Abstract:
A binocular assembly which is held in optical alignment with a human being&#39;s eyes and without the use of a human being&#39;s hands. The binocular assembly includes a support member, a pair of optical systems positioned and mounted on the support member for magnifying items within view of the human beings eyes, an adjustment to laterally adjust and position the pair of optical systems laterally relative to one another to accommodate spacing between the human beings eyes, and a fastener for engaging the human being&#39;s head and securing the binocular assembly about the head of the human being.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/296,320 filed Aug. 25, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a binoculars assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to a binoculars assembly in combination with a securing means for support of the assembly by the users head. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It is often desirable for an observer to utilize magnification means at events which occur at a distance point. Examples include spectators at a sporting event, concert or theater where a large crowd of people often require an individual to be a great distance from the event being viewed. Because of a spectator&#39;s distance from the desired viewing event, individuals often bring binoculars which must be hand-held to their eyes when using. Holding binoculars can be inconvenient and tiresome, and therefore deter some people from utilizing them. Some people need to remove their eyeglasses or sunglasses each time they desire to use binoculars. Other people desire to view the entire event through binoculars, an act which can tire the individual&#39;s arms. Therefore, it is beneficial to provide an individual with a magnification means which does not need to be held by hand, is inexpensive, easy to transport, quick and easy to use, and can enhance the spectators enjoyment of the viewing event. 
     Prior art includes hand-held binoculars, and binoculars which can be attached to hats, visors or helmets. U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,139 issued to Jose A. Benitez is designed to be attached to a visor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which is easy and convenient to use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which does not need to be held by hand. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which is durable and rugged in construction. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which can be utilized while the user wears eyeglasses or sunglasses. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which is adjustable for distant viewing. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which is convenient to store when not in use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which is easy to adjust for any pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which is light in weight. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binocular assembly which provides a mounting method which positions the eyepiece lens closer to the user&#39;s eyes than if eyeglass lens were positioned between the user&#39;s eyes and the eyepiece lens. 
     Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a binocular assembly which is held in optical alignment with a human being&#39;s eyes and without the use of the human being&#39;s hands. The binocular assembly includes a support member, a pair of optical systems positioned and mounted on the support member for magnifying items within view of the human beings eyes, means to laterally adjust and position the pair of optical systems laterally relative to one another to accommodate spacing between the human beings eyes, and securing means for engaging the human being&#39;s head and securing the binocular assembly about the head of the human being. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is easy and convenient to use. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which does not need to be held by hand. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is durable and rugged in construction. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which can be utilized while the user wears eyeglasses or sunglasses. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is adjustable for distant viewing. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is convenient to store when not in use. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is easy to adjust for any pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is light in weight. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which provides a mounting method which positions the eyepiece lens closer to the user&#39;s eyes than if eyeglass lens were positioned between the user&#39;s eyes and the eyepiece lens. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a binocular assembly which is positioned to allow the user to possess a field of view underneath the binocular assembly without repositioning the binocular assembly. 
    
    
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various drawing figures. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a binocular assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded partial cross-sectional view of the binocular assembly of FIG. 1 taken along the line  2 — 2 ; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of an alternative embodiment of the binocular assembly of the present invention with an alternative means for attaching and positioning the front objective lens with the binocular assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the binocular assembly of FIG. 1 mounted to eyeglasses, illustrated in ghost lines; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the binocular assembly of the present invention with means for adjusting the lateral width; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the binocular assembly of the present invention with an alternative means for adjusting the lateral width; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the binocular assembly of FIG. 1 in an alternative embodiment with two earpieces, said earpieces shown folded and also with ghost lines showing the two earpieces extended with a strap attached between them; and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the binocular assembly of FIG. 1 with attachable earpieces. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view and FIG. 2 is an exploded partial cross-sectional view of a hands-free binocular assembly, referred to by general reference  10 , embodying the principles of the present invention. The binocular assembly  10  includes a support member  12 , and a right and left optical system, referred to by general reference numbers  14  and  16 , respectively. 
     The optical systems  14  and  16  are positioned and mounted laterally relative to one another on the support member  12  and about opposite sides of a central line  17  of the support member  12 . Each of the optical systems  14  and  16  respectively, include a front objective lens  20  and  22 , a rear ocular lens  24  and  26 , and an optical housing  28  and  29 . The right objective lens  20  is positioned co-planar relative to the left objective lens  22 , and the right ocular lens  24  is positioned co-planar relative to the left ocular lens  26 . The objective lenses  20  and  22  are positioned in optical alignment with the ocular lenses  24  and  26 , respectively. 
     About the edge of each objective lens  20  and  22  is a front securement ring  30  and  32  and rear objective lens housing  34  and  36 , respectively. Each rear housing  34  and  36  contains a canal  38  and  40  about the front interior surface for receipt of the objective lens  20  and  22 , respectively. Each objective lens  20  and  22  is securely positioned inside the associated canal  38  and  40 . Each rear housing  34  and  36  contains exterior threads  44  and  46  about the front side, and each front housing  30  and  32  contains interior threads  48  and  50  about the rear side, respectively. By positioning the objective lenses  20  and  22  inside the canals  38  and  40 , and mating the rear housing threads  44  and  46  with the front housing threads  48  and  50 , the objective lenses  20  and  22  are securely positioned. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment for attaching the rear objective lens housing  36  with the front housing  32  is for the rear housing  36  to contain an interior canal  37  about the front side for receipt of the objective lens  22  and front housing  32 . The diameter of the canal  37  closely corresponds with the diameter of the front housing  32 , thereby allowing the front housing  32  to be pressed securely within the canal  37 . 
     As FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates, each objective lens  20  and  22  is movable about an axis of rotation of said objective lens  20  and  22 , respectively. Each rear objective lens housing  34  and  36  contains a rear interior threaded surface  52  and  54  for mating engagement with exterior threaded surfaces  56  and  58  of each optical system housing  28  and  29 , respectively. When the threaded surfaces  52  and  54  are mated with the threaded surfaces  56  and  58  respectively, the objective lenses  20  and  22  rotate about their axis of rotation and move farther or nearer relative to the optically aligned rear ocular lens  24  and  26 . This rotational movement and spacing between the rear lens  24  and  26  and the front lens  20  and  22  respectively, provides an individualized focusing means for each optical system  14  and  16 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment for attaching and position the rear objective lens housing  36  with the optical system housing  29 . About the rear housing  36  is the rear interior threaded surface  54  which discontinues before reaching a rear surface  59  of the rear housing  36 . The optical system housing  29  contains the exterior threaded surface  58  of a length shorter than the threaded surfaces  54 , and includes one or more narrow slots  60  perpendicular to the threaded surface  58 . Responsive to pressure, the interior threaded surface  54  “snaps” and/or “slides” in a perpendicular direction over the exterior threaded surface  58  securing the rear housing  36  to the optical system  29 . This provides the user with an individualized focusing means for the optical system  29 . Because the interior threaded surface  54  discontinues before touching the rear surface side  59  of the end of the lens housing  36 , surface  54  “snaps” over the entire area of the exterior threads  58  preventing the housing  36  from inadvertently disconnecting itself from the optical system  29 . The slot(s)  60  allow the exterior threaded surface  58  to adjust to the pressure applied when the user is adjusting the distance between the rear ocular lens  26  and the front lens  22 . 
     Each rear ocular lenses  24  and  26  is positioned by a rear optical system sector  61  and  62 . Between the rear ocular lens  24  and  26  and the front optical housing  28  and  29  is a space wide enough for the user&#39;s eyewear  63  to fit within, as illustrated in FIG.  4 . This embodiment positions the rear ocular lens  24  and  26  closer to the user&#39;s eyes thereby (1) increasing the user&#39;s apparent field of view; (2) increasing the binocular assemblies  10  magnification due to the user&#39;s eyes positioned closer to the rear ocular lens  24  and  26 ; and (3) reducing the cantilevered weight of the binocular assembly  10  out beyond the support member  12  because the binocular assembly  10  is nearer the user&#39;s head. The rear ocular lens  24  and  26  are positioned high enough about the user&#39;s eyewear  63  so the user may look underneath and avoid utilizing the binocular assembly  10  without repositioning the binocular assembly  10 . 
     The binocular assembly  10  contains a lateral adjustment means referred to by general reference  70 , for positioning each optical system  14  and  16  laterally relative to the other optical system  16  and  14  to accommodate spacing between the users eyes. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a lateral adjustment means  70  including a C-shaped channel  72  extending along a bottom surface  74  of the support member  12  from the right side to the left side of the support member  12 . The bottom interior surface  74  of the C-shaped channel  72  contains a plurality of longitudinally grooved ridges  76 . Each optical system  14  and  16  contains a track  78  and  79  with a plurality of longitudinal ridges  80  along the track  78  and  79  top surface. Each track  78  and  79  is positioned within the C-shaped channel  72 , and the plurality of longitudinal ridges  80  along each track  78  and  79  are fictionally engage with the C-shaped channel&#39;s bottom grooved ridge surface  76 . Each pair of optical systems  14  and  16  may be moved laterally within the C-shaped channel  72  responsive to hand pressure of the user, to coordinate lateral spacing between the systems  14  and  16 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment for laterally adjusting each optical system  14  and  16 . A connecting means  85  is attached to and extending between each optical system  14  and  16 . Positioned midway along the connecting means  85  is a hinged point  86  allowing the connecting means  85  to move laterally. As the connecting means  85  moves laterally in response to hand pressure, the connecting means  85  bends and adjusts the interpupillary distance between the optical systems  14  and  16  while keeping the optical systems  14  and  16  centralized. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment for laterally adjusting the optical system  14  and  16 . The lateral adjusting means  70  includes a rack  87  and a rack  88  attached to optical system  14  and  16 , respectively. A gearwheel  89  is mated in congruently interlocking relation to the notched surface of each rack  87  and  88 , and rotates as each rack  87  and  88  is moved laterally. Hand pressure applied by the user laterally to the optical systems  14  and  16  moves the racks  87  and  88 , thereby rotating the gearwheel  89  and adjusting the lateral space between the two optical systems  14  and  16 . As the gearwheel  89  rotates, the optical systems  14  and  16  remain centralized while the interpupillary distance between the optical systems  14  and  16  change. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the binocular assembly  10  includes a nosepiece  90  attached to the support member  12 , located about the central line  17  and between the optical systems  14  and  16 . The nosepiece  90  contains a right and left post  91  and  92  extending away from the bottom surface  74  of the support member  12 . The posts  91  and  92  are spaced apart from one another so the user&#39;s nose may fit between the posts  91  and  92  and support the binocular assembly  10  along the bridge of the users nose when not using eyewear  63 . 
     About each side of the central line  17  is a right and left support post  93  and  94  attached to and extend from the bottom surface  74  of the support member  12 . Each support post  93  and  94  contains an aperture  96  and  98  extending parallel with the support member  12 . Positioned between each post  93  and  94  is a top sector  95  of the nosepiece  90  with an elongated aperture  99  in alignment and parallel with support post apertures  96  and  98 . A cylindrical pivot shaft  101  is positioned and extends inside the support post  93 , through the nosepiece aperture  99 , and inside the support post aperture  96 . The shaft  101  secures the nosepiece  90  to the support member  12  allowing the nosepiece  90  to rotate around the pivot shaft  101 , so the user can comfortably position the nosepiece  90  about the user&#39;s nose when the binocular assembly  10  is utilized without eyewear  63 . 
     Attached to the front side of the top sector  95  of the nosepiece  90  is a ledge  104  extending away from the pivot shaft  101 . A compressible coil spring  106  is positioned above the ledge  104  in front of the pivot shaft  101  and between the support posts  93  and  94 . A first end of the coil spring  106  abuts the top surface of the ledge  104 , while a second end of the spring  106  abuts the bottom surface  74  of the support member  12 . The coil spring  106  asserts pressure onto the top surface of the nosepiece ledge  104  urging the nosepiece  90  downwards and about the pivot shaft  101 . A nosepiece retaining wall  108  is attached to the rear surface of the support posts  93  and  94  extending away from the bottom surface  74  of the support member  12 , preventing the nosepiece  90  from rotating past the retaining wall  108 . The spring  106  urges the rear nosepiece  90  surface firmly against the front retaining wall  108  surface. 
     A user may attach the binocular assembly  10  to the user&#39;s eyewear  63  by asserting hand pressure to the bottom surface of the nosepiece ledge  104 . The hand pressure compresses the spring  106  and rotates the nosepiece  90  forward about the pivot shaft  101 . The user can position the eyewear  63  in front of the retaining wall  108  and the rear optical system sectors  61  and  62 , and behind the rear surface of the nosepiece posts  91  and  92  to facilitate clamping between the binocular assembly  10  and the user&#39;s eyewear  63 . Attached to the front surface of each rear optical system sector  61  and  62  and the terminal end of each nosepiece post  91  and  92  is a padding means  110 ,  111 ,  112  and  113  respectively, for softening the contact to the eyewear  63 . 
     Upon the user positioning the eyewear  63  and releasing hand pressure to the bottom surface of the ledge  104 , the coil spring  106  expands rotating the nosepiece  90  about the pivot shaft  101  and securely pressuring each nosepiece padding means  112  and  113  against the front surface of the users eyewear  63 . This pressure causes the rear surface of the user&#39;s eyewear  63  to press firmly against each rear sector&#39;s padding means  110  and  111 , thereby holding the binocular assembly  10  to the user&#39;s eyewear  63 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment for securing the binocular assembly  10  to the user&#39;s head. A right and left earpiece  116  and  118  extends over the user&#39;s right and left ear, respectively, and towards a right and left surface  120  and  122 , respectively of the support member  12 . The earpieces  116  and  118  each include a plurality of apertures  123  for receiving a plurality of stubs  124  protruding perpendicular from both surfaces  120  and  122 . The earpieces  116  and  118  may be attached to or detached from the support member sides  120  and  122  by inserting or withdrawing the stubs  124  from the apertures  123  responsive to hand pressure asserted by the user. When this embodiment is utilized the binocular assembly  10  is secured to the users head in a similar manner as eyeglasses. The nosepiece  90  is positioned so that the nosepiece  90  will contact the user&#39;s nose and support the binocular assembly  10 , only when the binocular assembly  10  is used without eyewear  63  and when the earpieces  116  and  118  are utilized. 
     An earpiece strap  126  may be attached to each of the earpiece&#39;s  116  and  118  terminal ends and for positioning about the user&#39;s head. The strap  126  may be adjusted to position the binocular assembly  10  firmly but gently against the user&#39;s face to prevent undesired shifting and sliding of the binocular assembly  10  against the user&#39;s face. When the user desires to temporarily not utilize the binocular assembly  10 , the strap  126  may position the binocular assembly  10  about the users neck, keeping the user&#39;s hands free. Alternatively, when the user is utilizing the binocular assembly  10  with eyewear  63  the earpiece strap  126  may be attached to each of the user&#39;s eyewear  63  terminal ends. 
     The earpiece  116  and  118  also lends themselves for providing areas to receive commercial information. The earpiece includes a front planar surface  127  on which a business trade name, logo or other message may be displayed. 
     As FIG. 7 illustrates, each earpiece  116  and  118  includes a foldline  130  and  132  near the rear optical system sectors  61  and  62 . Each foldline  130  and  132  includes a vertically aligned indented area about the exterior surface allowing each earpiece  116  and  118  to bend at the foldline  130  and  132  towards the rear sectors  61  and  62 . The foldlines  130  and  132  allow the user to position each earpiece  116  and  118  adjacent to the rear sectors  61  and  62  for storing the binocular assembly  10  when not used. 
     An alternative embodiment for securing the binocular assembly  10  about the user&#39;s eyes is securing the binocular assembly  10  with a visor worn on the user&#39;s head. FIG. 1 illustrates a frictional adhesive attachment means  135 , e.g. a fastening tape such as Velcro, along the top surface of the support member  12 . About the bottom surface of the user&#39;s visor is a recipient attachment means, e.g. Velcro strip, for mating engagement with the attachment means  135 . The binocular assembly  10  is attachable to the bottom of a visor worn by the user, and the nosepiece  90  may rest on the bridge of the user&#39;s nose if the user desires. Thus, even if the user does not wear eyewear  63 , the binocular assembly  10  may be supported by the cap or visor. 
     The support member  12  also lends itself for providing areas to receive commercial information. The support member  12  includes a front planar surface  140  on which a business trade name, logo or other message may be displayed. 
     Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.