Spherical binocular

A spherical binocular capable of being conveniently portable and suitable for use for watching a game in a baseball stadium, a soccer ground or the like. Two hemispherical shells are foldably or pivotally connected together into a spherical configuration. The hemispherical shells each are formed at a center thereof with an ocular through-hole, in which an ocular concave lens is fitted. A front plate is fitted in a front opening edge of each of the shells and formed at a center thereof with an objective opening, in which an objective convex lens is arranged so as to be aligned with the objective convex lens. When the hemispherical shells are folded over each other to align the front opening edges with each other, a holding pawl and holding groove of one of the hemispherical shells are fittedly engaged with a holding groove and a holding pawl of the other of the hemispherical shells, respectively. Inward forcing of the holding pawl of each of the hemispherical shells thus folded permits the holding pawl to be released from engagement with the holding groove for use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a spherical binocular, and more particularly to a 
spherical binocular which is conveniently portable and suitable for use 
for watching a game in a baseball stadium, soccer grounds or the like. 
A number of conveniently portable binoculars formed into various shapes 
such as a cube, a flat box-like shape and the like have been 
conventionally proposed in the art. 
However, each of the conventional binoculars fails to exhibit satisfactory 
carrying and/or storage characteristics. Also, they fail to exhibit 
satisfactory optical characteristics and also fail to permit good viewing 
of players in motion. Further, foldable hinges and meshing teeth of the 
binoculars are outwardly projected, resulting in being hard to hold. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing disadvantages 
of the prior art. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
spherical binocular which is capable of being varied in configuration in 
use and during carrying, to thereby exhibit originality and novelty. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a spherical 
binocular which is capable of permitting good viewing of players in motion 
while being convenient for use and exhibiting satisfactory optical 
characteristics. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spherical 
binocular which eliminates outward projecting foldable hinges and meshing 
teeth, to thereby render a smooth contour, resulting in being easily held 
in the hands. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a spherical 
binocular which is compact or small enough to be convenient for carrying 
and storage. 
A spherical binocular of the present invention is conveniently portable and 
suitable for use for watching a game in a baseball stadium, soccer grounds 
or the like. Two hemispherical shells are foldably or pivotably connected 
together into a spherical configuration. The hemispherical shells each are 
formed at a center thereof with an ocular through-hole, in which an 
concave ocular lens is fitted. A front plate is fitted in a front opening 
edge of each of the shells and formed at a center thereof with an 
objective opening, in which an objective convex lens is arranged so as to 
be aligned with the objective convex lens. When the hemispherical shells 
are folded over each other to align the front opening edges with each 
other, a holding pawl and holding groove of one of the hemispherical 
shells are fittedly engaged with a holding groove and a holding pawl of 
the other of the hemispherical shells, respectively. Inward pressure on 
the holding pawl of each of the hemispherical shells thus folded permits 
the holding pawl to be released from engagement with the holding groove 
for use. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hinge is 
formed with insertion through-holes through which a string for holding or 
carrying of the spherical binocular is inserted. 
These objectives and many other attendant advantages of the present 
invention will be readily appreciated through reference to the following 
detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying 
drawings in which like reference numerals designate like or corresponding 
parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In accordance with the present invention, a spherical binocular is 
provided. The spherical binocular includes a pair of hemispherical shells 
each including a front opening edge and an outer periphery and having a 
rectangular groove formed by cutting a portion thereof extending from the 
front opening edge to the outer periphery, a support shaft arranged in 
each of the rectangular grooves so as to laterally extend therein, and a 
hinge having both sides each received in each of the rectangular grooves 
and pivotally mounted on each of the support shafts, resulting in foldably 
connecting the hemispherical shells to each other. The hemispherical 
shells each are formed at a central portion thereof with an ocular 
through-hole. The hemispherical binocular also includes an ocular concave 
lens arranged in each of the ocular through-holes and a front plate 
fittedly arranged in the front opening edge of each of the hemispherical 
shells. The front plates each are formed at a central portion thereof with 
an objective opening. Further, the hemispherical binocular includes an 
objective convex lens arranged in each of the objective openings. The 
objective convex lens and ocular concave lens are arranged so as to align 
with each other. The hemispherical shells each are provided at the front 
opening edge with a holding pawl so as to be outwardly projected therefrom 
and on an inside of the front opening edge with a holding groove. Thus, 
folding of the pivotally connected two hemispherical shells over each 
other in a manner to align the front opening edges with each other permits 
the holding pawl and holding groove of one of the hemispherical shells to 
be respectively fittedly engaged with the holding groove and holding pawl 
of the other of the hemispherical shells for storage or carrying, whereas 
inward pressure on the holding pawl of each of the hemispherical shells 
thus folded permits the holding pawl to be released from engagement with 
the holding groove for use. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hemispherical 
shells each are provided on a portion of an inner surface thereof in 
proximity to the front opening edge with front plate support projections 
in a manner to be spaced from each other at predetermined intervals, to 
thereby support thereon the front plate fitted in said hemispherical 
shell, and the hemispherical shells each are provided on the inner surface 
thereof with a pair of support cylinder support seats of an arcuate shape 
so as to be positioned behind the front plate support projections based on 
the front opening edge; wherein the support cylinder support seats each 
support an objective convex lens support cylinder thereon to hold it on a 
rear surface of the front plate, the objective convex lens is supported in 
the objective convex lens support cylinder, and the support cylinder 
support seats each include a support cylinder support surface element of 
an arcuate shape and a support cylinder holding pawl which are arranged 
for fixedly supporting said objective convex lens support cylinder. Also, 
the hemispherical shells each are provided on the inner surface thereof 
with an ocular concave lens support cylinder in a manner to be inwardly 
projected therefrom and so as to be aligned with the ocular through-hole, 
wherein the ocular concave lens support cylinder is formed into an inner 
diameter corresponding to said ocular through-hole and the ocular concave 
lens support cylinder is provided therein with concave lens holding pawls 
for holding the ocular concave lens in the ocular concave lens support 
cylinder. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rectangular groove 
is formed during molding of the hemispherical shell and the rectangular 
groove is formed at an intermediate portion thereof with a projection 
including a projecting distal end for adjustment. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding pawl is 
arranged so as to be outwardly projected from an outer periphery of the 
front plate and the holding pawl of one of the hemispherical shells is 
arranged so as to be alternated with the holding pawl of the other of the 
hemispherical shells. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front plate is 
formed into a diameter sufficient to permit the front plate to be snugly 
fitted in the front opening edge and integrally provided at a part of a 
periphery thereof with a bearing section formed with a bearing hole in 
which the support shaft is supported. The objective convex lens support 
cylinder is arranged on a rear side of the front plate so as to be 
inwardly projected therefrom, the hemispherical shell is formed on the 
inner surface thereof with support cylinder holding pawls and the 
objective convex lens support cylinder is provided on an outer surface 
thereof with holding grooves so as to positionally correspond to the 
support cylinder holding pawls, and the objective convex lens support 
cylinder is provided on an inner surface thereof with convex lens holding 
pawls for holding the objective convex lens fitted in the objective convex 
lens support cylinder. 
A spherical binocular according to the present invention will be described 
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
In the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates a pair of hemispherical 
shells, each of which includes a front opening edge 1a and an outer 
periphery and has a rectangular cutout 2 formed by partially cutting a 
portion of the hemispherical shell 1 extending from the front opening edge 
1a to the outer periphery. In each of the rectangular cutouts 2 is 
arranged a support shaft 3 in a manner to laterally extend therein. Also, 
each of the cutouts 2 has one side of a hinge 4 therein. The hinge 4 is 
connected on both sides thereof to the support shafts 3, so that the 
hemispherical shells 1 are pivotally or foldably connected to each other 
through the hinge 4 and support shafts 3, resulting in cooperating with 
each other to constitute a sphere which is foldable or openable about the 
hinge 4. 
The hemispherical shells 1 each are formed with an ocular through-hole 5 in 
a manner to axially extend through a center thereof. The through-hole 5 
thus formed through the central portion of the hemispherical shell 1 has 
an ocular concave lens 6 fittedly arranged therein. Also, each of the 
hemispherical shells 1 has a front plate 7 fitted in the front opening 
edge 1a. The front plate 7 is formed at a center thereof with an objective 
opening 8, in which an objective convex lens 9 is arranged. The objective 
convex lens 9 and ocular concave lens 6 are arranged so as to positionally 
correspond to each other or be aligned with each other, resulting in 
providing a binocular 10. 
Each of the hemispherical shells 1 has a holding pawl 11 and a holding 
groove 12 on the side opposite to the hinge 4. Each holding pawl 11 is 
attached to the inner surface of the hemispherical shell and projects from 
the front plate 7, so that the holding pawl 11 of one hemispherical shell 
1 and the holding groove 12 of the other hemispherical shell 1 are engaged 
when the hemispherical shells are closed to provide the sphere. The hinge 
4 is formed with a pair of insertion through-holes 13, through which a 
string 14 for holding or carrying of the spherical binocular is inserted. 
The above-described rectangular cutout 2 formed at the front opening edge 
1a of each of the hemispherical shells 1 is formed during molding or 
shaping of the shell 1. The front opening edge 1a is provided on an 
intermediate portion thereof at which the cutout 2 is formed with a 
projection 16 which includes a projecting distal end 15 for adjustment, as 
shown in FIG. 6. The projection 16 is arranged so as to radially inwardly 
extend from the front opening edge 1a. 
Also, the hemispherical shells 1 each are provided on an inner surface 
thereof with a plurality of front plate support projections 17 for 
supporting the front plate 7 thereon. The front plate support projections 
17 are arranged in proximity to the front opening edge 1a and so as to be 
spaced from each other at predetermined intervals. The front plate support 
projections 17 each function to support thereon the front plate 7 fitted 
in the hemispherical shell 1. Also, each of the hemispherical shells 1 is 
provided on the inner surface thereof with a pair of support cylinder 
support seats 19 of an arcuate shape so as to be positioned behind the 
front plate support projections 17 based on the front opening edge 1a. The 
support cylinder support seats 19 each function to support an objective 
convex lens support cylinder 18 thereon to hold it on a rear surface of 
the front plate 7. For this purpose, the support cylinder support seats 19 
each include a support cylinder support surface element 19a of an arcuate 
shape and a support cylinder holding pawl 19b which are arranged for 
fixedly supporting the objective convex lens support cylinder 18. The 
support cylinder support surface element 19a and support cylinder holding 
pawl 19b of each of the support cylinder support seats 19 are arranged so 
as to project inward from the inner surface of the hemispherical shell 1. 
The above-described ocular through-hole 5 is formed through the center of 
the inner surface of the hemispherical shell 1 which is defined at an 
inmost portion of the inner surface. Correspondingly, an ocular concave 
lens support cylinder 20 which is formed into a dimension corresponding to 
a diameter of the through-hole 5 is provided so as to be concentric with 
the center of the inner surface of the hemispherical shell 1 and so as to 
inwardly extend from the inner surface. The ocular concave lens support 
cylinder 20 may be formed into substantially the same inner diameter as 
the diameter of the through-hole 5 and is provided therein with concave 
lens holding pawls 21. Thus, the ocular concave lens 6 is fitted in the 
ocular concave lens support cylinder 20 and held in the cylinder 20 by 
means of the holding pawls 21 while being abutted against a flange or 
collar 5a formed at the hemispherical shell 1 so as to surround or define 
the through-hole or opening 5. 
The front plate 7 is formed into an outer diameter sufficient to permit it 
to be suitably or snugly fitted in the front opening edge 1a of the 
hemispherical shell 1 and integrally provided at a part of a periphery 
thereof with a bearing section 22. The bearing section 22 is formed with a 
bearing hole 22a into which the support shaft 3 is inserted for connecting 
both hemispherical shells 1 to each other through the hinge 4. The 
above-described objective convex lens support cylinder 18 is arranged on a 
side of a rear surface of the front plate 7 so as to outwardly extend 
therefrom and formed on an outer periphery thereof with holding grooves 
18a in a manner to positionally correspond to the support cylinder holding 
pawls 19b. Also, the objective convex lens support cylinder 18 is provided 
on an inner peripheral surface thereof with convex lens holding pawls 23 
for fixedly pressing the objective convex lens 9 against a flange or 
collar 8a formed in the objective opening 8. 
The manner of assembling of the spherical binocular of the illustrated 
embodiment constructed as described above will be described hereinafter. 
First, the ocular concave lens 6 is inserted into the ocular concave lens 
support cylinder 20 arranged at the center of the inner surface of each of 
the hemispherical shells 1 so as to inwardly extend therefrom and then 
forwardly moved through the holding pawls 21 while forcing them aside, to 
thereby be abutted against the flange 5a arranged in the through-hole 5. 
This results in the concave lens holding pawls 21 being returned to the 
original position to hold the ocular concave lens 6 at a predetermined 
position in the ocular concave lens support cylinder 20. 
The convex lens 9 is inserted into the objective convex lens support 
cylinder 18 and then abutted against the flange 8a arranged in the 
objective opening 8, resulting in the convex lens holding pawls 23 being 
returned to the original position, to thereby hold the objective convex 
lens 9 at a predetermined position in the objective convex lens support 
cylinder 18. The support shaft 3 is inserted into the bearing hole 22b of 
the bearing section 22 of each of the front plates 7 and then the hinge 4 
is pivotally fitted on the support shafts 3, so that both front plates 7 
may be pivotally connected through the hinge 4. Subsequently, the front 
plates 7 thus pivotally connected together each are fitted in the 
corresponding hemispherical shell 1 and then the objective convex lens 
support cylinder 18 is fitted between the support cylinder support surface 
elements 19a of the support cylinder support seats 19 projecting from the 
inner surface of each of the hemispherical shells 1. Each of the front 
plates 7 is fitted in the front opening edge 1a and abutted at a periphery 
of the rear surface thereof against the front plate support projections 
17. Further, the support cylinder holding pawls 19b of the support 
cylinder support seats 19 are held in the holding grooves 18a of the 
objective convex lens support cylinder 18, resulting in the spherical 
binocular of the illustrated embodiment being assembled. 
The two hemispherical shells 1 thus connected to each other are pivotally 
moved, so that the whole spherical binocular is folded. Thus, the front 
opening edges 1a of both hemispherical shells 1 are aligned with each 
other, resulting in the holding pawls being engaged in the corresponding 
holding grooves while being wholly bent, so that both hemispherical shells 
1 may be kept closed together or folded over each other for carrying or 
storage. 
Opening of the spherical binocular thus folded for use is carried out by 
pushing the holding pawls 11 from the outside to inwardly bend them. This 
results in the holding pawls 11 being released from engagement with the 
holding grooves 12, so that both hemispherical shells 1 may be pivotally 
moved away from each other about the hinge 4. 
The spherical binocular folded as described above can be put in a bag, a 
pocket or the like. Alternatively, it may be hung from the neck for 
carrying by means of the string 14 inserted via the insertion 
through-holes 13. 
As can be seen from the foregoing, the spherical binocular of the present 
invention can be substantially varied in configuration during carrying or 
storage, to thereby exhibit originality and novelty. Also, it permits good 
viewing of players in motion, is convenient for use and exhibits 
satisfactory optical characteristics. Further, it prevents the pivotal 
mechanism such as the foldable hinges and the like from being outwardly 
projected, to thereby render a contour thereof smooth, resulting in 
storage and carrying of the binocular being highly facilitated. Moreover, 
it is compact or small enough to be convenient for carrying. In addition, 
it exhibits highly improved productivity due to being readily assembled by 
only fitting and engagement of the parts, resulting in contributing to 
mass production and cost savings. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with a 
certain degree of particularity with reference to the drawings, obvious 
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. 
It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended 
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically 
described.