Abstract:
A magnifying glass for magnifying a portable electronic device (e.g., PDA, or mobile phone) held by the hand is disclosed. In one embodiment the magnifying glass includes a spring-biased clamp adapted to fasten the thumb of either hand and having an extension; a light pivotably releasably secured to the extension; a pivotal member having one end pivotably secured to the extension; a hinge pivotably secured to the other end of the pivotal member; and two lenses each secured to the hinge. The number of lens is one with an elimination of the hinge and is pivotable clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the pivotal member in another embodiment. The single lens is slidable in a further embodiment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to magnifying glasses and more particularly to such a magnifying glass mountable on the finger to magnify an electronic device (e.g., PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), mobile phone, or the like) held by the hand and illuminate same by means of a light thereof if such need arises. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Many types of electronic device (e.g., PDAs, mobile phones, or the like) are characterized by being compact and portable. This also means that presentations (e.g., function keys of the electronic device) printed or shown thereon can be very small. This may cause difficulties in reading in operation especially for elderly people who typically have presbyopia. One typical method for overcoming the problem is that a person (e.g., an old person) may wear a pair of eyeglasses for presbyopia to clearly see what is shown or printed on the electronic device. However, it is inconvenient to store such eyeglasses on the pocket. Further, it is often that a person may forget to carry it on his pocket while outing. Furthermore, the eyeglasses tend to be damaged if it is not protected by a case when storing in the pocket. Thus, the need for improvement still exists. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a magnifying glass device for magnifying an electronic device held by the hand, comprising a spring-biased clamp adapted to fasten the thumb of the hand and having an extension; a light pivotably releasably secured to the extension; a pivotal member having one end pivotably secured to the extension; a hinge pivotably secured to the other end of the pivotal member; and two lenses each secured to the hinge. 
         [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention the extension comprises a first yoke including a recess, the pivotal member is a second yoke pivotably secured to the first yoke, and the hinge comprises a latch at one end slidably secured to the recess. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the present invention the pivotal member comprises a first universal joint at one end pivotably secured to the extension, and a second universal joint at the other end pivotably secured to the hinge. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnifying glass device for magnifying an electronic device held by the hand, comprising a spring-biased clamp adapted to fasten the thumb of the hand and including an extension having a first yoke; a light pivotably releasably secured to the extension; a second yoke pivotably secured to the first yoke and having a recess; a pivotal member including a latch at one end slidably secured to the recess; and a lens affixed to the other end of the pivotal member. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a magnifying glass device for magnifying an electronic device held by the hand, comprising a spring-biased clamp adapted to fasten the thumb of the hand and including an extension having a first yoke; a light pivotably releasably secured to the extension; a pivotal member including a second yoke at one end pivotably secured to the first yoke, and a groove at the other end; and a lens including a projection slidably secured in the groove. 
         [0010]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of magnifying glass according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the magnifying glass; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an environmental view of the magnifying glass being worn on the left hand with a mobile phone being held by the same hand; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  where the magnifying glass in another configuration being worn on the right hand with the mobile phone being held by the same hand; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of magnifying glass according to the present invention in which the number of lens is one; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the magnifying glass of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  where the lens is pivoting clockwise; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  where the lens is pivoting counterclockwise; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of magnifying glass according to the present invention in which the number of lens is one; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  where the lens is pivoting clockwise; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  where the lens is pivoting counterclockwise; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of magnifying glass according to the present invention in which the number of lens is one and the lens is adapted to slide relative to the recess; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of magnifying glass according to the present invention in which the two hingedly coupled lenses are connected to the adjustment assembly by means of two universal joints. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a magnifying glass in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a pivotal adjustment assembly  10 , a clamp  20 , a hinge  30 , two rectangular lenses  40 , and a light  50 . Each component is discussed in detailed below. 
         [0025]    The adjustment assembly  10  comprises a male yoke  11  including two yoke arms  111  and a split shaft  112  projected from a joining point of one yoke arm  111  and the main body of the male yoke  11 ; a female yoke  12  including two yoke arms  121  and an arcuate recess  122  at its main body; an elongate pivotal member  13  including a split latch  131  at one end pivotably fastened in the recess  122 , an intermediate enlargement  133  fitted onto the recess  122 , and a split shaft  132  at the other end; and a pin  14  for pivotably securing the male yoke  11  and the female yoke  12  together. 
         [0026]    The clamp  20  comprises a first part  23  having a tube  231  put on the shaft  112 , a second part  24 , and a pin  21  inserted through two holed arms of the first part  23 , a coil spring  22 , and two holed arms of the second part  24  into the shaft  112  for assembling the clamp  20  and securing the clamp  20  and the adjustment assembly  10  together. 
         [0027]    The light  50  comprises a cylindrical support  51  having a C-shaped yoke  511  at one end, the yoke  511  being pivotably releasably secured onto the tube  231 , a lamp  52  at the other end of the support  1 , an annular switch  53  having a knurled surface for ease of turning by the fingers, and one or more cells and associated wires (not shown) for supplying current to the lamp  52  when the switch  53  is in an on position. 
         [0028]    The hinge  30  comprises a first hinge portion  32  including a groove  321  along one edge, a rectangular opening  322  in communication with the groove  321 , and two spaced pipe-shaped hinge arms (not numbered); a second hinge portion  33  including a groove  331  along one edge, a rectangular opening  332  in communication with the groove  331 , and two spaced pipe-shaped hinge arms (not numbered); and a hinge pin  31  having one end secured to the shaft  132  by insertion and the other end secured to one hinge arm of the second hinge portion  33  after inserting through the hinge arms of both first and second hinge portions  32  and  33 . 
         [0029]    Each of the lenses  40  comprises a fastening portion  41  or  42  at one end, the fastening portion  41  or  42  having a rectangular projection  411  or  421 . One projection  421  is adapted to project out of the opening  322  for fastening one lens  40  and the first hinge portion  32  together. Likewise, the other projection  411  is adapted to project out of the opening  332  for fastening the other lens  40  and the second hinge portion  33  together. This finishes the assembly of the magnifying glass of the invention. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3  specifically, the thumb of the left hand is clamped by the clamp  20 . A mobile phone in its open position is held by the palm of the left hand with the lenses  40  disposed above the open mobile phone. Thus, small keys of the mobile phone are magnified by one lens  40  and messages shown on a display of the mobile phone are magnified by the other lens  40 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 4  specifically, the magnifying glass is embodied in another configuration in which the adjustment assembly  10 , the clamp  20 , and the light  50  are assembled at the right hand side of the lenses  40  by means of the hinge  30 . As shown, the thumb of the right hand is clamped by the clamp  20 . A mobile phone in its open position is held by the palm of the right hand with the lenses  40  disposed above the open mobile phone. Thus, small keys of the mobile phone are magnified by one lens  40  and messages shown on a display of the mobile phone are magnified by the other lens  40 . 
         [0032]    Moreover, it is understood that the female yoke  12  is adapted to pivot about the male yoke  11 . Further, the pivotal member  13  is adapted to pivot about the female yoke  12 . Furthermore, an angle of one lens  40  relative to the other lens  40  can be adjusted by pivoting one lens  40  relative to the other lens  40  by utilizing their hinge connection (i.e., the hinge  30 ). All of the above operations are for adjustment. In addition, a person may turn on the light  50  and then adjust an angle of the light  50  relative to one lens  40  by pivoting the light  50  about the tube  231  until things magnified by one lens  40  are well illuminated. This operation is applicable to a dark environment. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are detailed below. The number of the lens  40  is one. The hinge pin  31  is replaced by a pin  31 . The hinge is replaced by a pivot member  30  having a rectangular cavity at one end fixedly connected to a rectangular projection formed at a left lower portion of the lens  40  and the other end shaped as a shank having internal threads inserted into the pivotal member  13 . The pivotal member  13  is fastened at the recess  122 . The pin  31  has its shank passed through the pivotal member  13  to threadedly secure in the other end of the pivot member  30  and its head pivotably anchored in the bottom of the recess  122 . Thus, the lens  40 , the pivot member  30 , the pivotal member  13 , and the pin  31  are secured together and they can pivot about the female yoke  12  at the recess  122 . In detail, the lens  40  is adapted to pivot either clockwise (see  FIG. 7 ) or counterclockwise (see  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 9 to 11 , a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment, except that the pivot member  30  has its rectangular cavity fixedly connected to a rectangular projection formed at a left upper portion of the lens  40 . Similar to the second embodiment the lens  40  is adapted to pivot either clockwise (see  FIG. 10 ) or counterclockwise (see  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The characteristics of the fourth preferred embodiment are detailed below. The number of lens  40  is one. The hinge, the female yoke, and the pivotal member are simplified as a unitary member. The fastening portion  41  is adapted to slide relative to the groove-shaped recess  122  of the unitary member. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The characteristics of the fifth preferred embodiment are detailed below. The male yoke  11  and the female yoke  12  are connected together by means of a universal joint. Also, the female yoke  12  and the hinge are connected together by means of another universal joint (i.e., the pivotal member)  13 . 
         [0037]    Advantages of the invention are described in detailed below. It is lightweight (e.g., about 27 g). It is compact and can be stored in the pocket. It is easy to use. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited only to the particular constructions herein disclosed and shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the claims.