tube having a longitudinal slit in full length or partially. In this embodiment the tube can be closed at both ends, but one or both ends can also be open and protective caps provided therefor.

The inventive protective case is suitable for observation telescopes of all kinds. In particular, it is suitable both for observation telescopes in which the optical principal axis and the eyepiece axis coincide, and for observation telescopes in which the optical principal axis forms an angle with the eyepiece axis.

In order to facilitate recognizability, but also for optical reasons, the protective case can be made of transparent plastic or possibly be of semitransparent design.

In the following, the inventive protective case will be described with reference to the enclosed drawing by the example of two embodiments for an observation telescope in which the optical principal axis and the eyepiece axis form an angle.

FIG. I shows a cross section through the protective case according to the first embodiment with the observation telescope therein; FIG. 2 shows a side view of the protective case according to FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the protective case according to the second embodiment with the observation telescope therein at the level of the objective portion.

In the first embodiment, the inventive protective case is formed by a multiplicity of air chambers (1) made of airtight flexible material such as rubber or plastic. The individual chambers (1) are lined up close together on the inner surface of a sheathing (2) and separated by partitions. The chambers (1) extend annularly around the total circumference of the protective case.

The sheathing (2) can be of smooth design. The protective case is open on the side opposite the objective portion (4) of the observation telescope and protrudes beyond the objective portion (4) at a distance (a). The objective (4) is closed by a suitable protective cap (5).

On the part of the protective case covering the underside of the observation binoculars in the area of the objective portion (4) a valve (6) is mounted. Said valve (6) permits the air chambers to be filled and emptied. A gap (7) is likewise provided on the underside of the protective case through which the tripod leg (8) of the observation telescope protrudes outwardly.

The diameter of the protective case becomes smaller from the open end on the objective portion (4) to the eyepiece portion (9) of the telescope in accordance with the diameter of the observation telescope. In the area of the eyepiece portion (9) the protective case follows the bend of the eyepiece portion (9) relative to the objective portion (4) and operating part (16) in accordance with the angle between eyepiece axis (10) and optical principal axis (11) of the telescope.

In the area of the protective case surrounding the eyepiece (12) and the eyepiece portion (9) its diameter also becomes smaller in accordance with the form of the observation telescope. The end of the protective case (13) opposite the eyepiece (12) is likewise encompassed by the sheathing (2) of the protective case.

On the sheathing of the part of the protective case opposite the eyepiece there is a loop, cord (15) or the like (FIG. 2) in order to hold the case (1) with the telescope disposed therein.

The sheathing (2) of the protective case is provided with seams (17) which follow the fonn of the observation telescope located in the case.

The protective case can also be made of partially or completely transparent material. This permits the device located in the case to be recognized partially or completely from outside.

The second embodiment of the inventive protective case is constructed analogously to the above-described first embodiment, the difference being that a longitudinal slit (18) extends over the total length of the underside of the case. The air chambers (1) are accordingly no longer constructed to be continuously annular in the cross section of the case (1), but sickle-shaped. For holding the protective case together along the longitudinal slit one can provide for example Velcro closures at right angles to the longitudinal slit (18) which close the slit. This embodiment allows the inventive protective case to be put on and taken off especially fast since the longitudinal slit (18) provides a large opening for inserting and removing the telescope into and out of the case (1).

Claims

Patent claims

1. A protective case for an observation telescope, characterized in that it is inflatable and adapted to fit against the outside wall (3) of the observation telescope in the inflated state.

2. A protective case according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one air chamber (1).

3. A protective case according to either of the above claims, characterized in that it includes a smooth sheathing (2) made of robust, flexible material.

4. A protective case according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is formed as a tube with an inserting opening on at least one end of the tube and adapted to be drawn over the telescope in the longitudinal direction.

5. A protective case according to claim 5, characterized in that the open end of the tube protrudes beyond the telescope.

6. A protective case according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it has a gap (7) for passing through the tripod leg (8) of the observation telescope.

7. A protective case according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it has a longitudinal slit (18).

8. A protective case according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is made at least partially of transparent or semitransparent material.