US1395398A - Stereopticon - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN A. n! VRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE VRY CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STEREOPTICON.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application filed January 24,- 1920. Serial No. 353,806.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. DE VRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereopticons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

' The invention relates to stereopticons.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved stereopticon which is adapted to be contained in a comparatively small carrying case so that it can be easily transported. Another object is to provide an improved folding stereopticon. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved stereopticon-of this type in which the use of bellows is avoided. A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means for holding a picture or transparent plate in focused or operative position between the lamp-house and the projecting lens.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a plan, the top cover being open to-show the operating parts folded in thecase. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the case being shown in section,

the operative parts being folded into the case. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section and Fig. 4 is a vertical section, the lamp-house, plateholder and condenser being in operative position. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section and Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the condenser and plate-holder. Fig. 7 is a perspective showing the folded stereopticon.

A carrying case 9 is adapted to contain the operative parts of the stereopticon for convenience in transportation and is adapted to hold them in connected operated relation when they are unfolded. The case comprises a bottom 10, side-walls 11 and a front 12 which are rigidly secured together, a top 13 which is hinged, at 14, to one of the sides 11 and is providedwith pendant side and end flanges 15 and is adapted to be locked in closed position by suitable latches 16 and a back 18 which is hinged to the bottom 10, as at 19, so the back can be swung backwardly into horizontal position. A carrying handle 17 is connected to the top 13.

A projector-lens 20 is mounted in a tube 21 which is slidably held in a tubular portion 22 of a carrier 23 which is fixed in the case and secured, as at 24, to the front 12 of the case. An adjusting screw 28 is suitably connected to the tube 21 to 'move the lens into correct position. An opening 25 is formed in the front 12 of the case for the projection of the picture. A plate 26, which is pivoted to a ferrule 27 secured in the front 12, is adapted to close the opening 25.

A lamp-house 30 is fixedly mounted to the inner face of the hinged back 18 of the case and comprises perforated sides 31 and top 32, a front-wall 33 and a slide 34 which forms the back of the lamp-house. An incandescent lamp 36 is held in a socket 37 which is secured to the back 18 of the case. A casing 38 fixed to the lamp-house and foldable with said house and back 18 contains condenser-lenses 39. A transparency or picture holder is secured to the case 38 so that it is foldable with back 18 and comprises extensions 40 of the side walls of casing 38, a bottom ledge 45, strips 41 which are adapted to engage the back margins of the plate 42 and a pair of guides 43 which are yieldably supported on the resilient strips 44 which are secured to casing 38. The upper-portions of the strips 41 are curved to direct a plate into position to be engaged by the guides 43 and the upper portions of said guides are curved for the same purpose. The inner or operative faces of the guides 43 are V-shaped or oppositely inclined, so that a plate seated on the strips 41 will be yieldingly held in contact against said strips by the convergent edges of the guides, and when the plate is moved away from the strips 41 and past the apices of the guides, the divergent edges will press against the rear edges of the plate and tend to displace it forwardly to cause it to fall into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. When the bottom of a plate 42 rests upon ledge 45 and is held by the guides 43, it will be 1n correct position for projection. Retainers 46 are adapted to receive the plates displaced forwardly from the guides 43 and to retain them at an inclined position so that it will be completely out of focus and will prevent projection of a picture on a' plate in the holder until the inclined plate is removed. When the plate is held in the holder, as shown in Fig. 4. and it is desired to replace it by another, the operator will insert another plate between the one in the holder and the strips 41. This will force the first plate forwardly beyond the grip of guides 43. Placement of the second plate into position will automatically displace the previously held plate forwardly, the guides 43 yielding laterally to permit the first plate to be forced forwardly and as soon as the first plate has been released, the guides will automatically hold the second plate. The released plate will fall upon retainers 46 and remain there.

When the carrying-case is closed, the lamp-house, condenser and plate-holder will be inclosed and folded, as shown in Fig. 2, the back 18 serving as a back closure for the case and as a support for rigidly securing the parts mounted thereon in the case. A conductor-cord 48, electrically connected: to the contacts in the socket 87, will be coiled in the space in front of the lamphouse and above the lens-carrier 23, as shown in Fig. 2. A screw-plug 49 is connected to this conductor to adapt the stereopticon for connection to an ordinary switch socket. A cross-bar 50 is secured to the case-sides 11 near the top thereof to prevent them from spreading and the cord 48 may be laid over said bar.

When it is desired to use the stereopticon, the top 13 will be unlatched and swung to one side of the case. This will cause the flange 15 on the cover to release the back 18 so that the operator can swing it and the lamp-house, condenser and plate-holder backwardly and out of the case, so that the back 18 will constitute, in effect, a. continuation of the bottom 10 of the case. In order to positively secure the lamp, condenser and plate-holder in correct or predetermined relation to the projector-lens, a locking bar 51 is hinged, as at 52, to a. lug 53 on the back 18, is provided with a slot 54 for a stud 55 which is fixed to one of the case sides 11. The locking bar 51 is acted upon by a spring 57 tending to press it backwardly and the upper and front of the slot 54 is angled to interlock with the stud 55 so that when the back 18 reached the predetermined position, the bar 51 will automatically lock it. Stopcleats 58 for the back 18 are secured to the sides 11 of'the case.

It will thus be seen that in order to render the stereopticon operative, it is only necessary to swing the back 18 with the lamphouse, condenser and plate-holder thereon out of the case. To fold the stereopticon for transportation, it is only necessary to release the locking bar 51 and swing the back 18 into the case and close the cover 13. When the stereopticon is unfolded or operative, the cover 13 will be closed and the projection of light will be longitudinally of the case and through the projector lens.

The invention exemplifies a stereopticon in which the lamp-house and plate-holder are movable and locked into a definite predetermined position, so that when unfolded, the plate-holder will be in focal relation to the projecting lens. The invention also exemplifies a stereopticon which avoids the use of bellows to confine the light and in which the carrying-case is utilized for that purpose. The folding and unfolding opera tions are simple and may be easily effected. The invention also exemplifies a plate-holder from which a plate is adapted to be displaced forwardly by another plate and shifted out of focus and to prevent pro ection of the second plate until the operator has removed the first plate. The parts of the stereopticon are compactly folded into a comparatively small' carrying case.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carrying case, a projecting lens in the case, a lamp-house movably held in the case, a plate-holder adapted to be held in the case, a condenser adapted to be held in the case, said lamp-house, condenser and plate-holder being vertically disposed in the case and conjointly movable to a substantially horizontal position outside of the case, and means to support the lamp-house, holder and condenser in a predetermined substantially horizontal operative position.

2. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carrying case having one of its walls movable, a projecting lens fixedly held in the case, a lamp-house mounted on said wall, and a plate-holder adapted to be held in the case, said wall being movable to the outside of the case to bring the lamp-house into operative relation to the projector lens.

walls movable, a projecting lens fixedly held in the case, a lamp-house and condenser mounted on said wall, and a plate-holder movable with the wall, said wall being movable to the outside of the case to bring the lamp-house, condenser and plate-holder into operative relation to the projector-lens.

5. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carrying case having one of its walls movable, a projecting lens fixedl held in the case, a lamp-house and con enser mounted on said wall, a plate-holder movable with the wall, said wall being movable to the outside of the case to bring the lamphouse and condenser into operatlve relation to the projecting lens, and means to lock said wall in a predetermined position outside of the case.

6. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carryin -case comprising a hinged wall forming su stantially the entire back, a projecting lens in the case, a lamp-house secured to the back and movable therewith, a condenser and a plate-holder, the back being movable to a position outside of the case to bring the holder and condenser into operative relation to the projector lens.

7. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carryin case comprising a hinged wall forming su stantially the entire back, a projecting lens in the case, a lamp house secured to the back and movable therewith, a condenser, a plate-holder supported on the condenser; the back being movable to a position outside of the case to brin the holder and condenser-into operative re ation to the projector lens, and means to lock the back in such position.

8. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carrying case comprising a hinged back, a projecting lense in the case, a lamphouse secured to the back and movable therewith, a condenser supported by and movable with the lamp-house, and a plateholder, the back being movable to a position outside of the case to bring the holder and condenser into operative relation to the projector lens.

9. In a stereopticon, the combination of a ortable carrying case, comprising a hinged back, a projecting lens in the case, a lamphouse secured to the back and movable therewith, a condenser supported by the lamphouse, a plate-holder supported on the condenser, the back beingmovable to a position outside of the case tobring the holder and condenser into operative relation to the projector lens, and means to lock the back in such position.

10. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carrying case comprising a hinged top, a vhinged back and rigid side, back and front, a projecting lens in the case, a lamphouse secured to the back. and movable therewith, a condenser also movable with the back, a plate-holder, the back being movable to a position outside of the case to bring the holder and condenser into operative relation to the projector lens, the hinged top when open permitting the lamp-house to be unfolded.

11. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carrying case comprising a hinged top, a hinged back and rigid side, back and front, a projecting lens in the case, a lamphouse secured to the back and movable there with, a condenser also movable with the back, a plate-holder mounted on the condenser, the back being movable to a position outside of the case to bring the holder and condenser into operative relation to the projector lens, the hinged top when 0 en permittin the lamp-house to be unfol ed.

12. n a stereopticon, the combination of a lamp-house, a projecting lens and a plateholder comprising devices adapted to en gage the front side margins to hold the plate in operative position and formed so they will be spread apart by forward pressure of the plate so it may be displaced forwardly out of focal relation to the projecting lens the holder having a space between said devices through which the plate can be removed by forward movement.

13. In a stereopticon, the combination of a lamp-house, a projecting lens, a plateholder comprising devices adapted to engage the front side margins to hold the plate inoperative position and formed so they will be spread apart by forward pressure of the plate so it may be displaced forwardly out of focal relation to the projecting lens, the holder having a space between said devices through which the plate can be removed by forward movement and means in front of the holder to receive a plate so displaced.

14. In a stereopticon, the combination of a case, a lamp-house, a projecting lens and a plate-holder comprising a pair of devices having inclined faces for engaging the front margin of the plate, and resillent strips for supporting, said devices and permitting forward displacement of the plate.

15. In a stereopticon, the combination of a case, a lamp-house, a condenser, a projecting lens, a plate-holder comprising a air of devices having V-shaped surfaces or engaging the front margm of the plate and resilient strips for sup orting said devices to permit forward disp acement of the plate, and means in front of the holder to receive a plate so displaced.

16. In a stereopticon, the combination of a portable carrying-case having an open back, a projecting lens fixedly held in the case, a lamp-house, a condenser, and a plate holder movably held in the case, and a hinged wall for closing the back, the lamphouse, condenser and plate-holder being projecting lens fixedly held in the case, a 10 mounted so they may be shifted through the lamp-house, a condenser, and a plate-holder, open back and supported by the hinged well said lamp-house, condenser and plate-holder when outside of the case and inoperative being movably sustained in the case and 6 relation to the projector lens. movable through the open back and sup- 17. In a stereopticon, the combination of ported by the back-wall when the latter is 15 a portable carrying-case having an open folded into its open and closed positions. back and top, a hinged Wall for closing the I back, a hinged cover for closing the top, a HERMAN A. DE VRY.

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