US2984153A - Knock-down stereoscopic viewer including beam support member - Google Patents

Description

KNOCK-DOWN STEREOSCOPIC VIEWER INCLUDING BEAM SUPPORT MEMBER Filed March 20, 1957 May 16, 1961 G. J. BRENNAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

/ Fig. 2

GEORGE J. BRENNAN May 16, .1961 G. J. BRENNAN 2,984,153

KNOCK-DOWN STEREOSCOPIC VIEWER mcwnmc BEAM SUPPORT MEMBER Filed March 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. GEORGE J. BRENNAN United States Patent 6 KNOCK-DOWN STEREOSCOPIC VIEWER INCLUD- ING BEAM SUPPORT MEMBER George J. Brennan, Crescent Park, NJ. (Box 112B, RD. 2, Blackwood, NJ.)

Filed Mar. 20, 1957, Ser. No. 647,351

6 Claims. (Cl. 88*29) This invention relates to stereoscopes for stereoscopic views compatibly designed so that their use together will produce for an observer a realistic three-dimensional.

that they might be made at low cost from inexpensive In general, such materials such as paper or cardboard. stereoscopes are erected from die-cut shapes of more or less intricate design and including numerous folding lines, tabs, flaps and interlocking sections, Stereoscopes of the above types after they have been erected a time ortwo have been found unreliable and unsatisfactory for further use for the reason they do not retain the rigidity required for the optical precision, in terms of location and the like of the stereo views and lenses, necessary to a satisfactory stereoscope.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a stereoscope of the knock-down type which i-n terms of low cost compares favorably with earlier proposalsand at the same time provides the precision in the location of its several parts which assures over a relatively long period of time satisfaction in viewing the frames which form a stereogram of any suitable scene.

In carrying out the present invention in a preferred form thereof, all necessary parts are included. in a Patented May 16, 1961 Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a typical lens of'Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the top of the container which forms a part of the stereoscope of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the bottom of the container which forms a part of the stereoscope of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is an exploded isometric view of all the parts of the stereoscope of Figs. 1 and 2 to illustrate the manner in which they may be assembled within the container and the manner in which the stereoscope is assembled therefrom;

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the optical system of the stereoscope and corresponds with a plan view of the stereoscope with the beam 14 omitted;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a stereogram with marks identifying the location of the separate stereo -views or frames thereon;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view ofga modification of the stereogram of Fig. 8; and J Fig. 10 is an isometric view of a modification of the invention. i

Referring to Fig. 1, the stereoscope 10 comprises a I container 12 from which there extends a beam 14. The

extension in a direction away from a pair of viewing lenses 24. A stereogram comprising a card 26 carrying shipping container which may be of ordinary cardboard,

the lenses and through a distance gseater than their focal length. Each stereo pair. of frames is mounted on a card having provisions for a portion thereof to engage the beam. From the beam the card depends to bring each frame into the proper position for viewingv through the respective lenses. The stereograms, for the stereo views are made of about the same dimensions as the container itself so that they may fit therein to provide internal support and protection against damage in shipment. The focal length of the lenses, the length of the beam, and the dimensions of the container are selected so that the beam also can be received within the shipping container, preferably along the diagonal, the greatest dimension thereof.

For further objects and advantages and for illustration of several forms of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description taken in conjunction,

a stereo pair of frames 28L and 28R has a portion engaging the beam 14 which is provided by the opening 30 through the card 26. The opening 30 in each stereogram is preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the beam 14 for gravity-positioning of each stereogram ina position parallel to the plane of the lenses. This card is supported at approximately the focal length L" of the lens. Its positioning at the desired distance for viewing is aided by the provision of a notch 32 in the beam 14. Whether it be a notch or two small protuberances, it may be desirable to have some marking to aid in the positioning of the card 26 from container 12 which forms the main body and support for the stereoscope as a whole.

From the above understanding of the invention it will be seen that a relatively rugged structure has been provided, one of which, the beam, is held in a fixed position which will be maintained throughout an indefinite length of time and that the stereogram cards 26, in cooperation with the beam, are supported in proper viewing relationship with a very minimum of structure. The simplicity of the arrangement as a whole not only contributes to its success as a stereoscope but is a substantial factor in reducing the cost of manufacture.

The rigidity of the container or main body portion 12 of the stereoscope arises from the fact that the container 12 is assembled with the lid 34 embracing the back or body of the container 36. The nesting relationship of the two parts of the box provides double thicknesses 38, 40 of the cardboard throughout the edge walls or sides.

The lenses 24, Fig. 3, are of molded plastic or glass with the convexity of the surface 42 providing the desired focal length and the fiat base 44 providessurfaces near the four corners 46 having thereon an adhesive material 47. The adhesive material secures each lens in position in the openings 48L and 48R of the panel 20 of thecover 34. The openings 48L and 48R provide sel'f centering of the lenses thereon, this being achieved by having the openings of a diameter equal to that of theperiphery of the convex portion 42.

The width M of the edge or side walls 38, 40, is made adequate so that when the stereoscopeisjheld to. the

eye the vision through the left eye is restricted to the frame 28L of the stereo pair while the vision from the right eye is limited to the frame 28R of the stereo pair. Cooperating with the selection of the width of the end wall for the foregoing purpose is the selection of the size of the openings 50L and 50R in the panel 22 of the body portion 36 of the container 12.

Thus in the embodiment of Fig. 1 the opaque section 52 of panel 22 aids in the restriction of the views of each eye to the appropriate frame of each stereogram. Referring to Figs. 2 and 8, the dimenisonal arrows X and Y demonstrate that the horizontal centerline 54 of frames 28L and 28R intersects the axial centerlines 56 of the lenses 24 when the card 26 is in viewing position on beam 14. This follows since the dimension X, between centerline 58 of hole 30 in card 26 and centerline 54 of frames 28L and 28R, is equal to the dimension line Y between centerline 60 of beam 14 and centerline 56 of lenses 24.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the dimensional arrows A and B which are equal, demonstrate that the horizontal distance between the centers of the lenses 24 equal the horizontal d.stance between the centerlines 62L and 62R of frames 28L and 28R respectively. Thus it will be understood that the center of each lens is axially aligned with the center of one of the frames 28L and 28R of the stereo pair on card 26 as defined by the intersection of horizontal centerline 54 and vertical centerlines 62L and 62R, when all the parts are in assembled relationship.

The stereoscope of the invention as thus far described is readily assembled with the major structure thereof tom half 36 of the box is adapted to receive the beam 14 along a diagonal dimension with the lenses 24 disposed along an opposite diagonal. Upon this assembly there are included within the box a plurality of cards 26, each carrying a stereogram of selected scenes for viewing. These cards are dimensioned to provide additlonal support for the edges of the container and thus to add further support in prevention of injury thereto during shipment through the mails. As shown in Fig. 4, the cover 34 has panel sections 64 to which adhesive 66 is applied to the inner surface. These panels 64 have score lines for folding over, adhesively to secure them to the back of the panel 22 of the bottom half of the box 36. These score lines generally can carry the label To Open Slit Here as shown in Fig. 4. The bottom view of the box after assembly is shown in Fig. 5.

To erect the stereoscope from its tightly packed shipping arrangement, a penknife is moved through the scored lines and the parts removed as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6. A finger nail or the like is then used to remove closures 48R and 48L, their removal being facilitated by providing a series of perforations along their circumference. Similarly, closures 50R and 50L for the rear openings 50L and 50R are removed in like manner, similar perforations being provided to facilitate this operation.

The end of beam 14 having a tapered end as shown in Fig. 2, is preferably utilized to remove the closures 16' and 18' for the openings 16 and 18, the walls of which form the frictional engagement for that beam.

The lenses are pressed into place, the adhesive securing "along the centerlines.

50L of Fig. 1.

If desired, the locating openings 30 in each of the cards 26 may be reinforced by eyelets or if desired, a portion of each card may be made of metal as shown in Fig. 9 at 30A. Each metallic element 30A in Fig. 9 is shown as having a square opening, an embodiment of the invention which may in some instances be preferred. Where the openings are square, the rod or beam 14 is likewise made square or rectangular. The supporting openings in the stereograms are slightly larger than those of the beam for grav.ty positioning of the stereogram in a position parallel to the plane of the lenses. Similarly, the openings 16 and 18 will be made to correspond with the shape of the beam 14 but in all cases will be somewhat smaller to assure the right frictional engagement referred to above.

With the above understanding of the present invention it is to be understood that many mod.fications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. In its broader aspects, the invention embraces the modification of Fig. 10 where the lenses 24A have been shown as supported by the frames 12A of conventional spectacles,

the bows 70 thereof serving their usual purpose to engage the opposite sides of the head and to be disposed behind the ears. From the nose piece 34A there extends the beam 14A, in cantilever fashion, and likewise a similar beam 14B which serves as a stop for a visiondividing card 52A. This card serves the same function as the opaque area 52 between the two openings 50R and A card 26 is shown in its proper location at the notch 32A of the beam 14A. It is contemplated that the beam 14A and the positioning rod 143 are mounted on the nose piece 34A as by screws for ease in disassembly of the stereoscope. In this connection, the beam 14A may likewise be sectioned and threaded together so that all parts can nest within a spectacle case having dimensions not materially greater than a conventional one.

The embodiment of Fig. 10 has the advantage that it may be used for viewing stereo pairs as may frequency appear in the comics or illustrated books, and particularly where the stereo pair is not to be suspended from the beam 14A. In that case it will be desirable to break off the outer end portion of the beam as at the notch 32A and in that fashion to fix the viewing distance. The viewing distance will not only be fixed, but, by locating the outer end of beam 14A at a predetermined location on each stereo pair, there will be assurance that the centers of the lenses will be lined up with the centers of each frame and thus there will be minimized the difficulty experienced by some viewers in the merging of the stereo pairs into a single stereo image to provide the desired three-dimensional effect characterizing the stereoscope.

What is claimed is:

l. A stereoscope of the knock-down type comprising in combination telescopic box structure the walls of one half of which are telescopically received by the walls of the other half, a beam member extending through opposing walls of said box structure having a stop protuberance on one end thereof and frictionally gripped by said panel structure to maintain it in rigid fixed position and extending outwardly away from said box structure, said beam member extending through said panels through a central portion above a pair of openings in each of said panels, spaced apart the separation distance of the eyes and located along the lower edge of said panels, the pair of openings in the panel member located in the direction in which said beam member extends being adequate for the viewing of a single frame of a stereogam by each eye and providing vision-limiting for each eye in respect to the frame to be viewed by the other eye, lenses supported in the two openings in the panel remote from the direction of extension of said beam member having focal lengths lessthan the length of said beam member for viewing the stereogram depending downwardly from said beam member at a distance from said lenses approximately equal to their focal length.

2. A stereoscope of the knocked-down type comprising a container having rigid side walls with closure panels, a beam member having a length approximately that of the maximum distance between opposite walls of said container, said panels having weakened portions thereof for removal of sub-closure elements for the formation of a pair of viewing openings in each of them, a first pair of said openings providing for the support of lenses therein, said panel having additional openings for the positioning of said beam member between said pairs of openings and spaced therefrom, said beam member having a frictional fit in said openings provided for it in said panels, the separation distance between the second of said pairs of openings in the second of said panels being spaced from said openings in said first of said panels to form a vision-limiting structure for each eye of an observer positioned adjacent said lenses, said pair of panels providing spaced supports for said beam member, the frictional relationship of said beam member with said panels maintaining them in relatively fixed spaced relationship, and a stereogram having an opening for receiving said beam for support of said stereogram in depending relationship from said beam with each frame of the stereogram positioned in alignment with said pair of said openings, said lenses having a focal length less than the length of said beam whereby said stereogram may be positioned so that its distance from said lenses will be approximately equal to their focal length.

3. The stereoscope of claim 2 in which said beam has a notch for receiving and locating said stereogram in a position on said beam corresponding with a preferred viewing distance for an observer.

4. The stereoscope of claim 2 in which said beam is provided with a notch and in which said beam is rotatable to move said notch downwardly so that said stereogram may be moved along said beam to accommodate differing vision of different observers in respect to the preferred viewing distance of said stereogram.

5. The stereoscope of claim 2 in which said beam is 6 round and the openings in said stereograms are round and of slightly greater diameter than those of said beam for gravity positioning of said stereograms in position par allel to the plane of said lenses.

6. A stereoscope of the knock-down type comprising a container having rigid side walls with closure panels, a beam member having a length less than the maximum internal dimension of said container, said closure panels having weakened portions thereof for the removal of sub-closure elements for the formation of a pair of viewing openings through said container, said openings in one panel adapted to support lenses therein, said openings in an opposite panel forming a vision-limiting structure for each eye of an observer positioned adjacent said lenses, said panels having additional openings between and above said viewing openings providing spaced support for said beam member, the shape of said additional openings corresponding to the sectional shape of said beam member for frictionally engaging said beam member, providing substantially rigid spaced relationship between said beam and said panels, and a stereogram having dimensions to nest within said container and having structure for engaging said beam for support in depending relationship therefrom for viewing, with each frame of said stereogram positioned in alignment with said pair of viewing openings, said lenses having a focal length less than the length of said beam whereby said stereogram may be positioned so that its distance from said lenses will be approximately equal to their focal length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,093 Kennedy May 21, 1907 1,281,746 Allen et al. Oct. 15, 1918 1,520,311 Ruth Dec. 23, 1924 1,703,787 Singley Feb. 26, 1929 2,656,758 Cole Oct. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 136,533 Germany July 31, 1901 934,979 Germany Nov. 10, 1955

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