US2789460A - Folding stereoscopic viewer - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1957 R. KAUFMAN 'FOLDING 'sTEREoscoPIc vIEwER Filed Jan. 1a, .1954- JNVENTOE ,706,087 K/lufnfm Y ,qrro N5) United States Patent O FOLDING STEREOSCOPIC VIEWER Robert Kaufman, New York, N. Y.

Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,435

Claims. (Cl. 88-29) The present invention relates to a stereoscope or stereo viewer.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscope which can be readily collapsed into a thin, flat and compact body suitable for sending, letterlike, through the mail and convenient for storage and for keeping in a pocket.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscope which may be atly folded and which may carry pictorial advertising material interiorly thereof and printed advertising material on its exterior, thus providing a superior advertising medium.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscope of simplified construction which can be economically formed of a single blank of flexible ma terial.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscope provided with a body formed of a flexible material, the exibility of which is utilized to provide focusing control of the stereoscope.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a flexible stereoscope that may be conveniently held in proper proximity to the eyes during use.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the stereoscope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out the invention:

Fig. l is a plan view of a blank sheet of material from which the stereoscope of the present invention is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stereoscope in co1- lapsed or folded condition thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stereoscope in operative condition thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the stereoscope 10 of the present invention is formed from the blank 12 illustrated in Fig. l. Said blank is fabricated from a suitable exible sheet material, such as, for example and not by way of limitation, cardboard. Said blank has an elongated body 14 in which there is defined the pair of preferably rectangular light openings 16 adjacent one end of the blank and a pair of similar light openings 18 adjacent the other end thereof. An oval shaped aperture 20 is positioned intermediate the openings 16, as illustrated, and the transverse fold-line 22 extends through said aperture to define a foldable tab 24 at said first mentioned blank end. The fold line 26 defines a foldable tab 28, at the other blank end, which tab is provided with an adhesive coating 30. `The blank is additionally provided with the transverse foldlines 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42, the functions ofv which will presently appear. A pair of circular viewing apertures aredefined in the blank substantially centrallythereof and an oval shaped aperture 48 extendsbetween said circular apertures.

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Adjacent each of the rectangular openings 16, the blank is provided with an integral laterally extending and tapered arm 52 in which there is defined a central longitudinal crease 54 normally maintaining the arm 52 in at least partly folded state, a fold line 56 which is extensive with the adjacent side edge of the body 14, and a fold line 58 adjacent the free end of the arm. Fold line 5'8 defines a foldable tab 60 which is provided with an adhesive coating 62.

At each of its side edges, the blank is provided with a reinforcing tab 64 which is foldable along a fold line 66 extensive with the adjacent side edge. It will be noted that the fold line 36 extends into the tabs 64, as indicated at 36. Each tab 64 is provided with an adhesive coating 67. A circular viewing aperture 68 and an openended slot 7) are defined in each tab 64.

In addition to the blank 12, the stereoscope 10 is provided with a pair of suitable magnifying lenses 72 and with a translucent sheet 74, preferably formed of Celluloid or other suitable material. The translucent sheet overlies the light apertures 16, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the tab 24 being bent along fold line 22 to overlie said sheet, along a marginal edge thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In order to mount the lenses 72 in position, the tabs 64 are each folded along the fold line 66 thereof to overlie the adjacent portion of the blank body 14 for reenforcing,7 the latter, being secured thereto by the adhesive coating 67, with the tab aperture 68 in registry with the adjacent body aperture 44. Each lens 72 is secured, preferably by an adhesive strip 76 (Fig. 4) to the uncoated surface of a tab 64.

In order to assemble the stereoscope 10, the blank 12 is folded along the various fold lines 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 thereof and the foldable tab 28 is adhesively secured within the fold line 32 so as to secure the lower marginal edge of the translucent sheet 74, in position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the opposite marginal edge being retained in position by the folded tab 24, as previously explained. It will be noted that each light opening 18 is now inwardly of, and in registry with a cooperating light opening 16, with the sheet 74 interposed between said light openings. Further, it will be noted that a viewing chamber 78 is now defined, having a light receiving wall 8i), at one end thereof, and a viewing wall S2, at theA opposite end thereof, each pair of companion viewing apertures 44 and 68 in the viewing wall being in registry with a pair of light receiving apertures 16 and 18 in the lightreceiving wall. In order to form the inwardly foldable side walls 84 of the viewing chamber, each arm 52 is bent along its fold lines S6 and 58 and the tab 60 thereof is inserted through the slot 70 of the adjacent tab 64 so as to be disposed between the inner surface of the viewing wall 82, to which it is secured by the adhesive coating 62, and the coated surface of the tab 64.

The upper wall 86 of the stereoscope or viewer 10 vis formed by the blank portion between the fold lines 38 and 42, and said wall is provided with the crease'.40, substantially centrally thereof to provide a bellows-like fold construction. The lower wall 88 is formed by 'the blank portion between the fold lines 32 and 36, and is provided with the crease 34, substantially centrally thereof, to also provide a bellows-like foldconstruction.v Consequently the upper and lower walls are normally folded and collapsed, as in Fig. 2.

With the stereoscope 10 in the conditi-on thereof illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a suitable translucent double or stereoscopic picture slide or lrn may be inserted b e-v tween the translucent sheet 74 and the light openingsv 18, through the opening 93 (Fig. 4) so that each picture will be disposed between a light opening 16 andfits paired light opening 18 for producing the stereoscopic picture effect when both pictures are viewed simultaneously through the viewing apertures. The folded over oval portion 20, as best Vshown in Fig. 2, facilitates the'insertion and removal of the slide. in order to adjust the focus, pressure may be applied along the creases 40 and 34, in the upper and lower walls, to move the end walls 80 and 82 apart from each other, and as the pressure is relaxed said walls will move together due to the flexibility of the -blank material. This may be accomplished with the wall 8) pointed toward a light source and while looking through the openings 72 in the Wall 82. The oval opening St accommodates the bridge of a vicwers nose. Therefore, byproperly adjusting the relative dispositions of the end walls @it and 82 the viewer may be placed in proper focus.

The stereo viewer lit may be readily folded and collaped for mailing or for placing in a pocket or the like, by merely urging the end walls Si) and S2 together, to Collapse the viewer, as in Fig. 2. it will be noted that in this condition, the side walls 84 folded into the viewer between the end walls 80 and S52, and upper and lower walls 86 and 83 fold out, as in Fig. 2. In order to restore the viewer to its operative condition, it is necessary only to urge the upper and lower walls, 85 and 88, together by pressing together alo-ng the creases 40 and 34 therein until the condition illustrated in Fig. 3 is resumed.-

In View of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the described construction provides for a light weight, compact and fol-dable stereoscope which can be inexpensively manufactured from a single sheet of cardboard, or the like and which can be focused in a simple manner.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, i-t will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of vthe invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus 4described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An optical device, comprising an elongated blank of exible sheet material, said blank having transverse fold `lines formed therein dividing it into end sections, a, central section, and an intermediate section between said central vsection and each of said end sections; one of said end sections having lateral extensions and a fold line vformed between it and each of said lateral extensions, 'said blank being foldable along said fold lines to form a chamber, with said central section forming one end wall of said chamber, said intermediate sections forming the top and bottom walls thereof, said end sections oppositely overlapping to form the seco-nd end wall thereof and said extensions having their free ends Ysecured to said central section to form `the side walls thereof; registering light admitting means provided in said end sections and viewing means provided in said central section adapted to vbe disposed in alinement with registering light -admitting means when said blank is folded A'into a Ichamber, said blank being provided with laterally extending tabs yadjacent said central section, said tabs lbeing inwardly foldable and secura-ble over -saidfcentral section and provided with an opening for'registering with the said viewing means provided 1in said central section.

2. Afstereoscope or the like, comprising an elongated blank ofitexible .sheet material, said blank having-transverse f'o'ld linesformed therein `dividing it into end sections, fa..central-section, and an intermediate section between said central section and each of said end sections; one of fsaid end 7sections havinglateral extensions and a fold line formed-between it and each yof said lateral extensions, Vsaid lblank folded along said fold lines to form Fa'c'hamber, said intermediate vsections forming the t'qpjb'ottom walls yof saidchamber, said endsections 'qppols'itelyfoverlapping, the inner ,o'f said `overlapping-sectionslhaving .a I,I12ujgitia1transverse ,portion and secured by said portion to said blank adjacent the fold line lbetween the other of said end sectionsl and the contiguous intermediate section to,v thereby form an open top pocket between the said end sections, said end sections forming the other end of said chamber, said extensions having their free ends secured to said central section to form the side walls of said chamber; registering light admitting means provided in said end sections and viewing means provided in said central section disposed in alinement with said registering light admitting means when said blank is folded into a chamber.

3. The stereoscope or the like of claim 2, wherein said light admitting means comprise openings in said outer and inner end sections and a translucent element is disposed in the pocket formed between them, said outer end section having a marginal ap foldable inwardly to engage over an edge of said translucent element.

4. An optical device, comprising an elongated blank of exible material, said blank having fold lines formed transversely thereof dividing it into end sections, a central section, and an intermediate section between said central section and each of said end sections, one of said end sections having lateral extensions and a fold line formed therein between it and each of said extensions, each of said intermediate sections and said extensions having a transverse crease line formed therein normallj maintaining it in folded state, said blank folded along said fold lines with said end sections overlapping and with said rst named end section outermost and with said other end sec-tion secured to said blank, to form a chamber, said end sections and said `central section forming the end wal-ls of said chamber, said intermediate sections forming the top and bottom walls thereof, and said extensions secured by their free ends to said centrai section and forming the side vwalls of said chamber, registering light admitting means provided in said end sections and viewing means provided in said central section :disposed to be alined with said light admitting means when said blank is folded into a chamber.

5. The optical device of claim 4, wherein said crease lines in said intermediate sections land said extensions are oppositely formed for folding in opposed directions.

6. The optical device of claim 4, wherein said innermost end section is formed with la transverse extension and is secured by said extension to said blank adjacent the fold line between said outermost end section and the contiguous intermediate section, to form an open top pocket between said end sections.

7. The optical device of claim 4, wherein said innermost end section is formed with a transverse extension and is secured thereby to said blank adjacent the -fold line between lsaid outermost end section and the contiguous intermediate section to form an open top pocket between said end sections, and wherein ya translucent element is disposed in said pocket and said outermost end section is formed with an end extension foldable inwardly to engage over said translucent element.

8. The optical device offclaim 4, wherein said 4blank is provided with laterally extending tabs adjacent said central section, said tabs being inwardly foldable and securable over said central section and are provided with opening for registering with said viewing means in said central section and wherein lens means are engaged between said tabs ,and said central section opposite said openings.

A11 opticaldevice, fcomprisingtanelongated blank of flexiblemateriahsaid blankhaving fold lines-formedtrans- Versely thereacross dividing itinto endrsections, -a central section, and an intermediate section between said central section and each of saidend sections, one of said endsections having lateral extensions and a fold 'line formed between it and each ofsaid extensions, each of said intermediate sections and lsaid lateral `extensicms Ahaving a transverselvfextending crease lineformed therenermeli lvmentaining itjntfoldedfstate,fsaidblankfolded @lons Said tQldjtliasS Withtl Quisfsvertionofone endfssilln secured adjacent the inner portion of the end section having the lateral extensions to form a chamber with said end sections and said central section forming the end Walls of said chamber, said intermediate sections forming the top and bottom walls thereof/and said extensions forming the side walls thereof, said lateral extensions secured by their ends to said central section, said end walls having alined light passageways provided therein.

10. An optical device, comprising an elongated blank of exible material, said blank having fold lines formed therein transversely thereacross dividing it into end sections, a central section, and an intermediate section between said central section and each of said end sections, one of said end sections having lateral extensions and fold lines formed between it and each of said extensions, said blank folded along said fold lines with the outer portion of one end section secured adjacent the inner portion of the end section having the lateral extensions to form a chamber, said central section and said end sections forming the end walls of said chamber, said intermediate sections forming the pair of top and bottom walls thereof, said lateral extensions secured by their ends to said central section and forming a pair of side walls of said cham- 6 ber, each of the walls of at least one of said pairs o walls having a crease formed therein normally maintaining them in folded position in one directon relative to said end walls and each of the walls of the other of said last two pairs of walls being foldable in a direction opposite to said iirst of the last two pairs of wa'lls, said end walls having alined light passages provided therein.

References Cited inthe iile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 12,451 Stull Feb. 27, 1855 1,221,836 Couden Apr. 10, 1917 1,655,989 Duval Ian. 10, 1928 2,071,120 Harlow Feb. 16, 1937 2,643,578 Williams June 30, 1953 2,662,442 Gowland Dec. 15, 1953 2,696,754 Mamock Dec. 14, 1954 2,724,991 Levine Nov. 29, 1955 2,768,554 Leslie Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 4 1,842 Great Britain of 1855 529,770 France Sept. 16, 1921

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