HK1081663B - Foldable eyepiece cup - Google Patents

Description

Foldable eyepiece cover

Technical Field

The invention relates to a cover for an eyepiece of an optical observation instrument, comprising:

a circumferential wall comprising

-an eyepiece connecting section connecting the cap to the eyepiece,

-a transition section adjoining the eyepiece connecting section,

a light-blocking attachment (light-blocking attachment) which is connected to the transition piece on the side facing away from the eyepiece connecting piece via a partial section of the transition piece;

-a viewing aperture laterally defined by a circumferential wall;

the circumferential wall may

-to a first end position unfolded for a user not wearing glasses for preventing any stray light from being incident on an eyepiece lens, and

-to a second end position of folding for a user wearing glasses.

Background

An eyepiece cover of this type is known, for example, from DD 243126a 1. The user wearing the glasses must fold the cover down towards the eyepiece. The user, who does not wear glasses, does not have to fold down the cover: they can advantageously take advantage of the side light blocking function that is required in many jobs. When a user without glasses uses the optical observation instrument, wherein the instrument is attached to the eyepiece cover without the cover being folded down, a pair of spaces that are almost airtight to the surrounding environment are formed by the eyepiece lens, the cover, and the user's face. Thus, the temperature in the space gradually rises when the optical scope is used, causing fogging on the lens, which greatly affects the use of the eyepiece and thus the optical scope connected thereto.

Disclosure of Invention

One object of the present invention is to realize a cover for an eyepiece on an optical observation instrument in such a way that: i.e. the optical sighting instrument can be used without any adverse effect for both the user without glasses and the user with glasses.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that: there is provided a cover for an eyepiece of an optical viewing instrument comprising:

a) a circumferential wall comprising

i) An eyepiece connecting section for connecting the cover to an eyepiece,

ii) a transition section adjacent the eyepiece connecting section,

iii) a light barrier attachment connected to the transition section on the side thereof facing away from the eyepiece connection section by a partial section of the transition section;

b) a viewing aperture laterally defined by the peripheral wall;

c) the circumferential wall can

i) To a first end position unfolded for a user not wearing glasses to prevent any stray light from being incident on an eyepiece lens,

ii) to a second end position of the fold for a user wearing glasses;

iii) to a stable third ventilation position between the first and second end positions for a user not wearing glasses, in order to prevent fogging of the eyepiece lens, wherein to form said stable third ventilation position said light blocking attachment comprises a reinforcing strip (bead) for creating a folded-down edge of controllable length, which reinforcing strip predetermines an exact trajectory (march) of the folded-down edge, wherein the trajectory of the folded-down edge is not affected by any minor forces due to the fitting onto the user's face due to the presence of the reinforcing strip.

The key points of the invention are as follows: in the stable third ventilation position, air can flow between the ambient environment and a space defined by the user's face, the eyepiece cover, and an eyepiece lens. This air flow prevents a temperature increase and thus fogging of the eyepiece lens when used by a user who is not wearing glasses. Furthermore, the fold-down is controlled in that the light barrier attachment comprises a stiffening strip for a fold-down edge of a controllable length, which is formed to form said stable third ventilation position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously envisaged that the circumferential wall is made of a flexible plastic or rubber material. These materials make it easy to fold the circumferential wall down into a corresponding position.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the circumferential wall can be folded in the vicinity of the transition section to ensure a second end position of the fold. Thereby forming a flat lens contact edge at the second end position of the fold.

Suitably, the circumferential wall is foldable about the light barrier attachment to secure said stable third ventilation position. In the third ventilating position, an air flow is present between the surroundings and the space, thereby ensuring that the space is ventilated.

A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that a free contact edge exists in said stable third ventilation position and that this edge is not flat.

It is advantageous to provide a contact bead at the free end of the circumferential wall.

An integral (one-piece) circumferential wall is particularly advantageous. It facilitates manufacture at a lower cost.

Drawings

The details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover secured to an eyepiece with the peripheral wall in an unfolded end position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the eyepiece cover shown in FIG. 1 with the peripheral wall in a venting position; and

fig. 3 is a schematic view of the eyepiece cover shown in fig. 1 and 2 with its circumferential wall in a folded second end position.

Detailed Description

The eyepiece cover 1 shown in fig. 1 to 3 is arranged on an eyepiece 2 of an optical observation device. The optical scope may be, for example, a microscope, binoculars or a telescope.

The eyepiece cover 1 comprises an integral circumferential wall 3 made of a flexible plastic material or a rubber material. The peripheral wall 3 comprises an eyepiece connecting section 4 adjoining the eyepiece 2 for connecting the eyepiece cover 1 to the eyepiece 2; a transition section 5 adjacent to the eyepiece connecting section 4; and a light barrier attachment 6 connected to the transition piece 5 on the side facing away from the eyepiece connection piece 4. The light barrier attachment 6 is connected to the transition 5 only over a part of its circumference. The peripheral wall 3 laterally defines a viewing aperture 19 located above an eyepiece lens (not shown).

The eyepiece connecting section 4 extends from a free bottom edge 7 of the peripheral wall 3 adjacent the eyepiece 2 by a height HO and is annular in cross section, it also has a substantially constant outer and inner diameter the eyepiece connecting section 4 is provided with an air inlet opening 8 extending from the free edge 7 in a direction towards the transition section 5, the air inlet opening 8 is thus located above the eyepiece 2 the air enters from the outside through the air inlet opening 8 and then into a flow channel (not shown) which directs the air onto a lens disposed within the eyepiece 2, thereby keeping the lens from fogging, the air flow in the flow channel is deflected, this prevents any light from penetrating through the air inlet opening 8 and the air flow does not blow directly onto the eye.

The transition 5 has a substantially constant height HZ. The height HZ is about twice the height HO of the eyepiece connecting section 4. The transition section 5 extends from the eyepiece connecting section 4 to an end 9. The end portion 9 forms a free edge 9a of the circumferential wall 3 outside the light-blocking appendix 6. In fig. 1, the dashed lines represent the extension of the end 9 of the transition piece 5 in the vicinity of the light barrier attachment 6. This part is the part of the end 9 having reference numeral 9 b. The transition piece 5 also has an annular cross-sectional shape, but it extends conically, which means that the transition piece 5 extends upwards and outwards from the eyepiece connecting piece 4.

The circumferential wall 3 has a constant height outside the light barrier 6, which height is comprised of the heights HO and HZ.

The curved light barrier attachment 6 connected to the transition 5 extends over approximately half of the circumference of the transition 5. Which extends upwardly and outwardly from end 9 b. The height of the light-blocking appendix 6 increases gradually starting from the two lateral ends 10 of the light-blocking appendix 6 and reaches its maximum at a point 11 approximately centered between the two ends 10.

The top free edge 12 of the circumferential wall 3 facing away from its free bottom edge 7 comprises the free edge 9a of the transition 5 and the free edge 20 of the light barrier attachment 6. A contact bead 13 for resting on the face of the user extends along the free edge 12. The thicknesses of the eyepiece connecting section 4, the transition section 5 and the light blocking attachment 6 are substantially the same.

Inside the light barrier fitting 6, a reinforcing strip 14 is provided which is connected to the contact bead 13. The reinforcing strip 14 extends above the end 9 of the transition 5 and below the point 11. The reinforcement strip 14 predetermines the trajectory (course) of the folded-down edge 15 for said stable third ventilation position; the reinforcing strip extends approximately parallel to the free edge 7, which is also parallel to the free end 9.

The unfolded first end position shown in fig. 1 is intended for a user not wearing glasses. The side light-blocking attachment 6 prevents the incidence of interfering light rays onto the eyepiece lens. The circumferential wall 3 has a configuration in the contact area that conforms to the contour of the human eye. The contact bead 13 must be fitted/applied to the face of the user.

The second end position of the fold shown in fig. 3 is for a user wearing glasses. The circumferential wall 3 is folded down in the transition section 5. The eyeglass contact edge 16, which is formed by folding to fit onto the lens of the user's eyeglasses, is flat so as to conform to the lens of the user's eyeglasses. The lens contact edge 16 is parallel to the free edge 7. The circumferential wall 3 is preferably folded down at half the height between the free edge 7 and the end 9. To control the folding, the transition section 5 may be provided with a reinforcing strip or material weakening.

The stable third ventilation position shown in fig. 2 is for a user who is not wearing glasses. The reinforcing strip 14 predetermines the precise trajectory (march) of the folded-down edge 15. Due to the presence of the reinforcing strip 14, the trajectory of the lower folded edge 15 is not affected by any minor forces due to the fitting onto the user's face. As previously mentioned, the lower hem edge 15 extends above the end 9. Thus, in the ventilated position, the user without glasses can also advantageously utilize the lateral light blocking function. A vent is formed that extends approximately between the folded-down edge 15 and the temple (temple) of the user not wearing glasses. The vent holes thus extend near the folded-down edge 15. The folded-down edge extends between a point 18 approximately at the intersection of the contact bead 13 and the reinforcing strip 14. It is necessary to have the free edge 9a fit to the face of the user and form a contact edge for fitting to the face of the user in the ventilating position. The free edge 9a and the lower folded edge 15 are approximately parallel to each other. As shown in fig. 2, the folded light barrier fitting 6 rests against the outside of the transition 5.

Claims (7)

1. A cover for an eyepiece of an optical viewing instrument, comprising:

a) a circumferential wall (3) comprising

i) An eyepiece connecting section (4) for connecting the cap to an eyepiece (2),

ii) a transition section (5) adjoining the eyepiece connecting section (4),

iii) a light barrier attachment (6) which is connected to the transition (5) via a partial section of the transition (5) on the side facing away from the eyepiece connection (4);

b) a viewing aperture (19) laterally delimited by the circumferential wall (3);

c) the circumferential wall (3) may

i) To a first end position unfolded for a user not wearing glasses to prevent any stray light from being incident on an eyepiece lens,

ii) to a second end position of the fold for a user wearing glasses;

iii) to a stable third ventilating position between said first and second end positions for a user not wearing glasses to prevent fogging of the eyepiece lens, wherein to form said stable third ventilating position said light blocking attachment (6) comprises a stiffening strip (14) for creating a folded-down edge (15) of a controllable length, which stiffening strip (14) predetermines an accurate trajectory of the folded-down edge (15), wherein the trajectory of the folded-down edge (15) is not affected by any minor forces due to the fitting onto the user's face due to the presence of the stiffening strip (14).

2. An eyepiece cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circumferential wall (3) is made of a flexible plastic material or a rubber material.

3. An eyepiece cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circumferential wall (3) is foldable in the vicinity of said transition section (5) to form a second end position of said fold.

4. An eyepiece cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said circumferential wall (3) is foldable in the vicinity of said light barrier attachment (6) to form said stable third ventilation position.

5. An eyepiece cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in said stable third ventilation position there is a free contact edge (9a, 15) and that this edge is not flat.

6. An eyepiece cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a contact bead (13) is provided on the free end of the circumferential wall (3).

7. An eyepiece cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said circumferential wall (3) is integrally formed.