Abstract:
A magnifier device for magnifying a portable video image produced by a video display device. The magnifier includes a base member connected a magnifier portion connected to and rotatable relative to the base member. The magnifier portion is rotatable to facilitate rotation between a first position adjacent a display window of the video device to magnify a display and a stored position compactly arranged adjacent the video display device. The magnifier device can be securely affixed to the video display device and folded to a compact stored position while attached.

Description:
The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 29/187,873 filed on Aug. 11, 2003 and Ser. No. 29/187,874 filed Aug. 11, 2003, both entitled “Magnifier” each of which is incorporated herein by referenced. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Filed of the Invention 
   The present invention is directed to magnifier device and more particularly to a magnifier for a portable video display device. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Hand held, portable, battery-operated video devices are well known in the art. Such devices include, but are not limited to: calculators; computer video games; lap top computers; and other computers, particularly a compact video game known as the Game Boy “SP”. (a trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc.) The video display screens of such hand-held computers are often quite small and consequently difficult to view. It has been proposed to employ a magnifying device in an effort enhance the viewing of such small displays. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,278 which is incorporated herein by reference. However, such prior art devices are difficult and cumbersome to use, do not store compactly, and are not suited for use with a flip up display panel. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a compact magnifier device for magnifying a video image produced by a video display device. The magnifier includes a magnifier portion connected to and rotatable relative to a base member. The magnifier portion is rotatable to facilitate rotation between a first position adjacent a display window to magnify a display and a stored position compactly arranged adjacent the video display device. The magnifier device can be securely affixed to the video display device and folded to a compact stored position while attached. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  a perspective view of the magnifier device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the magnifier of  FIG. 1  secured to a display device in an open working position. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the magnifier of  FIG. 1  secured to a display device in a closed stored position. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the magnifier of  FIG. 3  with the cover open. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded partially exposed side of the magnifier of  FIG. 1  in an alternate orientation relative to the display device. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the magnifier device according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the magnifier of  FIG. 6  secured to a display device in an open working position. 
       FIG. 8  is a side of the magnifier of  FIG. 7  secured to a display device in a closed stored position. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the magnifier of  FIG. 7  in an alternate orientation. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the magnifier of  FIG. 8  in an adjusted position. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded partially exposed side view of the magnifier of  FIG. 8  in an alternate orientation relative to the display device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  depicts a magnifier if a first embodiment according to the present invention. The magnifier  1  includes a rectangular planar base member  3  having a pair of opposing side rails  5 . Each of the side rails  5  have a pair of detents  7  projecting inward for connection to a corresponding recess of a portion of the video display device. A pair of spaced apart linking arms  9  are pivotably connected to the base member about hinge  11 . The linking arms  9  extend to a magnifier portion  13  and are pivotably secured thereto at hinge  15 . The magnifier portion  13  includes a substantially rectangular planar portion have a magnifying lens  17  for magnifying an image thereunder. A cover  19  is rotatably secured to the magnifier portion  13  to selectively cover and expose the magnifying lens  17 . 
     FIG. 2  depicts the magnifier device  1  secured to a portable video display device such as Nintendo&#39;s&#39; Game Boy SP. The video display device  30  includes a main housing portion  31  and a flip up display  33  having a video display window (not shown). The flip up display  33  is rotatably secured to the main housing  1 . The base member  3  of the magnifier  1  is secured to a backside of the flip up display  33 . The side rails  5  engage opposing side surfaces  35  of the flip up display  33  in a snug fashion. Detents  7  engage corresponding recesses formed in the opposing side surfaces  35  to form a snap fit securement of the magnifier  1  to the flip up display device. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the magnifier portion  13  can be rotated and otherwise manipulated in a selective fashion to provide compound movement between the base member 3/flip up display  33  and the magnifier  13  and lens  17 . Thus the viewer may adjust the magnifier accordingly to provide optimal viewing of the display window. 
     FIG. 3  depicts the arrangement of  FIG. 2  in a folded compact stored position. The flip up display  33  is folded down onto the top of the main housing  31 . The magnifier  13  may be simply rotated backwards to facilitate storage of the flip up display and then subsequently folded adjacent the back surface of the flip up display and base member  3 . As can be seen between  FIGS. 2–3 , the magnifier portion  13  may be rotated between opposite sides of the flip up display device  33  and base member  5 . In  FIG. 3 , the magnifier portion  13  is in a first stored position whereby the magnifier  13  is posited parallel to the flip up display  33  and located on a back surface side thereof adjacent and flush against the back surface of base member  3  of the magnifier  13 . During use, the magnifier portion is rotated to a second position parallel to the flip up display  13  and base member  5  and located on an opposite front surface of the display  13  and base member  5  to facilitate magnification of the video display. Thus the magnifier display device articulates through a large range to provide storage on a single back side surface of the flip up display device  13  as well as a usable position located on the exposed front side of the display surface. The articulation of the magnifier portion  13  allows for flexible positioning of the magnifier for optimal viewing as well as a most compact storage position for a flip up display panel.  FIG. 4  simply shows the magnifier  1  and video display device as shown in  FIG. 3  with the cover rotated to an open position. 
     FIG. 5  shows an exploded partially exposed view of the magnifier and video display device revealing the connection therebetween. The detents  7  project inward from the far side rails  5  of the base member  3 . A pair of recesses  37  are formed in the sidewall surfaces of each opposing sidewall  33 . The base member  3  is simply snapped onto the back surface of the flip up display  31  and the detents  7  engage the corresponding recess  37  to provide a secure connection between the magnifier  1  and video display device  30 . The magnifier portion  13  may be articulated either independently or in conjunction with the rotation of the flip up display  33  to facilitate easy positioning of the magnifier  13  between the compacted stored position if  FIG. 3  and the usable position of  FIG. 2 . While not shown, the magnifier portion  13  is rotated through an orthogonal position relative to the base member  5  and flip up display  33 . 
     FIG. 6  depicts a magnifier device according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The magnifier  101  includes a magnifier portion  133  having a magnifying lens  117 . A base member  103  is formed much like the base member  5  of the previous embodiment including side rails  105  and detents  107  and connects to a video display device in a similar manner (as shown in  FIG. 11 ) and will not be explained in further detail. An intermediate spacer member  120  forms a connection between the base member  103  and magnifier portion  113  and provides for vertical adjustment between the two members which will be describe below. 
     FIG. 7  depicts the magnifier of  FIG. 6  secured to a video game device in an open working position. Similar to the previous embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the magnifier portion  13  is positioned over the video window of the flip up display  33 . The cover  119  may be swung between and open and closed position to selectively expose and cover the magnifying lens. To provide selective adjustment of the magnifier portion  113 , the magnifier portion  113  is hinged at hinge  116  to a tab portion  114  (see  FIGS. 10–11 ) to prove relative positioning of the magnifying portion  113 . A vertical adjustment mechanism is provided to allow vertical adjustment of the magnifier relative to the flip up display  33 . The tab portion  114  is slidably and removably disposed within an open recesses channel (not shown) formed in the intermediate spacer member  120 . Stops are provided to provide selective positioning in predetermined vertical positions. A plurality of detents  118  or tabs extend outward from opposite sides of the tab  114  and selectively engage recesses  122  formed in opposing inner wall surfaces of the recesses channel of the intermediate spacer member  114 . The magnifier portion  113  may simply be pushed/pulled to a desired vertical position until the detents  118  engage an appropriate recess  122 . The recesses  122  may extend entirely through the side surfaces of the intermediate member  120 . The combination of the pivotable motion of the magnifier portion relative to the tab  114  and the selective vertical positioning of the tab  114  relative to the intermediate spacer member  120 , facilitates the ability to selectively position the magnifier lens  117  for optimal viewing as depicted in  FIG. 7  as well as a compact storage position once the flip up display is folded to its stored position as depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
   The magnifier device of the present invention provides the ability to selectively position a magnifying lens proximate a video display window as well as to fold the magnifier device to a compact storage position while secured to the video display device. The present invention provides particular usefulness for video display devices having a flip up display. 
   While the foregoing invention has been shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those possessing skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.