Monitor magnification device

In its broadest context, the monitor magnification device includes a monitor cover adapted to be secured over a monitor. The cover includes an internal linearly adjustable lens which is adapted to magnify the image upon the monitor. Such an arrangement reduces the eye strain that is normally incident to focusing upon a monitor image. The various components of the present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a new and improved monitor magnification 
device and, more particularly, pertains to such a device that can be 
positioned over a computer monitor. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of monitors is known in the prior art. More specifically, monitors 
heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of displaying images are 
known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural 
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the 
crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of 
countless objectives and requirements. 
The prior art discloses a large number of monitors By way of example U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,200,859 to Payner discloses a vision saver for a computer 
monitor. U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,248 to LaRussa discloses a display system for 
video displays. U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,572 to Kopich discloses a hood for 
video terminals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,501 to Stroll discloses a glare and 
eye strain prevention apparatus. U.S. Design Pat. No. 311,912 to Schmidt 
discloses a hood for a video monitor. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,504 to 
Shaw discloses a visual display terminal device and a method for reducing 
eye strain reduction. 
In this respect, the magnification device according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of selectively enlarging a monitor image. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a 
new and improved magnification device which can be used for enlarging 
monitor images. In this regard, the present invention substantially 
fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
monitors now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a 
new and improved device for enlarging monitor images. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved magnification device and 
methods which have all the advantages of the prior art and none of the 
disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a monitor 
magnification device which includes a monitor for displaying information 
in an inverted orientation. The device further includes a monitor cover 
having a rearward extent, a forward extent, an upper portion and a lower 
portion,wherein the lower portion of the rearward extent has an opening 
defined to receive the monitor. This opening is formed at an angle 
relative to the lower portion. A first clamp is secured to the lower 
portion of the rearward extent at a first side of the monitor cover, 
likewise a second clamp is secured to the lower portion of the rearward 
extent at a second side of the monitor cover. The two clamps are adapted 
to be secured to mating surfaces upon the monitor to thereby secure the 
monitor cover to the monitor. A series of vents is formed within the upper 
portion of the rearward extent, with the vents functioning to vent heat 
generated by the monitor. The monitor cover is adapted to be suspended 
from the monitor in a cantilevered fashion. A screen formed within the 
forward extent of the monitor cover. An upper U-shaped track is formed 
upon the upper portion at an internal surface, and a lower U-shaped track 
is formed upon the lower portion at an internal surface. Additionally, a 
lens is adapted to magnify and invert an image generated by the monitor. 
The lens is defined by an upper extent, a lower extent, a rearward surface 
and a forward surface. An upper rack is secured to the upper extent of the 
lens, with the upper rack positioned within the upper U-shaped track. 
Likewise, a lower slide is secured to the lower extent of the lens, with 
the lower slide positioned within the lower U-shaped track. The lens is 
thus adapted for linear movement within the upper and lower U-shaped 
tracks. The device further includes a fine adjustment knob positioned 
within the upper portion of the monitor cover. The knob has a lower geared 
extent, with the lower geared extent engaging the upper rack such that 
rotation of the fine adjustment knobs results in the linear movement of 
the both the upper rack and the lower track and thus the lens. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved magnification device which has all the advantages of the prior 
art monitors and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
magnification device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved magnification device which is of a durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved magnification device which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such a magnification device economically available to the buying 
public. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to enable a 
magnification device to be easily secured to a monitor. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a monitor 
magnification device which includes a monitor cover adapted to be secured 
over a monitor. The cover includes an internal linearly adjustable lens 
which is adapted to magnify the image upon the monitor. Such an 
arrangement reduces the eye strain that is normally incident to focusing 
upon a monitor image. The various components of the present invention, and 
the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail 
hereinafter. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 
thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved magnification 
device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and 
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the monitor magnification device of the present invention is depicted. In 
its broadest context, the monitor magnification device includes a monitor 
cover adapted to be secured over a monitor. The cover includes an internal 
linearly adjustable lens which is adapted to magnify the image upon the 
monitor. Such an arrangement reduces the eye strain that is normally 
incident to focusing upon a monitor image. The various components of the 
present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be 
described in greater detail hereinafter. 
The monitor magnification device of the present invention is adapted to be 
used in conjunction with a monitor 20. Such a monitor 20 displays 
information in a conventional manner. However, in accordance with the 
principles of the present invention, the monitor 20 should be arranged to 
display in an inverted orientation. Namely, the monitor 20 should display 
its information in an orientation that would be upside down relative to a 
user employing the monitor. 
The magnification of the monitor image, as well as the reversion of the 
monitor image, is achieved through the use of a lens arrangement within a 
monitor cover. The monitor cover 22 is defined by a rearward extent 24, a 
forward extent 26, an upper portion 28 and a lower portion 32. The lower 
portion 32 of the rearward extent 24 includes an opening 34 defined to 
receive the monitor 20. As is seen from FIG. 2,this opening 34 is formed 
at an angle relative to the lower portion 32 of the monitor cover 22. Such 
an inclination of the cover opening 34 allows the user to readily 
manipulate the clamps 36 which are secured to the two sides of the monitor 
cover 22. 
More specifically, a first clamp is secured to the lower portion 32 of the 
rearward extent 24 at a first side of the monitor cover 22, and a second 
clamp is secured to the lower portion 32 of the rearward extent 24 at a 
second side of the monitor cover 22. These two clamps 36 are pivoted along 
their lengths. Each of the clamps works in conjunction with a mating 
surface secured to the sides of the monitor 20. Thus, the two clamps 36 
are adapted to be secured to mating surfaces upon the monitor 20 to 
thereby secure the monitor cover 22 to the monitor 20. A user securing the 
monitor cover 22 to the monitor 20 would take the following steps. First, 
the inclined opening 34 at the rearward extent 24 of the monitor cover 
would be positioned over the monitor 20. Second, each of the clamps 36 
would be pivoted to engage its corresponding mating surface at the side of 
the monitor 20. In this manner, the monitor cover 22 is securely fastened 
to the monitor 20. Furthermore,the monitor cover 22 is secure enough to be 
suspended from the monitor 20 in a cantilevered fashion. In other words, 
no table is needed to support the monitor cover 22. 
In order to dissipate the heat generated by the monitor 20, a series of 
vents 38 are formed within the upper portion 28 of the rearward extent 24. 
These vents 38 are most clearly seen in reference to FIG. 1. With 
continuing reference to FIG. 1, the screen 42 of the monitor cover 22 is 
depicted. Specifically, the screen 42 is formed within the forward extent 
26 of the monitor cover 22. The user of the device views the enlarged 
monitor image through this screen 42. 
The lens 48 and its associated control means are depicted in FIG. 2. 
Specifically, an upper U-shaped track 44 is formed upon the upper portion 
28 of the monitor cover 22 at an internal surface. Likewise, the lower 
U-shaped track 46 is formed upon the lower portion 32 of the monitor cover 
22 at an internal surface. Through the use of an upper rack 52 and a lower 
slide 54, the lens 48 is adapted to be located at a desired position along 
the length of the two U-shaped tracks. 
The lens 48 employed in the present invention is adapted to magnify and 
invert an image generated by the monitor 20. The inverted image from the 
monitor 20 is inverted to an orientation presentable to a user of the 
magnifying device. Furthermore, the monitor image is magnified 
sufficiently to reduce the eye strain normally associated with the use of 
a monitor. The lens 48 is depicted in FIG. 2. 
The lens 48 is generally defined by an upper extent, a lower extent, a 
rearward surface and a forward surface. The upper rack 52 is secured to 
the upper extent of the lens 48. In turn, the upper rack 52 is positioned 
within the upper U-shaped track 44. In a similar fashion the lower slide 
54 is secured to the lower extent of the lens 48. This lower slide 54 is 
positioned within the lower U-shaped track 46. Thus, the lens 48 is 
adapted for linear movement within these upper and lower U-shaped tracks. 
The linear adjustment of the lens relative to the monitor cover is achieved 
via a fine adjustment knob 56. With reference to FIG. 1, the fine 
adjustment knob 56 is positioned within the upper portion 28 of the 
monitor cover 22. With reference to FIG. 3, lower geared extent 58 of the 
knob 56 is depicted. This lower geared extent 58 engages the upper rack 52 
such that rotation of the fine adjustment knobs 56 results in the linear 
movement of both the upper rack 52 and the lower slide 54 and thus the 
lens 48. In this manner, the lens 48 can be positioned closer to, or 
farther away from, the monitor 20 to thus adjust the amount of 
magnification desired. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.