Abstract:
An environment viewing enabling system for enabling viewing of an environment through a partition. The system enables clear and magnified viewing of the environment therethrough at controllably moveable locations thereof about the partition.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to viewing systems and methods, and more particularly, to an environment viewing enabling system for enabling controlled and effective viewing of an environment.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    An environment viewing system enables the user to view an environment such as one which includes a partition, so as to provide a view of the environment through the partition, as for viewing a specimen or specimens in a tank environment. The tank environment is bounded by the partition such as panes of glass or acrylic. The tank environment may consist of a marine tank environment, with marine specimens therein, or a dry tank environment, with land specimens therein.  
           [0005]    Environment viewing systems may be used by hobbyists, researchers, students, or others, for effective viewing of a specimen or specimens in a tank environment through a partition. Such a system may include a magnifying lense to enhance observation of the specimen or specimens. However, for effective viewing, the partition surfaces should be clean to enable clear viewing therethrough. Further, the system should be controllable and movable to enable viewing at a variety of locations. Also, magnification may be variable for enabling enhanced viewing.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there has existed a need for a system which is capable of providing viewing of an environment through a partition in an efficient and effective manner. The present invention fulfills these needs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides improved viewing of an environment through a partition.  
           [0008]    The system enables viewing in an environment wherein the environment includes a partition for partitioning the environment from an external environment, and the partition includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. The system comprises an exterior housing, positionable on the exterior surface of the partition and slidably moveable thereabout. The exterior housing includes a frame, which includes a magnet therein having a facing surface for facing the exterior surface of the partition, which facing surface has a polarity. The frame further has a central opening for enabling viewing the environment therethrough. The system further comprises an interior housing, positionable on the interior surface of the partition and slidably moveable thereabout in alignment and coordination with and under the control of slidable movement of the exterior housing. The interior housing includes a frame which includes a magnet therein having a facing surface adapted to face the interior surface of the partition, which facing surface has a polarity. The polarity of the exterior housing frame magnet facing surface and the interior housing frame magnet facing surface are the opposite of each other, and interact so as to enable the movement of the exterior housing to control the movement of the interior housing. The interior housing frame further has a central opening for enabling viewing the environment therethrough.  
           [0009]    One aspect of the present invention is that the system provides efficient and effective viewing through a partition in relation to an environment.  
           [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention is that the system enables securely aligned and controllably moveable positioning thereof to various locations on the partition, for a variety of viewing opportunities.  
           [0011]    A further aspect of the present invention is that the system may provide magnified viewing in the environment, and at variable magnifications and adjustable fields of depth.  
           [0012]    A still further aspect of the present invention is that the system may clean partition surfaces upon movement thereof, to enable improved clear viewing therethrough.  
           [0013]    Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which describe and illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an environment viewing enabling system and partition in an embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the system in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an environment viewing enabling system and partition in another embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the system in FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the system and partition in a multiple magnet exterior housing and interior housing version of the system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the multiple magnet exterior housing and interior housing version of the system in FIG. 5 in accordance with the present invention, taken along line  6 - 6 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the system and partition in a single magnet exterior housing and interior housing version of the system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the single magnet exterior housing and interior housing version of the system in FIG. 7 in accordance with the present invention, taken along line  7 - 7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.  1 - 8 , there is shown a system  10  for example for enabling magnified viewing of a specimen or specimens in a tank environment  12 . The tank environment  12  includes a partition  14 , for partitioning the tank environment  12  from an external environment, and the partition  14  includes an exterior surface  16  and an interior surface  18 . The tank environment  12  may for example constitute a marine tank environment, with marine specimens therein, such as fish, invertebrates, corals, crustaceans, clams, or shrimp. It may alternatively constitute a dry tank environment, for example with reptiles, amphibians, or insects therein. It may still further for example constitute a display case for jewelry, crystals, or gemstones or for museum artifacts. The partition  14  may for example be comprised of glass or acrylic.  
         [0023]    The system  10  may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes, including for example round, square, or rectangular shapes, and large or small sizes. It includes an exterior housing  20 , positionable on the exterior surface  16  of the partition  14  and slidably moveable thereabout. The exterior housing  20  includes a frame  22 , which, as shown in FIGS.  5 - 6 , may include a series of magnets  24  therein, each having a facing surface  26  which is able to face the exterior surface  16  of the partition  14 , which facing surface  26  has a polarity. Alternatively, for example, the exterior housing frame  22 , as seen in FIGS.  7 - 8 , may include a single magnet  24  which includes a facing surface  26  having a polarity. The exterior housing frame  22  further has a central opening  28 , for enabling viewing therethrough. It may alternatively include a magnifying lens  30  mounted in the central opening  28  for enabling the magnified viewing of the specimen in the tank environment  12  therethrough. The exterior housing frame  22  may include interior threads  32 , as shown in FIGS.  3 - 4 , to enable the magnifying lens  30 , an interchangeable magnifying lens  34 , and/or an additional magnifying lens or lenses  36 , to be secured therein for example by a retaining ring  38  threadably retained therein. In the embodiment wherein the exterior housing frame  22  does not include interior threads as depicted in FIGS.  1 - 2 , the magnifying lens  30  may be glued or otherwise secured therein. The exterior housing frame  22  may in addition include a light filter or light filters therein.  
         [0024]    The exterior housing frame  22  also may also include exterior threads  40 , for enabling accessories to be secured thereto, such as a finishing ring  42 , an additional housing  44 , or a further lens or lenses  46 . Other accessories which may be secured thereto include for example a telescope lens housing, a microscope lens housing, a light source, a light filter, a camera, or a videocamera. Such accessories may be connected to the exterior housing frame for example by screw threading or adapter coupling thereto. The magnifying lens  30 , interchangeable magnifying lens  34 , additional magnifying lens or lenses  36 , and further lens or lenses  46  provide focusability, varying magnifications, and varying depths of field.  
         [0025]    The exterior housing frame  22  further includes a facing surface  48  which can face the partition exterior surface  16 , and a pad  50  secured to the facing surface  48 . The exterior housing frame  22  may further include an element for enabling adjustable movement of a magnifying lens relative to the frame central opening  28 , such as a thumb set screw or rotatable adapter housing for enabling relative movement thereof. The exterior housing frame  22  and the interior housing frame  54  may each further include an element, such as ball bearings comprised for example of Teflon, mounted on the facing surfaces  26  and  58  thereof, for further enabling slidable movement about the partition exterior surface  16  and interior surface  18 , for example in an oversized environment such as a very large tank environment  12  with very strong exterior and interior magnets  24  and  56 .  
         [0026]    The system  10  also includes an interior housing  52 , positionable on the interior surface  18  of the partition  14  and slidably moveable thereabout, in alignment and coordination with and under the control of slidable movement of the exterior housing  20 . The interior housing  52  includes a frame  54  which may include a series of magnets  56  therein, each having a facing surface  58  which is able to face the interior surface  18  of the partition  14 , which facing surface  58  has a polarity. The interior housing frame  52  may alternatively, for example, include a single magnet  56  which includes a facing surface  58  having a polarity. The interior housing frame  54  further has a central opening  60  for enabling the viewing of the specimen in the tank environment  12  therethrough. The interior housing frame  54  may also include exterior threads, to which accessories may be attached such as for example a feeding tube extension or a pregnant fish netted birthing bag. It may include interior threads, for example in an environment such as a marine environment where external threads may create problems, for connecting an accessory such as a feeding station or a branch surface. The interior housing frame  54  further includes a facing surface  62  which can face the partition interior surface  18 , and a pad  64  secured to the facing surface  62 .  
         [0027]    The tank environment  12  may constitute a marine tank environment, and the interior housing frame magnets or magnet  56  may include a material such as nickel plating covering the exterior surfaces or surface  66  thereof, for preventing leaching of the magnet material, iron, or chemicals, into the marine tank environment. In such marine tank environment, the pad  64  may be comprised of a material for enabling the cleaning of the partition interior surface  18 , for example from algae or the like, upon movement of the interior housing  52 , to enable a clear field of view of the specimen in the tank, and may be adhesive-backed. The pad  64  material in such environment may consist of a vinyl or dense pile material, and may be replaceable. The tank environment  12  may alternatively constitute a dry tank environment, wherein the pad  64  may consist of a material for enabling the dry viewing of the specimen in the tank, and may be adhesive-backed. The pad  64  material in such environment may comprise a vinyl or felt pad, and may be replaceable. For large specimen tanks, which may require strong magnets to enable controlled movement of the exterior housing frame  22  and the interior housing frame  54 , a pair of handles may be incorporated into the exterior housing frame  22  for gripping in aid of movement thereof.  
         [0028]    The polarity of the facing surfaces  26  of the series of exterior housing frame magnets  24  or the facing surface  26  of the single exterior housing frame magnet  26 , and the facing surfaces  58  of the series of interior housing frame magnets  56  or the facing surface  42  of the single interior housing frame magnet  40 , are the opposite of each other, constituting opposing north and south poles, and interact so as to enable the movement of the exterior housing  20  to control the movement of the interior housing  52 . The magnetic attraction of the opposite polarity of the series of exterior housing frame magnets  24  or the single exterior housing frame magnet  24 , and the series of interior housing frame magnets or the single interior housing frame magnet  56  is able to maintain the alignment of the exterior housing frame  22  and the interior housing frame  54 , while preventing separation and detachment thereof. The dry tank environment pad  64  may minimize resistance to movement and inhibit scratching of the partition  14 . A consideration regarding the strength of the series of exterior housing frame magnets  24  or the single exterior housing frame magnet  24 , and the series of interior housing frame magnets  56  or the single interior housing frame magnet  56  is the thickness of the partition  14 .  
         [0029]    The opposite polarity of the exterior housing frame magnet  24  and the interior housing frame magnet  56  generates a path of magnetic flux therebetween. The exterior housing frame  22  further includes an opposite surface  68  thereof, which is able to face away from the partition exterior surface  16 , and the interior housing frame  54  further includes an opposite surface  70  thereof, which is able to face away from the partition interior surface  18 . The exterior housing frame  22  may further include a steel plate  72  located on the opposite surface  68 , and the interior housing frame  54  may further include a steel plate  74  located on the opposite surface  70 , as seen in FIG. 5. The exterior housing frame steel plate  72  and the interior housing frame steel plate  74  complete the path of magnetic flux between the exterior housing frame magnets or magnet  24  and the interior housing frame magnets or magnet  56 , reducing reluctance so as to provide additional magnetic force. The exterior housing frame magnets or magnet  24  and the interior housing frame magnets or magnet  56  may be comprised of permanent rare earth magnets. The permanent rare earth magnets or magnet  24  and  56  may be comprised of Neodymium.  
         [0030]    As illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 8 , in a method for example for the use of the system  10 , the user may position the exterior housing  20  on the exterior surface  16  of the partition  14  so as to position the exterior housing frame pad  50 , which in the dry tank environment may constitute a dry viewing enabling material pad such as felt, on the partition exterior surface  16 . Adjustable movement of the magnifying lens  30  in the frame central opening  28  may be effected by actuation of an adjustable movement enabling element such as for example a thumb set screw. Slidable movement of the exterior housing  20  may further be assisted by a facing-surface mounted element such as ball bearings for example consisting of Teflon. Interchangeable magnifying lenses  34  may be interchanged in the exterior housing frame  22  for variation of specimen magnification, or alternatively the additional magnifying lenses  36  and/or the further magnifying lenses  46  may be connected thereto or inserted therein for such variation. The user may also position the interior housing  52  on the interior surface  18  of the partition  16 , such that the interior housing frame pad  64 , which in the marine tank environment may consist of a partition inner surface cleaning enabling material pad such as a dense pile pad, is positioned on the partition interior surface  18 . Leaching of the magnet material from the interior housing frame magnets or magnet  56  in a marine tank environment is prevented by leaching-preventing material such as nickel plating covering the magnet.  
         [0031]    The opposite polarity interaction of the exterior housing frame magnets or magnet  24 , which may consist of a permanent rare earth magnet such as a Neodymium magnet, and the interior housing frame magnets or magnet  56 , which also may consist of a permanent rare earth magnet such as a Neodymium magnet, enable the movement of the exterior housing  20  to control the movement of the interior housing  52 . Alignment of the exterior housing frame  22  and the interior housing frame  54  is maintained responsive to the opposite polarity of the exterior housing frame magnet  24  and the interior housing frame magnet  56 . An addition of the exterior frame steel plate  72  to the exterior housing frame  22  and the interior frame steel plate  74  to the interior housing frame  54  completes the path of magnetic flux between the exterior housing frame magnets or magnet  24  and the interior housing frame magnets or magnet  56 .  
         [0032]    While the system  10  has been shown and described in connection with the magnified viewing of a specimen or specimens in a tank environment, it may alternatively enable non-magnified viewing therein, or magnified or non-magnified viewing in any environment which includes a partition, such as for example a display case or an enclosure.  
         [0033]    From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the system of the present invention provides advantages in enabling controlled manipulation of viewer housings for viewing in an environment. While several particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modification can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the following claims.