JPH0713104A - Folding compact stereoviewer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a folding type stereo viewer provided with a support means which holds a print in an erect position for sight. CONSTITUTION: A main body 55 of a viewer 60 is provided with a pair of folding type main body members. A lens support member 2 can be folded into one main body member. The lens support member 2 is rotated practically at 90 deg. or more to reach the open state and minimizes the required main body length. This angle can be controlled in accordance with the visual range of a person. The wall of the other main body member is so formed that a viewer 60 can be positioned to this warn to directly see a print 56 attached to a page of a photographic album. The viewer 60 is provided with an end part support member 48 to hold the edge extended along one side of the print 56 at the time of attaching it to the viewer 60.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a stereo viewer, and more particularly to a folding stereo viewer for viewing a photographic print of two adjacent images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional stereo camera 20 has two lens systems 21 and 22 for photographing photographic images 23 and 24 of an object 25, respectively. Image 2
The developed photographic print containing 3 and 24 is transferred to a stereo print viewer 30 and a pair of lenses 32, 33
Can be seen at the same time. Each lens has a user's eye 1
It is arranged so that each can be seen at 8 and 19.

The lens systems 21 and 22 of the camera are each arranged to provide a slightly different image of the object 25, as well as the image produced by the human eye, so that the lenses in a stereo print viewer are provided. Can be arranged to create a pair of simultaneous virtual images 25 'of the imprint images 23 and 24 forming a single stereo image.

Although various designs of stereo print viewers have been created since Sea Wheatstone invented stereoscopic photography, a stereo print viewer 30 as shown in FIG. 6 is generally known. . The stereo print viewer 30 is a back plate 3 for holding prints.
1 and the main body 34, the accurate relationship between the print and the lenses 32 and 33 is maintained.

Improved stereo viewers that are easier to see are also known.

[0006]

Such viewers typically provide a pair of aligned virtual images at coincident points that lie within an area 1-5 meters in front of the observer. For this purpose, the body 34 needs to be rigid. 35 of FIG.
As shown in, the horizontal line 3 connecting the optical centers of the lenses 32 and 33
If the 6 and the horizontal line 37 connecting the centers of the two images 23 and 24 are slightly displaced, an image displacement that can be detected by the brain of the user will occur. Even a slight displacement causes eye strain and headache as the human eye tries to compensate for the error. Also,
If the degree of displacement is large, the user cannot combine the two images into a single stereo image.

Since the Loreo stereo camera disclosed in British Patent Application Publication GB2185823 is capable of producing a stereo print by standard printing and standard processing, the need for a high quality, low cost compact viewer has increased. According to such a compact viewer,
Camera owners can share the joy of stereoscopic photography by sending a high quality, inexpensive and compact stereo viewer to a friend along with a stereo print.

The object of the present invention is to provide high quality and low cost.
With a pocket size of mm × 100 mm × 80 mm,
Another object is to provide a stereo viewer capable of viewing stereo prints stored in a photo album.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a lens for viewing each of a pair of printed images, and a main body which supports the lenses and has a printed image positioning member. Provides a foldable stereo viewer. In use, the body extends into the space between the positioning member and the plane that intersects the optical center of the lens and is substantially parallel to the printed image, and the portion of the body between the positioning member and the plane is rotatable. is there. Therefore, the main body can be folded at this portion, and the viewer can be put in the folded state.

Desirably, the rotatable portion is provided substantially halfway along the length of the body so that the body is substantially half the normal length in the collapsed state.
In use, the body is preferably arranged diagonally with respect to the optical axis of the lens and the surface of the printed image.

It is desirable to curve the main wall of the body for increased strength. It is uncomfortable and difficult for most people to see an image that is more than the distance between their eyes, but in this case, each lens is a single unit that also acts as an optical wedge in order to eliminate the need to divert the line of sight. It is preferable.

The viewer is rotatable with respect to the main body and includes a lens support member for supporting the lens on the main body. The degree of rotation of the lens support member with respect to the body can be selected to allow focus adjustment by the user. Such selection is made by providing the viewer with a detent member.

In the present invention, the rotatable connecting portion of the lens supporting member is positioned to shorten the length of the main body. The present invention provides a foldable stereo viewer having a lens support member for supporting each lens for viewing each of a pair of printed images and a main body including a positioning member for positioning the printed images. In use, the body extends between the positioning member and the lens support member. Since the lens support member has a rotatable connection to the body, folding the lens support member relative to the body causes the viewer to be in a collapsed state. The rotatable connecting portion is provided so as to be closer to the printed image than the lens when used.

When the viewer is in the folded state, the lens support member is folded inside the body. The viewer of the present invention is in the folded state by folding the lens support member at an angle of 90 degrees or more, substantially in the range of 110 to 140 degrees, preferably 125 degrees.

In the stereo viewer of the present invention, instead of the back plate for supporting the printed image, the printed image positioning member comprises at least substantially an end support member adapted to support the printed image. Prepare The end support member supports an edge portion of the print extending along one side thereof.

The end support member includes a recess and a protrusion that fits in the recess. When attaching the print to the viewer, the print is positioned between the wall of the recess and the protrusion by inserting the edge of the print into the recess. Upon such insertion, it is necessary to bend the flat print slightly.
When bent, the print is elastically pressed against the walls of the protrusions and recesses like a spring, causing friction,
Holds fixed. The addition of holes in the end support member to receive the other edges of the print helps to support the print and creates a reaction force that limits the degree of bending of the print, increasing the frictional fit. .

By being held in a slightly bent state, the print is maintained in its upright state without being bent by its own weight. Since such a positioning means is provided, it is not necessary to provide an expensive metal spring or a plastic spring which is easily fatigued and easily fixed.

Further, the positioning member comprises an end surface of the main body which is substantially perpendicular to the focal axis of the lens. By placing this end face on the page of the photo album, the print bound on the page can be viewed directly in the viewer. Also, by aligning the edge of the end face with the edge of the print to be printed, the viewer can be positioned with respect to the print.

[0019]

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the lens 1 of the viewer has a shape that also acts as an optical wedge, so that it is not necessary for the user to divert the line of sight when viewing an image that is farther than the distance between the eyes on the print. Therefore, although each lens 1 is a plano-convex lens, the center of curvature of its convex surface is horizontally deviated from the center of an axis passing through the center of the plane at a right angle.

At the time of manufacturing, the lens 1 is press-fitted into the lens supporting member 2 formed of plastic corresponding to the lens supporting means. The lens support member 2 has a pair of openings 5 for viewing through the lens. A boss 6 having a central socket 7 is provided at each of the two lower outer corners of the lens support member 2. Inserts 8 are provided inside the first main body member 3 formed of plastic. By assembling the insert 8 into the socket of the lens supporting member 2 by snap fitting,
A rotatable connection 50 is formed, as shown in FIGS. Each of the plugs 8 is provided with a flange 9,
At least the upper portion 9a of the inner end of each flange 9 is tapered.

The recess 1 is formed by the reinforcing ribs 11 provided on the first main body member 3, the pair of side walls 12 and the bottom panel 13.
4 are defined. Since the lens support member 2 and the first main body member 3 are rotatably connected, the lens support member 2 can be folded into the recess 14 when the viewer is folded. When the lens support member 2 is released from the recess 14 and unfolded, the upper portions 9a of the flanges 9 are rotated by the first rotation of the pair of rotation stoppers 15 as rotation stopper means provided on the sockets 7 of the lens support member 2. Abutting against the stopper, the lens support member 2 does not spread any further,
The lens is set in the proper position for viewing. However, when the focus needs to be adjusted, when the lens support member 2 is further pulled, the flange portion 9a moves onto the first rotation stop and is fixed between the rotation stops 15. This is the second position of the lens support member 2.

If further adjustment is required, the lens support member 2 can be pulled until the flange portion 9a passes the second detent of the detent 15, but further movement in the same direction is The flange 9 is blocked by coming into contact with the front end stopper 10 of the lens support member 2.

Since the slit 16 is formed in the first main body member 3, the connecting portion of the bottom panel 14 is located deeper than the end portion 12a of each side wall 12 having the insert 8 and the flange 9. Since the end portion 12a is bent in such a structure, the insertion 8 can be easily snap-fitted to the socket 7 of the lens supporting member 2. Further, the flange portion 9a can also be easily moved on the rotation stopper 15. Such movement is further facilitated because the rotation stopper 15 and the flange portion 9a coincide with each other in the shape of the tip.

The end 126 on the opposite side of the side wall 12 is provided with a socket 17 on the outside, but can protrude from the bottom panel 13 and the reinforcing rib 11 and can be bent inward to some extent. When the viewer is assembled, the end 126 is inserted into the pore 40 formed between the curved main wall 41 and the side walls 42 on both sides of the plastic-molded second body member 4. The end 42a of the side wall 42 is provided with an insert 43 inside. Since the pores 40 are adjacent to each other, the end portion 42a of the side wall 42 can be bent outward.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as the end 126 is inserted into the pore 40, the ends 126 and 42a.
Since it has flexibility, the insertion 43 is in the socket 17
To form a rotatable connection. When the lens support member 2 is folded into the recess 14 of the first main body member 3,
Due to the rotatable connection part 51, the lens support member 2 and the first body member 3 are attached to the walls 41, 4 in the second body member 4.
It is possible to fold into the recess 44 defined by 2, 45, leaving the viewer in a fully folded state.

The main wall 41 of the second body member 4 is curved for reinforcement. The viewer 60 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is assembled and fully open. Prior art Loreo stereo viewer 70 for comparison
However, these viewers have the same lens-to-print distance and are given the same reference numbers for similar parts.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the viewer 60 of this embodiment is shaped to orient the lens 1 with respect to the rotatable connection 50. When the viewer 60 is used, the rotatable connecting portion 50 is substantially closer to the print 56 than the lens 1. On the other hand, when using the viewer 70 according to the prior art, the lens 1 and the rotatable connection 50 are located at an equal distance from the print 56. Therefore, the body 55 of the viewer 60 according to the invention has the advantage of being shorter than the body 55 of the prior art viewer 70, even in the open state. Further, in the folded state, in this embodiment, by folding the main body members 3 and 4 along the axis of the rotatable connecting portion 51,
Moreover, a smaller size is achieved than the prior art viewer 70.

When shortening the body, the lens support member 2
In the prior art, it is necessary to bend the main body 55 by 90 degrees or more. On the other hand, in the viewer of the present embodiment, the main body 55 is provided obliquely with respect to the print 56 and the focal axis 69 of the lens when used, so that the lens support member 2 needs to be bent substantially 125 degrees. The body 55 is thus designed to be diagonally located, thus reducing the amount of viewer material as compared to the vertical arrangement of the viewer 70 according to the prior art.

When the prior art viewer 70 is folded, the back plate 31 can also be rotated 90 degrees about the rotatable connection 57. However, in this embodiment, instead of the back plate 31, an end support member for holding the print 56 is provided in the main body member 4.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the viewer is used to view the print bound in the photo album, the viewer main body member 4 is provided with an end 58 which can be set at the end of the print. You can The outer planar portion 59 of the wall 45 is oriented so that the lens 1 is correctly positioned for viewing the print when lying flat against the page of the photo album. The protrusion 46, the recess 47 and the hole 48 serve as an end supporting means and a positioning means.

The stereo viewer of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The end support member is the main wall 41
To a recess 47 provided in a plane defined by the inner surface 49 of the wall 45. The end support members also include side wall 42 and wall 45.
And a hole 48 formed between them.

The recess 4 is formed by passing the edge of the end of the print 56 to be fitted to the end support member behind the protrusion 46.
The print 56 needs to be slightly bent in order to fit in 7. The edge of the print 56 is also inserted into the hole 48,
Is bent as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Due to the elastic force of the print that tries to return to a straight line,
8, because it is pressed against the recess 47 and the protrusion 46, the print is held in place by a friction fit, even if the viewer is upside down when viewing and rotating the desired print together.

The main body member 4 according to this embodiment has an end supporting member similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

[0034]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-quality and inexpensive pocket-sized stereo viewer. Further, with the stereo viewer of the present invention,
You can see the stereo prints filed in the photo album.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an open stereo viewer assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the Loreo stereo viewer according to US design patent No. 322263 and the open stereo viewer of FIG. 1 in contrast.

3 shows the open stair reviewer of FIG. 1 in solid lines,
US Design Patent No. 32226 of the same size
3 is a side view showing the Loreo stereo viewer according to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a state in which a print is attached to the stereo viewer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a print is attached to the viewer of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stereo camera and a stereo print viewer according to the related art.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where a lens is displaced from a printed image in a stereo viewer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 lens 2 lens support member 3, 4 main body member 41 main wall 46 projecting portion 47 concave portion 48 hole 50, 51 rotatable connection portion 55 main body 56 print 58 end portion 59 flat portion 60 viewer 69 focal axis

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A lens (1) for viewing each of a pair of printed images (56) and a lens (1) supporting the printed image (5).
6) The main body (55) having the positioning means (46, 47, 48) of 6), the main body (55) intersects the positioning means and the optical center of the lens (1) and is used to print the image (5) in use.
6) A foldable stereo viewer extending into the space between the parallel plane and a substantially parallel plane, wherein the portion of the body between the positioning means (46, 47, 48) and the plane is rotatable. A foldable stereo viewer, characterized in that the main body (55) can be put in a folded state by being foldable at the above portion. 2. The rotatable portion is located substantially half the length of the body (55), the body being substantially half its normal length in the folded state. The viewer according to claim 1. 3. Viewer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises lens support means (2) for rotatably supporting the lens (1) with respect to the body (55). 4. A lens supporting means (2) for supporting each lens (1) for viewing each of a pair of printed images (56), and a positioning means (46) for positioning the printed images (56). , 47, 48) and in use, the body (55) has positioning means (46, 4).
7, 48) and the lens support means (2), the lens support means (2) having a rotatable connection to the body, the lens support means being folded relative to the body to fold it. It is a foldable stereo viewer which is in a state, wherein the rotatable connection part is
A foldable stereo viewer that is closer to the printed image than the lens. 5. The viewer according to claim 4, wherein the folded state is obtained by bending the lens supporting means (2) at an angle of 90 degrees or more. 6. The angle is substantially between 110 degrees and 140 degrees.
The viewer according to claim 5, wherein the viewer is in a range of degrees. 7. A viewer according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said angle is substantially 125 degrees. 8. A focus adjustment by a user is possible by selecting the range of rotational movement of the lens support means (2) relative to the body (55). The listed viewer. 9. Viewer according to claim 8, characterized in that the selection is made by providing anti-rotation means (15). 10. Viewer according to any of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the lens support means (2) are folded into the body in the folded state of the viewer. 11. A body (55) comprising each lens (1) for viewing each of a pair of printed images (56) and positioning means (46, 47, 48) for positioning the printed images (56). A stereo viewer having and said positioning means comprising at least substantially end support means (46, 47, 48) adapted to support at least one image bearing print (56), A viewer characterized in that the end support means (46, 47, 48) holds the edges of the print (56) extending along one side thereof. 12. The end support means (46, 47, 48) comprises a recess (47) and a projection (4) fitted in the recess (47).
6) and by inserting a part of the edge of the print (56) into the recess (47) and sandwiching the edge between the wall of the recess (47) and the protrusion (46), Print (56)
12. The viewer of claim 11, wherein is positioned relative to the viewer. 13. A support for supporting a print (56) by providing a hole (48) in the end support means (46, 47, 48) for receiving the other portion of said edge of the print (56). 13. The viewer according to claim 12, wherein: 14. The print (56) is held in a slightly bent state.
Viewer described in any of. 15. Viewer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in use, the body (55) is positioned obliquely to the focal axis of the lens and the surface of the print (56). . 16. Viewer according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the main wall (41) of the body member (4) is curved for reinforcement. 17. The positioning means further comprises an end face (59) of the body member (4) provided substantially at right angles to the focal axis of the lens (1), said end face being placed on a page of a photo album. The viewer can be positioned so that the print (56) bound to the page can be seen directly.
The viewer according to any one of 1 to 16. 18. The edge (58) of the end face (59) is printed (5).
18. A viewer according to claim 17, characterized in that it aligns with the edge of 6) to help position the viewer with respect to the print (56). 19. Viewer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lens (1) is a single element having a shape which also acts as an optical wedge.