A New or Improved Focussing Device or Cloth for use in Photography and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
A New or Improved Focussing Device or Cloth for use in
Photography and the like.
I, ANN VAN DER WERFF of 37 Dockwray Square, North Shields, in the
County of Northumberland, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved focussing cloth and mask for the use
of photographers and for like purposes.
In carrying this invention into practical effect, I provide a mask so constructed
as to closely fit over the eyes of the operator, and formed with an opening or
One end of the
openings through which he may view the focussing screen.
focussing cloth is secured round or partially round the edges of the mask, which
may be provided with a handle with which it may be held in position before the
operator's eyes.
In a modified arrangement the mask may be held in position by an elastic or
other band passing round the operator's head or ears.
The said mask may, or may
not, be provided with a magnifying lens or lenses, arranged in the openings through
be
which the operator looks, in order that the image on the focussing screen may
closely examined.
In a further modification I form one end of an ordinary focussing cloth as a mask
or partial mask, to fit over the operator's eyes, and strengthen the said mask by
forming it upon a frame of wire or other suitable material.
It will be readily seen that this combined focussing cloth and mask does not
obstruct the breathing, and is specially adapted for use in the open air, as the wind
cannot blow it up from around the operator's head as is so frequently the case with
the ordinary cloth.
י
1
1001
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Focussing Device or Cloth for use in
Photography and the like.
I, ANN VAN DER WERFF, of 37 Dockray Square, North Shields, in the
County of Northumberland, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
This invention relates to a new or improved focussing cloth and mask for the use
of photographers and for like purposes.
În carrying this invention into practical effect, I provide a mask so constructed
as to closely fit over the eyes of the operator, and formed with an opening or
One end of the
openings through which he may view the focussing screen.
focussing cloth is secured round, or partially round, the edges of the mask, which
may be provided with a handle with which it may be held in position before the
operator's eyes.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which

page_text: .
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a focussing device as hereinbefore
described attached to a camera;
Figure 2 an end elevation and
Figure 3 a plan of the focussing device only.
The mask is shewn constructed of a centre a to the edges of which is secured a
piece of leather or other suitable material b, so shaped as to fit closely round the
eyes of the person using the device. The centre a is formed with an opening or
openings c, c, through which the operator may view the focussing screen of the
camera. A loop or staple d is secured to the centre a to receive one end of
detachable handle e by means of which the device may be held in position. It is
obvious that the handle e may be secured in any other manner. One end of the
focussing cloth is secured wholly or partially round the edges of the mask a, b, its
other end being similarly secured to the camera as shewn at Figure 1 of the
drawings.
If preferred the mask a, b, may be held in position by means of an elastic or
other band passing round the head or ears of the operator, or by other suitable
means, so that his hands may be free to manipulate the camera etc. A magnifying
lens or lenses may if desired be arranged in the openings c through which the
operator looks, in order to avoid the necessity for the use of a separate magnifying
glass when it is desired to closely examine the image on the focussing screen.
According to a modified arrangement I form one end of an otherwise ordinary
focussing cloth as a mask, or partial mask to fit over the operator's eyes, and
strengthen the said mask by forming it upon a frame of wire or other suitable
material.
In use when the object to be photographed has been properly focussed the
focussing device may be turned back over the top of the camera while the dark slide
is inserted and then brought back to cover the same in the ordinary manner while
the photograph is being taken. It will be understood that the focussing cloth need
not be permanently attached to the camera unless so desired.
It will be readily seen that this combined focussing cloth and mask does not
obstruct the breathing and is specially adapted for use in the open air, as the wind
cannot blow it up from around the operator's head as is so frequently the case with
the ordinary cloth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A new or improved focussing device for use in photography and the like,
consisting of a focussing cloth, formed at one end as, or attached to, a mask or
partial mask to fit over the operator's eyes, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1809
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.