Year: 1897

page_text: I, EMILE BATAULT, of G, Rue de l'Universite, Geneva, Switzerland, Doctor of
Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved system of opera glasses which may be folded
into a small compass. It is unliable to injury, compendious and portable.
For this purpose I employ eye glasses of a small diameter and fixed on a bar at
the normal distance of the eyes. In the middle of this bar and perpendicular to
it, that is parallel to the optic axes of the glasses and in their plane, is provided
a screw not unlike those used for ordinary opera glasses. The screwing part is
only cut out in the middle portion of its length, both ends being smooth and able
to slide in a flat frame which carries, at its front part, the mounts of the object
glasses. These are mounted in separate lens-frames connected together by a rod
which joins them symmetrically and in the same plane, their centers being at the
same distance as those of the eye lenses. This connecting rod is pivotably mounted
on the frame, at its front part, parallel to it and so, that it can be turned round 90°
in such a way that the object lenses may be placed parallel or perpendicular to the
frame. The bar carrying the ocular lenses is connected with the frame by the
screw and in order to prevent its rotation and to keep it always parallel to the rod
connecting the object glasses, it is provided with two pins which slide in the frame.
A screw-nut put on the screw permits the focussing adjustment.
In order that my invention may be better understood I will now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, showing one of
the manners of carrying it out, reference being had to the letters and figures
marked thereon.
Fig. I shows a plan view of the instrument, the dotted lines of the object glasses
representing the folded position.
Fig. II is a side view of the position ready for use, the dotted lines being the
folded or turned down position.
Fig. II shows the opera glass ready for use enclosed in its folding casing.
Fig. IV shows the opera glass folded down and shut in its case to be carried
about.
The ocular glasses A A¹ are fixed on the bar B by two small tubes C C¹ screwed
in it and acting as diaphragms. This bar is provided in its center with a per-
pendicular rod E E¹ smooth and cylindrical from E to E2 and from E¹ to E³ and
cut out in screw from E2 to E3. This rod is fitted into a flat frame D D1 D2 made
in this case of three sheets of metal screwed together, the upper and lower one
thinner and the middle one about as thick as the diameter of the smooth portion

page_text: of E E. This intermediate plate is cut in two right and left halves leaving
between them a free space or opening in which the rod E E' slides. The screwed
portion EE is provided with a screw-nut F (having a milled head F) which has
a sufficient length to fit exactly between the parts D and I of the frame. The
rotation of this screw-nut does not change its position on the frame but it will
cause, according to the direction in which it is turned a to or fro motion of the
bar B relatively to the frame, because the said bar B fixed on the extremity
of E E' does not permit its rotation as it is kept parallel to the frame by two
pins K K sliding in two corresponding lateral grooves of the frame. We obtain
in that way the focussing adjustment.
At the front part of the frame the two external metallic plates of the frame are
bent or curved inwards so that they form an elastic ring by which the axis G,
carrying at each end the two object lens-frames, symmetrically and in the same
plane, is pivotably connected with the frame. This axis G is as aforesaid sym-
metrical to the object-lenses L L' and may be turned 90° so that the glasses will
lie flat with the frame or be perpendicular to it. In order to secure the position
exactly wanted the axis is provided with two flat faces made at right angles upon
which a spring H is pressing; for the same purpose a pin or small handle I is
fixed on the axis and limits its motion at 90° by coming into contact with two
suitable stops. Said handle is long enough to be easily caught with the finger so
as to turn up and down the object glasses without touching them.
The instrument might be used as now described but is much improved by a very
simple casing which covers the space between the ocular and object glasses when
ready for use, and which folded down, becomes a very handy and convenient thin
case completely protecting the whole thing (Fig. IV).
This casing consists of two hinged plates M M fixed on the part D of the frame
by a hinged binding N, a leather strip for instance. These plates are loosely con-
nected on each side by a folding material so that they can be collapsed in the way
of bellows. Upon N or D is fixed a slight case P, of metal or celluloid or any
such material which surrounds the ocular glasses the tubes C C" and the bar B,
but being, if necessary, partly hollowed out at the place corresponding to the nose.
On the plate M', in M³ is provided a kind of flap divided in such rigid
sections P P P that can be respectively folded as shewn in Fig. III and IV. In
Fig. III P P P shows the flap hanging loosely. When the opera glass is folded
in its case, P P1 P2 come in the position shewn in Fig. IV. On the contrary, when
the opera glass is opened and ready for use, the parts P P1 P2 may be brought back
underneath the plate M' in the position shewn as ? p¹² (Fig. III) and retained
upon M by the anterior portion R which comes in the position 7 (Fig. III) press-
ing and against M¹.
On the front edge M² of the plate M¹ is provided a plate hinged or articulated
on M and bent at right angles R R¹. The part R is about of the width of P¹, the
part R is much longer and cut out in the shape of a handle easy to be held in
the hand as shewn on Fig. III and IV. When the instrument is opened, R R¹
is folded back, R bearing against M with the intermediate parts p p between it
and M. In this position R¹ projects down in a position nearly perpendicular
to the frame of the instrument and may be used as a handle to hold it before the
eyes. If necessary a small catch may be provided between R and to insure the
opened position.
The part R' instead of being rigid with R and at right angles upon it might be
also hinged on R¹ in that case R¹ could be completely folded back upon p and the
hand in taking hold of the instrument would keep R R 21 and 22 applied
against M. Two openings S S¹ are made in M M¹ corresponding to the milled
head F to enable the focussing adjustment.

page_text: I, EMILE BATAULT, of 6, Rue de l'Universite, Geneva, Switzerland, Doctor of
Medicine, 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:
My invention relates to an improved system of opera glasses which may be folded
into a small compass. It is unliable to injury compendious and portable.
For this purpose I employ eye glasses of a small diameter and fixed on a bar at
the normal distance of the eyes. In the middle of this bar and perpendicular to it,
that is parallel to the optic axes of the glasses and in their plane, is provided a
screw not unlike those used for ordinary opera glasses. The screwing part is only
cut out in the middle portion of its length both ends being smooth and able to
slide in a flat frame which carries at its front part the mounts of the object glasses.
These are mounted in separate lens-frames connected together by a rod which joins
them symmetrically and in the same plane, their centers being at the same distance
as those of the eye lenses. This connecting rod is pivotably mounted on the frame
at its front part, parallel to it and so that it can be turned round 90°, in such a
way that the object lenses may be placed parallel or perpendicular to the frame.
The bar carrying the ocular lenses is connected with the frame by the screw, and
in order to prevent its rotation and to keep it always parallel to the rod connecting
the object glasses, it is provided with two pins which slide in the frame. A screw-
nut put on the screw permits the focussing adjustment.
In order that my invention may be better understood I will now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specifica-
tion, showing one of the manners of carrying it out, reference being had to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the instrument the dotted lines of the object glasses
representing the folded position.
Fig. II is a side view of the position ready for use, the dotted lines being the
folded or turned down position.
Fig. III shows the opera glass ready for use enclosed in its folding casing.
Fig. IV shows the opera glass folded down and shut in its case to be carried
about.
3mall
The ocular glasses A A¹ are fixed on the bar B by two
tubes C C screwed in it and acting as diaphragms.
This bar is provided
in its center with a perpendicular rod E E¹ smooth and cylindrical
from E to E2 and from E¹ to E³, and cut out in screw from E2 to E3.
This rod is fitted into a flat frame D D1 D2 made in this case of three
sheets of metal screwed together, the upper and lower one thinner and the middle
one about as thick as the diameter of the smooth portion of E E¹. This inter-
mediate plate is cut in two right and left halves leaving between them a free space
or opening in which the rod E E' slides. The screwed portion E3 E3 is provided
with a screw-nut F, having a milled head F', which has a sufficient length to fit
exactly between the parts D) and 11 of the frame. The rotation of this screw-nut
does not change its position on the frame but it will cause, according to the direc-
tion in which it is turned, a to or fro motion of the bar B relatively to the frame,
because the said bar B fixed on the extremity of E E', does not permit its rotation,
as it is kept parallel to the frame by two pins K K' sliding in two corresponding
lateral grooves of the frame. We obtain in that way the focussing adjustment.

page_text: At the front part of the frame the two external metallic plates of the frame are
bent or curved inwards, so that they form an elastic ring by which the axis G,
carrying at each end the two object lens-frames, symmetrically and in the same
plane is pivotably connected with the frame. This axis G is as aforesaid sym-
metrical to the object-lenses L L' and may be turned 90°, so that the glasses will
lie flat with the frame or be perpendicular to it.
In order to secure the position exactly wanted, the axis is provided with two flat
faces made at right angles upon which a spring H is pressing; for the same pur-
pose a pin or small handle I is fixed on the axis and limits its motion at 90°, by
coming into contact with two suitable stops. Said handle is long enough to be
easily caught with the finger so as to turn up and down the object glasses without
touching them.
The instrument might be used as now described, but it is much improved by
a very simple casing which covers the space between the ocular and object glasses,
when ready for use, and which folded down, becomes a very handy and convenient
thin case completely protecting the whole thing. (Fig. IV).
This casing consists of two hinged plates M M' fixed on the part D of the frame
by a hinged binding N, a leather strip for instance. These plates are loosely con
nected on each side by a folding material, so that they may be collapsed in the
way of bellows. Upon N or D) is fixed a slight case 1*, of metal or celluloid or any
such material, which surrounds the ocular glasses the tubes C C¹ and the bar B,
but being if necessary, partly hollowed out at the place corresponding to the nose.
On the plate M', in M³, is provided a kind of flap divided in such rigid
sections P P P that can be respectively folded as shewn in Fig. III and IV.
In Fig. III P P1 P2 shows the flap hanging loosely. When the opera glass is
folded in its case, P P1 P2 come in the position shewn in Fig. IV.
On the contrary when the opera glass is opened and ready for use, the parts
PPP may be brought back underneath the plate M, in the position shewn as
?', 2, (Fig. III) and retained upon M by the anterior portion R, which comes
in the position i (Fig. III), pressing and p¹ against M¹.
On the front edge M² of the plate M¹ is provided a plate hinged or articulated
on and bent at right angles R R. The part R is about of the width of P',
the part R¹ is much longer and cut out in the shape of a handle easy to be held in
the hand, as shewn on Fig. III and IV.
When the instrument is opened, R R is folded back, R bearing against M¹ with
the intermediate parts 2 p between it and M. In this position R projects down
in a position nearly perpendicular to the frame of the instrument and may be used
as handle to hold it before the eyes. If necessary a small catch may be provided
between R and 7 to insure the opened position.
The part R instead of being rigid with R and at right angles upon it, might
be also hinged on R₁, in that case R¹ could be completely folded back upon pand
the hand in taking hold of the instrument would keep R R 22 and p² applied
against M. Two openings S S are made in M M corresponding to the milled
head F to enable the focussing adjustment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A system of folding opera glasses capable of being reduced into a small com-
pass. It is characterized by the combination, firstly: of two eye-glasses, preferably
of a small diameter, carried on a bar; secondly: of two object-glasses pivotably
connected with a frame so that they may lie flat with the frame or be turned up
perpendicular to it and thirdly: of a screw with its screw-nut connecting the bar
with the frame and permitting the focussing adjustment, as described.
2. A folding casing comprising in combination two hinged plates M M¹ loosely
connected by a folding material, a slight case P, a folding flap P P1 P2, a hinged

page_text: plate bent at right angles R R¹ which may be used as a handle when the casing is
opened as described and shewn.
3. A folding opera glass of the kind claimed under No. 1 combined with the
casing claimed above substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 1st day of January 1898.
EMILE BATAULT.