Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
RESERV
I, WILLIAM ALExander Cardwell of the Moat Croft, Eastbourne, in the County
of Sussex, Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteer Artillery, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide an opera, field or marine glass which will
be capable of being folded into a small compass when out of use and thus rendered
easily portable.
For this purpose I employ a framework of any suitable material which is provided
with a rigid top or bottom but the opposite side of which (the top or bottom as the
case may be) is formed of flexible material connected to the sides which are hinged to
and capable of folding down flat upon the top or bottom.
The ends of the frame are also hinged one to the top or bottom and the other to a
slide carried thereby and they are capable of folding in the same manner as the
sides.
These ends are formed to carry the lenses and the slide to which one of them is
hinged is provided with a rack to which motion is given by means of a pinion whereby
one of the ends is capable of being moved nearer to or farther from the other, in order
to adjust the instrument, to the required focus.
When in use the sides and ends of the frame are placed in a vertical position and
there retained by any suitable means and thus tauten and hold the flexible material in
proper form but when out of use the sides and ends may be folded flat upon the top or
bottom of the frame when the instrument will assume a compact and convenient form
for carrying in the pocket.

page_text: 1, WILLIAM ALEXANDER CARDWELL of the Moat Croft, Eastbourne, in the County
of Sussex, Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteer Artillery, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide an opera, field or marine glass which will
be capable of being folded into a small compass when out of use and thus rendered
easily portable.
For this purpose I employ a framework of any suitable material which is provided
with a rigid top or bottom but the opposite side of which (the top or bottom as the case
may be) is formed of flexible material connected to the sides which are hinged to the
top or bottom. Or both the sides and bottom might be flexible or the sides might be
flexible and both the top and bottom rigid.
The ends of the frame are also hinged one to the top or bottom and the other to a
slide carried thereby and they are capable of folding upon the top or bottom.
These ends are formed to carry the lenses and the slide to which one of them is
hinged is provided with a rack to which motion is given by means of a pinion whereby
one of the ends is capable of being moved nearer to or farther from the other in order
to adjust the instrument to the required focus.
When in use the sides and ends of the frame are placed in a vertical position and
there retained by any suitable means and thus tauten and hold the flexible material in
proper form but when out of use the sides and ends may be folded upon the top or
bottom of the frame when the instrument will assume a compact and convenient form
for carrying in the pocket.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken on the line A. B of Figure 2 showing an
opera or field glass constructed according to my invention and showing the instrument
expanded ready for use; Figure 2 is an underside view thereof with the flexible
material broken away. Figure 3. is an end view thereof partly in section. Figure 4
is an underside view showing the instrument when folded and out of use but with the
flexible material broken away and Figure 5 is longitudinal section taken on the line U, D
of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the line E, F of Figure 7. illustrating a
modified form of instrument and showing the instrument expanded in readiness for
use; Figure 7 is an underside view thereof with the flexible material broken away.

page_text: Figure 8 is an end view thereof partly in section and Figure 9 is a longitudinal
section showing the instrument folded and out of use and Figure 10 is a longitudinal
section taken on the line G, H, of figure 12 showing a further modification and the
instrument expanded. Figure 11 is an end view thereof partly in section; Figure 12
is an underside view with the bottom removed and Figure 13 is a longitudinal section
showing the instrument folded and out of use.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The framework of the instrument according to the arrangement shown at Figures 1
to 5 is constructed with a rigid top a of metal or other suitable material formed with
flanges a' but with a bottomb of leather, silk or other suitable opaque, flexible material
which is rivetted, cemented, or otherwise connected to the sides b
The sides b' are also formed of rigid material but they are connected to the flanges a¹
of the top a by hinges a so as to be capable of folding down upon the top a of the
instrument.
The rear end of the frame is hinged to the top a by means of a "sight" hinge or
joint c in such manner that it will be firmly held both in its vertical and horizontal
positions.
The front end d of the frame is similarly connected by a "sight" hinge d' with
a slide d' which travels between or in guides a³ formed on or carried by the top a.
These ends c and d are formed to carry the lenses c* and d* which are securely
held in fittings in the usual manner or they might be cemented in the ends c and d and
the slide dio which the end d is hinged is formed or provided with a rack d³ to which
motion is given by means of a pinion e mounted upon a cross shaft e² mounted in
bearings el carried by the top a and furnished with a milled wheel or button e exterior
of one of the side flanges a¹ or there might be a milled wheel e upon each end of the
cross shaft e², whereby the front end d is capable of being moved nearer to or farther
from the rear end e in order to adjust the instrument to the required focus.
A cord g is connected at one end thereof to the end c and at the other end to the
end d and passes through eyes or guides g¹ upon the sides band the bight g³ thereof
is passed out by an aperture g² to the exterior of the instrument by which means the
ends c and d may by pulling upon the bight g3 of the cord be brought into a vertical
position when the instrument is required for use. Stops 62 upon the frame prevent
the ends being moved beyond their vertical position.
According to this arrangement when the instrument is in use the sides and
ends c, d of the frame are placed in a vertical position as shown at Figures 1, 2 and 3
and the ends are retained in that position by means of the "sight" hinges c and d¹
and the sides are thus held by the ends c and d by these means the flexible
material is tautened and held in proper form for use but when out of use the sides b'
and ends c, d, may be folded upon the top a of the frame when the instrument will
assume the form shown at Figures 4 and 5.
According to the arrangement represented at Figures 6 to 9 I dispense with the
rigid sides and form both the bottom and sides of flexible material which I
cement, rivet or otherwise securely connect to the flanges a' of the top a and also to
the ends c and d and in order to retain the bottom bin proper form to prevent any
obstruction to the line of sight I employ a bar carried by springs connected to
the end c and so arranged as to normally exert a downward pressure upon the bottom b
and yet be capable of readily folding together with the ends c and d upon the top a.
In this arrangement the cord g is not needed as the ends cand d may be readily grasped
by the fingers and placed in their vertical position.
In the modification represented at Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 I formn both the top a
and bottom 6 of rigid material, but I form the sides b₁ of flexible material which I
securely connect to the top a and bottom by means of rivets, cement or otherwise.
In this example, as in figures 1 to 5 the ends c and d are not connected to the bottom b
or to the sides b¹.
In this arrangement I preferably connect the ends c and d with the top a, by means
of plain joints or hinges c and d and employ spring levers d', ds, the one d' being
carried by the top a and the other d³ being carried by the slide d² to exert a constant

page_text: pressure upon the ends c and d in order to automatically place and retain such ends
in a vertical position but so as to allow of such ends being folded down upon the top a
as shown at Figure 13. The ends will thus, when the instrument is to be used,
automatically be brought into a vertical position when they will abut against stops b*
upon the frame.
A strap or clasp or other fastening means may be employed to retain the instrument
in its folded or closed condition.
If desired instead of employing spring levers d' and d³ for opening out the ends e
and d, a cord or cords y may be employed for that purpose and the ends may be fitted
with sight hinges as described with respect to Figures 1 to 5.
By these means I obtain an opera or field glass which may be folded into a compact
form for carrying in the pocket and which may also be readily converted into a practical
instrument.
It will be understood that the instrument when out of use may if desired be placed
in a suitable case or cover, or when employing a rigid top and bottom, as in figures 10
to 13 a separate case may be found unnecessary.
Although in the drawings I have represented the top of the instrument as being
formed to carry the operating parts it will be evident that such arrangement may
desired he reversed and the bottom may be caused to carry such parts.
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. An opera, field or marine glass constructed in manner substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. An opera, field or marine glass formed with rigid top or bottom «, flexible bottom
or top b, folding sides 61, end c carrying lenses e* and hinged to rigid bottom or top a,
end d carrying lenses d and hinged to a slide such as d travelling in guides, such
as a³ in top or bottom a and provided with a rack d³ receiving motion from a pinion e
and cord for opening out the ends c and d in manner substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.
с
3. An opera, field or marine glass formed with rigid top or bottom a, flexible bottom
or top and sides b, b', end c carrying lenses c* and hinged to rigid bottom or top a,
end d carrying lenses d* and hinged to a slide such as d² travelling in guides such
as a³ on top or bottom a and provided with a rack d³ receiving motion from pinion e³
and springs for supporting or tautening the flexible bottom or top 6 in manner
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
flexible
4. An opera, field or marine glass formed with rigid top and bottom a and
sides 61, end c carrying lenses c* and hinged to rigid top a or bottom b, end d carrying
lenses d✶ and hinged to a slide such as d travelling in guides such as a³ on top or
bottom a or band provided with a rack d³ receiving motion from pinion
spring levers d', d³, for opening out and retaining the ends c, and d, in a vertical
position against stops 62 in manner substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
and
"
Dated this and day of Da 1000