Patent Publication Number: US-2016246164-A1

Title: Magnification scope/wireless phone camera alignment system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of invention 
     The present invention relates to the use of magnification scopes and more particularly to the alignment of a camera to a magnification scope eyepiece for viewing and recording magnified images. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A camera attached to a magnification scope, such as for example a wireless phone camera attached to and aligned with the eyepiece of a spotting scope, telescope, microscope, binocular, or similar optical devices, allows for the viewing of magnified images on the wireless phone display screen and the recording of images with enhanced magnification. 
     Attaching and aligning a wireless phone camera to a magnification scope is complicated by the variety of wireless phone design formats, and the variety of magnification scopes having eyepieces with a variety of diameters. 
     There are several previously disclosed devices that align wireless phone cameras with magnification scope eyepieces through the use of systems that either mechanically adjusts the device to accommodate both the desired wireless phone camera and magnification scope configurations; or a system of proprietary phone cases and properly positioned and sized eyepiece receiving rings that are specifically molded or machined to match the configuration of each desired combination of wireless phone and magnification scope eyepiece diameters. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein is an apparatus for attaching and aligning a variety of wireless phone camera formats with magnification scope eyepieces of various diameters. The disclosed apparatus is an improvement over existing art in that it eliminates the need for mechanically adjusted connections to both the wireless phone and magnification scope eyepiece, and/or the need to mold or machine alignment device formats that account for the combination of both the variety of proprietary wireless phone formats and hundreds of magnification scope eyepiece diameters. The disclosed apparatus is comprised of four standard alignment device formats of molded plastic, any one of which being attached to a user&#39;s wireless phone body or matching phone case using a removable double sided adhesive strip, and being aligned with the wireless phone camera (generally the rear camera), and placing circular elastic bands of various thicknesses and widths, as needed, around the circumference of a magnification scope eyepiece in order to match the interior diameter of the alignment device such that the alignment device can be pressed over the magnification scope eyepiece and bands with a friction fit. Certain of the elastic bands also having a protruding flap or flaps to facilitate hand removal. 
     The current four standard alignment device formats include eyepiece receiving ring interior diameters of 1.33 inches, 1.66 inches, 1.99 inches, and 2.33 inches at the base, and slightly tapered outward over its length to provide a variable diameter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view, showing the present invention alignment device with flat base surface, three tab receiving ring, tapered interior surface, sight hole, and lanyard hole. 
         FIG. 2  is a lower perspective view, showing the present invention alignment device with flat base surface, three tab receiving ring, sight hole, camera recess, tapered interior surface, lanyard hole, and depicts an attached removable double sided adhesive strip at the typical location. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view, showing a circular rubber band element of the present invention, used as a method of attachment wherein the bands are placed around the eyepiece of a magnification scope to modify the diameter of the eyepiece to match the diameter of the appropriate alignment device. The band is depicted with a single removal flap. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view depicting three circular rubber band elements of the present invention place around a cylinder representing a magnification scope eyepiece, and an alignment device, and a removable double sided adhesive strip and a representation of a typical wireless phone with camera. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS 
       10  alignment device flat base surface 
       12  alignment device receiving ring 
       14  removable double sided adhesive strip 
       16  receiving ring tapered interior surface 
       18  alignment device sight hole 
       20  alignment device lens recess 
       22  alignment device lanyard hole 
       24  circular elastic band 
       26  circular elastic band removal tab option 
     (a) representation of a magnification scope eyepiece 
     (b) representation of a typical wireless phone with camera 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Each alignment device format consists of a flat base surface, shaped similar to a teardrop to provide a wider circular portion equal to the outside diameter of a three tab eyepiece receiving ring, and a diminishing surface area upon which to apply a removable double sided adhesive strip. The three tab receiving ring is integral to the base consisting of an approximately ¾ inch long cylinder of multiple alternating radius tabs and gaps in a circular pattern with a diameter equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the scope eyepiece on which it is intended to be fitted; the interior surface diameter of the three tab receiving ring being slightly tapered to give variations to fit. At the center of the three tab eyepiece receiving ring is a sight hole that penetrates through the flat base surface and is positioned to align with the wireless phone camera and the center of the scope view area when fitted. Opposite the eyepiece receiving ring on the base surface and centered around the sight hole is a recessed element which accommodates camera lenses that may protrude beyond the surface of some wireless phone formats. Another hole is provided through the flat base for a lanyard connection. 
     The user attaches the alignment device to the wireless phone body or matching phone case using a removable double sided adhesive strip, with the sight hole being aligned with the camera. The user modifies the diameter of the magnification scope eyepiece using the quantity of circular elastic bands of approximately % inch width and various thicknesses as necessary to match the interior diameter of the three tab receiving ring on the alignment device such that the eyepiece receiving ring can be pressed to cover the magnification scope eyepiece with a friction fit. 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to (copyright or mask work) protection. The (copyright or mask work) owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all (copyright or mask work) rights whatsoever.